Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

Rating: 4/4 stars

In Labyrinth Lost, Alex, a 15-year-old bruja (witch) from New York City wants to get rid of her powers.  In an attempt at casting a spell to banish her powers, she banishes her entire family to the parallel dimension of Los Lagos, a Wonderland-like world full of mysterious creatures, dangerous plants, and evil forces.  Alex and her newfound friends must journey through Los Lagos together to save her family before they are destroyed by a magical tree.

The concept of this book was a great combination of extremely original ideas and traditional tropes such as the hero’s quest, parallel dimensions, and teen witchcraft.  I also enjoyed the character development of Alex and her friends as they learn more about both themselves and their magic.  The book was a quick read and very rich and detailed, unlike some standalone books I have read.  If you enjoy stories that incorporate friendship, magic, and quests like the Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus books, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter, you will definitely enjoy this book.  Fans of stories related to Latin American culture and characters, such as Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older, will appreciate the references to Cordova’s cultural background in the lore of her imagined world.  If you are looking for a quick read with a lot of adventure and magic, Labyrinth Lost is the perfect book for you.