Beasts of Carnaval

A mystical carnival with dark secrets takes center stage in this immersive if unfocused fantasy debut by Rodrigo. Sofia, a mestiza freedwoman, travels from her colonized home of Etérea to Isla Bestia, a tropical pleasure island for the rich, to search for her twin brother, Sol, who disappeared five years ago. Sofia and her former enslaver turned close friend, Adelina, are soon swept up in the dazzle of Carnaval, from its acrobats and parade floats, to its sumptuous feasts and endless supply of wine. Sofia senses something is amiss, however, when she begins to lose her memory and fall into uncontrollable fugue states. Her investigation into why these strange things are happening pulls back the curtain on Carnaval and reunites her with Sol while also leading her to learn more about the hidden history and present resilience of her Indigenous Taike’ri ancestors. Rodrigo creates a lush and vibrant setting that is easy to get sucked into, but the dreamy, magical atmosphere dissipates in the back half of the novel as the tone and plot abruptly shift. Still, Sofia is an admirable heroine, and themes of identity, found family, and Indigenous culture add weight. It’s not perfect, but this will surely win Rodrigo some fans. (July)