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Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls (Cece Rios, 1) Paperback – August 30, 2022

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 132 ratings

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When a powerful desert spirit kidnaps her sister, Cece Rios must learn forbidden magic to get her back, in this own voices middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Storm Runner and Aru Shah and the End of Time

Living in the remote town of Tierra del Sol is dangerous, especially in the criatura months, when powerful spirits roam the desert and threaten humankind. But Cecelia Rios has always believed there was more to the criaturas, much to her family’s disapproval. After all, only brujas—humans who capture and control criaturas—consort with the spirits, and brujeria is a terrible crime.

When her older sister, Juana, is kidnapped by El Sombrerón, a powerful dark criatura, Cece is determined to bring Juana back. To get into Devil’s Alley, though, she’ll have to become a bruja herself—while hiding her quest from her parents, her town, and the other brujas. Thankfully, the legendary criatura Coyote has a soft spot for humans and agrees to help her on her journey.

With him at her side, Cece sets out to reunite her family—and maybe even change what it means to be a bruja along the way.

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From the Publisher

Customer Reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
132
4.6 out of 5 stars
37
4.3 out of 5 stars
17
Price $9.19 $13.39 $14.13
A fantasy adventure trilogy perfect for fans of J.C. Cervantes and Kwame Mbalia! When a powerful desert spirit kidnaps her sister, Cece Rios must learn forbidden magic to get her back, in this own voices middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Storm Runner and Aru Shah and the End of Time. In this thrilling sequel to the “spellbinding” fantasy adventure Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls, Cece and her sister journey into the stronghold of Devil’s Alley to challenge the criatura king. The stunning conclusion to the Cece Rios trilogy!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Rivera’s spellbinding debut feels incredibly fresh. Enchanted readers will hope for more from Cece and her extraordinary, magical world." — Booklist (starred review)

"Mesmerizing... With excellent pacing and rich world-building, debut author Rivera flawlessly immerses readers in the landscape of Tierra del Sol and Cece’s journey." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Intertwined with rich Mexican folklore and culturally infused language, this is a brilliantly unveiled coming-of-age story not for the faint of heart.... Courage, determination, and unwavering love are the foundation of this debut." — School Library Journal

"...Packed with magic, adventure, friendship, and Latinx-inspired mythology... [Readers] will delight in exploring Cece’s world." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Rich world-building and enticing characterization strike hope for a sequel about the dauntless Cece." — Horn Book Magazine

"With distinct voices for the human and supernatural characters, Guerra’s narration enhances the magical realism of the mythological fantasy. Listeners will be cheering for the endearing heroine to prove herself and rescue her sister." — Booklist

"Glorious world-building, pitch-perfect narration, and stellar storytelling." — Sean T, Audible.com editor

"An astonishing and moving tale infused with spirit and unforgettable magic."
  ­J.C. Cervantes, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Storm Runner series 

"Flush with incredible worldbuilding, mucho español throughout, and an unforgettable cast, this book reminds us that our greatest strengths can sometimes be found in the unlikeliest of places." — Pablo Cartaya, award-winning author of The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora   

"Pokemon meets Coco in a spirited and moving adventure, at once familiar and tantalizingly strange, peopled by beautifully crafted and vivid characters." — David Bowles, award-winning author of They Call Me Güero

“A new Narnia full of desert heat and danger, Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls mixes familiar myth, inventive magic, and vivid characters to capture readers.”  — Anna Meriano, author of the Love Sugar Magic series

“A beautifully written fantasy story with tons of heart!” — Ryan Calejo, author of the Charlie Hernández series

About the Author

Kaela Rivera was raised to believe in will-o’-the-wisps and el chupacabra, but even scary stories couldn’t stop her from reading in the isolated treetops, caves, and creeks of Tennessee’s Appalachian forests.

She still believes in the folktales of her Mexican-American and British parents, but now she writes about them from the adventure-filled mountains of the Wild West. When she’s not crafting stories, she’s using her English degree from BYU-I as an editor for a marketing company (or secretly doodling her characters in the margins of her notebook).

Her biggest hope is to highlight and explore the beauty of cultural differences—and how sharing those differences can bring us all closer.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins (August 30, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062947567
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062947567
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years, from customers
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.83 x 7.56 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 132 ratings

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Kaela Rivera
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Kaela Rivera was raised to believe in will-o’-the-wisps and el chupacabra, but even ghost stories couldn’t stop her from reading in the isolated treetops, caves, and creeks of Tennessee’s Appalachian forests.

She still believes in the folktales of her Mexican-American and British parents, but now she writes about them from the adventure-filled mountains of the Wild West. When she’s not crafting stories, she’s using her English degree from BYU-I as an editor for a marketing company (or secretly doodling her characters in the margins of her notebook).

Her biggest hope is to highlight and explore the beauty of cultural differences—and how sharing those differences can bring us all closer.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
132 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and fun with plenty of suspense. They describe the book as an enjoyable, heartwarming read for middle schoolers. The underlying themes of love for family, loyalty, and learning to love oneself resonate with readers. The character development is impressive and the heroine is described as courageous. Overall, customers praise the writing style as well-written and easy to read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

11 customers mention "Story quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's quality. They find it captivating, fun, and fast-paced with twists and turns. The story holds their interest throughout, taking them on an adventure filled with action.

"...This story is heartwarming and jam-packed with action and hits my list of top recommended reads for middle-graders and those who love to explore..." Read more

"Great story! I could probably read it in a day. It's so well written. I love how it feels so real and speaks to your emotions...." Read more

"I started reading this and couldn’t put it down! The story is truly amazing and inspiring!!!!!..." Read more

"This book literally takes you for an adventure...." Read more

8 customers mention "Readability"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and fun for middle grade kids. They appreciate the original story and Spanish elements.

"...I want to read it because it's so fun and enjoyable not because it's too intense...." Read more

"I completely enjoyed this wonderful book! It was so interesting to learn some Mexican folklore through these heartwarming characters...." Read more

"...This is an amazing book and it definitely is a fantastic read. It also has a glossary fror terms used which knowledge is power!" Read more

"...It's an easy read, and fun, I would recommend it!" Read more

6 customers mention "Heartwarming"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and inspiring. They appreciate the underlying themes of love for family, loyalty, and learning to love oneself. The story resonates with emotions and reinforces the importance of being single-minded in purpose, overcoming fear, and being resilient. Readers also mention that the journey of family, love, and reliance is beautiful. Overall, the book has a great message about what others perceive as weakness and courage.

"...Steeped in Mexican legend, this fascinating story reinforces the importance of being single-minded in purpose, overcoming fear, being resilient when..." Read more

"...It's so well written. I love how it feels so real and speaks to your emotions. It's a wonderful read...." Read more

"...The story is truly amazing and inspiring!!!!! The journey of family,love and reliance is beautiful showing how important family is." Read more

"...The underlying themes of love for family (even when you don’t see eye to eye), true loyalty to friends, and learning to love oneself are so well done..." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the character development. They find the characters strong and able to grow. The heroine, Cece, is described as awesome with courage and love for her family.

"The loveable protagonist in Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls, by Kaela Rivera, is courageous as she takes responsibility for her actions and sets..." Read more

"...so interesting to learn some Mexican folklore through these heartwarming characters...." Read more

"This book literally takes you for an adventure. The character building is amazing, ad the strength they have, learning to grow and conquer obstacles..." Read more

"I read this book with my daughters, it was a great story! Cece has so much courage and love for her family." Read more

3 customers mention "Strength"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's strength. They mention that it holds their attention throughout.

"...of being single-minded in purpose, overcoming fear, being resilient when facing obstacles, and loving your family members even when they are critical..." Read more

"...This not only caught my interest in the first few pages but held it the whole time!..." Read more

"...message about how what others perceive as weakness can be a tremendous strength. It’ll leave you wishing there was more to read!" Read more

3 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style engaging and easy to read.

"Great story! I could probably read it in a day. It's so well written. I love how it feels so real and speaks to your emotions...." Read more

"...Ms. Rivera’s writing style pulled me in, and I honestly couldn’t put the book down until I finished it...." Read more

"...It's an easy read, and fun, I would recommend it!" Read more

Such an absolutely amazing book!!
5 out of 5 stars
Such an absolutely amazing book!!
Thank you so much Harper Collins for sending me a copy to review! I’m blown away at how AMAZING this book is. It’s now 1 of my top favorites of the year(& I’ve read 106 so far). This was such a nice change from reading retellings I know by heart, to read something inspired by Latinx folklore. I was FASCINATED this whole book. Living where Cece lives is dangerous, especially in the criatura months, when powerful spirits roam the desert & threaten humankind. To her family’s disapproval she has always believed there was more to criaturas. Only brujas—humans who capture & control criaturas—consort w/the spirits, & brujeria is a terrible crime. Then her older sister(Juana) is kidnapped by El Sombrerón, a powerful dark criatura. Determined to rescue her she sets off to become a bruja herself, which is the only way she can get into Devils Alley to rescue Juana-while hiding all of this from her parents, her town, & the other brujas. Thankfully, the legendary criatura Coyote has a soft spot for humans & agrees to help her on her journey. Coyote has my heart & soul. SUCH an amazing character. Every character is amazing. She gets help from a few others along the way too, & I just loved it. The whole backstory of this town, her family, the Gods, Coyote, the bruja, & the criaturas was brilliantly told & so engrossing to read. Cece holds true to herself & her beliefs-even of going against would get her sister back guaranteed. I loved that. She’s always been made to feel like her soft heart & kindness were a weakness, but she realizes they’re her strength. She shows there’s more than 1 way to do something, & kindness always goes a long way. Importance on righting the wrongs of the past, & breaking viscous cycles. She always tries to do the right thing, & cares. She treats the criaturas like people , & w/respect-& seeing how they received that from her each time were parts I reread b/c they were so moving, brilliant, & beautiful. Giving power instead of taking it. Showing that love isn’t easy to bare, but it’s worth it all. She shows the truth & beauty of forgiveness-hate only hurts you, doesn’t affect the recipient at all. I had such an incredible time on this journey w/Cece, Coyote, & Little Lion. Can’t wait to see what this author does next. I need more! This has high stakes, suspense, action, adventure, danger, folklore, strength, family, friendship, loyalty, morality, hope, & a lot of heart. All which make for a very fast-paced read. I can’t express enough how fantastically brilliant this book is, & how much I love it! Read it! Lol Came out yesterday! Highly recommend! Stunning cover by Mirelle Ortega too!💜
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2023
    The loveable protagonist in Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls, by Kaela Rivera, is courageous as she takes responsibility for her actions and sets her mind to rescuing her sister from a powerful dark desert spirit. Shunned by her father and the people in her town, and living in the shadow of her older sister, Cece captures several criaturas to assist her in the bruja fights. Her goal is to win access to Devil’s Alley where her sister is held captive.

    Steeped in Mexican legend, this fascinating story reinforces the importance of being single-minded in purpose, overcoming fear, being resilient when facing obstacles, and loving your family members even when they are critical. There are many delightful turns of a phrase and I found myself pausing to appreciate them. This story is heartwarming and jam-packed with action and hits my list of top recommended reads for middle-graders and those who love to explore other cultures.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2021
    Great story! I could probably read it in a day. It's so well written. I love how it feels so real and speaks to your emotions. It's a wonderful read. I could finish in a day but it has breaks and I don't feel like it's forcing me to turn the next page. I want to read it because it's so fun and enjoyable not because it's too intense.

    It starts out with a little girl being led home by what she's told is a monster/dangerous creature. It has depth and helps you understand that things are not always as they seem. When we forget things, we lose part of ourselves. Fun story, I love it as an adult and I think children could enjoy it too. If only my nieces were older...
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2024
    I started reading this and couldn’t put it down! The story is truly amazing and inspiring!!!!! The journey of family,love and reliance is beautiful showing how important family is.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2021
    I completely enjoyed this wonderful book! It was so interesting to learn some Mexican folklore through these heartwarming characters. The underlying themes of love for family (even when you don’t see eye to eye), true loyalty to friends, and learning to love oneself are so well done. Ms. Rivera’s writing style pulled me in, and I honestly couldn’t put the book down until I finished it. I’ve bought multiple copies and sent them to family and friends who have also enjoyed the story very much. I highly recommend this lovely book.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2021
    This book literally takes you for an adventure. The character building is amazing, ad the strength they have, learning to grow and conquer obstacles no matter what Cecelia Rios faces. Bonding and making new friends showing how to really treat them.
    This is an amazing book and it definitely is a fantastic read. It also has a glossary fror terms used which knowledge is power!
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2024
    As a small child, Cece is rescued by a criatura, a desert 'monster', which her village has been at war with for many years. When the villagers capture this creature, Cece sets her free, earning her a 'curse' of a water-spirit in a village of sun people. The villagers never trust her after that. As an older child, Cece's sister is taken by a criatura and Cece vows to rescue her. The only way is to become a bruja, someone who steals the souls of the criatura and uses them to fight—as a bruja, she'll be even more of an outcast to her people, but she'll have access to the Devil's Alley, where the creature has taken her sister.

    It's hard to judge the plot completely with just the first book, because I know there are other secrets to be revealed in the upcoming books. (Which I intend to read.) Overall, I had fun with the book and I quite liked the story. Cece was kind of irritating and inconsistent at some parts, but overall I liked her just fine. I can't say that any of the other characters were fleshed-out enough for me to care about them.
    I did think it was interesting that there is a very 'familia' concentration of the book...but there are some darker points to the family and how they treat (or treated) each other. It wasn't thrust in my face it was just there. Like family is. Not perfect.

    A few things kept throwing me out of the story. One was some of the timing. Cece decides it's time to get going to this tournament location—not sure where this one is but one was like 2 hours away—and when they arrive, like 2 seconds later it's their turn. That is some seriously ... perfect timing. Like, how are they not arriving way early, to be safe? and why is she not watching all the fights? There was another time when it was morning, Cece goes to the temple, she comes back, and suddenly it's night. There was also this insistence that Cece return home every night...even though she's out and her parents never seem to notice. She never packs food or water for a day trip let alone to stay out overnight—how does she know she'll be back in a couple hours? But in the end these are pretty minor things that can be explained away so I tried to ignore it.
    Also it bothered me a bit how quickly Cece was to accept the criatura as 'people'. I know she's supposed to be a kind little girl and all that, but she was raised in a culture that hates all the criatura. Why isn't she the least bit suspicious or wary...why doesn't she wait until she's had more than 2 seconds of interaction with one of the criatura before she judges them? She is very judgy. Luckily for her it works out in her favor.

    I enjoyed the various creatures and their legends. Of course it's Coyote who is the main one...I guess he's very recognizable.

    I'm looking forward to the next book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2023
    I read this book with my daughters, it was a great story! Cece has so much courage and love for her family.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2021
    I generally don't read a lot of books because I lose interest. This not only caught my interest in the first few pages but held it the whole time! Normally it takes me while to get through books, but this was so interesting I had a hard time putting it down. It's an easy read, and fun, I would recommend it!
    6 people found this helpful
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