Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls

By Kaela Rivera

Book #1 in the Cece Rios series

A girl must master forbidden magic to rescue her sister from a desert spirit.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 1,687 ratings

352 pages

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Bookroo's summary

In the perilous town of Tierra del Sol, Cece Rios faces a daunting challenge: her sister Juana has been taken by a dark spirit. To save her, Cece must defy her community's laws and become a bruja, mastering forbidden magic. With the enigmatic criatura Coyote as her ally, Cece embarks on a daring quest into Devil’s Alley. Can she rescue Juana and redefine what it means to wield such power, all while keeping her mission a secret? The stakes are high, and the desert spirits are watching.

From the publisher

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.

Awards

Cybils Award (2021)

At a glance

Format
Pages: 352
Reading age: 9–12
Audience: Middle Grade

Themes & topics

Books about culture Books about Mexico Books about siblings Books about places and regions

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Scary Villains and Characters

The story centers on witches and fanciful creatures, some of which could be scary to sensitive readers.

For readers who can't stop at one