An Encantadora's Guide to Monstros and Magic

Encantadora #1

by Sarah J. Mendonca

Encanto meets Oceans 8 in this middle-grade fantasy-adventure, set in a Portuguese-inspired world, following a tween girl who joins a notorious band of thieves to steal a priceless jewel and discovers corruption that must be stopped.

Rosa Coelho has spent her whole life hunting monstros, wandering the city streets with her best friend Tiago, and dreaming of a better life for herself and her grandmother. And in a society that favors the rich and educated, every piece of knowledge comes with a hefty price, even the most basic books Rosa’s family needs to trap monstros.

So when the powerful Ministério dos Monstros threatens her family’s struggling Encantadora shop, Rosa only has two weeks to scrape together the money for their debts. It seems like an impossible task… until Rosa tricks her way onto an infamous thief crew as their magical safecracker.

Thrust into the world of high class luxury and betrayal, Rosa is pulled into a scheme with the highest possible stakes: stealing from the Ministry itself. She must learn to trust her magical abilities and her crew—for if the heist goes wrong, everything she loves is forfeit.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Audiobook, Adventure, Fiction, Magic, Halloween

368 pages, Hardcover

Published July 8, 2025

About the author

Sarah J. Mendonca is a Portuguese-American author of magical books about misfits finding their own way in the world. Raised on her father’s bedtime stories, Sarah started writing about monsters at age eight and hasn’t stopped since. You can find her haunting dark forests, lurking in bookshops, or buried underneath her enormous tea collection. An Encantadora’s Guide to Monstros and Magic is her debut novel.

Find her on social media @sarahjmendonca

Reviews

[MoonlightCupOfCocoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine a heist with Avatar the Last Airbender elements and a touch of Encanto's vividity and spirit. This is what you get in this new middle-grade fantasy novel set in a Portuguese-inspired world.

The story features Rosa Coelho, an apprentice trapper, who dreams of a better life for herself and those she loves. But in a universe where knowledge is not only power but an exclusive perk, it seems like that odds aren't in her favour. Until one day when she crosses paths with a strange group of misfits with a dream that may just be crazier than anything she could ever concoct.

The world-building is phenomenal. You can picture every corner, every Monstros and every character so vividly in your head. The colours, the scents and the tasty pastries and tea practically jump out of the pages at you. The snippets from various books and guides from the universe that are shared at the beginning of each chapter are such a delightful touch, often leaving me wondering how they’ll fit into the events. You will feel like a part of their world, so much so that you wouldn't want to leave.

But I especially appreciate the attention the author paid to character growth. Rosa especially is written in a manner very authentic to girls her age and she goes through a wonderful transformation. Topics such as true friendship, trust and found families are handled very tastefully and strategically.

Overall the pacing was pretty good. There were a couple twists I didn't see coming and the epilogue clearly teases a sequel. If so, count me in! I cannot wait!!

Finally, thank you to Netgalley and Quill Tree Books for the ARC. All opinions here are my own.

P.S: I would love to see merch based on this universe! Coupled with the gorgeous art style used for the cover? Oh, it would be glorious.

You can also find me on: Instagram

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

An Encantadora's Guide to Monstros and Magic by Sarah J. Mendonca is a third person-POV Middle Grade fantasy. Rosa comes from the bottom rungs of society and spends her time hunting monstros with her best friend Tiago. But Rosa dreams of being a keeper and making a better life for herself and her family. When the opportunity presents itself for her to join a heist and finally fulfill her goals, she takes it but she might lose her friendship with Tiago in the process.

There are a lot of mentions of excrement and farts in this book. It’s common for bathroom jokes to show up at least once in MG, but it was really threaded throughout this book. For readers who like that kind of humor, this will be a pleasure to read. For readers who don’t like bathroom humor, it might feel like a lot. I feel like the appeal of reading this in a classroom setting would be that an educator has a chance to help students not be ashamed of perfectly normal bodily functions that we tend to get more and more embarrassed of as we get older.

The worldbuilding and themes deal strongly with classism. Rosa is on the lowest part of society and she wants to move up in the world but the actual attitudes of the wealthy and powerful are foreign to her. We do see moments of extreme excess, such as the wealthy taking a single sip of tea and then tossing the rest of the cup for a different flavor. In the current climate, it is infuriating to see these reminders, but it’s good for young readers to see these examples so they understand the frustration around modern classism.

One thing I really liked was that Rosa loses Tiago as a friend and she has to earn the respect and trust back of the crew while also recognizing that something is wrong in how she views friendships. And it was so interesting how that came about and how differently Rosa and Tiago view friendship but neither of them are completely wrong.

I would recommend this to young readers who are looking for an introduction to discussing classism and readers of Middle Grade who entire bathroom humor in their fantasy

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, magical fantasy middle grade story that was a perfect cross between Ocean's Eleven and Garth Nix's Abhorsen series. I loved the narration by Frankie Corzo and would definitely recommend for fans of the BB Elston Supernatural Investigations series. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Hallie Rodgers · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

The idea behind the book is super interesting, but it just didn’t quite land for me. To be fair, I think I was probably a little too old for the target audience. The magic system felt confusing — I’m not sure if it wasn’t explained clearly enough or if there was just so much happening at once with all the different types of magic that I couldn’t keep up. The worldbuilding felt a little scattered, but I can definitely see the potential for it to grow in detail and develop in future books.

Even though I didn’t really click with most of the characters (they felt a bit too immature for me, though I think younger readers will empathize with them), the ending still left me curious about what’s going to happen next. The pacing was also slower than I expected, with so many plot threads that I found it hard to tell what the main focus of the story was supposed to be.

I really wanted to rate this one 3 stars because the concept is so fun, and I know it’s the author’s debut. Sarah, I’ll definitely give book two a try when it comes out — I feel like this series has room to grow into something really compelling.

[Marcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Tea Leaves aaaaa all of the members are so adorable I want to hug themmm
It was amazing to see how Rosa grow in this book, how she navigates through life, making friends along the way and learn about herself. Tiago is such a cinnamon roll! But I also love Ward, Emerald, and Jacinto (he annoyed me just a bit but eh I will hug him).
Such a wonderful book! Full of heist and magic and adventure (and food)!

[Shana Targosz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this magical heist! Rosa is a compelling protagonist who effortlessly draws us into her monster-infested world as we learn about her family's history and the traumas she's lived through. She is slow to trust, keeping her armor up around others and terribly afraid that they will discover the secrets she keeps close to her chest. This reluctance to let anyone in is made even more powerful as we find out her backstory and why she believes so strongly that she can only rely on herself (which is, of course, proved wrong later on). After all, heists rely on multiple people working together to pull off a grand theft and they must trust one another to get the job done. The supporting cast of characters are all endearing, with wounds of their own they carry inside themselves. I was hooked by each character's story and found myself rooting for them every step of the way. I'm looking forward to reading book 2!

Come for the heist, stay for the on-point commentary on poverty, oppression, betrayals by those in power, and the powerful and enduring bonds of friendship.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun adventure with many twists, a heart-warming tale and great descriptions to build the scenes! Can’t wait to read the second adventure!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world where you are told to trust no one, Rosa has to trust the members of the mysterious gang she has joined, to steal the priceless necklace that can control monstros (monsters). And the world that Rosa lives in is filled with monsters that will maim and kill you if you don’t know how to handle them.

The description above does not do justice to this book where Rosa is constantly in some kind of danger for the very first page where she almost gets burned by fire slugs. It only gets worse from there. And the thing that she knows, how to pick locks, is not something she has a license for, and yet she knows better than just fighting monsters.

I felt as though I was on a wild ride, the whole time I was reading this. Every chapter I wondered how she would get out of what situation she had landed in. Even things such as falling out with her best friend, held danger, because she could be kicked out of the group of thieves.

The monsters are great, but they are not the true bad guys. It is society itself.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published July 8th 2025. You really need to put it on your TBR list, as well as preorder it. You won’t be disappointed. All the stars.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this through Netgalley.


Following is my best attempts at as spoiler-free review as possible.


An Encantadora's Guide to Monstros & Magic is a thrilling middle grade fantasy heist sure to keep readers turning pages non-stop. Major bonus points for all of the Portuguese cultural influences so seamlessly woven into it. But it's also so much more than that! 


There's a lush magic system and monstros for readers to get to discover, not to mention getting to know each of the crew! There's also the discussion of the value of knowledge and what it means when only the wealthy have access to it as well as the divide between the ministers and the encantadoras. But it takes a more personal approach too, like touching on topics of loss, friendship, and wanting to belong somewhere.


In the middle of all of this is our heroine, Rosa, a trapper with the dream of becoming a keeper. Throughout Rosa's journey we see her grow in the most splendid ways. Others around her change and grow too, but she shines the brightest with all she does (including sometimes messing up the best).


All of this is to say I thoroughly enjoyed Sarah Mendonca's An Encantadora's Guide to Monstros & Magic! I can't wait to see what else she has in store for us.

[Katty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book so much. As the daughter of a Hispanic parent, I was so thrilled to find a book that not only incorporated magic, but a culture I grew up learning about (yes, I am aware this is Portuguese and not Hispanic/Latine), and was geared towards middle school aged kids. I didn't find much of these kinds of books when I was a child, so of course I wanted to read this to sooth a part of me that I never got to as a child.

I opted for the audio version of this book via Netgalley/Harlequin Audio and I wonder if I'd gone with the print version, my opinion of An Encantadora's Guide to Monstros and Magic, would have been different.

As it stands, I didn't love it nearly as much as I was hoping.

While 90% of Frankie Corzo narration was...good, I found her pronunciation of the Spanish/Portuguese words to be so grating and wrong. It felt almost as if they did not speak the language or tried to learn the proper pronunciation.

I know that's harsh to judge a book or even a narrator like that, but it completely took me out of the story. I struggled to get through this book because of it. No matter how much I tried to not judge to harshly on that front, it just didn't work for me.

For the overall story, the world building was spectacular. It was honestly one of the strongest parts of the book, and I can tell that Sarah Mendonca put a lot of thought into the world she was shaping.
But it also fell super flat.
I didn't vibe with the characters and at certain points I wanted to smack some sense into Rosa. Then again a lot of the elements of the story, when looking at it through a child's eyes, is about how volatile friendships can be, and how different classes (or even popularity) isn't worth losing those closest to you.

For me as an adult, not my cup of tea. But I know that had I read this when I was a kid, I would have enjoyed this a lot more.

All this with saying that overall, this book was a solid 4 stars but the audiobook was a 2.5-3 star rating for me.

[Paper Privateer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of a middle grade heist fantasy adventure (plus set in a Portuguese-inspired world!) was very appealing to me.

The world of this book is a lot of fun. The monstros and the world system of magic users is interesting and unique. There’s colors and pastries that pop off the page, and Rosa learning to be a better actor helps us learn a lot about the class system. There’s some emphasis on the attitude of wealthy not needing to care about the costs of anything while the poorer people are willing to do anything for a chance at a better life.

I liked the beginning of the book and was excited about where things were going to go, but there were some things that didn’t work super well for me.

I thought the actual heist ended up being not very exciting. There were a few too many “reveals” that didn’t land and not enough tension. I found myself getting bored halfway through. The characters were sometimes a little too simple-minded in what they wanted. I didn’t think that the part where they all have to reveal their secrets didn’t work well. I also didn’t like the “he told me something that changed everything” and then needing to go back to that moment later. I think it can work in TV for something to be hinted at happening and that returning later, but I found it jarring the way it happened.

There’s a lot of mentions of things like farts and excrement and things like that. I usually expect to see more of that in books for readers that are a bit younger than this one, so it sometimes felt out of place to me. The “humor” of that kind of thing doesn’t seem like a great fit for the rest of the book, but I’m sure it may help some readers be entertained with the book.

Overall, it was a fun adventure that some people will connect to but didn’t quite work for me.

[Carla Small · Rating 3 out of 5]

This middle-grade fantasy-adventure delivers a thrilling mix of heists, magic, and social commentary in a lush, Portuguese-inspired world. *Encanto* meets *Ocean’s 8* is an apt comparison, as the novel blends heartfelt family dynamics with the adrenaline rush of a high-stakes theft. Rosa Coelho is a compelling heroine—resourceful, determined, and grappling with the injustices that define her world. Her desperation to save her family’s Encantadora shop makes her an easy character to root for, and the story’s themes of class disparity and knowledge as power add meaningful depth to the adventure.

The novel’s worldbuilding is one of its strongest elements, immersing readers in a society where magic is both a tool and a privilege, tightly controlled by the elite. The Ministério dos Monstros is an intriguing antagonist, embodying systemic corruption in a way that feels relevant and weighty. The heist itself is well-paced, full of clever twists and betrayals that keep the tension high.

However, while the book shines in its atmosphere and premise, some aspects feel underdeveloped. The supporting cast, particularly Rosa’s crew, could have been more fleshed out—though they each have distinct roles, their personalities sometimes blur together. Additionally, Rosa’s transition from street-smart monster hunter to master thief happens rather quickly, making her newfound skills feel somewhat convenient. A bit more struggle or training would have made her arc feel more earned.

Despite these minor shortcomings, the novel is a captivating, fast-paced read with a strong emotional core. Readers looking for a fantasy adventure that balances action with social critique will find plenty to enjoy.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I was drawn to An Encantadora’s Guide to Monstros and Magic, based on the title and it being pitched “Encanto meets Ocean’s 8.” However, the book failed to meet my expectations in that regard.
The world building is perhaps the most interesting aspect, with the Portuguese cultural influences being woven in. The use of magic throughout is also intriguing, particularly in how it’s woven into the power structure of the world.
However, almost everything else fell very flat. The protagonist, Rosa, is very self-absorbed, and while I don’t mind a bit of that, especially to reflect a young character’s narrow point of view and need to grow, she was a drag to spend time with. It also meant that the rest of the heist crew felt woefully underdeveloped by comparison..
And while the writing was fine and the other aspect that kept me going, I found the plot overall rather sluggish, detracting from the promise of action-adventure that usually comes with a heist.
While I was unimpressed with this book, I recognize I’m not the target audience for this book, and reviews generally skew toward the favorable. I recommend giving it a chance if you don’t mind a very flawed protagonist and a somewhat slower-paced take on a heist book.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosa Coelho has spent her entire life hunting monstros, but she and her grandmother have very different ideas of the future. Rosa wants to become a keeper, a magical locksmith, in order to have a better life with more status than an always-on-the-edge-of-poverty. Her grandmother is afraid that if Rosa reaches too high, she will disappear like Rosa's father and uncle. Unfortunately, the family debt is called in and Rosa has two weeks to come up with more money than she has ever seen. Fate intervenes, and she is invited to try out for a mysterious ring of thieves known as the Tea Leaves. Rosa needs to balance the truth with necessity in order to win a place along with her best friend Tiago, but the weight of her lies and her single-minded focus drive a wedge between them. Rosa has to learn trust, something she never had since her upbringing told her to rely only on herself. Without complete trust in her companions, though, the Tea Leaves' venture will fail and Rosa will have lost out on her most valuable friendship, too. The author did a wonderful job of creating Rosa and Tiago's world based on Portuguese culture and culinary arts. I enjoyed reading through Rosa's struggles and the development of other strong characters in the story. I look forward to reading another book by this author.

[Diane Magras · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a delightful book. I was fortunate to read an advance copy, and read it again once it had been published, which felt like a visit to a fascinating friend. It was impossible to put down both times.

The story is a perfect heist. When Rosa learns of the massive financial threat to her family's business and has the opportunity to make a significant sum when the chance to join a famous band of thieves comes up, she goes for for it. She is a brave, eager person, skilled as both a monstros trapper (her aunt's profession) and a keeper (a very skilled safe-cracker, a calling that is very expensive to learn, which was the profession of her missing father). While Rosa is not licensed as the second, she pretends that she is, and thus joins that band of thieves who need those safe-cracking skills.

With strokes like this, the author brings up questions of what makes a moral society. What choices do we have when a society isn't moral, or is treating some of its members unfairly? I loved the heist that is the heart of this book—tension builds constantly among the members of the thief-band, and especially when the heist is on—but I also loved how the story poses so many questions of what *is* the right thing to do, and what to do when you make a mistake. I especially loved that all the major characters have a chance to be heroic. (The cast is so much fun.)

This is a wonderful story, a great book for the classroom (so many issues to discuss!), and a perfect mentor text for students and writers of middle grade alike: I've rarely read a heist so perfectly done. Truly a masterpiece.

[Melissa Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosa is a character kids will root for. Even though it's set in a fantasy world, it shares themes with our society that will resonate with many kids. There is just enough danger, suspense and fantastical scary creatures to keep even the most reluctant readers going. The world building is detailed and vivid--I could see the events unfolding like watching them on screen. It's the type of story that begs for a sequel or series. I can see students wanting to stay immersed in this world longer. For middle grade readers, the themes of trust and friendship are woven expertly through the story without ever feeling heavy handed.

There are also nice touches not found in most children's novels, like the selections from guides written in this world that open the chapters. The cover art is stunning, and begs you to pick up the book and take a look. I'm hoping a copy of this book finds its way into classrooms.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quill Tree Books for the ARC.

[Jennybeast · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love that this is a Portuguese based world, and that the language is throughout. The relative dystopianism of the city rulers is very on point for right now, and the characters choosing to get by however they can in an unfair system resonates. While I understand that a big part of the hero(ine)'s journey is for Rosa to learn how to be a better friend, a lot of her initial complete cluelessness about the damage she does to Tiago's family doesn't ring true to me. It's like she's in this world, but has no understanding of consequences at all. It's got some good aspects -- fast paced, adventure, friend group. It's got a lot of completely unbelievable elements -- the heist group is a bunch of children recruited at random, why would they succeed? It's got an original magical system and an interesting world. Probably appealing to the intended audience, not my cup of tea. The characters just didn't work for me. Stopped at 244.

[Julia Pika · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins Children's Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, I DNF'ed at 40% of the way through.

Rosa is an incredibly self-centered and annoying protagonist. That does not get better as the story goes on. Around the 40% mark her friend breaks up with her and she still thinks she's 100% valid, even though she was 10000% in the wrong.

It also doesn't help that I didn't realize this was a heist book. I personally can't stand heist books but I was willing to give this a shot since it had a strong opening, but nope...it always has those stupid "PROVE YOURSELF WORTHY OF THE HEIST" challenges that do nothing except pad the book.

If the book was more about Rosa and her Grandmother's shop I would've been more interested but alas. Heist.

[Cristy (Quinnbook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge five stars for this story, it was phenomenal. Beyond original and magical, it is perfect for young readers to start reading adventure with a little bit of spookiness. I read it in one sitting and couldn’t get enough of the world building and the fantastical creatures we encountered.

The story centered around Rosa Coelho, and she is trying to have a better life not only for her but for her grandmother. She has a very special occupation and that is to hunt monstros aka monsters. I loved the opening sequence of the book and how each chapter there’s a lesson from her family’s monstros catching techniques. One of my favorite parts was when Rosa meticulously infiltrated into the mysteriously secretive Tea Leaves. Definitely pick this up if you want an original and fast paced story. I can’t wait for its sequel.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun ride!! Middle grade readers are going to love it! Rosa is a monster trapper based out of her grandmother's charm shop. She has plans to move up in the magical ranks, but they can barely afford the awful fees the ministry charges them to practice at all. When it seems like they'll lose everything, an incredible opportunity presents itself: audition for an audacious ring of thieves known for Robin Hood-esque heists. It is a cut-throat competition to see who gets in and the danger increases from there in a winner-take all mission. Fantastic world-building for the magical city setting and the festival that bring people and monsters from all over heightens the drama. And you know Rosa is going to be a favorite character with her love of sweets and pastries!! ARC read

[Natasha P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monsters, magic, and a tween/teen-led heist? That setup sounded right up my alley—but unfortunately, this one didn’t quite land for me.

The story is told entirely from Rosa’s perspective, and she just wasn’t my favorite character. I found myself wanting to dive deeper into the rest of the crew’s backstories rather than spending so much time in Rosa’s head.

That said, the world-building was creative and the action scenes were genuinely fun.

Overall, this was an okay read with a cool concept—I just wish it had focused on a different character or offered multiple POVs.

#AnEncantadorasGuidetoMonstrosandMagic
#NetGalley

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jen Nishi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5really. I enjoyed this one. I found the magic system and ministry system very interesting and the themes of class differences very well developed. It’s very plot focused and I wish it was more character driven. Rosa was very well developed but the rest of the cast of characters were not. It was compared to a middle grade six of crows but other than there being a heist there isn’t much they have in common when really there could’ve been if there had been more world building and character development. Overall it was a fine read. But if you’re going into this expecting six of crows for middle graders, tone down your expectations. Again it was a fine read and I liked the class differences focus and I probably will read the sequel.

[Sarah Niebuhr Rubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this relatable and wondrous tale of a misfit finding her way and her strengths. I was easily drawn into the Azorean Portuguese inspired world, feeling the rhythm of the language, and wishing I could savor the foods sprinkled throughout the story.

An Encantadora's Guide to Monstros and Magic took me away to a land filled with strange and powerful creatures and Rosa Coelho who must capture the monstros to protect everything from restaurant food to the very books we read. It was easy for me to relate to Rosa Coelho as she navigated family, neighborhood, and peer relationships, and aspired to things greater than trapping monstros. Anguish and hope vie for position throughout the story, and I found myself rooting for Rosa even as I wondered whether she was making the right moves.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cutest middle grade fantasy! I would have been obsessed with this book back in middle school & I can’t wait to have kids so they can read it also. It’s the perfect mix of a dark & magical heist intertwined with the author’s Portuguese heritage. The cliff hanger at the end was awesome too.

I’m only knocking off a star because some of the world building needs to be refined. I think a guide at the beginning of the book listing each monstro, and what a keeper vs trapper does, etc would be beneficial to the reader.

✨ Thank you to NetGalley & Quill Books Publishing for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review ✨

[Ande Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun middle grade book with magic, monstros, and a HEIST! There were some fantastic moments in this one! I loved the world-building and monstros. It was easy to picture it in my head. I thought the author did a fantastic job with the atmosphere. My only complaint was that I was not overly connected to the main character. They did grow throughout the book, but I still did not find myself rooting for them enough. But there are fantastic side characters and enough magic to more than make up for it. Heist was a blast too!

Thanks to NetGalley, Sarah J. Mendonca, and HarperCollins for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

[Lay Tonic · Rating 4 out of 5]

***NetGalley ARC***

The biggest thing here is just understanding the different monstros on your own because there is no guide to it or what you need to expect throughout the book. It’s like finding your own Pokémon at this point. Overall story is really good, it just needs to have a guide somewhere about the different monstros that will be encountered, like maybe a prequel should have explained that. It’s a mid grade magic heist which I feel that was perfect for the way the world they lived in was but, that guide would have been golden. The only reason why I knocked some points off. Loved it, looking forward to more from the author though.

[Manon the Malicious · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.75 Stars*

I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this overall. I had some trouble getting through it at first but then I got into the story and couldn't stop reading. I liked the world and the concept, the magic system. I loved how everything was so layered. It really felt like there was several stories in one but in a good way. It was quite well paced and I appreciated the different parts. The ending really made me want to read the next book. It was so smartly done. However, I didn't fully connect to the characters, they didn't feel completely fleshed out. Still, this was a good read and I can't wait to see what happens next!

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75. Fun, high stakes heist. Love how a magical world can capture interest/debt, disparity between the rich and poor, and corruption so well. Ended with a nice enticer to read the next book. Excited to see how Mendonca grows as an author.

A few minor hiccups, I think because this is her debut novel. Pacing felt a little off, a lot happened in a very short time. Also, mentioning a girl’s period on one page and calling it the Moon something wasn’t necessary. Wasn’t sure what statement was trying to be said.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun fantasy heist story. Rosa works with her grandmother (avo) as a trapper, ridding their community of the monstros that make life hard. What she really wants to be, though, is a keeper who learns to create and open magical locks. As they face crippling debt, Rosa auditions for a chance to be part of a famous heist team. She must bond with her teammates as they rehearse a plan that will either get them killed or make them rich. The first in a new series. Recommended for grades 4 & up.

eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss

[Karen Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun and unique adventure! Sarah J. Mendoca introduces us to a society that is steeped very heavily in a class system. It seems that money is the only way to ever advance and thus ‘succeed’ in life. But a small group of kids find themselves set to a dangerous task with continuous unexpected discoveries and deeply hidden secrets. There are beautiful themes of friendship, learning to trust, honesty, and selflessness. And it was really fun to get the Portuguese tie ins. If you enjoy a good story about a heist, like Ocean’s 11, then this book is for you.