Bindle Punk Jefe

September 1, 2024

After the events of Bindle Punk Bruja, Rose Lane should be on top of her world. Instead, she's walking a tightrope of social expectations, hidden agendas, corrupt politicians, and dangerous mob bosses, as her bruja magic spits out curses and unintended consequences while everyone around her waits for her to fall and fail and expose secrets that will get her and her found family killed--or worse. Meanwhile, a hidden enemy waits in the shadows and moves everyone like chess pieces in a game that only they can see. Rose must defeat them before she loses everyone and everything she holds dear. VERDICT Readers who were enthralled by Rose Lane's infiltration of the mob in Prohibition-era Kansas City in the previous book, those who are fascinated by the boundary-blurring Jazz Age (as explored in historical mysteries such as Last Call at the Nightingale by Katharine Schellman), and anyone thrilled by the combination of history, tradition, and magic in Leslye Penelope's The Monsters We Defy and Nekesa Afia's Dead Dead Girls won't be able to turn these pages fast enough.--Marlene Harris

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 15, 2024
After the events of Bindle Punk Bruja (2022), Kansas City flapper and businesswoman Rose Kessler (aka Luna Alvarado) has got a husband, Heck, with money and connections, and a sexy boyfriend, Gio, and she runs a successful and swanky downtown speakeasy. So what if she is now part of the Pendergast machine and still has to hide both her race and her magic from her new society friends? Now she and Heck are setting up the business deal of the year with lumber barons from all across Missouri, but a sudden string of bad luck puts both the deal and her family's safety on the line. Rose feels she has no choice but to reach out to the only other brujas she knows, but their magic is dangerous. Can she trust them? And when it comes down to it, can she trust herself? Mesa's got a knack for rounded characters and relationships, with great dialogue that keeps the plot moving. This is an excellent way to wrap up Rose's story, but fans probably wouldn't be sad if Mesa decided to continue it. Perfect for fans of Alix Harrow's Once and Future Witches (2020); new readers should start with book one for best effect.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 15, 2024
For a bruja running an underground jazz club, life is never simple. Luna, known as Rose around those who don't know about her Mexican ancestry, should feel settled. After all, she's married, has managed to keep her club running, and in this novel's predecessor, Bindle Punk Bruja (2022), defeated the Ku Klux Klan--but therein lie her problems. Her marriage to Heck is one of convenience, protecting her club and her reputation, along with her husband's, whose true affections lie with her brother, Javier. Luna is happy with the arrangement, though it does take effort to hobnob with Heck's elite circle and relegate meetings with her boyfriend, Gio, to secrecy. Defeating the Klan has also left her rattled, raising unsettling questions about her magic and what she can and cannot do. The incident with the Klan has left Javier even worse off, and it slowly becomes clear that something magical is still preying on him, something Luna resolves to deal with herself. But magical threats are not the only dangers encroaching on Luna's carefully constructed life: New men are in town, threatening her business and her family. Luna is determined to save everyone, even as her every solution raises more questions about the nature of magic, identity, and loyalty. Full of the heady energy of the Roaring '20s, the plot trips along between dinner parties and jazz club meetings. The diverse cast, however, highlights the sexism, homophobia, and racism behind the glitter, creating the need for Luna and her community to build a hidden, safe haven. Sexy, magical, and gritty--a fine sequel. (Maps)

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