ALA Booklist (Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

In this electric series opener, an all-star team of Latinx creators tells the story of Cristina, a curandera who is killed by witch owls and revived by her brother, who couldn't bear to lose her. When Enrique brings his sister back from the dead using sacrilegious means, she, like Frankenstein's creature, is rejected by their community. But Enrique's actions gave her surprising powers, and she decides to use her renewed existence and skills for the good of her country and its denizens, with the help of Enrique and a skinwalker called Mateo. Set in a steampunk-inspired nineteenth-century Mexico, the story draws on Indigenous folklore and other traditions, in a fascinating blend of magic and culture, which is very effectively conveyed through Raúl the Third's dynamic artwork, predominantly in black with red and green accents. This first book in a planned trilogy is being released simultaneously in both Spanish and English. Following the comic is a short story that acts as a sort of prequel, telling the story of Cristina becoming an apprentice curandera.

Kirkus Reviews

Mix Fullmetal Alchemist with steampunk in a fictionalized version of 19th-century Mexico, and you have Bowles and Raúl the Third's new graphic series.It's 1865, and Cristina Franco is an apprentice curandera, or healer. The witch owls lay siege to the East Laredo train depot in the Republic of Santander, where she awaits her brother Enrique's return, and despite the best efforts of her green magic, she is fatally wounded. All is not lost, however, as Enrique has been studying alchemy and engineering while he was away at university. He uses his new skills to bring Cristina back and creates mechanical limbs for her. Yet Cristina struggles with this blasphemy, knowing it will result in her expulsion from her curandera community just as the witch owls are rising to terrorize Santander. The pace is fast and clipped, with little time for worldbuilding; even brief flashback scenes can cause more confusion than clarity. Nevertheless, the combination of steampunk and cyberpunk genres in such a novel setting will appeal to many. Readers lacking a familiarity with the mestizo and Indigenous cultures of Mexico may be inspired to learn more in order to fully appreciate this work. Illustrated in black, red, and, occasionally, green ink on a background that mimics the sepia tones of old paper, the dramatic and expressive artwork and creative use of panels greatly enhance the reading experience.A fast-paced genre mashup sure to find a cult following. (maps, author's note, sketches) (Graphic fantasy. 13-18)

School Library Journal (Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Gr 8 Up-After a century of exile, the shape-shifting witch owls have returned to the Republic of Santander to take back the land they feel was wrongly taken from them, by force if necessary. Healer-in-training Cristina Franco Pedregón dies in battle against the witch owls, and her brother Enrique Franco resorts to engineering and alchemy prohibited by the Christian Church to revive her before she is lost forever. Now part machine, Cristina must decide whether to continue her work outside the Church, if she even can. This 19th-century mash-up of magical steampunk and Frankenstein is rich, with ample opportunity to continue building a deep narrative. Illustrations feature visually intricate nods to woodcut art, with limited color; the palette consists predominantly of black on a stucco-textured beige, with pops of red and olive green. A liberal use of patterns such as hatching works well in tandem with loose and untidy lines, while action lines and movement regularly break the panel borders, keeping the philosophically and culturally inclusive story moving at a quick pace. Character representation includes LGBTQ+ and Indigenous North American identities, and Spanish and Indigenous Mexican languages (including Nahuatl, Coahuilteco, Comecrudo, and Karankawa) are present throughout, with footnotes. A prose prequel story about Cristina, an author's note, and sketches are included in the back matter. VERDICT Although this tale is easy to follow, it leaves readers with much to ponder, setting up a historical and magical steampunk world that can only grow from here. For teens who enjoy intellectually stimulating, action-packed tales. Alea Perez, Elmhurst P.L., IL