Secret of the Moon Conch by David Bowles

Secret of the Moon Conch Reviews

• 
  Carissa

  If I’ve written this for one review I’ve written it for a dozen: I don’t like romance. As a genre or as a subplot. It’s boring, bland, and I have so rarely been genuinely invested in a ship that I couldn’t tell you the last pairing I cared about. Correction: up until five minutes ago I couldn’t; Sitlali and Calizto are now officially my OTP.
  
  Seriously, if you’d told me that I would enjoy a “lovers across time” story this much, I would have laughed in your face. A decent distraction for a few hours, sure! I’d believe that. I never would have guessed I’d spend eight hours itching for this book, bringing it into the kitchen while I cook or the bathroom while I… you get the idea, I couldn’t STOP reading!
  
  Bowles + McCall have written a masterpiece of young adult literature, for real. The juxtaposition between Calizto’s fight with the Spaniards and Sitlali’s battle with immigration and estranged family was delectable. I have to admit I’m more than a little frustrated that Sitlali’s storyline just Ended, no consequences for Samantha or conclusions for the rest of Sitlali’s plights, but I am at the very least not ENTIRELY displeased with the ending. Overall, one of those books I probably never would have picked up myself but I am SO GLAD Penguin sent it to me to review. I would have missed out on something magical.
• 
  The Garden of Eden✨

  Happy Hispanic Heritage Month everyone!!
  
  To me, this is worth 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ there were some things that didn’t fully work for me, but at the end of the day this made me incredibly happy to have read and that’s what I’m gonna focus on.
  
  I love a historical fantasy romance, with the lovers transcending space and time!!
  
  I’m obviously not qualified to discuss anything relating to the historical and modern aspects of the Hispanic diaspora (Mexican primarily for this novel but colonialism made it so we can’t have nice things), so I’m not gonna talk ab that. Honestly, just read the book please!
  
  This made me feel so much in so little time like how dare you do this to my fragile heart?!?
  
  One thing I will say is that this novel was really short, my version was only a little less than 300 pages. The story and characters would’ve benefited from more fleshing out in some areas, especially since we’re jumping around time A LOT! There were major pacing issues that could’ve been helped by either removing certain parts that are super repetitive, or taking the extra words to flesh out other parts that make it flow better.
  
  Regardless, I love this novel, I need an audiobook of this novel, and I really respect the authors for writing something so impactful that this novel has made me cry no less than three times during my read…
  
  
  Edit- 09/23/23
  
  The more I think ab this, the more I realize it’s deffo a good 4 stars, as the ending was just messy as hell. Still enjoyed it, but damn I felt cheated. So lemme fix that right quick.
• 
  TheNextGenLibrarian

  A YA fantasy romance that defies time and logic.
  🌙
  Sitlali is without a family in modern day Mexico and caught the attention of a local gang leader. With no reason to stay she decides to start the journey towards the US, despite its dangers and peril. Sitlali is on a mission to find her long-absent father and escape the gang leader. Before she leaves she finds a conch shell with Aztec markings. In 1521 Calizto is a warrior fighting against the Spanish to save his land. This was has killed his family and he asks the conch for guidance. The shell brings the two teens together through time and magic.
  🐚
  You all know I’m not a big fantasy reader, but it’s books like these that always have me reconsidering. This was such a heartfelt romantasy that brought two people together who needed one another at a tough time in their lives. Regardless of the magic of this story, ultimately it’s about the connection that can come when you find someone who can relate to what you’re going through. This definitely came across in this book. I got to speak with both authors about this title at the Texas Tea event at #txla23 and am so glad I finally read it!
  
  CW: death, gangs, violence, immigration issues, racism, death of a parent and grandparent (recounted), parental abandonment
  
• 
  Michaela

  I’d be interested in knowing how this book reads with 0 knowledge of the Aztec empire. This book is very inventive and imaginative, a completely unique YA romance when YA romance can be a very stale genre. Though I have my own gripes with the ending, I think this is an important book that should be on all the recommendation and awards lists.
• 
  Chelsea Balparda

  Dnf at 37.1%.I started this quite a bit ago and each time I pick it upto read I have a difficult time staying within the story. I love the concept of it and love the setting and history written. Always looking for different culture's mythology and history within books.
  
  However, it is a bit clunky to me and I personally think the two MCs accepted this wild and crazy situation very readily without many questions. While Sitlali could see her grandmother's ghost, it really didn't elaborate much on any other paranormal or magical instances, other than their faith within things. The characters also fell into emotions for each other very quickly. It's only been a few days and I just find this to be unrealistic, even with this realm.
  
  I really wanted to love this but it fell short for me and made me not want to finish. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read the arc in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Carrie Santo-Thomas

  Precisely the rich, powerful storytelling complemented by meticulous research that I’ve come to count on from David Bowles. The story is an absolute page turner leaving my own family responding to each gasp or sigh with “something real or in the book?” But what readers will discover quickly is that Bowles and McCall masterfully blur that line. Gods and ghosts allow readers a comfortable distance but the reality of the characters’ experiences is unescapable and their call to action is a clarion call for all of us to stand up for one another and against injustice and inhumanity.
  The cover is deceptively playful. Yes, there is an exciting romance (very steamy, very tasteful, would not blush to read aloud in front of my mom) and so much magic. But this is a story well suited to thoughtful study and re-reading. I found myself looking up Nahuatl gods, historic locations, ancient weapons, and contemporary immigration policy -not because I needed to in order to follow the narrative, but rather because it sparked my curiosity and made me want to know more.
  Most of the names and locations and many other vocabulary are Nahuatl, and of course plenty of Spanish too, but you will be just fine. A little dramatic personae and glossary at the beginning was quite helpful and completely unnecessary once I got going. I imagine the audiobook will be outstanding; I am eager to hear how everything ought to be pronounced. But I assure you, reader, you won’t have a problem following.
• 
  Kelsey

  Age: High School-adult
  History: Aztec mythology, Fall of the Aztec empire, Conquistadors
  Tough issues: War and battle, refugee, treatment of illegal immigrants in the US, abandonment by father
  
  What a fascinating concept that kept me hooked from front front to back. Alternating two narrators and two eras, we see the convergence of two fierce, unstoppable young adults as they fight for their lives while connecting to each other via a magical conch shell.
  
  The ending is sure one to talk about! Were they brought together to serve as inspirational saints after their deaths? Had they been killed towards the beginning of the novel and they were going through the Aztec version of purgatory (which Sitlali's mother is described as going through)? Why did the Moon Goddess give them the shell?
• 
  kingsley

  i liked it!! abrupt ending tho, but overall was fine with it.
• 
  SpellsBooksandKrystals

  So, I dove head first into a fantasy romance novel knowing full well I don’t do “romantasy.” However, I love the blurb and the cover too much not to give it a try.
  
  I was both right and wrong about this book. I both loved AND hated it. Let’s start with the hate because it’s the smallest teeniest amount of dislike that stems one hundred percent from the romance. It was cheesy. It was flowery AND cheesy. Slightly cute but super cheesy.
  
  “I love you, my sweet Sitlali. Through time and space, and everything beyond, I love you.”—SUPER cute but heavy on the cheese. The expression of this kind of love is lost in English. It needs a love language. What I would give to be able to read and understand this in Spanish.
  
  Now, that we're done with that. Let’s head to the good because there’s so much more great writing and storytelling in this book than there is cheesy love story. In fact, the greatness of the other themes and storylines in the novel is what makes me dislike the romance altogether. It feels like it takes away from the other aspects of the main characters’ plights. And, those main characters are two such extremely endearing characters that the love story kind of cheapens their greatness.
  
  Sitlali is a seventeen year old girl living in Zongolica, Mexico. Her father left for America when she was a child, abandoning her and her mother. Her mother dies of a broken heart. She is left in the care of her grandmother. When her grandmother dies shortly before the beginning of the book, Sitlali is basically all alone in the world. To escape being entrapped by a local gang member, Sitlali makes a break for the US border. Mind you, this book takes place in 2019, so there is a lot of heat around illegal border-crossings. The journey that Sitlali takes in order to cross into the US is one of nightmares. In fact, the life she is thrown into after crossing the border is also one of nightmares. She basically runs from one traumatic event to the next. But, she is not alone.
  
  Through a magical connection that involves a sacred moon conch from the moon goddess Coyolxauhqui, Sitlali shares emotions and experiences with Calitzo, a teenage warrior in early 1500s Mexico. For his time, Calitzo is a man. He is the last of his line as the Spanish attack and kill his family and people all around him. Just like Sitlali, he finds himself moving from one traumatic and murderous event to the other. The connection they share and the relationship that grows between them is one born out of loneliness. They each fulfill a hole in each other’s hearts. Their relationship gives off a found family vibe (which is probably another reason why the romance seems off to me). I would have much preferred a loving friend relationship. Everything doesn’t have to be about romance, at least not in the beginning. There are other stronger forms of love.
  
  The underlying message of this book is about colonization, enslavement, and cultures trying to continue to exist in a world that prefers the default culture. This book pulls zero punches when discussing both the massacre of Mexican natives and the detainment of Mexican immigrants at the US border during the Trump regime. Seeing the US border crisis through the eyes of Mexican and Mexican-American perspectives helped me to understand those conditions even more than when I saw it on the news in 2019. The history of the Mexica people was extremely educational. Learning about Cuauhtemoc, Moteuczoma, and their gods and goddesses makes me want to dive into as many references as I can to learn more about the Nahua and other indigenous people of Mexico. I thoroughly enjoyed going to Google and Wikipedia every other page to look up former emperors, empresses, words, languages, and events from Mexico’s past. I also appreciated the inclusion of Ofirin, an African slave stolen from his land and brought to Mexico by the Spaniards. Thanks to both the authors for not making Africans and people of African descent disappear when telling important aspects of history.
  
  Romance aside, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Sitlali and Calitzo’s stories. May they live long fictional lives because they have both struggled enough!
  
  Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books/Bloomsbury YA for providing an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily.
• 
  Jessie

  I don’t know where to begin with this story. It was absolutely incredible, a page turner, filled with incredible history.. A must read!
  
  I fell in love with the MCs from their first introduction “Sitlali” and “Calizto” and their cross over time love story had me clutching my imaginary pearls.
  
  But don’t get confused, this novel is so much more than just a Fantasy Romance, this is about the Fall of the Aztec empire and how we get a little insight in the form of fiction through the eyes of our warrior Calizto.
  
  To the cruel reality filled with violence, immigration and death of our present time in Mexico through the eyes of our FMC Sitlali..
  
  I was not prepared for the ending and I am honestly still processing that.. so.
  
  Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury for a copy of this incredible novel in exchange of an honest review.
• 
  Pine Reads Review

  “No matter what the new moon may bring, you will always be a part of me.”
  Both Sitlali and Calizto have one mission: survival. However, their circumstances could not be more different. Seventeen-year-old Sitlali must escape the perils of modern-day Zongolica, a Mexican municipality overrun by gang violence and drug lords. Calizto, also seventeen, lives in the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan circa 1521 and must defend his home from the vicious attacks of Spanish colonizers. Though the two are centuries apart, they are brought together by a magical conch shell, which allows them to communicate. As Sitlali and Calizto support and guide each other through their respective battles, their connection grows. They fight for their lives and freedom, desperate to find safety in worlds where danger lurks at every turn. As they discover comfort and happiness in each other, they begin to wonder why the conch shell unites them and if they may share a future together.
  
  Secret of the Moon Conch was unique and impeccably well-researched, allowing the authors to immerse readers in unfamiliar worlds. Sitlali’s chapters displayed emotional depth and were easily understandable for a contemporary audience. The prose is beautifully written, featuring vivid imagery. Conversely, I found Calizto’s chapters difficult to keep up with. I appreciated the integration of authentic vocabulary, but I wish definitions were included in the text or made more apparent through context clues. I constantly flipped back and forth between the text and the glossary, which took me out of the story. I was also shocked by the graphic violence featured in his chapters, which felt slightly excessive for young adults. Secret of the Moon Conch shines the brightest when the conch shell allows the two characters to read each other’s minds and see through each other’s eyes. The parallels between Calizto’s and Sitlali’s experiences are thoughtful and well-planned. Though their situations are distinctly different, their plots move at the same pace. However, the protagonists understand the elaborate powers of the conch shell easily, which felt unrealistic and made it difficult to follow along as a reader. Because their situations are so complex, the solutions seem oversimplified. The romance in this novel also felt oversimplified. Despite the hurried nature of the relationship, the intimate scenes are appropriate for seventeen-year-olds, from discussing consent to avoiding overt explicitness.
  
  In a world full of trope-based young adult novels, David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall gave readers a book like none other.
  
  (Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.)
  
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• 
  LizardsareDinosaurs

  Her father disappeared to the US without contact years ago, her mother died of a broken heart, and now a dangerous gang member wants her as his girl. 17-year-old Sitlali has nothing left in her Veracruz hometown, just the ghost of her abuela watching over her, and she has decided to make the trek north to the border. The night before she leaves she finds a conch with inscrutable rune markings on the beach.
  
  500 years in the past, Calitzo has lost everyone he loves to smallpox. Inside the Mexica city-state of Tenochtitlan, he trains with other teen boys in preparation to fight off the Spanish invader Cortés who holds the city under seige.
  
  Somehow, the conch connects Sitlali and Calitzo across space and time and they each guide each other in their journeys.
  
  I really enjoyed the immersion we got into 1500s Tenochtitlan and the juxtaposition of Mexica peoples' struggles in two different times. The connection across time allowed for the two main characters to form a unique romance based on deep understanding of each other. Though I felt like some of the traumatic things, especially in Sitlali's time, were rushed through without time to process, there is a lot going on in two different centuries, and perhaps makes sense in that Sitlali's only half-living in her own time at this point.
  
  This is a very enjoyable historical adventure with some time-traveling and a love story mixed in, as well as a celebration of the resilience of the indigenous peoples of Mexico.
• 
  Anna G

  Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, David and Guadalupe for this wonderful novel.
  
  4.5/5 stars.
  
  General Description: Love knows no bounds, especially for Calizto and Sitlali. We follow 2 timelines: Calizto is trying to protect himself as Tenochtitlan starts to fall, while Sitlali is escaping gangs in Mexico to join her father in the US. Both Calizto and Sitlali hold a moon conch near and as the moon gets fuller, their connection gets stronger. Will Calizto and Sitlali be able to get to safety in their respective timelines, or will something worse than heartbreak happen?
  
  All the good:
  - The historical aspect is magnificent.
  - The present day setting is heartbreakingly accurate and left me anxious while reading, in the best way possible.
  - The love story is absolutely beautiful and made my heart smile.
  - This was extremely fast paced and I saw no twists or turns coming if I'm honest.
  
  The loss of a half star:
  - To me, the ending left me with questions which left me unsettled. If there is a sequel to this book, I'll change my rating to a 5/5 stars.
  
  Overall: If you like historical romances, I feel like this will be right up your alley. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
• 
  Atticus

  High action, high fantasy, high romance - this book may clock in as a tome at almost 400 pages, but it flies by. Crimson Peak vibes paint this border crossing, Spanish colonizer defying, time traveling fantasy-romance that pulls no punches and completely immerses the readers. I think this will appeal to teens who like romance, fantasy, military fiction, history, or books about the current social climate. Sitlali and Calizto have a deep relationship that is so strong it keeps me from questioning how quickly they bonded. Every part of this was a roller coaster, with not a single scene wasted. One of the best books I've read this year
• 
  Ashley Urquhart

  DNF pg 102 - This one just wasn’t really for me. I found the writing to be a little clunky which made it feel like a slog to read. I’m not the biggest fan of “cross-time romances” to begin with and thought the characters accepted their communication a little too readily. I skimmed the ending and it seems like the book addresses some recent events regarding immigrants which I think is great.
  
  Note: I received an advanced copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Aly

  This was such a beautifully written, compelling story. There were so many intriguing and interesting elements woven in throughout the story that I genuinely enjoyed learning about. Even though this is a romantic fantasy, there is a lot of historical elements and cultural aspects in there that give the story depth and balance. I really enjoyed this one!
• 
  Zinnia Bayardo

  David Bowles and Guadalupe Garcia McCall have crafted a literary masterpiece that seamlessly blends history, mythology, and contemporary struggles, creating a narrative that is as timeless as it is poignant. This 5⭐️ novel is an absolute must-read for those looking for a heartfelt and mesmerizing journey across time and culture!
• 
  Grey

  Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for an eARC, all opinions are my own.
  
  DNF- 33%
  
  This book wasn’t bad my any means I’m just not the right reader for it. I was having a lot of trouble keeping up with what was happening between the different perspectives and the pacing felt too slow for my liking.
• 
  Patricia

  Definitely a young adult book! First I've read that looks at the 1500's, Aztec Empire and the Spanish conquest. Interesting perspective as the authors correlate the conquest to the situation in the US with immigrants from Mexico. I can only imagine what it is like to be a minority and the struggles they still face today.
• 
  Steven Kim

  Lovers separated through time learn the secrets of the moon conch to help them navigate the invation of the Spanish in the past and the harsh realities of immigration. A well written historical-fantasy novel with a that parallel's the atrocities of the past with present day dystopian detention centers. Entirely enthralling.
• 
  Adina Cooper

  The Secret of the Moon Conch is a 2023 young adult fantasy novel by David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall. It tells the story of two teenagers, Sitlali and Calizto, who are separated by centuries but connected by a magical moon conch.The Secret of the Moon Conch is a beautifully written and moving novel.
• 
  Deborah Zeman

  A fantasy romance I just couldn’t get into. The last chapter and the epilogue seemed too ambiguous to me. Did Sitlali live? Were they really able to “transport” through time and space to be together? While there were a lot of interesting historical facts and true to life scenarios, the love story of it just seemed too far reaching to keep my interest.
• 
  Tom

  2.5 - I was super interested in Sitlali and Calizto’s individual stories. But I really struggled with the inter dimensional love story between them. It felt unnecessary and the dialogue felt trite and forced, detracting from the urgency and horror of their individual situations.
• 
  Claire Wrobel

  found from SLJ newsletter
• 
  Meg GlitteryOtters

  3.5 stars
• 
  2TReads

  This was lovely. I loved the melding of history and contemporary issues. The blossoming love between Sitlali and Calixto was too sweet.
• 
  CYBILS Awards

  Recommended to us by @NextGenLibrarian