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A review by kj468
The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Ahhhh the way I am absolutely obsessed with this book. I listened to the audiobook & Vico Ortiz (Jim from OFMD) was the PERFECT narrator choice. Their voice entranced me the entire book; I think I'd happily listen to anything they narrate, but this book was an especially good choice.
The gender representation is EVERYTHING. I fucking loved Mar and their gender expression, the way they described themselves as "mostly a boy, but not entirely." Dami's gender was also *chefs kiss* -- the way they could ebb back and forth in their presentation, actually shifting their bone structure and hair and all the subtle kinds of changes that come with T or E, on a minute-to-minute basis. Mar's journey with their body (I won't spoil) but ahhh, it was such gender euphoria, and so fucking amazing to see represented in a book. I think I feel about this book the way a lot of people feel about Cemetery Boys -- like yes, I loved the story, but beyond that, god the amount I saw myself on the page? Indescribable.
The lore behind demonios and diablos and deals was so well fleshed out, and added so much to the plot. This book is a great example of "magic can only solve as big of problems as it is detailed". When it came time for magic and deals to have significant weight on the outcome of events, the reader understands the intricacies of them so well that it feels reasonable for magic and deals to accomplish what they need to accomplish.
I'm generally not a very visual person when I'm reading. I don't know if it was the author's writing, or Vico Ortiz's voice, but I could so perfectly imagine so many scenes. The ending had some twists that I wasn't expecting, which is always welcomed in a book! The twists made sense and I was happy with them (not always the case when there are twists lol).
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pov: single 3rd person
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rep: transmasc enby MC (they/them pronouns, describes themselves as "mostly a boy, but not entirely"; (approximate) MLM romance; genderfluid secondary main character (Dami); background MLM relationships; protagonists are mostly latinx (& most villains are Spaniards); anti-colonial
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tags: pirates, ~ queer normative, anti-colonial, magical realism, diablos and demonios, adventure
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rate: funny: 2 // ease: 4.5 // spice: 0 (YA) // plot: 5 // romance: 4 // worldbuilding: 5 // magic & lore: 5 // overall: 5
The gender representation is EVERYTHING. I fucking loved Mar and their gender expression, the way they described themselves as "mostly a boy, but not entirely." Dami's gender was also *chefs kiss* -- the way they could ebb back and forth in their presentation, actually shifting their bone structure and hair and all the subtle kinds of changes that come with T or E, on a minute-to-minute basis. Mar's journey with their body (I won't spoil) but ahhh, it was such gender euphoria, and so fucking amazing to see represented in a book. I think I feel about this book the way a lot of people feel about Cemetery Boys -- like yes, I loved the story, but beyond that, god the amount I saw myself on the page? Indescribable.
The lore behind demonios and diablos and deals was so well fleshed out, and added so much to the plot. This book is a great example of "magic can only solve as big of problems as it is detailed". When it came time for magic and deals to have significant weight on the outcome of events, the reader understands the intricacies of them so well that it feels reasonable for magic and deals to accomplish what they need to accomplish.
I'm generally not a very visual person when I'm reading. I don't know if it was the author's writing, or Vico Ortiz's voice, but I could so perfectly imagine so many scenes. The ending had some twists that I wasn't expecting, which is always welcomed in a book! The twists made sense and I was happy with them (not always the case when there are twists lol).
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pov: single 3rd person
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rep: transmasc enby MC (they/them pronouns, describes themselves as "mostly a boy, but not entirely"; (approximate) MLM romance; genderfluid secondary main character (Dami); background MLM relationships; protagonists are mostly latinx (& most villains are Spaniards); anti-colonial
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tags: pirates, ~ queer normative, anti-colonial, magical realism, diablos and demonios, adventure
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rate: funny: 2 // ease: 4.5 // spice: 0 (YA) // plot: 5 // romance: 4 // worldbuilding: 5 // magic & lore: 5 // overall: 5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Dysphoria
Minor: Gun violence and Injury/Injury detail