#cemeteryboys

[enbydeath]

Putting aside my worry about Yadriel’s binding habits, him just being trans was sort of mind blowing. Like I don’t want a dramatic coming out scene, I want a ghost boy to scribble out my dead name and nothing else

#cemeteryboys #yadriel x julian #yadriel vélez flores

[taliejane]

EXCUSE ME LOOK AT HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS CEMETERY BOYS INSPIRED ART IS IM DYING I-

Look at this... 👀 https://pin.it/26wq69r

https://pin.it/26wq69r

#books #booklr #reading #booktwt #reader #cemeteryboys #aidenthomas #booksinstagram #book aesthetic

[gabiioartist]

“Why do you have to prove anything to anyone?" "It’s just how it is, how it's always been. In order for them to let me be a brujo—" "You don't need anyone's permission to be you, Yads” cemetery boys, Aiden Thomas

Cemetery boys was really cute and really good and made me cry! really recommend it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eLhv39CRiE&ab_channel=gabiioartist

#cemetery boys #cemeteryboys #Aiden thomas #Cemetery boys aiden thomas #book art #book review #fanart #gabiio #this book was a really good romance! Yads was a really good character I loved him a lot! #Go watch the full review on my youtube please<3

[productiveborg]

But belonging meant denying who he was. Living as something he wasn't had nearly torn him part from the inside out. But he also loved his family, and his community. It was bad enough being an outsider; what would happen if they just couldn't--or wouldn't--accept him for who he was?

Cemetery Boys

#ilovethisbooksomuch #bookblr #studyblr #studious-vulcan #cemeteryboys #books #bookquotes

[antoniab93-blog]

Cemetery Boys

My 58th read of the year was Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas. This story follows a trans boy hoping to be accepted in his supernatural Brujx Community and the spirit he accidentally summons, all while mysterious deaths & disappearances are happening

My 58th read of the year was Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas. I’ve wanted to read this for ages, so I was really excited to finally get to it! A brief summary Yadriel is part of a community of Brujx, witches and wizards of LatinX descent who are the appointed guardians of their local cemetery’s. Yadriel is a trans boy, looking to be accepted in his community in the roles of the Brujo’s, who…

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#aidenthomas #bookblog #booklove #bookreview #bookreviewblog #books #Cemeteryboys

[lesparaversdemillina]

Cemetery Boys d'Aiden THOMAS

Vivez une aventure mystique et magique aux côtés de Yadriel avec Cemetery Boys d'Aiden Thomas. Quinces, dias de los muertos... Une histoire intemporelle !

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#cemeteryboys #9782384490530 #ACTUSF #Aiden Thomas #éditions voolume #Cemetery Boys #Loïc Richard #personnage transgenre

[pettybookreviews]

My name is Zak Bagans, I never believed in ghosts till I came face to face with them. These are my ghost reviews:

I was very excited about this book. It's the representation we need. Not only does it highlight a culture of a people that seems sparse within the fantasy genre but its trans representation. Something that I think we are in desperate need of lately, and to be written from the mouth of babes, so to speak, really give a fresh take on the lives of trans kids and people, without being completely harsh and unforgiving.

https://wonderfullybookish.co.uk/cemetery-boys-aiden-thomas/

Firstly, can we all take a beat to appreciate the beauty of the cover? Even if I did not know about this book, I would have bought it solely for the art. I bought a hardback copy and under the protective sleeve is a beautiful deep red with a golden embossed rose. Visually, it's a stunning masterpiece.

The characters within the story are very developed. They feel real and are easy to become attached too. The protagonist is likable and you really root for him to succeed and throughout you’re struggling to not get too attached to the ghost (aka Julian), but it's impossible to not feel protective of him.

As much as I loved this book, it was overshadowed by some inconsistencies for me: ghost contact. There does not seem to be any rules to what Julian can or can't interact with. First, he's walking through grave stones and sinking into coffins, but then he can walk upstairs and sit on beds? It kind of threw me off. It might be something as simple as him gaining more control the longer he's a ghost, but as it's not addressed in the narrative, it kind of makes it less believable. All the work put into creating a whole magical system is overshadowed by the invisible phantasma. 

#book #bookreviews #cemeteryboys #booktok #aiden thomas #ghosts #ghost adventures

[bookperusing]

I was making a reel yesterday for Holi and these naked hardcovers just looked so pretty that I had to take a picture too😂 ✨ Books in the picture: ★ Lady Midnight by @cassieclare1 ★ Winter's Orbit by @everina_maxwell ★ Tokyo Ever After by @emikojeanbooks ★ The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by @veschwab ★ The Last Graduate by @naominovik ★ The Fascinators by Andrew Eliopulos ★ A Court of Silver Flames by @therealsjmaas ★ The Night Circus by @erinmorgenstern ★ Unravel the Dusk by @elimpix ★ Cemetery Boys by @aidenschmaiden ★ Aurora Rising by @amiekaufmanauthor and @misterkristoff I really recommend all these books if anyone is looking for adding more books to their TBR! ✨ Q: Have you read any of these books? ✨ [Tags: #colourfulbooks #ladymidnight #jemma #white #wintersorbit #tokyoeverafter #theinvisiblelifeofaddielarue #blue #thelastgraduate #green #acosf #acourtofsilverflames #nessian #orange #thenightcircus #unravelthedusk #red #cemeteryboys #maroon #aurorarising #black #rainbow #nakedcovers #hardcover #hardcoverbooks #bookrecommendations #mustreads ] https://www.instagram.com/p/CpiOJfjo7oO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#colourfulbooks #ladymidnight #jemma #white #wintersorbit #tokyoeverafter #theinvisiblelifeofaddielarue #blue #thelastgraduate #green #acosf #acourtofsilverflames #nessian #orange #thenightcircus #unravelthedusk #red #cemeteryboys #maroon #aurorarising #black #rainbow #nakedcovers #hardcover #hardcoverbooks #bookrecommendations #mustreads

[attentionspoilers]

Cemetery Boys

Cemetery Boys è il romanzo d’esordio di Aiden Thomas, uno young adult con i fiocchi capace di unire il folkore messicano a questioni di fondamentale importanza come l’identità di genere senza mai cadere nel banale. Il libro, edito in italiano da Mondadori, è stato pubblicato nel 2020 e in poco tempo è riuscito a conquistare i lettori, diventato immediatamente uno dei casi della letteratura queer…

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#lgbtq+ #aidenthomas #cemeteryboys

[brittklein18]

[enbydeath]

#cemeteryboys

[taliejane]

Book Review: Cemetery Boys

Title: Cemetery Boys

Author: Aiden Thomas

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Latinx, Magic.

Themes: Love, Trans Rights, Coming of Age, Family, Identity, Acceptance, Death and Loss.

Plot Summary:

Cemetery Boys follows the story of Yadriel, a sixteen year old boy growing up in a community of witches (Brujx) in Los Angeles. Girls and boys in his community are usually granted their full powers and magical duties when they turn fifteen, but Yadriel was denied this right as a trans boy. Desperate to prove himself to his family and community, he sets off on a mission, with his fierce and loyal cousin Maritza as back-up, and accidentally summons the ghost of a former schoolmate. Now racing against the clock to prove himself before the big Dia de Muertos celebration in a few days, Yadriel and Maritza also need to figure out how to help Julian pass on to the land of the dead.

Review:

Before I get to any spoilers, I want to say this book is beautiful in every way. It is a coming of age story, filled with the innocence of teenage love and the complexities of personal identity and community. The characters are intriguing and yet familiar, and the plot is gripping. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone looking for a queer romance filled with trans joy, hope, optimism, and acceptance. The struggles of being trans are very much rooted in reality, but the characters are allowed to live unapologetically and be seen for who they are. And have a happy ending. I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Okays SPOILERS AHEAD:

I usually struggle with fantasy stories. Complicated world building and fantasy rules can tend to take me out of the flow of the story. This isn’t a flaw in that genre, it’s just a personal thing. So when this story began with Yadriel and Maritza preparing to perform a magical ceremony, I was initially a bit worried I would have similar problems with this book. But I needn’t have worried. This book drew me in immediately (and then held me in tight, comforting hug throughout and devastated me but that’s by the by…).

Yadriel and his family belong to the brujx community in Los Angeles, USA. Brujx is the gender neutral plural term used in the book to mean witches (unfortunately in English we don’t really have a group noun for witches and wizards…maybe wix?). The author uses the imagery of the cultural practices of the brujx, informed by the real Mexican festival of Dia de Muertos, to illustrate the setting. Throughout the story, the magical community is preparing for the return of their ancestors to the land of the living, so the cemetery which they all live beside, is filled with the activities of preparation. I felt this constant energy added a lot of momentum to Yadriel's quest, naturally raising the stakes as all of the characters busily worked towards the approaching festival.

The setting being a cemetery sounds a bit strange maybe, but the story never feels dark or gloomy. The subject of death is consistently surrounded by a feeling of optimism. Death, loss and grief are important themes throughout, but the brujx are so sure of the beauty of the next life that the plot doesn’t feel distinctly sad. Of course, they also know they will see their loved ones once a year. Death, personified by the deity Lady Death, is a friend and protector to the brujx. For Yadriel, she is a universal force which confirms his gender and his purpose, when others in his community have not yet. The only time Lady Death becomes an adversary, is in the final act. When Tio Catriz’s plan is revealed, Yadriel and Maritza decry the unfairness of Miguel, Julian, and the other two vicitim’s unnatural deaths. I particularly loved Maritza’s reaction here, but more on that later. Also, Catriz’s death is punishing, a direct result of his evil plot. He is the only character denied a hopeful death.

The imagery of the festival is beautiful throughout. The golden and oranges of the marigolds, the portajes which the brujos carry, the papel picado and on and on.

Inside the gates, it was like walking into another world of golden light and color.

They (the author) even uses smells like the apple smell of the marigolds or the sour smells of death, as an effective shorthand for when Yadriel feels comfort and family, connection to his culture and to his ancestors, or when he feels fear and loss, or threatened. Gold doesn’t only enliven the plot, it also represents life itself in the text. Julian’s life escapes him in golden wisps of smoke. When Lady Death appears, she brings marigold petals and the smell of apples.

I always felt like the details of the magical elements in the story complimented the flow of the plot and the character’s personal development, rather than taking me out of their journey. Basically, the imagery made me FEEL the scenes with Yadriel. It added colour to them.

The characters are also beautifully written. I can’t stop using the word beautiful for this review, sorry! But that’s just how it felt.

Yadriel is a delightful main character. Responsible, loving and yet brave and rebellious. His community and traditions are deeply important to him, and yet he also doesn’t shy away from criticising his Lady Death when he sees injustice

Yadriel to lady death Anger and betrayal boiled in Yadriel’s gut. “Then why did you even come?” he spat.

Yadriel values the acceptance of his family more than anything, and desperately craves inclusion as a brujo. Something Julian can’t understand at first.

“Just because Yadriel had forgiven {his family} didn’t mean he did.”

Julian chose his family. I loved how the boys come to understand each other’s definitions of family and how it strengthens their own understandings of each other too. The found family Julian loves so much is supportive and inclusive, a real example of how many queer people find everything they deserve in people they choose rather than those they found themselves with.

One of Julian’s first lines is “Who let me in a church?”. I love my son so much. He is caustic and sassy, but also empathetic and caring. He supports and defends Yadriel, despite a lot of the other character’s describing his tough guy exterior. When Yadriel’s classmates share some unkind rumours about Julian, he is deeply hurt and clearly used to defending himself and his close ones from prejudice and stereotypes. I found it interesting, and quite sad at times, that Julian seemed more concerned with his family and friends being bad-mouthed than his own fate. In fact, Julian is strangely accepting of his own death.

Acceptance is the other big theme that runs through this story. Yadriel seeks acceptance as a brujo. Catriz is motivated by the rejection of his community. The community and Yadriel’s father and grandmother learn to accept Yadriel. Acceptance of his friends is one of the things that warms Yadriel to Julian, after he was generally more cautious about the boy's more caustic nature.

There are moments throughout the plot here Julian shows Yadriel how things can be seen differently. Like family vs found family. Proving himself vs demanding to be himself no matter what etc. That Yadriel doesn’t necessarily need to be accepted by his family to be himself. Julian is more unapologetic about taking up space in the world than Yadriel. Which is ironic because for most of the story he’s literally a ghost.

“You ready?” Julian asked, a curious look on his devastatingly handsome face.

“No,” Yadriel confessed, his voice tight.

Julian grinned. “Do it anyways”.

I also absolutely ADORED Maritza. She is fierce and unapologetically herself. She has magic but refuses to be a bruja if she has to use animal blood. Her respect must be earned, even by deities. One of my favourite passages was when she was shouting at Lady death,

“Some goddess you are!” a familiar voice all but screamed. {…} “You’re nothing but a coward!”.

I’ve already mentioned that the pacing of this story is very well done, and I found the plot flowed very comfortably. The dialogue is also written brilliantly. The quippy back-and-fourths between Yadriel, Julian, and Maritza throughout add humour and a lightness to the story. Julian tends to be relaxed where Yadriel is not. They balance each other well, which lends to their gradual warming to one another and growing closer. But Julian needed someone to remind him how valued he is by those he loves, something Yadriel knew about himself.

I would have liked to see more of Diego. The theme of brotherhood and siblings is touched on a bit with Rio (Julian’s brother and guardian). Yadriel feels misunderstood by Diego, who is a full brujo and clearly closer to their father. But this isn't explored much in the plot (and honestly, there probably wasn’t enough room for it) and might be an interesting element for the sequel.

Family and the different understanding and concepts of family is a big theme.

Catriz notes that his victims were easy to find, because they were people no one would notice were missing. People with no homes or family.

Yadriel draws strength from his mother’s love and acceptance for him. It motivates his ultimate sacrifice for Julian and Miguel. Also, when Yadriel’s father and grandmother ultimately realise how important it is that their community grows in acceptance of Yadriel, they are apologetic and loving. This was a really beautiful way of showing how generations can progress and accept each other, and traditions can evolve and change.

The question of falling out of the gender binary was still open by the end of the story for me. I wonder how the Brujx would treat a non-binary wix?

I feel like I could make this review so much longer but I better stop. I gave this but a well deserved 5/5 and cannot wait to read more from Aiden Thomas!!!

#books #booklr #reading #booktwt #booksinstagram #reader #booktok #book aesthetic #book blog #booksbooksbooks #favourite #lgbt books #lgbtbooks #cemeteryboys #aiden thomas #book review #goodreads #storygraph

[starlightbooktales]

» Do you read the synopsis or just jump in? hello my friends, I like to just jump into a book. I find it very fun! But if I am not really feeling a book, I will go read the synopsis to see if it’s the kind of book I want to read. » challenges:. ✦ #tumblesoverbooks - witches » hashtags:. #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #ilovebooks #readingislife #witches #bookwitch #thispoisonheart #witchhaven #cemeteryboys #wickeddeep #yafantasy #bookishflatlay #yafantasybooks (at Boise, Idaho) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVGQacmr6O0/?utm_medium=tumblr

#tumblesoverbooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #ilovebooks #readingislife #witches #bookwitch #thispoisonheart #witchhaven #cemeteryboys #wickeddeep #yafantasy #bookishflatlay #yafantasybooks

[bronson]

@projectliteratureevent 01 : 2020 releases — cemetery boys, aiden thomas Julian was unleashed,
brilliantly burning.

#cemetery boys #cemeteryboys #cb #cemetery boys edit #cemeteryboysedit #aiden thomas #edit #projectliterature #plpurpleteam #lit #litedit #lit edit #litofcoloredit

[angelicflowergay]

Should I make an Incorrect cemetery boys quotes tumblr? Like one of those incorrect ___ quotes tumblr but for cemetery boys? Because, i just finished the book 30 minutes ago and finished looking through most of the tag on tumblr and Idk, I think it would be fun. Also thinking about writing some stuff on ao3 for it too, cuz there's like,,,3 works.

#thoughts? #cemeteryboys #cemetery boys #cemetery boys spoilers

[megnessss]

I jst finished with chapter 3 of cemetery boys and I want art for it so I can get my head around their body dynamics but there’s NO ART?!!!!! How can there be no arttttttt for ittttttt????? Someone help meeeeee before I go crazyyy!!!!! #cemeteryboys #cemetery boys

#cemetery boys #cemeteryboys