This month, I read Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, a young adult urban fantasy novel with queer and trans representation. From the first chapter, I immediately adored the main character, Yadriel: a transgender gay teenager growing up in a close-knit Latinx family in Los Angeles. Everyone in Yadriel's family has magical powers - the women can heal wounds and cure illnesses, and the men can communicate with deceased spirits and release them to the afterlife.
However, Yadriel's family members are hesitant about accepting his gender transition and refuse to let him participate in his own coming-of-age ceremony to receive his powers and become a brujo (a male witch). But that doesn't stop Yadriel from conducting the ceremony on his own in secret, with help from his cousin, Maritza - Yadriel's vegan cousin who refuses to use her healing powers because they require animal sacrifice. What follows is a supernatural mystery that kept me on my toes, along with a teenage romance between the main character and the ghost that he accidentally summons, the handsome bad-boy Julian Diaz.
This book was surprisingly funny, in addition to some genuinely gruesome moments. The characters in the book talk and act like real teenagers, adding some grounded realism to this highly fantastical story. Best of all - a sequel has been announced with a release date of Fall 2024! Honestly, I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially if you love urban fantasy but have been wanting more queer characters - 10/10.
-Artemis Asbury, Co-Owner of Epic Quest Books