Beasts of Carnaval

by Rosália Rodrigo

When night descends, el Carnaval de Bestias rises. 

They come chasing paradise…

Within the shores of Isla Bestia, guests from around the world discover a utopia of ever-changing performances, sumptuous feasts and beautiful monsters. Many enter, but few ever leave—the wine is simply too sweet, the music too fine and the revelry endless.

Sofía, a freedwoman from a nearby colonized island, cares little for this revelry. Born an enslaved mestiza on a tobacco plantation, she has neither wealth nor title, only a scholarly pragmatism and a hunger for answers. She travels to el Carnaval de Bestias in search of her twin brother, who disappeared five years ago. 

There’s a world of wonder waiting for her on the shores of this legendary island, one wherein conquerors profit from Sofía’s ancestral lands and her people’s labor. But surrounded by her former enslavers, she finds something familiar in the performances—whispers of the island’s native tongue, music and stories from her Taike’ri ancestors…a culture long hidden in the shadows, thrust into the light.

As the nights pass, her mind begins unraveling, drowning in the unnatural, almost sentient thrall of Carnaval. And the sense that someone is watching her grows. To find her brother and break free, Sofía must peel back the glamorous curtain and face those behind Carnaval, before she too loses herself to the island…

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Adult

400 pages, Hardcover

First published July 29, 2025

About the author

Rosália (she/her) has been in the “immersive story” space for over 8 years, producing visitor experiences for museums and theme parks internationally. She now champions diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility in this space as a DEIA consultant and educator, with the goal of creating work environments and visitor experiences that are inclusive to all—a passion she also extends to her writing. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Rosália now lives in Central Florida with her partner and mischievous cat, Moonbeam.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beasts of Carnaval is an atmospheric novel written in exquisite prose. The setting is fantastic and the premise unique, and it sounds like a novel that should be right up my alley. Unfortunately, though, I found the latter parts of this book to be less than enthralling. That's not necessarily the fault of the book – obviously others have enjoyed it much more than I did – but for whatever reason, I could not get into or bring myself to care about anything that happens in the second half of this story.

The beginning, though, is fabulous. Sofía is a freedwoman who travels to Isla Bestia (a hedonistic island where revelers party the night away with abandon) with her friend (and former owner) Adelina to search for her brother who disappeared there five years prior. But something dark is lurking under the glamor and glitz of Carnaval, and Sofía and Adelina begin to lose themselves to the thrall of the island. And, well … yes! This is the reason I picked up this book, and it was exactly what I hoped it would be – Sofía attempting to solve the mystery of her brother's disappearance while navigating the dark underbelly of paradise. But then the narrative shifts, things get fever dream-y for a while, and then there's no more Carnaval. The setting changes, the tone of the story changes, the supporting characters change, and most of the magic is lost. I probably would have been a lot more tolerant of the abrupt switch had this book been about 75 pages shorter (and provided most of the pages had been cut from the second half of the book), but unfortunately I mostly just found it tedious. Even the climax is just … meh. I came here for Carnaval, not to read about Sofía wandering through caves and writing letters.

But, again, this is probably mostly just a “me and my unrealistic expectations” thing. The prose really is lovely and it's obvious that the author put a lot of care into writing this novel. Lots of reviewers will probably love it, and I do look forward to seeing what Rosália Rodrigo will come up with next.

My overall rating: 3.35 stars, rounded down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is July 29, 2025.

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fever dream built with immaculate prose and storytelling, rich with folklore and history and absolutely impossible to put down.

Rosália Rodrigo is officially an auto-buy author. I don’t usually say that after a single book, but this book is that good! It’s unique, expertly written, and the storytelling is unmatched. I need another book from her immediately!

What’s to love…
- lush prose and vivid imagery, lyrically written without being overdone
- perfect pacing, this was an impossible to put down story. Every time I started to get restless the story would hit me with intrigue, or a reveal, that kept me reading.
- rich world-building
- family forward story
- complex characters and relationships
- the MYSTERY was so good! I was intrigued the entire book
- the book left me wanting to learn more about Puerto Rican history and the Taino people! (and the author’s note provided detailed information on where to start)

What’s not to love…
- I have literally nothing negative to say about this book.

Audio Narration: 4.9/5 - The narration was absolutely phenomenal. Usually I read a fantasy book physically the first time, as I am not an auditory learner and sometimes fantasy can be hard for me to follow via audio. BUT this was SO FREAKING GOOD that I had to listen to the audiobook. I ended up doing a tandem read for the first time and it was an amazing experience. The only thing I will say about the audio is (mostly in the beginning of the recording) there were a few moments when the narrator sounded a bit nasally/congested. It wasn’t enough to detract from the overall experience but something I did notice. I’m eager to try out more audiobooks by this narrator!

5⭐️| TikTok | IG |

Thank you NetGalley and HTP for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Zana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two stars for the actual story, plus one star because the descriptions were quite vivid and well-written.

This was a lot more vibes than an actual storyline, and the FMC, Sofía, was thrown in one bizarre situation after another in a way that felt like I was reading an Alice in Wonderland retelling. Around the 60% mark, it really did feel like a hallucination as hallucinogens and vengeful gods were thrown in.

It made for an interesting, yet unorganized, read.

While this novel wasn't my favorite, I did like the fantasy version of Spanish colonization that the author created. As the story progresses, Sofía learns more about her Indigenous roots, the effects of colonization on the Indigenous population, and including how the Indigenous fight back against these wealthy (and obnoxiously silly) colonizers.

It's a slow burn revenge story of sorts, and I'm all for it. I just wish the story was tighter and more coherent, and a lot less of a hallucinatory read.

Thank you to MIRA and NetGalley for this arc.

[CarlysGrowingTBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vibrant and rich world building set against a mysterious storyline makes for a compelling and binge-able experience.

Book Stats:
📖: 400 pages
Genre: historical fantasy
Publisher: Mira
Format: ebook/audio from NetGalley
Series: Standalone

Themes:
💫: Decolonization and Reclamation


Representation:
🪽: Indigenous Taíno mythology
🪽: Carnival Culture

Tropes:
💗: Lush island setting
💗: Atmospheric
💗: Non romantic relationships

🥵: Spice: 🚫
Potential Triggers: **check authors page/socials for full list.

Short Synopsis:
Free woman, Sofia, heads to a remote and mysterious island to search for her brother. When she gets there things definitely aren't as they seem and magic and revelry rule all. Will she find her brother and escape or will she become part of the island?

General Thoughts:
This book was absolutely amazing. Set in an alternate Caribbean with an alternate history, the imagery is lush and vibrant. The Way that the author describes what is happening is so immersive and cinematic.

The characters are so well done. I felt like I was there watching all of this happen to these characters. They were relatable and endearing. Sofia is almost logical to a fault, but is so easy to root for. All of the characters were very well flushed out and felt like real and whole people to me.

The mythology and culture surrounding the Taíno people was beautiful. The discussions and usage of Taíno language was so refreshing and interesting. I loved the mythology and culture that was woven into almost every aspect of this novel.

No part of this book felt rushed or poorly done. I was completely immersed from the first page to the last page. I did do this as a tandem read and the audiobook narrator was absolutely wonderful. You could tell a native speaker was used, and the inflection of all the words was so accurate.

I will not be giving spoilers in this review, but needless to say the ending was perfect and well done it did not feel rushed or unfinished. I cannot wait to read what this author comes out with next.

This is the absolute easiest five star I've given out all year.

Disclaimer: I read this book as a eARC via Mira and NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Dannica · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a beautiful, devastating fever dream. so gorgeous, intoxicating, but laced with something darker underneath. Beasts of Carnaval is one of those stories. it pulls you in with its lush world and dazzling spectacle, only to unravel into something much heavier: a tale of stolen history, lost identity, and the ghosts of a past that refuses to stay buried.

Sofía’s journey isn’t just about finding her brother, it’s about finding herself in a place that was never meant to hold space for her. Isla Bestia is breathtaking, a paradise of endless music, glittering feasts, and performers who seem almost otherworldly. but beneath the revelry is something sinister, something that tugs at the edges of her mind. The deeper she sinks into the island’s spell, the more the lines between past and present blur. the echoes of her Taike’ri ancestors hum through the performances, their language and culture twisted into entertainment for those who once took everything from them.

this book hurts. not because it’s tragic in the way you expect, but because it forces you to sit with the weight of history, with the knowledge that some things; some people are lost forever. Sofía fights, she searches, she unravels. and through it all, the island watches. there are no easy answers here. no simple victories. just the ache of remembering, of reclaiming, of realizing that some wounds never fully heal. this is stunning and cruel in equal measure, it's a story that lingers, that haunts, that refuses to let you go.

5 stars because this was amazing

[Alix · Rating 3 out of 5]

This definitely felt like a fever dream from start to finish. While the setting is fictional, I enjoyed the immersive world-building and the rich folklore inspired by Caribbean cultures. I also liked our two main characters, who each had their own distinct personality and background. They’re opposites but they balance each other out.

However, I struggled with the pacing and felt the story could have been condensed. The Carnaval added a strong sense of atmosphere, but there wasn’t much plot progression until the final third of the novel. The prose was quite lovely though, I can’t fault that. Overall, the glamorous Carnaval and island mythology stood out, but the slow pacing kept me from fully connecting with the story.

[Sarah Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beasts of Carnaval-Rosália Rodrigo
“A labyrinth stretched over acres of land. The complex latticework of hedges encased the venue like an enormous green spiderweb, drawing intricate spirals around the gardens below. Weaving through and around it all was a great river extending far beyond the grounds of the Flor de Lis, toward the chain of shadowy mountains in the distance.”
Sofía lives on a sugarcane plantation called Hacienda Esperanza in the town of Etérea. A former slave on the plantation, she now lives there with her former owner’s daughter/her now-friend, Adelina. Sofía makes the decision to leave Etérea to travel to Isla Bestia in the Gilded Island, where the infamous Carnaval de Bestias occurs. Her goal is to locate her twin brother Sol, who disappeared five years prior while visiting the Island with their former master, as his valet.

What I Liked:
-The atmosphere in this book was amazing. Any book with a carnival/circus atmosphere, I am here for it. This had vibes of the Jim Henson movie Labyrinth mixed with the Caraval series by Stephanie Garber (both of which I loved). Also throw in some Alice in Wonderland. This had a darker aspect to it vs Caraval, which makes sense, seeing as this is an adult novel. Things were extraordinary and magical, but they were also a bit scary and didn’t seem totally safe. What I really think made it stand out for me though was that there was an element of folklore and culture that I haven’t seen elsewhere, specifically regarding Hisperia, where Sofía was stolen and enslaved from. It built a deeper connection for me with Sofía’s character.

-Going along with that amazing atmosphere, the imagery and description was on point here. Carnaval was so vividly written that I could see it in my mind perfectly and almost feel the air of debauchery that surrounded the event.

-I think that the relationship between Sofía and Adelina was very well-written. Sofía goes through some major internal struggles throughout the book regarding that relationship. Adelina has basically been her best friend most of her life, especially since Sol vanished, and you can tell Sofía cares for her deeply. That doesn’t change the fact that Sofía was enslaved by Adelina’s family, or that she was “given” to Adelina, basically as a gift. Adelina didn’t make these choices herself, and always treated Sofía the best that she knew how, but she is very clueless about what Sofía struggled with, and how she was partially responsible for that.

What I Struggled With:
Things were disjointed. It was like everything was a happy party with maybe a tinge of something unsettling, and suddenly everything was super sinister. I kind of felt like I got whiplash. That wasn’t a MAJOR deal for me though. Coyabay really improved the atmosphere though, and I enjoyed the scenes in the book that are set there.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I think it will be a great addition to the booklist for our Gothic Fiction Book club!
**Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and MIRA for the ARC of this book!

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beasts of Carnival is a beautifully written novel with vivid descriptions that bring the setting to life. The atmosphere is rich and immersive, you can truly picture every detail as you read.

The story follows Sofia, a very likable and determined main character, who travels to an island during Carnaval in search of her missing brother. While the celebration is full of color and indulgence, there’s an undercurrent of something much darker lurking beneath the surface.

What really stood out to me was how well the author explored themes of colonialism and cultural loss. The incorporation of Taíno mythology was both powerful and seamlessly woven into the story, adding depth and meaning. The historical setting was fascinating and gave the book even more weight.

I listened to the ALC from Harlequin audio while reading and the narrator really added to the story. I could experience the accents and I think that really helped make it feel like the islands. It was very well done.

I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Thank you to Mira Books for the gifted ARC and Harlequin audio for the ALC.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Dang I really wanted to like this one. The summary was perfect for me since I really enjoyed the book Caraval and this sounded very similar to it, but I struggled staying engaged in this book. I kept finding myself just reading the words versus immersing myself into the story. I had to either keep rereading paragraphs or pages or else I would just move on. I think what my struggle with was this book is very wordy and overwritten for me. Every time the book started to speed up, the book would all of a sudden get bogged down with too much details. I like this once in a while, but this was a little too much for me since it made me zone out way too often.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

[LaceyBanana Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sofia travels to Isla Bestia to look for her brother who went five years ago and never returned. She is determined to find out what happened to him but is not prepared for everything else she finds out in the process. The island seems to come to life during Carnaval and she’s in for a wild ride.

This book focuses on the mythology and culture of the Taíno people and the ALC was so fun to listen to along with reading the physical book to hear the pronunciations and beautiful language. The narrator was phenomenal! The author also gives some resources at the end to learn more which I’m really excited to do.

The atmospheric nature of this story painted such a beautiful and vivid picture in my mind while reading, the characters were charming, and the story itself was unique and such a refreshing read! It made me so emotional at certain parts and I was completely sucked into the story. I absolutely loved this book.

Thank you so much to The Hive, MIRA, and Harlequin Audio for providing this physical ARC and ALC. This is my honest review! This publishes on July 29th!

[Krissi]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this will be a DNF for me at 59%. I really wanted to love this book as the premise is right up my alley, and it started off interesting. However, this book could have really benefited from cutting out some of the flowery prose as it took away from the story and disengaged me. The author did really try to paint a vivid world for us to immerse ourselves in, which I do appreciate. However, when the story starts to slow down so early on in the book, it doesn't bode well for continuation. I'm sure others will like this, especially if you like books like The Atlas Six, but unfortunately, this did not work for me.

[Miranda Norman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers via NetGalley for an e-ARC of this story!

I wanted to enjoy this so badly, it is DRIPPING with potential. Sadly, in my opinion, this is -way- overwritten. I definitely think purple prose has its time and place (note my love for The Night Circus and The Atlas Six), but this book made me feel dyslexic trying to read it. It was a LOT of me rereading paragraphs like "yea technically that sentence is grammatically acceptable I guess, but /why/ choose to write it like that". The story underneath could've been so interesting but it was surrounded in word soup that was a real struggle to get through.

I considered DNF-ing this from about 30% through the rest of the book because it was truly difficult to read. It got to the point that I started keeping track, and in just Chapter 13 alone, there are 24 similes, across 24 pages!! That does not include metaphors, personification, or just pretentious word choices - JUST SIMILES. I only kept count because I noticed they were everywhere and severely got in the way of the actual story. This also impacted how the characters spoke to one another; in keeping the "tone" of the prose, the dialogue felt equally pretentious/flowery to the point that no real person would word a sentence like that out loud, and everyone spoke in riddles.

This book definitely has its audience - I feel like if you loved Strange the Dreamer, for example, you'd really enjoy this!! I, sadly, was just not one of those people.

[Siavahda]

I’m deeply confused about this one, because the other early reviews I’ve seen have me wondering if I read the same book as everyone else. Lush? Intoxicating? Fever dream? What???

I was bored. I was so bored. The island doesn’t seem fantastical in the slightest – I was expecting magic, and instead, masks and hedge sculptures and (admittedly mysterious) mirror mazes? Seriously? I’ve encountered all those in the real world, and while I freely admit they’re all impressive in the sense that I couldn’t make any of them… I wanted impossible wonders, you know? Gymnasts and tightrope-walkers – don’t cut it. I guess if the prose had been jaw-droppingly stunning, it might have worked, but it’s not. It’s not completely plain or anything, but it’s not magic.

And in fairness, maybe I’d have gotten magic if I’d stuck with the book longer – I tapped out at 21% – but there was just no incentive to keep going. The characters are fine, pleasant but not very interesting, and I didn’t care about the quest for the missing brother – he was MIA from before the book started, so I didn’t know him, even with Sofía’s thoughts about him. I didn’t feel Sofía’s worry for him, or how she missed him: I felt like they were told to me, but I didn’t experience them. The prose isn’t bad at all, and there are moments when it’s great, but it’s not the lush, decadent writing I was really hoping for.

The colonialist themes are written really well: Sofía’s complicated position, as an ex-slave but priviliged compared to many of her people, was very clear, and seeing how she was cut off from her history and culture and language – because the colonials suppressed all those things – was heartbreaking. The gradual reveal that Carnaval is built out of stolen pieces of that culture – even at 21% that was already becoming clear – was awful.

But that’s not enough by itself to hold my attention. Reading this made me tired, each chapter was an effort, and I’m just not enjoying it.

I do think this is one of the better books, objectively, out of this month’s DNFs. Maybe the real issue is that it wasn’t what I wanted it to be? And maybe a bit mismarketed, unless it becomes extremely fantastical later on…

[toriannereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hooked from the beginning with the lush and enchanting writing, but the story itself was mid. It started strong, but the middle dragged and it easily could have been 100 pages shorter.

My main beef is that the ending felt a little too convenient in a way that undercut some of the earlier tension and thematic weight.

Still, I mostly had a good time. Rosália Rodrigo’s prose is stunning, and I’d be interested in reading more from her.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance listening copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

Surviving is an act of resistance.

As soon as I saw the cover for Beasts of Carnaval, I knew I wanted to read it, and the synopsis just cemented it for me. I love stories that are about resistance and revolution and proving that the colonizers and oppressors won’t be the last ones standing. And this delivers so beautifully!

Sofia’s twin brother, Sol, vanished to La Isla de La Bestia many years ago with the man who enslaved them, but now that Sofia is free and feels she can leave her friend-who-once-enslaved-her (and yes, this is explored!) she decides she will go to the island and find him at last. Averina instead of meekly staying behind follows Sofia and as a result Sofia’s station on the island, instead of being seen as mestiza and servant, she is part of the revelry of the Carnaval.

While on the island, the revelry makes it so that Sofia sometimes forgets that she is there to find Sol and not just to enjoy the glitz and glamor, and eventually she starts to realize that all it is is in fact a glamor, a dream that she needs to wake up from.

I really loved the ways complicated relationships with self and loved ones was dealt with in Beasts of Carnaval. Sofia frequently thinks on how she is perceived - too much Taine to be colonizer, too much colonizer to be Taine - and the ways her relationship with Ave is shaped by how Sofia was gifted to her as a child. I also loved the shifts in Sofia and Sol’s relationship when they reunite because they’d always been bound together as twins, but their years of separation forced them to become individuals, and relearning but also recognizing their twin was very good.

This is a great book and the audio was such a great experience. I really loved the various themes it explored and the execution of storytelling. There are many nuanced emotions and relationships delved into, and all the characters felt fleshed out and interesting. This definitely feels like a solid standalone, though I wouldn’t mind seeing more in this world, especially as the world changes outside the Island.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an ARC so I could review this.

Vibes: Magical Realism, Cultural Reclamation, Family Bonds

Beasts of Carnaval is an absolute must read for fans of Caraval or The Night Circus. It has the same fanciful, mythical vibes of an unending party, but with a mysterious undertone. The story is set on the Caribbean-inspired island of Etérea. Under the rule of the Hisperian Empire, recent legal changes have ended plantation slavery on the island. Sofía, formerly enslaved, now finds herself unsure of her future. Like many other newly freed men and women, her cultural identity was taken and erased during the diaspora of slavery.

Five years before the events of the novel, the plantation owner Don Reynaldo de Esperanza left on holiday to the famed Carnaval de Bestias on Isla Bestia. With him, he took Sofía’s twin brother, Sol, as a valet. The plantation continues to operate as Don Reynaldo’s daughter, Adelina, takes over in secret. Adelina is happiest when tinkering with machinery. Her main efforts (besides keeping the sugarcane business afloat) are directed toward instituting work reforms and automation. She spent her formative years considering Sofía a companion, not a servant. As such, when Sofía attempts to leave to find her brother, Adelina joins her hoping to discover why her father never returned.

Sofía is a very easy FMC to root for; she’s grounded, methodical, and logical. She isn’t written without flaws, but her choices make sense based on the information she has. She’s not frustrating. You want her to find her brother. You want her to succeed and be happy. She carries a lot of pain and trauma, but she gets things done.

The novel is listed as Adult Fiction, but there is no content that would keep it off YA shelves. There is, in fact, no romantic subplot. It’s a breath of fresh air. Thematically, love is explored through sibling bonds and found family. We finally have a heroine who is not pining after a man in a masquerade mask. I was happy to see it.

I had concerns around the halfway mark that the novel might not stick the landing. But thankfully, the plot points I feared might be forgotten in the mid-novel shift were all resolved by the end.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I started this book, I was hoping it would take some inspiration from Stephanie Garber’s Carnaval, and I was not disappointed. This was like that Carnaval, but kicked up a few Caribbean-spiced notches. There was magic, there was darkness (underneath layers of rich color), there were high stakes and vivid, descriptive prose. In fact parts of this story felt like a blurry dream, to the point where I wasn’t 100% if I lost the plot or if that was all part of it. I just decided to go with the flow and enjoyed myself until I figured out what was going on again!

In the beginning our protagonist Sofía travels to the Puerto Rican-inspired Isla Bestia to search for her missing twin brother Sol. Her friend Adelina follows her there. Their relationship is complicated by the fact that Sofia was formerly enslaved on a plantation owned by Adelina’s family, and her main job was basically to be Adelina’s companion. The culture and folklore of the Carnaval festival on the island derives from Sofia’s Taino heritage, which was basically erased from her life while she was enslaved, but the revelers are colonial elites. As such, this book is a strong statement on colonialism and exploitation.

The audio narration was excellent and the narrator really brought the vibrant and magical island world to life.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the ALC.

[Sarai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five years ago, Sofia's brother went to Isla Bestia and was never heard from again. When Sofia visits the legendary island to search for him, she encounters more than she bargained for. The island seems to have a mind of its own, with danger and magic lurking in every corner, and those who visit can't help but be caught in its lure...

Where to BEGIN. Read this immediately if you like:
- Lush storytelling
- Well-researched historical fiction
- Gorgeous settings--Isla Bestia is described so beautifully, it truly leaps off the page
- Fantasy elements! There's so much magic, myth and lore throughout the entire story!

There is a LOT that happens in this book, and at times it was a bit disorienting, but eventually you find your footing again within the story. TRUST THE PROCESS--sometimes I wondered how it will all be pieced together but don't worry, it wraps up beautifully.

If you have any sort of ties to Caribbean heritage (or are just interested in Taino history/culture), this is a must read. This is truly a love letter to Taino history and culture. As a Puerto Rican whose earliest memories in school were learning about Tainos and the history of our island, this story was so special to me. I’m so grateful to Rodrigo for bringing so much of our history and culture to life through such an incredible story--I can't wait to shove this book into everyone's hands!

[Krissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and MIRA for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review

"When night descends, el Carnaval de Bestias rises."

Sofia was born a twin and as a young girl she and her brother Sol were sold into slavery. They were able to stay together and ended up in the hands of a family who grew and sold sugar cane. Sol was an artist and the prize of their master. Sofia was both a friend and and maid to the daughter Adelina.

5 years ago Sol and their master set sail to the Island of Beasts and never returned. She has worried about Sol ever since. 2 years ago slaves were freed and were free to continue working but were to be paid. Sofia saved for 2 years and now she has bought a stay on the island and is determined to find her brother.

But the island of beasts is designed to entrance the guest with spectacles, indulgences, and mystery. very few who come to the island are able to find their way out. Sofia catches on to what is going on and will go through great lengths to escape the hypnotizing clutches of the carnaval.

This was the easiest 5 stars I have given a book in a long time. I was obsesses from page one and did not want to put it down. The writing, stunning, the atmosphere, beautiful, the plot, amazing. I was completely blown away by this debut, the themes of colonialism, slavery, and vengeance were so well woven into the story. The plot was so compelling but there was so much history, and lore interspersed but the reading experience never felt tedious. This felt like such a labour of love, research, and time and the product was perfection in my eyes. The world building felt so seamless, everything was described to the finest detail but it never felt like too much. It was honestly the biggest pleasure to read.

[Valarie - WoodsyBookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beasts of Carnaval is a fever dream of lush prose and a labyrinth of twists and turns blending fantasy, revenge, and overarching mystery.

I think this book was wonderful to consume as an audiobook. I had the opportunity to access both the early physical copy as well as the audiobook and I adored the audio narration. The narrator added so much to the voice of Sofia, her wittiness and snark really came through in the audio format.

While the opening of Beasts of Carnaval was strong, hooking me into a revenge driven mystery plot and a buddy "detective" friendship, as the story progressed it seemed to lose its stride - not to say it wasn't good - I think it just suffered from dragging on a little too long in the middle before rushing to wrap everything up in a bow for the ending.

The characters were interesting (love a well-read badass heroine who is unapologetically herself), the prose was flowery and dense, the blurb promised a fever dream and it provided.

I can't wait to see more from Rosália Rodrigo, because this was a magical debut.

[em (lattereads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

“The only language they have ever understood is violence.”

I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it was very slow paced and I had trouble connecting with the main characters. Every time I put this book down, it was a struggle to get myself to pick it back up again and finish it. The plot was intriguing but not executed as well as it could have been, in my opinion. Additionally, the fever-dream quality of this novel made the plot confusing and difficult to follow.

However, I would still encourage other readers to give this one a try if it sounds interesting. It’s definitely possible that the writing style just did not work for me and my personal reading tastes – this is such a unique and important story that I hope finds its readership! I loved that this novel was inspired by Indigenous Taino mythology and that it had thematic discussions of colonialism and colorism. I just ended up not being a fan of the way the story itself played out.

Thank you to Netgalley and MIRA for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[gi_reads30 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up for GR!


First and foremost, thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. I was extremely excited to get my hands on Beast of Carnaval, being puertorican myself, reading from a puertorican author a fantasy story that draws inspiration from the culture, beliefs, and history of the Taíno was enough of a selling point for me. And while I encourage people to read it, I do it mostly because Rodrigo's writing is simply outstanding. I felt like I was in Isla Bestia with Sofia, trying to uncover what was going on, and trying to see where the story was heading. This though, only happened until the 60%, because in my opinion, the book became a little too unorganized for me. I found myself going back to certain parts of the book because it was hard to keep track of what was going on. While I adored the atmospheric writing, and find it incredibly important to have books that draw inspiration from our history, I do believe the story needed more structure.

The narration and production on the other hand was incredible. It did help me get through some of the parts that I know would've been hard to read in physical/e-book.

Thanks again to Netgallery and MIRA for the ARC.

[2TReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

the premise did more work than what eventually delivered

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosália Rodrigo's debut novel Beasts of Carnaval arrives like a hurricane—beautiful, devastating, and impossible to ignore. Set against the backdrop of a mysterious Caribbean island where colonial elites indulge in hedonistic revelry while indigenous spirits stir beneath the surface, this genre-defying work weaves together fantasy, horror, and historical reimagining with the precision of a master weaver. Yet like the island paradise it depicts, the novel's glittering exterior conceals profound depths that reward careful examination.

The Seductive Trap of Paradise

The story follows Sofía, a recently freed mestiza woman searching for her twin brother Sol on the enigmatic Isla Bestia, home to el Carnaval de Bestias—an exclusive carnival where wealthy patrons lose themselves in endless nights of revelry. Accompanied by her privileged friend Adelina, whose father vanished alongside Sol five years prior, Sofía navigates a world where vejigantes (traditional carnival demons) serve wine that tastes too sweet and where guests find themselves reluctant to ever leave.

Rodrigo's greatest triumph lies in her creation of Carnaval itself as both setting and antagonist. The island resort functions as a honey trap, its supernatural allure designed to keep colonial oppressors distracted while indigenous forces gather strength. The author excels at building an atmosphere of creeping dread beneath the surface glamour—every sumptuous feast and spectacular performance carries an undertone of something fundamentally wrong. When Sofía observes that she "preferred the honesty of those masks to the ones the patrons wore outside of Carnaval," Rodrigo reveals her central conceit: that the monstrous masks worn at Carnaval are more truthful than the civilized faces colonizers present to the world.

The pacing in these early sections deserves particular praise. Rodrigo allows tension to build gradually, letting readers become as entranced by Carnaval's offerings as her characters. The mounting sense of unease—from Adelina's growing addiction to gambling to the mysterious vejigantes who never speak—creates a masterful slow burn that keeps pages turning.

Cultural Reclamation as Revolutionary Act

Where Beasts of Carnaval transcends mere entertainment is in its unflinching examination of cultural survival and resistance. The revelation that the island harbors Coaybay—a hidden community of the Taike'ri, descendants of the indigenous people thought extinct—transforms the narrative from supernatural thriller to powerful meditation on colonial trauma and healing.

Rodrigo demonstrates remarkable research depth in her portrayal of Taike'ri culture. The author draws from historical sources including Sebastián Robiou Lamarche's work on Taíno mythology and José Juan Arrom's ethnographic studies, weaving authentic details of language, spirituality, and social structure into her fictional world. The ceremony where initiates drink from the sacred ceiba tree's sap and claim new names—abandoning those given by colonizers—pulses with genuine emotional weight.

The magic system, rooted in the goddess Atabey's awakening consciousness, serves as both plot device and metaphor for decolonization. When Sofía experiences psychic connections with other Taike'ri through the ceiba flower's influence, Rodrigo literalizes the concept of collective healing and shared cultural memory. These sequences, while occasionally overwhelming in their sensory density, effectively convey the disorienting experience of reconnecting with suppressed heritage.

However, the author occasionally struggles with balancing mythological exposition and narrative momentum. Dense passages explaining Taike'ri cosmology, while culturally important, sometimes slow the story's pace. Readers seeking pure escapist fantasy may find themselves mired in worthy but lecture-heavy sections about colonial history and indigenous resistance.

Character Complexity and Relationship Dynamics

Sofía emerges as a compelling protagonist whose scholarly pragmatism masks deep emotional wounds. Her journey from cynical survivor to cultural bridge-builder feels earned, particularly in scenes where she grapples with how much of her Taike'ri identity she's "allowed" to claim as a person of mixed ancestry. Rodrigo captures the painful reality of cultural reclamation with nuance and sensitivity.

The supporting cast proves more uneven. Adelina's characterization suffers from inconsistency—she oscillates between brilliant inventor and gambling-addicted socialite without sufficient connective tissue. Her friendship with Sofía, supposedly the emotional core of the story, relies too heavily on implied history rather than demonstrated chemistry. Their relationship dynamic reads as more functional than deeply felt, which undermines key emotional beats.

Sol's arc as the reluctant revolutionary proves more successful. His transformation from ashamed servant to proud Taike'ri warrior provides satisfying character growth, though his initial coldness toward Sofía strains credibility given their supposedly close twin bond.

The Cacika Kaona stands out as the novel's most magnetic presence. Her portrayal of indigenous leadership—fierce yet calculated, vengeful yet protective—avoids both noble savage stereotypes and one-dimensional villainy. Her final sacrifice carries genuine pathos, though Rodrigo perhaps telegraphs this outcome too obviously.

The Weight of Righteous Fury

Rodrigo doesn't shy away from the moral complexity of her premise. The Taike'ri's plan to use Carnaval as a weapon against colonizers raises uncomfortable questions about collective punishment and the ethics of resistance. When the island-goddess Atabey awakens to reclaim her stolen children, the resulting destruction affects innocent servants alongside guilty masters.

The author handles these themes with appropriate gravity, never suggesting that violence is the only path to liberation while acknowledging the historical reality that "for a people colonized, every path to liberation demands a price." The climactic destruction of Carnaval manages to feel both cathartic and tragic—a necessary purging that still carries tremendous cost.

Yet here the novel occasionally stumbles into heavy-handedness. Some passages read more like political treatise than narrative fiction, particularly when characters deliver speeches about colonial oppression. While the anger is justified and the history important, these moments disrupt the story's emotional flow.

Language as Living Heritage

Rodrigo's prose style deserves special recognition for its deliberate code-switching between English and Spanish/Taíno terms. Rather than treating non-English words as exotic decoration, she integrates them naturally into the narrative flow, reflecting how multilingual communities actually communicate. Terms like "vejigante," "zemí," and "batú" become part of the reader's vocabulary through context and repetition.

The author's background in immersive storytelling for museums and theme parks shows in her vivid sensory descriptions. Carnaval feels authentically overwhelming—the clash of music, swirl of costumes, and press of bodies create visceral atmosphere. However, this strength occasionally becomes a weakness when descriptive passages overshadow character development or plot advancement.

A Promising but Imperfect Debut

Beasts of Carnaval succeeds brilliantly as cultural reclamation project and historical intervention, moderately as horror-fantasy, and somewhat less effectively as character-driven fiction. Rodrigo demonstrates remarkable ambition in tackling themes of colonialism, indigenous resistance, and cultural survival through a supernatural lens. Her commitment to authentic representation and thorough research elevates the work above typical fantasy fare.

The novel's flaws—uneven pacing, inconsistent characterization, occasional didactic tone—feel like growing pains of a talented author finding her voice. When Rodrigo trusts her story and characters rather than explaining everything, the narrative soars. The final image of Sofía lifting her pen to write, having inherited the role of cultural chronicler, provides a satisfying conclusion that promises future stories from this richly imagined world.

For readers seeking fantasy that grapples seriously with real-world issues, Beasts of Carnaval offers rewards worth the investment. The book demands active engagement rather than passive consumption, asking readers to confront uncomfortable truths about colonial legacy while immersing them in lush Caribbean mythology.

Final Verdict

Beasts of Carnaval announces Rosália Rodrigo as a significant new voice in speculative fiction. While not without its stumbles, the novel's passionate commitment to telling suppressed stories and its innovative blend of carnival tradition with supernatural horror mark it as essential reading for anyone interested in how fantasy can illuminate real-world injustices.

The book succeeds most powerfully as an act of cultural preservation disguised as entertainment. In giving voice to the Taike'ri and their struggle for recognition, Rodrigo performs the same function as her protagonist Sofía—keeping important stories alive through the act of telling them. That alone makes this ambitious debut worth celebrating, even as we eagerly await the more polished works this talented author will surely produce.

[Megan Millard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rosalia Rodrigo gives us a fantasy re-telling of the outcome of Spanish colonialism in Latin America. While the countries involved have different names, she doesn't let us forget what she is really talking about. However, I would say that the book feels a little directionless and almost like a three-act story.

We are introduced to a free woman named Sofia and her former owner/current friend Adelina. Complicated relationship number 1. While Sofia does get an opportunity to explore that relationship a little bit, I feel like there should have been much more insight into that character dynamic in particular. Sofia and Adelina go to Isla Bestia to try to find Sofia's brother and Adelina's father who went to the island five years ago and never returned.

Isla Bestia is like a nonstop Bacchanal. Rodrigo's beautiful prose is uncontested during descriptions of the spectacle of the island. Sometimes though, it almost felt like she was more interested in writing descriptions of Carnaval than of telling the story she set out to. The idea started out as rich people go to the island for debauchery, but essentially they never leave. We spend a very long first act seeing Carnaval and Adelina and Sofia descending into their desires and thus forgetting the reason they came to the island in the first place.

Act II sees Sofia desperately trying to unravel the secrets of the island.

*******SPOILERS BELOW************









Act III - We discover the secret of the carnavaleros (the performers in the spectacle) and find Sol, Sofia's brother. Which was really disappointingly anti-climactic to be honest. Rodrigo gives us almost no character development for Sol - which is kind of stupid when we realize that he has gone through a pretty radical change. So the carnavaleros are actually indigenous peoples who are believed to essentially be extinct (see the Taino people for reference.) They designed Isla Bestia to lure the colonizers over and they keep them in a constant drugged state so they never want to leave. The reason is.... they want blood revenge. Their divine goddess (who is bonded with the leader) is essentially going to explode the island with everyone on it. Including the indigenous people if they don't choose to leave the only home they have ever known. Sofia manages to commune with said goddess and stay her hand using .... rhetoric.

I have quite a few things about this book that frustrated the hell out of me.
-The goddess retribution subplot feels entirely undeveloped.
-Sofia leaves Adelina behind in the Carnaval.
-Even though it took medicine and a couple of days of her body purging for Sofia to recover from the drugs, Adelina gets better over the course of a few minutes because... they need her to captain a boat so she kind of has to?
-After the entire Sol rediscovery, we aren't really given any interaction between Sofia and Sol even though it was the driving force that initiated the entire book. And we don't even discover what happened to Adelina's dad until quite a bit later. When Sol tries to justify his distance, it almost feels like it was tacked on.
-Colonizers who never went to Isla Bestia go free with no consequences and no realization that the island's explosion was actually engineered by the very people they believed that they had eradicated, thus never realizing the blood retribution was intentional?

There are some other aspects of the book that are unclear but less crucial. It's even more problematic because there are so, so, so many good ideas. It's almost as though Rodrigo planned it as a trilogy but then had to make adjustments last minute to get the initial story wrapped up.

[Kiara Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you too @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for an ALC of this book

What a beautiful and immersive book of my culture. From the singing of the coquis, to the rhythm of the tambores. To taking me back to my childhood of when I played with the mori vivi plant, to the legend of el Chupacabra. The merging of carnaval traditions and vejigantes intricate designs and colors and so much more. You could feel the hurt of the people, how frustrating for their own people being enslaved and hurt. It really touched me as I listened to this. And the language that was integrated being like the tainos? LOVE.

Highly highly recommend

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taino inspired magical realism to deconstruct your colonized mindset. A narrative defined by the magic of the Caribbean and the way of the old gods. Rodrigo’s word choices show careful precision aside lost folklore and the idea that the gods must be plural. How would you fight against colonialism eating away at your culture and your very fiber of being? Thank you Netgalley and Mira publishing for this advanced copy.

Read my full ARC review on July 28th on https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo is a mixed first person plural and third person-POV fantasy horror inspired by Taíno Indigenous mythology, Puerto Rico, and the broader Caribbean. Sofía, a freedwoman and mestiza, is heads to Isla Bestia to find her lost twin brother Sol. But there's more on the island than she could have ever expected.

One of the themes is tied to Sofía’s relationship with Adelina, her friend who comes with her to Isla Bestia and is also the daughter of the same people who kept Sofía in enslavement. Over time, we see just how much Adelina did not realize the impact her actions and demands for play had on Sofía’s life and the work Sofía was still expected to get done. It's handled quite well because it recognizes that Adelina was ultimately a child who just wanted a playmate and she did have love and compassion for Sofía, but none of that changes that Sofía was still enslaved by Adelina’s family when she was a child herself. There was going to be resentment there no matter how much the two of them might have wished otherwise and the text acknowledges the complexity of their sisterly love for each other in a beautiful way.

I would definitely call this a fantasy horror. The use of nature, the prologue, and the little bits between acts that are in the first person plural really help add to the creepy atmosphere and sell that this is a narrative that is not going to be cozy. My favorite detail was those moments in the first person plural because they add so much in so few words and sell a kind of hive mind that is married to the island and its inhabitants very well.

It is very easy to root for Sofía to want her to succeed. She's intelligent, curious, compassionate, recognizes the complexity of a situation, and does try to do the right thing whenever she can. Her desire to save the people she cares about never feels forced and we get a lot of backstory into just how young she is when she starts to become someone who would help others whenever she can.

I would recommend this to fans of fantasy inspired by the Caribbean and readers of horror looking for a secondary world fantasy

[High Lady of Delulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25


This started off so good - the cultural aspects and representation, the mystery and the way the author played with time… Sadly, the second half felt incredibly slow and almost dull in comparison, which is how it lost me and I struggled to finish.

The book starts of super interesting and my first impression was that the layers and execution were amazing - the way the pace adapted and the jumps that came with it in particular.
Then at some point, when the plot actually started progressing, the pace somehow slowed down drastically. Now the layers made me feel like it all got tangled up a bit.
Maybe it would've worked better split in two books because it really felt like two different parts with their own arcs and twists and conflicts.

The political aspect in this book was not only incredibly well written imo but also super interesting and I’m all for more rep of different cultures and histories, especially ones that need such a critical and nuanced approach.

The FMC was great and with all potential her character came with, the very good premise and the conflicts she faced, this was the perfect set up for her story and development.
I felt like the side characters were very well crafted with maybe the exception of one or two of the later appearances. I loved how each had their own story we got glimpses of in a way that elevated the main plot and granted them depth.

As for the writing, I liked the style overall, the images the author painted were great, if probably overdone in the second half. The detailed descriptions and visual language worked well before, yet felt almost exhaustive as the story shifted.

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Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio and Rosália Rodrigo for an ALC of this book.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I first requested the beast of Carnaval I was super excited I love books like the night Circus and my favorite book of all times the beast of Carnival by Amy G Gibbs and thought this would be similar but I was sadly wrong. It’s as if the author got up thesaurus for Christmas and wanted to put every word from the thesaurus and make it into a story. I love beautiful pros profound storylines in great world building but there was just too much to slog through to not only get to the point of the story but then once you get to the point of the story it completely changes with the exception of the overuse the descriptures in each sentence I mean she had five different analogies for paper and that was in one sentence. I really thought she did really well at world building but it was in trying to know the characters and their story I thought she could’ve laid off all the similes I mean she absolutely overused that. once I got used to the writing style I found myself getting into the story about Sophia and Adelaide on the island but then everything changed including the writing style. There was just too many things about this book that let me down or that I was disappointed in and sadly it is a book I cannot recommend. unless it sounds like something you would like they have much better more direct storytelling world building magic and excitement in other books in the genre. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #RosaliaRodrigo, #TheBeastOfCarnival,