BINDLE PUNK JEFE

For a bruja running an underground jazz club, life is never simple.

Luna, known as Rose around those who don’t know about her Mexican ancestry, should feel settled. After all, she’s married, has managed to keep her club running, and in this novel's predecessor, Bindle Punk Bruja (2022), defeated the Ku Klux Klan—but therein lie her problems. Her marriage to Heck is one of convenience, protecting her club and her reputation, along with her husband’s, whose true affections lie with her brother, Javier. Luna is happy with the arrangement, though it does take effort to hobnob with Heck’s elite circle and relegate meetings with her boyfriend, Gio, to secrecy. Defeating the Klan has also left her rattled, raising unsettling questions about her magic and what she can and cannot do. The incident with the Klan has left Javier even worse off, and it slowly becomes clear that something magical is still preying on him, something Luna resolves to deal with herself. But magical threats are not the only dangers encroaching on Luna’s carefully constructed life: New men are in town, threatening her business and her family. Luna is determined to save everyone, even as her every solution raises more questions about the nature of magic, identity, and loyalty. Full of the heady energy of the Roaring '20s, the plot trips along between dinner parties and jazz club meetings. The diverse cast, however, highlights the sexism, homophobia, and racism behind the glitter, creating the need for Luna and her community to build a hidden, safe haven.

Sexy, magical, and gritty—a fine sequel.