What do you think?
Rate this book
The Daggers of Ire
A rich and exciting new Latine middle grade fantasy about sisterhood, magic, and the power of kids to face what grown-ups refuse to see—by J. C. Cervantes, New York Times bestselling author of the Storm Runner series
Perfect for fans of Witchlings and Amari and the Night Brothers!
Esmerelda Santos is a rare bruja, born with Chaos magic in her veins. She and her family are direct descendants of one of the four original witches—a mysterious legend about the night magic was born in San Bosco. But since the death of her mother, Esme is more concerned about healing their father’s spiraling grief.
When Esme finds a heart spell in a forbidden grimorio, she thinks it could be the answer to making her dad whole again. But before she can try, she and her best friend, Tiago, discover that their families and all the town’s witches have vanished—along with their magic, which keeps San Bosco alive. The only way to save them and the town is to find an original witch—impossible, since no one has actually ever seen one.
With a witch hunter on their tail, Esme and Tiago journey to a banished realm where forbidden magic runs wild. Here the two must embrace their powers and confront the legend’s terrible truths . . . or risk losing their families and their magic forever.
Perfect for fans of Witchlings and Amari and the Night Brothers!
Esmerelda Santos is a rare bruja, born with Chaos magic in her veins. She and her family are direct descendants of one of the four original witches—a mysterious legend about the night magic was born in San Bosco. But since the death of her mother, Esme is more concerned about healing their father’s spiraling grief.
When Esme finds a heart spell in a forbidden grimorio, she thinks it could be the answer to making her dad whole again. But before she can try, she and her best friend, Tiago, discover that their families and all the town’s witches have vanished—along with their magic, which keeps San Bosco alive. The only way to save them and the town is to find an original witch—impossible, since no one has actually ever seen one.
With a witch hunter on their tail, Esme and Tiago journey to a banished realm where forbidden magic runs wild. Here the two must embrace their powers and confront the legend’s terrible truths . . . or risk losing their families and their magic forever.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2024
About the author
J.C. Cervantes
22 books762 followersJ.C. is a New York Times best-selling author. Her books have been published in more than twelve countries and have appeared on national lists, including the American Booksellers Association New Voices, Barnes and Noble’s Best Young Reader Books, and Amazon’s Best Books of the Month. She has earned multiple awards and recognitions, including the New Mexico Book Award and the Zia Book Award.
She currently resides in the Land of Enchantment with her family and spoiled pups, but keeps part of her heart in Southern California, where she was born and raised. When she isn’t writing, she is haunting bookstores and searching for magic in all corners of the world.
Author also writes under Jennifer Cervantes
She currently resides in the Land of Enchantment with her family and spoiled pups, but keeps part of her heart in Southern California, where she was born and raised. When she isn’t writing, she is haunting bookstores and searching for magic in all corners of the world.
Author also writes under Jennifer Cervantes
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 7, 2024
This was a wonderful middle grade fantasy book. I loved following Esme in this story as she attempts to save her family and her town with her friend Tiago. I loved this book’s unique magic system and was captivated by the story that the author told. This was a whimsical and adventurous read that magic loving middle graders are sure to love. I found this book very hard to put down and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Thank you to Lavender Public Relations for the gifted copy.
Thank you to Lavender Public Relations for the gifted copy.
September 9, 2024
A beautiful story that was beautifully written. Cervantes writes with such a lyrical flair I found myself rereading lines just to savor them like one would savor a fine dinner.
The gist of the plot is this: girl with forbidden magic must hide her true self. Dad is torn up and irrevocably changed after the death of his wife (the girl's mom). Girl tries to help but can't because she's not allowed to use her magic, it's illegal. Then CRASH BAM BOOM! all the magical people disappear, including the girl's Dad and beloved sister. It's up to the girl, her best friend, and a mysterious talking fox to travel into dark, forbidden realms to find the those who created the magic of their world to begin with a seemingly impossible feat. Oh! and there's someone hunting them. Oh! and they only have a few days to get this all done before her town, her people, and her family are gone forever.
I loved the exploration of sisterhood and sacrifice and the interplay of grief and the courage to move on. There's magic and darkness and story, all the things I loved. Spanish language and phrases are interwoven with English, which I loved and found easy to understand. It is very well paced with lots of action and cliffhangers to keep me turning the pages and reading late into the night. It is beautiful and yet there is such well done plot and action that kids will love it too.
The gist of the plot is this: girl with forbidden magic must hide her true self. Dad is torn up and irrevocably changed after the death of his wife (the girl's mom). Girl tries to help but can't because she's not allowed to use her magic, it's illegal. Then CRASH BAM BOOM! all the magical people disappear, including the girl's Dad and beloved sister. It's up to the girl, her best friend, and a mysterious talking fox to travel into dark, forbidden realms to find the those who created the magic of their world to begin with a seemingly impossible feat. Oh! and there's someone hunting them. Oh! and they only have a few days to get this all done before her town, her people, and her family are gone forever.
I loved the exploration of sisterhood and sacrifice and the interplay of grief and the courage to move on. There's magic and darkness and story, all the things I loved. Spanish language and phrases are interwoven with English, which I loved and found easy to understand. It is very well paced with lots of action and cliffhangers to keep me turning the pages and reading late into the night. It is beautiful and yet there is such well done plot and action that kids will love it too.
September 17, 2024
This is a fun magical YA adventure read. Enter a world of magic- hidden and open. Where even within magical families, secrets are hidden and certain powers feared.
The Daggers of Ire gave the original 4 witches their powers, thrn the four disappeared. However, their return can mean big trouble. Esme, a young witch with the feared and bound Chaos magic, finds herself in a position to save the day from dark magic taking their families and other witches to another realm. Along with her best friend, a witch who can change himself into a rat, Esme needs to bring back her family and all the witches before they are lost for good - without becoming a victim herself.
There is a lot that happens quickly and at once without a slow introduction into their magical world. You get plunged in, but it is an interesting fast- paced journey- I think young readers will be swept up with it.
The start is Esme worrying about her father's grief over losing her mother, and being less of a witch with her powers bound and not being a traditional accepted power. The journey towards embracing her powers and the family dynamics was excellent.
I'd love to thank JM Cervantes for sending me a free copy to review. My review is unbiased and opinions my own.
The Daggers of Ire gave the original 4 witches their powers, thrn the four disappeared. However, their return can mean big trouble. Esme, a young witch with the feared and bound Chaos magic, finds herself in a position to save the day from dark magic taking their families and other witches to another realm. Along with her best friend, a witch who can change himself into a rat, Esme needs to bring back her family and all the witches before they are lost for good - without becoming a victim herself.
There is a lot that happens quickly and at once without a slow introduction into their magical world. You get plunged in, but it is an interesting fast- paced journey- I think young readers will be swept up with it.
The start is Esme worrying about her father's grief over losing her mother, and being less of a witch with her powers bound and not being a traditional accepted power. The journey towards embracing her powers and the family dynamics was excellent.
I'd love to thank JM Cervantes for sending me a free copy to review. My review is unbiased and opinions my own.
August 12, 2024
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this middle grade novel, especially the characters and the magic world. I enjoyed getting to know the main character as well as her friends. The main character's background story was also interesting. I was also pretty taken by the plot and this quest. I just felt the pacing was a little off but it might just be me. I really liked the whole sister story and how it created magic. It was a one of a kind story and I'm looking forward to reading more from this world!
I enjoyed this middle grade novel, especially the characters and the magic world. I enjoyed getting to know the main character as well as her friends. The main character's background story was also interesting. I was also pretty taken by the plot and this quest. I just felt the pacing was a little off but it might just be me. I really liked the whole sister story and how it created magic. It was a one of a kind story and I'm looking forward to reading more from this world!
August 27, 2024
𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳.
This is a story about how magic was born and witches were made. This brings us to the tale of the daggers of ire - of how four sisters absorbed powers from a god and were cursed with daggers on their chests. The sisters became the original witches - each held the power of water, air, earth, or fire.
Esmerelda Santos was born in a family of brujxes and gifted with Chaos magic - a magic that is considered illegal and so it must be kept hidden from everyone. One sinister night brought her and her friend, Tiago, to journey to a place where magic runs wild in search of an original witch to help them save their families from Oblivion. They were aided by a cursed fox named Fetch. Together, the trio's journey was nothing short of extraordinary and has kept me on the edge of my seat.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴.
Truly, not everything is what it seems. There are plenty of twists and surprises in the story. And the decisions our young protagonists made were guided by hope, courage, and love.
I was so moved and heartbroken at the same time innsome scenes. And I got so attached with Esme, Tiago, and Fetch. Especially Fetch! The sacrifices they made to push forward were admirable. This has made me root for them more.
Leave it to the author to make me feel so excited to look forward to the next books in the series because that Epilogue was aaaah!!!
This is definitely a 5⭐ read!!!
This is my first @authorjcervantes book and I was swept away with the story! Thank you @netgalley @harperkids for this ARC!
The Daggers of Ire is set to be released on September 3. Coming really soon!!!
This is a story about how magic was born and witches were made. This brings us to the tale of the daggers of ire - of how four sisters absorbed powers from a god and were cursed with daggers on their chests. The sisters became the original witches - each held the power of water, air, earth, or fire.
Esmerelda Santos was born in a family of brujxes and gifted with Chaos magic - a magic that is considered illegal and so it must be kept hidden from everyone. One sinister night brought her and her friend, Tiago, to journey to a place where magic runs wild in search of an original witch to help them save their families from Oblivion. They were aided by a cursed fox named Fetch. Together, the trio's journey was nothing short of extraordinary and has kept me on the edge of my seat.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴.
Truly, not everything is what it seems. There are plenty of twists and surprises in the story. And the decisions our young protagonists made were guided by hope, courage, and love.
I was so moved and heartbroken at the same time innsome scenes. And I got so attached with Esme, Tiago, and Fetch. Especially Fetch! The sacrifices they made to push forward were admirable. This has made me root for them more.
Leave it to the author to make me feel so excited to look forward to the next books in the series because that Epilogue was aaaah!!!
This is definitely a 5⭐ read!!!
This is my first @authorjcervantes book and I was swept away with the story! Thank you @netgalley @harperkids for this ARC!
The Daggers of Ire is set to be released on September 3. Coming really soon!!!
September 5, 2024
"De la muerte y la suerte no hay nadie quien se escape."
An adventurous story about a strong willed 12 year girl named Esme Santos whose determined to help her grief stricken father after the death of her mother. Did I mention that she is a bruja? A descendant of one of the four original witches who vanished years ago? Determined to help her father Esme goes on an adventure to help not only those she loves but everyone in the town of San Bosco.
Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC.
An adventurous story about a strong willed 12 year girl named Esme Santos whose determined to help her grief stricken father after the death of her mother. Did I mention that she is a bruja? A descendant of one of the four original witches who vanished years ago? Determined to help her father Esme goes on an adventure to help not only those she loves but everyone in the town of San Bosco.
Thank you NetGalley & HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC.
October 13, 2024
idk how to feel about this. i enjoyed the beginning and found it interesting, but as i got into the 100s pages, the story became pretty boring for me. it lost its momentum, and i just wasn’t as invested anymore.
October 27, 2024
3.5
I would have like this much more if I hadn't switched to the audiobook partway through. I just was not paying it the attention it deserved. But I'm pretty sure it's a series, so I'll reread it physically before the next one comes out.
I would have like this much more if I hadn't switched to the audiobook partway through. I just was not paying it the attention it deserved. But I'm pretty sure it's a series, so I'll reread it physically before the next one comes out.
May 31, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Perfect for aspiring brujas who enjoyed Rivera's Cece Rios or Meriano's Love. Sugar. Magic, or this author's Flirting with Fate.
Perfect for aspiring brujas who enjoyed Rivera's Cece Rios or Meriano's Love. Sugar. Magic, or this author's Flirting with Fate.
September 17, 2024
Need something to read for Hispanic Heritage Month? (Or anytime?)
This super cute, upper-middle grade novel was just published and has criminally few reviews for how good it was!!
This super cute, upper-middle grade novel was just published and has criminally few reviews for how good it was!!
October 21, 2024
4 stars
October 23, 2024
Fabulous story.
October 25, 2024
Alot of fantasy. Good story.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews