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Beasts of Carnaval: A Caribbean Historical Fantasy Tale of Mystery and Magic at El Carnaval De Bestias
Rosália Rodrigo
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“From the lush setting to the evocative prose to the can't-look-away characters, this is one of my most anticipated novels of the year.” —NPR
"Come for the fantasy; stay for the vengeance, and enjoy the beauty of both.” —Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author of Strange the Dreamer and Daughter of Smoke & Bone
For fans of The Night Circus, this sweeping historical fantasy set in a lush, Puerto Rico-inspired world uses magical realism to combine Caribbean carnaval culture and the mythology of the Taíno—the Indigenous people of the region—in a gripping exploration of community, reclamation, and healing in defiance of a violent past.
When night descends, el Carnaval de Bestias rises. 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…
What you can expect in BEASTS OF CARNVAL:
- Indigenous Taíno Mythology
- Themes of Decolonization + Reclamation
- Atmospheric Island Setting
- Carnival Culture & Vejigantes
- Caribbean + Latine Adult Fantasy
- Historical Fantasy with Magical Realism
- The Revelry Never Ends
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Posts about this title from Celestial
what could be more fun than pairing some book covers with outfits? 💕
what could be more fun than pairing some book covers with outfits? 💕 here are some books and looks!
📚 books mentioned: - The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo - Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo - Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White - Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino - Warm-Blooded by J Greene - The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez - Canon by Paige Lewis - A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang
#fantasybooks #horrorbooks #scifibooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @henryholtbooks @readmirabooks @htp_hive @peachtreeteen @fsgbooks @ingramsparkbooks @delreybooks @vikingbooks @williammorrowbooks
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 25
recommending books using their opening lines (a series!)
recommending books using their opening lines (a series!)
📚 books mentioned: - You Weren’t Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White - Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews - A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan - Model Home by Rivers Solomon - These Memories Do Not Belong to Us by Yiming Ma - The Midnight Shift by Cheon Seon-ran, translated by Gene Png - Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad - I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me by Jamison Shea - Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo - These Vengeful Gods by Gabe Cole Novoa
thank you to Saga Press, Fierce Reads, Mariner Books, Bloomsbury Books, MIRA / HTP Hive, and Get Underlined for the gifted copies!
#bookrecsfromfirstlines #bookfirstlines #bookrecs #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @sagapressbooks @fiercereads @mcdbooks @marinerbooks @bloomsburybooksus @bloomsburypublishing @groveatlantic @readmirabooks @htp_hive @getunderlined
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book recs based on first lines • recommending books based on their opening lines • horror books • fantasy books • sci fi books • thriller books • literary fiction books • audiobooks • unique books • diverse books • MCD Books • Grove Atlantic
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 14
💭 what are your favorite genres to blend together?\ \ here are some books with a toe in horror and a
💭 what are your favorite genres to blend together?
here are some books with a toe in horror and a toe in SFF!
📚 books mentioned: - Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker - The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson - Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo
👗💄: - dress is from Free People, rented from Nuuly - eyeshadow is The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite, Ellis Atlantis Palette from Blend Bunny Cosmetics, and The Spring Symphony Palette from Dandy Lion Cosmetics - eyeliner is Epiphany Glow Melt-On (Limelight) from Kaleidos - mascara is Highly Rated XL from Milani - lip combo is Lippie Pencil (Twisted) from Colourpop and Jelly Job Lip Gloss (Jelly Jammin’) from NYX Cosmetics - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to Hanover Square Press / HTP Hive, Harper Voyager, and MIRA for the gifted copies!
#fantasybooks #horrorbooks #genreblends #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @hanoversquarepress @htp_hive @htpbooks @harpervoyagerus @readmirabooks @freepeople
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genre blending books • genrebending book recs • horror books • fantasy books • weird books • disturbing books • unique books • original book recommendations • diverse books
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Mar 10
🏝️ a beautiful, mysterious island … what could possibly go wrong?
📚 books mentioned: - Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo - We Are Hunted by Tomi Oyemakinde - Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (this edition is from Folio Society)
👗💄: - dress is from Anthropologie, rented from Nuuly - eyeshadow is Ellis Atlantis Palette from Blend Bunny Cosmetics and The Spring Symphony Palette from Dandy Lion Cosmetics - mascara is Badi Lash from Kulfi Beauty - lip is combo is Staining Lip Liner (Chori Chori) from Kulfi Beauty and Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump (Dragonfruit) from Tarte Cosmetics - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to MIRA / HTP Hive and Fierce Reads for the gifted copies!
#horrorbooks #horrorbookrecs #bookrecs #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @htp_hive @readmirabooks @fiercereads @aaknopf @foliosociety @anthropologie @dandylionsco @glamlite @kulfi.beauty @tartecosmetics
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horror book recs • strange island books • books like Jurassic Park • mysterious island book recommendations • strange book recs • speculative fiction • diverse books • Knopf • Folio Society special edition
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let’s chat about my february books | reading wrap up!
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 17
another round of fantasy books with minimal-to-no romance! my valentine’s day gift to you hehe.
📚 books mentioned: - Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo - Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston J. Munden - Undrowned by G.M. DiDesidero
👗💄: - dress is from Hill House Home (rented from Nuuly) - eyeshadow is Yeux Paint (Nuage de Lilas) from Violette FR and The Lord of the Rings Middle Earth Palette from Glamlite - bottom eyeshadow is multiple Sparklestiks from Half Magic - eyeshadow shimmer is a single (Unicorncore) from Half Magic - lip combo is Ultra Suede Sculpting Lip Pencil (Toasty) from Makeup by Mario and Cloud Whip Liquid Lipstick (Storm Cloud) from Colourpop, topped with an eyeshadow shimmer from Ourbella - bronzy shimmer is Sun Veil from Kopari - (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)
thank you to MIRA / HTP Hive, Bindery Books, and Chickasaw Press / Leaning Pole Press for the gifted copies!
#fantasybooks #fantasybookrecs #fantasybookreviews #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @htp_hive @readmirabooks @chickasawpress @hillhouse @violette_fr @glamlite @halfmagicbeauty @colourpopcosmetics @makeupbymario @ourbella.us @koparibeauty
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fantasy books • fantasy books that aren’t romantasy • books without romance • SFF with minimal romance • romance-free fantasy • book recommendations • unique book recs • diverse books
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Posts about this book from across Bindery
Bien Leidos\ \ tomesandtextiles\ \ • Jun 26
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Latine fantasy recs #booktokfyp #readlatinebooks #fantasybooktok #bienleidos #tomesandtextiles
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what could be more fun than pairing some book covers with outfits? 💕
what could be more fun than pairing some book covers with outfits? 💕 here are some books and looks!
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 25
recommending books using their opening lines (a series!)
recommending books using their opening lines (a series!)
thank you to Saga Press, Fierce Reads, Mariner Books, Bloomsbury Books, MIRA / HTP Hive, and Get Underlined for the gifted copies!
.
10 books
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Apr 14
💭 what are your favorite genres to blend together?
here are some books with a toe in horror and a toe in SFF!
📚 books mentioned: - Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker - The Macabre by Kosoko Jackson - Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo
thank you to Hanover Square Press / HTP Hive, Harper Voyager, and MIRA for the gifted copies!
#fantasybooks #horrorbooks #genreblends #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @hanoversquarepress @htp_hive @htpbooks @harpervoyagerus @readmirabooks @freepeople
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Mar 10
🏝️ a beautiful, mysterious island … what could possibly go wrong?
thank you to MIRA / HTP Hive and Fierce Reads for the gifted copies!
.
3 books
let’s chat about my february books | reading wrap up!
it wasn’t my best reading month (I read less than I wanted to and I didn’t find many new faves), but the most important thing is that I was reading!
5 books
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Celestial\ \ Steph\ \ • Feb 17
another round of fantasy books with minimal-to-no romance! my valentine’s day gift to you hehe.
📚 books mentioned: - Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo - Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston J. Munden - Undrowned by G.M. DiDesidero
thank you to MIRA / HTP Hive, Bindery Books, and Chickasaw Press / Leaning Pole Press for the gifted copies!
.
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Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Jan 20
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\ \ I'm finally ready to share my pics for my 2025 bookish awards! These are some of the books I was most entertained by last year and I hope y'all will give them a try.\ \ The award for "Book I Couldn't Put Down" goes to You Should Have Been Nicer To My Mom by Vincent Tirado!\ \ \ \ The drama was delicious and I felt so seen by the storytelling. For those who have read my previous reviews, this probably isn't surprising to you!\ \ ......\ \ The award for "Book I'm Still Thinking About" goes to A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera! \ \ \ \ Some folks may be surprised by the fact that I chose a Romance novel for this award, but IYKYK. This Historical Romance uses the context surrounding our MC's stories in such a powerful way that you might have to sit with yourself for a little while when you finish reading it.\ \ ......\ \ I've got a three-way tie for the "Spiciest Romances" of 2025:\ \ I Accidentally Hooked Up With A Vampire by Jessica Cage, Blood & Brujas by Mikayla D. Hornedo, and All Superheroes Need Photo Ops by Elizabeth Stephens. \ \ \ \ This was a hard decision to make and I almost threw in I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming for good measure. These novels had me speechless (many times)!! If you haven't read anything by these authors (and Kimberly Lemming), I suggest you add their backlogs, babes.\ \ .......\ \ My indecision plagued me for my "Most Fun To Read" books of 2025, too. I ultimately went with A Man for Mrs. Claus by Rebekah Weatherspoon, A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna, and The Princess and The P.I. by Nikki Payne.\ \ \ \ These authors had me kicking my feet, giggling, and getting butterflies all story long! They gave me mystery, yearning, and safe spaces.\ \ .........\ \ Despite that, I have to say that my choice for "Coziest Novel" of the year goes to Only Lovers in the Building by Nadine Gonzalez.\ \ \ \ I'm a sucker for found family, but add in the location, the romance, and the beautiful writing and I'm sold. This Afro-Latina represented us so well!\ \ ......\ \ Last but definitely not least, my award for "Most Surprising Stories" of 2025 goes to:\ \ Blood Slaves by Markus Redmond, When The Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley, Lucha of the Forgotten Spring by Tehlor Kay Mejia, and Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo.\ \ \ \ These were the stories I didn't know I wanted! They were original, vivid, and kept me hooked. They may not be everyone's cup of tea but they hit just right for me.\ \ ..........\ \ Thank you to all of the authors who worked so hard to write these books and get them out in the world. They've brought readers (and librarians) like me outlets to rage, feel safe, and find ourselves. Keep doing what you're doing because it matters!](https://bookish-afrolatina.binderybooks.com/item/LrOsz1CACPDfE6bhjcc3/)
2025 Bookish Awards (Bookish AfroLatina's Version)
13 books
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Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Sep 20 2025
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I won the Beasts of Carnaval giveaway so I want to show y’all what I got!
I won the Beasts of Carnaval giveaway so I want to show y’all what I got.
- An artisan-made coffee candle inside a coconut shell - A vegan leather journal (embossed by the author) - A packet of moriviví seeds - A café con leche recipe - 3 Art prints by @momo.rosario - A signed hardcover copy of Beasts of Carnaval
Thank you @rosalia.rodrigo.writes
BEASTS OF CARNAVAL is a fantasy standalone inspired by Puerto Rico and indigenous Taíno mythology. I read it and shared a review a little while ago.
Is this book on your TBR? It should be!
#LHM #LatineHeritageMonth #LatinxHeritageMonth #LatineBooks #BookRecommendations #TainoBooks #PuertoRicanBooks #Borinquen #Boríken
1 book
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Bookish AfroLatina's Library\ \ Gabby\ \ • Aug 11 2025
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Exclusive Book Review: Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo
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