Strange Lights by Mira Gonzalez

I would like to start by expressing my gratitude to NetGalley and Bindery Books for granting me access to this ARC. Additionally, I want to thank the author for crafting such a cool and cosmic story; I truly enjoyed it!

Summary - Strange Lights by Mira Gonzalez is a story revolving around Eldi, a chupacabra adopted by Reggie, a paranormal investigator who has retired from a hectic past, only to be thrown back in when strange UFO activities start happening. She has to face old enemies, an anti-supernatural agency, and Calvin, an old nemesis turned friend turned lover? What happens when he threatens her strict rules of no romantic attachments? Oh, and he has turned into a werewolf. Together, they must protect those they love against the threat that will tear them apart. Follow Reggie, Eldi, and Calvin on a paranormal adventure to save worlds.

Thoughts - (Slight spoilers) As soon as I saw this on NetGalley and that it was from Bindery Books, I knew I wanted to read it. Cryptids and paranormal activity? Yes, please! It started off great, and I loved it so much. The world of cryptids with chupacabras, werewolves, and the adventure of riding around in a Winnebago to investigate activity was such a fun vibe. I loved the different relationships created and the dysfunctional elements portrayed within the story. I, however, did find Reggie extremely frustrating as a character. I understand the reason for her being the way she is; however, I found her character development slow. That was the only downside to this, and maybe not enough cryptids. The first part was great, but as it dove deeper into the story, it kind of veered away from those elements and more toward everyone's backstories.

Now, while I normally hate being in the middle of a book and then suddenly being thrown into the past with backstories, the author did well in how this book was written. I was always captured within the pages, and the little twists and mysteries really emphasised the plot. Mira created complex yet vulnerable characters in her process, and each was relatable in some way, even when they had many layers. The worldbuilding and the paranormal parts of this book were outstanding.

While I do not want to give away spoilers, I will say that in this book, the relationships were frustrating and brilliant all in one. As I said, I felt Reggie's character development was quite frustrating; she often felt as if she had a chip on her shoulder. She was always negative, almost mean, and unnecessary in parts. I just wanted her to chill. That being said, I didn’t hate her at all, and I empathised with her after finding out her past. I just wish she weren’t so "woe is me" right until the very end. I loved how the author wrote about Reggie's family and past—very clever and well done.

The relationship between Eldi and Reggie was both cute, heartwarming, and sad. I loved that she adopted her, and their bond really showed, as well as the love they expressed in their own ways. It wasn’t easy for either of them, and with Eldi's lack of vocabulary, it was hard for them to communicate, but they both cherished one another, and Reggie really stepped up as a mother to Eldi.

It was also sweet that Eldi was attached to her toy goat and her relationship with the mismatched, weird creatures within the Winnebago. The whole magical RV and its counterparts really made the fun and exciting elements pop, especially when Reggie and Eldi went werewolf hunting and paranormal investigating. Speaking of werewolves, they take center stage in the story, especially when Calvin accidentally transforms into one. He sneaks after Reggie and Eldi to a werewolf pack, attempting to protect Reggie as chaos ensues, and gets bitten. This marks the beginning of Calvin's adventures in the supernatural realm. It’s particularly amusing that Calvin runs a podcast aimed at debunking the existence of the paranormal and supernatural. I think he will have to change his content.

Calvin and Reggie were an ideal pairing, and I initially felt a pang of sadness for him because, honestly, Reggie was quite challenging. However, as their relationship blossomed throughout the story, it was wonderful to witness how Calvin helped Reggie emerge from her shell. Their love was unique, and in the best possible way—especially with Luca joining the mix. Reggie and her sisters truly embodied the essence of sisterhood. Although they weren’t related by blood, their bond was unbreakable; no one could take that away from them.

But I think what really made this story stand out from it all was Orion's backstory and what Eldi and Orion went through when they were just babies themselves. The brutality of it and how this was such a big part of the book, with so many backstories and the main story starting differently from where it finished, the Orion backstory was the link to bring them all into place, helping readers to understand what was happening and how it all fit into the main plot. It gave you a much clearer understanding of the antagonist, the relationship between all characters, and the answers to a lot of questions. It was a different sort of sci-fi paranormal plot that I enjoy immensely.