J. C. Cervantes

Where does hope live? In your family? In your community? In your school? In your heart? From a family restaurant to a hot-dog shaped car, from an empty road on a moonlit night to a classroom holiday celebration, this anthology of personal stories from award-winning and bestselling authors, shows that hope can live everywhere, even—or especially—during the darkest of times. No matter what happens: Hope wins. Contributors include: Tom Angleberger, James Bird, Max Brallier, Julie Buxbaum, Pablo Cartaya, J.C. Cervantes, Soman Chainani, Matt de la Peña, Stuart Gibbs, Adam Gidwitz, Karina Yan Glaser, Veera Hiranandani, Hena Khan, Gordon Korman, Janae Marks, Sarah Mlynowski, Rex Ogle, James Ponti, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Ronald L.Smith, Christina Soontornvat, and R.L. Stine.

In a collection of personal stories and essays, award-winning and bestselling artists from Matt de la Peña and Veera Hiranandani to Max Brallier and R.L. Stine write about how hope always wins, even in the darkest of times.Where does hope live?In your family?In your community?In your school?In your heart?From a family restaurant to a hot-dog shaped car, from an empty road on a moonlight night to a classroom holiday celebration, this anthology of personal stories from award-winning and bestselling authors, shows that hope can live everywhere, even—or especially—during the darkest of times.No matter what happens: Hope wins.Contributors include: Tom Angleberger, James Bird, Max Brallier, Julie Buxbaum, Pablo Cartaya, J.C. Cervantes, Soman Chainani, Matt de la Peña, Stuart Gibbs, Adam Gidwitz, Karina Yan Glaser, Veera Hiranandani, Hena Khan, Gordon Korman, Janae Marks, Sarah Mlynowski, Rex Ogle, James Ponti, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Ronald L.Smith, Christina Soontornvat, and R.L. Stine.

“A perfect blend of magic, humor, adventure, and heart!" —Rick Riordan, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Percy Jackson and the OlympiansA 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 seriesEsmerelda 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!

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents the breathtaking finale to J. C. Cervantes's Maya-inspired Shadow Bruja duology, in which Ren makes a bargain for her life. Shadow bruja Ren Santiago was relentlessly pursued by the evil Aztec Lords of Night, who claimed that she was destined to be their queen, a destiny she wasn't willing to accept. So she chose death instead. Too bad death wasn't the answer to her problems. Ren soon realizes she must return to the land of the living to make things right. Unfortunately, that means negotiating with Ixtab, queen of the underworld. Ixtab offers her ten days aboveground in exchange for the discarded crown of jade and shadow. If Ren fails, she will return to the darkness for eternity. Ren agrees, knowing full well that she also has to save her friends Marco, Monty, and Edison and, while she's at it, put those pesky Lords of Night back to sleep forever. The only problem is, Ren lost her shadow magic and time rope when she lost her life. How will Ren manage to accomplish what feels impossible? The answer lies not in manipulating shadows or time, but in recognizing the awesome power that has always been inside her. J. C. Cervantes's trademark humor, incredibly high stakes, fascinating characters, and shocking plot twists are on full display in this epic conclusion of an unputdownable duology.

"A young woman learns to embrace all the messy imperfections of life and love with some help from her magical family Lilian Estrada seemingly has it all: an ob-gyn star on the rise, a master at balancing work with whirlwind romances and part of a family of fiercely loyal and exceptional women, all bound together by an extraordinary secret. The Estrada women each possess a unique power, and Lily shines with the rare gift to manipulate memories. Yet not even her mystical abilities can shield her from a harrowing event at the hospital, one that sends her powers--and her confidence--spiraling out of control. Seeking solace, Lily retreats to her family's ancestral home in Mexico, only to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past--Sam, the first love she never forgot. Nearly a decade since she last saw him, Sam is hardly the boy she once knew, and as old flames spark to life, Lily must navigate the mysteries of their shared history and the depths of her own heart if she hopes to control her unpredictable magic."

???A young woman learns to embrace all the messy imperfections of life and love with some help from her magical family ???'[A] cozy magical romance . . . a well-balanced tale of magic, perseverance, and rekindled love. Cervantes is sure to win fans with this one' Publisher's Weekly_______________________Can an old flame spark a new romance?Lilian Estrada seemingly has it all. She's an ob-gyn star on the rise, a master at balancing work with whirlwind romances, and part of a family of fiercely loyal and exceptional women, all bound together by an extraordinary secret. The Estrada women each possess a unique power, and Lily shines with the rare gift to manipulate memories. But her mystical abilities can't shield her from a harrowing event at the hospital, one that sends her powers - and her confidence - spiralling out of control. Seeking solace, Lily retreats to her family's ancestral home in Mexico, only to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past - Sam, the first love she never forgot. Nearly a decade since she last saw him, Sam is hardly the boy she once knew, and as old flames spark to life, Lily must navigate the mysteries of their shared history and the depths of her own heart if she hopes to control her unpredictable magic._______________________'A delightful, funny, and uplifting novel with the perfect amount of heat' KATY HAYS'The Estrada women will bewitch your heart and make you believe in magic again' CAROLYN HUYNH'This story had me rooting for love in all its forms ... a wondrous backdrop for blooming romance' DIANE MARIE BROWN'An enchantingly comfortable romantic dramedy' KIRKUS'Cervantes' adult debut is a sensual tale ... and the sweeping love story draws readers in' BOOKLISTReaders gave The Enchanted Hacienda 5 stars!!'The most beautiful story. The romance that blossomed, like the flowers from the Estrada farm, was a magical treat . . . A book filled with romance, familia, and magic''A truly beautiful and enchanting story that shows the power of love, family and find your place in the world. Magic, family and a beautifully told story make this one that you don't want to miss out on''J.C. Cervantes is a genius. I am absolutely in love with this writing style and I love the characters and I love the subtle magic . . . the story is honestly beautiful and heartbreaking and enchanting''A delightful, emotionally charged tale of a young woman realizing that maybe her lack of magic isn't the end of the world, that she does have something to offer, that family is everything, and love can come out of nowhere, magic or not. Readers will be enchanted with the magic, and will want to live in The Enchanted Hacienda'

A young woman learns to embrace all the messy imperfections of life and love with some help from her magical familyLilian Estrada seemingly has it all: an ob-gyn star on the rise, a master at balancing work with whirlwind romances and part of a family of fiercely loyal and exceptional women, all bound together by an extraordinary secret. The Estrada women each possess a unique power, and Lily shines with the rare gift to manipulate memories. Yet not even her mystical abilities can shield her from a harrowing event at the hospital, one that sends her powers--and her confidence--spiraling out of control.Seeking solace, Lily retreats to her family's ancestral home in Mexico, only to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past--Sam, the first love she never forgot. Nearly a decade since she last saw him, Sam is hardly the boy she once knew, and as old flames spark to life, Lily must navigate the mysteries of their shared history and the depths of her own heart if she hopes to control her unpredictable magic.

"A perfect blend of magic, humor, adventure, and heart " --Rick Riordan, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Percy Jackson and the OlympiansA 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 seriesEsmerelda 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

From New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes comes a sparkling, unforgettable YA romance, perfect for fans of You've Reached Sam. Now in paperback. Best friends and soul mates since they were kids, Hart Augusto and Ruby Armenta were poised to take on senior year together when Hart tragically drowns in a boating accident. Absolutely shattered, Ruby struggles to move on from the person she knows was her forever love. Hart can't let go of Ruby either.... Due to some divine intervention, he's offered a second chance. Only it won't be as simple as bringing him back to life--instead, Hart's soul is transferred to the body of a local bad boy. When Hart returns to town as Jameson, he realizes that winning Ruby back will be more challenging than he'd imagined. For one, he's forbidden from telling Ruby the truth. And with each day he spends as Jameson, memories of his life as Hart begin to fade away. Though Ruby still mourns Hart, she can't deny that something is drawing her to Jameson. As much as she doesn't understand the sudden pull, it can't be ignored. And why does he remind her so much of Hart? Desperate to see if the connection she feels is real, Ruby begins to open her heart to Jameson--but will their love be enough to bridge the distance between them?

Don't miss J.C. Cervantes's next book The Anatomy of Magic coming March 2025"This summer's sweetest confection is J.C. Cervantes's The Enchanted Hacienda. This book is like dipping your brain into a jar of serotonin." --New York Times Book Review"This is a contemporary coming-of-age story, with a sprinkling of magic, that's one of my most anticipated reads of the year." --Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author, in Elle MagazineWhen Harlow Estrada is abruptly fired from her dream job and her boyfriend proves to be a jerk, her world turns upside down. She flees New York City to the one place she can always call home--the enchanted Hacienda Estrada.The Estrada family farm in Mexico houses an abundance of charmed flowers cultivated by Harlow's mother, sisters, aunt, and cousins. By harnessing the magic in these flowers, they can heal hearts, erase memories, interpret dreams--but not Harlow. So when her mother and aunt give her a special task involving the family's magic, she panics. How can she rise to the occasion when she is magicless? But maybe it's not magic she's missing, but belief in herself. When she finally embraces her unique gifts and opens her heart to a handsome stranger, she discovers she's far more powerful than she imagined.With unforeseen twists, romance, and a heavy sprinkle of magic, The Enchanted Hacienda is a captivating coming-of-age debut exploring identity, unconditional family love, and uncovering the magic within us all.

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents the breathtaking finale to J. C. Cervantes's Maya-inspired Shadow Bruja duology, in which Ren makes a bargain for her life. Shadow bruja Ren Santiago was relentlessly pursued by the evil Aztec Lords of Night, who claimed that she was destined to be their queen, a destiny she wasn't willing to accept. So she chose death instead. Too bad death wasn't the answer to her problems. Ren soon realizes she must return to the land of the living to make things right. Unfortunately, that means negotiating with Ixtab, queen of the underworld. Ixtab offers her ten days aboveground in exchange for the discarded crown of jade and shadow. If Ren fails, she will return to the darkness for eternity. Ren agrees, knowing full well that she also has to save her friends Marco, Monty, and Edison and, while she's at it, put those pesky Lords of Night back to sleep forever. The only problem is, Ren lost her shadow magic and time rope when she lost her life. How will Ren manage to accomplish what feels impossible? The answer lies not in manipulating shadows or time, but in recognizing the awesome power that has always been inside her. J. C. Cervantes's trademark humor, incredibly high stakes, fascinating characters, and shocking plot twists are on full display in this epic conclusion of an unputdownable duology.

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents J. C. Cervantes's exciting new spin-off from the best-selling STORM RUNNER trilogy, featuring the shadow bruja Ren vs. Aztec gods. Shadow bruja Ren Santiago, daughter of the Maya goddess of time, suspects that five rogue godborn kids are trying to awaken the dangerous Aztec Lords of Night. With none of her other friends available, Ren has to team up with a teen hybrid demon and an eleven-year-old hunter to stop them. But this is no ordinary challenge. It could well be an impossible one that leaves Ren questioning her very existence. Anyone who enjoys fast-paced myth-based adventures will be swept up in this one featuring Maya and Mexica gods and their magical offspring.

From New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes comes a sparkling, unforgettable YA romance, perfect for fans of You've Reached Sam. Best friends and soul mates since they were kids, Hart Augusto and Ruby Armenta were poised to take on senior year together when Hart tragically drowns in a boating accident. Absolutely shattered, Ruby struggles to move on from the person she knows was her forever love. Hart can't let go of Ruby either.... Due to some divine intervention, he's offered a second chance. Only it won't be as simple as bringing him back to life--instead, Hart's soul is transferred to the body of local bad boy. When Hart returns to town as Jameson, he realizes that winning Ruby back will be more challenging than he'd imagined. For one, he's forbidden from telling Ruby the truth. And with each day he spends as Jameson, memories of his life as Hart begin to fade away. Though Ruby still mourns Hart, she can't deny that something is drawing her to Jameson. As much as she doesn't understand the sudden pull, it can't be ignored. And why does he remind her so much of Hart? Desperate to see if the connection she feels is real, Ruby begins to open her heart to Jameson--but will their love be enough to bridge the distance between them?

From New York Times bestselling author, J.C. Cervantes, The Enchanted Hacienda is a captivating coming-of-age debut exploring identity, unconditional family love, and uncovering the magic within us all.And early readers are giving The Enchanted Hacienda 5 stars!!'The most beautiful story. The romance that blossomed, like the flowers from the Estrada farm, was a magical treat . . . A book filled with romance, familia, and magic' 'A truly beautiful and enchanting story that shows the power of love, family and find your place in the world. Magic, family and a beautifully told story make this one that you don't want to miss out on''J.C. Cervantes is a genius. I am absolutely in love with this writing style and I love the characters and I love the subtle magic . . . the story is honestly beautiful and heartbreaking and enchanting''A delightful, emotionally charged tale of a young woman realizing that maybe her lack of magic isn't the end of the world, that she does have something to offer, that family is everything, and love can come out of nowhere, magic or not. Readers will be enchanted with the magic, and will want to live in The Enchanted Hacienda'*****************************After losing her dream job and realising that her boyfriend is a jerk, Harlow Estrada decides to flee New York City and head back to the one place she can always call home - the enchanted Hacienda Estrada.The Estrada family farm in Mexico houses an abundance of charmed flowers cultivated by the women in Harlow's family. By harnessing the magic in these flowers, they can heal hearts, erase memories, and interpret dreams - powers that only Harlow lacks.So, when her mother and aunt give her a special task involving the family's magic and it goes wrong, she completely panics. Except maybe it's not magic that Harlow is missing, but self-belief. And perhaps embracing her own unique gifts and opening her heart to a romance with a handsome stranger could be just what she needs to discover the power that has been within her all along.*****************************'The warmth and humor of The Enchanted Hacienda immediately cast a spell over me . . . Exhibiting the rarest of alchemies, The Enchanted Hacienda is a delightful, funny, and uplifting novel with the perfect amount of heat' Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author'The Estrada women will bewitch your heart and make you believe in magic again . . . A beautiful reminder to be kind to ourselves as we await our time to bloom' Carolyn Huynh'A radiant tale that satisfies the heart along with the part of us - big or small - that believes in magic. This story had me rooting for love in all its forms . . . a wondrous backdrop for blooming romance. This bewitching page turner is both a beauty and a delightful treat' Diane Marie Brown'Cervantes has created a charming world, the kind of place that anyone would want to spend time... An enchantingly comfortable romantic dramedy' Kirkus'Cervantes' adult debut is a sensual tale of a young woman discovering herself, finding her passion, and falling in love. Lush descriptions abound, and the sweeping love story draws readers in. Fans of Zoraida Córdova and Alice Hoffman will feel at home in the Estrada family's hacienda' Booklist