Review Detail

The infamous gambling den Fortune's Kiss returns to Ciudad Milagro and its game is Loteria. Best friends Mayte and Lorena dream of a better life. Mayte's father lost their fortune. Lorena's mother disappeared with rumors she played Fortune's Kiss and left Lo and her sisters to their abusive, controlling father. Together the friends scheme to play. But the game has deadly consequences for all.


What worked: Something Wicked This Way Comes meets Carnival with a diverse twist. This fantasy had me on the edge of my seat.

Great pacing throughout. Mayte resents her father gambling away their fortune and how she is no longer accepted as part of the elite families in town. Her friendship with Lo hasn't changed, though others in her former group now ignore her. I liked how Mayte shows loyalty to Lo even when the game becomes challenging.

Lo is that rich girl who seems to have it all but hides a painful truth. She resents being put on display by her controlling father's attempts to get rid of her to someone just like him. Lo is smarter than others give her credit for. That helps her plan how to win the game and get out of Milagro. In the meantime, she searches for her mother whom she strongly feels isn't dead.

There's twists and turns throughout. Not all is what it seems in Fortune's Kiss. The participants have to give up their dreams to compete. The consequences of losing are deadly.

Everyone, including the participants, plays against each other. There's betrayals, secrets, and twisted cards in the game Loteria. All the while the house holds the truth to win.

Exciting fantasy that plays off Loteria with deadly results for all willing to play the game.