The Deos in Labyrinth Lost are the pantheon of gods worshipped by brujas and brujos. The Deos represent all aspects of nature, creation, and everyday life, similar to the orishas of Santeria and the gods of Greek mythology. When I was creating the Deos, I chose to name them using the Spanish and Spanish-like words that corresponded to their physical attributes and powers. El Fuego = fire. El Viento = wind. La Ola = water. The highest of the Deos are La Mama, the mother of all gods. Her sacred symbol is the sun. Her counterpart is El Papa, the father of all gods. His symbol is the crescent moon. Brujas and brujos often choose a Deo the way Catholics choose a patron saint to pray to. Alex knows magic is real, but she has a hard time putting her faith and belief in something that has caused her family so much pain. Even though the Deos rarely present themselves to mortals, they make their presence known. It is believed that the Deos act through the mortals they created—the brujas and brujos.
For more information about the world of Labyrinth Lost, email me at [email protected].
Acknowledgments
This is a book I’ve always wanted to write. It wouldn’t be possible without my agent, Adrienne Rosado, and my wonderful editors, Aubrey Poole and Kate Prosswimmer. Thank you, ladies, for enduring every draft and revision, and staying with Alex to the very end. To the fantastic team at Sourcebooks Fire, including Alex Yeadon, Amelia Narigon, Elizabeth Boyer, Nicole Komasinski, and my publisher, Dominique Raccah.
My incredible beta readers: Natalie Horbachevsky, Hannah Gómez, Anne Greenwood Brown, Ellen Goodlett, and Rebecca Enzor. Elisabeth Wilhelm, for your thoughtful notes and for cheering me on as I revised on our train to Berlin. David Collett, for that medical torture advice. Cat Scully, for the most amazing world map. Gretchen Stelter for correcting my terrible grammar—and sorry about all the commas.
For Lauren McCall. Thank you for reading this book in its earliest stages. Thank you for bringing my words to life. To everyone who worked on the short film/book trailer: Brenda Salazar, Brenda Cespedes, Danielle McAllister, Erin Gross, Sam Rojas, Sara Ott, Varyana Galmadez, Daniel Waynick and lovely Lula, Jessica Naftaly, Madison Pflug, Emily Simpkins, Jasmine Carruthers, Macs Dawson, Jennifer Westburgh, Judith Parades, Gabby Wales, and Amanda DiMartino.
My bruja cast: Amanda Villanova, Adriana Medina, Aimee Alburquerque, Raiane Cantisano, Shari Abdul, Agustina Bernguer, and Nicole Coiscou.
To my witches, harpies, and badass writer ladies who keep me inspired. My friends who cheer me on and believe in me, especially Gretchen McNeil, Dhonielle Clayton, and Melissa Grey. Amy Plum, for Paris and for giving me a place to finish this book. My fellow traveling author buds, Adi Alsaid and Eric Smith.
To my parents, Liliana and Joe Vescuso; my incredible grandmother, Alejandrina Guerrero; my best roommate and brother Danny; Caco and Robert; Tio Danny and Ne; and the rest of my Ecuadorian tribe.
Finally, for all the girls and boys: you are enough.