I deeply appreciate the author's vulnerability and courage in trying to dismantle some misconceptions of Santeria. This book is not a place to start if you are looking for an educational text about the religion. It is more of a memoir of the author's experiences with how she practices. I enjoyed learning about where Santeria began and why it has persisted despite colonizers trying to erase it from history. I will say I did not like the conversation about animal sacrifice. The entire conversation was talking about how black-and-white thinking wasn't helpful, however, she does not discuss how to ethically and morally sacrifice animals in the place she lives aka New York City. Stating that ALL animal sacrifices for religious practices are always done for good and to feed the community is just not true and lacks nuance. This book was a challenge to get through but it made me interested in learning about how Santeria has evolved over the years and what a modern practice would look like. Has the misogyny in the religion gone away? Is there a place for vegan/plant-based worshippers? I'd love to know how trans/nonbinary people fall into the practice.