On the Wings of la Noche: List 4: Mutant–Everything Everywhere on Fire

by Vanessa L. Torres
Struggling with her grief over her girlfriend's untimely death and her responsibility to guide her soul into the afterlife, Noche's life is further complicated when she begins to fall for a new boy in town.

Here are links to our lists for the book:
List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5
15 words 5 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. anomaly
    deviation from the normal or common order, form, or rule
    “Confirming I am an anomaly, an unexplainable creature of a secret order of death birds, which translates to: I am a mutant spirit sweeper.”
  2. saturate
    infuse or fill completely
    My days have been saturated with I’m sorrys, which is why I don’t say it now to Xo, or to anyone else in the kitchen.
  3. decipher
    make out the meaning of
    “There are one or two tales of a Lechuza refusing her calling. But they are difficult to decipher, the details having become muddled with time.”
  4. inherent
    existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
    “Honestamente,” Xo continues, “I’m unsure how you’re able to ignore your mission. You must have incredible strength, Noche, to overcome your Lechuza’s inherent need to deliver.”
  5. finesse
    subtly skillful handling of a situation
    Evie launches into the air and shifts, sticking the landing with ridiculous finesse.
  6. matter-of-fact
    not fanciful or imaginative
    Evie makes it all sound so matter-of-fact, when truly, this is stuff for the fantasy section in the bookstore.
  7. barrage
    an overwhelming or vigorous outpouring
    Especially the number of minutes I’ve spent dodging the barrage of people coupled up.
  8. dingy
    discolored by impurities; not bright and clear
    Some are peeling at the corners; a few have fallen off and are left on the dingy tile to be stepped on.
  9. trestle
    a supporting tower used to support a bridge
    And when you do, I’m hoping you’ll think of me, remember me and how awesome it felt when we finished the first corner of the heaven spot under the trestle at the edge of town…
  10. deltoid
    large triangular muscle covering the shoulder joint
    “Hey, kid,” Gus interrupts, punching me in the deltoid.
  11. wane
    grow smaller
    A few hours in, I begin to tire, my runner’s high waning.
  12. discernible
    capable of being perceived clearly
    And when my Lechuza is summoned, I leave Superior behind, only to return to more of the same—ravens scattering in the sky, flying in no discernible direction over the lake.
  13. menace
    a threat or the act of threatening
    I peer at the sky, the darkening clouds hinting at their building menace.
  14. superficial
    of little substance or significance
    The DL business between Dante and Julien seems so superficial now.
  15. congenital
    present at birth but not necessarily hereditary
    “I have a congenital heart condition,” he says. “One that’s required two open-heart surgeries so far.”
Created on Mon Aug 03 07:36:54 EDT 2026 (updated Tue Aug 25 15:02:33 EDT 2026)

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