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Frogs and Margaritas #1
Frogs and Margaritas
From the author of Pina Coladas and Rats comes a brand new 1980s-era creature horror adventure! This time, it might prove even scarier than killer rats.Special Preorder Price of $2.99 until release day!Justin, a college student studying archeology heads to Puerto Rico to study the ruins of the Taino Indians. What is supposed to be a fun expedition turns into a total nightmare. There is a dark secret lurking in the lands of Puerto Rico. Three valuable Taino relics keep Puerto Rico from being cursed by the spirits of the extinct people. Grave robbers attempt to make a quick payday by stealing the relics to sell to collectors.
What nobody knows is by stealing the relics, they have given birth to a horrid curse. It's a curse that converts harmless frogs and toads into killers that will give people nightmares for years. It's not limited to just frogs either, even iguanas will convert to cannibalistic killers.
Justin will soon discover this curse is deeper than anyone can comprehend. He will be led to the forbidden temples of the extinct Taino people where his worst fears will come to life. This will not be his normal Indiana Jones adventure.
Justin and his classmates caught in the middle have to find a way to survive the curse of the Taino Indians while trying to reverse the curse. If not, the frogs will be enjoying the margaritas on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico.
Frogs and Margaritas promises to be quite the nightmarish combination that will make you rethink visiting any tropical island or even drinking that next margarita!
What nobody knows is by stealing the relics, they have given birth to a horrid curse. It's a curse that converts harmless frogs and toads into killers that will give people nightmares for years. It's not limited to just frogs either, even iguanas will convert to cannibalistic killers.
Justin will soon discover this curse is deeper than anyone can comprehend. He will be led to the forbidden temples of the extinct Taino people where his worst fears will come to life. This will not be his normal Indiana Jones adventure.
Justin and his classmates caught in the middle have to find a way to survive the curse of the Taino Indians while trying to reverse the curse. If not, the frogs will be enjoying the margaritas on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico.
Frogs and Margaritas promises to be quite the nightmarish combination that will make you rethink visiting any tropical island or even drinking that next margarita!
- GenresHorror
187 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2024
53 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
May 26, 2025
This very short book took me 20 days to read and I almost stopped reading it on multiple occasions.
The idea was ok and could have been developed into a decent story, unfortunately it was let down through a distinct lack of editing. There are so many errors in the book not only is it distracting but also frustrating. Sentences contradict each other, words are used incorrectly and sometimes words are missed in sentences. Poisonous and venomous are two different things and not interchangeable - this was probably one of the most frustrating examples. The writing was a little on the wooden side for me too. It looks like plenty of people enjoyed it though so there's something in that.
*Please get someone to proofread and edit, it makes so much difference.
The idea was ok and could have been developed into a decent story, unfortunately it was let down through a distinct lack of editing. There are so many errors in the book not only is it distracting but also frustrating. Sentences contradict each other, words are used incorrectly and sometimes words are missed in sentences. Poisonous and venomous are two different things and not interchangeable - this was probably one of the most frustrating examples. The writing was a little on the wooden side for me too. It looks like plenty of people enjoyed it though so there's something in that.
*Please get someone to proofread and edit, it makes so much difference.
July 17, 2025
An interesting premise, but the writing is atrocious. I am baffled by both the other reviews overlooking this and by the fact that this made it into the Books of Horror brawl.
June 21, 2024
Well I didn't like frogs, and toads before and I damn sure don't like them now lol!
This was an interesting story that's for sure. Nobody wants to listen to legends of the island and because of that a killer curse is set free! When Justin’s nightmares turn into reality, things get weird!!!! Frogs, toads and iguanas are some of the most dangerous things on this island and don’t they care who their next snack is!!!
This was such a fun and different read! Make sure you snag it when it comes out June 28th! Thank you Angel for the early copy! I enjoyed it!
This was an interesting story that's for sure. Nobody wants to listen to legends of the island and because of that a killer curse is set free! When Justin’s nightmares turn into reality, things get weird!!!! Frogs, toads and iguanas are some of the most dangerous things on this island and don’t they care who their next snack is!!!
This was such a fun and different read! Make sure you snag it when it comes out June 28th! Thank you Angel for the early copy! I enjoyed it!
August 12, 2024
I As the title implies, Frogs and Margaritas is a gleeful romp through the palm trees with mutated amphibians and lizards massacring island folk left and right. Also, as I’d hoped, the story has just as much heart as the author himself.
What I wasn’t expecting, was the amount of detail about the history and culture of Puerto Rico, which was skillfully woven around the action and character development. The fun 80’s b-movie vibes were balanced against the genuine merits of the story. And of course, Angel has the second book lined up already, and it looks like book 3 isn’t far behind.
What I wasn’t expecting, was the amount of detail about the history and culture of Puerto Rico, which was skillfully woven around the action and character development. The fun 80’s b-movie vibes were balanced against the genuine merits of the story. And of course, Angel has the second book lined up already, and it looks like book 3 isn’t far behind.
June 9, 2025
If I DNFed books, this definitely would've been one of them. The thought of the book is all right, but the execution is not. This could've used a good editor, and the sentences read like a sixth grader wrote them for an assignment (noun, verb, object. noun, verb, object). Very repetitive and overall pretty boring.
July 28, 2025
After Ramon’s Frogs, You’ll Never See Amphibians the Same Way Again
Review: Frogs and Margaritas – Angel Ramon
My Verdict: A perfect encapsulation of 90s/00s adventure horror summer blockbuster vibes with a heaping dose of game mechanics. Good characters mixed with real history make for a jam-packed thrill ride.
Growing up I read mostly King, Poe, and Lovecraft, and later Palahniuk, but aside from a handful of other authors, I didn’t really keep up with the horror book scene. Recently, I wanted to make a foray back into modern horror literature to see what lurked in the unexplored shadows. So, I joined a bunch of horror book groups on Facebook, and now, thanks to those groups, my TBR is longer than it has ever been. (Too many books out there, looking all good and sh—.) Once I saw the kinds of deals one can get on eBooks, things only snowballed from there.
It was on a post where I was asking for great digital horror recommendations under $5 that I first came to know Angel Ramon. Angel commented with an extensive list of books, many of which I checked out and enjoyed, but he also recommended his own, Frogs and Margaritas.
Listen, I must be honest with you here; I don’t think of myself as a creature-feature kind of dude. Aside from maybe Pennywise, I can’t think of too many creatures that have pulled me in to read a book. So, Frogs just wasn’t first on my list. However, from that moment on, it became obvious to what extent Ramon is out there hustling, not just for himself but for the entire indie horror community. I don’t want to get too cheesy, but Ramon has been an inspiration from that day forward. He has what appears to be a tireless optimism and dedication to the scene and his stories. I would rate him 6 out of 5 stars as a part of the community, but still I didn’t think I wanted to read F&M.
Then I started seeing others talk, and they were impressed with all the real history concerning the people native to Puerto Rico that Ramon had packed into the book. Well, those comments and reviews sold me; I picked up Frogs and Margaritas, and I don’t know why I was surprised by what I got, but I was.
Ramon clearly knows and loves his story beats, because he is hitting them in the right spots. The book starts with a cold open (a technique in movies or shows where they do a pre-title sequence to throw you into the action) and a “first kill” scene. This opening bit perfectly does the work of establishing plot points, painting the setting, and introducing The Frogs. If this were a movie, after this kill, the title Frogs and Margaritas would flash on the screen in bold, stylistic neon letters with a big sting of loud music to drive it home.
From the start, I couldn’t help but picture the story as one of those Summer Adventure Horror Blockbusters of the past, like Anaconda or Congo. Once we introduce the main characters, college students on an archeology trip to Puerto Rico, that movie vibe never stops, but it does evolve (more on that later).
The opening establishes some good dynamics between our main character, Justin, and one of the fellow students, Matt, who have a kind of unspoken rivalry. There is also Josue, Justin’s friend who lives on the island and plays the role of tour guide as he introduces Justin (and us) to the island. Justin’s having visions that he keeps trying to write off as mere dreams. Meanwhile, incompetent graverobbers are bumbling around where they shouldn’t be, and boom! Everything is in motion. I just want to add that I saw the Matthew character in the grave robber scene as Jack Black.
Everything builds up to a friendly little school-sponsored archeology visit to an ancient Taino temple, and as it turns out, this was my favorite scene. Spoiler: everything goes wrong in a grand and grim fashion, where Justin and Matt barely escape with their lives and are forced to go on a survival adventure through the jungle. This is where the survival horror aspect jumps in, and gulldang it if I ain’t a sucker for such shenanigans. I’m in the middle of the Silent Hill 2 remake right now, and I got the same enjoyment when our pair of survivors in the jungle would find something useful as I do when I find more shotgun ammo in the Otherside of Brookhaven hospital. From here on out, the book is movie-style storytelling with video game mechanics.
Just like a game, we have to add party members, so then we run into Chisto, who is a welcome addition and whom I am 89.99% sure is named after a certain nefarious author running around here. Chisto is not only an interesting character himself but also creates a great dynamic for interplay between the three. Watching Justin and Matt go from enemies to bromance while Chisto put up with them both had me laughing and rooting them on.
There are moments of characterization here that are extremely vivid, such as the bartender with “Taino features” that I can see so clearly, even now, mannerisms and all. Oscar is another standout; I loved that raggedy man even though I knew he was talking smack, pende—forgive me, I almost spoke out of turn.
Frogs and Margaritas is what I would call a kitchen sink novel, a term I use in reference to the old expression “They threw in everything but the kitchen sink.” I think kitchen sink novels embrace a certain kind of stylistic, genre-crossover maximalism. It is a style I quite enjoy, because I always find delight in art that blends the idea of genre or even medium in cool ways. The elements that Ramone chose to throw in with the kitchen sink for F&M all work seamlessly to build a fun adventure horror ride.
By the time it was all over, what I thought was going to be an Anaconda book in frog form turned out to be The Legend of Indiana Justin: Tomb Un-Raider meets Resident Frog: Iguana Crisis and The Trial of the Water Temple. All of that was packed in with a history lesson about Puerto Rico and the Taino, and I am %&*&ing here for it. I know there are more temples and trials to conquer ahead, but I've got my eye on Matt, though. That dude is going to do something messed up.
I was about to have an abrupt end right there, leaving you stuck with my suspicion of Matt’s motives, when I realized I didn’t talk about the frogs. HOW COULD I FORGET THE FROGS? Because Ramone makes us care about our central characters enough that I almost forgot the FROGS, that’s how. We got small frogs that will overpower you with their numbers. We got bigger frogs; way too big these frogs. We're talking bigger than a dog, big. They can grab you with their gross tongues from a distance like a Mortal Kombat character and drag you away. Did I mention these frogs have fangs? Uh huh, so do the iguanas. So that is great too. Did I mention that the big frogs can take gunfire like it’s made of spitballs if you don’t know where to shoot them?
Turns out, I AM a creature feature guy. I love a creature. Who am I kidding? I grew up on Critters and Tremors. Frogs and Margaritas more than delivered on its premise in similar ways to those classics and much more (it could have used more margaritas, though). See, Ramone used to declare that you’d never look at frogs the same way again after you read this book. I was like, “Yeah, whatever. Frogs are cute. Frogs Schmogs.”
But today, I had just finished the story, and I had to do some work in the yard when an itty bitty angel of a frog jumped out of the grass at me, a gesture that inspired in me a terror so strong as to rival the bells of heaven cracking open the sky, which sent me helpless to the ground, trembling; my vocal cords were possessed of the screaming overture “FOR THE FROG! FOR THE FROG!” in hopes that my pious loyalty would prove my worth to the vicious, ignoble creature, daring to wish I would find my life spared.
No, but for real, I jumped way more than I should have at the cute little baby frog. That little guy could never hurt me, and I know that. But see, I also know I have wetlands nearby. It has been a summer of the particularly humid persuasion, a buffet of conditions perfect for the mating rituals of such foul creatures. I grow weary of their portended numbers. “FOR THE FROG!” I cry, even in the night when the warm grasp of sleep has finally overtaken the not-so-distant song of croaking that vexes me so, I cry, “FOR THE FROG!”
Review: Frogs and Margaritas – Angel Ramon
My Verdict: A perfect encapsulation of 90s/00s adventure horror summer blockbuster vibes with a heaping dose of game mechanics. Good characters mixed with real history make for a jam-packed thrill ride.
Growing up I read mostly King, Poe, and Lovecraft, and later Palahniuk, but aside from a handful of other authors, I didn’t really keep up with the horror book scene. Recently, I wanted to make a foray back into modern horror literature to see what lurked in the unexplored shadows. So, I joined a bunch of horror book groups on Facebook, and now, thanks to those groups, my TBR is longer than it has ever been. (Too many books out there, looking all good and sh—.) Once I saw the kinds of deals one can get on eBooks, things only snowballed from there.
It was on a post where I was asking for great digital horror recommendations under $5 that I first came to know Angel Ramon. Angel commented with an extensive list of books, many of which I checked out and enjoyed, but he also recommended his own, Frogs and Margaritas.
Listen, I must be honest with you here; I don’t think of myself as a creature-feature kind of dude. Aside from maybe Pennywise, I can’t think of too many creatures that have pulled me in to read a book. So, Frogs just wasn’t first on my list. However, from that moment on, it became obvious to what extent Ramon is out there hustling, not just for himself but for the entire indie horror community. I don’t want to get too cheesy, but Ramon has been an inspiration from that day forward. He has what appears to be a tireless optimism and dedication to the scene and his stories. I would rate him 6 out of 5 stars as a part of the community, but still I didn’t think I wanted to read F&M.
Then I started seeing others talk, and they were impressed with all the real history concerning the people native to Puerto Rico that Ramon had packed into the book. Well, those comments and reviews sold me; I picked up Frogs and Margaritas, and I don’t know why I was surprised by what I got, but I was.
Ramon clearly knows and loves his story beats, because he is hitting them in the right spots. The book starts with a cold open (a technique in movies or shows where they do a pre-title sequence to throw you into the action) and a “first kill” scene. This opening bit perfectly does the work of establishing plot points, painting the setting, and introducing The Frogs. If this were a movie, after this kill, the title Frogs and Margaritas would flash on the screen in bold, stylistic neon letters with a big sting of loud music to drive it home.
From the start, I couldn’t help but picture the story as one of those Summer Adventure Horror Blockbusters of the past, like Anaconda or Congo. Once we introduce the main characters, college students on an archeology trip to Puerto Rico, that movie vibe never stops, but it does evolve (more on that later).
The opening establishes some good dynamics between our main character, Justin, and one of the fellow students, Matt, who have a kind of unspoken rivalry. There is also Josue, Justin’s friend who lives on the island and plays the role of tour guide as he introduces Justin (and us) to the island. Justin’s having visions that he keeps trying to write off as mere dreams. Meanwhile, incompetent graverobbers are bumbling around where they shouldn’t be, and boom! Everything is in motion. I just want to add that I saw the Matthew character in the grave robber scene as Jack Black.
Everything builds up to a friendly little school-sponsored archeology visit to an ancient Taino temple, and as it turns out, this was my favorite scene. Spoiler: everything goes wrong in a grand and grim fashion, where Justin and Matt barely escape with their lives and are forced to go on a survival adventure through the jungle. This is where the survival horror aspect jumps in, and gulldang it if I ain’t a sucker for such shenanigans. I’m in the middle of the Silent Hill 2 remake right now, and I got the same enjoyment when our pair of survivors in the jungle would find something useful as I do when I find more shotgun ammo in the Otherside of Brookhaven hospital. From here on out, the book is movie-style storytelling with video game mechanics.
Just like a game, we have to add party members, so then we run into Chisto, who is a welcome addition and whom I am 89.99% sure is named after a certain nefarious author running around here. Chisto is not only an interesting character himself but also creates a great dynamic for interplay between the three. Watching Justin and Matt go from enemies to bromance while Chisto put up with them both had me laughing and rooting them on.
There are moments of characterization here that are extremely vivid, such as the bartender with “Taino features” that I can see so clearly, even now, mannerisms and all. Oscar is another standout; I loved that raggedy man even though I knew he was talking smack, pende—forgive me, I almost spoke out of turn.
Frogs and Margaritas is what I would call a kitchen sink novel, a term I use in reference to the old expression “They threw in everything but the kitchen sink.” I think kitchen sink novels embrace a certain kind of stylistic, genre-crossover maximalism. It is a style I quite enjoy, because I always find delight in art that blends the idea of genre or even medium in cool ways. The elements that Ramone chose to throw in with the kitchen sink for F&M all work seamlessly to build a fun adventure horror ride.
By the time it was all over, what I thought was going to be an Anaconda book in frog form turned out to be The Legend of Indiana Justin: Tomb Un-Raider meets Resident Frog: Iguana Crisis and The Trial of the Water Temple. All of that was packed in with a history lesson about Puerto Rico and the Taino, and I am %&*&ing here for it. I know there are more temples and trials to conquer ahead, but I've got my eye on Matt, though. That dude is going to do something messed up.
I was about to have an abrupt end right there, leaving you stuck with my suspicion of Matt’s motives, when I realized I didn’t talk about the frogs. HOW COULD I FORGET THE FROGS? Because Ramone makes us care about our central characters enough that I almost forgot the FROGS, that’s how. We got small frogs that will overpower you with their numbers. We got bigger frogs; way too big these frogs. We're talking bigger than a dog, big. They can grab you with their gross tongues from a distance like a Mortal Kombat character and drag you away. Did I mention these frogs have fangs? Uh huh, so do the iguanas. So that is great too. Did I mention that the big frogs can take gunfire like it’s made of spitballs if you don’t know where to shoot them?
Turns out, I AM a creature feature guy. I love a creature. Who am I kidding? I grew up on Critters and Tremors. Frogs and Margaritas more than delivered on its premise in similar ways to those classics and much more (it could have used more margaritas, though). See, Ramone used to declare that you’d never look at frogs the same way again after you read this book. I was like, “Yeah, whatever. Frogs are cute. Frogs Schmogs.”
But today, I had just finished the story, and I had to do some work in the yard when an itty bitty angel of a frog jumped out of the grass at me, a gesture that inspired in me a terror so strong as to rival the bells of heaven cracking open the sky, which sent me helpless to the ground, trembling; my vocal cords were possessed of the screaming overture “FOR THE FROG! FOR THE FROG!” in hopes that my pious loyalty would prove my worth to the vicious, ignoble creature, daring to wish I would find my life spared.
No, but for real, I jumped way more than I should have at the cute little baby frog. That little guy could never hurt me, and I know that. But see, I also know I have wetlands nearby. It has been a summer of the particularly humid persuasion, a buffet of conditions perfect for the mating rituals of such foul creatures. I grow weary of their portended numbers. “FOR THE FROG!” I cry, even in the night when the warm grasp of sleep has finally overtaken the not-so-distant song of croaking that vexes me so, I cry, “FOR THE FROG!”
March 25, 2025
This book is available on KU
I loved this storyline. I'm always down to learn about old cultures and the Taino are now a people I need to learn more about.
This is a great mix of horror and folklore. Who knew frogs could be so deadly? The Taino lore that ties this horror into the amazing start of a quartet is prevailant in the pages. These were an amazing people who were shamanistic in nature and that fact is what makes this book so good.
However, whoever edited this book needs to not charge people for work they aren't doing. Despite being "edited" there's a lot wrong with it that aren't things you even have to be looking for to find. You guys know I don't rate on editing fails often, but when I do, it's because the things wrong take away from the story dramatically.
Do I believe this book is good? Absolutely. I think anyone that likes a good folklore horror based will love it.
Will i read the other three books? Yep because the story itself is that good.
I do warn that the errors I found will be distracting and pull you out of the story a lot more than one with only minor errors would. That's why I have no choice but to lower the rating from the 5 I would love to give it.
I give this book 3 of 5 Paws, and hope Mr. Ramon takes my advice on finding himself an editor actually capable of doing the job properly.
I loved this storyline. I'm always down to learn about old cultures and the Taino are now a people I need to learn more about.
This is a great mix of horror and folklore. Who knew frogs could be so deadly? The Taino lore that ties this horror into the amazing start of a quartet is prevailant in the pages. These were an amazing people who were shamanistic in nature and that fact is what makes this book so good.
However, whoever edited this book needs to not charge people for work they aren't doing. Despite being "edited" there's a lot wrong with it that aren't things you even have to be looking for to find. You guys know I don't rate on editing fails often, but when I do, it's because the things wrong take away from the story dramatically.
Do I believe this book is good? Absolutely. I think anyone that likes a good folklore horror based will love it.
Will i read the other three books? Yep because the story itself is that good.
I do warn that the errors I found will be distracting and pull you out of the story a lot more than one with only minor errors would. That's why I have no choice but to lower the rating from the 5 I would love to give it.
I give this book 3 of 5 Paws, and hope Mr. Ramon takes my advice on finding himself an editor actually capable of doing the job properly.
September 22, 2024
I thought, not a big deal frogs are fine.
Spoiler alert x they are not, and now I will not be looking at frogs the same.
Can say tho, still love margaritas.
This isn't my normal area, creature feature type thing, but I really liked the story and had to know what happens.
I will be pre ordering the sequal haha
Spoiler alert x they are not, and now I will not be looking at frogs the same.
Can say tho, still love margaritas.
This isn't my normal area, creature feature type thing, but I really liked the story and had to know what happens.
I will be pre ordering the sequal haha
December 4, 2024
DNF at 7%
I was so, so, SO excited about this book, but unfortunately it fell really flat for me. The writing feels very monotone and choppy. Almost written in a more informative way, rather than the writing having feeling. I tried really hard to enjoy the story and ignore this, but I really can't.
I was so, so, SO excited about this book, but unfortunately it fell really flat for me. The writing feels very monotone and choppy. Almost written in a more informative way, rather than the writing having feeling. I tried really hard to enjoy the story and ignore this, but I really can't.
October 26, 2024
What Did I Just Read 🤦🏼♀️ Would Not Recommend 🙅♀️
June 30, 2025
This was a massively fun and enjoyable novel. The book is at its best when delving into a fine mixture of the absurd and the serious incidents taking place in the story. The central curse of the local Indian tribe is handled rather nicely, with the initial incidents involving the hikers or other travelers coming into contact with the creatures setting up the idea of the curse at play and requiring a backstory to fill in what’s going on. The cursed history of the island, involving the connection it has with the treasure in specific locations and what it means to keep them contained, sets up a rather intriguing means of getting off to a strong start.
That provides a fine setup to eventually segue into a solid adventure/horror scenario involving the quest to overturn the curse and stop the killer animals. The gradual evolution into looking at the means of the expedition to recover the stolen artifacts that will put an end to the curse makes for a fantastic storyline where the constant visions and dreams of the killer frogs lead to the discovery of the cursed history of the island, causing it. With this, the mission becomes venturing into the depths of the jungle to explore the underwater caves and temples that hold the key to stopping the curse, ultimately leading to the finale, where the trials and tribulations help end the curse. That might be an odd touch where the exploration of the temples and underwater caverns present here might be off-putting for the tonal shift that wanted more creature feature madness that the rest of the book conveys.
The series of creature attacks, though, is still really fun and manages to keep this enjoyable enough overall. The opening attacks feature the nonchalant nature of the victims to the nature of frogs actually being killers, using the cheesy concept to its best, which features some rather goofy scenarios, while later scenes involve the creatures coming to attack. Taking place in the city streets as they inadvertently intervene in a mugging attempt, appear out of the forests to attack travelers, or chase the group through the mountains where they’re searching for their archeological mission, only to find the frogs and iguanas instead, these offer up some rather strong and bloody sequences. The first half, with the trip there, meeting up with his friend, and trying to understand what the constant visions mean, that set the stage for the reveal involving the curse, might be a bit too long to get there, but otherwise, there’s not a whole lot else with this one.
4/5
That provides a fine setup to eventually segue into a solid adventure/horror scenario involving the quest to overturn the curse and stop the killer animals. The gradual evolution into looking at the means of the expedition to recover the stolen artifacts that will put an end to the curse makes for a fantastic storyline where the constant visions and dreams of the killer frogs lead to the discovery of the cursed history of the island, causing it. With this, the mission becomes venturing into the depths of the jungle to explore the underwater caves and temples that hold the key to stopping the curse, ultimately leading to the finale, where the trials and tribulations help end the curse. That might be an odd touch where the exploration of the temples and underwater caverns present here might be off-putting for the tonal shift that wanted more creature feature madness that the rest of the book conveys.
The series of creature attacks, though, is still really fun and manages to keep this enjoyable enough overall. The opening attacks feature the nonchalant nature of the victims to the nature of frogs actually being killers, using the cheesy concept to its best, which features some rather goofy scenarios, while later scenes involve the creatures coming to attack. Taking place in the city streets as they inadvertently intervene in a mugging attempt, appear out of the forests to attack travelers, or chase the group through the mountains where they’re searching for their archeological mission, only to find the frogs and iguanas instead, these offer up some rather strong and bloody sequences. The first half, with the trip there, meeting up with his friend, and trying to understand what the constant visions mean, that set the stage for the reveal involving the curse, might be a bit too long to get there, but otherwise, there’s not a whole lot else with this one.
4/5
March 13, 2025
Frogs and Margaritas Book 1 of 4: Frogs and Margaritas
By: Angel Ramon
Release Date: June 28, 2024
Length: 187 pages
Triggers: Gore, Dismemberment, Creature Horror, Death
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating 💀💀💀
A Wild, Froggy Freakshow with a Side of History
Alright, I’ll admit it—I almost skipped this one because, well… I kinda love frogs. But c’mon, how could I resist a book with a title like Frogs and Margaritas? And that new cover? Absolute fire.
This book is a damn ride. If you’re into those old-school creature features that make you side-eye nature, buckle up. What starts as an innocent archeology trip to Puerto Rico turns into a full-blown amphibian apocalypse. The pace kicks into high gear once things start hopping (literally), and it never really slows down. Imagine Indiana Jones meets Frogs (1972), but with a way cooler setting and a whole lot more bloodshed.
Speaking of setting—this is where the book really shines. Angel Ramon goes all in on Puerto Rican folklore, culture, and history, and I ate it up. The Taino mythology woven throughout had me hitting Google more than once, and the way he brings the island to life is top-tier. You can practically feel the humidity and taste the margaritas—just, you know, watch out for the killer frogs.
Now, let’s keep it real: the book isn’t perfect. The editing? Rough. We’re talking character name mix-ups, typos, and some janky sentence structure that had me doing double takes. But honestly? The story slaps so hard that I could mostly look past it. If you’re the type who gets twitchy over grammar, fair warning—but if you’re here for the vibes, the lore, and some gnarly creature carnage, this one delivers.
Perfect For:
🐸 Fans of old-school B-horror like Alligator, The Swarm, or Piranha
🏝️ Readers who want an adventure-horror mashup in a fresh, unique setting
🩸 Anyone who loves a little folklore with their freaky monsters
Already got book two lined up, and you bet I’m checking out Piña Coladas and Rats! But real talk—this book has forever changed the way I look at frogs. You hath been warned.
By: Angel Ramon
Release Date: June 28, 2024
Length: 187 pages
Triggers: Gore, Dismemberment, Creature Horror, Death
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating 💀💀💀
A Wild, Froggy Freakshow with a Side of History
Alright, I’ll admit it—I almost skipped this one because, well… I kinda love frogs. But c’mon, how could I resist a book with a title like Frogs and Margaritas? And that new cover? Absolute fire.
This book is a damn ride. If you’re into those old-school creature features that make you side-eye nature, buckle up. What starts as an innocent archeology trip to Puerto Rico turns into a full-blown amphibian apocalypse. The pace kicks into high gear once things start hopping (literally), and it never really slows down. Imagine Indiana Jones meets Frogs (1972), but with a way cooler setting and a whole lot more bloodshed.
Speaking of setting—this is where the book really shines. Angel Ramon goes all in on Puerto Rican folklore, culture, and history, and I ate it up. The Taino mythology woven throughout had me hitting Google more than once, and the way he brings the island to life is top-tier. You can practically feel the humidity and taste the margaritas—just, you know, watch out for the killer frogs.
Now, let’s keep it real: the book isn’t perfect. The editing? Rough. We’re talking character name mix-ups, typos, and some janky sentence structure that had me doing double takes. But honestly? The story slaps so hard that I could mostly look past it. If you’re the type who gets twitchy over grammar, fair warning—but if you’re here for the vibes, the lore, and some gnarly creature carnage, this one delivers.
Perfect For:
🐸 Fans of old-school B-horror like Alligator, The Swarm, or Piranha
🏝️ Readers who want an adventure-horror mashup in a fresh, unique setting
🩸 Anyone who loves a little folklore with their freaky monsters
Already got book two lined up, and you bet I’m checking out Piña Coladas and Rats! But real talk—this book has forever changed the way I look at frogs. You hath been warned.
August 1, 2025
A strong and interesting concept for a creature feature that suffers in the language department.
First, the Pros: I love the idea. Amphibians tend to be pretty innocuous things. Making them flesh-eating beasts is a cool twist.
Cultural background info: if you want to know more about Puerto Rico, check it out. It's very strong on that count.
Cons: The language.
Lots of notes have already been made regarding the editing, and while I agree, I think that's only half the issue. I think more is owed to the problem of "lost in translation." If you're American (like me) or maybe British or Australian, and are a native English speaker, then you may struggle with this one. The problem in a work like this, where it is English as a Second Language (at least I think that's the case?), is that concepts are expressed differently in different languages.
I'll be honest, this one was a struggle for me, though I really enjoyed aspects of it. I would not call it bad. It needs a bit of help, however. It could actually be something really good.
First, the Pros: I love the idea. Amphibians tend to be pretty innocuous things. Making them flesh-eating beasts is a cool twist.
Cultural background info: if you want to know more about Puerto Rico, check it out. It's very strong on that count.
Cons: The language.
Lots of notes have already been made regarding the editing, and while I agree, I think that's only half the issue. I think more is owed to the problem of "lost in translation." If you're American (like me) or maybe British or Australian, and are a native English speaker, then you may struggle with this one. The problem in a work like this, where it is English as a Second Language (at least I think that's the case?), is that concepts are expressed differently in different languages.
I'll be honest, this one was a struggle for me, though I really enjoyed aspects of it. I would not call it bad. It needs a bit of help, however. It could actually be something really good.
June 16, 2024
The combination of creature feature and adventure makes this novel so much fun. The action sequences kept me in suspense!
On the serious side, it addresses the real horrors that Taino people experienced when the Spanish invaded and colonized Puerto Rico. I didn't know much about Puerto Rico's history, but this book made me research more about it.
Greed and its consequences are huge themes in this book. The main character, Justin, begins as a treasure hunting, greedy man. He becomes an unlikely hero who recognizes his flaws as he grows to appreciate Taino culture as he goes through ordeals. The characters are very well-devoloped and realistic.
The characters speak Spanish in parts of the book, and the food scenes are perfect. They made me crave Puerto Rican cuisine and margaritas. Ramon immerses readers into the setting and culture wonderfully! I can't wait for the next book in the series!
On the serious side, it addresses the real horrors that Taino people experienced when the Spanish invaded and colonized Puerto Rico. I didn't know much about Puerto Rico's history, but this book made me research more about it.
Greed and its consequences are huge themes in this book. The main character, Justin, begins as a treasure hunting, greedy man. He becomes an unlikely hero who recognizes his flaws as he grows to appreciate Taino culture as he goes through ordeals. The characters are very well-devoloped and realistic.
The characters speak Spanish in parts of the book, and the food scenes are perfect. They made me crave Puerto Rican cuisine and margaritas. Ramon immerses readers into the setting and culture wonderfully! I can't wait for the next book in the series!
July 30, 2025
I tried really hard to continue to give this book a chance, but at around 65%, I tapped out. It sounded like a cool, fun idea for a horror. I love ancient ruins/cultural settings, and with it having the horror aspect, I was excited. However, this felt like a rough first draft. I usually try to be pretty lenient with errors, especially with indies, but it was the whole thing. The style of writing was also more telling everything like a transcript of events which did not work for me personally. It made it feel like there was no atmosphere or build up to events. In addition, it seemed like the characters forgot important things that had already happened in a few different spots (ex: it didn't seem like Justin remembered anything from the meeting with Enrique) which made it feel repetitive. This book was a unique idea, it just wasn't for me. Thank you to the author for the free copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 9, 2024
Vibrant Story Filled With History
This is an incredibly unique take both in plot and locale. The mythology and history tied in throughout the book fascinated me to the point of talking little breaks to look up more on the subjects presented. Read this book then go to Puerto Rico and I guarantee you’ll have a new outlook on the people, their culture, history, etc.
It’s a little slow to start, but the author warms up as he approaches the meat of the tale (there is a pun there, lol) the writing becomes more fluid and engrossing.
Book one is done, on to the second in the series! Also check out a sort of companion series - ‘Piña Coladas and Rats’ - not to be missed!
Also, don’t be surprised if this series changes the way you look at amphibians and lizards forever. You hath been humorously warned!
Thanks for the great read, Angel! 😇
This is an incredibly unique take both in plot and locale. The mythology and history tied in throughout the book fascinated me to the point of talking little breaks to look up more on the subjects presented. Read this book then go to Puerto Rico and I guarantee you’ll have a new outlook on the people, their culture, history, etc.
It’s a little slow to start, but the author warms up as he approaches the meat of the tale (there is a pun there, lol) the writing becomes more fluid and engrossing.
Book one is done, on to the second in the series! Also check out a sort of companion series - ‘Piña Coladas and Rats’ - not to be missed!
Also, don’t be surprised if this series changes the way you look at amphibians and lizards forever. You hath been humorously warned!
Thanks for the great read, Angel! 😇
September 19, 2024
This was such a fun read! It was so different from everything else I’ve read when it comes to horror stories and you can see how much time and effort that Angel put into this story! It was written extremely well and meticulously detailed. One detail I really enjoyed was the journal entries throughout the story. It really gave us readers so much more insight into the overall story.
As a kid and throughout my adulthood I’ve always been terrified of frogs. Silly, I know, but I was traumatized as a child okay?! lol. This story was beyond HORRIFYING imo. Giant Toads, Frogs and Iguanas?! With FANGS?! This is what nightmares are made of folks…
I encourage my fellow horror readers to give this one a go. I’m excited for the second book!
As a kid and throughout my adulthood I’ve always been terrified of frogs. Silly, I know, but I was traumatized as a child okay?! lol. This story was beyond HORRIFYING imo. Giant Toads, Frogs and Iguanas?! With FANGS?! This is what nightmares are made of folks…
I encourage my fellow horror readers to give this one a go. I’m excited for the second book!
May 27, 2025
It is always exciting and challenging to see how non-English native writers cope with writing their stories in English and how their vision is inserted accordinly in a language they are not familiar with.
I enjoyed the idea of the story a lot, it was intriguing to find more about the Taino population of Puerto Rico, and there were a lot of grim scenes, meant to set the horror scene in an entertaining way.
But I have to mention that this book requires to go through a very fine editorial comb, there were a lot of mistakes and inconsistencies I have caught myself, even as a non-native English speaker. It would improve a lot and the reading experience would be even more pleasant if this book would be edited properly.
I enjoyed the idea of the story a lot, it was intriguing to find more about the Taino population of Puerto Rico, and there were a lot of grim scenes, meant to set the horror scene in an entertaining way.
But I have to mention that this book requires to go through a very fine editorial comb, there were a lot of mistakes and inconsistencies I have caught myself, even as a non-native English speaker. It would improve a lot and the reading experience would be even more pleasant if this book would be edited properly.
February 26, 2025
Catchy, but needs heavy editing
The story is engaging, fast paced and fun! However, the whole book needs major editing. There are continuity errors, grammar errors, the names of characters are often wrong (The professor has THREE different names at times Flutie, Fultie and even Futile once) at one point a character established to be somewhere else entirely has their name used instead of the character we're with. It was VERY frustrating to read due to these issues. I'm honestly not sure I'll read the next 3, even though I've already bought them. I love to support the indie authors...
The story is engaging, fast paced and fun! However, the whole book needs major editing. There are continuity errors, grammar errors, the names of characters are often wrong (The professor has THREE different names at times Flutie, Fultie and even Futile once) at one point a character established to be somewhere else entirely has their name used instead of the character we're with. It was VERY frustrating to read due to these issues. I'm honestly not sure I'll read the next 3, even though I've already bought them. I love to support the indie authors...
April 7, 2025
“Giant frogs? Nah, probably just a normal murder. It is what it is”
“The thought of the bodies being other hikers worried the duo. However, jail scared them even more. the IRS would take no mercy on them.”
Many of us loved the Goosebumps books when we were growing up, right? If the creature features were your favorites, and you wished there was a version geared towards adults, then give Frogs and Margs a read ASAP as it will definitely scratch that itch. It has a lot of charm to it, while also being nostalgic, funny, campy, and violent. I also liked the history and the lore within the story!
“The thought of the bodies being other hikers worried the duo. However, jail scared them even more. the IRS would take no mercy on them.”
Many of us loved the Goosebumps books when we were growing up, right? If the creature features were your favorites, and you wished there was a version geared towards adults, then give Frogs and Margs a read ASAP as it will definitely scratch that itch. It has a lot of charm to it, while also being nostalgic, funny, campy, and violent. I also liked the history and the lore within the story!
October 5, 2024
Ok, so Angel Ramon has one hell of an imagination. I've read multiple books by the author but this one got me in a different way. The story was thick with tension throughout and the pace was fast, keeping the eyes roaming from one page to the next. I enjoyed the history, mythology, and culture of the Taino Indians that was represented in the story. It's a creature feature told in the classic Angel Ramon style. best read during a rainstorm or while sipping on a margarita. looking forward to reading future installments.
April 16, 2025
Angel, what are you doing?!? I love frogs. Man, this story has me creeped out by them now. Oh, well...
This is really a fun. read; creepy, but fun. If you've read Piña Colada and Rats, you will love this. I enjoyed the main characters in Piña Colada, but the characters in frogs (Josue and Justin) were just more relatable to me. Also, the history of the island and the Taino people was fascinating. Piña Colada talked about Santeria and some history of Santeria on the island, but Frogs just gives a more detailed history.
Really these are some really frightening frogs.
August 12, 2025
I really love the concept of this book. The whole idea of a curse that causes giant frogs, toads, and iguanas to grow fangs and attack is awesome! I loved the gore in the story but wish there would have been more. I also feel that I could have done without all of the Spanish thrown in throughout and the mediocre translating. Overall, the plot is good and the character development was also good. I feel the ending needed some work because I found moments where I became disinterested. I am interested to see how this progresses into three more books.
December 29, 2025
I like the concept of the killer frogs and iguana's. It can really be a nightmare. The story is absolutely good. The last part reads like a video game. It reminded me of Lara Croft in Tomb Raider.
I had a problem with the writing style. It is very simply written and there were a lot of repetitions. The word 'however' appeared numerous times. Some words are switched: left foot vs right foot; rats instead of frogs; Frank instead of Felix
Strange sentences: When they saw Oscar throwing away his garage into the can...
Some editing would be good. When edited, it could be a 5 star.
As it is the first book in the series, I will read more of this author. At some point the writing should improve.
I had a problem with the writing style. It is very simply written and there were a lot of repetitions. The word 'however' appeared numerous times. Some words are switched: left foot vs right foot; rats instead of frogs; Frank instead of Felix
Strange sentences: When they saw Oscar throwing away his garage into the can...
Some editing would be good. When edited, it could be a 5 star.
As it is the first book in the series, I will read more of this author. At some point the writing should improve.
July 3, 2024
Protagonist Justin’s nightmare involving killer frogs starts coming true when two hikers are killed by the amphibiously fanged freaks in this nature-gone-wild tale that builds suspenseful tension as swiftly and surely as author Angel Ramon stacks the action scenes. The plot moves at juggernaut pacing from start to finish and by the end the story had me fearing frogs as strongly as I was craving a margarita.
August 30, 2024
A summer trip for archaeology discoveries and the hopes of good grades is shattered when Justin’s nightmares become realities. Ancient curses released by greedy thieves that subsequently turn loose murderous amphibians.
I can’t express enough how much I appreciated the cultural history woven into the story. It was intriguing and relevant. I don’t usually read creature features but I’m already thinking about his sequel.
Angel’s passion for storytelling, Puerto Rico, margaritas, and most certainly FROGS, drips from every page. Great read!
I can’t express enough how much I appreciated the cultural history woven into the story. It was intriguing and relevant. I don’t usually read creature features but I’m already thinking about his sequel.
Angel’s passion for storytelling, Puerto Rico, margaritas, and most certainly FROGS, drips from every page. Great read!
November 27, 2024
This was a good time.
Puerto Rico is cursed, because of greedy humans stealing Taino artifacts.
This curse causes wildlife to become killing machines, mostly Frogs and Iguanas, but these aren't normal amphibians and reptiles, these creatures are mega-huge like as big as people or vehicles.
This is a different type of Creature Feature.
Can the curse be lifted?
Can Puerto Rico be saved?
Think Indiana Jones vs Wildlife.
Puerto Rico is cursed, because of greedy humans stealing Taino artifacts.
This curse causes wildlife to become killing machines, mostly Frogs and Iguanas, but these aren't normal amphibians and reptiles, these creatures are mega-huge like as big as people or vehicles.
This is a different type of Creature Feature.
Can the curse be lifted?
Can Puerto Rico be saved?
Think Indiana Jones vs Wildlife.
November 28, 2024
Okay - so are you a fan of 1970s and 1980s b-horror? Especially those nature strikes back films like Alligator, Frogs, The Swarm? If so - this book quite perfectly captures everything there is to love about those campy classics. Reading this book gave me huge nostalgia to being a kid on a Saturday afternoon popping a VHS into the player to watch people get eaten by crazy creatures! This book delivers exactly what you expect from it.
December 9, 2024
Angel Ramon infuses his love for the people and culture of Puerto Rico into this terrifying tales of frogs gone rogue. Local legends come to life with killer reptiles and amphibians on the loose. Angel's love of his home shines through the story, painting everything in a realistic light evenas events get further out of hand for our poor protagonist. I flew through this first installment, and immediately went to the next!
January 15, 2025
Killer frogs who drink margarita mix, and killer iguanas An ancient curse and missing artefacts. Mystery messages that appear out of thin air that all spell out their expending doom.
This was quite a different kinda horror books I like me some frogs they are cute this will be a walk in the park …
Not in this book they and huge and creepy. Remind me never to travel to an island specially a cursed one.
This was quite a different kinda horror books I like me some frogs they are cute this will be a walk in the park …
Not in this book they and huge and creepy. Remind me never to travel to an island specially a cursed one.
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