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Sundown in San Ojuela
When the death of her aunt brings Liz Remolina back to San Ojuela, the prospect fills her with dread. The isolated desert town was the site of a harrowing childhood accident that left her clairvoyant, the companion of wraiths and ghosts. Yet it may also hold the secret to making peace with a dark family history and a complicated personal and cultural identity.
Setting out on the train with her younger sister Mary in tow, she soon finds herself hemmed in by a desolate landscape where monsters and ancient gods stalk the night. She’s relieved at first to find that her childhood best friend Julian still lives in San Ojuela, but soon realizes that he too is changed. Haunted.
Yet she’ll have no other choice than to seek out his help as the darkness closes in.
Setting out on the train with her younger sister Mary in tow, she soon finds herself hemmed in by a desolate landscape where monsters and ancient gods stalk the night. She’s relieved at first to find that her childhood best friend Julian still lives in San Ojuela, but soon realizes that he too is changed. Haunted.
Yet she’ll have no other choice than to seek out his help as the darkness closes in.
345 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 2024
31 people are currently reading
1083 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
November 7, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up.
This is a pretty decent Latine (specifically Chicana and Indigenous) paranormal horror filled with family secrets, brujería, and a haunted house.
I really liked how each character came into their own the more you read. Every major character felt fleshed out enough that you could tell who's who and what their relationships are with each other, interwoven with paranormal elements such as Liz's ability to see ghosts and Julian's magic. Another reviewer mentioned that the sheriff character felt unnecessary, but I did appreciate a POV that wasn't so entangled with the major trio of characters (Liz, Mary, and Julian).
Unfortunately, the first ~60% was a confusing read for me. There weren't really a lot of characters to get to know, but the author switches POV within the same chapter so it was hard for me to attempt to acclimate to one character, when a few paragraphs later, it switches to another character.
There were also a lot of flashbacks (this is a story about family secrets and family history, after all). But the flashbacks would occur as a character was performing an action, so it gave me whiplash to go back and forth between different characters and their memories. I had to keep going back to figure whose POV I was in.
The last 40% really picked up in pace (the first 60% was more slow going, with backstories and world building). While the climax did feel very YA fantasy, and I'm speaking as a part-time YA fantasy hater, I did have fun with the classic sword and sorcery elements. Maybe others who were looking for something more grounded might dislike it, but imo, it really helped to amp things up.
Despite my issues with the POV switches and flashbacks, I still had a fun time with this novel. I'll definitely read another one of the author's works.
Thank you to Lanternfish Press and NetGalley for this arc.
This is a pretty decent Latine (specifically Chicana and Indigenous) paranormal horror filled with family secrets, brujería, and a haunted house.
I really liked how each character came into their own the more you read. Every major character felt fleshed out enough that you could tell who's who and what their relationships are with each other, interwoven with paranormal elements such as Liz's ability to see ghosts and Julian's magic. Another reviewer mentioned that the sheriff character felt unnecessary, but I did appreciate a POV that wasn't so entangled with the major trio of characters (Liz, Mary, and Julian).
Unfortunately, the first ~60% was a confusing read for me. There weren't really a lot of characters to get to know, but the author switches POV within the same chapter so it was hard for me to attempt to acclimate to one character, when a few paragraphs later, it switches to another character.
There were also a lot of flashbacks (this is a story about family secrets and family history, after all). But the flashbacks would occur as a character was performing an action, so it gave me whiplash to go back and forth between different characters and their memories. I had to keep going back to figure whose POV I was in.
The last 40% really picked up in pace (the first 60% was more slow going, with backstories and world building). While the climax did feel very YA fantasy, and I'm speaking as a part-time YA fantasy hater, I did have fun with the classic sword and sorcery elements. Maybe others who were looking for something more grounded might dislike it, but imo, it really helped to amp things up.
Despite my issues with the POV switches and flashbacks, I still had a fun time with this novel. I'll definitely read another one of the author's works.
Thank you to Lanternfish Press and NetGalley for this arc.
October 9, 2024
This is an entrancing freefall into indigenous mythological history. It delivers tensions and frights along with bloody introspection and contemplation.
There was a lot going on in this story that I appreciated so much. First off, it is a continual and really exciting exploration of identity, somehow both very explicit and intentional but never didactic, never giving easy answers. There is a constant question and exploration about the colonization of identity. Our main characters are fully Latina, and they trace their ancestry back to both indigenous Mexican or Mesoamerican as well as Spanish roots, so right away a bifurcated history of both colonizer and oppressed. Further, their mother doesn’t want them to speak Spanish, wanting them to distance themselves from that identity to assimilate into the American ideal, further complicating their cultural understanding of themselves in the world. There are other characters who have unbroken Spanish/conquistador ancestry, some who have unbroken indigenous ancestry, and some who are biracial with white and Latino mixed parents. The little details spill out as the story unfolds, and M. M. Olivas isn’t interested in giving uncomplicated answers, but instead they use these relationships between identity and ancestry to ask some really engaging questions about what we inherit and how we fit into, or belong to, the world around us.
“We are Essences. We are stories… Of the wind, and death, and water, and soil. We persist as long as we are told.”
The characters were wonderful. The main and secondary characters are all complicated and messy, and they feel lived-in. I didn’t feel like a single character was relying on stereotypes or was serving as filler or a placeholder, everyone felt realized, even characters that had only small or incidental parts to play. The writing, too, was really strong. It wasn’t lyrical prose, necessarily, but it did have a slightly ethereal nature to it, something that made it different than just straight-forward narration, which I appreciated. It helped develop the atmosphere and tone of the story. Part of that tone-setting also comes from the fact that the writing style shifted across characters. Most of the story follows the perspective of our main character Liz, but we also sometimes get section from a local sheriff as well as from Liz’s childhood friend Julian. All of the sections from Liz’s perspective (as well as occasional sections from her sister’s perspective) are told in a close third person, letting us share Liz’s experiences and doubts and fears but have a traditional distance as we see her from both the outside in and inside out. The sections that follow the sheriff are all written in first person narration, and they don’t use punctuation marks to distinguish speech, and are generally much more rambling/chaotic feeling, losing us in the contradictions he is constantly grappling with. The sections that follow Julian are written in second-person narration, positioning us in an entirely different relationship with him. Mixing these different narrative styles, even within the span of a single chapter, could be confusing and chaotic, but it isn’t, I found it worked really well. It gave the story this undulating feel, if that makes sense, a constant motion that worked given the distress and confusion our primary character was experiencing. Also, there is a considerable amount of Spanish mixed in, often without translation, which is again really effective, especially as our main character doesn’t know Spanish very well. It is a small flourish that goes a long way to help build the world. There is also a good amount of Nahuatl vocabulary sprinkled throughout, creating distance even from Spanish, which further contributed to the world-building.
That world-building was really skillful. It is set in contemporary America, but the story uses that as an entryway into a mood or atmosphere that is very distinct. There is a lot of talk about the town itself and I would have liked a little better sense of space and place, for all the talk of the town, but that didn’t detract from the world we did get. It is a twilight world, a world where myth lives side-by-side with the ordinary, where Aztec deities interceded in the mundane, where our characters are constantly caught between various opposing forces and loyalties. The history and magic and witchcraft and ordinariness of this world all mix together in a way that is compelling and feels organic, which allowed for an exciting story that I hadn’t seen told before. In some ways the story can be distilled into something simple, a young woman coming to terms with who she is and the various histories and legacies she has inherited. But that is used as a wonderful starting place to explore family, loyalty, identity, and belief, all under the shadow of colonization and coercion. There are journeys for all three of our POV characters, even though Liz is clearly the main character of the story, and the way those journeys intertwine is thoughtful and fun.
With that said, I did struggle a little with the pacing of the story. The whole story was set in a relatively condensed time period, though there were a number of flashbacks. That was fine, it worked well. But the first 50% - 60% of the book didn’t feel as propulsive as I would have wanted. There were constant interesting things happening, in terms of character, plot, and lore—it was never boring and never felt like it was stalling or dragging its feet… But there also just didn’t feel like a lot of momentum. After finishing a chapter I didn’t feel the immediate need to continue to the next. I was deeply invested in the characters and story, but it wasn’t a gripping page-turner in that way. The back half of the book changed that, with a much more explosive pacing, the pay-off for things set up in the first half. Once things really started moving I didn’t want to put the book down… but this did have the unfortunate side effect of highlight how slowly paced the first half was. There was a lot of lore and world and character development in the first half, a lot of dominoes being put into place. I don’t know, exactly, how that could have been down as effectively while also giving a greater sense of urgency. I never felt bored, I was always pulled in, and there was a worthwhile and exciting payoff to that investment, but it would have been nice to have a little more oomph in the first half.
I still really enjoyed this story a lot. It explored really complicated and thorny issues without ever simplifying them or feeling preachy. I should add there are some wonderfully bloody scenes in here, too. There are eruptions of violence and fear that carry the whole story. This isn’t a safe story. It digs it claws deep, not just through flesh and bone but through time, dissecting accepted histories. I am really glad I had a chance to read this story. It brought to life a whole world of folklore and histories that are still largely absent from contemporary pop culture, and it didn’t hold your hand at all, but instead forced you to navigate this world in an exciting, embodied kind of way. It told a story about being haunted by identity, or, maybe more accurately, of being haunted by being lost among varied and seemingly competing identities, but did so in a way that felt fresh and inclusive. It has heart, only sometimes you realize that heart has been ripped still beating from a bloody chest. I definitely recommend it and look forward to seeing what else the author creates in the future.
(Rounded up from 3.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Lanternfish Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There was a lot going on in this story that I appreciated so much. First off, it is a continual and really exciting exploration of identity, somehow both very explicit and intentional but never didactic, never giving easy answers. There is a constant question and exploration about the colonization of identity. Our main characters are fully Latina, and they trace their ancestry back to both indigenous Mexican or Mesoamerican as well as Spanish roots, so right away a bifurcated history of both colonizer and oppressed. Further, their mother doesn’t want them to speak Spanish, wanting them to distance themselves from that identity to assimilate into the American ideal, further complicating their cultural understanding of themselves in the world. There are other characters who have unbroken Spanish/conquistador ancestry, some who have unbroken indigenous ancestry, and some who are biracial with white and Latino mixed parents. The little details spill out as the story unfolds, and M. M. Olivas isn’t interested in giving uncomplicated answers, but instead they use these relationships between identity and ancestry to ask some really engaging questions about what we inherit and how we fit into, or belong to, the world around us.
“We are Essences. We are stories… Of the wind, and death, and water, and soil. We persist as long as we are told.”
The characters were wonderful. The main and secondary characters are all complicated and messy, and they feel lived-in. I didn’t feel like a single character was relying on stereotypes or was serving as filler or a placeholder, everyone felt realized, even characters that had only small or incidental parts to play. The writing, too, was really strong. It wasn’t lyrical prose, necessarily, but it did have a slightly ethereal nature to it, something that made it different than just straight-forward narration, which I appreciated. It helped develop the atmosphere and tone of the story. Part of that tone-setting also comes from the fact that the writing style shifted across characters. Most of the story follows the perspective of our main character Liz, but we also sometimes get section from a local sheriff as well as from Liz’s childhood friend Julian. All of the sections from Liz’s perspective (as well as occasional sections from her sister’s perspective) are told in a close third person, letting us share Liz’s experiences and doubts and fears but have a traditional distance as we see her from both the outside in and inside out. The sections that follow the sheriff are all written in first person narration, and they don’t use punctuation marks to distinguish speech, and are generally much more rambling/chaotic feeling, losing us in the contradictions he is constantly grappling with. The sections that follow Julian are written in second-person narration, positioning us in an entirely different relationship with him. Mixing these different narrative styles, even within the span of a single chapter, could be confusing and chaotic, but it isn’t, I found it worked really well. It gave the story this undulating feel, if that makes sense, a constant motion that worked given the distress and confusion our primary character was experiencing. Also, there is a considerable amount of Spanish mixed in, often without translation, which is again really effective, especially as our main character doesn’t know Spanish very well. It is a small flourish that goes a long way to help build the world. There is also a good amount of Nahuatl vocabulary sprinkled throughout, creating distance even from Spanish, which further contributed to the world-building.
That world-building was really skillful. It is set in contemporary America, but the story uses that as an entryway into a mood or atmosphere that is very distinct. There is a lot of talk about the town itself and I would have liked a little better sense of space and place, for all the talk of the town, but that didn’t detract from the world we did get. It is a twilight world, a world where myth lives side-by-side with the ordinary, where Aztec deities interceded in the mundane, where our characters are constantly caught between various opposing forces and loyalties. The history and magic and witchcraft and ordinariness of this world all mix together in a way that is compelling and feels organic, which allowed for an exciting story that I hadn’t seen told before. In some ways the story can be distilled into something simple, a young woman coming to terms with who she is and the various histories and legacies she has inherited. But that is used as a wonderful starting place to explore family, loyalty, identity, and belief, all under the shadow of colonization and coercion. There are journeys for all three of our POV characters, even though Liz is clearly the main character of the story, and the way those journeys intertwine is thoughtful and fun.
With that said, I did struggle a little with the pacing of the story. The whole story was set in a relatively condensed time period, though there were a number of flashbacks. That was fine, it worked well. But the first 50% - 60% of the book didn’t feel as propulsive as I would have wanted. There were constant interesting things happening, in terms of character, plot, and lore—it was never boring and never felt like it was stalling or dragging its feet… But there also just didn’t feel like a lot of momentum. After finishing a chapter I didn’t feel the immediate need to continue to the next. I was deeply invested in the characters and story, but it wasn’t a gripping page-turner in that way. The back half of the book changed that, with a much more explosive pacing, the pay-off for things set up in the first half. Once things really started moving I didn’t want to put the book down… but this did have the unfortunate side effect of highlight how slowly paced the first half was. There was a lot of lore and world and character development in the first half, a lot of dominoes being put into place. I don’t know, exactly, how that could have been down as effectively while also giving a greater sense of urgency. I never felt bored, I was always pulled in, and there was a worthwhile and exciting payoff to that investment, but it would have been nice to have a little more oomph in the first half.
I still really enjoyed this story a lot. It explored really complicated and thorny issues without ever simplifying them or feeling preachy. I should add there are some wonderfully bloody scenes in here, too. There are eruptions of violence and fear that carry the whole story. This isn’t a safe story. It digs it claws deep, not just through flesh and bone but through time, dissecting accepted histories. I am really glad I had a chance to read this story. It brought to life a whole world of folklore and histories that are still largely absent from contemporary pop culture, and it didn’t hold your hand at all, but instead forced you to navigate this world in an exciting, embodied kind of way. It told a story about being haunted by identity, or, maybe more accurately, of being haunted by being lost among varied and seemingly competing identities, but did so in a way that felt fresh and inclusive. It has heart, only sometimes you realize that heart has been ripped still beating from a bloody chest. I definitely recommend it and look forward to seeing what else the author creates in the future.
(Rounded up from 3.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Lanternfish Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 21, 2024
"She wanted to scream— like the dying coyotes— to run away somewhere and hide and wait for all this horror to end. She’d escaped. Why hadn’t she stayed gone?"
⚠️Triggers⚠️
Graphic animal death (esp cat lovers - be warned!), bullying
Brutal, wild, fascinating and action-packed supernatural horror tale.
Rich in Latin American folklore/Hispanic history.. Ancient spirits and gods...brujas and blood magic...haunted house and ghosts...cursed soul...clairvoyance...monsters like El Coco or El Cucuy, Chupacabras, hispanic vampire..family bond and trauma..friendship... second chances...sacrifices and more!
Surprisingly good for a debut novel! I enjoyed reading this one. I just find a few of the dialogues or conversations written in dialect and sudden POV switches confusing at times (possibly an editing issue).
Thanks to NetGalley and Lanternfish Press for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.🖤
4.0 ✨🐍
⚠️Triggers⚠️
Graphic animal death (esp cat lovers - be warned!), bullying
Brutal, wild, fascinating and action-packed supernatural horror tale.
Rich in Latin American folklore/Hispanic history.. Ancient spirits and gods...brujas and blood magic...haunted house and ghosts...cursed soul...clairvoyance...monsters like El Coco or El Cucuy, Chupacabras, hispanic vampire..family bond and trauma..friendship... second chances...sacrifices and more!
Surprisingly good for a debut novel! I enjoyed reading this one. I just find a few of the dialogues or conversations written in dialect and sudden POV switches confusing at times (possibly an editing issue).
Thanks to NetGalley and Lanternfish Press for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.🖤
4.0 ✨🐍
June 24, 2024
After her aunt’s death, Liz returns to the desert town of San Ojuela, site of a childhood trauma. Liz has to reckon with her past and family secrets in order to dispel the darkness in this town. This reminded me a little bit of The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas mixed with The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias.
This felt like a case of everything but the kitchen sink. There were so many POVs and horror elements/tropes that it felt a bit unfocused and bogged down. I wanted to like this more than I did. 2.75
Thank you to NetGalley for provided an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
This felt like a case of everything but the kitchen sink. There were so many POVs and horror elements/tropes that it felt a bit unfocused and bogged down. I wanted to like this more than I did. 2.75
Thank you to NetGalley for provided an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Lanternfish for the arc. I’ve been having a string of disappointing reads lately, and unfortunately this book only added to it.
My most glaring complaint: nothing in this book serves a purpose. The tense changes, the POVs, the “romances.” I just sat there screaming “WHAT IS THE POINT” on multiple occasions; nothing felt necessary. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. It feels forced, and at worst it felt like a sloppy attempt at recreating a Simon Jimenez book, except in Jimenez’s books his literary choices actually have meaning and a purpose. As a result, this book often seemed incomprehensible. No payoff was satisfying, including the ending. I had no connection to this book or its characters at all. It just all fell flat, and was like a block of text that had no idea what it wanted to be.
The author also made choices that harmed my impression of the characters and their characterization. We simply don’t need the Sheriff’s POV. I would have preferred the police as a looming presence. I do see it as an attempt to educate and humanize (fuck the police), which would have maybe worked if the author went about it a different way instead of forcing us inside this random man’s head. Maybe one of the mcs could have had a family member in the police, maybe Samuel is a retired cop, or maybe some mcs had some type relationship with one. It does not help the story having a POV from this rando. Julian’s POV does not help the story either. It would have benefitted the story more to keep Julian as a mysterious and ominous figure instead of immediately clearing the veil. Samuel’s POV would have served much more of a purpose imo. And again, the tense changes add absolutely nothing. As such, I don’t give a shit about any of these characters at all.
Also, the entire plot and premise of this book was different from what I expected from the synopsis. Going into this I was excited to read what I thought was a Latino/Mexican weird and possibly eldritch western. It instead focused on Brujeria and one leathery old fuck who I didn’t care about at all. I would have much preferred the fantasy weird western, with a razzle dazzle of Brujeria, but definitely not what we were served here.
To sum it all up: bruh
My most glaring complaint: nothing in this book serves a purpose. The tense changes, the POVs, the “romances.” I just sat there screaming “WHAT IS THE POINT” on multiple occasions; nothing felt necessary. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. It feels forced, and at worst it felt like a sloppy attempt at recreating a Simon Jimenez book, except in Jimenez’s books his literary choices actually have meaning and a purpose. As a result, this book often seemed incomprehensible. No payoff was satisfying, including the ending. I had no connection to this book or its characters at all. It just all fell flat, and was like a block of text that had no idea what it wanted to be.
The author also made choices that harmed my impression of the characters and their characterization. We simply don’t need the Sheriff’s POV. I would have preferred the police as a looming presence. I do see it as an attempt to educate and humanize (fuck the police), which would have maybe worked if the author went about it a different way instead of forcing us inside this random man’s head. Maybe one of the mcs could have had a family member in the police, maybe Samuel is a retired cop, or maybe some mcs had some type relationship with one. It does not help the story having a POV from this rando. Julian’s POV does not help the story either. It would have benefitted the story more to keep Julian as a mysterious and ominous figure instead of immediately clearing the veil. Samuel’s POV would have served much more of a purpose imo. And again, the tense changes add absolutely nothing. As such, I don’t give a shit about any of these characters at all.
Also, the entire plot and premise of this book was different from what I expected from the synopsis. Going into this I was excited to read what I thought was a Latino/Mexican weird and possibly eldritch western. It instead focused on Brujeria and one leathery old fuck who I didn’t care about at all. I would have much preferred the fantasy weird western, with a razzle dazzle of Brujeria, but definitely not what we were served here.
To sum it all up: bruh
October 23, 2024
Review in the October 2024 issue of Library Journal. Issue also has my interview with Olivas: https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/...
Three Words That Describe This Book: family Saga with folk horror, multiple narrators, unnerving
Draft: San Ojuela, an isolated, harsh landscape, east of San Diego, is a dangerous place. There is a monster in town, one that has only grown in strength since Liz’s Aunt Marisol was sent to a nursing home, leaving the family’s ancestral manor home, Castle Coyote, unoccupied. Liz has a complicated history with her beloved Aunt, going back to age 14 when she was injured while living there, an event which led La Muerte to stealing her soul, leaving her cursed to see the dead everywhere. After Marisol’s death, Liz, her younger sister Mary in tow, heads back to Castle Coyote, to claim it as heir, she is forced to confront just how much the town has changed, including her childhood best friend Julian, as she comes up against a bloodthirsty monster with ancient Mexican roots. Opening with a visceral and emotional prologue, and told from multiple points of view, including a chilling second person narration from Julian, the suspense builds organically, snatching readers up in the mystery, danger, and terror, as they race to the breathless and heartbreaking but beautiful and empowering conclusion.
Verdict: Olivas’ solid debut balances the details needed to sustain its epic scope with compelling characters and horrific action all with the skill of a more seasoned novelist. Fans of Isabel Cañas’ family sagas featuring very real monsters and Hailey Piper’s All the Hearts You Eat will devour this book.
Five Acts-- epic in structure
For fans of the space where family sagas overlap with seriously terrifying monsters-- especially if from a culture's mythology. But this is straight up terrifying.
Iglesias and Canas for sure-- all for heir books
But it has the epic scope and world building on All the Hearts You Eat by Piper as well.
Solid for a debut. Definitely holds the readers' attention as they wait to see what is going on. And the connection to the diasporic experience of Mexican immigrants to America is clear without being heavy handed.
Three Words That Describe This Book: family Saga with folk horror, multiple narrators, unnerving
Draft: San Ojuela, an isolated, harsh landscape, east of San Diego, is a dangerous place. There is a monster in town, one that has only grown in strength since Liz’s Aunt Marisol was sent to a nursing home, leaving the family’s ancestral manor home, Castle Coyote, unoccupied. Liz has a complicated history with her beloved Aunt, going back to age 14 when she was injured while living there, an event which led La Muerte to stealing her soul, leaving her cursed to see the dead everywhere. After Marisol’s death, Liz, her younger sister Mary in tow, heads back to Castle Coyote, to claim it as heir, she is forced to confront just how much the town has changed, including her childhood best friend Julian, as she comes up against a bloodthirsty monster with ancient Mexican roots. Opening with a visceral and emotional prologue, and told from multiple points of view, including a chilling second person narration from Julian, the suspense builds organically, snatching readers up in the mystery, danger, and terror, as they race to the breathless and heartbreaking but beautiful and empowering conclusion.
Verdict: Olivas’ solid debut balances the details needed to sustain its epic scope with compelling characters and horrific action all with the skill of a more seasoned novelist. Fans of Isabel Cañas’ family sagas featuring very real monsters and Hailey Piper’s All the Hearts You Eat will devour this book.
Five Acts-- epic in structure
For fans of the space where family sagas overlap with seriously terrifying monsters-- especially if from a culture's mythology. But this is straight up terrifying.
Iglesias and Canas for sure-- all for heir books
But it has the epic scope and world building on All the Hearts You Eat by Piper as well.
Solid for a debut. Definitely holds the readers' attention as they wait to see what is going on. And the connection to the diasporic experience of Mexican immigrants to America is clear without being heavy handed.
July 1, 2024
"We are Essences. We are stories, Julian. Of the wind, and death, and water, and soil. We persist as long as we are told."
I was immediately hooked by this family saga that incorporates pre-Hispanic folklore and mythology. Silvia Moreno Garcia's Gods of Jade and Shadow is one of my all-time favourite novels, and this darker take on gods and humanity didn't disappoint.
Mexica/Aztec deities take shape alongside a cast of flawed, deeply human characters, each with their own complex relationships with their Mexican-American identities. By unfurling the mysteries that plague San Ojuela and the Remolina family, this novel explores concepts around assimilation, respectability politics, language loss, and cultural erasure in an engaging, yet unsettling way.
Beneath the maelstrom of gods and supernatural forces lies the legacy of conquest, centuries ago and present-day. The conquest of the Americas is positioned in stark parallel to ongoing immigration debates and migrant issues – where brown bodies are treated as disposable. The complexities of this town have woven themselves into the lives, the very bodies, of those who inhabit it – eventually, tearing them apart in gruesome and spectacular fashion.
Overall, an incredibly compelling read with themes that will resonate for many children of immigrants. I loved the mythological and folkloric tie-ins, and the cosmic horror element of gods, humans, and Faustian bargains really worked for me. Definitely recommend this for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Isabel Cañas.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was immediately hooked by this family saga that incorporates pre-Hispanic folklore and mythology. Silvia Moreno Garcia's Gods of Jade and Shadow is one of my all-time favourite novels, and this darker take on gods and humanity didn't disappoint.
Mexica/Aztec deities take shape alongside a cast of flawed, deeply human characters, each with their own complex relationships with their Mexican-American identities. By unfurling the mysteries that plague San Ojuela and the Remolina family, this novel explores concepts around assimilation, respectability politics, language loss, and cultural erasure in an engaging, yet unsettling way.
Beneath the maelstrom of gods and supernatural forces lies the legacy of conquest, centuries ago and present-day. The conquest of the Americas is positioned in stark parallel to ongoing immigration debates and migrant issues – where brown bodies are treated as disposable. The complexities of this town have woven themselves into the lives, the very bodies, of those who inhabit it – eventually, tearing them apart in gruesome and spectacular fashion.
Overall, an incredibly compelling read with themes that will resonate for many children of immigrants. I loved the mythological and folkloric tie-ins, and the cosmic horror element of gods, humans, and Faustian bargains really worked for me. Definitely recommend this for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Isabel Cañas.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 12, 2024
This was a excellant read, I wouldn't say it's horror, but more like folk family horror type of book.
I honestly really liked it, the author makes you care about the characters, not just reading about them as a outsider.
I felt Alot reading this and it wasn't just thrilling horror, but also family bonds and sometimes it's not easy.
I cannot imagine not only going back to the place of a traumatizing accident but with what happened to her following the accident, which I won't say, but wow..
Read this it's written beautifully.
I honestly really liked it, the author makes you care about the characters, not just reading about them as a outsider.
I felt Alot reading this and it wasn't just thrilling horror, but also family bonds and sometimes it's not easy.
I cannot imagine not only going back to the place of a traumatizing accident but with what happened to her following the accident, which I won't say, but wow..
Read this it's written beautifully.
October 13, 2024
The death of her aunt causes Liz and her younger sister Mary to return to the house they were raised in. The ancestral mansion appears to have been severely neglected even though there's a groundskeeper still employed on property, and when Liz runs into her childhood neighbor and friend Julian, she quickly begins to realize something dark and evil has taken root there.
The book is steeped in Mexican and Indigenous culture and folklore, leaning heavily into the ancient gods, ghosts, and cryptids like El Coco, Chupacabra, La Muerte, and Xolotl who are tied to that unforgiving desert landscape, which was a cool space to world-build in. Who doesn't like dark, calamitous, and ruinous fiction, amirite??
That said, Sundown in San Ojuela is a fairly uneven debut which suffers from pacing issues. It's told from multiple characters' viewpoints, each written in a different POV - Liz and Mary's are told in third person; Julian is in second person; the Sheriff is in first. While initially off putting, it ended up working out for the best because once each character's chapter is first introduced, Olivas doesn't really bother to let us know whose chapter it is anymore. And in most instances, the plot is driven forward by revisiting the past in the form of flashbacks.
A few things to note: Liz developed the skill of clairvoyance as the result of a traumatic car accident when she was younger which plays heavily into the storyline and I'd recommend you play close attention to the prologue, which acts more as an opening chapter, since the events that take place in it are happening nearly simultaneously to the rest of the storyline and is not, as I had originally thought, something that has happened in the distant past...
I think I was left more confused with the way the story was told than with the actual story itself, although towards the end it feels like things just became overly and unnecessarily complicated with its many moving parts.
The book is steeped in Mexican and Indigenous culture and folklore, leaning heavily into the ancient gods, ghosts, and cryptids like El Coco, Chupacabra, La Muerte, and Xolotl who are tied to that unforgiving desert landscape, which was a cool space to world-build in. Who doesn't like dark, calamitous, and ruinous fiction, amirite??
That said, Sundown in San Ojuela is a fairly uneven debut which suffers from pacing issues. It's told from multiple characters' viewpoints, each written in a different POV - Liz and Mary's are told in third person; Julian is in second person; the Sheriff is in first. While initially off putting, it ended up working out for the best because once each character's chapter is first introduced, Olivas doesn't really bother to let us know whose chapter it is anymore. And in most instances, the plot is driven forward by revisiting the past in the form of flashbacks.
A few things to note: Liz developed the skill of clairvoyance as the result of a traumatic car accident when she was younger which plays heavily into the storyline and I'd recommend you play close attention to the prologue, which acts more as an opening chapter, since the events that take place in it are happening nearly simultaneously to the rest of the storyline and is not, as I had originally thought, something that has happened in the distant past...
I think I was left more confused with the way the story was told than with the actual story itself, although towards the end it feels like things just became overly and unnecessarily complicated with its many moving parts.
dnf
January 20, 2026DNF at 36%
I wanted to like this, the story was interesting and I was curious to see where it was going. Unfortunately problems:
1. POV
This is written in first, second and third person, depending on the characters. I could see how this might work, but mostly it's very jarring. Not a fan of second person in general either.
2. The shifting POV
The two sisters are both in third person, but the narration will shift between them without warning, between paragraphs, so that I'll abruptly be in someone else's head. This is incredibly distracting and it prevented me from ever being able to actually settle into the story. I was constantly pausing and re-calibrating and then continuing, only for it to happen again.
3. The shifting timelines
It didn't only shift POV, it also shifted between past and present for everyone on page. This made it even more difficult to stay in the story, because I'd end up completely lost as to whether this was five years ago, longer, or present, and I'd have to double back and reread a paragraph or two before being able to continue.
Overall, there was interesting things happening here, unfortunately I couldn't actually read it because the way it was done and written prevented me from ever fully getting into the story.
I wanted to like this, the story was interesting and I was curious to see where it was going. Unfortunately problems:
1. POV
This is written in first, second and third person, depending on the characters. I could see how this might work, but mostly it's very jarring. Not a fan of second person in general either.
2. The shifting POV
The two sisters are both in third person, but the narration will shift between them without warning, between paragraphs, so that I'll abruptly be in someone else's head. This is incredibly distracting and it prevented me from ever being able to actually settle into the story. I was constantly pausing and re-calibrating and then continuing, only for it to happen again.
3. The shifting timelines
It didn't only shift POV, it also shifted between past and present for everyone on page. This made it even more difficult to stay in the story, because I'd end up completely lost as to whether this was five years ago, longer, or present, and I'd have to double back and reread a paragraph or two before being able to continue.
Overall, there was interesting things happening here, unfortunately I couldn't actually read it because the way it was done and written prevented me from ever fully getting into the story.
November 25, 2024
This is a really great story that I was invested in. The writing is very immersive and I had a hard time putting this down! I would recommend this! Special Thank You to M.M.Olivas, Lanternfish Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 9, 2025
This was ambitious - the tense and POV jumps threw me off occasionally. But for the most part, it sticks the landing.
November 8, 2024
A confused, jumbled plot doesn’t make up for an ending that was fine. The synopsis promised something that I figured I would enjoy, but the execution made it a slog to get through.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
September 17, 2024
I believe that you get two types of writers, storytellers and story-weavers. M.M. Olivas is a story-weaver of note. Sundown in San Ojuela, is a tale that has been woven into the the very fiber of my being. I did not merely read this story, but felt it, bled with it.
Each character, so perfectly imperfect tugged at my heartstrings and played them to the tune of love. For that is what this book is truly about. It is the importance of love of self, the love of culture, family and friends. It is about accepting ourselves but at the same time striving to be the best versions of our self no matter how many curveballs life throws at us.
It is also a tale of magic, darkness, dread and blood. It is art, it is an experience, it is a spell that brings the written word to life.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing this magnificent ARC and of course all my love and gratitude to the author, M.M. Olivas, who has crept into my heart and become an auto-buy author for me.
Each character, so perfectly imperfect tugged at my heartstrings and played them to the tune of love. For that is what this book is truly about. It is the importance of love of self, the love of culture, family and friends. It is about accepting ourselves but at the same time striving to be the best versions of our self no matter how many curveballs life throws at us.
It is also a tale of magic, darkness, dread and blood. It is art, it is an experience, it is a spell that brings the written word to life.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for providing this magnificent ARC and of course all my love and gratitude to the author, M.M. Olivas, who has crept into my heart and become an auto-buy author for me.
November 27, 2024
The dead cannot come back to hurt you. Only the living hurt each other.
Genuinely impressive. A spooky story with Latin-American folklore, anti-colonialist themes, queer characters, a haunted house, and bloody altercations. 19-year-old Elizabeth returns to her childhood home after the death of her aunt and must contend with her personal and the literal ghosts that stalk the old house, as her childhood friend Julian, now something much worse than just a boy, grapples with the darkness inside him and the forces he serves.
The novel employs first-, second-, and third-person narration at different times, meshing different narrative voices into a stunning symphony of perspectives, which I found worked splendidly. It took me a lot longer to get through this book than I would have liked, but I was never bored. The indigenous mythology was fascinating, and the monsters, both human and supernatural, were properly terrifying.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing a digital copy of this book for review consideration.
Genuinely impressive. A spooky story with Latin-American folklore, anti-colonialist themes, queer characters, a haunted house, and bloody altercations. 19-year-old Elizabeth returns to her childhood home after the death of her aunt and must contend with her personal and the literal ghosts that stalk the old house, as her childhood friend Julian, now something much worse than just a boy, grapples with the darkness inside him and the forces he serves.
The novel employs first-, second-, and third-person narration at different times, meshing different narrative voices into a stunning symphony of perspectives, which I found worked splendidly. It took me a lot longer to get through this book than I would have liked, but I was never bored. The indigenous mythology was fascinating, and the monsters, both human and supernatural, were properly terrifying.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing a digital copy of this book for review consideration.
November 15, 2025
Sundown in San Ojuela definitely had atmosphere in a Southwest Gothic sort of vibe. The FMC Liz was interesting, and I immediately connected to her through her reflecting on childhood experiences. I enjoyed the integration of indigenous heritage within the storyline and the internal fight between good and evil. There is a good amount of Spanish language incorporation within the dialogue, and while I was able to follow most of it with my very elementary Spanish proficiency and help of Kindle translate, I feel like I may have missed some global understanding of the folklore along the way as I had difficult discerning between the indigenous Gods and Demons and who was possessing who at the end. I did enjoy the book, but I'm not sure I fully understood it in the way the author intended me to which is probably a me thing. Overall a challenging read but in a good way.
Thank you to Lanternfish Press for the complimentary copy as part of the Small Spec Book Awards judging process.
Thank you to Lanternfish Press for the complimentary copy as part of the Small Spec Book Awards judging process.
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January 3, 2025I have debated for a while about how to write this review. I ended up DNFing, but I don’t want to give a star rating that would hurt the book. The horror started right away. The setting was Latine in all the very best ways. I sometimes got lost in whose perspective we were in and the time period we were in. I also think I might not have been in the right mindset when I was reading it. I think reading it physically would’ve been an easier read. I definitely want to come back to this book and try again sometime.
Read
January 25, 2025DNF @ ~50%.
Unfortunately I got quite bored with this one. In particular with Elizabeth and Mary’s part of the story, which is the majority. I actually really liked the sheriff’s bits and the writing style Olivas used there. But otherwise it felt quite aimless, and I didn’t care enough.
I’d definitely try more from Olivas again even so! On a sentence level I thought it was good, and if there had been an audiobook version available right now, I’d have finished that way.
Unfortunately I got quite bored with this one. In particular with Elizabeth and Mary’s part of the story, which is the majority. I actually really liked the sheriff’s bits and the writing style Olivas used there. But otherwise it felt quite aimless, and I didn’t care enough.
I’d definitely try more from Olivas again even so! On a sentence level I thought it was good, and if there had been an audiobook version available right now, I’d have finished that way.
January 11, 2025
3.25 / 5
Sundown in San Ojuela was an interesting read...
A bit too slow for my personal taste, I enjoyed the perspective and the weaving of the lore... But ultimately I found myself very confused.
I appreciated the heavy topics it took on, but the level of writing required to tackle said topics felt a bit YA-ish at times.
I feel like this was a book that just wasn't for me personally, but I can immediately think of several people I want to recommend it to, to get their thoughts .... So, if it sounds interesting to you, be sure to check it out.
Just be prepared for a slower paced ride with an undecided destination.
Sundown in San Ojuela was an interesting read...
A bit too slow for my personal taste, I enjoyed the perspective and the weaving of the lore... But ultimately I found myself very confused.
I appreciated the heavy topics it took on, but the level of writing required to tackle said topics felt a bit YA-ish at times.
I feel like this was a book that just wasn't for me personally, but I can immediately think of several people I want to recommend it to, to get their thoughts .... So, if it sounds interesting to you, be sure to check it out.
Just be prepared for a slower paced ride with an undecided destination.
March 30, 2025
So so so good. Spooky. I loved the cultural reckoning, accepting of identity, family and generational trauma, the depth of the characters … spectacular. It’s been a while since I’ve read a page turner like this and I absolutely loved it. Also, there were Axolotls !!!!
November 25, 2024
Really 3.5 stars. Review to come!
March 19, 2025
I enjoyed this fantasy thriller! The elements of family, brujeria, and trauma were delicately woven together across the perspectives of different characters and kept me hooked throughout!
February 23, 2025
Such an inventive, magical way to write about generational trauma and the trauma that lives in our blood and bones. A fantastical, unique story with well-written characters, I am so impressed with this story.
January 7, 2025
This book was a trip! The first half I kept taking breaks, trying to put the pieces together. Ultimately, my knowledge of the Aztec pantheon and creation story wasn't complete enough to have the pieces to put together. The through line from colonization was also fuzzy, with a woman killed by the Spanish for witchcraft not fully threshed out or fully occupying the space her character took in holding the plot together.
That said, this is a fun horror romp that also takes on some complex subjects. I appreciated the nuance and variety of Hispanic characters who inhabited this town, even while I didn't fully like or understand all of them. The only thing keeping this from a 5 was that some of the characters seemed flat or seemed to have a bigger role than they should? and that first half of trying to figure out what's up. The first half is far from a deal-breaker, especially if you can sit back and go with the flow of a story even if you don't understand it. Or, to help it out, read up on Aztec beliefs about the underworld and creation. Highly recommend!!
That said, this is a fun horror romp that also takes on some complex subjects. I appreciated the nuance and variety of Hispanic characters who inhabited this town, even while I didn't fully like or understand all of them. The only thing keeping this from a 5 was that some of the characters seemed flat or seemed to have a bigger role than they should? and that first half of trying to figure out what's up. The first half is far from a deal-breaker, especially if you can sit back and go with the flow of a story even if you don't understand it. Or, to help it out, read up on Aztec beliefs about the underworld and creation. Highly recommend!!
August 21, 2025
Very interesting, very weird, very cool. But also: Elizabeth was annoying.
November 15, 2024
A very slow build for about the first 70% of the book, which lead to me not wanting to pick this up unfortunately. As much as I really wanted to love it and read it - I found it to just be too slow for me. I did overall love the storyline with the family secrets, an eerie haunted house and of course the brujería. These are all things that make for a great novel. It was just the pacing that did not work for me as the reader. The story was wonderful once it really picked up. A nice little folklore novel if you're up for an incredibly slow burn.
December 8, 2024
I have never read a book like this before. It weaves the cultures and heritages of the conquered and the conquerors from the points of view of mixed American/Mexican/indigenous identities. It was dark and moody and unpredictable. Perfect for fans of horror seeking diverse perspectives and lore.
With such a unique plot, it really didn't need to rely on subverting storytelling conventions. There was no need to jump between first, second, and third POVs and past and present tense for the same timeline. These distortions were jarring and not in a way that felt like it supported the story. I would have rated higher without it.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for this honest review
With such a unique plot, it really didn't need to rely on subverting storytelling conventions. There was no need to jump between first, second, and third POVs and past and present tense for the same timeline. These distortions were jarring and not in a way that felt like it supported the story. I would have rated higher without it.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for this honest review
November 26, 2024
"They climbed back through the hole in the garden wall together, Elizabeth who could see the dead and Julian who could, apparently, puppet them" (143).
I have no objective opinions to give except that the real power was love and memory the whole time.
I have no objective opinions to give except that the real power was love and memory the whole time.
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December 7, 2024can’t wait to read this because m. m. olivas is one of the most incredible young writers working today!!!
November 15, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Lanternfish Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
M.M. Olivas’ “Sundown in San Ojuela” is a haunting dive into the supernatural and mythological that masterfully blends Chicana and Indigenous storytelling with elements of horror and cultural identity. The book centers on Liz, Julian, and Mary, three characters intricately connected by family secrets, ancestral legacies, and a haunted house where Aztec deities and brujería collide with ordinary life. As the mysteries of San Ojuela and the Remolina family unfold, you are taken on a journey through deeply layered themes of colonization and cultural erasure.
One of the book’s strongest points is its rich, multidimensional portrayal of identity. Liz and her siblings navigate a fractured understanding of themselves, wrestling with a heritage that is both Indigenous and colonial, Mexican and American. Their mother’s disapproval of their connection to Spanish and Indigenous roots further complicates this journey, and Olivas skillfully uses each character’s lineage and personal struggles to explore the broader tensions surrounding identity and cultural inheritance. Olivas doesn’t shy away from the messiness of these issues, presenting them in a way that feels both realistic and thought-provoking. This focus on the theme of identity does sometimes overwhelm the horror aspects, so if you wanted a more horror-based book, this may not be the story for you.
The story’s world-building is immersive, filled with Nahuatl vocabulary, unfiltered Spanish dialogue, and a gothic yet distinctly American Southwestern atmosphere that allows mythology to thrive alongside the mundane. The book oscillates between the supernatural and the terrifyingly human, providing a visceral, atmospheric read. The writing style, shifting from third-person close for Liz and first-person for the Sheriff, is both experimental and engaging, although at times the constant POV changes can feel chaotic, especially in early chapters where flashbacks appear mid-scene, disrupting the flow. Despite this, the layered perspectives create an immersive, almost dreamlike quality that amplifies the book’s unsettling themes.
Olivas has crafted characters who are flawed and complex. Liz’s perspective draws readers into her fears and self-doubt, while Julian’s storyline brings an intriguing balance of magic and mystery, and the Sheriff’s sections provide a stark contrast to the main trio, though some may find his point of view extraneous. Despite pacing issues in the first half, where dense lore and backstory initially slow the story’s momentum, “Sundown in San Ojuela” builds to an explosive climax that blends horror and identity in a memorable way. The book doesn’t spoon-feed easy answers, instead offering you a tale of otherness and self-acceptance in the face of a complicated, haunting legacy.
Ultimately, “Sundown in San Ojuela” is a dark, thrilling exploration of family, loyalty, and the inherited burdens of identity. With its thoughtful portrayal of Mexican-American heritage, Mesoamerican mythology, and cosmic horror, Olivas has crafted a story that will resonate deeply with those who have ever felt caught between worlds.
M.M. Olivas’ “Sundown in San Ojuela” is a haunting dive into the supernatural and mythological that masterfully blends Chicana and Indigenous storytelling with elements of horror and cultural identity. The book centers on Liz, Julian, and Mary, three characters intricately connected by family secrets, ancestral legacies, and a haunted house where Aztec deities and brujería collide with ordinary life. As the mysteries of San Ojuela and the Remolina family unfold, you are taken on a journey through deeply layered themes of colonization and cultural erasure.
One of the book’s strongest points is its rich, multidimensional portrayal of identity. Liz and her siblings navigate a fractured understanding of themselves, wrestling with a heritage that is both Indigenous and colonial, Mexican and American. Their mother’s disapproval of their connection to Spanish and Indigenous roots further complicates this journey, and Olivas skillfully uses each character’s lineage and personal struggles to explore the broader tensions surrounding identity and cultural inheritance. Olivas doesn’t shy away from the messiness of these issues, presenting them in a way that feels both realistic and thought-provoking. This focus on the theme of identity does sometimes overwhelm the horror aspects, so if you wanted a more horror-based book, this may not be the story for you.
The story’s world-building is immersive, filled with Nahuatl vocabulary, unfiltered Spanish dialogue, and a gothic yet distinctly American Southwestern atmosphere that allows mythology to thrive alongside the mundane. The book oscillates between the supernatural and the terrifyingly human, providing a visceral, atmospheric read. The writing style, shifting from third-person close for Liz and first-person for the Sheriff, is both experimental and engaging, although at times the constant POV changes can feel chaotic, especially in early chapters where flashbacks appear mid-scene, disrupting the flow. Despite this, the layered perspectives create an immersive, almost dreamlike quality that amplifies the book’s unsettling themes.
Olivas has crafted characters who are flawed and complex. Liz’s perspective draws readers into her fears and self-doubt, while Julian’s storyline brings an intriguing balance of magic and mystery, and the Sheriff’s sections provide a stark contrast to the main trio, though some may find his point of view extraneous. Despite pacing issues in the first half, where dense lore and backstory initially slow the story’s momentum, “Sundown in San Ojuela” builds to an explosive climax that blends horror and identity in a memorable way. The book doesn’t spoon-feed easy answers, instead offering you a tale of otherness and self-acceptance in the face of a complicated, haunting legacy.
Ultimately, “Sundown in San Ojuela” is a dark, thrilling exploration of family, loyalty, and the inherited burdens of identity. With its thoughtful portrayal of Mexican-American heritage, Mesoamerican mythology, and cosmic horror, Olivas has crafted a story that will resonate deeply with those who have ever felt caught between worlds.
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