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Valley of Shadows
"Discrimination is evil, but evil does not discriminate."
1883, West Texas. In the vast desert, a gleaming river snakes beneath the blinding sun. When the Rio Grande shifts course, the Mexican city of Olvido is stranded on the northern side of the new border between the United States and Mexico.
When a series of mysterious and horrific crimes grips the divided border town, a reclusive former Mexican lawman is lured out of retirement to restore order and save the lives of a growing number of abducted children. In the face of skeptics and hostile Anglo settlers, the war-weary charro, Solitario Cisneros, struggles to overcome not only the evil forces that threaten his town, but also his own inner demons. He is burdened by the turbulent darkness of a mystical curse that has guided his lonely destiny, until Onawa, a gifted and beautiful Apache-Mexican seer, joins his mission and dares him to change the course of both their lives.
A visionary neo-Western blend of magical realism, mystery, and horror, Valley of Shadows explores the dark past of injustice, isolation, and suffering along the US-Mexico border. Through luminous prose and introspective meditations, Ruiz sweeps readers away on a journey to another time and a remote place where the universally compelling forces of good and evil dance amidst the shadows of magic and mountains. You will ponder the most basic questions regarding the human condition: Is our destiny written for us? Can we rewrite our own history and future? As lonely as we might feel, are we ever truly alone? And, can love conquer all?
1883, West Texas. In the vast desert, a gleaming river snakes beneath the blinding sun. When the Rio Grande shifts course, the Mexican city of Olvido is stranded on the northern side of the new border between the United States and Mexico.
When a series of mysterious and horrific crimes grips the divided border town, a reclusive former Mexican lawman is lured out of retirement to restore order and save the lives of a growing number of abducted children. In the face of skeptics and hostile Anglo settlers, the war-weary charro, Solitario Cisneros, struggles to overcome not only the evil forces that threaten his town, but also his own inner demons. He is burdened by the turbulent darkness of a mystical curse that has guided his lonely destiny, until Onawa, a gifted and beautiful Apache-Mexican seer, joins his mission and dares him to change the course of both their lives.
A visionary neo-Western blend of magical realism, mystery, and horror, Valley of Shadows explores the dark past of injustice, isolation, and suffering along the US-Mexico border. Through luminous prose and introspective meditations, Ruiz sweeps readers away on a journey to another time and a remote place where the universally compelling forces of good and evil dance amidst the shadows of magic and mountains. You will ponder the most basic questions regarding the human condition: Is our destiny written for us? Can we rewrite our own history and future? As lonely as we might feel, are we ever truly alone? And, can love conquer all?
296 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2022
73 people are currently reading
4066 people want to read
About the author
Rudy Ruiz
8 books141 followersRudy Ruiz is an award-winning author of literary fiction. A native of the US-Mexico border, Ruiz writes from the heart about Latino culture, the bilingual/bicultural experience, immigration and acculturation issues. His fiction debut, Seven for the Revolution, won four International Latino Book Awards, including First Place for Best Popular Fiction and The Mariposa Award for Best First Book. He also received the Gulf Coast Prize in Fiction in 2017. His novel, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez, was released in 2020 and won two Gold Medals at the International Latino Book Awards, including the Rudolfo Anaya Best Latino-Focused Fiction Book and Best Audio Book. Valley of Shadows was released in 2022. It was named one of the Top Horror Novels of 2022 by LitHub's CrimeReads and was selected by the Texas Institute of Letters as winner of the Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Work of Fiction. His most recent novel, The Border Between Us, is a coming-of-age story that further explores the immigrant experience in America. The novel won Ruiz's ninth and tenth International Latino Book Awards, including the Gold Medal for Best Latino-Focused Fiction Book and Best Audio Book. Audible named it one of the Top 10 Audio Books of 2024. After its release, Ruiz was longlisted for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize. Rudy Ruiz earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Harvard. In 2024 he was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
December 20, 2022
A melodic and enthralling journey that explores justice, discrimination, and bonds that endure both life and death. Exciting and emotional, we follow the various borders drawn out during our lives; between nations, cultures, people, and between what is known and what is possible. The characters are symbols of loss, and the pursuit of justice; as the novel aptly discusses, doing what is right is almost never easy, sometimes not even fully desired, but it is necessary all the same. A refreshingly detailed western adventure.
October 19, 2022
It is 1883, and Solitario has given up his badge to live a solitary life in West Texas. But when he is approached about a series of gruesome murders and abductions taking place in a border town, he begrudgingly decides to take up the badge once more. He slowly begins to uncover clues and learns more about the evil that threatens this town but also struggles against his own inner demons as he races against time.
This was a unique work of magical realism set during the time of the United States’ Manifest Destiny. The author included details concerning the political and cultural strife during the time, focusing especially on racism and how that influenced the history of the west. These details, included with the setting, made for an immersive backdrop to the story that was well written.
Solitario was as lawful good a protagonist as they come. We were told so many times how noble and honorable and just he was, and wouldn’t you just know it, he never did anything wrong or illegal or even considered doing something bad even when it would have been justified. While this is fine, it makes for a bit of a boring and unrelatable protagonist, and it was super cheesy. He came across as more of an archetype than a real person. I didn’t find that any of the other characters really stood out, but they weren’t poorly written either.
I think the author tried to include too much in this work. The primary plot is about Solitario trying to solve the murders and locate the missing children. But there are many chapters with flashbacks giving us his backstory and details about his life up to this point. While they were great for character development and did eventually add to the primary plot, it took away from any horror, suspense, or sense of urgency that should have been built up from the gruesome murders and abductions. The pacing was just awful because of this and character monologues, making large chunks of the work feel unnecessary and boring. Similarly, the magical aspect of the work was much less involved than I was hoping it would be and it was the part I found the most interesting.
This read reminded me of old Westerns we watched growing up, but it was unfortunately not as well put together as I would have liked and was definitely not a work of horror. I do still recommend it to those interested in slow-burn mysteries or looking for a new take on classic westerns. My thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
This was a unique work of magical realism set during the time of the United States’ Manifest Destiny. The author included details concerning the political and cultural strife during the time, focusing especially on racism and how that influenced the history of the west. These details, included with the setting, made for an immersive backdrop to the story that was well written.
Solitario was as lawful good a protagonist as they come. We were told so many times how noble and honorable and just he was, and wouldn’t you just know it, he never did anything wrong or illegal or even considered doing something bad even when it would have been justified. While this is fine, it makes for a bit of a boring and unrelatable protagonist, and it was super cheesy. He came across as more of an archetype than a real person. I didn’t find that any of the other characters really stood out, but they weren’t poorly written either.
I think the author tried to include too much in this work. The primary plot is about Solitario trying to solve the murders and locate the missing children. But there are many chapters with flashbacks giving us his backstory and details about his life up to this point. While they were great for character development and did eventually add to the primary plot, it took away from any horror, suspense, or sense of urgency that should have been built up from the gruesome murders and abductions. The pacing was just awful because of this and character monologues, making large chunks of the work feel unnecessary and boring. Similarly, the magical aspect of the work was much less involved than I was hoping it would be and it was the part I found the most interesting.
This read reminded me of old Westerns we watched growing up, but it was unfortunately not as well put together as I would have liked and was definitely not a work of horror. I do still recommend it to those interested in slow-burn mysteries or looking for a new take on classic westerns. My thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.
October 15, 2024
I have been fortunate lately to read some really amazing books that are highly underrated but should be on the radar of anyone who likes magical realism mixed in with history, and in this case some horror. The setting is the US Mexico border during the 1880's. The conflict with the Rio Grande River path driving the boundary of the US border mixed with some gruesome murders that are tied to the Mexican past and the inevitable clash with those who are settling in the Texas territory. Solitario Cisneros is the hero/protagonist of this murder mystery/whodunit/western/historical/surreal story. He is a lonesome figure, quite fitting with his name, and with the help of Onawa, part Apache and part Mexican seer who understands the mystical background and gifts of Solitario. It is with these gifts and Onawa, that he solves the crimes against the people of Olvido and provides an historical backdrop for the division and conflicts in this period of time. The writing is wonderful, and I have now gotten my hands on as many Rudy Ruiz books as are available. He is now on my list of favorite authors.
October 11, 2022
FIVE EPIC STARS!
Oh I have been gifted one of the most wonderful books I've ever read!
And I have read HUNDREDS! And I don't read westerns, but this was SO MUCH MORE THAN A WESTERN! So much more than anything!.
Rudy Ruiz just became one of my all-time fav authors. I cannot wait to read more of his work! This was everything I could have ever asked for in a book, as if I had given Rudy a wish list and he had made all those wishes come true! The perfect book! So cinematic!
If you enjoy historical mysteries/horror/ paranormal stories with plenty of marvelous characters, that are atmospheric, and nostalgic but also mysterious, suspenseful, ghostly, dark, and brutal like "One Hundred Years of Solitude", "The House of the Spirits" , “Like Water for Chocolate" , “The Hacienda” , "Certain Dark Things" , "Things We Lost in the Fire" , “Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery”, “the Year of the Witching”, "The Wind", "Ravenous", "Apostle" , and "The VVitch: A New-England Folktale"
THEN YOU WOULD PROBABLY LOVE THIS BOOK AS MUCH AS I DID!
The writing is just superb! Lyrical, poetic, just beautiful! The descriptions, breathtaking!
It took me forever to get through the audiobook because I kept rewind it to experience the settings again just to get lost in the beautiful imagery, immerse in the sensory experience daydreaming and have to rewind once again!
I could actually see the beautiful sunsets, feel the heat of the desert, inhale the dry dust lifted by the horses and smell the manure!
Then there was storytelling. Oh my god, so engrossing!
I also had to rewind many times to experience again every scene, every dialogue delivered in both perfect Mexican accented Spanish and Texas accented English, every romantic and haunted moment, every historical fact of the life in the border in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and cultural aspect so perfectly represented!
Then, last but not least, all the magic, the fantasy, the myths, the legends and the folklore of both cultures!
BUT, OF COURSE, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TALES WHERE HUMANS ARE THE WORST MONSTERS!
This is a multigenerational epic saga as vast as the desolate landscapes where is set, a classic in the making!
Oh I have been gifted one of the most wonderful books I've ever read!
And I have read HUNDREDS! And I don't read westerns, but this was SO MUCH MORE THAN A WESTERN! So much more than anything!.
Rudy Ruiz just became one of my all-time fav authors. I cannot wait to read more of his work! This was everything I could have ever asked for in a book, as if I had given Rudy a wish list and he had made all those wishes come true! The perfect book! So cinematic!
If you enjoy historical mysteries/horror/ paranormal stories with plenty of marvelous characters, that are atmospheric, and nostalgic but also mysterious, suspenseful, ghostly, dark, and brutal like "One Hundred Years of Solitude", "The House of the Spirits" , “Like Water for Chocolate" , “The Hacienda” , "Certain Dark Things" , "Things We Lost in the Fire" , “Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery”, “the Year of the Witching”, "The Wind", "Ravenous", "Apostle" , and "The VVitch: A New-England Folktale"
THEN YOU WOULD PROBABLY LOVE THIS BOOK AS MUCH AS I DID!
The writing is just superb! Lyrical, poetic, just beautiful! The descriptions, breathtaking!
It took me forever to get through the audiobook because I kept rewind it to experience the settings again just to get lost in the beautiful imagery, immerse in the sensory experience daydreaming and have to rewind once again!
I could actually see the beautiful sunsets, feel the heat of the desert, inhale the dry dust lifted by the horses and smell the manure!
Then there was storytelling. Oh my god, so engrossing!
I also had to rewind many times to experience again every scene, every dialogue delivered in both perfect Mexican accented Spanish and Texas accented English, every romantic and haunted moment, every historical fact of the life in the border in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and cultural aspect so perfectly represented!
Then, last but not least, all the magic, the fantasy, the myths, the legends and the folklore of both cultures!
BUT, OF COURSE, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TALES WHERE HUMANS ARE THE WORST MONSTERS!
This is a multigenerational epic saga as vast as the desolate landscapes where is set, a classic in the making!
June 22, 2022
Rudy Ruiz’s Valley of Shadows haunts with its trenchant historical accuracy woven dazzlingly with magical real elements that make this borderland Western horror leap off the page. Indeed, this powerful story wriggled into my heart and gut like a snake seeking shelter in the scorched desert earth. Unsettling and uplifting, both. Filled with ghosts both literal and metaphorical in a desolate place overflowing with unforgettable characters whose stories are woven by a masterful storyteller, Ruiz’s Valley of Shadows is searing, incisive, and, at times, utterly terrifying.
May 22, 2022
Lots Going on Here
There is so much going on in this novel that it takes a bit of effort to unpack it all. Set in 1883 on the Mexico/Texas border, the book has been described as a "visionary neo-Western", and that characterization captures some of its flavor. This isn't just a Zane Grey or Owen Wister oater, or an ambitious, more literary, horse opera. It feels much more like the basic outline of that sort of book has been laid out, but then embellished, improvised on, and extended to create something much more ambitious and interesting.
And so, you get, (in descending order of how dominant an ingredient it is) -- an historical fiction, a mystery, a western sheriff procedural, a colorful/dusty western adventure, a sweet and gentle romance, a Mexico/U.S.A. history lesson, a cultural tour, a ghosts and spirits story, and a horror/occult tale. This is set against a background that fluctuates between magical realism and gritty slice of life realism. And it all is meant to put our hero's existential angst into high relief. It helps that our hero's brooding isolation makes sense, and that the reader is sympathetic to his plight. If that's "neo-Western" I'm all for it.
The writing can be lyrical, thrilling, or evocative. To be fair, it can also be a bit clunky and repetitive, and the author sometimes has to rely on character monologuing and narrative explication to keep the story moving or to make a cultural point. I suppose that's a small price to pay when you get a romance, a multicultural tour, occult horror, mysticism, ghosts, history, gunplay, barn burning, revolution, family curses, and heroic suffering all in one book.
So, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I picked this up, but Ruiz didn't let me down, and I liked his new style Western.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
There is so much going on in this novel that it takes a bit of effort to unpack it all. Set in 1883 on the Mexico/Texas border, the book has been described as a "visionary neo-Western", and that characterization captures some of its flavor. This isn't just a Zane Grey or Owen Wister oater, or an ambitious, more literary, horse opera. It feels much more like the basic outline of that sort of book has been laid out, but then embellished, improvised on, and extended to create something much more ambitious and interesting.
And so, you get, (in descending order of how dominant an ingredient it is) -- an historical fiction, a mystery, a western sheriff procedural, a colorful/dusty western adventure, a sweet and gentle romance, a Mexico/U.S.A. history lesson, a cultural tour, a ghosts and spirits story, and a horror/occult tale. This is set against a background that fluctuates between magical realism and gritty slice of life realism. And it all is meant to put our hero's existential angst into high relief. It helps that our hero's brooding isolation makes sense, and that the reader is sympathetic to his plight. If that's "neo-Western" I'm all for it.
The writing can be lyrical, thrilling, or evocative. To be fair, it can also be a bit clunky and repetitive, and the author sometimes has to rely on character monologuing and narrative explication to keep the story moving or to make a cultural point. I suppose that's a small price to pay when you get a romance, a multicultural tour, occult horror, mysticism, ghosts, history, gunplay, barn burning, revolution, family curses, and heroic suffering all in one book.
So, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I picked this up, but Ruiz didn't let me down, and I liked his new style Western.
(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
May 11, 2022
Two star novel, may have been a dnf if not for netgalley - review to come shortly
September 24, 2022
First I'd like to thank the publisher and netgally for a copy of this in exchange for a review.
This is another book I really had no idea what it was about when I requested it I just saw horror magical realism and indigenous Mexican and indigenous American representation and folklore I knew I had to check it out.
I really love the whole setting of the book is really what caught my eye and kept my attention because this takes place right when America got parts of Mexico which included Texas Arizona New Mexico type of areas specifically Mexico my family is tied to those areas and the discrimination that was going on is really well represented I loved all of the magical realism in this it's very subtle but it comes through really well the plot kept me interested the entire time my really only complaint was that this is marked as horror but I didn't feel like there was very much horror at all like this is very much Thriller I guess for the certain parts but I really love the balance between new and old and everything that was kind of going on at the time it was just really well executed.
This is another book I really had no idea what it was about when I requested it I just saw horror magical realism and indigenous Mexican and indigenous American representation and folklore I knew I had to check it out.
I really love the whole setting of the book is really what caught my eye and kept my attention because this takes place right when America got parts of Mexico which included Texas Arizona New Mexico type of areas specifically Mexico my family is tied to those areas and the discrimination that was going on is really well represented I loved all of the magical realism in this it's very subtle but it comes through really well the plot kept me interested the entire time my really only complaint was that this is marked as horror but I didn't feel like there was very much horror at all like this is very much Thriller I guess for the certain parts but I really love the balance between new and old and everything that was kind of going on at the time it was just really well executed.
March 7, 2024
I may have wanted to shake Solitario sometimes for being just too honorable and a little slow but this book was fun. Think murder mystery with dramatic characters and some magic! The Mexicans, Apaches, and white folks were all tropes but I was still there for it. I was entertained.
January 5, 2023
It's 1883 in the west of Texas. A family is gruesomely murdered in the town of Olvido, on the border of the US and Mexico, and former Sheriff Solitario Cisneros is recruited by the current mayor and a banker to find out who would commit such horrific acts.
Solitario is reluctant to get involved; he's alone on his ranch, mourning the death of his beloved wife Luz, and unwilling to get close to anyone else because of a curse his grandmother laid on the men of his family.
As he's musing on his loneliness, he sees the ghost of the teen of the murdered family, who convinces him to look for his younger siblings, who were kidnapped by the murderers.
As Solitario begins investigating, more brutal murders occur, and more children are kidnapped. Solitario works with a young half-Apache, half-Mexican woman whose visions guide them through their searches for the missing and the killer(s).
Atmospheric, complex, and full of longing and regret, Rudy Ruiz has created a haunting and insightful story about the love and its loss, repercussions of war, the intersection of loyalty and desire, and virulent bigotry. The story is full of ghosts, whether guiding Solitario, or lingering in people's memories. My only quibble with this book is I had some trouble, occasionally, figuring out when a particular chapter was occurring, as Ruiz moved his story back and forth several years to give us backstory.
The atmosphere of this book stuck with me after I closed its pages, and I could practically hear a guitar picking a lonely and haunting melody while the wind blows and the characters move through a sandy hot landscape.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Blackstone Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Solitario is reluctant to get involved; he's alone on his ranch, mourning the death of his beloved wife Luz, and unwilling to get close to anyone else because of a curse his grandmother laid on the men of his family.
As he's musing on his loneliness, he sees the ghost of the teen of the murdered family, who convinces him to look for his younger siblings, who were kidnapped by the murderers.
As Solitario begins investigating, more brutal murders occur, and more children are kidnapped. Solitario works with a young half-Apache, half-Mexican woman whose visions guide them through their searches for the missing and the killer(s).
Atmospheric, complex, and full of longing and regret, Rudy Ruiz has created a haunting and insightful story about the love and its loss, repercussions of war, the intersection of loyalty and desire, and virulent bigotry. The story is full of ghosts, whether guiding Solitario, or lingering in people's memories. My only quibble with this book is I had some trouble, occasionally, figuring out when a particular chapter was occurring, as Ruiz moved his story back and forth several years to give us backstory.
The atmosphere of this book stuck with me after I closed its pages, and I could practically hear a guitar picking a lonely and haunting melody while the wind blows and the characters move through a sandy hot landscape.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Blackstone Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my review.
April 18, 2022
Ruiz combines historical fiction with magical realism in a way that keeps the story believable, making readers eager to find out what happens next to our heroes. I cheered mightily for Solitario and Onawa, while learning about life for Mexicans and Apache Indians during this time period when parts of Mexico were becoming the new state of Texas. Read more about this book on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....
April 14, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for accepting my request to audibly read and review Valley of Shadows.
Narrated by Gary Tiedemann
Published: 09/20/22
From Author Ruiz's first book through the last page of this, his second, I am a smitten fan. Ruiz writes an engaging story that checked all my emotions. VoS was approximately a straight 10+ hour listen/read for me. Once I started, I wanted to know the rest of the story, but I didn't want it to end. Will there be a third? If yes, when -- 2025. These are stand alones, not a series.
I absolutely love a great story, and Ruiz did not disappoint me. Blaine Wright's White Bird: Among the Nez Perce immediately came to my mind in the wee hours of today when I finished VoS. I had the same wow to oh no reality moments with both books. Great storytelling -- tough subject matter -- beautiful love; much respect to both Ruiz and Wright.
Next, Gary Tiedemann performed beautifully. His accented to nonaccented voice depictions were spot on for me. I had a little trouble with some rolling accent, however it didn't frustrate me. It's realistic. I cannot imagine the role going to anyone else.
The story starts with a grotesque scene. Read the synopsis, note the time period, late 1870s. Everyone is fighting. The Apache, The Mexican Spaniards, The Mexican Anglos, The Apache Anglos? Everyone is fighting and everyone has their own means of punishment?
There are elements of magical realism that I typically shy away from. However, after trying to fully understand The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez (Ruiz's first book) and White Bird (Wright's book) I realized hearing is overrated and listening is bone chilling. The Medicine Man meets the herbalist, okay not exactly, but opening your mind, taking in all the sites and sounds leads to an out of this world adventure, and that is either through the audiobook or your own physical hard copy read.
I will be buying this for myself, and first big snowfall of 2023, I'm going to revisit -- Ruiz x2.
Narrated by Gary Tiedemann
Published: 09/20/22
From Author Ruiz's first book through the last page of this, his second, I am a smitten fan. Ruiz writes an engaging story that checked all my emotions. VoS was approximately a straight 10+ hour listen/read for me. Once I started, I wanted to know the rest of the story, but I didn't want it to end. Will there be a third? If yes, when -- 2025. These are stand alones, not a series.
I absolutely love a great story, and Ruiz did not disappoint me. Blaine Wright's White Bird: Among the Nez Perce immediately came to my mind in the wee hours of today when I finished VoS. I had the same wow to oh no reality moments with both books. Great storytelling -- tough subject matter -- beautiful love; much respect to both Ruiz and Wright.
Next, Gary Tiedemann performed beautifully. His accented to nonaccented voice depictions were spot on for me. I had a little trouble with some rolling accent, however it didn't frustrate me. It's realistic. I cannot imagine the role going to anyone else.
The story starts with a grotesque scene. Read the synopsis, note the time period, late 1870s. Everyone is fighting. The Apache, The Mexican Spaniards, The Mexican Anglos, The Apache Anglos? Everyone is fighting and everyone has their own means of punishment?
There are elements of magical realism that I typically shy away from. However, after trying to fully understand The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez (Ruiz's first book) and White Bird (Wright's book) I realized hearing is overrated and listening is bone chilling. The Medicine Man meets the herbalist, okay not exactly, but opening your mind, taking in all the sites and sounds leads to an out of this world adventure, and that is either through the audiobook or your own physical hard copy read.
I will be buying this for myself, and first big snowfall of 2023, I'm going to revisit -- Ruiz x2.
September 21, 2022
The magical realism aspect of this historical neo-western is very unique and adds a lot of depth to the themes of this novel. Ruiz delves into themes of colonization, the patriarchy and racism present in law enforcement, and the ways that grief and fear can motivate us in surprising ways.
I found this story a bit confusing and slow until Chapter 10 but then you really start sucked into the mystery. Ruiz is straight up not afraid to kill characters and as much as that hurts, it’s something I respect. You feel the stakes as Solitario races the clock to find out who is killing men and taking girls from his town.
I really enjoyed following Solitario’s story and reflections but found the overall plot a little hard to follow in audiobook format. There is a lot to unpack and about 4 or 5 genres woven together.
I feel like this book might have been more cohesive and effective if it was doing a little less, but I really appreciated the story regardless! The twists were surprising and I feel like the overall message was still delivered even if some portions were a bit messy.
I found this story a bit confusing and slow until Chapter 10 but then you really start sucked into the mystery. Ruiz is straight up not afraid to kill characters and as much as that hurts, it’s something I respect. You feel the stakes as Solitario races the clock to find out who is killing men and taking girls from his town.
I really enjoyed following Solitario’s story and reflections but found the overall plot a little hard to follow in audiobook format. There is a lot to unpack and about 4 or 5 genres woven together.
I feel like this book might have been more cohesive and effective if it was doing a little less, but I really appreciated the story regardless! The twists were surprising and I feel like the overall message was still delivered even if some portions were a bit messy.
September 30, 2022
I don't read historical fiction as much as I should, but I'm glad I gave this one a chance. The writing was beautiful and the cross-genre storyline was mysterious and magical, haunting and heartbreaking. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator is probably one of my favorites - so soothing and emotive. Overall, I highly recommend this wonderful novel, perfect for this time of the year!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ALC in exchange for a review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ALC in exchange for a review.
January 24, 2023
"Solitario wondered as he waited... Did not everybody yearn for the same things? To know there was more to life than this?"
If there are two things I love in a book, it's horror envisioned through Spanish language and culture. That being said, I absolutely devoured this mesmerizingly grim tale of the things that can separate people from one another - not only borders, but grief, prejudice, and fear.
Set in 1883 in a small town called Olvido (Spanish for "forgetting" or "ending of memory"), a border settlement along the river dividing the United States and Mexico, I adored this novel's approach to building its atmosphere and characters. I also enjoyed the representation of complex indigenous characters, both Native American and Mexican, which I have not seen in many other books to date. A great read for fans of mystery, crime, and magical realism. I wish it was a limited series like True Detective!
Thanks to NetGalley for access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
If there are two things I love in a book, it's horror envisioned through Spanish language and culture. That being said, I absolutely devoured this mesmerizingly grim tale of the things that can separate people from one another - not only borders, but grief, prejudice, and fear.
Set in 1883 in a small town called Olvido (Spanish for "forgetting" or "ending of memory"), a border settlement along the river dividing the United States and Mexico, I adored this novel's approach to building its atmosphere and characters. I also enjoyed the representation of complex indigenous characters, both Native American and Mexican, which I have not seen in many other books to date. A great read for fans of mystery, crime, and magical realism. I wish it was a limited series like True Detective!
Thanks to NetGalley for access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 28, 2022
On the whole, this was a good book. I liked the story line and how separate lives and characters intertwined. There was some clever aspects to the plotline and little twists that I did not see coming.
However, I will say that some of the language and the way certain cultures were portrayed made me feel a little uncomfortable and I did not enjoy some of the language used. This is not to say that the story or the author was insensitive towards certain cultures, it was just my lack of knowledge that meant I was not sure if some of the language and terms used were the correct terms to use which personally let it down for me a little bit.
Overall, a good story and a well written book.
However, I will say that some of the language and the way certain cultures were portrayed made me feel a little uncomfortable and I did not enjoy some of the language used. This is not to say that the story or the author was insensitive towards certain cultures, it was just my lack of knowledge that meant I was not sure if some of the language and terms used were the correct terms to use which personally let it down for me a little bit.
Overall, a good story and a well written book.
December 28, 2022
I wasn’t too interested in this book to be honest at least not at first. But I’m so glad I read it because it was so amazing. It had such a great story. It was very well written. I highly recommend reading this book. Especially if you love a good horror story. I will definitely be reading more from this author
September 20, 2022
Solitario Cisneros was the sheriff in the town of Olvido, Mexico until the Rio Grande changed course and left Olivido and its inhabitants as part of the United States. Along with losing his job, soon after Solitario lost his wife, Luz. He blames a curse, a maladiction placed on his family, but he is still comforted by Luz's ghost that visits every night. Now, a gruesome killing has hit Olvido and Solitario has been asked to investigate. He wants to stay away, but the ghost of a young boy killed that night encourages Solitario to find his siblings. Solitario agrees to take the case, but as he makes headway in finding the lost siblings, more ritualistic killings occur and more children are taken. With the help of Apache seer Onawa, an old bruja as well as the ghosts of those who have passed, Solitario is on the hunt for those behind the murders.
Valley of Shadows is a masterful blend of western, horror, historical fiction and magical realism. I have previously read the Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez and this book takes place before it, explaining more of the history of the curse, it was nice to fill in some backstory there. The story starts off immediately in the action and pulled me into the mystery of the strange murders. Solitario's character brings in more mystery as his complexities arise. Solitario is cursed and lonely, but he also has a strong sense of justice and a special set of abilities that have been bestowed to him. Through some flashbacks, Solitario's past, love life, curse and the experiences that made him the man he is are revealed. It almost seemed like this could have been another book. As the crimes continue to build, Solitario realizes the impact of racism, fear and greed that has overtaken the town. Solitario must relinquish his loneliness and use his abilities to fight for the people of his town and bring down an evil that wishes to separate them. Valley of Shadows is a complex story from unique viewpoint of a Mexican-American in the 1880's that creates a haunting and compelling mystery.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
The night is dark, but it is also full of light.
Valley of Shadows is a masterful blend of western, horror, historical fiction and magical realism. I have previously read the Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez and this book takes place before it, explaining more of the history of the curse, it was nice to fill in some backstory there. The story starts off immediately in the action and pulled me into the mystery of the strange murders. Solitario's character brings in more mystery as his complexities arise. Solitario is cursed and lonely, but he also has a strong sense of justice and a special set of abilities that have been bestowed to him. Through some flashbacks, Solitario's past, love life, curse and the experiences that made him the man he is are revealed. It almost seemed like this could have been another book. As the crimes continue to build, Solitario realizes the impact of racism, fear and greed that has overtaken the town. Solitario must relinquish his loneliness and use his abilities to fight for the people of his town and bring down an evil that wishes to separate them. Valley of Shadows is a complex story from unique viewpoint of a Mexican-American in the 1880's that creates a haunting and compelling mystery.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
September 29, 2022
If you have read Rudy Ruiz’s The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez (2020), find a copy of Valley of Shadows now! If you haven’t read the earlier book, start with the new one and follow it up with the first.
Both are set on the Texas-Mexico border and deal in part with the Cisneros family maldición or curse. Fulgencio’s story opens in 1986 whereas his ancestor Solitario’s opens more than a century earlier in 1883. While Fulgencio determines to break the curse about which he knows little, Valley of Shadows fills in more of the family history.
In Valley of Shadows’ prologue, Sheriff Tolbert, his wife, and son Johnny are brutally murdered in their barn. In the first chapter, three riders appear--"two gringos and a mexicano"--to recruit former sheriff Solitario to solve the murders. A younger Tolbert son Frankie and two still younger daughters, Abigail and Beatrice, have vanished. Solitario does not want the job. He prefers to live alone on his side of the Mexican border where his beloved dead Luz appears to him briefly each evening, a nightly reminder of the family curse Solitario’s grandmother cast long ago on the family and now wishes she had the power to remove.
This book will transport you to a world in which Solitario can matter-of-factly tell an elderly Apache man and his daughter that the ghost of murdered Johnny Tolbert has appeared to him with clues to help find the missing children and in which his Apache friends will accept that news without question or doubt.
Readers will come to care about the characters and feel that they have spent time in the vividly portrayed setting among its multicultural people. In both books, the changing course of the Rio Grande not only changes the international border, it has personal, political, economic, and environmental repercussions impacting this family saga.
Author Rudy Ruiz knows the Rio Grande Valley and is one of its people. He grew up along the border, left home to earn degrees at Harvard, and now lives in San Antonio. With Valley of Shadows, a book with heart, he takes readers home again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advance reader copy.
Posted to GoodReads and Barnes and Noble.
Both are set on the Texas-Mexico border and deal in part with the Cisneros family maldición or curse. Fulgencio’s story opens in 1986 whereas his ancestor Solitario’s opens more than a century earlier in 1883. While Fulgencio determines to break the curse about which he knows little, Valley of Shadows fills in more of the family history.
In Valley of Shadows’ prologue, Sheriff Tolbert, his wife, and son Johnny are brutally murdered in their barn. In the first chapter, three riders appear--"two gringos and a mexicano"--to recruit former sheriff Solitario to solve the murders. A younger Tolbert son Frankie and two still younger daughters, Abigail and Beatrice, have vanished. Solitario does not want the job. He prefers to live alone on his side of the Mexican border where his beloved dead Luz appears to him briefly each evening, a nightly reminder of the family curse Solitario’s grandmother cast long ago on the family and now wishes she had the power to remove.
This book will transport you to a world in which Solitario can matter-of-factly tell an elderly Apache man and his daughter that the ghost of murdered Johnny Tolbert has appeared to him with clues to help find the missing children and in which his Apache friends will accept that news without question or doubt.
Readers will come to care about the characters and feel that they have spent time in the vividly portrayed setting among its multicultural people. In both books, the changing course of the Rio Grande not only changes the international border, it has personal, political, economic, and environmental repercussions impacting this family saga.
Author Rudy Ruiz knows the Rio Grande Valley and is one of its people. He grew up along the border, left home to earn degrees at Harvard, and now lives in San Antonio. With Valley of Shadows, a book with heart, he takes readers home again.
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an advance reader copy.
Posted to GoodReads and Barnes and Noble.
September 28, 2022
Valley of Shadows follows Solitario Cisneros who is asked to help solve a series of murders/kidnappings. Living alone and away from the town of Olvido he is reticent to go back due to various reasons. Has lost his wife and is still grieving her and because of a cursed placed upon him by his grandmother and all the men in his family his solution is to stay away from people as a way of protecting them and himself. Eventually Solitario decides to help along with Onawa an Apache and Mexican Seer. We follow their journey in trying to figure out what is happening, who is killing these people/taking them and what their ultimate plan is. The writing was beautiful it was so vivid it felt like I was right there with them. The detail in the murders was graphic at times so please be aware of that but it made the situation feel very real and provided a sense of urgency. I did not see the twist coming. I also really appreciate it that the author included history into this story. The setting is the US-Mexico border during the 1880s so you see what the interactions between the Anglo‘s, Mexicans, Indigenous peoples were like and how they were treated and seen. The addition of magical realism into the story provided a stronger tether to Mexican and Indigenous culture. I really enjoyed this narration and story. The ending did leave me a little bit wanting more. It felt a bit rushed and a little incomplete but other than that I was gripped from the beginning and found myself gasping and shouting while listening, definitely recommend. 4.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing-Audiobooks and NetGalley for the ALC in return for my honest review.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing-Audiobooks and NetGalley for the ALC in return for my honest review.
August 27, 2022
Valley of Shadows was WOW, a great slow burn paranormal mystery. The ghostly element really kept me on my toes, you never could tell which way something was going to go. I was hooked from the first page!
There are so many reasons I love this novel. First, the historical landscape had nuance and depth; the perspective decolonized the past, highlighted the transnational experience of the American-Mexican borderlands through the eyes of the Mexicans and the indigenous peoples who lived there. Ruiz did not shy away from the racial tensions, the ethnic conflicts, and the histories of colonization that were part of the fabric of life on the borderlands in the 19th century — and I deeply appreciated that. Indeed, much of the plot revolves around those very transcultural tensions. This grounded this paranormal western/mystery/horror in a historical reality that made the events all the more horrific; they were real. The violence of this time was real, not a fiction of Ruiz’s imagination.
Second, Ruiz’s use of linguistic and ethnic markers is significant. Yes, this is a novel, but it is also a work of decolonization. Ruiz disrupts the whiteness of the Western genre with Valley of Shadows. The primary protagonist is Solitario Cisneros, a Mexican man who used to be sheriff — and could still be. Onawa is a young half Mexican, half Apache woman who assists Solitario in his investigation of a series of murders. The living and the dead show up in various parts of the story, some from Solitario’s past which is never far behind him. History in this novel is very much a dynamic, fluid factor in this novel; it is almost as alive as the characters.
There is a mix of white, Mexican, mixed-race, and indigenous characters in this novel, mimicking the historical and contemporary reality of North American borderland communities; nothing is ever cut-and-dry, black or white in such places, then or now. This diversity of identities makes the characters more recognizable; their ethnic and historical diversity mimics our own multiple identities and ways of being. Race, ethnicity, class, and history shaped these characters, making them palpable, their decisions and actions authentic and borne out of subjective needs and ambitions as much as they were shaped by social and historical factors.
Third, Ruiz unfolded the story with skill. Tension and mystery were embedded in the plot, compelling me to read on, but it was the way in which Ruiz slowly unravelled the plot. At the end the reader will see that all the threads of the mystery were there, almost from the very start, waiting for us to weave them into fabric. The story revolves around a series of gruesome, brutal murders. There is very real, physical horror here; the idea that these could be done by a human being on another is scary enough — but there’s the possibility this could be something more supernatural. Which is more sinister?
Valley of Shadows is Solitario and Onawa’s adventures in this realm and the next as they speed against time to save the other potential victims, apprehend the murderer(s), and deliver justice to the victims and their surviving families.
There are so many reasons I love this novel. First, the historical landscape had nuance and depth; the perspective decolonized the past, highlighted the transnational experience of the American-Mexican borderlands through the eyes of the Mexicans and the indigenous peoples who lived there. Ruiz did not shy away from the racial tensions, the ethnic conflicts, and the histories of colonization that were part of the fabric of life on the borderlands in the 19th century — and I deeply appreciated that. Indeed, much of the plot revolves around those very transcultural tensions. This grounded this paranormal western/mystery/horror in a historical reality that made the events all the more horrific; they were real. The violence of this time was real, not a fiction of Ruiz’s imagination.
Second, Ruiz’s use of linguistic and ethnic markers is significant. Yes, this is a novel, but it is also a work of decolonization. Ruiz disrupts the whiteness of the Western genre with Valley of Shadows. The primary protagonist is Solitario Cisneros, a Mexican man who used to be sheriff — and could still be. Onawa is a young half Mexican, half Apache woman who assists Solitario in his investigation of a series of murders. The living and the dead show up in various parts of the story, some from Solitario’s past which is never far behind him. History in this novel is very much a dynamic, fluid factor in this novel; it is almost as alive as the characters.
There is a mix of white, Mexican, mixed-race, and indigenous characters in this novel, mimicking the historical and contemporary reality of North American borderland communities; nothing is ever cut-and-dry, black or white in such places, then or now. This diversity of identities makes the characters more recognizable; their ethnic and historical diversity mimics our own multiple identities and ways of being. Race, ethnicity, class, and history shaped these characters, making them palpable, their decisions and actions authentic and borne out of subjective needs and ambitions as much as they were shaped by social and historical factors.
Third, Ruiz unfolded the story with skill. Tension and mystery were embedded in the plot, compelling me to read on, but it was the way in which Ruiz slowly unravelled the plot. At the end the reader will see that all the threads of the mystery were there, almost from the very start, waiting for us to weave them into fabric. The story revolves around a series of gruesome, brutal murders. There is very real, physical horror here; the idea that these could be done by a human being on another is scary enough — but there’s the possibility this could be something more supernatural. Which is more sinister?
Valley of Shadows is Solitario and Onawa’s adventures in this realm and the next as they speed against time to save the other potential victims, apprehend the murderer(s), and deliver justice to the victims and their surviving families.
November 10, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for this audio ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
"Discrimination is evil, but evil does not discriminate."
Historical fiction is not usually my thing but I was surprised with how much I enjoyed listening to this. Valley of Shadows explores topics like discrimination, racism and justice. This was slow to start but after a couple of chapters in the pace definitely picked up. Admittedly the plot became repetitive, there's a murder, then it goes back to show you how it happened and then the cycle repeats. The true mystery in this story is who's carrying out these murders. That was a massive plot twist and I honestly did not see it coming.
"Discrimination is evil, but evil does not discriminate."
Historical fiction is not usually my thing but I was surprised with how much I enjoyed listening to this. Valley of Shadows explores topics like discrimination, racism and justice. This was slow to start but after a couple of chapters in the pace definitely picked up. Admittedly the plot became repetitive, there's a murder, then it goes back to show you how it happened and then the cycle repeats. The true mystery in this story is who's carrying out these murders. That was a massive plot twist and I honestly did not see it coming.
May 28, 2025
It seems that I am not in an audio book mood. At some points I was interested, but at other times I got lost. I think this would have been better if I read it in text and I hope I do when I get the chance.
Read
November 26, 2022DNF, no ha sido el mejor momento para leerlo.
February 1, 2024
Good book! Some great prose, even with the fairly straightforward plot. Wonderful world he built.
June 10, 2023
The Texas/ Mexico border in the 1880s is described in a horrifically brutal discriminatory place with supernatural overtones. Fascinating and literary but not for the squeamish.
February 23, 2023
Solitario, a sad and lonely man plagued by a family curse, is pulled out of retirement to resume his duties as a lawman in the Mexican town of Olvido in the late 1800s. The kicker? The Rio Grande changed course and Olvido is now in the United States. A string of brutal and ritualistic murders is plaguing the town. Solitario uses ghosts and Apache mystics to help solve the mystery.
May 14, 2022
This was a decent read — not something I will probably re-read, but it held my interest and I found the story worthwhile. It’s a very unique blend of magic, mystery, and occult horror, set at the border between Mexico and Texas in the 1880s. I found the inclusion of so many cultures to be interesting, and I loved Solitario’s ability to commune with spirits. I also enjoyed the small shifts to Tormenta’s POV, I found her personality endearing.
The ending was a surprise for me. I probably could have puzzled it out if I really wanted to, but I wasn’t really in that mystery-busting “mode” so I found the twist entertaining and I think it wrapped up the story quite well. It looks wide open enough for a sequel, which I would likely pick up out of curiosity. Rudy Ruiz writes well, and I have no complaints about the quality of the story or the writing.
I am glad that I read this on my kindle, as there were several Spanish words/sentences that were not ever explained in English, and my grasp of Spanish is very basic. I could puzzle most of them out given context and a relative fluency in French, but it still would have been nice to know what some of the characters were saying. Were these critical to the plot? No. Just a nice-to-have. I didn’t feel super connected to the characters, which I don’t think is always necessary in a mystery, but again it’s a nice-to-have.
Thank you to Rudy Ruiz, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
The ending was a surprise for me. I probably could have puzzled it out if I really wanted to, but I wasn’t really in that mystery-busting “mode” so I found the twist entertaining and I think it wrapped up the story quite well. It looks wide open enough for a sequel, which I would likely pick up out of curiosity. Rudy Ruiz writes well, and I have no complaints about the quality of the story or the writing.
I am glad that I read this on my kindle, as there were several Spanish words/sentences that were not ever explained in English, and my grasp of Spanish is very basic. I could puzzle most of them out given context and a relative fluency in French, but it still would have been nice to know what some of the characters were saying. Were these critical to the plot? No. Just a nice-to-have. I didn’t feel super connected to the characters, which I don’t think is always necessary in a mystery, but again it’s a nice-to-have.
Thank you to Rudy Ruiz, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
September 15, 2022
3.5 stars
VALLEY OF SHADOWS is an intriguing historical horror/mystery that takes place in a bordertown on the Texas/Mexico border in 1883. After a series of horrific murders and missing children grip the town, Solitario is approached to help them solve the crimes - with the possibility of taking over as sheriff on the table. Solitario is unable to just walk away, but he has stayed away from being sheriff on purpose. Being able to see ghosts and knowing that time is running out for some of the victims, Solitario begins to investigate the case along with Onawa, a seer.
This was an intriguing read with some horror and mystery elements that keep the reader guessing. The beginning takes a bit to get into as there are quite a few characters appearing here and there, and unexpected elements while the reader gets their footing. The plot moves quickly though, which keeps the case and mystery flowing. The ghosts and mystical elements were really fascinating and certainly made this a unique story. This is an interesting time in history, and I would have liked more explanation about some of these elements. For the most part, this felt like it could have been during varied times in history, which would work for people who are more into mystery/horror instead of the historical elements.
Overall, VALLEY OF SHADOWS is a unique horror/mystery that will work well for people who like an immersive and surprising read. Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
VALLEY OF SHADOWS is an intriguing historical horror/mystery that takes place in a bordertown on the Texas/Mexico border in 1883. After a series of horrific murders and missing children grip the town, Solitario is approached to help them solve the crimes - with the possibility of taking over as sheriff on the table. Solitario is unable to just walk away, but he has stayed away from being sheriff on purpose. Being able to see ghosts and knowing that time is running out for some of the victims, Solitario begins to investigate the case along with Onawa, a seer.
This was an intriguing read with some horror and mystery elements that keep the reader guessing. The beginning takes a bit to get into as there are quite a few characters appearing here and there, and unexpected elements while the reader gets their footing. The plot moves quickly though, which keeps the case and mystery flowing. The ghosts and mystical elements were really fascinating and certainly made this a unique story. This is an interesting time in history, and I would have liked more explanation about some of these elements. For the most part, this felt like it could have been during varied times in history, which would work for people who are more into mystery/horror instead of the historical elements.
Overall, VALLEY OF SHADOWS is a unique horror/mystery that will work well for people who like an immersive and surprising read. Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
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