Crocodilopolis

by John Manuel Arias

From the author of national bestseller "Where There Was Fire" comes a gripping tale of sibling rivalry, family secrets, and the fate of a nation.

Once a powerful, cold-blooded politician in Costa Rica, Seth Oreamundo is now living in exile in Washington, DC – and his younger brother Osario is to blame. Born into a corrupt political dynasty and raised on a seemingly idyllic coffee estate, the Oreamundo brothers were destined for greatness. But a dark family secret and a scandalous double crossing sent their lives into a tailspin, changing the country forever.

Osario must pay, and Seth decides the only way to do so is to return home to Costa Rica and feed his brother to the infamous river of crocodiles from their childhood. What follows is a spellbinding story of revenge alternating between Seth’s murderous plans and memories of the brothers’ upbringing. With the wisdom of biblical myth and the soapy wit of a telenovela, Crocodilopolis is a masterful interrogation of power, masculinity, destiny, and legacy from a literary star on the rise.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Adult Fiction, Family

352 pages, Hardcover

First published August 25, 2026

About the author

John Manuel Arias is the National Bestselling author of Where There Was Fire, named a Best Debut by Apple Books and a Finalist for the Barnes & Noble Discover Prize. A Canto Mundo fellow & an alumnus of the Tin House Summer Writers Workshop, his prose and poetry have been published in Harper's Bazaar, Electric Lit, The Kenyon Review, and PANK. He has lived in Washington D.C., Brooklyn New York, and in San José, Costa Rica with his grandmother and four ghosts.

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALC gifted by libro.fm

Gorgeous writing that transported me to the lush and vibrant sceneries of Costa Rica. It’s such a joy reading Arias’ prose while learning about the history through a dark and enchanting multigenerational tale.

I most appreciate how Arias builds morally complicated characters spanning every generation — to the point that I was lowkey hating on all the characters 😆. For those who need a character to root for, CROCODILOPOLIS could feel challenging to connect with.

While the writing is transcendent, the plot veers too melodramatic, giving the story a soap opera feel at times. And I find that I’m not super invested in what happens next because of this.

Overall, this is an entertaining and twisted tale about a cursed family, and how one might break out from or be consumed by it.

[Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to LibroFM for the gifted audio - all opinions are my own.

Crocodilopolis is a beautifully devastating look at generational trauma and bitter conflict.

The meat of the story follows Oreamundo brothers, Seth and Osario. The brothers come from a powerful (though corrupt) Costa Rican political dynasty. When Seth finds himself exiled to America, he seeks vengeance on his brother. Through memories of their tumultuous youth and diametrically opposed paths in adulthood, one thing becomes clear… the Oreamundo blood runs cold.

Wow. This was an impactful experience, to say the very least. The scandal was delightful, the imagery was indulgent, and the depth was stunning. I’ll break those things down.

The dynamics of the Oreamundo family were complex and utterly captivating. Through three generations we see this shift and growth in the men. There’s political scandal, complex relationships, power struggles, and religious motifs all encompassed within elegant prose. I’ve never been to Costa Rica but I imagine it is just as lush and enthralling as it’s depicted in this story. I loved seeing the identity and culture explored with such rawness and adoration. There’s this ache for home that was depicted beautifully.

The author uses these generations of Oreamundo men to explore the identities of brotherhood, fatherhood, and husbandry with such authenticity that I may as well be a man. The rage, the passion, and the power struggles were all examined and in a complete and satisfying manner.

The imagery and iconography were grand and complex. From the jungles of Costa Rica to Washington D.C., the author builds a multinational and multi-generational tale for the ages. There was deep identity between the characters and their homeland and I loved the exploration of “home” and belonging.

The themes ran as deep as I imagine the crocodile-inhabited rivers of Costa Rica do. The author showcases how decisions can ripple through generations and feuds can implode an entire nation. John Manuel Arias explores masculinity and a deep resentment left to fester for too long until the resolution can only be bloodshed.

I enjoyed the audiobook for this immensely. Christian Barillas did a superb job narrating this captivating story. He captured the poetic nature and it was altogether a euphonic experience.

This is a wonderfully layered and intoxicating tale. This was my first by the author and I look forward to more. I recommend for fans of dark fiction, multigenerational stories, and heady reads.

[Mallory (onmalsshelf) Bartel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to LibroFM and Bloomsbury for this ALC. Also thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the egalley as well.

A book that explores brotherhood across generations of a Costa Rican family and what it means for ‘evil’ to be in your blood

I listened to this audiobook in just two days and it had my attention the entire time. I wanted to know what was going to happen to the Oreamundo brothers at every turn. A family saga that explores what happens when one is exiled and two brothers take different paths

[gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Bloomsbury Publishing & NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC!

This book was NUTS and I devoured it. The writing was so vibrant, and the plot so dramatic it read like a Greek tragedy a lot of the time. I felt really uneasy for the majority of the time reading this, and yet couldn’t look away. The last few chapters had me IN KNOTS to the point that I listened with my eyes closed (as if that would help??). And if you enjoy morally gray characters, look no farther than *checks notes* every single person in this book❤️

I said “DAMN” out loud after the last line. This is a book that sticks with you, I think.

The narrator did a fantastic job!

[Pamela Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually I’m not a huge fan of a non-linear narrative but I will say this book was well written that it wasn’t hard to follow along. Really loved the Cain and Abel aspects that this story had to offer. A really good story at its core but I will say that this book can drag on a bit to the point where it gets a bit repetitive. Maybe if this was cut down by 50pgs it would be a really strong book. Overall a good read but it had potential to be a great read

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Bloomsbury for my gifted physical ARC and to Bloomsbury and Libro.fm for my gifted ALC. All opinions are my own.

CROCODILOPOLIS was pitched and sold as “One Hundred Years of Solitude meets Succession,” which is honestly better than any intro I could write myself. While it’s a generational story, it primarily focuses on two brothers in one generation, with the other eras supporting their central story.

This book takes place mostly in Costa Rica and DC - one place I’d love to visit and another where I’ve spent a lot of time. Seth was 4 when his brother Osario was born on his birthday, setting up a sibling rivalry to end all sibling rivalries. I’m going to leave the rest of the plot vague and share just a few more impressions.

Central themes here include fate and destiny, and whether we can ever truly change our own. This is also a dark tale of toxic family and toxic masculinity. While it takes place in the real world and references real events, it also has kind of a fairytale or fable type quality. And lastly, the crocodiles are both literal and metaphorical. The Costa Rican scenery in the book is lush and beautiful, but also dark and dangerous, which created an intense atmosphere for the story. Overall I thought John Manuel Arias’s writing was excellent, and I’m glad I took a chance on something a little out of my comfort zone.

Audio thoughts: Christian Barillas’s narration was a great fit for the story. I started on the slower end of my personal speed range and then sped up quite a bit when I got used to the rhythm. I will say there are poetic interludes that work better on a physical page, so that’s one thing to keep in mind when choosing a format

[Emma Lynn]

Crocodilopolis follows Seth and Osario, two brothers from a powerful, corrupt Costa Rican political dynasty, and explores the themes of exile, family relationships, and how corruption can tear apart both families and countries.

I enjoyed the story's non-linear timeline, and I felt it helped me understand the family in pieces, showing how the conflict between Seth and Osario comes to a head and unfolds. I think it was a strong tool for telling the story, and Arias used it well, allowing the story to flow between timelines, generations, and family members so the reader could get a full view of the entire Oreamundo family.

Both Seth and Osaraio were complex and layered characters that Arias took the time to let the reader fully see and understand all sides of them, which I really enjoyed and found to be by far the strongest part of the book because by the time I finished, I truly understood who these brothers were and why they ended up the way they are.

Overall, this was a great story filled with tension, drama, suspense, and everything else needed for a great story.

***Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review***

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best thing I can say about this book is that it’s the spiritual sibling of East of Eden, even down to the Cain and Abel allusions. But it’s also entirely its own book, with a large historical scope that touches on everything from Ancient Egypt to modern Costa Rican politics.

The story focuses on the origins of Seth and Osario, two brothers turned into enemies by either fate, divine intervention, or just some really crappy parental figures. There are multiple biblical allusions. Even the boys’ names, Seth and Osario, have multiple meanings that absolutely inform the narrative. Always present through the story are the crocodiles lurking beneath the surface, ready to devour. I have nightmares about those enormous river crocodiles in Africa, so if that’s you too: be aware.

This is a book with layers. I was constantly having internal conversations about what it meant and whether I agreed or disagreed. And that’s a pretty good assessment of an author with something to say.

Books with Something to Say can often be bogged down by their own pretensions. I didn’t feel that way here. The author is smart, passionate, and focused on his point. I think the book ends up being very successful.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc. I feel like it’s a quiet gem.

[domsbookden]

DNF 13%

This is probably the third or fourth non-linear, multigenerational family saga I've tried out and it's just not a narrative style I enjoy. Not a bad book from what I can tell, but I simply do not care about anything going on.

I think readers who enjoyed Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez may enjoy this read.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 review to come

[celestialpixels_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

🐊 Power, Poetry & Providence 🩸

I knew before I even finished "Crocodilopolis" that this review was going to be difficult to write.

I wanted to do this book justice.

John Manuel Arias has written a novel that reaches across countries, histories, and identities. A simple "this was beautifully written" wasn't going to cut it. There is too much here worth talking about, and even more worth thinking about.

At its center is the Oreamundo family, whose story spans generations of Costa Rican history. Their lives are shaped as much by the world around them as they are by everything their family has carried forward.

The further I got into their story, the more I realized just how much Arias was asking us to look at.

At times, I found myself thinking about "The Godfather." The stories themselves are very different, but the Oreamundos have that same larger-than-life quality as the Corleones. Both seem to exist within worlds of their own, where loyalty, money, politics, pride, and power become so tangled together that their influence eventually reaches far beyond them.

I loved some of these characters. I hated some of them. More often, I found myself moving somewhere between the two.

That moral messiness was one of my favorite parts of the novel. Arias allows his characters to be frustrating, selfish, cruel, loving, vulnerable, and occasionally hopeful without reducing them to any one of those things. They carry old expectations, prejudices, wounds, and loyalties, even as some struggle to find a way forward.

That same complexity carries into the way Arias writes the world around them. His background as a poet comes through beautifully in his prose, particularly in the way he writes about Costa Rica's natural world. The landscape and its wildlife become so woven into the family's story that, at times, the Oreamundos begin to feel almost mythological themselves.

But Arias never lets that mythological quality overshadow the very real place at the heart of the story. Costa Rica's culture, politics, and history aren't simply a backdrop for the Oreamundos. They're part of their story.

I went into "Crocodilopolis" knowing relatively little about Costa Rican history and found myself stopping several times to research what I was reading. The novel led me to learn more about the tensions between foreign oil interests, economic development, and environmental protection in Costa Rica, the history of Nicaraguan immigration and xenophobia, LGBTQ+ rights, and parts of its political and cultural history I hadn't encountered before.

I love when fiction makes me curious enough to do that. It made the experience of reading the book feel larger than the story itself.

That curiosity extended to the portions set in Washington, D.C. The connection between Costa Rica and the United States is deliberate. Arias isn't simply drawing parallels between the political problems of two countries. He's exploring how American power reaches beyond its own borders, and how some of the ugliest parts of American politics can encourage and embolden those same impulses elsewhere. Prejudice, nationalism, political extremism, and the pursuit of power don't stop neatly at a country's borders.

The United States isn't positioned as some distant observer of what happens elsewhere in the world. It is part of the machinery.

That felt particularly relevant to our current political climate, and it gave the novel's exploration of power an even sharper edge.

"Crocodilopolis" is dense, and I don't mean that as a criticism. There were moments when I needed to slow down, remind myself where I was in the family history, or simply sit with a passage before continuing. It's a novel that asks you to pay attention.

But I think that's part of what made it so rewarding.

By the end, I found "Crocodilopolis" mesmerizing, frustrating, beautiful, and surprisingly hopeful. It gave me a family I couldn't look away from, introduced me to pieces of Costa Rican history and culture I wanted to understand better, and left me thinking about what we inherit from the people and places that came before us.

Those are usually the books that stay with me.

Thank you to author John Manuel Arias and Bloomsbury Books US for sending me an advanced reader copy of "Crocodilopolis" in exchange for an honest review.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thanks to my friends at Macmillan/Bloomsbury Publishing for sending me a very very early advance copy of this book. Please keep in mind that any quotes I share are under spoiler tags and may change once the book is officially published.

Costa Rica is home to millions of beasts as beautiful and ancient as sin.

Boys will be boys. Brothers will be brothers. Brothers will betray brothers. You know how it is.

Crocodilopolis is a dark, slow-burning novel about power, family, and the kind of resentment that never truly disappears. At its core are two brothers bound by privilege and betrayal, their lives shaped by corruption, political ambition, and a devastating family secret. The story moves between past and present, steadily building a tense emotional landscape where love and cruelty exist side by side, and where revenge feels both inevitable and deeply unsettling.

It's either ignorance or arrogance that humanity assumes we are above the food chain.

I’m Costa Rican, born and raised, and I grew up with the political and social history that informs this novel. I’ve lived through environmental movements, political shifts, and conversations about equality that echo throughout these pages. I was raised in Orotina, just fifteen minutes from the Tárcoles River. I’ve seen crocodiles up close, fed live chickens for spectacle, and witnessed the brutal efficiency of their death roll. Because of that, reading this book felt strangely personal, almost inevitable, as if these images and histories were always meant to collide on the page.

The world needs women with words. And if she can command them like waves upon the sea, there's nothing she can't accomplish.

Setting aside my obvious emotional connection, what truly makes this novel compelling isn’t just the plot but the atmosphere John Manuel Arias creates. Costa Rica feels alive, heavy, and symbolic throughout the story, especially the crocodile-infested river, which lingers like both a threat and a promise. The writing leans into myth, memory, and melodrama in a way that feels deliberate and almost hypnotic, inviting the reader to reflect on fate, masculinity, and the legacies we inherit whether we want them or not. This is a slow burn with sharp teeth, rewarding patience with a haunting and morally complex story.

Brothers betray brothers all the time. One might scam the other out of twenty bucks, and the wronged brother might get him kicked out of a holiday party-that sort of thing. The rivalry will go on for their entire lifetime.

John Manuel Arias’ writing is lyrical, ambitious, and richly descriptive, shaped by layered storytelling and emotional depth. I personally found it breathtaking and immersive, though I can see how some readers might find it dense or overly elaborate. If you’ve read and loved One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez, this book will likely resonate deeply with you.

[Jacqueline Rackard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crocodilopolis is a sprawling family narrative of biblical proportions with a Cain and Abel storyline, family dysfunction, political corruption, filled with historical references and a display of the strength of the natural world all set in Costa Rica and the United States. The Oreamundo famiy is well known in Costa Rica, a family of wealth attained by the success of coffee plantations. They wield power without worrying about the repercussions.

The patriarch is Otilio Oreamundo ,who is raised by his mother to appreciate the family's dominance and to constantly achieve power. After a failed presidential run after WW2, Otilio's ire becomes particularly strong and he focuses on shaping his young grandson, Seth, into someone who will achieve what he failed to achieve. Otilio's hatred for his own son (Seth's father) is caustic and bitterly harsh, cementing multi generational conflicts between fathers and sons. While Seth and his brother Osario share a close and loving relationship when they are young, there is no escaping the damage done by the spread of hatred and disapproval that Otilio has already planted in this family.

The novel spans over 70 years of political turmoil, issues of immigration within Costa Rica, the conflicts between environmentalism and the destruction of the natural world. Surrounding all of this chaos are the continual references to the strangeness and violence of animal life: particularly the crocodiles who are presented as a fierce and uncontrollable force that drives much of the narrative- metaphorically and literally.

The pacing in the first 70% or so of the novel is steady and the movement between timelines and settings works well- the reader is able to keep up with the shifts rather easily. The remainder of the novel begins to move more quickly and the pacing, although indicative of the tension building within this family, challenges the reader's ability to accept some hard to believe coincidences. There is definitely a lot plot wise and character wise occurring towards the last 25% of the book- perhaps more than needed to be included.

But overall, Arias creates a world that is expansive, lush, and terrifying with very complex characters- some are purely villainous and some are morally ambiguous, but they exhibit the human vices that help to create an absorbing, engrossing story. The reader is drawn to the provocative manner that Arias tells this story of love, loyalty, corruption, power, and family legacies.

Thank you to Net Galley, Bloomsbury Publishing and the author, Juan Manuel Arias for the advanced copy of the novel.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Crocodilopolis” answers a question I hadn't previously considered: how many decades of family resentment does it take before someone's revenge plan involves a crocodile-infested river?

The novel follows two brothers born into a powerful Costa Rican political dynasty whose rivalry stretches across generations, family scandals and major moments in the country's history. When one brother, disgraced and living in exile, decides to settle old scores once and for. The novel unfolds across generations to explain how this remarkably specific murder plan came about and what consequences follow.

What follows is an absolutely epic family saga. So much happens over such a long span of time that by the end I felt as though I'd lived through several lifetimes alongside the Oreamundos. The story moves back and forth through time, gradually revealing motives, betrayals and connections in a way that rewards patience. It constantly reframes what you thought you knew.

Beneath all the scheming, feuding and political manoeuvring, the book seems deeply interested in questions of power, legacy and whether any of us can truly escape the roles our families hand us. I didn't always understand the sheer intensity of some of the characters' emotions or decisions, but I was fascinated by them nevertheless. And the symmetry that emerged across generations caught me off guard, but looking back, it feels inevitable.

I also loved that I learned a surprising amount about Costa Rican and Central American history along the way. The historical backdrop adds depth to the story while remaining firmly in service of the characters.

The audiobook is great. Christian Barillas handles the large cast and shifting timelines with ease, and his narration felt perfectly suited to the novel's mixture of family drama, political intrigue and dark humour. One small note: there are a handful of brief, poem-like interludes scattered throughout. In the audiobook they initially caught me by surprise and I found myself rewinding to listen again, wondering whether I'd missed something. I think this would have worked better in the print version, but they make up only a tiny fraction of the book.

An ambitious, entertaining and surprisingly funny novel full of history, family dysfunction, and crocodiles. Not a combination I knew I needed, but I had a great time with it.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Audio, NetGalley and John Manuel Arias for an advance listening copy of this book.

[CarlysGrowingTBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

General Thoughts:
If you enjoy complex stories with engrossing and multi layered characters told over various timelines, then this is the story for you. Lush imagery and deep metaphors take the story to a heightened level. Characters that make you feel complex emotions are at the forefront of this timeless novel.

We immediately are introduced to one of the most complex family systems and cold-blooded characters I've ever read. Born into an idyllic childhood that should've resulted in greatness and power, the Oreamumdo Brothers spiral into a losing battle of sibling rivalry and deep, dark family secrets.

We are thrown between alternating timelines of childhood backstory and current political scheming and revenge. The story reads like the most delicious telenovella. Arias weaves a tale that explores masculinity, pride, sibling rivalry, power, and ultimately deceit and revenge.

In this family, dark secrets are at the center of every decision and power is the ultimate goal. I could not look away.

Things to Love:
* multi layered timeline and imagery
* engrossing and complex characters
* deep metaphors and emotions

Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 13 hours
🎤: Christian Barillas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: single narrator/multi timeline

Was the narration good??
Barillas did an excellent job with narration. I would listen to this narrator again.

Disclaimer: I read this book as a gifted audiobook from the Libro.FM audiobook program. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Sarah W Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.

ALC provided by Netgalley and Bloomsbury publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Recently, I published a list of the books that shaped me as a reader and at the top of one of those lists was the House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. What I loved about that book was the multi-generational saga combined with magical realism and a backdrop of historical conflict.
While, the novel Crocodilopolis by Aria is set in Costa Rica and the United States instead of Chile, it provided many of those same feelings. Arias also does some interesting comparisons between Egyptian mythology and Central American folklore. There are also biblical allusions to Cain and Abel that provide a backdrop for the tension between the two brothers.
This novel provides a fascinating perspective on the influence of Nazi ideology outside of Germany during WWII and draws comparisons to the current political and culture wars that persist in and outside of the United States today. Maybe they didn't all escape to South America, but instead slithered into the rainforest.
I really enjoyed the language and descriptions of reptiles and reptilian behavior across three generations of siblings and children. Arias skillfully inserted descriptions like slitted eyes and scaly skin that they felt realistic rather than paranormal or absurd. All in all, a provocative novel where the snakes of the past keep wriggling up into the future wreaking havoc and laying eggs of monsters or saviours yet to hatch.

[Calynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
An exiled brother plotting revenge on his own family makes for a pretty brutal premise and I wasn’t sure what to expect but this story was dark, layered and tragic. I was completely immersed and really enjoyed it.

The narrative shifts between past and present while slowly revealing the family history and secrets that shaped the characters. There’s so much tangled up in this family: sibling rivalry, toxic masculinity, generational trauma, envy and the weight of family legacy. There’s also this constant struggle for power that extends from the family into Costa Rican politics along with a lot of metaphorical and philosophical undertones that I really appreciated.

The writing is lyrical, lush and atmospheric. There was so much gorgeous imagery and I loved how Arias was able to make this story feel ancient and mythological while still being firmly rooted in Costa Rica. It almost felt like a biblical family tragedy mixed with a very dark telenovela.

There are a LOT of characters and family histories to keep track of so I was very grateful to have received a physical copy from Bloomsbury to read along with the audiobook. The nonlinear structure worked really well for me and I really appreciated how expansive it felt.

Overall, I was completely immersed in this but it took a little time to get there. So despite ultimately loving it there is something keeping it from a full 5 star read for me personally. Still a wonderful book that I’d absolutely recommend and so glad I read!

Thanks again to Bloomsbury publishing and NetGalley for the ALC and physical review copy!

[Eric Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Books for the eARC of this novel!

Seth has been living in exile in Washington DC with his family for the last 10 years away from his home country of Costa Rica. While watching a nature documentary, he remembers a traumatizing event from his childhood, which causes him to create a plan to deal with the younger brother who betrayed him.

This book is beautifully written and the author does a great job of painting a picture for the reader. I really enjoyed the fact that this novel moved back and forth between present day and flashbacks so you could understand the motivations of Seth and his family members.

My only complaint with this novel, and it is minor, is that the first two-thirds of the book is building toward what the reader feels like is the climax. Then the event happens and, as the reader, I was sitting there wondering, where does the book go from here?

I also want to give bonus points to this book for having DC as a setting and mentioning real places and neighborhoods that were not exclusively Georgetown and DuPont Circle. When the author mentions the Chipotle right across the Calvert Street Bridge, it was fun to know exactly where that is in the city.

If you are looking for a literary fiction revenge story, with some historical fiction thrown in, or want a book that explains a lot about Costa Rica, you will definitely enjoy this novel.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Crocodilopolis, John Manuel Arias doubles-down on an epic tale, a no holds barred family saga that spins with gorgeous, kaleidoscopic similes and provocative metaphors that go for the jugular. No one, not even the reader, is spared.
This is a lovingly rendered and beautifully complex portrait of Costa Rica in its lifelong relationship with the shifting and prevailing forces of power, and it is fiercely, carnally and unapologetically bold.
Heritage and a very real human darkness are at play here to grip the reader's attention and to provoke curiosity about the earth-bound dynamics at play: not only in one of nature’s most ancient of predators, the American Crocodile, but also in one of its most recently evolved, the American Politician.
Set in Washington DC, Costa Rica and the primeval waters of the Tárcoles River, Crocodilopolis leaves no stone, or creature, unturned as it explores the many faceted intricacies of intrafamilial conflict and the genesis of a ravenous dynasty that knows no bounds.
This novel speaks, in many tongues, to the urgency of this moment and to that which we can never deny no matter how we try: the legacies of our myth-making histories and the long shadows of our intentionally hidden pasts.
You will not want to miss it.

[Whatithinkaboutthisbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crocodilopolis by John Manuel Arias

This is a sweeping, multigenerational saga of destiny, betrayal, family secrets, revenge and brotherhood, set against the lush and turbulent landscape of Costa Rica.

Seth and Osario are born into a wealthy, corrupt, political dynasty and raised to believe they are born for greatness and power. But their mother has foreseen a darker fate: a destiny filled with destruction and betrayal.

As the sins of one generation echo into the next, jealousy, ambition and hunger for power threaten to destroy them in a propulsive exploration of family legacy, destiny and masculinity. Their intimate struggle unfolds alongside Costa Rica’s shifting politics and changing terrain.

Part family saga, part myth and part telenovela, it delivers morally complex characters caught between fate and free will. Arias builds an atmospheric, immersive world where ancient patterns of fraternal rivalry collide with modern political power.

Suspenseful and richly imagined, it explores the complicated bonds of family, where love and cruelty, loyalty and betrayal exist side by side. It is a dark, captivating story about the sins of our fathers and whether we are capable of breaking free from them.

[Athena A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doechii dropped her hit album “Alligator Bites Never Heal” and John Manuel Arias said GIRL YES lemme show love to the book-ish community and spin them some myth & memory with reptilian lore in a way no one else can as well! (ft. corruption, capitalism, & Costa Rica!!)

Beyond the catchy title & captivating cover art, this literary fiction novel was a journey. Had to lock in a little more so as not to be confused by timelines and motives, but dang do these Cain-Abel-like brothers got some family curses to shake off… maybe in the next life?

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury for this e-ALC (audiobook).

[Abbey's Book Reviews De La Garza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting and unique story that gave me something different from what I normally read. I enjoyed the setting and the way the story blended history with more unusual elements. There were parts that really caught my attention but other sections felt a little slow and made it harder for me to stay fully invested. I appreciated the creativity and the atmosphere throughout the book. Some of the characters and storylines connected with me more than others. It was an interesting read with some memorable moments but it did not completely pull me in.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure I wanted to read this, but once I started, it sucked me in and I finished it in just a few days. This is one messed up family. Themes include revenge, toxic masculinity, corruption, mythology, brotherhood, rage, identity, and a family secret that is the root of all the evil in the family. The crocodiles in the river are the perfect metaphor for the Oreamundo family.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

[Micheala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crocodilopolis is an ambitious, sprawling novel that blends family drama, Costa Rican political history, biblical mythology, queer identity, and crocodile symbolism into an unconventional story. The premise caught my attention, but I felt overwhelmed at times by the large cast and nonlinear timeline. The story frequently introduced new characters, relationships, and information, which made it hard to become emotionally invested in anyone. Too much was happening for me to fully connect with the story. That said, Arias is clearly a talented writer, and I liked the Costa Rican setting, family dynamics, and central themes. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator handled the tonal shifts well. This wasn't a hit for me, but you might enjoy it if you like dark fiction that explores human nature and the weight of a complicated family history. Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Audio, and John Manuel Arias for providing me with an advance listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a goodreads giveaway .

Very well written and contemporary of politics, governing of people, a king rising to power with the people's intolerance and violence, also a few fighting back with all they have. So much biblical imagery connected to brutal violence, but in our modern times.
Violence begets violence, dismantling society. The sons of these politicians try to break the family curse of tyranny and greed.

[alyssia · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Early access through Libro.fm educator program

I really liked this book. It was hard to follow at some points because of the switching timelines and the complex f’d-up-ness of the family.

I think I would recommend to my friend Joey because it gave very full circle and complex layers that he would be into.

[Sara Melugin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crocodilopolis was well written and a good read. The story reminded me of familial tragedies from mythological or biblical stories. It shows how an action or an inaction and secrets can influence events far into the future in ways that could never be predicted. Honestly, I wanted to read Crocodilopolis because the cover intrigued me. I had no idea the generational heft and trauma I was entering. I am so glad I read it! It will be with me for a long time to come.

[Morgan Sandner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely well written book but I don't know who this is for other than the hyper specific; "queer person who believes alligators and crocodiles can do no wrong" of which The Island of Last Things is also in this category, as long as said queer person is okay with homophobia in this fictional world.

[David V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started 8-21-26; finished 8-25-26. A lengthy book about 2 brothers in a corrupt Costa Rican family and the conflicts between them and other family members. The story would've been better minus several pages. A non-linear story of the generations of this family--sometimes difficult to follow as it skips between speakers and time periods.

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mind just blow up with this book!!! I only stopped because I had to work hahaha. As a costarican this book feels so close to me and my identity, it even made me look up for historic references. Touching, thrilling, emotional, adventurous, a roller coaster of emotions! Please go read it.