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The Sleeping Sisters: A Novel
A threatened mother and relentless detective collide in this mesmerizing novel from a rising voice in literary horror, perfect for fans of Gabino Iglesias, Carmen Maria Machado, Augustina Bazterrica, and Stephen Graham Jones.
A mother’s love is the oldest curse
Fortuna Miércoles has finally moved her family to a better neighborhood across the Rio Grande, desperate to outrun the curse that’s stalked her bloodline since her greatest grandmother crossed the desert with a cactus thorn splitting her throat. But burying a family’s violent legacy isn’t so easy. Twenty years ago, girls and women vanished into the Albuquerque night, their bones later unearthed on the mesa. The so-called Reaper was never caught. Now, beneath the dormant volcanoes called the Sleeping Sisters, the killings have begun again.
Detective Jeanette Palacio has spent decades chasing the ghosts of her murdered cousins—alongside the memory of the other women she couldn’t avenge. When a new body turns up in Fortuna’s backyard, both women are pulled into a dangerous, ancient plot. Are the Sleeping Sisters awakening—or has someone in Fortuna’s family set a trap?
Inspired by true events and shot through with a Chicana-Indigenous reimagining of the legend of the headless woman, The Sleeping Sisters is a fevered, feral hymn to motherhood and the monstrous bargains we make to protect those we love.
“House of Spirits meets The Wire in this marvelously strange story of murder and motherhood; a gloriously surreal novel in which magical realism meets police procedural. Jenn Givhan twists your brain and leaves you looking at the world differently for a long time afterward. I have no idea how to describe what I just read, but it was really, really cool.” —T. Kingfisher, author of What Moves the Dead
A mother’s love is the oldest curse
Fortuna Miércoles has finally moved her family to a better neighborhood across the Rio Grande, desperate to outrun the curse that’s stalked her bloodline since her greatest grandmother crossed the desert with a cactus thorn splitting her throat. But burying a family’s violent legacy isn’t so easy. Twenty years ago, girls and women vanished into the Albuquerque night, their bones later unearthed on the mesa. The so-called Reaper was never caught. Now, beneath the dormant volcanoes called the Sleeping Sisters, the killings have begun again.
Detective Jeanette Palacio has spent decades chasing the ghosts of her murdered cousins—alongside the memory of the other women she couldn’t avenge. When a new body turns up in Fortuna’s backyard, both women are pulled into a dangerous, ancient plot. Are the Sleeping Sisters awakening—or has someone in Fortuna’s family set a trap?
Inspired by true events and shot through with a Chicana-Indigenous reimagining of the legend of the headless woman, The Sleeping Sisters is a fevered, feral hymn to motherhood and the monstrous bargains we make to protect those we love.
“House of Spirits meets The Wire in this marvelously strange story of murder and motherhood; a gloriously surreal novel in which magical realism meets police procedural. Jenn Givhan twists your brain and leaves you looking at the world differently for a long time afterward. I have no idea how to describe what I just read, but it was really, really cool.” —T. Kingfisher, author of What Moves the Dead
Audible Audio
Published August 18, 2026
About the author
Jennifer Givhan
28 books729 followersJennifer Givhan is a Mexican-American and Indigenous poet and novelist from the Southwestern desert and the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and PEN Emerging Voices. The Los Angeles Times called her novel SALT BONES “a triumph… one of the most masterful marriages of horror, mystery, thriller and literary writing” and it was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, a Book Riot Best Mystery & Thriller of the Year, a Marie Claire Best Mystery-Thriller of the Year, a Library Journal Stellar Selection, and an American Library Association Best Book of the Year.
Her newest novel The Sleeping Sisters is coming this August 18th from Little, Brown.
She holds a Master’s degree from California State University Fullerton and a Master’s in Fine Arts from Warren Wilson College. Her novel TRINITY SIGHT was a finalist for the Arizona-New Mexico Book Awards and won The Southwest Book Award. Her novel RIVER WOMAN, RIVER DEMON was chosen for Amazon’s Book Club and as a National Together We Read Library Pick and was featured on CBS Mornings. It also won an International Latino Book Award.
Her newest novel The Sleeping Sisters is coming this August 18th from Little, Brown.
She holds a Master’s degree from California State University Fullerton and a Master’s in Fine Arts from Warren Wilson College. Her novel TRINITY SIGHT was a finalist for the Arizona-New Mexico Book Awards and won The Southwest Book Award. Her novel RIVER WOMAN, RIVER DEMON was chosen for Amazon’s Book Club and as a National Together We Read Library Pick and was featured on CBS Mornings. It also won an International Latino Book Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 376 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is not going to be a particularly lengthy review — my mother is visiting** and I had to sneak off to bed early just to find time to write this. But, wow, this was really good. It's basically a police procedural meets literary horror, and even though I'm not generally much for the literary stuff (I want monsters and gore and masked killers and books you're afraid to read in the dark), it kind of just worked for me? It's not particularly scary, but it's definitely dark and unsettling and full of murder and death and broken people. The pacing is fairly slow but it's never boring.
But, yeah, this novel combines indigenous folklore and serial killers and feminine rage and generational curses and magical realism and a fabulous New Mexican setting, and it's really something quite special.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is August 18, 2026.
** Please send help, it has been days and I am mentally exhausted.
But, yeah, this novel combines indigenous folklore and serial killers and feminine rage and generational curses and magical realism and a fabulous New Mexican setting, and it's really something quite special.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is August 18, 2026.
** Please send help, it has been days and I am mentally exhausted.
arc-netgelley
April 2, 2026I was invited to read this book and I'm so excited!! I love horror :)
September 17, 2026
Thoughts
Despite taking a few pages for me to get fully invested in this read, I really enjoyed my first experience with this author. Once things got rolling I couldn't put it down. I loved the author's writing, she has a way of portraying the characters in such a way that not only make you feel like you're part of the journey but also experience the characters feelings with them. I really loved the feel of raw and real emotions this read gave especially when it came to motherhood and the fact that this is based on true events made me a tad more emotional. I will admit that I went into this completely blind and to my surprise this was such a beautiful blend of generational trauma, crime, eerie and supernatural
Plot Summary
Fortuna moves her family across the Rio Grande, hoping to escape a deadly curse that has haunted her bloodline for generations. When a body is discovered in her garden, she finds herself connected to a series of murders that began decades ago. As Detective Jeanette Palacio investigates, the two women are drawn into a dark mystery involving family secrets, an ancient curse and the legendary Sleeping Sisters.
My Bookstagram
Despite taking a few pages for me to get fully invested in this read, I really enjoyed my first experience with this author. Once things got rolling I couldn't put it down. I loved the author's writing, she has a way of portraying the characters in such a way that not only make you feel like you're part of the journey but also experience the characters feelings with them. I really loved the feel of raw and real emotions this read gave especially when it came to motherhood and the fact that this is based on true events made me a tad more emotional. I will admit that I went into this completely blind and to my surprise this was such a beautiful blend of generational trauma, crime, eerie and supernatural
Plot Summary
Fortuna moves her family across the Rio Grande, hoping to escape a deadly curse that has haunted her bloodline for generations. When a body is discovered in her garden, she finds herself connected to a series of murders that began decades ago. As Detective Jeanette Palacio investigates, the two women are drawn into a dark mystery involving family secrets, an ancient curse and the legendary Sleeping Sisters.
My Bookstagram
Review of advance copy received from Author
Author’s Note
Fifteen years ago when my family and I moved to the West Mesa and I was raising my young children at the edge of Albuquerque, we would often trek through the desert beyond our home. During one such walk, someone told me of the women and girls buried there, but the callous way they spoke about the deceased gnawed at me. Over the years, as a motherwriter championing our sisters and daughters in the margins, I’ve felt called to keep telling the stories of Missing and Murdered Indigenous and Latina Girls and Women.
While The Sleeping Sisters was inspired by the existence of the real women and girls whose lives were stolen, the characters, events, and narrative in this novel are wholly imagined. My act of reclamation and heartwork intends to honor, not depict, the individuals whose memories remain a blessing.
Please take a moment with me to remember these beautiful souls:
Jamie Barela
Monica Candelaria
Victoria Chavez
Virginia Cloven
Syllannia Edwards
Cinnamon Elks
Doreen Marquez
Julie Nieto
Veronica Romero
Evelyn Salazar
Michelle Valdez
Their real story remains an ongoing investigation. Information can be found on the City of Albuquerque Police Department’s webpage for the West Mesa Homicide Investigation.
Thank you, finally, to Investigator Ida Lopez for continuing your search for justice for our sisters and their families.
Fifteen years ago when my family and I moved to the West Mesa and I was raising my young children at the edge of Albuquerque, we would often trek through the desert beyond our home. During one such walk, someone told me of the women and girls buried there, but the callous way they spoke about the deceased gnawed at me. Over the years, as a motherwriter championing our sisters and daughters in the margins, I’ve felt called to keep telling the stories of Missing and Murdered Indigenous and Latina Girls and Women.
While The Sleeping Sisters was inspired by the existence of the real women and girls whose lives were stolen, the characters, events, and narrative in this novel are wholly imagined. My act of reclamation and heartwork intends to honor, not depict, the individuals whose memories remain a blessing.
Please take a moment with me to remember these beautiful souls:
Jamie Barela
Monica Candelaria
Victoria Chavez
Virginia Cloven
Syllannia Edwards
Cinnamon Elks
Doreen Marquez
Julie Nieto
Veronica Romero
Evelyn Salazar
Michelle Valdez
Their real story remains an ongoing investigation. Information can be found on the City of Albuquerque Police Department’s webpage for the West Mesa Homicide Investigation.
Thank you, finally, to Investigator Ida Lopez for continuing your search for justice for our sisters and their families.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wowzers! I've just been kicked and pummeled in the literary sense.
Jennifer Givhan smacked me with her newest novel, The Sleeping Sisters. I first became acquainted with her stellar writing in Salt Bones (2025) and have been a solid fan ever since. Write what you know. And Givhan does just that.
We're taken onto the mesa outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico where the land holds the deep dark secrets of The Reaper and his demented forms of treasures. (Givhan bases some parts of her novel on true events of Indigenous women's bodies found in the desert. The killer is still at large.) Givhan will weave in the crafty elements of Indigenous folklore and legends that will add spark and intrigue.
Fortuna steps forward. She's a completely multi-faceted and complex female with quite the story to tell. Fortuna nudges us with her sharing of the long trek by her great-grandmother who kept on the rocky trail from Mexico to New Mexico. The women in her family always wore a green ribbon around their necks. Oh, there's a macabre reason for that......Buckle up for more.
Fortuna is the mother of teenage Hawthorne and Poe (named after her favorite writers). She's married to Mongo who works for the Albuquerque Police Department as a crime scene cleaner. Fortuna is passionately protective of her children and their family life. She becomes obsessive. But a single lottery ticket will change all that. With their winnings, they buy an upscale home in an affluent neighborhood. The seal becomes broken and the horror will now begin.
Detective Jeanette Palacio is called in when a beheaded body of a young woman is found downtown. Believe me, you'll be taken with Palacio. She has an uncanny ability to see and speak to her dead primas (cousins) who had been murdered and left in a mass grave in the desert years ago. The dialogue is quirky and often times humorous as the primas scold Palacio for not solving their case.
But the black crows of life circle around Fortuna. Fortuna's past, present, and future are heavily clouded. Givhan dances back and forth with tiny elements of reveal here and there. But the flame is lit when the body of a young girl is found in Fortuna's own backyard. And the Indigenous folklore leads the way into a family curse that will soon raise its head.
That gorgeous cover is just winking at you. It grabbed my attention as well. But what is inside just blossoms even more. You'll not be able to forget Fortuna any time soon. The Sleeping Sisters guarantees that.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to the talented Jennifer Givhan for the opportunity.
Jennifer Givhan smacked me with her newest novel, The Sleeping Sisters. I first became acquainted with her stellar writing in Salt Bones (2025) and have been a solid fan ever since. Write what you know. And Givhan does just that.
We're taken onto the mesa outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico where the land holds the deep dark secrets of The Reaper and his demented forms of treasures. (Givhan bases some parts of her novel on true events of Indigenous women's bodies found in the desert. The killer is still at large.) Givhan will weave in the crafty elements of Indigenous folklore and legends that will add spark and intrigue.
Fortuna steps forward. She's a completely multi-faceted and complex female with quite the story to tell. Fortuna nudges us with her sharing of the long trek by her great-grandmother who kept on the rocky trail from Mexico to New Mexico. The women in her family always wore a green ribbon around their necks. Oh, there's a macabre reason for that......Buckle up for more.
Fortuna is the mother of teenage Hawthorne and Poe (named after her favorite writers). She's married to Mongo who works for the Albuquerque Police Department as a crime scene cleaner. Fortuna is passionately protective of her children and their family life. She becomes obsessive. But a single lottery ticket will change all that. With their winnings, they buy an upscale home in an affluent neighborhood. The seal becomes broken and the horror will now begin.
Detective Jeanette Palacio is called in when a beheaded body of a young woman is found downtown. Believe me, you'll be taken with Palacio. She has an uncanny ability to see and speak to her dead primas (cousins) who had been murdered and left in a mass grave in the desert years ago. The dialogue is quirky and often times humorous as the primas scold Palacio for not solving their case.
But the black crows of life circle around Fortuna. Fortuna's past, present, and future are heavily clouded. Givhan dances back and forth with tiny elements of reveal here and there. But the flame is lit when the body of a young girl is found in Fortuna's own backyard. And the Indigenous folklore leads the way into a family curse that will soon raise its head.
That gorgeous cover is just winking at you. It grabbed my attention as well. But what is inside just blossoms even more. You'll not be able to forget Fortuna any time soon. The Sleeping Sisters guarantees that.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Little, Brown and Company and to the talented Jennifer Givhan for the opportunity.
July 26, 2026
𐙚⋆°💌｡⋆♡ ꒰ 𝘼𝙫𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚’𝙨 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘿𝙞𝙖𝙧𝙮 ꒱
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 🌻
₊˚⊹ ᰔ 4 ☆
(Spoiler Free Review!)
Publication Date: Aug 18 2026
Read: July 23-July 26
“𝘈 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦.”
𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚
0:00 ─〇───── 4:06
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺
‧₊˚ 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭 ꒰ 🎀 ꒱ ┊The Sleeping Sisters follows Fortuna Miércoles, a mother determined to leave her family’s curse behind after winning the lottery and starting over to a new neighbourhood with her family. Then a body is discovered in her backyard, links back to the unsolved cases of murder leading to Fortuna and Detective Jeanette colliding. Inspired by true events. As folklore, generational trauma, and long-buried secrets intertwine, the mystery deepens into a chilling blend of horror, suspense, and crime that keeps you questioning what lies beneath the surface until the very end.
🪽‧₊˚ 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ┊ Ever heard of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙍𝙞𝙗𝙗𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮? It’s about a girl named Jenny who always wears a green ribbon around her neck and refuses to tell anyone why. Years later, she gets married and they grow old together, her husband finally unties the ribbon and her head falls clean off, revealing the ribbon had been the only thing keeping it attached the entire time. OH MY GOSH?? the whole book i was like wtf is going on and I’m not sure what I just read but give me more. I admit at the beginning of the story, I was about to dnf as it is a slow paced read and a different writing style and the plot started to deliver at the 50% mark but I’m glad I did not.
‧₊˚ Fav Quotes ꒰ 🌻 ꒱ ┊
“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩, 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴.”
“𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.”
‧₊˚ 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ꒰ 🩵 ꒱ ┊ I was actually so shocked that I was not expecting those plot twists toward the end because I really thought I had figured out who the reaper was. I really love horror folklore and urban legends, so I enjoyed how the girl with the green ribbon was featured in this story as it had a important role to the story and how Fortuna would tell these ‘scary’ stories to her children for them to understand the curse in her bloodline and why she is that way. It also shows how Fortuna is determined to do anything for her children, protect them, and kill. My favourite character was Poe, she is Fortuna’s daughter she was so sweet and knew from rights and wrongs and I also like the detective she was determined to earn justice for her cousins and all the sleeping sisters🥹. I loved the hauntingly atmospheric and the culture and the magical realism and imagery and paranormal elements.
╰┈➤ I recommend this as, It is the perfect unsettling book with the mix of Horror and Mystery and Thriller that gets you spooked but also questioning WHO the real monster is. Thank you again to the publishers!🩵
With Love, Avrielle💌
-
-
-
-
˙✧˖°🩵🏜️ ⋆｡˚ 𝑷𝒓𝒆-𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅:
I am up for an unhinged literary horror mystery thriller since it involves a Chicana- Indigenous reimagining of the legend of the headless woman 🫣🫣
Thank You Netgalley and Little, Brown And Company for the arc!!
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙡𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 🌻
₊˚⊹ ᰔ 4 ☆
(Spoiler Free Review!)
Publication Date: Aug 18 2026
Read: July 23-July 26
“𝘈 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦.”
𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫
𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚
0:00 ─〇───── 4:06
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺
‧₊˚ 𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭 ꒰ 🎀 ꒱ ┊The Sleeping Sisters follows Fortuna Miércoles, a mother determined to leave her family’s curse behind after winning the lottery and starting over to a new neighbourhood with her family. Then a body is discovered in her backyard, links back to the unsolved cases of murder leading to Fortuna and Detective Jeanette colliding. Inspired by true events. As folklore, generational trauma, and long-buried secrets intertwine, the mystery deepens into a chilling blend of horror, suspense, and crime that keeps you questioning what lies beneath the surface until the very end.
🪽‧₊˚ 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ┊ Ever heard of 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙍𝙞𝙗𝙗𝙤𝙣 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮? It’s about a girl named Jenny who always wears a green ribbon around her neck and refuses to tell anyone why. Years later, she gets married and they grow old together, her husband finally unties the ribbon and her head falls clean off, revealing the ribbon had been the only thing keeping it attached the entire time. OH MY GOSH?? the whole book i was like wtf is going on and I’m not sure what I just read but give me more. I admit at the beginning of the story, I was about to dnf as it is a slow paced read and a different writing style and the plot started to deliver at the 50% mark but I’m glad I did not.
‧₊˚ Fav Quotes ꒰ 🌻 ꒱ ┊
“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘩, 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴.”
“𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.”
‧₊˚ 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ꒰ 🩵 ꒱ ┊ I was actually so shocked that I was not expecting those plot twists toward the end because I really thought I had figured out who the reaper was. I really love horror folklore and urban legends, so I enjoyed how the girl with the green ribbon was featured in this story as it had a important role to the story and how Fortuna would tell these ‘scary’ stories to her children for them to understand the curse in her bloodline and why she is that way. It also shows how Fortuna is determined to do anything for her children, protect them, and kill. My favourite character was Poe, she is Fortuna’s daughter she was so sweet and knew from rights and wrongs and I also like the detective she was determined to earn justice for her cousins and all the sleeping sisters🥹. I loved the hauntingly atmospheric and the culture and the magical realism and imagery and paranormal elements.
╰┈➤ I recommend this as, It is the perfect unsettling book with the mix of Horror and Mystery and Thriller that gets you spooked but also questioning WHO the real monster is. Thank you again to the publishers!🩵
With Love, Avrielle💌
-
-
-
-
˙✧˖°🩵🏜️ ⋆｡˚ 𝑷𝒓𝒆-𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅:
I am up for an unhinged literary horror mystery thriller since it involves a Chicana- Indigenous reimagining of the legend of the headless woman 🫣🫣
Thank You Netgalley and Little, Brown And Company for the arc!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A fever dream of a read, The Sleeping Sisters took one look at my expectations and laughed in their face. Told through the lyrical prose of a virtuoso-like wordsmith, Givhan intertwined magical realism, indigenous folklore, a police procedural, literary fiction, and supernatural horror into one stunning tale. From the morally gray characters who worked their way under my skin to the ever-present sense of creepy, otherworldly unease, it was a multifaceted novel of emotion and depth. Yup. This one was quite the thought-provoking read. Exploring the fierceness of a mother’s love, inherited trauma, and the very real scourge of violence against indigenous and Latina women, it delivered feminine rage with a deft and nuanced hand. And if you know me at all, I’m all for powerful social commentary—especially when inspired by true-life events like in this culturally rich story. Trust me when I say, this book and its message is going to live rent-free in my head for a very long time.
I do have to admit, though, that a big part of why this novel is sure to stick in my brain was due to the mind-bending, “WTF?!” twists. Not only were they deliciously unhinged, but they had me asking myself what the heck was going on for the entire last third of this spiraling, crazy-a** story. Don’t get me wrong, I loved every minute. In addition to the ambiguous feel was a cast of emotionally raw characters that I loved. Layered, flawed, and complex, they felt grounded and real despite the supernatural vibes. One small warning, however. Even though I ate up every word, this hard-hitting tale was a definite slow burn—even for me. Despite that, though, I couldn’t get enough of this haunting one-sitting read—especially the folklore. So if you’re a fan of Stephen Graham Jones, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, or the short story, The Green Ribbon (IYKYK), grab this one now. A dark, atmospheric, unsettling read, it’s a guaranteed win—at least it was for me. Rating of 4.75 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- A haunting atmosphere
- Slow-burn plotting
- Unreliable narrators
- Literary horror
- Genre-bending stories
- Family sagas
- Social commentary
- Magical realism
- Supernatural elements
- Feminine rage
- Thought-provoking themes
- An ambiguous feel
- Mind-bending twists
- Multiple POVs
- Psychological tension
- Indigenous folklore
- Morally gray characters
SYNOPSIS:
Fortuna Miércoles has finally moved her family to a better neighborhood across the Rio Grande, desperate to outrun the curse that’s stalked her bloodline since her greatest grandmother crossed the desert with a cactus thorn splitting her throat. But burying a family’s violent legacy—or her own haunting secret—isn’t so easy. Twenty years ago, girls and women vanished into the Albuquerque night, their bones later unearthed on the mesa. The so-called Reaper was never caught. Now, beneath the dormant volcanoes called the Sleeping Sisters, the killings have begun again, and they’ve called forth something in Fortuna that she has long fought to keep buried...
Detective Jeanette Palacio has spent decades promising justice to the ghosts of her murdered cousins—alongside the memory of the other women she couldn’t avenge. When a new body turns up in Fortuna’s backyard, both women are pulled into a dangerous, ancient plot. Are the Sleeping Sisters awakening—or has someone in Fortuna’s family set a trap?
Thank you Jennifer Givhan and Little, Brown for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 18, 2026
Content warning: body horror, blood, sexual violence, cultural appropriation, trafficking, toxic relationship, death, mental illness, murder, racism
I do have to admit, though, that a big part of why this novel is sure to stick in my brain was due to the mind-bending, “WTF?!” twists. Not only were they deliciously unhinged, but they had me asking myself what the heck was going on for the entire last third of this spiraling, crazy-a** story. Don’t get me wrong, I loved every minute. In addition to the ambiguous feel was a cast of emotionally raw characters that I loved. Layered, flawed, and complex, they felt grounded and real despite the supernatural vibes. One small warning, however. Even though I ate up every word, this hard-hitting tale was a definite slow burn—even for me. Despite that, though, I couldn’t get enough of this haunting one-sitting read—especially the folklore. So if you’re a fan of Stephen Graham Jones, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, or the short story, The Green Ribbon (IYKYK), grab this one now. A dark, atmospheric, unsettling read, it’s a guaranteed win—at least it was for me. Rating of 4.75 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- A haunting atmosphere
- Slow-burn plotting
- Unreliable narrators
- Literary horror
- Genre-bending stories
- Family sagas
- Social commentary
- Magical realism
- Supernatural elements
- Feminine rage
- Thought-provoking themes
- An ambiguous feel
- Mind-bending twists
- Multiple POVs
- Psychological tension
- Indigenous folklore
- Morally gray characters
SYNOPSIS:
Fortuna Miércoles has finally moved her family to a better neighborhood across the Rio Grande, desperate to outrun the curse that’s stalked her bloodline since her greatest grandmother crossed the desert with a cactus thorn splitting her throat. But burying a family’s violent legacy—or her own haunting secret—isn’t so easy. Twenty years ago, girls and women vanished into the Albuquerque night, their bones later unearthed on the mesa. The so-called Reaper was never caught. Now, beneath the dormant volcanoes called the Sleeping Sisters, the killings have begun again, and they’ve called forth something in Fortuna that she has long fought to keep buried...
Detective Jeanette Palacio has spent decades promising justice to the ghosts of her murdered cousins—alongside the memory of the other women she couldn’t avenge. When a new body turns up in Fortuna’s backyard, both women are pulled into a dangerous, ancient plot. Are the Sleeping Sisters awakening—or has someone in Fortuna’s family set a trap?
Thank you Jennifer Givhan and Little, Brown for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 18, 2026
Content warning: body horror, blood, sexual violence, cultural appropriation, trafficking, toxic relationship, death, mental illness, murder, racism
June 21, 2026
When Jennifer first announced her cover reveal for her next novel, I IMMEDIATELY knew I had to read it. And that’s just based on the best cover of 2026 alone, not mention that I loved last year’s Salt Bones.
You will know within the first few pages that Givhan is known for her poetry. Her words are so insanely lyrical that it’s intoxicating. I have never read an Indigenous novelist as powerful as she is with her words. It’s haunting yet beautiful. Everyone and everything has meaning to it.
Fortuna Miércoles moves her family across the Rio Grande after winning the lottery. She’s desperate to give her children a better life in hopes of outrunning her family’s violent curse. Can she keep her family safe?
This is also a part police procedural/ crime story. Detective Jeanette Palacio has spent decades chasing ghosts of murdered women including her two cousins.
Things get dark when a murdered girl is found outside of Fortuna’s property. Detective Palacio is called to the scene and can’t help but see a resemblance to the murders. Did they catch the wrong killer?
I was really nervous writing this review because I don’t think I could do it any justice. Period. I loved Fortuna’s family and they felt real to me. I could relate to the shame Fortuna carried with her.
The Sleeping Sisters is inspired by true events. It’s about motherhood and the bargains we make to protect the ones we love. I’m proud to announce another favorite of 2026 and it’s not to be missed.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Massive thanks to Givhan for the stunning gifted copy.
Pub Date 8/18
You will know within the first few pages that Givhan is known for her poetry. Her words are so insanely lyrical that it’s intoxicating. I have never read an Indigenous novelist as powerful as she is with her words. It’s haunting yet beautiful. Everyone and everything has meaning to it.
Fortuna Miércoles moves her family across the Rio Grande after winning the lottery. She’s desperate to give her children a better life in hopes of outrunning her family’s violent curse. Can she keep her family safe?
This is also a part police procedural/ crime story. Detective Jeanette Palacio has spent decades chasing ghosts of murdered women including her two cousins.
Things get dark when a murdered girl is found outside of Fortuna’s property. Detective Palacio is called to the scene and can’t help but see a resemblance to the murders. Did they catch the wrong killer?
I was really nervous writing this review because I don’t think I could do it any justice. Period. I loved Fortuna’s family and they felt real to me. I could relate to the shame Fortuna carried with her.
The Sleeping Sisters is inspired by true events. It’s about motherhood and the bargains we make to protect the ones we love. I’m proud to announce another favorite of 2026 and it’s not to be missed.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Massive thanks to Givhan for the stunning gifted copy.
Pub Date 8/18
September 2, 2026
• BOOK REVIEW •
Date : 2nd Sept 2026
Book : The Sleeping Sisters
Author : Jennifer Givhan
Genre : Literary Horror / Thriller / Mystery
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Thank you, @littlebrown for reaching out to me and for letting me read and review this book. 🤎🤍 Such a stunning cover! Thank you for the #gifted copy!
This is the kind of book you would love if you get to tag along in the investigation or if you just love a mystery book with twists, folklores and generational trauma. (Which is why I probably loved this book!) It was definitely a unique read which was refreshing.
Now in this book you’ll have dual POVs which are from Fortuna and Detective Palacio. Fortuna here is a mother who won the lottery and moved her family to a new place and away from a generational curse. And then you have the detective, who has spent years investigating and following up on the injustice of the cases on women.
Now these two women have something in common. (No spoilers here ofcourse!) You see, the two of them are linked to a killer from 2 decades ago called The Reaper and they’d do anything to keep the people they care for safe.
#thesleepingsisters #thriller #literaryhorror #bookstagram • generational trauma • generational curse • dark folklore •
Date : 2nd Sept 2026
Book : The Sleeping Sisters
Author : Jennifer Givhan
Genre : Literary Horror / Thriller / Mystery
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Thank you, @littlebrown for reaching out to me and for letting me read and review this book. 🤎🤍 Such a stunning cover! Thank you for the #gifted copy!
This is the kind of book you would love if you get to tag along in the investigation or if you just love a mystery book with twists, folklores and generational trauma. (Which is why I probably loved this book!) It was definitely a unique read which was refreshing.
Now in this book you’ll have dual POVs which are from Fortuna and Detective Palacio. Fortuna here is a mother who won the lottery and moved her family to a new place and away from a generational curse. And then you have the detective, who has spent years investigating and following up on the injustice of the cases on women.
Now these two women have something in common. (No spoilers here ofcourse!) You see, the two of them are linked to a killer from 2 decades ago called The Reaper and they’d do anything to keep the people they care for safe.
#thesleepingsisters #thriller #literaryhorror #bookstagram • generational trauma • generational curse • dark folklore •
June 17, 2026
Oh boy, this was not the book for me.
I was so intrigued by the premise and really love the cover, but I was so bored with this one. I wanted to love it and it had so many great elements, but I felt like the writing, while beautiful and poetic, just dragged this story out. I didn’t care for the perspective changes because they felt all over the place. This could’ve been cut down quite a bit, and we still would’ve had a compelling mystery with fantastic folklore elements. There’s an audience for this, so I would still recommend if the premise sounds good to you. It just didn’t work for me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I was so intrigued by the premise and really love the cover, but I was so bored with this one. I wanted to love it and it had so many great elements, but I felt like the writing, while beautiful and poetic, just dragged this story out. I didn’t care for the perspective changes because they felt all over the place. This could’ve been cut down quite a bit, and we still would’ve had a compelling mystery with fantastic folklore elements. There’s an audience for this, so I would still recommend if the premise sounds good to you. It just didn’t work for me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Read
August 26, 2026🔪 The Sleeping Sisters
This wasn't exactly what I was expecting when I started reading this. But I still enjoyed it overall.
4 Star Read!
📅 Pub Date: August 18, 2026
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
This wasn't exactly what I was expecting when I started reading this. But I still enjoyed it overall.
4 Star Read!
📅 Pub Date: August 18, 2026
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
May 17, 2026
This book was an absolute blast to read! It sucked me in from page one and had me wondering what the hell was going on the whole entire time. Our story gets the POV from a mother who does whatever it takes to protect her family, and a detective investigating 17 year old murder cases that seem to be popping up again. The author does such an amazing job bringing us along for the investigation while tying in indigenous folklore throughout, which was SO intriguing to me! I loved the themes of generational trauma, feminine/motherly rage, and folklore. Jennifer made everything flow so well and I was able to feel like I had a front row seat in the story.
Thank you so much to @littlebrown and @jenngivhan for the arc!
The Sleeping Sisters will be released on August 18th and available for preorder now!
Thank you so much to @littlebrown and @jenngivhan for the arc!
The Sleeping Sisters will be released on August 18th and available for preorder now!
Review of advance copy received from Author
"That's the thing about the justice system. It depends on injustice."
A stunning blend of Southwestern Gothic, literary horror, thriller and police procedural, this fever dream of a story is mesmerizing and my mind was spinning with theories! Fortuna Miércoles worries—especially for her young daughter—about a generational curse that follows the women in her family. Meanwhile, Detective Jeanette Palacio has spent twenty years trying to find the person who killed her two cousins when their bones were found—along with many other females—buried near a volcano.
I was never quite sure what was going on with Fortuna; she's unreliable and unhinged, but fiercely protective of her family. Readers may find her simultaneously annoying and endearing. Jeanette is equally fierce in her dogged determination to find justice for her murdered cousins. They are suddenly thrust together when the body of a young girl is found in Fortuna's backyard. The women are like oil and water, but their interactions change over time as they gain a better understanding of each other. As the ending approaches, hidden truths are revealed with a conclusion that is beautiful in its symmetry.
Inspired by the true-crime West Mesa Murders, THE SLEEPING SISTERSis captivating, crazed, and chilling—with moments of dark humor and heart. Jennifer Givhan seamlessly weaves Chicana and Indigenous mythology and the legend of the headless woman with feminine rage and the depth of a mother's love. Fans of magical realism, folklore, serial killer tales, and investigative aspects will love this unique and fresh take on what may have really happened with an unsolved cold case!
____
Huge thank you Jennifer Givhan for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
A stunning blend of Southwestern Gothic, literary horror, thriller and police procedural, this fever dream of a story is mesmerizing and my mind was spinning with theories! Fortuna Miércoles worries—especially for her young daughter—about a generational curse that follows the women in her family. Meanwhile, Detective Jeanette Palacio has spent twenty years trying to find the person who killed her two cousins when their bones were found—along with many other females—buried near a volcano.
I was never quite sure what was going on with Fortuna; she's unreliable and unhinged, but fiercely protective of her family. Readers may find her simultaneously annoying and endearing. Jeanette is equally fierce in her dogged determination to find justice for her murdered cousins. They are suddenly thrust together when the body of a young girl is found in Fortuna's backyard. The women are like oil and water, but their interactions change over time as they gain a better understanding of each other. As the ending approaches, hidden truths are revealed with a conclusion that is beautiful in its symmetry.
Inspired by the true-crime West Mesa Murders, THE SLEEPING SISTERSis captivating, crazed, and chilling—with moments of dark humor and heart. Jennifer Givhan seamlessly weaves Chicana and Indigenous mythology and the legend of the headless woman with feminine rage and the depth of a mother's love. Fans of magical realism, folklore, serial killer tales, and investigative aspects will love this unique and fresh take on what may have really happened with an unsolved cold case!
____
Huge thank you Jennifer Givhan for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.
August 22, 2026
Publisher's Description: Inspired by true events, The Sleeping Sisters begins as a taut mystery shot through with myth and a Chicana-Indigenous reimagining of the legend of the headless woman—but by its cataclysmic end has spiraled into a fevered, feral hymn to motherhood and a mesmerizing portrait of trauma and the monstrous bargains we make to protect those we love.
"Just one more chapter," a sentence that I continued to utter until I realized I had read the whole book in about three hours. In this story, our protagonists are Fortuna Miércoles, a wife and mother consumed by secrets of her past and anxious about a family curse hurting her beloved daughter. Then we have the fierce Detective Jeanette Palacio, who ends up investigating a murder in Fortuna's backyard. The law enforcement officer is haunted by murdered young women whose cases she was never able to solve.
I enjoyed the mystery and the supernatural elements of this story. It is worthy of the buzz it is creating this summer.
TheSleepingSisters #NetGalley.
Publication Date 18/08/26
Goodreads Review 22/08/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
"Just one more chapter," a sentence that I continued to utter until I realized I had read the whole book in about three hours. In this story, our protagonists are Fortuna Miércoles, a wife and mother consumed by secrets of her past and anxious about a family curse hurting her beloved daughter. Then we have the fierce Detective Jeanette Palacio, who ends up investigating a murder in Fortuna's backyard. The law enforcement officer is haunted by murdered young women whose cases she was never able to solve.
I enjoyed the mystery and the supernatural elements of this story. It is worthy of the buzz it is creating this summer.
TheSleepingSisters #NetGalley.
Publication Date 18/08/26
Goodreads Review 22/08/26
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 10, 2026
Highly recommended for my New Mexico girlies.
I loved this twisty story.
The Sleeping Sisters is marketed primarily as literary horror, but while there certainly are heavy elements of indigenous-inspired folk-like horror, and while it certainly IS literary, I think the strength of this novel lies equally with its thriller/mystery sensibilities. Even 90% of the way through, I had NO idea where everything (or anything) was going to end up. All possibilities felt equally plausible, which made for a highly captivating reading experience.
I think Givhan is really sly and talented when it comes to knowing how to keep a reader's attention. I was engaged the whole time but for the last quarter especially, I could not lap this up quickly enough.
There is a heavy helping of magical realism too, which to be honest is something I usually struggle with (100% a me problem). No exception here as I found these aspects a bit jarring at first, but I warmed to them quickly and had tears in my eyes from the themes and elements that leaned into magical realism by the end. Thank the mother gods that this story was exactly how it was rather than how I thought I would have preferred it.
This was a touching love letter to Albuquerque and to women who have been victims of violence. Givhan will be an autobuy author for me from now on.
I loved this twisty story.
The Sleeping Sisters is marketed primarily as literary horror, but while there certainly are heavy elements of indigenous-inspired folk-like horror, and while it certainly IS literary, I think the strength of this novel lies equally with its thriller/mystery sensibilities. Even 90% of the way through, I had NO idea where everything (or anything) was going to end up. All possibilities felt equally plausible, which made for a highly captivating reading experience.
I think Givhan is really sly and talented when it comes to knowing how to keep a reader's attention. I was engaged the whole time but for the last quarter especially, I could not lap this up quickly enough.
There is a heavy helping of magical realism too, which to be honest is something I usually struggle with (100% a me problem). No exception here as I found these aspects a bit jarring at first, but I warmed to them quickly and had tears in my eyes from the themes and elements that leaned into magical realism by the end. Thank the mother gods that this story was exactly how it was rather than how I thought I would have preferred it.
This was a touching love letter to Albuquerque and to women who have been victims of violence. Givhan will be an autobuy author for me from now on.
September 12, 2026
5/5 vibe read
I LOVED exploring these characters, like real people nothing is ever black or white. People are messy but also justified in their actions. I am personally not a fan of procedural police-like mystery/thrillers, but this book gave it to me in a way I want it served in every book! Blended perfectly with the family/psychological horror of grief and trauma, swirl in some indigenous folklore horror and a couple of sassy ghosts! Holy cow this is a homerun for me. I can't believe that the GORGEOUS cover is just a bonus 😍
I LOVED exploring these characters, like real people nothing is ever black or white. People are messy but also justified in their actions. I am personally not a fan of procedural police-like mystery/thrillers, but this book gave it to me in a way I want it served in every book! Blended perfectly with the family/psychological horror of grief and trauma, swirl in some indigenous folklore horror and a couple of sassy ghosts! Holy cow this is a homerun for me. I can't believe that the GORGEOUS cover is just a bonus 😍
September 30, 2026
The Sleeping Sisters was my first book by Jennifer Givhan, and it certainly won’t be my last. This atmospheric and compelling thriller kept me engaged from beginning to end with its blend of mystery, psychological suspense, and supernatural elements.
Givhan does an excellent job creating an unsettling atmosphere while gradually revealing layers of family secrets, trauma, and buried truths. The twists kept me guessing, and the ending was both surprising and memorable.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be exploring more of Givhan’s work. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric thrillers with a supernatural edge.
Thank you Jennifer Givhan, Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Givhan does an excellent job creating an unsettling atmosphere while gradually revealing layers of family secrets, trauma, and buried truths. The twists kept me guessing, and the ending was both surprising and memorable.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be exploring more of Givhan’s work. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric thrillers with a supernatural edge.
Thank you Jennifer Givhan, Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2026
OMG THIS WAS CRAZY.
June 4, 2026
I was so stoked about the premise of this book, being of the girl with the green ribbon generation, and it did not disappoint. There are three different perspectives going on, so you want to pay attention to that, and it isn't that it starts slow, but for me I had to wrap my head around quite a bit to really get into the book. There is one sort of love triangle dynamic that I was not super into, but it was pretty minimal. This is wild, its very much MMIW, and like the way the last third or maybe quarter of it unravels was just unhinged in the best way. Expect thriller/mystery vibes embedded in unhinged horror and indigenous perspective. Thanks to Little, Brown and Co and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions mine!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to **NetGalley** and **Little, Brown and Company** for providing me with an advanced copy of this incredible ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Fortuna Miércoles believes moving her family to a better neighborhood will finally leave generations of darkness behind. But when a body is discovered in her backyard and old murders begin repeating themselves, she finds herself caught in something much older and far more terrifying. Blending folklore, horror, mystery, and family legacy, this is a haunting story about motherhood, sacrifice, and the monsters we inherit.
The very first thing that caught my attention was that absolutely gorgeous cover. Then I started reading and immediately realized this wasn't going to be your typical horror novel. It felt fresh, unique, dark, and beautifully written all at the same time. Every page pulled me deeper into a story that felt both unsettling and mesmerizing.
One of my favorite things about this book was discovering it was inspired by folklore because those are some of my favorite stories to read. Jennifer Givhan takes something ancient and weaves it into a modern horror story that feels hauntingly real. The atmosphere is rich, eerie, and unforgettable, and I loved how every piece slowly came together.
This isn't a fast paced horror novel, and honestly, that's exactly why it worked so well for me. The story takes its time building the world, the mystery, and the tension, allowing everything to settle under your skin before delivering its emotional and horrifying moments. The writing itself was absolutely beautiful, making even the darkest scenes impossible to look away from.
This is one of those books that reminds me why I love literary horror. It isn't just scary. It's emotional, layered, thought provoking, and completely unforgettable. Jennifer Givhan has officially become an author I'll be watching closely because this book was something truly special.
**Would I recommend it?**
Absolutely! If you love literary horror, folklore, slow burning tension, rich atmosphere, and stories that linger in your mind long after you've finished the last page, this one belongs on your reading list.
Thank you to **NetGalley** and **Little, Brown and Company** for providing me with an advanced copy of this incredible ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Fortuna Miércoles believes moving her family to a better neighborhood will finally leave generations of darkness behind. But when a body is discovered in her backyard and old murders begin repeating themselves, she finds herself caught in something much older and far more terrifying. Blending folklore, horror, mystery, and family legacy, this is a haunting story about motherhood, sacrifice, and the monsters we inherit.
The very first thing that caught my attention was that absolutely gorgeous cover. Then I started reading and immediately realized this wasn't going to be your typical horror novel. It felt fresh, unique, dark, and beautifully written all at the same time. Every page pulled me deeper into a story that felt both unsettling and mesmerizing.
One of my favorite things about this book was discovering it was inspired by folklore because those are some of my favorite stories to read. Jennifer Givhan takes something ancient and weaves it into a modern horror story that feels hauntingly real. The atmosphere is rich, eerie, and unforgettable, and I loved how every piece slowly came together.
This isn't a fast paced horror novel, and honestly, that's exactly why it worked so well for me. The story takes its time building the world, the mystery, and the tension, allowing everything to settle under your skin before delivering its emotional and horrifying moments. The writing itself was absolutely beautiful, making even the darkest scenes impossible to look away from.
This is one of those books that reminds me why I love literary horror. It isn't just scary. It's emotional, layered, thought provoking, and completely unforgettable. Jennifer Givhan has officially become an author I'll be watching closely because this book was something truly special.
**Would I recommend it?**
Absolutely! If you love literary horror, folklore, slow burning tension, rich atmosphere, and stories that linger in your mind long after you've finished the last page, this one belongs on your reading list.
May 16, 2026
The Sleeping Sisters by Jennifer Givhan is a horror/mystery thriller with a hint of the supernatural. It is about a family curse that Fortuna Miércoles is trying to outrun. The story is told from her POV and we learn about her past as well as her present. She has a husband, Mongo and two kids, Hawthorne and Poe, and she tries desperately to ensure that the family curse doesn’t consume them.
Another POV is from Detective Palacios who is obsessed with finding the killer of her two cousins which occurred years before. Soon, there is a death that is very similar to her cousins’ deaths and she is determined to find the killer.
Both Fortuna and Detective Palacios' lives collide when a second death takes place. Detective Palacios suspects that something is off with Fortuna and her family but she can’t put her finger on it.
I absolutely loved this book. It shows the lengths a mother will go through to make sure that her kids are ok and out of harm's way. Being a parent is such a scary thing at times and I can’t help but feel for Fortuna as she desperately tries to keep her family safe.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves horror/thriller books. Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown and Company. All opinions are my own.
Another POV is from Detective Palacios who is obsessed with finding the killer of her two cousins which occurred years before. Soon, there is a death that is very similar to her cousins’ deaths and she is determined to find the killer.
Both Fortuna and Detective Palacios' lives collide when a second death takes place. Detective Palacios suspects that something is off with Fortuna and her family but she can’t put her finger on it.
I absolutely loved this book. It shows the lengths a mother will go through to make sure that her kids are ok and out of harm's way. Being a parent is such a scary thing at times and I can’t help but feel for Fortuna as she desperately tries to keep her family safe.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves horror/thriller books. Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown and Company. All opinions are my own.
September 5, 2026
🎧📚 Tandem Review 🎧📚
Thank you @mulhollandbooks for the gifted physical copy.
Title: The Sleeping Sisters
Author: Jennifer Givhan
Pages:
Narrator: EJ Lavery
Duration: 11 hours 45 minutes
Genre: Thriller/Horror
Pub Date: August 18, 2026
🎧📚 Synopsis 🎧📚
A threatened mother and relentless detective collide in this mesmerizing novel.
🎧📚 My Thoughts 🎧📚
I loved the numerous New Mexico references. From the volcanoes in the distance to the real life cases that took place here. Yes, this is based on true events. (The West Mesa murders) No one can write a trauma mommy like Givhan.
With every new book this author puts out her writing and storytelling gets better and better. I was engrossed in the story and could not put it down. I read 80% of this book in one day. I enjoyed the folklore in mythology so much. If this book doesn't make you want to dive into a research session about Aztec mythology and symbols I don't know what will.
I absolutely had no idea what was going to happen up until the very end. None of my theories were panning out as I was reading along. It's super refreshing to have a book that truly has you stumped. I absolutely loved how this was a thriller with some horror adjacent elements. It really gave a lot of depth to the book. The magical realism was also a lovely touch.
Highly recommend definitely pick it up
🎧📚 Narration 🎧📚
Overall, I enjoyed the narration. It was very clear that the narrator was a native Spanish speaker, but it was also very clear that the narrator was not a native New Mexican. A lot of New Mexican phrases and words were mispronounced, and that did bother me.
~~~~~~~~~
🎧📚 Read if You Like 🎧📚
* Horror adjacent thrillers
* Twist and turn's
* Dysfunctional family dynamics
* Mexican/Indigenous lore
~~~~~~~~~
🏷️
#audiobookreview #audiobookrecommendation #bookstagram #thesleepingsisters #jennifergivhan
August 18, 2026
The Sleeping Sisters by Jennifer Givhan is a tale about motherhood, legend, mystery, and murder set against the Bosque and West Mesa of Albuquerque. The blend of one detective's drive and one mother's determination had me guessing throughout the story and the Chicana-
Indigenous folklore adds such a brilliant twist to the story that will had me wondering until the last page.
I really loved the way the two main characters intersected and how strong willed both were, even when both felt they weren't on solid ground. I thought the imagery and magic wove together with the mystery and detective's plight was done well, and the cast of characters felt real. I loved the setting as a local and it brought Albuquerque to life in such small ways that I adored. An amazing followup to Salt Bones that I'm sure I'll keep thinking of for a long time.
Thank you to Little, Brown & Company for an early copy.
Indigenous folklore adds such a brilliant twist to the story that will had me wondering until the last page.
I really loved the way the two main characters intersected and how strong willed both were, even when both felt they weren't on solid ground. I thought the imagery and magic wove together with the mystery and detective's plight was done well, and the cast of characters felt real. I loved the setting as a local and it brought Albuquerque to life in such small ways that I adored. An amazing followup to Salt Bones that I'm sure I'll keep thinking of for a long time.
Thank you to Little, Brown & Company for an early copy.
October 3, 2026
3.5 stars. I read this book to fulfill the Hispanic Goodreads challenge. I’m glad I did as it brought me to a genre I typically don’t read mythical folklore.
It was an okay read, I found the writing a bit uneven at times.
It was an okay read, I found the writing a bit uneven at times.
April 12, 2026
Thank you net galley and the publisher for this advance copy.
I was all over the place reading this book. I felt all the emotions. I was surprised at several turns. Not your typical thriller/horror novel. I definitely recommend and suggest going into this read knowing nothing about the book. Have fun!
I was all over the place reading this book. I felt all the emotions. I was surprised at several turns. Not your typical thriller/horror novel. I definitely recommend and suggest going into this read knowing nothing about the book. Have fun!
October 30, 2026
🌄🫔💕 Had to read bc it hit the trifecta of local author, a book set in Albuquerque (I knew all the local joints!), and mystery/thriller perfectly timed for fall.
🔪 At first I thought this was going to be a straightforward serial killer plot, with a good dose of neighborhood drama, but it quickly took a turn for the mystical/paranormal when someone literally lost their head and continued on with their day 😵
💃🏻 Which was when I learned about the legend of the headless woman / Coatlicue an Aztec-Earth goddess, and the lines of reality blurred out.
🎢 The pacing is similar to a police procedural. The unreliability of Fortuna Miércoles and misdirections from Detective Palacio (both FMCs) kept me changing my mind about who the killer was, until I suspected everyone.
💀 This was the perfect book to scratch that feminine rage itch and get your spooky fix!
🏜️ Note: this was based on the West Mesa homicide investigation, an active cold case centered around the discovery of skeletal remains of 12 women + girls buried in the desert and made this even more real.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DfADbKIkVPE
🔪 At first I thought this was going to be a straightforward serial killer plot, with a good dose of neighborhood drama, but it quickly took a turn for the mystical/paranormal when someone literally lost their head and continued on with their day 😵
💃🏻 Which was when I learned about the legend of the headless woman / Coatlicue an Aztec-Earth goddess, and the lines of reality blurred out.
🎢 The pacing is similar to a police procedural. The unreliability of Fortuna Miércoles and misdirections from Detective Palacio (both FMCs) kept me changing my mind about who the killer was, until I suspected everyone.
💀 This was the perfect book to scratch that feminine rage itch and get your spooky fix!
🏜️ Note: this was based on the West Mesa homicide investigation, an active cold case centered around the discovery of skeletal remains of 12 women + girls buried in the desert and made this even more real.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DfADbKIkVPE
September 21, 2026
The Sleeping Sisters by Jennifer Givhan is a horror/thriller novel about a woman who believes she is a monster, and a detective trying to find a serial killer.
I’d like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Little Brown and Company (who sent me a widget), and the author (Jennifer Givhan), for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
First, I hated the cover. I felt like I was opening a children's book.
I liked the mixed genres. The author combined myth and mystery, with a touch of horror and even a bit of humour. I really enjoyed the plot. The book looks at how far a mother will go to protect her family. It also looks at mental health, and "losing your head" was quite the theme.
I liked Fortuna, who often didn't know if her own actions were real, or imagined. I loved Jeanette, with the exception of the iffy relationship between her and Fortuna's husband. That was just too much. However, I loved her relationship with her brother, and with her dead cousins.
Overall, this was an entertaining read.
Anyway, until next time ....
For a more thorough review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, its author information and a favorite quotation or two from this book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
October 20, 2026
I loved the dark, eerie vibe of this one! 🖤 The mystery, family secrets, and creepy supernatural elements made it such an intriguing read. I love when a book keeps you guessing while pulling you into its own little world. Haunting, twisty, and full of secrets! Definitely one for readers who love a little darkness mixed with mystery. 📚✨
April 17, 2026
What lengths would you go to protect your children?
My summary:
A detective searching for answers. A mother trying to outrun a curse. A killer reawakened.
(That’s it. I highly suggest going into this mostly blind!)
My overall thoughts:
I really enjoyed this one! I can’t say I’ve ever read anything quite like it and I mean that as a compliment. While some of the individual elements may have been done before, the way the author weaves everything together made this a standout read.
It felt unique and beautiful? Yes, that’s a strange thing to say about a horror novel, but this one truly was. It’s a creative blend of dark, lyrical prose, with an unsettling gothic atmosphere, and a true crime style mystery, all wrapped into one. The author kept me off balance the entire time, almost hesitant to pick it back up again. Yet I always came back for more. I had to know what happened.
If you enjoy horror that keeps you guessing, fiction inspired by true events, or stories layered with folklore, this is a must read!
My rating: 4.5 ⭐️ (rounded up for Goodreads)
Release Date: August 18th
What I loved:
- The folklore! This may have been my favorite part of the book. The slow reveal of the legend, and those casual mentions of when she “came unsown” or her head came off had me hooked. I needed to know was this really happening or was it all in her head?!?
- The prose! This was written in such a a unique way. The main character tells her daughter that our narratives are not straight lines but spirals and that perfectly captures how this story unfolds. It’s layered with purposeful repetition and slow reveals that wind closer and closer to the truth. It was haunting and beautiful and I loved it.
- The literary horror! I’m not usually a big horror reader, but I’ve been easing into the genre. When I saw this described as a literary horror, I was immediately interested and I’m so glad I hit request. This isn’t a traditional slasher, it’s something more subtle and unsettling. It’s a character driven story yet we have that classic sense of creeping dread, the feeling that uncovering the truth will only make things worse. I will happily read more like this!
Thank you to Little Brown Books and the author for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My summary:
A detective searching for answers. A mother trying to outrun a curse. A killer reawakened.
(That’s it. I highly suggest going into this mostly blind!)
My overall thoughts:
I really enjoyed this one! I can’t say I’ve ever read anything quite like it and I mean that as a compliment. While some of the individual elements may have been done before, the way the author weaves everything together made this a standout read.
It felt unique and beautiful? Yes, that’s a strange thing to say about a horror novel, but this one truly was. It’s a creative blend of dark, lyrical prose, with an unsettling gothic atmosphere, and a true crime style mystery, all wrapped into one. The author kept me off balance the entire time, almost hesitant to pick it back up again. Yet I always came back for more. I had to know what happened.
If you enjoy horror that keeps you guessing, fiction inspired by true events, or stories layered with folklore, this is a must read!
My rating: 4.5 ⭐️ (rounded up for Goodreads)
Release Date: August 18th
What I loved:
- The folklore! This may have been my favorite part of the book. The slow reveal of the legend, and those casual mentions of when she “came unsown” or her head came off had me hooked. I needed to know was this really happening or was it all in her head?!?
- The prose! This was written in such a a unique way. The main character tells her daughter that our narratives are not straight lines but spirals and that perfectly captures how this story unfolds. It’s layered with purposeful repetition and slow reveals that wind closer and closer to the truth. It was haunting and beautiful and I loved it.
- The literary horror! I’m not usually a big horror reader, but I’ve been easing into the genre. When I saw this described as a literary horror, I was immediately interested and I’m so glad I hit request. This isn’t a traditional slasher, it’s something more subtle and unsettling. It’s a character driven story yet we have that classic sense of creeping dread, the feeling that uncovering the truth will only make things worse. I will happily read more like this!
Thank you to Little Brown Books and the author for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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