Bruja’s Nest

by Brenda LaTorre

The Love Witch meets Monstrilio in Bruja’s Nest, where a young woman’s abuse history and ambition erupt into body horror, class war, and monstrous motherhood.

Raised amidst poverty, alcoholism, and sexual abuse, Yolanda is determined to seize control of her future. When she starts work as an indentured servant on the Fernández De la Rosa estate, she realizes she can secure a place as the lady of the house: all she has to do is trick their naive son into getting her pregnant.

The local bruja’s fertility ritual horrifies her, and Yolanda delivers a massive egg under the watchful eye of Santa Muerte, the Mexican folk saint of death. But the hacienda where she’s been promised a permanent home is full of blasphemies, secrets, and bodies, and the family she’s tied herself to is loyal only to wealth and power. Worst of all, her beloved son is unacceptable to them—a monstrous reflection of the circumstances that gave him life.

But Yolanda will do anything to protect them both. It's just a matter of earning the place she deserves.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Witches, Fiction

278 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

Brenda LaTorre is a Mexican horror writer based in Mexico City. Her stories have found a home in different places such as Pyre Magazine,  BDA Publishing Anthology, the Collective Visions anthology, and more.

She holds an MFA from the University of Southern Maine and a Creative Writing Certificate from UCSD. And she was the Editor of Popular Fiction in the Stonecoast Review Magazine in 2024.

Currently, she is a writing mentor in the WriteHive Mentorship Program!

Reviews

[BookishKB]

Had to DNF early on, it was too much for me.
I didn't realize there would be incest between siblings.

What to Expect
• Body horror
• Monstrous motherhood
• Class war
• Fertility ritual horror
• Family secrets
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: October 6, 2026
📝 Thank you to Creature Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Becky Spratford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for review in the October issue of Library Journal

Issue also features my interview with the author

Three Words That Describe This Book: Debut, Monsters, Immersive

This is a very confidently written debut. The voice is strong, the rage is clear and fierce. It is feminist horror, motherhood horror, class war horror, all of it told with an originality and confidence rarely seen in debuts. Is it a perfect novel, no; it is entertaining, compelling, and leaves you wanting to see what else she writes, yes!

I also love that Yolanda is a very flawed protagonist. Everything told only through her. She is not a "good girl," We know from the start. Banished from her Mexican home in the city, by her mother, to their ancestral village home of Afontla, to work in Hacienda Cantera as a maid. But Yolanda has tellenovella dreams and has a plan to have the baby of the son so she can become the mistress of the house. She visits the local witch and so begins this weird, brutal, story full of female rage.

It is the female rage that dominates here but not in a

The world building is fantastic. Readers will fall into Yolanda's POV quickly. Again we know from he start she is problematic, and it goes from bad to worse the entire time, but the house, the town, the other workers with her, the family members, the witch....everything is crafted in a way that it all feels like you are watching a horror version of a tellenovella.

I could give you tidbits about each character that show this but it would give away the job of the macabre and weird and sometimes touching details to be revealed.

Yolanda's pregnancy and birth of a monstrous child is both a metaphor for her limited choices as a poor woman who strives to have power and wealth and a literal monster story. But the monsters aren't who you think they are. I liked this about the story. The thought provoking part of it. The forcing the reader to confront all the horrible people and the situation and feel the rage-- all 360 degrees of it. That is hard to do.

So much female rage, and different ways to express it. As many types of rage as there are women in this story.

For fans of Rachel Eve Moulton and Isabel Canas' The Hacienda -- I thought about her novel not just the plot and the setting but when I read this I knew this was an author to watch. I feel the same here.

[She’s Stranger Than Fiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yolanda is a girl with big dreams and pursues them ruthlessly. She is thrown out of her abusive family’s home and sent to work at the Fernandez de la Rosa estate. Yolanda knows what she wants and enlists the help of the local bruja to do it.
This book is very difficult to rate. In the end, the story is well-written and creatively conceived, albeit very, very strange. It is an atmospheric gothic with enough WTF moments to keep everyone entertained. The characters are not likable with Itzco, one of the servants, being the only one with empathy.
If you like weird, creature features with horrifying evil, female agency, and familial dysfunction, this might be for you.

I would like to extend special thanks to Netgalley, Brenda LaTorre, and Creature Publishing for allowing me to review this ARC.

[Erin Dunn]

✨DNF✨

Bruja’s Nest sounded right up my alley, but unfortunately I had to DNF. Not a fan of the incest at the beginning or of how the Spanish is written into the book. I think this one just isn’t for me.

Leaving off a rating because I don’t feel I made it far enough to leave one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released October 6, 2026 .

[Stasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A transgressive piece of Mexican fiction that blends class critiques with body horror and absurdism. Yolanda, a girl with big dreams but a shitty home life, is pushed into indentured servitude by her mother. She hopes to take advantage of the situation by seducing the household’s handsome son to become the next matriarch.

I enjoyed the unlikeable cast of characters and was invested in what horrors Yolanda would bring into the hacienda. Once the brujería began though, my interested waned. The body horror was gross/fun, but the narrative’s turn into absurdism really took me out of the story.

There is an audience that will love this book. Fans of weird girl lit and gore will be gobbling it up like a baby bird. Just not quite for me.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel that you can hear every broken bone and sliced piece of flesh. A riveting narrative that dives into the nature of desire and the consequences of them. Ask yourself what you are willing to commit to earn your deepest desires and how dark of a path would that be? That is the grotesque nature that is beautifully divine and frightful in Bruja’s Nest. This is an excitingly intense narrative that will teach you what you are afraid to admit about your own thoughts.
I will admit that the beginning of the narrative was a bit slow for my personal taste, but it picks up with windy turns. Each twist of the knife really takes you into another aspect of achieving desire and her consequences. Yolanda is looking to pursue her dreams at any cost, and she is willing to devote anything. A tale that blends brujeria and folklore about the Chupacabra. I absolutely adored the way rituals were written with such striking and vivid diction. I took the time to savor this one!
This is a narrative of passion and a feminist narrative that redefines what it means for to have autonomy. Yolanda is going to sacrifice everything she needs for her desires – but she is not going to let that define her trajectory. You had to admire how well-written Yolanda is to make you appreciate the way she is determined despite some questionable choices. A novel of desire and a novel of reclaiming autonomy.
The acknowledgements discuss that this was extended from the author’s MFA project. I appreciate these anecdotes as the weirdo who reads the acknowledgements. As I too am looking to expand my own writing thesis into something real. That is what gives the novel heart – the degree of passion and time spent into creating something creepy and horrifyingly eloquent to read. Thank you Brenda LaTorre, Creature Publishing, and Netgalley for this advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.
For tarot readings, recommendations, and reviews, visit my blog https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/

[ruhee]

Bruja's Nest is not for the fainthearted. I am generally okay with body horror but this book was extreme in a completely different way. This is a nasty, brutal, unflinchingly horrific narrative that confronts ideas of class, abuse, trauma, and motherhood. The main character is deeply unlikeable and very difficult to read about. But, LaTorre consciously shows us how Yolanda's upbringing and the abuse she faces shapes her into this person. Not to say that she isn't ruthless and selfish just for her own gain. But there is nuance to the way she acts and the decisions she makes. The hacienda is a liminal space that is haunting and horrific in its own right. LaTorre undertakes a study of class dynamics and the exploitative nature of the upper class. But what stands out the most to me is the use of the female body as a site of horror. I found myself very uncomfortable with the graphic scenes and descriptions. And this made me realise that my discomfort was because facing horrors to do with the female body, pregnancy and birth are terrifying in a completely different manner. I think LaTorre expresses this horror very well. I also found the nature of Yolanda's motherhood remarkable. In many ways this is the story of unconditional love and at times I felt so deeply for Panchito because I was seeing him through Yolanda's eyes.

I felt the pacing was a bit off. It never really picked up in a satisfying manner - but perhaps that was the point? The writing was very straightforward which might appeal to certain readers, but I like a bit more of a descriptive style. At times Yolanda was very difficult to read but I appreciated how uncomfortable it made me. I also felt that sometimes the passage of time was confusing and the movement of the narrative from point A to B was sudden .
Overall - read this at your own risk with full awareness of the triggers. It is a remarkable attempt at feminist horror with hints of folklore and an overarching social commentary.

[Kerita Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruja’s Nest is the story of a young woman named Yolanda who aspires to be and to have more than the poverty stricken and abusive family into which she was born. There is no line she won’t cross in her pursuit of money and luxury.

Yolanda is, without question, highly unlikeable as a MC. She is conniving, she is a user, she lies to get what she wants, and all without a second thought. When she does experience remorse, the thought is so fleeting that I wondered if the reason was so that she could craft her own memories of the things she does to people! She really is the worst. What’s enjoyable about her story is the author’s ability to make her exploits interesting enough that I HAD to finish to see what fresh mayhem this girl would cook up next. Yolanda did so much dirt she BIRTHED an EGG and, in her delusion, she still saw no fault/wrong/blame in her actions. Though unlikeable, she is a reliable narrator, and the story unfolds as it should. I liked that the rest of the residents and staff at the hacienda were in a way representations of a well rounded family. They are not (all) malicious, but none is a saint. They vary enough that I cared about what happened to them. The ending is exactly what should have happened, and reflecting on the story, the conclusion was happening all along! I did appreciate that!

As far as a horror story, I didn’t experience “fear”, but did cringe and pull a face at the gore! The grossness is frequent and descriptively written. There is an overarching sadness to the story, because of everyone’s desperation for ‘something’, and there is a prevailing theme of desperation with regard to motherhood. I saw it in almost every woman in the story. It’s not a melancholy story though, there’s too much treachery for that (LOL).

Thanks to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for this ARC!

[Krystelle (based on the novel by Stephen King) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This was a fantastic, nasty little horror novel that revels in how disgusting it is. I definitely don’t recommend it as a first horror book, particularly for those that can’t deal with the handling of more taboo topics. For those who are a little more seasoned, however, it’s a banger. It’s also well worth the read for those who are getting deeper into the genre and want to stretch their wings (no pun intended).

We follow a delightfully unpleasant main character, Yolanda, who thinks that her life is a telenovela, and who has her heart set on becoming the mistress of the new household she works in. She has been turfed out of her home and appears to be stuck in a cycle of perpetual victimhood.

She makes her move as best she can, aided by a local bruja who appears as though she can make all of her dreams come true. Of course, this goes about as well as you could expect. The ensuing story, without spoiling much, is a wild ride from start to finish, taking inspiration from a certain subset of 1980s horror dedicated to creepy practical effects and weird relationships.

I loved it. I do think that the ending could have been a little cleaner, and I didn’t love where Yolanda ended up, but boy, was it fun. I do wish too that she was a slightly more likeable character, and perhaps a little more sympathetic, but I did enjoy it.

It was particularly nice to read a no-holds-barred horror with a different type of monster- and one that definitely held its own.

[Maria Bru · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly thanks to Netgalley for this proof 🫶🏼
I thought this was going to be a tense and stressful horror book, but I was wrong. There is a lot of blood and unpleasantness but it was not what I was hoping and it took me longer than it should have to finish it.
Some heavy topics are discussed, but not in that much depth.
As a native spanish speaker I found it easy to follow but didn’t love the way the spanish was dropped throughout the book.
The characters felt slightly flat to me; so I was not affected much when people were killed off or died one way or another
It was not for me, even though the premise had so much potential.
Definitely body horror though

[Beth Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley.
2.5 star for me… 3 star on NetGalley.
I was so confused throughout the whole of this book. The beginning just had my head constantly questioning what was going on and I had to read a few things a couple of times.
The story was gross in parts which I enjoyed but honestly I was just so confused throughout pretty much the whole book.

I couldn’t even tell you now what happened because I have no idea.

And the animals..

It just didn’t fit with me and my brain i’m afraid.

Although I do think a lot of people would love this

[Aaqilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you haven’t read enough Latin American fiction, before you go into this, you must expect and be prepared for magical realism in it. As long as you are ready for that, the book is very enjoyable.

Initially this was too much, the first couple chapters. As someone who regretfully has not read enough diversified fiction, and that doesn’t know Spanish, it was like an overload of information because many sentences and words were in Spanish, but very soon the book picked up the pace and you get used to it, so much that you finish it in one sitting.

It’s obviously horror, so expect some gory details like eye pecking, intestine munching or a human/rooster baby chick thing biting off the nipple of its human mother while feeding.

The most gag inducing part for me had to do with disintegrated parts of a rooster heart shoved deep inside the uterus 👀, I mean, you’d instantly close your legs.

But the book is also very thought provoking in many ways. What the Women go through in the hands of men around them and what they have to do just to have a safe and stable future. All that pain, physical and mental, humiliation, only because they want to live the life they wanted. And more often than not, a child is what secures it.

A bruja is Spanish for "witch," a female practitioner of brujería (witchcraft), often associated with Latin American and Caribbean folk magic, and it's colloquially used to describe a woman who uses dirty tricks to achieve her goals or to incite evil against someone.

Bruja’s nest follows Yolanda, who is dropped off at the Fernández De la Rosa estate as a servant. Determined to seize control of her future, she realizes she can secure a place as the lady of the house if she tricks their naive son into getting her pregnant.

I won’t go into details because I’d be spoiling the plot, but it’s very twisty and interesting.

Also, something about the Latin American fictions I’ve read is how similar they are to Sri Lankan fiction, where food plays a very important part as much as everything else, you are bound to crave all the dishes mentioned in the book.

But at the end of the day, what I keep thinking about is Panchito, the human/rooster baby that leaves a carnage everywhere, and motherhood. It’s such a hard topic to even think of, you know your kid is not normal and not like the others, and that your kid has very weird eating habits, he hurts people and animals around, dead and alive, but you don’t want him hurt and want to protect him because he your child.

You take the magical realism aspect away, and you think of how Panchito is no different to children who are still considered “monsters”, “evil” and “born of sin” in rural areas.

But also about animals, it’s like if you try to domesticate a tiger and it turns out to do what tigers do, you can’t hurt it because it doesn’t do what humans do, you have to let it go to where it belongs.

OVERALL RATING: 3.8/5

P.S Don’t go into this if you are pregnant or freshly postpartum.

There’s also animal death, less than a couple sentences long for a cat and a bit long for a dog, but you will forget it and it won’t stay on your mind for too long, I usually avoid books if they have cat deaths but this was okay for me to handle. Dog owners beware though.

Here are the lines:
“At my feet is the carcass of a dead cat. Its innards have been emptied.“

“He is holding the corpse of his dalmatian by both back legs. It swings back and forth under his grasp. I stare at the dog’s empty red sockets; he’s been gutted.“

As for the rooster, can’t say the same, poor guy was massacred slowly.

[Alex Catuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Brenda LaTorre for allowing me to read this eARC!

In Bruja's Nest we follow Yolanda, a woman determined to escape her brutal past and secure a better future for herself. She finds an opportunity within the powerful Fernández De la Rosa family, but her plans lead to unexpected and disturbing consequences. As everything begins to unravel, she must fight to protect her child and claim the life she believes she deserves.

Where do I even start... this was a wild book. I don't want to mention much of the actual story and plot. Usually, I tend to talk about the main storyline as a way of analyzing the book without giving everything away, but in this case I believe I should leave out as much as I can and be vague. I only had the blurb to prepare me for what turned out to be a disgusting book (in a good way), and I am convinced everyone should go in blind or with as little knowledge as possible (check out TWs though if you are sensitive to some topics!!)

Yolanda is obsessed with telenovelas, especially with the series "Rubí" following the titular main character. She's described by Yolanda as a woman who does what it takes to get to the top, doesn't matter if she backstabs her closest girlfriends or sleeps with men as a means to an end. Throughout the novel, our main character commits great acts of deception, she lies, schemes and kills, justifying these actions by thinking about what women have to go through in order to achieve success. Whatever it takes. Just like Rubí. And even though I agree that us women have had to, and still must, fight and claw for our rights in this patriarchal world, I couldn't really get behind Yolanda's actions. She's supposed to be unlikable, and we're supposed to be appalled by her actions, and even though I am contrary towards her, I have to admit that a part of me rooted for her. Very conflicting feelings, but overall: I didn't like Yolanda, yet I don't need to because her story is incredibly engaging and I appreciate the feminist message.

The writing was alright, nothing that blew my mind. I have to admit, I didn't particularly enjoy LaTorre's writing style, but the way she created tension and atmosphere was great. She described some very gruesome scenes with excruciating detail. I'm not squeamish and don't get triggered easily, but this novel's horror aspects are revolting! Had to stop eating while reading the ritual scene. That was SO disgusting, goodness gracious. Body horror never repulses me (at least it never did until I read Bruja's Nest), so this was absolutely fantastic! As a woman who doesn't want biological children, the fertility ritual, her pregnancy and the birth made me feel extremely nauseous. LaTorre achieved something great considering the length of Bruja's Nest. A myriad of events take place in just above 200 pages, and even though the pace felt off at times, I was continuously engaged in the story.


I'm giving Bruja's Nest 3.5⭐︎, so not a perfect book or a new favourite of mine, but one that disturbs and stays with you long after finishing it. Again, check out the TWs if you have to, but I recommend going in blind if you, like me, don't get triggered easily.

[ishi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruja’s Nest is a book that readers are going to either love or completely hate - i mean that in a good way. I can respect a massive swing and a miss far more than I can respect something that didn't try at all.

The plot centers on Yolanda, who's trying to escape a history of poverty and abuse. She takes a job as an indentured servant at the Fernández De la Rosa estate with a single goal: trick the son into getting her pregnant so she can secure her status as the lady of the house.

​The strongest aspect of the book is Yolanda's perspective. She is a highly delusional protagonist who treats her life as if she is starring in a telenovela. Her delusion collides with actual body horror when she witnesses and is horrified by a local Bruja's fertility ritual, resulting in Yolanda delivering a massive egg. The creature that hatches is a completely unique monster that I haven't really seen before in the genre it operates as a monstrous reflection of the terrible circumstances that gave him life.

​The hacienda where Yolanda was promised a permanent home turns out to be full of blasphemies, secrets, family trauma, and literal bodies. The family she tied herself to is loyal only to wealth and power, and they find her beloved son completely unacceptable. The narrative tackles class war and monstrous motherhood head-on as Yolanda decides she will do anything to protect them both, believing it's just a matter of earning her place.

​The only real downside is the final act. After such a strong, unapologetic buildup of body horror and family secrets, the ending was rushed and needed a bit of refinement to fully stick the landing. But if you want a brutal story about a delusional protagonist clawing her way up in a hostile, wealthy household, this delivers exactly what it promises.

It's a nasty, disgusting horror book that leans heavily into body horror. Absolutely delivers what it promised.

[nessou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a body horror novel and, from my understanding, a Hispanic retelling of Rosemary’s Baby. The main character, Yolanda, is a young woman forced to work in a wealthy household by her own mother following a traumatic experience with her brother, where she makes a desperate bargain with a bruja to secure her place there through a fertility spell. It’s a dark premise that the story fully commits to.

The story takes a little while to get started, but once it does, the plot builds quickly and pulls you in, I couldn’t put it down at that point. The folklore elements (such as the witchcraft and everything around the Chupacabra) are some of the most compelling parts of the book, and the ritual scenes are written with a vividness that makes them genuinely unsettling.

I’ll admit that Yolanda is not an easy character to root for, but she is a fascinating one nonetheless. She’s a woman navigating an impossible situation on her own terms, refusing to let her circumstances define her entirely. As I previously said in other reviews, I support women’s rights but most importantly women’s wrongs!!!

The writing style has some room to develop, but the story itself is gripping enough to carry it. I initially gave it 3.5/5 stars because I thought it was a slow beginning and sometimes the writing lost me but rounded it up to 4 because I really liked the concept, the overall plot and how insanely delusional Yolanda is. She might be irritating at times because of her poor decision-making skills and selfishness but it was still super funny to read her twisted inner monologue.

[Annelise · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being caught in a sexual situation with her brother, Yolanda's mother sends her away to a hacienda in the country to work as a domestic servant. Fueled by her love of telenovas, Yolanda's plan is simple--fall pregnant with the master's son's child and become the hacienda's Senora. Unfortunately, Valentin is gay and interested in another servant, so she contacts the town's bruja for help. The spell that the bruja casts results in her laying an egg, which hatches into a beaked infant that craves blood.

'Bruja's Nest' is gruesome, ruthless and as filled with juicy drama as the telenovas that inspire its protagonist. While Yolanda's abusive background is tragic, her social climbing and willingness to throw anyone else under the bus to get what she wants make her less sympathetic. She's terrible, but she's a fully realized character who is undeniably fun to follow around in this gross tale.

And goodness, how gross it is! Between rooster hearts being shoved into orifices and descriptions of rotting limbs, this book isn't for the faint of heart. Yolanda's baby, Panchito, is truly disturbing, but is also a strangely endearing character. The way he's described is horrific (especially since he still has human flesh covering his beak and legs!), but his actions show that there is more to him than being a bloodthirsty monster. Yolanda might be.a difficult to love character, but Panchito's love is unconditional.

'Bruja's Nest' is an incredibly enjoyable debut, with enough strangeness and fun plot beats that it's hard to put down. I'm excited for what Brenda LaTorre writes next!

[Dayana Qistina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Creature Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Feminist horror stories are undeniably for the monstrous empaths, and Bruja’s Nest by Brenda LaTorre was likely to leave a dark impression for its bold approach to womanhood, maternal horror, and class mobility. I found the premise to be very appealing and on trend with how horror is being dominated by women. Yolanda, the main character, had every bit of a scream queen in her who refused to just be pretty and cry. If she was getting outsmarted from achieving her dreams, she would do it ugly, and Yolanda did just that, but there are a few parts that I wish she did more, or the buildup of her character would be just hit or miss for the rest of the story. Honestly, her unhinged self was what carried me through, and it was fun being in her brain. However, the premise just fell off in the second half. I found the character dynamics between Yolanda and Panchito were confusing. I couldn’t really grasp what she felt towards Panchito, and it affected the entire reading experience because it’s difficult for me to morally understand her. It reduced Yolanda to nothing but her own self when all I wanted was to feel her. Overall, this book has a lot of potential, more of the positive aspects than negative ones. It was not bad; it was not great either. I do wish that this book were marketed differently, perhaps in its own voice and language, so there’s more room for readers to meet Yolanda.

Actual rating: 3.25

[Caitlin Theroux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

What happens when a young woman is mistreated by everyone in her life, blamed for the mistreatment, and then sent away to work her ass off as a servant rather than someone helping her survive and heal? You get a book like Bruja's Nest.

Yolanda idolizes a character in the telenovela she loves, and when she's sent to work for an inarguably crappy family, she decides that she is going to become the next matriarch of this house by marrying the son set to inherit, Valentin. One way or another, she'll do it.

How does she go about securing her place as Señora? Well, with the help of the local bruja, of course! So in this teensy little town, Yolanda decides, "Screw it. I'mma get my share." She doesn't leave Cesarea alone until the bruja decides that fine, she'll help the young'un get what she wants.

And boy, does it go poorly.

I want to say more, but at the same time, you really should go into this one without knowing too much beforehand. One of the strengths in this horror novel is the WTF moments. It's hard to catch me off guard, but Brenda LaTorre does a pretty dang good job of throwing in a few haymakers. This is female-driven horror sharpened to a fine point. (Especially in how women's bodies are dismissed, abused, and taken for granted at a WILD rate.)

Pick it up. Read it before bed. I promise you'll get the shivers.

[Fatima · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phew!! I cannot beging to express the rollercoaster of feelings this book made me go through. 3.5 stars for me.

Let me say thank you to NetGalley and Creature Publishers for the chance to arc. These are my thoughts and honest review.

Listen, I'll be honest you'll dislike the main character. Yolanda is a nineteen year old who has gone through abuse from her family, unwanted by her mother, shaped by her environment, wanting a better life for herself, and thinking that her life would be like a telenovela (soap opera) Her goal is to be the señora of the house and to have the riches she deserves. Unfortunately things aren't always what they seem and they don't always go according to plan.

The story is a slow build up and possibly hard to get through as the story picks up towards the middle/end. There's magic realism, body horror, Santa muerte devotion, and a naive outlook from Yolanda who seeks a better life. Not to mention the gasp, and cringe moments Yolanda goes through as she experiences the birth of her son, her feeding him, and the lengths of accepting what he is and the reality that he will never be normal. I enjoyed the horror elements (even if I gasped and cringed) enjoyed the motherhood element and the lengths Yolanda went to protect her child. Even if it wasn't what she should of done.

Check your trigger warnings with this one.. As there topics that one might not like.

[Megan Magee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yolanda is involved in poverty, alcoholism, and sexual abuse- although life is not easy for her, she doesn't have much to compare it to, other than an empty spot that MORE should exist, just like in her telenovelas she escapes to. She is dropped off as a servant to the Fernández De la Rosa estate after a particularly gruesome life event, one that is treated as lackluster by her scummy parents. When her top dream, becoming Senora of the house, presents itself as a possibility, Yolli plans to conceive upon her arrival into the family. When the visit to a Bruja's shop becomes entwined in this process, things go left, and it gets WILD.
Yolanda becoming willing to trade anything she has or embodies to succeed in this one dream becomes genuinely terrifying- Bruja's Nest depicts truly vile body horror in the most positive way. Several moments made me scoff, cough, wretch- truly grotesque descriptions are at play inside of this novel, akin to the train wreck you can't look away from. There is so much that is grim and bleak and yet so human in this monstrous little book. If you're into that one Criminal Minds episode that goes real hard on the Dia De Los Muertos imagery, getting voodoo revenge on your enemies, and no holds barred body trauma descriptions, this is for you. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for the eARC! All opinions are entirely my own.

[Charlie Tombini · Rating 2 out of 5]

I truly disliked this. I don't think it's an objectively bad book, or a poorly written book, I just don't think it was my thing. Like, at all.
To begin with, the book opens with incest, which immediately upset me and made it difficult to engage with the story. I know that disturbing subjects aren't inherently bad, and I don't mind books exploring uncomfortable topics, but this particular opening really put me off from the start.
The plot then follows the main character as she meets a boy she works for, discovers that he prefers men, and decides she's going to be the one to "turn him straight." She actively pursues him despite knowing this, and I genuinely couldn't stand her. I found her frustrating to read, and because I disliked her so intensely, I struggled to stay invested in the story.
There were a couple of things I appreciated. The gore was well done, and I absolutely love the cover, it was one of the reasons I was excited to pick this ARC up in the first place.
Overall this book just wasn't for me. It left me feeling more frustrated than intrigued. I'm sure there will be readers who connect with it far more than I did, but unfortunately it really upset me and wasn't an enjoyable reading experience.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this eARC! This was my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Kayla Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! I am a huge fan of magical realism, and this book was rich with symbolism and literary depth that I find missing in a lot of the more popular books that have very little to analyze, think about, or interpret. That is not the case here—this book actually has depth, particularly through its main character, who has had a very hard upbringing, is a very determined character, albeit she's a risk taker who's very 'go big or go home.'

While I do like horror, I knew what I was getting into. But I have to say that some of the macabre elements in this book were truly next level, and I'm still wincing thinking about them. They outdid themselves, even as a seasoned horror fan. So just be prepared going into it that LaTorre is almost TOO good at describing some horrifying things. That being said, personally, while SA was a big theme in this, it was not one of the parts that was detailed visually and graphically, which I appreciated.

But the ending was refreshing and thought-provoking, which is always a big win. This was a strong foray into LaTorre's work, and I look forward to seeing what else she comes up with in the future.

There's been a very interesting Renaissance with feminist horror lately, and Bruja's Nest is a shining example of that. As a long-time horror lover, I can say in earnest that I am here for it. This book actually reminded me thematically of The Substance, the movie with Demi Moore, but in a different way. But big themes of grotesque, womanly bodily horror.

I also love the cover!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introduction: Brenda LaTorre immediately throws you into Yolanda’s life – characterized by neglect, abuse, a horrible mother and brother, and simple desperation. You feel for Yolanda, though as the story progresses, that may change.

Vibes/Impressions/Themes: Desperation, neglect, abuse, disgust, poor circumstances, corrupt family dynamics, gross, visceral, selfishness, horror, grisly, horrible characters, dark

What didn’t work for me: While the build-up of tension and dread was fantastic, the ending did feel a bit convoluted and rushed. However, this really didn’t take away from the story.

Overall: Horrifying and grisly, Yolanda’s life is something you wouldn’t want to wish on your worst enemy. The circumstances in how Yolanda was raised has made her desperate to do anything to succeed, no matter the cost to herself and those around her. Simple put, Yolanda, and the majority the cast of characters, are ghoulish and selfish. You are torn between pity, delight at comeuppance of certain characters, and aghast at what actually works. Blood-drench and tense, this is not a book to sleep on.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[asia - books district · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own. <3

I’m not really sure what to think of this book. I liked the premise about a feminist horror mixed with hispanic folklore, which I’m always up for, but the characters and the pacing were not something I enjoyed.
It definitely does its job by making the reader uncomfortable in many ways, the body horror got me closing the book to shake the feeling off way more times than I’d like to admit -but that’s on me and exactly what I think such a book wants to evoke.
My main problems with this book, as written at the beginning, are the main character and the way time passed. The protagonist isn’t easy to connect with -luckily, I’d say!- or to feel empathy towards; I didn’t love nor hate her, I felt indifferent towards her, which is never something I like with a main character. The other characters too were flat and all the same.
The pacing of the story and the timeline were a bit difficult to grasp, months and years went by and everything was exactly as it was previously, and it needed to be explicitly said that some time had gone by. There was always something happening but it never was as exciting as I hoped, and I felt bored especially after the first half of the book.

[Rat Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for this arc!

Brutal, dark and totally wild - Bruja’s Nest will have you reading through your fingers from page one.
Yolanda is struggling with a home life filled with abuse and is shipped away to work for an unpleasant wealthy family after a horrible secret is unveiled. Madness quickly ensues.
Obsessions with telenovelas and a desire for her own happy ending, Yolanda strives to become Señora of the Hacienda Cantera no matter what it might take and with the help of the local bruja, she springs into action hatching a disturbing plan.

With body horror that will make you queasy and a cast of complex characters, Bruja’s Nest is a twisted horror debut not to be missed for those who like the bizarre and horrific.

3.75 Stars, rounded to 4 for NetGalley/Goodreads. Bruja's Nest is like an oncoming car crash you can't look away from even if at times it made me squirm. LaTorre definitely knows how to get under your skin, or at the very least under my skin!

I feel I have a duty of care to always mention to check content warnings before reading!

[Gustavo Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐

A woman named Yolanda goes through the extremes to escape the life she is currently living by asking for help from the town's bruja. She quickly realizes it may just be more difficult than it first seemed.

Brenda LaTorre's Bruja's Nest is easily one of my favorite reads of all time. I, honestly, could not put it down the moment I picked it up. Brenda LaTorre is an amazing writer in the way she ties up every single thread together. Her words read like poetry but she can also write some of the most shocking and nauseating scenes. And, what's funny about LaTorre is that she'll have you gagging at one point, but then you'll get hungry the next because of the amount of food she describes (food that I've eaten from childhood to adulthood).

Bruja's Nest had me stressed out the entire time. The reader can't help but feel sympathy and root for Yolanda the entire way. She isn't perfect, but who is? And why should you be? Reading Bruja's Nest felt like I was witnessing the start of a new folk tale that people will share around the neighborhood.

Thank you to Creature Publishing for the ARC. I truly enjoyed this one

[Just Another Final Girl Review (Brittany) Levely-Connolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honesty Disclaimer: I received an advanced epub arc copy of this novel from Edelweiss Plus from the publisher with the intended purpose of reading with then intention of reviewing. But let me also be brutally honest when I say that I actually feel like they did me a favour by sending me a copy rather than vice versa. I didn’t just read this novel, I devoured its delicious pages, as if it was my favourite meal. I found myself being drawn back to its pages every chance I got, devoting myself to the narrative and even mourning the conclusion of the novel. To clarify, I was not upset with the ending of the story, but rather saddened by the fact that I had come to the end of the book but was not ready to leave it pages. It was the kind of novel that is so good you have a hard time choosing what next to read.

“It’s common knowledge bruja’s don’t want that name attached to them. The word bruja is weighted with prejudice and bad praxis. Bruja is what others call you, while you think of yourself as a curandero, or something equally noble.But a bruja is a bruja, regardless of what they tell themselves.”

[Fauwxx]

I'm DNFing this at 33% due to my absolute dislike for the MC. I know she's nineteen, and supposed to be naive- but she's just coming off as ignorant and dumb.

I really loved the evocative imagery the author created during the first spell the Bruja cast on the MC- and I keep seeing reviews talking about the nasty body horror scenes in the story- but it's just not enough to keep me reading. I appreciate the authenticity the author has tried to insert into the story by using Spanish/English intermixed- but even being partially fluent in Spanish- it's just challenging to read because I don't feel like the insinuation of the Spanish terms is explained enough for readers that don't speak Spanish or know nothing about brujeria. It just feels lost in translation to me- and maybe that's what the author was going for? The writing style is a bit more on the campy side, which I'm not a fan of either- but I'm sure there are plenty of readers out there that will love this dark fantasy/horror novel.

**Thank you so much to Creature Publishing, Netgalley and Brenda LaTorre for an eArc of Bruja's Nest in exchange for my honest review. Expected Pub Date: October 6, 2026.**

[Karla Vega · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tener la oportunidad de leer a escritoras mexicanas, siempre es una oportunidad única, independiente a la época o momento en que se publique su obra. Tenía expectativa si trataría de alguna historia con secretos, rituales y prácticas, si estaría en suspenso e intriga durante la lectura y completamente que lo fue.
Todo el tiempo la lectura me mantuvo atrapada, observando cómo actuaba Yolanda para conseguir lo que quería y saber que más buscaba sacrificar o hacer para cumplir sus metas. Es un personaje complicado, tan bien construido, no se queda en el blanco o negro, además de que la forma en que aborda ciertos temas que aún se tocan con pinzas, hace que sea incómodo, que cuestiones las acciones y el porqué de lo que ocurre.
Creo que lo que hace más memorable y buena esta novela es que el terror y el miedo, no proviene de un ente, no es una criatura tenebrosa como las que el imaginario colectivo nos da... Pero es increible como surge con temas como la maternidad, los rituales y el horror corporal

[Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Creature Publishing for the ARC.


Quite a few contrasting thoughts on this one for me. As far as content goes, there were many times it went further into body horror and abuse than I am usually comfortable with. Definitely some brutality in the story. I did not love the main character, however, every character in the story was written brilliantly. They all meshed together excellently. As always, I appreciated the culture and mythology that was woven into the story. I can’t say specifically that one concept or plot point was overly powerful, however, the story as a whole is masterfully done. I had to read this through to completion in a very short time and I had to know what was going to happen next. Adding to this is the fact that Creature Publishing is one of my favorites, and so many of the people they work with are amazing, including this author. If you can handle the brutality, this is a great read. 3.5 for me.