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Bruja’s Nest
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26The 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 with a spell from the local bruja, she can trick their naive son into getting her pregnant.
But the fertility ritual—piercing her flesh, tucking a rooster’s heart inside herself—begets more than she expected. Yolanda’s body swells and seethes with infection, her few allies dwindle, and she delivers a massive egg under the watchful eye of Santa Muerte, the Mexican folk saint of death. 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.
But Yolanda will do anything to protect her child, who deserves the love and safety she never had. Even if everyone insists he’s a monster.
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 with a spell from the local bruja, she can trick their naive son into getting her pregnant.
But the fertility ritual—piercing her flesh, tucking a rooster’s heart inside herself—begets more than she expected. Yolanda’s body swells and seethes with infection, her few allies dwindle, and she delivers a massive egg under the watchful eye of Santa Muerte, the Mexican folk saint of death. 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.
But Yolanda will do anything to protect her child, who deserves the love and safety she never had. Even if everyone insists he’s a monster.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Brenda LaTorre
7 books39 followersBrenda 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!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Did Not Finish
May 9, 2026Had 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.
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.
March 27, 2026
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.
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.
March 26, 2026
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/
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/
Read
May 3, 2026Bruja'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.
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.
April 13, 2026
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.
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.
April 28, 2026
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
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
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Stars | Horror (Body Horror) | TW: Sexual abuse (not graphic)
Bruja's Nest is a grotesquely visceral sensory horror story, and I loved every gory detail. Felicidades to LaTorre for writing an outstanding debut novel. Bruja's Nest is like a combination of multiple paranormal and cautionary tales I grew up hearing in the 90's while being raised on the US-Mexico border. I loved reading a novel where the darker elements of my cultural heritage is on full display, and I hope more novels like this one are published in the future!
Yolanda is a gorgeous young Mexican woman who dreams of becoming wealthy by any means necessary. Her impoverished surroundings and her love for telenovelas influence her belief that women can only succeed and become wealthy by taking advantage of the people around them with their beauty and cunning. Yolanda is sexually abused and sent away by her mother to be an servant to an affluent family who live in a hacienda within a small town. She feels this is the perfect opportunity to manipulate the rich family she serves to become the señora of the hacienda. She elicits the help of the town bruja in her rags to riches scheme, but it goes HORRIBLY wrong. Nightmarishly wrong.
Bruja's Nest lays bare MANY layers of well-executed social commentary but the one I feel was developed the best was fears and expectations surrounding pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. I applaud LaTorre for going there. We need more bold authors like her that are unafraid to uncover uncomfortable truths!
As for the writing, there were moments when the pacing lulled too much for my liking at the midpoint. Additionally, I felt that it was a bit clunky and simplistic towards the end. The plot is strong and well structured, I personally love that it read like a telenovela. It is one of the most creative horror novels I've ever read. Lastly, the graphic and brutal detail of the body horror was superb; I really felt like I could see, hear, and smell the squelching, rupturing, and rottenness of it all!
4.5 Stars | Horror (Body Horror) | TW: Sexual abuse (not graphic)
Bruja's Nest is a grotesquely visceral sensory horror story, and I loved every gory detail. Felicidades to LaTorre for writing an outstanding debut novel. Bruja's Nest is like a combination of multiple paranormal and cautionary tales I grew up hearing in the 90's while being raised on the US-Mexico border. I loved reading a novel where the darker elements of my cultural heritage is on full display, and I hope more novels like this one are published in the future!
Yolanda is a gorgeous young Mexican woman who dreams of becoming wealthy by any means necessary. Her impoverished surroundings and her love for telenovelas influence her belief that women can only succeed and become wealthy by taking advantage of the people around them with their beauty and cunning. Yolanda is sexually abused and sent away by her mother to be an servant to an affluent family who live in a hacienda within a small town. She feels this is the perfect opportunity to manipulate the rich family she serves to become the señora of the hacienda. She elicits the help of the town bruja in her rags to riches scheme, but it goes HORRIBLY wrong. Nightmarishly wrong.
Bruja's Nest lays bare MANY layers of well-executed social commentary but the one I feel was developed the best was fears and expectations surrounding pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. I applaud LaTorre for going there. We need more bold authors like her that are unafraid to uncover uncomfortable truths!
As for the writing, there were moments when the pacing lulled too much for my liking at the midpoint. Additionally, I felt that it was a bit clunky and simplistic towards the end. The plot is strong and well structured, I personally love that it read like a telenovela. It is one of the most creative horror novels I've ever read. Lastly, the graphic and brutal detail of the body horror was superb; I really felt like I could see, hear, and smell the squelching, rupturing, and rottenness of it all!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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
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
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Creature Publishing for the ARC.
This is such a refreshing story. I love when a writer is not afraid to be at least a little gross with the details of women's bodily functions, and that's all I will say about the writing style. 10/10 there.
The initial reveal of Yolanda's traumatic past is upsetting, and equally so are the attempts of most of the male characters to control her. But Yolanda's desires are much stronger than any patriarchy can handle. I sometimes struggle with stories like this because they tend to become shock value/torture porn for the woman's character arc with nothing substantive to say to make up for it, and that's what I went in expecting. Color me surprised! What a satisfying sequence of events! Everyone's at least a bit unlikeable, Yolanda included, but it just works. I think the ending could've been a little more concise, but I was overall very entertained. Yolanda's imagined telenovela if telenovelas were also graphic, disgusting, and horrific.
This is such a refreshing story. I love when a writer is not afraid to be at least a little gross with the details of women's bodily functions, and that's all I will say about the writing style. 10/10 there.
The initial reveal of Yolanda's traumatic past is upsetting, and equally so are the attempts of most of the male characters to control her. But Yolanda's desires are much stronger than any patriarchy can handle. I sometimes struggle with stories like this because they tend to become shock value/torture porn for the woman's character arc with nothing substantive to say to make up for it, and that's what I went in expecting. Color me surprised! What a satisfying sequence of events! Everyone's at least a bit unlikeable, Yolanda included, but it just works. I think the ending could've been a little more concise, but I was overall very entertained. Yolanda's imagined telenovela if telenovelas were also graphic, disgusting, and horrific.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A dark, twisted, bloody tale of classism, greed, desperation and monstrous motherhood about a woman who will do anything to find safety and security in a world that does not want her to succeed.
The book opens in a situation of breathtaking darkness for Yolanda, a beautiful young woman trapped in a home of incest and addiction. Her mother delivers her to a crumbling hacienda, to a life of indentured servitude.
Comparable to Monstrillio but darker and more violent, LaTorre tears open a fading Mexican hierarchy of misogyny, corruption and entitlement, with an FMC who will do anything to rise above her powerless place in the world. Even giving birth to a monster. Body horror, eldritch horror, grief horror and Mexican mythology combine to make the reader uncomfortably mesmerized.
I could not look away from this book.
Thank you to the author and Creature Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The book opens in a situation of breathtaking darkness for Yolanda, a beautiful young woman trapped in a home of incest and addiction. Her mother delivers her to a crumbling hacienda, to a life of indentured servitude.
Comparable to Monstrillio but darker and more violent, LaTorre tears open a fading Mexican hierarchy of misogyny, corruption and entitlement, with an FMC who will do anything to rise above her powerless place in the world. Even giving birth to a monster. Body horror, eldritch horror, grief horror and Mexican mythology combine to make the reader uncomfortably mesmerized.
I could not look away from this book.
Thank you to the author and Creature Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Bruja’s Nest is the story of a girl who is willing to do anything to control her own destiny. She is a character who refuses to face reality and is deeply delusional.
The protagonist, Yolanda, grew up around poverty, alcoholism, and abuse. One day, she is kicked out of her home and sent to work as a cleaner at a wealthy family's estate. This is where her climb to the top begins. Her struggle for power and status leads to a very... interesting ending.
I really liked this story. The main character is completely blinded by power; she won't admit things are falling apart, even when it’s obvious. I don’t think she was written to be "likable," and that’s why I liked her even more. Some scenes were truly disgusting and upsetting, so I’m giving this book a very positive review (the body horror and descriptions are great). The writing is smooth and kept me glued to the pages. It’s a great book. Thanks, NetGalley, for this ARC!
The protagonist, Yolanda, grew up around poverty, alcoholism, and abuse. One day, she is kicked out of her home and sent to work as a cleaner at a wealthy family's estate. This is where her climb to the top begins. Her struggle for power and status leads to a very... interesting ending.
I really liked this story. The main character is completely blinded by power; she won't admit things are falling apart, even when it’s obvious. I don’t think she was written to be "likable," and that’s why I liked her even more. Some scenes were truly disgusting and upsetting, so I’m giving this book a very positive review (the body horror and descriptions are great). The writing is smooth and kept me glued to the pages. It’s a great book. Thanks, NetGalley, for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A story of a young woman from a difficult background of poverty, alcoholism, abuse, and limited opportunities. When her mother sells her into indentured servitude, in her desperation, she goes to the bruja to aid her in her bid to become the Senora of the family she works for. From that point on her story gets weird and monstrous.
Bruja’s nest created an atmosphere of fear and horror that doesn’t let up once it gets rolling. Horrified at what happens to this young woman and horrified at what she does to secure her place.
This book had me tense and on the edge of my seat with themes of body horror, class war and monstrous motherhood. Great for readers who like their horror, gory and weird.
Thank you, Creature Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Bruja’s nest created an atmosphere of fear and horror that doesn’t let up once it gets rolling. Horrified at what happens to this young woman and horrified at what she does to secure her place.
This book had me tense and on the edge of my seat with themes of body horror, class war and monstrous motherhood. Great for readers who like their horror, gory and weird.
Thank you, Creature Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for this arc!
Dark and twisted, Bruja's Nest will have you squirming in your seat from the very first chapter. I devoured this book in a single day, unable to do much else besides follow Yolanda on her blood-soaked quest as she takes fate into her own hands. I imagine Yolanda herself will be a polarizing character to some, but I love how unapologetically complicated she is. Try as she might to convince herself to be as cold and calculating as her favorite telenova star, Rubí, Yolanda grows into loving a lucky few around her in a way I found really beautiful. LaTorre's writing is visceral and grotesque in the best way, and several images from this book will haunt me for the foreseeable future.
What an absolutely stunning debut. Can't wait to read what LaTorre writes next.
Dark and twisted, Bruja's Nest will have you squirming in your seat from the very first chapter. I devoured this book in a single day, unable to do much else besides follow Yolanda on her blood-soaked quest as she takes fate into her own hands. I imagine Yolanda herself will be a polarizing character to some, but I love how unapologetically complicated she is. Try as she might to convince herself to be as cold and calculating as her favorite telenova star, Rubí, Yolanda grows into loving a lucky few around her in a way I found really beautiful. LaTorre's writing is visceral and grotesque in the best way, and several images from this book will haunt me for the foreseeable future.
What an absolutely stunning debut. Can't wait to read what LaTorre writes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Yolanda's mother kicks her out of her house and sends her to work as an indentured servant at a hacienda, Yolanda is determined to secure her future and fortune as the lady of the house, with the help from a local bruja for the casting of a love spell. Things don't quite pan out as planned, however...
Wow, this book was certainly a trip. I'm still not sure if saying I "enjoyed" it feels right. but I could NOT put it down. I'm not sure how to rate it, so I will leave it at 3 stars for now. [I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]
Definitely an uncomfortable read, but one that sits with you long after you've closed the book on the final page. All the characters are unlikeable, though you understand why some of them do what they do (Yolanda especially). It was particularly difficult to be inside her mind at times, which I appreciated because it highlights how a life of sexual abuse and objectification can distort your mind, and how victims are still victims even if they are "unlikable" and do questionable things afterwards.
The body horror was gross, as expected! Hope to read more of LaTorre's future works!!
Wow, this book was certainly a trip. I'm still not sure if saying I "enjoyed" it feels right. but I could NOT put it down. I'm not sure how to rate it, so I will leave it at 3 stars for now. [I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]
Definitely an uncomfortable read, but one that sits with you long after you've closed the book on the final page. All the characters are unlikeable, though you understand why some of them do what they do (Yolanda especially). It was particularly difficult to be inside her mind at times, which I appreciated because it highlights how a life of sexual abuse and objectification can distort your mind, and how victims are still victims even if they are "unlikable" and do questionable things afterwards.
The body horror was gross, as expected! Hope to read more of LaTorre's future works!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
At first I have it 2 stars but then I saw some of the other reviews talking about magical realism etc and it made me stop to think. I love magical realism so why didn't I enjoy this as much as I thought I would?
I gave it 3 stars because I knew I was going to change my mind once I had time to think about the book.
I can see now that this is a fairytale, a lesson that had to be learned but also a fight between good and evil. Abused and the abuser.
I have to admit that I didn't like any of the characters, maybe apart from the bruja. But I think that was the point. It's hard to like them when some of them are completely messed up and the rest have built their fortune on other people's misery.
Overall, I would recommend it to anyone who likes magical realism, fairytales and reading between the lines.
Thank you NetGalley for my copy!
I gave it 3 stars because I knew I was going to change my mind once I had time to think about the book.
I can see now that this is a fairytale, a lesson that had to be learned but also a fight between good and evil. Abused and the abuser.
I have to admit that I didn't like any of the characters, maybe apart from the bruja. But I think that was the point. It's hard to like them when some of them are completely messed up and the rest have built their fortune on other people's misery.
Overall, I would recommend it to anyone who likes magical realism, fairytales and reading between the lines.
Thank you NetGalley for my copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 ⭐
I can totally see this being the kind of book where readers will give it either 1⭐ or 5⭐. And I’ll understand both sides. 😂
It takes place in Mexico, and the main character draws inspiration for her life from telenovelas, believing that this is exactly how one should live —you have to be beautiful, find (or charm) a rich husband who will support you, and definitely become the “Señora” of the house. The path to this goal is definitely not easy. It is full of horrors that often made me put the book aside and take a deep breath. I definitely, definitely, DEFINITELY do not recommend this book if you don’t like the horror genre, but I highly recommend it if you enjoy diving into it a little.
Thank you to @netgalley team and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I can totally see this being the kind of book where readers will give it either 1⭐ or 5⭐. And I’ll understand both sides. 😂
It takes place in Mexico, and the main character draws inspiration for her life from telenovelas, believing that this is exactly how one should live —you have to be beautiful, find (or charm) a rich husband who will support you, and definitely become the “Señora” of the house. The path to this goal is definitely not easy. It is full of horrors that often made me put the book aside and take a deep breath. I definitely, definitely, DEFINITELY do not recommend this book if you don’t like the horror genre, but I highly recommend it if you enjoy diving into it a little.
Thank you to @netgalley team and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a ride!! Oh my goodness, this book had so many twists and turns, from huge reveals to just unhinged things the characters say and do, this book kept me guessing all the way through! I love an unlikable character, and this book was full of them, literally no one was good and everyone deserved everything that happened to them. It had some great gross body horror scenes that made me go eww.
A really quick easy read, everytime it starts to get a little slow something happens to grab you again, the pacing is great, if a little fast in some parts, I had to go re-read a couple paragraphs to make sure I hadn't skimmed something, but it all made sense and served to move the story along nicely. A really good book for a debut.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!
A really quick easy read, everytime it starts to get a little slow something happens to grab you again, the pacing is great, if a little fast in some parts, I had to go re-read a couple paragraphs to make sure I hadn't skimmed something, but it all made sense and served to move the story along nicely. A really good book for a debut.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Big thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC
As a Mexican American I always feel excited when I see a Mexican author in the genre I love dearly. I’m confident when I say this story was truly horrific, the sacrificial magic, the constant abuse both in physical and verbal form and not to mention what hides in the shed. Brujas Nest is a horrific story about doing what it takes to survive which is exactly Yolanda does. Girl gets what she wants no matter the cost. I was on the edge of my seat with this thrilling story. My only complaint is I wish we had a little bit more detail in how much time has passed because I did get confused often. Anyway this was a fun one! Happy reading!! X
As a Mexican American I always feel excited when I see a Mexican author in the genre I love dearly. I’m confident when I say this story was truly horrific, the sacrificial magic, the constant abuse both in physical and verbal form and not to mention what hides in the shed. Brujas Nest is a horrific story about doing what it takes to survive which is exactly Yolanda does. Girl gets what she wants no matter the cost. I was on the edge of my seat with this thrilling story. My only complaint is I wish we had a little bit more detail in how much time has passed because I did get confused often. Anyway this was a fun one! Happy reading!! X
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Yolanda dreams of escaping her alcoholic mother and abusive brother. After being rejected from college, her mother sends her off to work in a small town. She becomes a maid for a wealthy family, that the whole town seems to hate. The family are selfish, terrible people. Yolanda wants to emulate her idol from the telenovelas, and will do anything to become the seniora of the house. After going to the town bruja, she becomes pregnant, but the child is severely deformed. She will do anything to protect her child, and anything to get what she wants in life. A story of a mother’s love, and survival.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am torn about this book. Although it was not terrible, it was not great either. The lead character, Yolanda, I neither liked her or disliked her. The character just seemed arrogant in a way. The book had good parts in it, which helped to keep your interest some. The ending was a bit different whiched redeemed the book a bit for me. You are either going to like this book or not. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of the book. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.
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