What do you think?
The Wolf, the Lamb, and the Butcher: & Other Short Stories
Some monsters wear human faces.
In the cities, villages, and haunted landscapes of Colombia, ordinary lives conceal dark secrets.
A school principal covers up a scandal he believes will save his career—until a grieving mother decides revenge is the only justice left.
A twelve-year-old boy drifts through a strange limbo after the bullet that left him in a coma.
A dying man discovers the past refuses to stay buried.
A woman is haunted by a presence no one else can see.
An artist creates a work powerful enough to alter the fate of the world.
Blending dark magical realism, Latin American folklore, social injustice, revenge, and the supernatural, these gripping stories travel through the heart of the Colombian Caribbean, where violence, memory, and myth are never far apart.
Here, shame, anger, grief, and hope reveal an unsettling Humans are capable of extraordinary tenderness… and terrifying cruelty.
The Wolf, the Lamb, and the Butcher & Other Short Stories brings together powerful tales translated from two acclaimed Spanish-language collections by Colombian author Nicole Sánchez Castillo—for readers of dark literary fiction and unsettling short stories that linger long after the final page.
In the cities, villages, and haunted landscapes of Colombia, ordinary lives conceal dark secrets.
A school principal covers up a scandal he believes will save his career—until a grieving mother decides revenge is the only justice left.
A twelve-year-old boy drifts through a strange limbo after the bullet that left him in a coma.
A dying man discovers the past refuses to stay buried.
A woman is haunted by a presence no one else can see.
An artist creates a work powerful enough to alter the fate of the world.
Blending dark magical realism, Latin American folklore, social injustice, revenge, and the supernatural, these gripping stories travel through the heart of the Colombian Caribbean, where violence, memory, and myth are never far apart.
Here, shame, anger, grief, and hope reveal an unsettling Humans are capable of extraordinary tenderness… and terrifying cruelty.
The Wolf, the Lamb, and the Butcher & Other Short Stories brings together powerful tales translated from two acclaimed Spanish-language collections by Colombian author Nicole Sánchez Castillo—for readers of dark literary fiction and unsettling short stories that linger long after the final page.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 17, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 25, 2026
This is a short story collection written by a Colombian author. This short story collection features latine folklore, dark magical realism, and female rage. it explore the disparities due social economy status in Colombia
Some of my favorite stories in this collection are the stories that live in the inbetween reality and the magical realm.
The author also shares the rich cultures present in Colombia. There were parts where the author added footnotes to share context to some words used in the story or the cultural significance of a character's heritage. This to me was generous. It helped me have a deeper understanding of the story. It made the story more accessible to a reader like me that does not share the same culture.
Reading this story I was pleasantly surprised how many similarities there are between the costumes of Colombia and DR. I also grew up believing dreams could be interpreted to help you in the waking world.
There were other similarities that were not pleasant. The violence against women rampant in our cultures and the misogyny that is blatant in our cultures is highlighted in this short story collection.
I enjoyed this book but I would say if you want to read it check the trigger warnings. This book deals with heavy topics so take care while reading.
I did find that some stories were more fleshed out than others so there was some inconsistencies in the writing in my opinion. But I would recommend this book to readers that are looking for short stories that pack a punch. These short stories were translated from her previous Spanish Language books Inhumana and Solo quedaron las cascaras.
Some of my favorite stories in this collection are the stories that live in the inbetween reality and the magical realm.
The author also shares the rich cultures present in Colombia. There were parts where the author added footnotes to share context to some words used in the story or the cultural significance of a character's heritage. This to me was generous. It helped me have a deeper understanding of the story. It made the story more accessible to a reader like me that does not share the same culture.
Reading this story I was pleasantly surprised how many similarities there are between the costumes of Colombia and DR. I also grew up believing dreams could be interpreted to help you in the waking world.
There were other similarities that were not pleasant. The violence against women rampant in our cultures and the misogyny that is blatant in our cultures is highlighted in this short story collection.
I enjoyed this book but I would say if you want to read it check the trigger warnings. This book deals with heavy topics so take care while reading.
I did find that some stories were more fleshed out than others so there was some inconsistencies in the writing in my opinion. But I would recommend this book to readers that are looking for short stories that pack a punch. These short stories were translated from her previous Spanish Language books Inhumana and Solo quedaron las cascaras.
June 4, 2026
This was an interesting read!
🗒️I was paid to read and review this book.
The author takes you through several short stories that deal with classism, racism, gender inequality, and feminist issues in a way that is layered, meaningful, and rich with Colombian culture. Each story begins almost vaguely, as if you're walking into the middle of a conversation, and then the author strips it all down in such a beautiful and impactful way.
I really enjoyed this book, and I felt like I spent a few days in Cartagena, Colombia, hearing about different people and witnessing their complexities and beauty.
Loved it!
🗒️I was paid to read and review this book.
The author takes you through several short stories that deal with classism, racism, gender inequality, and feminist issues in a way that is layered, meaningful, and rich with Colombian culture. Each story begins almost vaguely, as if you're walking into the middle of a conversation, and then the author strips it all down in such a beautiful and impactful way.
I really enjoyed this book, and I felt like I spent a few days in Cartagena, Colombia, hearing about different people and witnessing their complexities and beauty.
Loved it!
July 17, 2026
These short stories truly packed a punch. They were grim and real and left me wanting more. These are translated stories and I can only imagine how much more impactful they are in their native tongue. Truly enjoyed this collection of short stories!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews