Our Shadows Have Claws: 15 Latin American Monster Stories

by Yamile Saied Méndez (Editor), Amparo Ortiz, Ricardo López Ortiz (Illustrator)

Fifteen original short stories from YA superstars, featuring Latine mythology’s most memorable monsters

From zombies to cannibals to death incarnate, this cross-genre anthology offers something for every monster lover. In Our Shadows Have Claws, bloodthirsty vampires are hunted by a quick-witted slayer; children are stolen from their beds by “el viejo de la bolsa” while a military dictatorship steals their parents; and anyone you love, absolutely anyone, might be a shapeshifter waiting to hunt.

The worlds of these stories are dark but also magical ones, where a ghost-witch can make your cheating boyfriend pay, bullies are brought to their knees by vicious wolf-gods, a jar of fireflies can protect you from the reality-warping magic of a bruja—and maybe you’ll even live long enough to tell the tale. Set across Latin America and its diaspora, this collection offers bold, imaginative stories of oppression, grief, sisterhood, first love, and empowerment.

Full contributor list: Chantel Acevedo, Courtney Alameda, Julia Alvarez, Ann Dávila Cardinal, M. García Peña, Racquel Marie, Gabriela Martins, Yamile Saied Méndez, Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite, Claribel A. Ortega, Amparo Ortiz, Lilliam Rivera, Jenny Torres Sanchez, Ari Tison, and Alexandra Villasante.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Young Adult, Anthologies, Fantasy, Fiction, Mythology

355 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 6, 2022

About the author

Yamile (sha-MEE-lay) is a fútbol obsessed Argentine-American. She’s the mother of 5 kids and 2 adorable dogs. Yamile’s an inaugural Walter Dean Meyers Grant recipient, a graduate of Voices of our Nation (VONA) and the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA Writing for Children program.
She’s represented by Linda Camacho, from the Gallt and Zacker Literary Agency.

Reviews

[Cande]

and then 2022 was saved by the power of this anthology. LATINX HORROR BABY!

[Gabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a great anthology! I'm not a horror reader, but I love a lot of the authors that are included, some of which don't usually write horror, and I enjoyed many of these stories! Some of my favorites are "The Boy From Hell" by Amparo Ortiz about Puerto Rican vampires, "La Patasola" by Racquel Marie about a school camping trip gone wrong, and "Sugary Deaths" by Lilliam Rivera about a girl getting her high score beaten by the creepy new guy in town.

I really love that this has creatures from all over Latin America, including many I had never heard of such as Dominican ciguapas, Cuban cagüeiros, and the Brazilian Corpo-seco. I feel like when people in the US think of Latin American folklore, they think of La Llorona or chupacabras, so it's nice to see a bigger variety. As a Salvi, I was particularly happy to see El Duende get a story.

I wasn't sure what to expect because while I love many of these authors, horror freaks me out. "Dismembered" by Ann Dávila Cardinal in particular had some horrifying imagery. But honestly I really enjoyed this anthology. Anthologies are often a mixed bag, but in my notes I gave the overwhelming majority of the stories 4 or 5 out of 5 stars!

[Dona's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review on my blog!

Thank you to the authors, and editors Yamile Saied Mendez and Amparo Ortiz, and publishers Algonquin and Hachette Books for a complimentary paperback copy of OUR SHADOWS HAVE CLAWS. Thank you also to Libby for an accomanying ebook. All views are mine.



"I make beautiful things to balance out the cruelty in the world," her abuela said.... "OUR art is like a prayer--when we make beautiful things, the gods listen...." "The Hour of the Wolf" p324

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. I love the Latin American themes these stories share. For me, it means exposure to some wonderful myths and legends I hadn't heard of before! Great examples of use of legend and myth is "El Viejo De La Bolsa" p49

2. I love that most of these stories are socially and stylistically subversive. Makes the reads challenging and enjoyable and also meaningful and outspoken.

...

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

Find the rest on my blog!

Closing quote: The blue ribbon that had fallen from her hair was like a heartbreak you could touch. "The Other Side of the Mountain." p245

Rating: ☠️💀🦴🪦.5 angry spirits
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Nov 10 23
Format: Advance paperback, digital, Libby
Read this book if you like:
📃 short story collections
👻 ghost stories
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family stories, family drama
😵 curses
👥️ mental health rep

A couple sentences about the stories:
...
More on my blog!

[Andrea Beatriz Arango · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is literally ✨perfection✨.

We all know the nature of anthologies. You usually get a handful of stories you really like, a handful you really don't, and then the rest sort of float in that in-between land. Not so with OUR SHADOWS HAVE CLAWS! It is honestly the most consistently good short story anthology I have read in years.

This treasure just came out so definitely check it out if you like monsters, especially of the Latin American variety 👀. The book is spooky without being too scary, and was honestly the *exact* sort of vibe I needed to start off my September.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each culture has a heritage of stories, legends and lore that is passed down to cement their understanding of their past, present and to guide their future in a hopeful direction. Our Shadows Have Claws: 15 Latin American Monster Stories features young adult stories that integrate the darker legends of peoples of the Latin American diaspora. Each story features a young protagonist who must confront the fact that legends can often be (or is an entrenched part of their) reality, along with the often dark aspects of humanity as well.

The fifteen stories in this volume varied greatly in subject matter and tone. Both an educational journey and a rollercoaster of emotions as the young people in the stories face their fears and heartbreaks of growing up through the lens of their Latin heritage. As a folklore lover, this volume allowed this reader an opportunity to delve into legends that were unknown, and also learn the cultural context of others, such as the vampire and Chupacabra. While the occasional story failed to meet expectations, either too short, or the writing veering too far into camp, this was overall a very strong collection. Many of the stories were very scary. The character work is a highlight of almost every story, as the legends and lore mean nothing if there is no intersection and confrontation with a person navigating through both daily trials (often quite distressing) and the angst of growing up. The accompanying illustrations by Ricardo López Ortiz at the beginning and end of each story absolutely add to the tone and the appeal of this collection. This volume is very much recommended to readers of dark fantasy, especially those who enjoy folklore and learning/exploring diverse cultures.

This book was provided as an ARC for review from Algonquin Young Readers through Netgalley.

[Emily M · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA horror works for me in a way that YA romance doesn’t because, while teenagers only think they understand love, they know fear quite well! Adolescence involves a whole host of new dangers and anxieties as you move into the broader world and have to deal with a changing body, bullying, shifting social expectations, and more. (“At lunch, Adriana joined her usual confederation of honors students, artists, and wannabe activists. They weren’t friends, really, but there was safety in numbers.” - a line that will hit with anyone who ever sat at the “miscellaneous weirdos” table!) So, turning those fears into monsters just works. This is overall a very strong collection – though some of the stories in the middle are a little wobblier in quality. Average score: 4.2/5

The Nightingale and the Lark (by Chantel Acevedo. 5 stars) – Unexpectedly, a Cuban Romeo and Juliet retelling! Since the war of independence from Spain, the Monteagudos have been monster-hunters (with Rosa starting off this story celebrating her quincañera and first hunt simultaneously), while the Capós have tried to protect the monsters, regarding them as people in pain. I like this because the conflict between the families has ideological substance, which means the lovers can’t just ignore it – they are intrinsically in conflict too unless one of them changes their mind. (In fact, it is clearly a fantasy version of guerillas vs. paramilitary!) The “cagüero” as a monster was new to me, but – in the way that its shapeshifting ability is granted by a bandana – it seems like it has roots in medieval werewolf myths. ("Güero" is also a jokey/mocking term for a light-skinned person, and it seems like there should be an etymological connection, but I can't quite make it!)

Dónde Está el Duende? (by Jenny Torres Sanchez, 5 stars) – Creepy, harder to sum up what the monster stands for…though it could perhaps be some combo of mental illness and generational trauma.
Translating the creepy nursery rhyme:
Dónde está, dónde está, dónde está el duende? (Where is the duende?)
En el bosque, en tu pared, en tu cabeza (In the forest, in your wall, in your head)
Allí es que vive el duende. (That is where the duende lives.)
Y qué hace, y qué hace, y qué hace el duende? (And what does the duende do?)
Roba las memoria de los niños (Steals the memories of the children)
Porque de eso vive el duende. (Because that is how the duende lives)

El Viejo de la Bolsa (by Alexandra Villasante, 5 stars)– A little girl new to a found family of sort-of orphans gets told to eat all her food, or else the titular monster will take her away in a sack. The main character, Esther, tries to comfort her:
“Because he’s not real. He’s an old fairy tale that padres tell their children to make them eat and not be wasteful. Kids don’t disappear because they don’t eat food, honest.”
“But grown-ups disappear. Does the viejo de la bolsa take them?”
And, oof, since this is Montevideo in 1977…there is no good way to answer that! Esther herself is struggling with despair due to her parents being taken away as socialists, and her girlfriend getting shipped off to her grandparents in the country and not being willing to fight for their relationship. But Esther isn’t done fighting!

Beware the Empty Subway Car (by Maika & Maritza Moulite, 4 stars) – This story features shape-shifter women from Haiti, known as lougarou (seemingly derived from the French term for werewolf, loup garou). This has some good haunting moments, and some interesting points about what people refuse to look at or see, but was not quite as impactful as the first 3 stories, somehow.

Dismembered (by Anne Dávila Cardinal, 5 stars) – Super creepy and unsettling but also oddly sweet story about a Puerto Rican girl and her grandmother. Also, I got an immediate crush on the punk/goth lesbian bookstore employee friend, so there’s that!

Blood Kin (by Ari Tison, 3 stars)- While I don’t disagree with the primary message of this one at all – which relates to conservation and indigenous sovereignty - it kinda beats you over the head with it compared to the earlier stories! I mean, the sketchy stepfather is ex-US military AND an over-enthusiastic hunter AND works for an oil company, for god’s sake! Also, the sad-ish ending felt…unnecessary? I mean, even if the MC couldn’t tell her mom that the ghost of her grandfather told her he was murdered by oil guys, there IS a village council she could tell her suspicions to! Also, why the HECK would you tell someone you filmed them discussing murder unless you were out of strangling range? And if panther-granddad attacked the guy attacking her, I’m unsure how she even managed to die! IDK…could we model some less stupid resistance tactics for young readers, please? Giant panthers are awesome, though, so that saves it from being 2 stars.

La Boca del Lobo (by M. García Peña, 3 stars)- There were a lot of moments and lines I really liked in this story. (eg “I am above gliding with thin black wings, blanketing, watching, waiting. I am below, running, panting, not bitten but the bite.”) However, the language is so surreal that I’m not actually sure what exactly the deal is with the MC and her family history of disappearing and maybe shape-shifting , or what the thematic point was! For instance, apparently the main character punched a creepy dude, but when I went back to that point in the story, it still was not at all obvious to me that that’s what had happened. In terms of themes…there’s an indication that the MC wants to hunt predatory men. But is that due to personal experience? Was that also the deal with her grandmother? Again, I can’t tell.

Bloodstained Hands Like Yours (by Gabriela Martins, 2 stars) – This feels like one of those stories that is leaning WAY too hard on my desire to root for a lesbian couple, without putting in the work. It’s a shame, because the premise – the characters meeting in an orphanage and one of them getting adopted and one going back on the streets, only to basically pick a fight with a monster that is murdering homeless people – is quite interesting. But what message we’re supposed to take from the latter bit gets muddled when it is revealed that the monster used to be the MC’s biological father! So…is it less about unhoused people being regarded as disposable and more about breaking generational cycles of violence? IDK. It doesn’t have a strong sense of place, like the earlier stories – I was only sure it was in Brazil because one character is nicknamed “la carioca” (meaning someone from Rio). And we don’t get enough interaction between Olivia and her love interest Jenny (a weirdly gringa-sounding name!) or enough thoughts/memories about her to know why we should be super sad if they don’t get to be together.

The Boy From Hell (by Amparo Ortiz, 3 stars)- The concept of a Afrolatina vampire-hunter-in-training who so wants to follow in her abuela’s footsteps that she once punched someone because their lips were red from drinking fruit punch is great. The execution, though… There’s too high a ratio of telling-to-showing, and as with the panther story the points about racism and colonialism (which, again, I’m on board with) are overly on-the-nose.

La Patasola (by Racquel Marie, 4.5 stars) – Dang, this one hit me hard, with the MC having to deal with the unfair assumptions made about both Latinas and bi/pansexual people AND a boyfriend who engages in that form of gaslighting where he projects his own faults on you. The thing that made it not 5 stars, though, is that it is the kind of story where I really want an epilogue assuring me the MC did not go to jail – because no one who wasn’t there is going to buy “a ghost did it”!

The Other Side of the Mountains (by Claribel A. Ortega, 4 stars) – The only story with a male protagonist. Yunior sets out to try and find his missing sister, who he believes was taken by a witch. Satisfyingly creepy, but I wish I knew if the broader point was meant to be something to do with assuming the exotic woman is the danger, when really it is a man who has ingratiated himself to your family , or if that's just my own biases talking!

La Madrina (by Yamile Saied Méndez, 5 stars) – Not so much a horror as some of the others, just lightly creepy. Rocío stumbles beaten and bloody away from a dangerous highway and finds herself at a cottage inhabited by a mysterious woman who asks her to call her ‘godmother’.

Sugary Deaths (by Lilliam Rivera, 4.5 stars) – Sixteen-year-old Pinky just wants to defend her arcade title. But when an older man comes around and starts bewitching her friends with his charm, gobbling them up like Packman and tossing them aside (like colonizers always do), Pinky knows she has to get serious to defend them.

Leave No Tracks (by Julia Alvarez, 5 stars) – A supernatural tale with a bit of an environmentalist twist. Guapa goes to the Dominican Republic for the first time with the body of her mother and meets her many aunties, who turn out to be water nymphs called ciguapas, with backward pointing feet.

The Hour of the Wolf (by Courtney Alameda, 5 stars)- Two Chicana girls in 1960s sneak into a movie theater to watch ‘Night of the Living Dead’. But it turns out the mean girl of Adriana’s high school has accidentally woken up a real monster!

[Sydney S · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the stories together averaged out to 3.3 stars. If I'm giving a short story collection a glowing review, it's probably going to be a collection written by one author, not multiple. I haven't had much luck with collections that combine a bunch of authors under one theme. I'm starting my review this way because I want to note that this collection didn't have much hope of getting 5 stars from me from the start. I wanted to read it anyway, because I like using books like this as a way to find new authors I might like to look into for their other work. Also, I kind of hoped these would bring back the feeling I had while listening to the audiobook for the short story "The Tiger Came to the Mountains" by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

I listened to these stories on 1.5x (and occasionally 2x) speed, which I wouldn't usually do, but it worked for this collection. I think it's because they can feel slow to build, despite their short lengths, and it adds to the tension and pace to have it be read a little faster. Contemporary settings are not my jam, and when I'm looking for horror, I'm not usually going after YA or contemporary horror (Catriona Ward, you are the exception, girl). So these are two other things the collection had working against it before I even began. And yet, I still found some stories that I loved, and some new authors I'm curious about enough to look into their other work.

Plus, I'd seen that there was sapphic representation, and I hoped to find a bi or pan female character here. I really do love the queer inclusion in this collection-- finding intriguing sapphic books in my preferred genres has proved to be suspiciously difficult-- and I'm always looking for well written, believable, nonfetishized sapphic characterization. The market seems to be filled with fantastic achillean stories in fantasy/sci-fi/horror worlds, which is great, but I can't help but be frustrated when I struggle to find a dozen examples of the same quality for sapphics.

Anyway, I guess I'm saying I had high hopes for this, and I don't think those hopes were dashed, so that's a wonderful thing. The rep is solid (especially considering this is YA and short stories), and it's in more than one story. The way queerness is incorporated feels seamless and not forced. It was nice to see.

The stories themselves were a mixed bag for me though, as they tend to be with collections by multiple authors. I think the stories that didn't work for me will definitely work for other people, so I do recommend this collection. There are some gems in here, and stories for many different tastes.

1. "The Nightingale and the Lark" - Chantel Acevedo: 5 stars. Damn. Simple, yet powerful. I love this story. I'm glad the collection started with this one.

2. "Donde Esta el Duende?" - Jenny Torres Sanchez: 3 stars. I liked this one, but I wanted more from the ending. I did some research on duendes to see if learning more about them would help me understand the ending better, but it didn't really. And by ending, I mean the last few sentences. I don't want to spoil it, I just want to know what happened to her after that.

3. "El Viejo de la Bolsa" -Alexandra Villasante: 2 stars. Boring.

4. Beware the Empty Subway Car - Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite: 4 stars.

5. Dismembered - Ann Davila Cardinal: 3 stars.

6. Blood Kin - Ari Tison: 4 stars.

7. La Boca del Lobo - M. Garcia Pena: 2.5 stars? I love the idea, not so much the execution. It felt too distant, vague, and and lacked the emotional depth I wanted from a story like this.

8. Blood-Stained Hands Like Yours - Gabriela Martin: 2 stars. Love seeing the lady love in this one, but that's pretty much where my enjoyment ends. This is petty of me, but this story includes something that I always loathe in books and movies (and life), and that just put me off the whole story. A dog is murdered, and it felt unnecessary. I also wish the "climax"--or whatever that weird scene was-- had been slower and less absurd. I love absurdity, just not this kind. It confused me, and then it was over in a flash. It just felt like it was pulled out of a hat of ideas on how to end a story. We weren't given enough information for it to pull at my heartstrings like I think it was trying to do. Or, I'm a fool, and I'm missing some nightmarish alternative hidden between the lines. Could be that.

9. The Boy from Hell - Amparo Ortiz: 4.5 stars. Fun vampire story, while also addressing a serious topic through a racist vampire.

10. La Patasola - Racquel Marie: 5 stars. This one got me.

11. The Other Side of the Mountains - Claribel A. Ortega: 3.5 stars. Good, and creepy, but I wanted more. It was just a tad too short.

12. La Madrina - Yamile Saied Mendez: 2 stars. Felt like something I'd read before, so I was bored.

13. Sugary Deaths - Lilliam Rivera: 4 stars. If only this was real.

14. Leave No Tracks - Julia Alvarez: 2 stars. This has something I don't really like water-related beings, like mermaids/sirens, so there wasn't really a chance I'd enjoy this one.

15. The Hour of the Wolf - Courtney Alameda: 3 stars. I wanted a bit more tension or suspense. I know these are YA, but still. I should be a little worried for the MC in this situation, but I knew nothing would happen to her. I'm not sure teen-me would've been eager to rescue that racist bitch either.

[Cloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

What a fun collection, horror mixed with latine folklore will always have a special place in my heart. My favorites were The Nightmare and the Lark, Dismembered, The Boy from Hell, Blood Kin, and La Madrina. I can only hope one of these ends up getting a full book or series! My one thing is that the YA rating seemed to hold back a handful of stories from reaching their full potential, and felt lackluster due to rating related restrictions.

[Bon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up.
First, the audiobook was FANTASTIC. I think that version is essential to get the full effect of how much Spanish is in these stories and their dialogue, but either way I loved the linguistic inclusivity, even if most of it went over my head.
The folklore, the gore, the queerness - everything was great.
My favorite story was Sugary Deaths, an urban tale of predator becoming prey, and also Blood Kin, an emotional story about environmental and colonial vengeance.

[Musings on Living · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really nice stories..

[Lo Wayward Tomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The nightingale and the lark 3⭐
Donde esta el duende 4⭐
El Viejo de la bolsa 3 ⭐ 
Beware the Empty Subway Car 3 ⭐ 
Dismembered  4 ⭐ 
Blood Kin 4 ⭐ 
La Boca del Lobo  3 ⭐ 
Blood stained hands like yours 3 ⭐
The boy from hell 4 ⭐
La patasola 4 ⭐
The other side of the mountains 3  ⭐
La madrina 4 ⭐
Sugary deaths 3 ⭐
Leave no tracks 4 ⭐
The hour of the Wolf 3 ⭐

[edi · Rating 5 out of 5]

i LOVVVV this book, rlly enjoyed reading abt dif latino horror myth (idk if that’s the word for it) stories 🙏 OH AND THE ART IS SOOO GOOD I AM OBSESSED W/ IT

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stories were good but they were too short to fully enjoy. It got to a point where I was just reading to finish and not for fun. Overall they’re nice stories. It was cool’s to see some Latinx representation in literature.

[Megan Millard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent collection of Latinx horror. It has the perfect blend of scary with images that stay with you, but not enough to keep you up at night.

The authors in this collection are all female which also gives an interesting insight into monsters in Latinx culture, a culture known for being predominantly machismo. While many of the normal chaotic monsters are male, the wrathful ones are almost all female. Many of the protagonists in these short stories are female as well, giving voice to young women from many walks of life in Latin American countries and into the US.

Some of the stories that really stuck out to me from this collection were "Donde Esta el Duende?" by Jenny Torres Sanchez, "Dismembered," by Ann Davila Cardinal, "La Madrina," by Yamile Saied Mendez, and "Leave No Tracks," by Julia Alvarez. The overall collection is phenomenal, but for various reasons, these were the stories that stayed with me a bit longer.

"Donde Esta el Duende?" focuses on el duende, a forest goblin who feeds on the memories of children - some of the descriptions in this story really got into my core, mostly because it seems as though once you are in el duende's thrall, there is not much that can be done to save you.

"Dismembered" is the story of a girl grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother, who offered her a safe shelter from the cruelties of the real world. This story made me examine my own family in a different light.

"La Madrina" is a depiction of the godmother that ushers us off into death or sends us back to the world of the living. I have always been fascinated with the fact that so many cultures around the world depict death as a female divinity. I think overall this makes more sense than a male one, as women are also the force that brings forth life. Having them also usher us to death completes the circle.

Last but not least, "Leave no Tracks," which explores the idea of what happens to forest spirits and guardians when the forest is disappearing? Indigenous cultures all over the world had maintained a delicate balance within their ecosystems, but the rise of industrialism and capitalism pushed the old ways to the side in the name of progress.

Many of these stories are laced with politics, war, protests, and the feeling of disconnectedness that many of the diaspora feel. While I can not personally relate to these stories, I find them to be a fascinating window into a culture that I only have the privilege of reading about.

[julia ☆ [owls reads] · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first few stories were wonderful, but there were some longer ones in the middle and second half that didn't quite work for me. Special mention to Gabriela Martins' story since it's set where I live :D

[Sharon Velez Diodonet · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Where there is war, there are monsters. They are drawn to the violence, seduced by the evil on display in humans. And when monsters slip into a place, they never go away."

Thanks to @algonquinyr for the gifted copy. Our Shadows Have Claws was the perfect way to start of spooky season with a Latinx twist. I loved the range of authors and diverse storytelling. I enjoyed the social commentary sprinkled into the storytelling that complemented the horror. It was interesting to learn about the different monsters and folklore and the ways that some of the authors retold some of my childhood favorites was very creative.

The standouts for me were:

🧟‍♂️ Sugary Deaths by Lilliam Rivera because I have always been fascinated with gargoyle stories.
🧟‍♂️ Beware the Empty Subway Car by Maika and Maritza Moulite introduced me to lougarou.
🧟‍♂️ Dismembered by Ann Davila Cardinal felt like a story from home.
🧟‍♂️ The Boy From Hell by Amparo Ortiz was a favorite. I love the way Amparo's mind works.

I appreciated that the authors didn't shy away from intersectionality in representation and celebrated their rich cultures. I took away something new from each story in this anthology. This collection has a little bit of everything and appeals to all levels of spooky readers. If you love magic and mystery and you're looking for a solid latinx horror collection, then be sure to add this one to your TBR. I would love to this one become a series featuring more Latinx voices in the future. This is October's pick for @haylibrosenlacasa so it's not too late to join them in the discussion.

[Bobbie Bomber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great collection of stories. I enjoyed every single one of these stories a lot of them. I do wish some were longer cause I had read hold novels about a lot of these. When it comes to anthologies, It's really rare for me to give for star reviews cause a lot of times there's always that one or two stories. You just don't care for. Just wasn't the case here. I enjoy all of them. I'm definitely gonna be looking into more of these authors. Cause I can't wait to see what else they've written..

[Dayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this collection. I never really pick up anthologies because I need my stories to be thicker than just a few pages, although I can fully appreciate the mastery of writing a powerful story a short number of pages long. But while there were definitely some knockout stories in this collection (in my opinion), there were some misses, too.

I went into this hoping to be spooked! I'm Latina, so seeing a Latine collection of horror stories made me incredibly excited (even with my apprehension for short stories). While the stories may not have been what I was hoping for, the artwork was gorgeous and creepy. I'll definitely be keeping this collection on my shelves both because it's amazing Latine rep, and because it's just a beautiful book aesthetically.

I've broken down the stories with my individual ratings and very short thoughts:

The Nightingale and the Lark: 3 Stars

I enjoyed seeing a story about the complicated dynamic of family and tradition. I'm kind of sad this is the Cuban one--but don't mind me, this is just me being a city bitch. I had no idea what this monster was and neither did my parents, but I'm assuming it's a campo monster. That being said, this was a pretty solid story to start with....but not scary. At all. It WAS interesting to see the morality living in the shadows of beliefs and fear.

¿Dónde Está el Duende?: 4 Stars

I think this is one of my favourites of the whole collection. It was so sinister and more than the monster itself, the actions of the humans involved made this one extra spooky. I remember thinking about it once it ended and feeling so uncomfortable when all of the pieces clicked together.

El Viejo de la Bolsa: 2 Stars

Meh. I feel like I zoned out with this one. I was so confused and by the end of the story, I had no idea what I'd just read. (This happens a few times with some of the stories in the collection.)

Beware the Empty Subway Car: 1.5 Stars

Honestly, this title was kind of misleading. There were some cool places this story could have gone but it was so boring. And it felt like...the point of the story was kind of random? Especially because it read more like one chapter in a bigger book. No shade to the authors, but it felt like the point of this story being included in this collection was missed. All backstory, barely any spooks. Meh. Least favourite, lowest rating.

Dismembered: 4 Stars

Having just lost my Abuela last December, this hella pulled on my heartstrings. Emotional and with a deeply heartbreaking twist, Dismembered is rightfully a favourite for a lot of other readers. Even if the beginning of the story feels gruesome, the heart of the story is beautiful.

Blood Kin: 4 Stars

I LOVE revenge stories. I was immediately hooked and I'm a sucker for the bad guy getting his due justice. Also, another heartstring puller. These authors giving me the spooks with a side of heartbreak. Thanks.

La Boca Del Lobo: 2 Stars

So, I *listened* to the audiobook of this collection. I have this thing where if a book isn't keeping my attention, then it's not a book I'm enjoying. When I'm invested, I am listening with both ears and hoping to catch everything. This story had me so disinterested that I had to replay the whole thing again because I missed the whole thing. The second time around wasn't any better.

Bloodstained Hands Like Ours: 2 Stars

While I loved the LGBTQ+ rep, I wasn't really feeling this one. It had a weird ending that made me think of superheroes. Much like the Subway Car story, this felt like a lot of backstory and not enough main creep story.

The Boy from Hell: 3.5 Stars

This was a fun one and felt like it could have been its own book. I especially loved how this story touches on the racism that lives in the Latine community. Also, even though I saw the twist a mile away, it was still fun to see.

La Patasola: 4 Stars

Loved the LGBTQ+ rep in this and how it forces the reader to see how ignorance and falling to peer pressure can ruin something so beautiful. I kind of wish I had more of this story so I could see the outcome of the events that happen. I really enjoyed this one. The ending was very satisfying.

The Other Side of the Mountains: 4 Stars

I think this one is a perfect example of backstory being well-balanced with the heart of the story. That twist was *chef's kiss*.

La Madrina: 3 Stars

I don't think this is a monster story. I think it's a great morality story that was well written and paced, but I think to call this a monster story does the heart of it a disservice. But I guess, in a way, it brings to question what we might define a monster to be.

Sugary Deaths: 3.5 Stars

This had a very satisfying ending for a creepy man who should not be around younger girls. This is one of those stories where you have to ask yourself, "Who's the real monster here?"

Leave No Tracks: 4 Stars

I loved this one because of how powerful it was. I thought it was a great allegory for the erosion of family and nature, and how the consequences of our choices can haunt us long after the choice has been made.

The Hour of the Wolf: 4 Stars

Probably one of my favourites overall. I love a good story with Karma and this one DELIVERED. Also, something I've noticed in this one and in some of the other stories is the importance of the all-knowing Abuela. Loved the creepy wolf vibes and the bullies facing some twisted revenge.

Happy reading!

[Gabigail Portillo]

This reads as very young YA. The best story for me was The Other Side of the Mountains. Sad and spooky. Otherwise, I don’t think I was the intended audience for these and finished mostly out of self appointed obligation. I trust a younger, learning about their own Latino culture, reader would enjoy this much more.

[Méli · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW solid anthology here! 4.5 stars for sure

particularly loved Blood Kin, The Boy from Hell, La Patasola (probably my fav!), Sugary Deaths, and Leave No Tracks

also prop to Ricardo Lòpez Ortiz for the illustrations, they are superb

[J.P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Latin America has some of the most beautiful and haunting mythologies and these authors were all amazing in their respective incorporations and reimaginings.

[USOM · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

The premise of horror stories is something that chills my bones. I am not normally someone who can read horror stories, but fall is approaching. And what that seems to mean is that it's beginning to be spooky season. So I re-organized my reading schedule to read these scary stories during the daylight and I'm so glad I did! Because Our Shadows Have Claws is a fabulous anthology! This is one of those anthologies where I knew of almost all of the authors!

full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...

[vale garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an EARC of this book!

5 STARS!!! <3

This book had it all, from deep and heartfelt stories that made me feel everything, to dark and creepy stories that had me actually scared late at night after reading them. It was dark, intense, and REAL. The latine culture was everywhere and you could feel it all around you like a warm hug! I made mini reviews for each story since each one was so different.

The Nightingale and the Lark: IMMACULATE, AMAZING, I WOULD READ AN ENTIRE BOOK BASED ON IT! W O W a romeo & juliet retelling but switch genders and add latines myths and tons of monsters and WOWWW incredible i felt all the emotions!!!

¿Dónde está el Duende?: actually creepy and scary, it had me on edge and was so well developed!! i genuinely thought i’d have nightmares about it.

El Viejo de la Bolsa: a little weaker than the first 2, and felt more rushed and less contextualized, but loved reading it since in chile we have a the same myth of the same monster just with a slightly different name (el viejo del saco).

Beware the empty subway cart: hated the pov it was written in, was confusing at times. Would've liked more context and development.

Dismembered: a little creepy but more heartfelt, all around gave me closure and was incredibly well done and thought out, i loved it.

Blood Kin: this was BEAUTIFUL, POWERFUL, IMPORTANT and so so relevant yet also heartbreaking. i loved every single thing about it but the ending was sad yet also right but i wish it wouldn’t have been so. it is more than just a story since it’s REAL and it happens and it shows how colonialism is alive and well. literally SO IMPORTANT EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS.

La Boca del Lobo: i feel like this one has a deeper meaning that i might’ve missed, it was intriguing and beautiful but too poetic and deep for me to fully get it.

Blood-stained hands like yours: there’s something about Gabriela Martin’s writing that is just so easy to read and so engaging. also SAPPHIC STORY YES PLS WE LOVE TO SEE IT AHHH!!! this was really well developed imo and tho short, it was engaging and never once confusing or stopped making sense.

The Boy from Hell: this story was SO GOOD??? okay so it deals with racism which is so important to highlight since latine communities are still incredibly colorist and racist, BUT ALSO I NEED THIS TO BE A FULL BOOOK??? ITS SO GOOD? Yeah i loved every single thing about this.

La Patasola: Racquel is definitely one of my fave authors, she just has a way of capturing your attention and not letting go. this story was SO DEEP and wow, intense as well, but not gonna lie, i was glad with what went down and i was expecting it to lol, i dont even feel bad about it. literally ICONIC.

The other side of the mountain: okay this was confusing but also WHAT ???? WHAT WAS THAT ??? HELLO PLS EXPLAIN I ???? that is terrifying af as well 😭

La Madrina: this was confusing at first but in the end it was so so beautiful? it was definitely heart warming and soothing and a PLEASURE to read 🥹

Sugary Deaths: woah this story was truly EVERYTHING!! it handled the topic of creep men creeping on younger girls so well AND PINKY AS A MAIN CHARACTER WAS EVERYTHING OMG I LOVE HER TO DEATH AND WOULD READ AN ENTIRE BOOK ABOUT HER AHHH.

Leave no tracks: this one was sad but also beautiful! i loved the message and the feelings of not belonging which i can relate to! i wish it could’ve been longer.

The hour of the wolf: reading this in the middle of the night was NOT my brightest idea since this was SCARY and omg maybe i’ll even have nightmares tn, but i loved the talks about respecting other cultures and beliefs!

Overall, i HIGHLY recommend this book for literally everyone!

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Algonquin YR for gifting me a physical copy and Hachette Audio for the audiobook.

This book is literally perfect. The concept, the cover, the Latinx authors and the stories. I’ve recently been getting into anthologies and this is my favorite so far.

As a Latina who grew up with Mexican parents, I heard my fair share of spooky stories. La llorona, el cucuy, I had nightmares constantly 😅
So many of these were new to me and I can tell you some nights I couldn’t sleep after reading! I did mini reviews for each story since there’s a few.

The Nightingale and the Lark - Chantel Acevedo
I really enjoyed this story about a girl who comes from a family of hunters. I got Twilight vibes from the story, the werewolf and vampires having a treaty.
Overall this was a great story, very sad! Wish I could get more.

Dónde Está el Duende? - Jenny Torres Sánchez
Wow. This one was incredible! It needs to be a whole book. I have so many questions about El Duende. Such a great little story.

El Viejo de la Bolsa - Alexandra Villasante
I wasn’t a huge fan of this one. I found the story to be confusing. The ending threw me off and I’m still trying to figure it out.

Beware the Empty Subway Car - Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
I didn’t love this one sadly. I found it somewhat confusing.

Dismembered- Ann Davila Cardinal
This was short and sweet. Not exactly what I was expecting in a horror anthology. Good for people that don’t like spooky things.

Blood Kin - Ari Tison
This needs to be a full book asap. I found this one to be so relevant and heartbreaking. I wouldn’t say this one is horror but it’s scary in a different way.

La Boca del Lobo -
This one was good but I felt like I’m missing something. Maybe there just wasn’t enough details for me.

Bloodstained Hands Like Yours - Gabriela Martins
I really enjoyed the writing on this one. Also the sapphic romance was my favorite!

The Boy from Hell - Amparo Ortiz
I love that it deals with racism. It had so much action the entire time! I wish we could get a full story. So good.

La Patasola - Racquel Marie
Is there anything better than horror set while camping? I don’t think so. This one was scary as hell. The descriptions of La Patasola had me so paranoid. Don’t read it at night 😅

The Other Side of the Mountains- Claribel A Ortega
This one confused me but maybe it’s just me! I was still scared reading it though. I just got lost somewhere.

La Madrina - Yamile Saied Méndez
Absolutely beautiful from start to finish.
I love the idea of Death being a motherly woman. Definitely my favorite.

Sugary Deaths - Lilliam Rivera
Wow. The way this story went in to the topic of disgusting creepy man was amazing. The character Pinky was amazing! She was such a strong and brave girl. I need a full book of her asap.

Leave No Tracks - Julia Alvarez
This one made me so sad! Such a gorgeous story. This would make a wonderful movie! I wouldn’t say this is scary though.

The Hour of the Wolf - Courtney Alameda
This had me on the edge of my seat! It was so good. Respecting other cultures is so important and I love that this story goes into that.

Overall I really loved this whole book! I used all formats for this one and I’m glad. The audiobook was extra special so I recommend that if you enjoy audiobooks.

[Bookxican · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨Disclaimer: The rating of this book is an average of the ratings of each individual story.✨

🟢 Pros: Yay! Latin American representation.

🔴 Cons: This is touted as Latin myths and legends and yet most monsters are not Latin American. Also where are the male authors? And why are most stories Puerto Rican based? I need more variety and representation, especially when the anthology is touted as such.

💭 Thoughts (per story):
1. The Nightingale and the Lark – ⭐️⭐️
A Romeo and Juliet story where they do survive. I do not particularly enjoy Romeo and Juliet retellings, so this story was a no for me. At least the monsters are varied and based in Latin American myth.
2. Donde esta el Duende? – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Creepy and imaginative this is the type of story I was expecting for this anthology. It was a bit short but I liked it.
3. El Viejo de la Bolsa – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the type of horror I like. Horror with a point and an undercurrent. It is sad but when it deals with political conflict and loss what else would you expect?
4. Beware the Empty Subway Car – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another creepy story, I love the darkness of it. It might not have a point, but it sure as heck fulfills the horror element.
5. Dismembered – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
It was gruesome and comforting if a bit basic. I felt like I had read this story before somewhere else.
6. Blood Kin – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is one of those horror stories that is vengeful and full of wish fulfillment. It points out and criticizes what is wrong with the world and I cannot fault it for that. If only there was some kind of divine justice.
7. La Boca del Lobo – ⭐️
I have no idea what this story was about, it wasn’t scary and lacked any type of horror element. I’m still confused about what the point of it is or what is doing in this anthology.
8. Bloodstained Hands Like Yours – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I think the author wanted to make some sort of point about orphans or homelessness, but it didn’t quite land. At least it was fun but it didn’t give me the fight scene it promised!! What the heck?!
9. The Boy from Hell – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a solid and good fun story but genetic. The most YA story to ever YA.
10. La Patasola – ⭐️⭐️
Talk about extreme measures to very dumb choices. Teach kids to communicate people lest they go feral.
11. The Other Side of the Mountains – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another solid horror story.
12. La Madrina – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Insightful and comforting in a strange way. I liked this version of Death.
13. Sugary Deaths – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Now talk about making a point! This is a story with a point, explained in a forward manner that is sure to get teenagers thinking.
14. Leave no Tracks – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Like Blood Kin it is vengeful and full of wish fulfillment, has a message and delivers its point in much more hopeful way.
15. The Hour of the Wolf – ⭐️⭐️
If La Patasola goes into extreme vengeance, the Hour of the Wolf does not have enough. These two stories should get together and talk about what they did wrong.

⏳ Final Comments: I wanted so much out of this anthology. I wanted uniquely Latin American myths and monsters. I wanted the weird and the unknown, the mystical and the gruesome and unfortunately most of the time I did not get that, and I was disappointed. I just must accept that when it comes to representation, trad pub is still way behind, taking incredibly small steps. I guess I should be happy we at least got something.

Favorite Stories: El Viejo de la Bolsa and Sugary Deaths
Least Favorites: La Boca del Lobo and The Hour of the Wolf

[Hannah DCamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anthologies are hard to review, but I think if I were to rate each of these individually and take the average rating, it would be something like 3.75 stars, so obviously I will round up. Since I didn't actually take the time to do math or note individual ratings for these, I will round down to "I liked it."

The Nightingale and the Lark I loved this - beautiful writing, poignant storytelling, just the right amount of heartbreaking.

¿Dónde está el Duende? Okay okay this was equal parts "ew" and "WHAT THE HECK"

El Viejo de la Bolsa There was something almost nice about this one, until the ending which was deeply unsettling.

Beware the Empty Subway Car This was surprisingly sad. I don't think I liked it just because it was unsettling, but I think it was meant to be that way. Otherwise it was good.

Dismembered This one was definitely for an older audience, language and horror-wise. This was weirdly sweet, but it also had much more of the horror vibes 🙃

Blood Kin I got all excited because this was set in Wisconsin, but then that ended up being incredibly incidental to the story (as most things set in Wisconsin often are). This one didn't hit quite as hard as some of the others.

La Boca del Lobo I loved this one. It was slightly abstract, and beautifully written.

Bloodstained Hands Like Yours I think this was my favorite so far; it was fantastically written. Very creepy too. Unfortunately there is a dead dog, so watch out for that 😔

The Boy From Hell "[The true evil is] voting to make our country a state every four years, buying into the lie that colonies can become well-respected members of the empire." bro what 😂 This one didn't quite land for me, but at the same time I think it would've benefited from being longer.

La Patasola I don't know how to react to that. Not my thing. And there was almost no resolution - she's probably going to jail, right?

The Other Side of the Mountains OH that's not what I thought was going to happen 😬 This one was a bit of a let down.

La Madrina Major Under the Whispering Door vibes. Quite nice.

Sugary Deaths It was fine 🫤

Leave no Tracks Nice, if a little bit clumsy in the writing at times. I stan a good Dad too (or more accurately, a Dad trying to do his best)

The Hour of the Wolf I liked the element of magical realism in this one - that's a weird thing to say about a story in an anthology of supernatural/mythological horror stories, but this one was definitely less urban fantasy and more magical realism (if that makes sense). There were also some lines I really liked - "a being her soul recognized but her mind did not." "I make beautiful things to balance out the cruelty in the world. ... Our art is like a prayer..."

[Pacifickat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some stories were 5 stars for sure, and some closer to 3. Still, a fun anthology of monster stories geared toward a teen audience.

My top 5 stories:

1. The Nightingale and the Lark by Chantel Acevedo

A reimagining of Romeo and Juliette set in Cuba? Yes, please. The first story in this anthology uses familiar tropes and very thinly-veiled references to Shakespeare's tale to explore interesting questions for a YA audience, circling themes of love and loyalty, respect and rebellion, and the challenging of established community beliefs and practices. 

I appreciated that the author bent the traditional source material toward a focus on power imbalance, poverty, and desperation in a war-torn country. Can a person choose to side so much with suffering people in this world, seeing nuance in the choices of others, that they choose to share the danger and insecurity of a supposed enemy, risking the ire and rejection of their community which may not understand? Can a person stand in the gap for an enemy, and learn to call them friend or even family? What is mercy and justice in a complicated world full of complicated people with complicated motives? What kind of blindness is caused by fear and generational trauma? Can what began as righteous conviction and protection of one's tribe transform a person into a retributive and fear-driven monster over time? What nuances of mercy and humanity do we miss when we see only black and white, in-group and other, sinner and saint?
5/5

2. ¿Dónde Está el Duende? by Jenny Torres Sanchez

So unsettling, loved the unique lore and psychological horror elements.
5/5

3. The Boy from Hell by Amparo Ortiz

Vampires! Strong female lead! Love it.
4.5/5

4. Sugary Deaths by Lilliam Rivera

A cautionary story for every teen girl about what predators can look like and watching out for one's friends and community. It was refreshing that the protagonist didn't victim blame the girls who were taken advantage of by a slightly older man interested in naive, attention seeking teenages. Such a satisfying conclusion flipping hunter and hunted.
4/5

5. Boca del Lobo by M. Garcia Peña

I found this to be a beautiful meditation about the relationships of women across generations. More than anything, the way the mother accepts her daughter and walks with her even when she doesn't fully understand is truly beautiful. Also, more women who feel at home in the wild, please.
4/5

[Madison Canizales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Average of 3.5 but rounded up!
This is the first anthology I have read and I loved this collection of Latin American women authors writing about monsters! I enjoyed how most stories tied back to a real world problem, would definitely recommend!!


The Nightingale and the Lark 4.5/5
A forbidden love story but with monsters? Great story to start off this book

¿Donde Esta el Duende? 3/5
I was invested in the characters and in the story until the end… strange ending, I didn’t really get it

El Viejo de la Bolsa 2/5
The story had a good idea, but I was confused by the monster, not a fan

Beware of the Empty Subway Car 3/5
It took me a bit to understand what was happening, but I enjoyed the last half!

Dismembered 4.5/5
The beginning was quite slow, but why was tearing up at the end?! Creepy yet sweet and touching story

Blood Kin 4.5/5
Love the revenge story of a Costa Rican tribe fighting against the white men destroying their land!

La Boca del Lobo 1/5
I literally didn’t know what was happening the entire time, was she a werewolf? V confused still

Bloodstained Hands Like Yours 3.5/5
I became attached to the orphan characters quickly and enjoyed their story, although I was a bit disappointed by the “encounter”

The Boy from Hell 4/5
Enjoyable vampire slayer story, with a twist!

La Patasola 3/5
I liked the camping vibe, but more of a high school romance drama than a monster story. I did enjoy the sweet revenge in the end though!

The Other Side of the Mountains 2/5
I didn’t particularly like this one, not for any reason, I just found it rather boring and predictable

La Madrina 3.5/5
This story is a little slow, but I like the idea of a sort of purgatory witch, and it over all had a good ending!

Sugary Deaths 4.5/5
I really liked this one!! An 80s Pac-Man revenge story against a gross misogynist, what more could you ask for?!

Leave No Tracks 4/5
A very sweet story of a girl learning and falling in love with her culture

The Hour of the Wolf 4.5/5
I enjoyed this one! Loved the theme of standing up for your culture and banning together with your enemies to fight the real monsters

[Kristen Claiborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book at no cost because I’m a member of the Amazon Vine Voices program. It’s a neat, invitation only program that allows users to acquire free(ish) products in return for an honest review. Books rarely show up as available products, and when they do, they are almost always god-based, which isn’t my cup of tea. I grabbed this one as soon as I saw it. I was super excited to see one that wasn’t faith-based, but I wasn’t super excited to read it because I’m just not a huge fan of short stories. I hate getting absorbed into a story and having it just…end. I want stories I can really dig into, that take a while to unfold and reveal itself. The short stories aren’t as satisfying.
This collection is actually aimed at young adult readers, so I assumed the stories would be quick, easy reads. After getting through about a quarter of the book, I was shocked that it’s billed as a young adult book. Quite a few of these stories are pretty morbid and there is a decent amount of gore. This book isn’t for the faint of heart, regardless of the age of the reader. Each of these stories are based on Latin American mythology and lore, old stories passed down through the ages. Every culture has them (and considering how many have stories of vampires, I’m really beginning to wonder if they entirely fictional). These stories blew my mind.
They are authored by different people, and what’s unique about this analogy is that they are all women, and the editors are also both women. While each new story follows a creature that scared children sitting around campfires, each also investigates a theme that haunts young adults around the world. Themes like grief after losing a close family member; exploring sexuality; trying to fit in in a world that doesn’t look like you. They’re more than just monster stories, they’re coming of age stories as well. Turns out, being bullied brings out the monster in young adults. This is a fantastic anthology of monster stories for readers of any age.

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for the overall collection

This is a wide variety of different Latin American Monster Stories. It also has some really impressive art work to accompany each story which I loved and felt that gave an extra added layer to the collection. I don't often see art in short story collections, so it was a fun addition. There are a wide variety of authors who originate from different countries, so there is a good spread of stories and cultures. I'm so glad I read this and will definitely be recommending this collection to my students, especially those who like a good monster story. Not all of the stories in this collection are horror. Most of them are paranormal, but a few sprinkled have horror elements, some have romantic elements, and some have comedy as well. There is a good blend of social commentary on deforestation, grooming of girls by men, family, colonization, identity, gender, sexuality, and tradition.

Here is a breakdown of the ratings I gave:
5 stars- "The Boy from Hell" "La Mardina"
4.5 stars "The Nightingale and the Lark" "¿Dónde Está El Duende?"
4 stars- "Beware the Empty Subway Car" "Bloodstained Hands Like Yours" "Sugary Deaths" "The Hour of the Wolf"
3.5 stars- "La Patasola"
3 stars- "El Viejo de la Bolsa" "La Boca del Lobo" "Leave No Tracks"
2.5 stars- "Blood Kin"
2 stars- "The Other Side of the Mountain"