I was gifted a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This book is currently available. There were a few things I didn't like about this book, one being the "history lessons " sprinkled throughout the book. Growing up in a suburb of Chicago and spending a lot of time there myself, I love to learn about the city but the way this author did this just didn't work for me. It was very disjointed and didn't flow well within the story. The second thing in didn't like was how horrible the author made Chicago look. While I am well aware there are sections of Chicago that are worse than others, I also know Chicago is a beautiful city. If I wasn't familiar with Chicago, after reading this book, I would think Chicago was a horrible place and would stay far away from it. Why would any author want to portray their city in such a bad light?

Very enjoyable. At this point I have not read many of the Grimm’s Brothers Fairy Tales, but with how one was so artfully woven into this thrilling tale I have bought a copy. Fast paced and engrossing this book is hard to put down. A good chilling bedtime story!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley, Cynthia Pelayo and Polis Books for hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

I wanted and expected to love this book, but it just wasn't the book for me. It was fine; there was nothing inherently bad or wrong with it. There were some moments that were truly chilling and some that will linger for a long time, but overall, it felt too long and needlessly wordy at times. I think there was a great deal of potential here that got lost in the execution but despite that, Pelayo is clearly an extremely talented writer. With this particular book, I think she just bit off a bit more than she could chew and couldn't keep it all under control.

What a story!! This is a solid blend of crime, horror, & fantasy -- like a super dark, urban fantasy fairytale? Definitely felt the influences of some topical things like Slenderman and how those stories have impacted younger kids into violence, but also really appreciated how Pelayo pulls it off here by incorporating an actual fairy tale character (the Pied Piper) with the realism of kids making terrible, hurtful choices.

Echoing that the main character is not at all likable, but also - she doesn't need to be, imo. I disagree with some reviews that we need to like her - not every book needs a "likable" main character! Lauren in this is a pretty awful, flawed person, and I honestly felt like this seemed pretty realistic with its depiction of shitty cops & other shitty cops that cover up for them (seriously, HOW has she not been fired??).

The author's love of Chicago came through in this -- I've seen some reviews mention the "infodump" nature of the stuff about the city, but I personally didn't feel like that at all. I loved learning stuff about it bc I knew basically next to nothing! The stuff about creative works and people who made them from there were neat, too - had no idea!

I've read some of the author's poetry collections and really enjoyed those, so I was eager to finally get around to reading this, and am so glad I did!! Definitely looking out for the sequel, which I believe is either out soon (or out already...? I have been slightly out of the "book loop" for awhile, lol). Would love more realistic fairytale-esque stories like this one!!

Intriguing premise but ultimately this book was not for me. Many thanks to netgalley and publisher for providing me with a copy.

I have a total love affair with Chicago, I have been there twice and would go back again in a hot minute. Sadly, I have not spent time in Humboldt Park, which is practically a character in the novel but someday maybe I will rectify that. That said, I loved everything about this story except the non-ending. I'm assuming there will be a sequel? I remember looking down at my player and thinking, uh-uh, there is no way they are wrapping this up in the 12 minutes I have left. I was right. I loved the trigger-happy detective with a coffee addiction that matches my own, the historical bits about Chicago tied in with the historical bits about fairy tales. I loved most of the supporting characters and there are at least two really friggin chilling moments in this book that will get stuck in that place in your head where you store nightmare material. This is not for kids!

There is always a dark side to fairytales and Pelayo gives us a new ominous twist to the Pied Piper, melding fairytale roots, dark urban horror, and police procedural. Chicago's dark and mean streets are laid bare, but there's also beauty there and Pelayo's love of the city shines through. We're given a completely unlikeable female main character, but this is not without planning, as it's also a statement about police and their abusive power without repercussions—a highly controversial topic in today's media. There's a lot of information delivered throughout which at times made the story feel very laden. There's no denying the horror elements of the story, but it almost felt as it was trying to be too many things at once.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2022 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2022/01/readers-advisory-announce-2022-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

Mystery and the supernatural make great bedfellows, and Cynthia Pelayo’s Children of Chicago is a prime example of that. And, if I’m being honest here, I tend to like those genres as much as I love horror. If you put the latest Jack Reacher or Harry Bosch book in front of me along with Stephen King’s latest, it would not be unnatural for me to go with the Bosch or Reacher first. So when you get a book that seamlessly marries mystery and horror, I’m all in. Children of Chicago does exactly that.

You can read my full review at Horror DNA: https://www.horrordna.com/books/children-of-chicago-cynthia-pelayo-book-review

*Thank you to Agora Books, Cynthia Pelayo, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

“Then the patience borne of seventy years of disappointments came to his aid;” The Pied Piper, Nevil Shute

"Children of Chicago" is a police procedural set in modern day Chicago, with a fairy tale blended in. Pelayo writes a love story to Chicago in this interesting and quirky horror novel that borders the line between fantasy and real life crimes.

Lauren Medina, is a rookie cop, burdened with the past deaths of her mother and sister. She is treated at by her fellow co-workers as someone who is nepotic, as her Father, who has recently passed, was also a police officer. But Lauren, a vibrant character, does not give up. She is tenacious and unforgiving, but vulnerable.

If you know of the tale of the Pied Piper, this interpretation is horrifying but can be silly at times. "Children of Chicago" is a slow burn and really picks up in the last 100 pages, as Lauren is closer to solving multiple murders of teenagers in one Chicago Neighborhood. Pelayo has an authentic voice and you can feel her familiarity with this area of Chicago, which makes the book more satisfying. There is a twist at the end which makes you want to go back and read the entire books. I devoured it.

This book had an intriguing premise but was more premise and not plot. There was so much unnecessary character development (how is that even possible) - divorce storyline, ex-husband, heavy historical explanations, the entire Jackson character. Just the mass of characters - couldn't some of them just been combined? The attempted plot twist was revealed 100 pages in and not a surprise at all. It read like a first draft. A solid editor would have done wonders for this book.

Honestly, the main character was a mess and so out of touch. A cop who has killed citizens with no remorse or punishment? Read the room, Cynthia! Especially in Chicago.

this was a great fairy tale retelling, I loved the use of the pied piper and how it kept the original spirit of the tale. I enjoyed the writing and look forward to more from Ms. Pelayo.

A decent piece of spooky, creepy crime fiction. The parallel with the slender man crazy may be a little too on-the-nose, but still an enjoyable read.

This is a mix of murder, paranormal & fairy tales. Slow to start but overall and interesting story for the true crime junkie in me.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the advanced e-reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a wonderfully spooky read that cleverly used the fairy tale of the Pied Piper in an unexpected, urban legend kind of way. It was obvious to me what Lauren's secret was (it was revealed at the end like it was a surprise but the clues had been building all along) and so the ending felt abrupt, until I realized this is the first in a series. I also like all of the dark Chicago history the author wove in and feel she did a good job not totally derailing the story with all of that history. I can't wait to see more from this author and it's already popular at my library in Illinois so far.

Link to article: http://bewarethescarylibrarian.blogspot.com/2021/03/new-arrival-children-of-chicago.html
One of the predecessors of horror, before King, before Poe, and even before Stoker, would be fairy tales. Yes, they contain magic and yes, these tales have been sanitized for children depending on the teller, but they also contain many horrific elements, from child-eating witches to predatory wolves to women turning to foam for another man. Writers like Christina Henry and Daniel Mallory Ortberg realize that fairy tales are great fodder for horror stories. One such tale that deserves its own horror story is the Pied Piper, the musician who rid the town of Hamlin and then of its children. Cynthia Pelayo noted this and used the tale of the Pied Piper to create Children of Chicago, a crime story/fairy tale/character study.

The story follows Lauren Medina, a Chicago homicide detective investigating a shooting with graffiti referencing the Pied Piper from the fairy tale. Finding other instances of this graffiti with messages like “Pay the Piper,” Medina finds that the Pied Piper is a supernatural entity whose influence is felt far and wide, especially by young people who can call him via a method like the ones to summon Bloody Mary and Candyman. Once summoned and like in the fairy tale, the Pied Piper is all about receiving his payment once he completes a service, and he typically demands a life as payment. Before the story is over, the Pied Piper will claim quite a few lives as payment as Medina goes deeper into the mystery that is claiming Chicago’s young people.

Pelayo doesn’t just rewrite the Pied Piper for a new generation here; this is a story that has a great many influences. She borrows from the Candyman universe in many ways. One is the Chicago setting that the movies use. This, however, does not seem to be borrowing from the movies but the author’s knowledge and love of the city. Pelayo, it seems, could write a history of Chicago based on the information and history she presents here, not as much to move the story forward but to create a living, breathing setting where these characters live. Another similarity to Candyman is its exploration of how a myth can also become a living, breathing thing. The Pied Piper, within this city and this story, has his story told through the graffiti his followers, his congregation, leaves behind. He gains strength every time his tale his told and every time a follower asks for a favor, regardless of the consequences.

The most intriguing part of this story, however, is the character of Lauren Medina. People familiar with shows like Law and Order or any other crime thriller will see Medina’s influences, just as they notice her flaws. She is dedicated to the job, but often to the detriment of her own health and even the health of her relationships. She also frequently uses people to help her in her investigation even as she actively pushes them away. She also deals with her father’s passing, and a department that feels her promotion to detective was undeserved. What becomes fascinating about this character, though, is that readers will see that others’ reticence to fully trust Medina is justified. Ultimately, the ending to this fairy tale/crime thriller/devil’s bargain tale doesn’t wrap up as neatly as some might like, but as a character study of Lauren Medina, an exploration on the power of myth, and a love letter to the city she and Pelayo love, it is sure to attract readers as surely as its supernatural villain attracted rats and children.

I'm so sorry but I couldn't get into this one. It will have to be a DNF but I would try more from the author in the future as it was likely just this story that wasn't for me rather than the writing. Thank you very much for the copy.

You can tell that Cina is a Chicago resident. She really manages to bring the city alive in this story. And she doesn’t try to gloss over the troubles the city has (as all cities have). Instead, she chose to embrace the good while still exploring the bad. And you can really feel the city in there. You can see the people just trying to make it day to day. You can feel the tiredness in some of them, the hope in others.

The main character in Children of Chicago is what keeps me returning to think about what I read. Detective Medina is fascinating. She’s not a cookie cutter cop. Not even close. She’s a very complex person dealing with a lot of personal traumas in ways that aren’t always what you might hope she’d choose.

I know there was some shade thrown around about Det. Medina being unlikable, but…ummm…not everybody is likeable. I personally enjoy stories with unlikable protagonists. It keeps things fresh. It can be a fun practice, reading about people you don’t like. Or don’t understand. You’re not always going to like everyone in reality, either. But it can’t hurt you to try to understand them a little bit in a safe, non-threatening environment, you dig? That’s a huge part of the joy of reading, in my opinion – reading about challenging topics or problematic thoughts in a totally safe space where you are in full control.

But I digress.

I always like a good re-imagining of a fairy tale, and this one qualifies in my book. It was like a mashup of fairy tale, police procedural, true crime, and horror. It might sound overly complicated, but I think that Cina managed to wind those feelings altogether really cohesively. It’s certainly not a happy story, but the story of the Pied Piper isn’t a happy one. It’s a cautionary tale – as is Children of Chicago.

Keep your promises, or you’ll have to pay the piper. And don’t be surprised if he expects more in return than you realized you agreed to give.

This story has a great balance of mystery, horror and history. I was very intrigued how Cynthia wrote this specific fairy tale and tied it with reality. Being from Chicago myself, it was great to learn some history and folklore about the city. I personally loved having our main character Hispanic and female. I can’t wait to read more from Cynthia!

There's a great book hidden in here, but it's dragged down by wooden dialogue and a Chicago history lesson. As a Chicago resident, I did enjoy all the history and local references, though as a reader I felt they halted any momentum to a stop. Not sure I can fully recommend this, though I would be interested in any sequels in the hope the potential of this world and characters is realized