**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.**

Leopoldo Gout presents Piñata, a horror novel of possession based in Mesoamerican culture and tradition. Readers follow Carmen, an architect returning to her homeland of Mexico with her two daughters, Izel and Luna. Neither of the girls have been to Mexico before, having grown up in New York, so Carmen is eager to have the assigned renovation of a church into a hotel that will allow her to share her mother country with her children. When an accident on the site leads to Carmen and family returning to New York earlier than she planned, she might have brought more back to the United States than was planned.

I really enjoyed the presentation of Mesoamerican culture, traditions, and the presentation of various entities I had previously studied in mythology courses. This was absolutely the strength of this work.

For me, I found the pacing to be too slow. There were moments of action, and I understand that Gout was likely using these moments to build dread. However, the vast majority of the action occurred in the last 20% of the book. I was not invested enough in the characters to withstand this pace. While I did finish the book, I likely would not have if I was not reading for review solely due to this factor.

I'm certain that this book will find its audience as my only real issue was a matter of complete personal preference. I was glad to be able to read this story and am happy to have been able to experience it in full.

Thank you @Netgalley and @TorNightire for providing me with an electronic copy of this excellent novel!

Pinata earns a solid 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5) for me. Possession is one of my favorite sub-genres of horror, and this book was a unique take on the genre. I can't remember reading another book quite like this one, and I've been thinking about it constantly since I finished it a few days ago.

This novel took its time at first, slowly introducing us to the characters, cultures, and settings. Readers are privy to several characters' inner thoughts, and this helps flesh out these characters as well as allow readers to connect with them.

Around 40% of the way through the novel, the plot began to accelerate. The book became considerably scarier at this point, and it didn't relent until the end. I especially enjoyed descriptions of objects and entities I wasn't previously familiar with; this book felt unique and immersive, and I raced through the second half of the novel in just a few sittings.

I loved this book, and felt that the pages the author devoted to developing the characters really paid off in the climax of the book. This book was surprising, emotional, and horrifying. This is horror with heart and fresh ideas, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

This creepy and atmospheric read is so well written that it was hard to put down. The content, though, is really, truly horrific. Borne of the worst kind of evil, a dark entity possesses a child to cause the end of the world. I loved how the author adapts the ancient religion and culture of his native Mexico, and creates an armageddon that has nothing to do with what’s been done before. What surprised me the most is how a male author got the psychology of a family of four women so right. The relationship between mother and daughters and between sisters, as well as the influence of the grandmother was dead-on. I also liked how the secondary characters are well developed and how the author doesn’t fall into easy categorizations. Both, a Catholic priest and two Nahuatl cousins try to help from very separate perspectives, but they all recognize that they want the same thing. I also liked how the horror originates with the evils of colonialism, but it doesn’t fall into preachy political commentary or easy caricatures. The characters are good or bad because of who they are, not what, and most of them are very likable. This is not for squeamish readers, but it is simply wonderfully well written.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Tor Publishing Group, Tor Nightfire!

Piñata is an interesting tale pitched as having a Hereditary bend. Once we got deeper into the possession aspect, I could see where that comparison comes from. This is a multi-generational family tale that integrates Mexican history, culture, and tradition. That aspect of the book was the best part of it for me. The setting and background information and utilization of different pieces of Mexican culture felt really unique to this kind of story and kept me engaged and interested in what I was learning.

I will say, this was a slow burn, and for a time was a little too slow of a build up. When we finally got to the possession and the ramifications of it, I was a little checked out. And while there certainly were horrific scenes and interesting imagery, I wasn't completely sold on the resolution. Felt a little too wrapped up for the supposed stakes.

This was all in all a pretty enjoyable read. I had a fun time with it and would definitely pick up another book from this author in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the arc!

I went into this book not knowing anything about it, as is my preference when possible. I don't tend to read much history or historical fiction. Nor do I read much folklore or books about the native cultures of the americas. I only bring this up to note that this book was somewhat of an atypical choice for me, but it is an upcoming selection for a book club and I was able to receive an advance copy from netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. All that said, this was a very engaging read that was very hard to put down. People say that all the time, but this really was a check-the-clock to see how much sleep I was sacrificing in order to read juuuust one more chapter. The settings and the historical contexts are introduced and described expertly, giving me everything I needed to feel invested and anchored in the story without it slowing down the pacing or feeling like a textbook. The principal characters were well-crafted, relatable, and their interactions felt very real. Who is this book for? I would recommend it to fans of more subtle, nuanced horror/thrillers. it isn't a bloodbath but there is plenty of action. The blurbs/synopses for this book categorize it as a 'possession' story, and while I understand why, that is not really what I feel it is chiefly about. At its heart, this is a story of a hard-working single mom doing everything she can to give her kids the best life possible, and the book has a lot of heart throughout, even when the action is at full blast. I think this book is very well-edited, the pacing and tension feels expertly crafted. Perhaps some of the side characters are somewhat one-dimensional, but I wouldn't trade the book it is for one that slows the story/action in order to better flesh-out some of the smaller characters. I don't expect this is a title I will revisit, but it is one that I will recommend.

A very well written horror with a possession story leaving you feeling just as bad for the "demons" and the family they haunt. It had enough gore for a true horror experience while also giving you a beautifully sad story of traditions and lore being wiped out by the rise of Catholism.
I hope this comes out on audiobook so I can listen to the songs and pronunciations of words I'm unfamiliar with!

Thank you to Tor Nightfire for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Piñata by Leopoldo Gout is a terrifying horror book set in Mexico. The story revolves around Carmen Sanchez, a single mother who has brought her daughters Izel and Luna from New York to Mexico in an attempt to reconnect with their roots. While her teenage daughter seems to be over the trip, her younger daughter is enjoying herself. But when the excavation site that Carmen is working on uncovers an ancient magical relic, Carmen learns firsthand that there are terrifying gods and monsters in the world. Can she save her family from forces from beyond, or will she lose the people she treasures most?

Here is a horrifying excerpt from the Prologue:

"The boy swung and connected with the pot, immediately dropping the stick, hoping that he had fulfilled the request. But the friar continued to shout, and grabbed the stick from the ground, shoving it back into the boy’s hands, pressing firmly so he wouldn’t drop it again. The boy hit the pot once more, weeping between shallow, shaking breaths. He shut his eyes tight, but Melquiades guided his hand, rendering him unable to stop. Suddenly, with a final strike, the pot, the piñata, cracked and broke. Flesh, entrails, and a deep burgundy syrup of coagulated blood poured from the shattered base of the piñata. The shrieks of the children grew louder, watching and wailing in their hopelessness. Their ancestral ceremonies were very similar, cracking the pot at the feet of the god as an offering to Huitzilopochtli, but even the children knew that their old ways were being perverted by the friars. These conquerors made them waste the offerings, spilling them to the ground in the process of forgetting."

Overall, Piñata is a fantasy-tinged horror book with non-stop chills and thrills. As you can see above, one highlight of this book is the horrifying opening. The finale is just as scary. Another highlight of this book is the middle-aged single mother as the main character. I don't see this a lot in books. One last highlight is the brief looks at colorism and colonialism, which are super important topics to read about. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that the summary talks about things that don't happen until halfway into the book, I would just skip the summary if I were you and dive into the book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of horror books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in March!

First of all I'm a huge fan of anything possession related, curses, folk horror, demons free on Earth, dark chaotic apocalyptic tales; especially if it teaches me something. Piñata by Leopoldo Gout is an unflinching look at the brutality of the Spanish conquest of the Americas. The ferocity of the prologue really got to me. The meaning behind the title of the book becomes quickly apparent. I could visualize the entire event. (Trigger warning for violent child abuse/death). The transition from an origin story to seeing a piñata through the eyes of our main character's child Luna was a perfect juxtaposition between then and now subtly setting the scene for the rest of the story.

This isn't an action packed storyline but the spectacular "boss battle" ending makes it all worth it. The meat of the book is mostly character driven, with a slow pace. It's a shift from the violent prologue to the more lurking violence of modern day. I found the main character Carmen to be easily identified with both as a single mother seeking to pass on her culture and the struggle as a working professional. Yoltzi is a young woman with the gift of Sight. She can feel an inhuman darkness at work throughout her city. After a chance encounter with Carmen's daughter, 11 yr old Luna, she has a vision of a tzitzimitl (Aztec skeletal diety) following Luna. Can she help Carmen and her daughters before it's too late?

The smooth, slow way the author lets us get to know his characters and the history/culture, the ghosts and unusual visions, the psychological trauma resurrected and "possession" themes (both literal in terms of the conquest and religious) are just a few of the reasons I loved this book. I didn't expect this depth from a horror novel but I should have. Folk horror as a subgenre does tend to draw old gods into the light of modern life in a thought provoking way. I will truly never look at a piñata the same way again and the poetic perfect ending MADE the book. I was at 4 stars until that fantastic ending pushed it up to perfection. If you're a fan of all that then Piñata by Leopoldo Gout is a must-read.

Gout brings a unique spin to a familiar genre, interweaving the frightening realities of colonial terror, generational trauma, and anti-immigrant sentiment into this slow-burn, Exorcism-style of possession horror The story follows Carmen, an architect and single mother, who uncovers a disturbing fragment of history in Mexico while restoring an old cathedral. Ancient Aztec and Nahua myths clash with settler colonialism both past and present as Carmen and her girls are pursued from Mexico to New York by an ancient curse. Gout is especially skilled in the art of foreshadowing: dropping ominous imagery and portentous visions like breadcrumbs that slowly coalesce into something visceral, violent, and terrifying. I also loved how Gout leans into the complexity of history, calling out atrocities of the past while reflecting on the pitfalls of absolutist morality. This is especially reflected in the character of Father Veron, a Catholic priest representing an order that directly contributed to the genocide of thousands of indigenous Nahua, who nonetheless sacrifices greatly in his attempts to save Carmen and her daughters. It can also be seen in Carmen herself, and the tension she feels between her strong cultural identity and her status as an expat interloper in a society she doesn't always understand. There's also heavy use of insectoid horror in this one: I'll never look at grasshoppers and butterflies the same again.

This book was horrifying and I don't think I'll ever recover. I had chills while reading this. Please send help.

Dark, brooding and so original. Fans of horror won't be disappointed! I was thoroughly invested in the journey of the main characters and all of it felt very satisfying in the end. Highly recommended.

Known more of his work as a filmmaker and visual artist, Leopoldo Gout is a writer from Mexico City whose work has been in exhibitions worldwide. I had not heard of him prior to learning about "Pinata," and as it turns out, he has written other books, including Ghost Radio.

Although it may seem an obvious comparison and I feel it's important not to lump folks from the same or similar identities together, Gout's work shares several aspects of award-winning director and storyteller Guillermo del Toro. It has been wonderful to see so many more Latinx/Latine authors in horror and crime fiction from Gabino Iglesias, V Castro, Angel Luis Colon, to Cina Pelayo and many others.

In "Pinata," the reader follows a woman, Carmen, who is in Mexico working on an abbey as one of the architects. She has come from the States, and worries about her daughters, including Izel and Luna. Things turn to the supernatural with Yoltzi and Quauhtli, workers involved with the abbey. Yoltzi thinks the young girl, Luna, is in danger, and that she gives off a kind of light that attracts tzitzimitl, a demon. She has more conviction in gods, demons, and darkness along with terrifying visions based on Aztec beliefs. The text also explores differences between the Nahuas and Mexicas, cultural differences, linguistic, as well as splits in belief of specific gods.

Fans of religious, and in particular, demonic and exorcism horror, will find much to love about "Pinata," which combines well-worn tropes with interesting additions.

I appreciate the opportunity from Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley to read an e-ARC of this work. Piñata by Leopaldo Gout takes an essential pivot away from its predecessors, such as The Exorcist. A quintessential mix of ancient and modern culture, as well as the dichotomy between the two, Piñata makes an entertaining read.

New York architect Carmen Sanchez accepts a job organizing the reconstruction of an old church in Mexico into a franchise hotel for her client. Carmen’s excitement to share her home country with her two daughters, Izel and Luna, slowly deflates to terror as her family becomes the target of a primeval malevolence.

Gout poses a thoughtful narrative of anger and vengeance, colonization and estrangement from one’s roots. Without these motifs, the story would be somewhat predictable. Overall, it was worth the read and a lot of fun!

The prologue is delightful. It definitely has some creepy parts & I love how it talks about colonialism. Three of the main characters are female & maybe it's just the books I'm reading but I find a lot of horror to be male centered so I appreciate the change. When a male author writes women they have a tendency to sexualize or infantalize them but this author did well. I'm not very familar with Mexican culture but reading about various cultures is valuable - even in horror. I did find it a bit slow at first but it picked up nicely. Overall a great read & I love the cover.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor, & the author for an ARC copy!

So I love horror movies, but I've been having trouble getting into horror books. I love jump scares and really vivid, gruesome scenes, and books just haven't really been able to DO IT for me, ya know?

Piñata got me on one level, and that was the gruesome scenes. The author has a way with words when describing horrific things, and it really got me going. The prologue sets the stage for a no-holds-barred, gruesome tale. It gave me nightmares, no lie. The thing is, the actual HORROR aspect, the mounting fear, the build-up, didn't really happen. I picked up more on the sociological themes than the horror, to be honest. It brought up a lot of interesting points around colonialism and the erasure of cultures. This story is so rich in cultural references. Most of the time, the social commentary made sense within the story, but there were a few times where it took me out of the mood and made me question why it was mentioned at that particular point.

Overall, I would recommend this book! It's a fun read, and worth it if you enjoy vivid, grotesque descriptions of creatures and other things.

This book is amazing!! It's nearly perfect in every sense. The descriptions are beautiful and grotesque. I got to learn a lot about a different culture, which is always exciting. Y'all should read it, seriously. If you love unique horror and rich lore preorder this book.

The cover art gave me Alien and Predator vibes. Carmen and her daughters Izel and Luna move to Tulancingo, Mexico for an architectural job transforming an old church into a fancy hotel. A workplace accident reveals a small hidden room in the church, containing an old pinata. This is a pinata made of clay, and unknown to anyone there, it contains an ancient Nahua spirit that is determined to destroy the world.

I enjoyed the first part of the book, when the family was exploring the Tulancingo and learning new aspects of the culture. The Nahua were an old race that was conquered in the 1500s. Although there are still Nahua people around, it seems they have for the most part been assimilated into other cultures.

The second half of the book takes place in New York after the family comes back home. It quickly becomes apparent that Luna is different. Her family and some friends they made in Mexico work together to save Luna and prevent the end of the world. The horror grows in the second half, with some interesting body horror.

I received a free copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

No Brightly Colored, Candy-Filled Party Game
What an excellent book! It’s part historical fiction, part coming of age story, part mythology and folklore, and part horror, and I could put it down.

I loved that Carmen wanted to share a connection with her family heritage with her girls by bringing them with her when she went to Mexico for her job. I most enjoyed and identified with Luna, her youngest daughter, who loved the immersion into the geographical and cultural environment of the village. But, despite Izel's teenage reluctance to embrace their loss of “civilization,” it’s Luna who ends up creating trouble.

This trouble begins before they leave, but once back home in the States, it explodes into a nightmare. There’s violence and supernatural suspense that made my time reading feel too short. It’s an original, scary, and satisfying story told by a skillful author, and I recommend it highly.

I received a free advance reader’s copy courtesy of the author, Tor Nightfire, and NetGalley, but my endorsement is my own, without obligation for the gift.

If you remember Poltergeist the movie and loved it, then this book is for you. While it doesn’t describe a haunted place, it does use a haunted object. Aztec gods are seeking revenge and utilizing an ancient piñata as the doorway to our world. Unfortunately for Carmen’s family, her daughter Luna is the gateway chosen to bring the revenge of the gods.

While working on an architectural project in Mexico, a piñata was found in a walled off area of an abbey being turned into a hotel. Luna unsuspectingly is drawn to this object and things go down hill from there.

There are many references to Nahua culture that are fascinating as well.

I really liked the writing and the characters. Especially, the family dynamic between Carmen and her two daughters. I liked the pacing, except I thought there was too much happening too quickly near the end. Overall, if you're looking for a good, creepy horror book, I'd recommend this.