“There are nameless things that travel with a storm. After a hurricane passes, the best thing is not to go out.”

Such a powerful and heartbreaking read.
Iglesias has such a way with words and I found myself highlighting so many quotes.
This story follows five teenage boys who will do anything for each other. If you mess with one of them you mess with all of them. When Bimbo’s mom gets murdered, he seeks revenge with his friends. Until things spiral out of control and all of their lives are in danger during a hurricane that definitely adds even more to the atmospheric read.
Be warned- this book has violence, gore, murder and grief.

Thanks to Mullholland Books and NetGalley for this earc in exchange for an honest review! I have been wanting to read a Gabino Iglesias book, and I was intrigued to see that this was written in hurricane season in Puerto Rico. It was a classic coming of age story, but it was very dark and hard to read in some scenes. This is a very fresh take on a horror novel, and I haven't seen weather described in such a way until I read this book.

I have read many coming-of-age stories, but none as gritty and compelling as House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias.

House of Bone and Rain tells the story of a group of young men in Puerto Rico who help their friend enact revenge after his mother is killed in the days leading up to Hurricane Maria. As he tells this dark tale, Iglesias weaves in Puerto Rican folklore and discusses colonialism, allowing the readers to see the full humanity of these men. Loyalty, violence, and the paranormal play a part in this gripping novel, and Iglesias brings it together beautifully.

Check for trigger warnings before reading. At times, I winced at the violence, but the writing was so alluring that I had to keep reading.

“Someone is always trying to eat you, you know? We’re surrounded by sharks even when we’re on land.”

I went into this pretty blind and definitely wasn’t sure what to expect. We follow Gabe for the majority of this book. He’s dealing with the death of his friend Bimbo's mother that has snowballed into their group exacting revenge. Gabe is a compelling protagonist. He’s been through a lot and his loyalty to his friends is affects his judgement and relationship with his girlfriend. This book covers a lot of ground and really delves into what it's like to live in Puerto Rico, especially after a devastating hurricane. Not only are Gabe and his friends dealing with finding the person who killed Bimbo's mom, but they're dealing with severe weather and the difficulties that presents.

This story deals with grief and revenge, but also with Puerto Rican folklore with was so fascinating to read about. It also straddles the line between thriller and horror, which adds this extra layer to the story. I enjoyed the few chapters that were not from Gabe's point-of-view as they added a different perceptive to the story. At the heart, you can tell that Gabe means well. He wants to help his friend, keep his own mother safe, and protect his girlfriend. What this story does really well is let the reader feel immersed in Gabe's life, making you care about what happens to him. There are secrets and lies as well, and the build up to the ending is really exciting.

“All stories are ghost stories.”

There are some parts that feel a bit disjointed and choppy, and a few that feel a bit repetitive. I would read something and feel like I had read a line very similar earlier on. It made me pause in my reading and didn't help to keep me full engaged. The folklore portions were really a highlight. They were so fascinating and interesting, and help lean into the horror aspects of the book. Overall, this was such a great read and will be perfect as we head towards spooky season.

Man, Gabino Iglesias always knows how really mess with my head, deftly balancing some really original horror concepts with real life horrors in a colonized nation that is still buckling under the weight. I found HOUSE OF BONE AND RAIN to be a very upsetting, disturbing, and in many ways poignant and moving, exploring themes of friendship, vengeance, loss, and desperation, while bringing in some dark fantastical moments and horror creatures that come with a hurricane. I sometimes wanted to shake the characters for the choices they made, but I also totally understood why they would make the choices because they were so well realized and their circumstances were so heart wrenching. Hell, this could have been a vengeance drug cartel thriller with deep social commentary on its own, and the horror elements make it that much more compelling. I have always enjoyed the things that Iglesias writes, and this one was another winner.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

I got an ARC from Netgalley. Thank you to Netgalley and Mulholland Books publishing.

JUST PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS!! This book is SO HEAVY! This is a really good book! I absolutely liked it!! I did like the characters.

Gabino is a powerhouse writer. I was gutted by Coyote Songs. The Devil Takes You Home was one of my favorite reads of 2022. I've had House of Bone and Rain on my TBR since it was announced, and let me tell you: this does not disappoint. Not for a second.

This book is beautiful chaos from page one, dark and gritty, and so brutally real that it's impossible to look away. With characters reminiscent of Stephen King's The Body crew (but so much bloodier in the best possible way), gut-punch conflict execution, and expert storytelling punctuated by brilliant language, HBR is easily a top five read this year. You need to read this book.

Huge thanks to Mulholland and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

This revenge story takes place in Puerto Rico and successfully manages to have heart and gore. It's a fast-paced read with an aggressive style that had my throat from page one. Recommended for readers who enjoy stories of friendship and violent revenge, with elements of the occult, an island setting, and written in a gritty style with Spanish flair.

You know what they say: before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. One for your enemy and one for yourself.

Life in Puerto Rico is never easy. It’s life in a liminal state. You’re technically American, but Americans never treat you like you’re one of them, and since you’re an American colony you’re not free to do as you please, either. Somewhat like living in a small town, you grow up either never wanting to leave or clamoring to.

Gabe and his friends are as tight as blood. You come for one of them, you come for all of them. Even though Puerto Rico is filled with grief, pain, and ghosts, these boys suddenly have their childhoods shattered when one of their mother’s is brutally gunned down while at work one night.

What if it were your mom? Of course they’ll all set out to take revenge on the people who dared to take a mother from her son too early. It just isn’t done.

The hurricane about to swoop down on Puerto Rico shares a name with the deceased mom: Maria. It’s as large, powerful, angry, and hungry as the fury of these young men.

It took me longer than usual to finish a book of this length because it was a heavy read, thematically. I could feel the weight of neo-colonialism’s effects on Puerto Rico’s people and environment. I felt my own guilt and complicitness in being an American safe and sound in California while Puerto Rico suffers year after year being treated like a developing country when they should be America’s 51st state or be allowed to be their own sovereign nation. I swallowed down how it felt to not understand sentences of the book because they were in Spanish and then sucked it up because I’m the non-native here. This book has sound and fury and I’m here for it, even if I had to split reading it into two chunks.

The theme that stands out the most here is pride: When you lose something, what will you risk or give away in order to get it back? There’s also grief: parental loss, loss of friendship, loss of a beloved, loss of innocence, and a longing for what once was. Anger is spread out over this book for so many reasons. I could probably write a whole essay about the part anger plays in this book. Let’s not forget the hurricane itself, which brings destruction and leave behind devastation.

In all of this you have these furious and damaged young men who have too little to look forward to and have had too much taken from them in their short lives. None of them think they have very much to live for except each other and none of them have too much hope or desire to leave the island they have a love/hate relationship with. It’s their home, heart, and prison. But it’s always better to go with the devil you know.

I highly recommend this book. It’s gonna knock you out.

I was provided a copy of this title by Netgalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Reads/Coming of Age/Found Family/Ghost Fiction/Murder Thriller/Paranormal Fiction/Paranormal Horror/Speculative Fiction

Whoa, "House of Bone and Rain" by Gabino Iglesias is DARK! It exposes the ugly underbelly of the illegal drug trade in San Juan, Puerto Rico against the backdrop of Hurricane Maria. It is a revenge story with a twist of supernatural horror and made my heart pound with anticipation and fear. It is amazing how the author has such a beautiful way with words, but uses them to describe such horrific events. Reading this book was like watching a high definition movie in my mind; I might have been sitting on my couch in Pennsylvania, but my mind was completely transported to San Juan.

"House of Bone and Rain" is fast paced and pulse pounding. It is an entertaining and thrilling read, but also a scathing social commentary on the continuing effects of American colonialism and of how the United States' government often conveniently forgets that Puerto Ricans are Americans too. The bits of Spanish thrown in add to the authentic feel of the novel. "The Devil Takes You Home" was a five-star read for me and "House of Bone and Rain" earns that designation as well. I can't wait for Iglesias' next book!

Thank you NetGalley for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this dazzling book!

House of Bone and Rain
Gabino Iglesias

I am a fan of Gabino Iglesias’ The Devil Takes You Home, and was so excited to receive an ARC of this, his latest novel. It does not disappoint. The writing is gritty and real. Having grown up in a developing country, I can appreciate the struggles expressed in this book – social injustice, violence, as well as simple things we take for granted like the availability of power and clean water.

This is a coming of age novel about a group of friends, the seeking of revenge for the death of a loved one, and all the things that can possibly go wrong going down that path. Of course with a supernatural element thrown in. This is such an exciting and engaging read!

My appreciation to NetGalley, to the author, and to Mulholland for providing me with a digital Advanced Reader Copy, in exchange for an original, unbiased, independent review.

Childhood friends Gabe, Xavier, Tavo, Paul, and Bimbo are no strangers to death. But when Bimbo’s mother is murdered, he seeks revenge against a powerful drug kingpin. As the group plans their move, a storm brings dark, supernatural forces, blending myth with their grim reality. House of Bone and Rain is a haunting story of vengeance and the supernatural.

Loved this so much. Such a unique story - at no point did I really know what was coming next! Such an incredible second novel from Iglesias.

As Hurricane Maria ravages Puerto Rico, Gabe and his four best friends head out into the destruction to avenge a murder. Be aware that there is a whole lot of violence, murder, and guns, plus some drug stuff, and a whole mess of stupid decisions made. The writing is descriptive and unique; I don’t have any experience with Puerto Rico, but I was able to picture the setting so clearly. The mythology and mystery of what lives out on the reef definitely elevate the story. I expect some people will say they don’t like that aspect of it, but for me, it was the best part. If you like your fiction dark and full of monsters and ghosts, and you don’t mind a lot of blood, you might enjoy this one.

Thanks to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for this eARC!

I was super excited to read this new book by Gabino Iglesias and it didn't disappoint. This was a powerful story about friendship and revenge set against the backdrop of a hurricane happening in Puerto Rico. I love the Lovecraft elements in the story and how it ties with the plot of the story. Gabino's storytelling is magnificent and I'm already excited for the next book to be published!

Holy hurricane horror!

HOUSE OF BONE AND RAIN is not for the faint of heart.

We start out with a group of friends scraping by in one of Puerto Rico’s rough neighborhoods. They’re each working toward their dream for a better future. Then something happens that triggers a hellish snowball effect of revenge and vengeance.

And if this wasn’t bad enough, a major hurricane brings destruction while unleashing an evil that no one can control.

This story is violent, brutal, and haunting. Yet the love these guys have for one another binds them, giving them a reason to keep fighting.

The writing has a lyrical quality that’s beautiful, even as all hell is breaking loose. So, literary supernatural horror? Whatever we’re calling this genre, Gabino Iglesias totally nails it.

I'm reviewing a Netgalley copy of this title. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

The premise: 5 friends vow to avenge the death of one of their mothers. They don't dive off the deep end so much as they head for the Mariana Trench, metaphorically. Prayers and spells to gods, spirits, and saints abound. Also, blood and gore and mysteries from the sea.

House of Bones and Rain takes place in Puerto Rico before, during, and in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria. (Maria is also the name of the mother who needs avenging.) The descriptions of PR are intimate, affectionate and scornful by turns in the way you only get when an author loves a place and knows it well. The portions depicting Hurricane Maria, and previous storms and hurricanes, are consuming and I can't imagine a reader who won't imagine what it would be like, and that's before the supernatural elements at play.

I was reminded of the line in The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Does anyone know where the love of God goes with the waves turn the minutes to hours? While not the same, when the storm is raging it must seem to rage an eternity.

The story wouldn't be the same if it were set in another time or place and a good portion of the book is in the time when the island is almost thrust back to the 19th century and plans have to be changes and altered accordingly.

We primarily follow Gabe, and by far he is the most prominent POV character, with only a few chapters proving an exception. He is loyal to his friends and determined to help his friend, Bimbo, and help avenge her murder not just for Bimbo's sake, but for the sake of the kindnesses she did for him in the wake of the loss of Gabe's father.

The rest of the group is, of course, Bimbo, Xavier, Paul, and Tavo. They've always been there for one another, but they have no idea what they've agreed to take on, and the characters -- and by proxy the reader -- have to constantly decide and re-decide when the situation is too much for even the binds of brotherhood.

What I'm about to type is for knowledge and discussion, and not a criticism since I went into this book knowing it was about a group of men avenging a mother's death and so the macho would be off the charts and the female characters would take a backseat.

But, yeah, the female characters with only a couple exceptions aren't fleshed out and none are fully fleshed out. Well, maybe one. With the exception of one scene, Gabe's mother could have been a mop with a ponytail for all it mattered, with a particularly egregious example toward the end -- which might have been intentional. Mothers are sacred, worth burning the world down for, but you can also put them at risk and forget about them.

The whole premise is a textbook example of "fridging." A woman dies so men can have feelings and do things. In a sense, she is written for this purpose as opposed to be fully fleshed out in her own right. Other women in House of Bone and Rain exist to worry about or to worry about the guys. Occasionally someone shoots them a text.

Here's the thing, I think Gabino Iglesias is aware of most, if not all, of this. It's baked into the cake, and he writes with great insight. These men are on the macho BS, as understandable as it is, and they don't listen to the women in their lives, or speak to them honestly, or involve them. They do endanger them. And there are repercussions, as there should be.

Again, I'm not mad, because it was purposeful and tropes exist because they work, and because I'm finding my women-centered books elsewhere. I'd love to read a gender-swapped version of thus some day, though.

The story has clear supernatural elements, and religious ones, and some scifi. (The scifi aspect wasn't my favorite and just "a lot.") These elements (not you, scifi) were really thought provoking in the same way they were for me in [book:The Devil Takes You Home|58978299]. We have God, and gods, and saints, and spirits, and Orishas, and the characters pray to them in ways that are both heartfelt and bloodthirsty, which I find fascinating.

And I can't stress enough there's blood and pain and violence and death. Gabe hurts his hand on someone else's face and then does it again. He keeps injuring that hand, but I don't know that he mentioned it to anyone else, certainly never complained.

This is a very good book because the author is a very good writer. The story asks you to question what you believe and what you would do, and when you'd walk away, if ever. It asks the role of belief in your life. There are no punches pulled -- heh -- about the corrosive nature of revenge, comparing it to a drug that destroys your life while making you feel good for "a useless moment."

Highly recommended.

Gabino remains the master of gritty, mean stories. I love the way his books are so gripping and immediately difficult to put down. Thank you so much to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early. Pick this up when it publishes on August 06, 2024!

I love Gabino’s writing style. The violence. Spanglish. The representation. I love it all. This was so well written and I can’t wait to read all his backlog.

Thank you to Mulholland Books for the e-ARC of House of Bone & Rain!

Wow, this was incredibly powerful. & very much out of my comfort zone, yet still in my comfort zone? Ok, I get it — that doesn’t make much sense, but hear me out!

I don’t tend to gravitate towards crime fiction books; when the violence is a bit too real, my anxiety tends to take over & that’s never fun. However, I’m always here for a supernatural element & House of Bone & Rain definitely provided!

I felt a lot of things reading this & was throughly intrigued the entire time. I cared about the cast of characters — when they were going through it, I was also going through it alongside them. I cared about the drama & definitely wanted to know what was going on. & I was insanely into the supernatural portions!

House of Bone & Rain felt very real. Gabino put so much into this & it shines through every word. This is a must read.

Thank you to NetGalley for this Arc.

I will never, ever think about hurricanes the same way after reading this book. I am one of the few that hasn't read The Devil Takes You Home but after this I definitely will. As violent as the main characters are in the face of the circumstances they find themselves in, you will find yourself rooting for them so hard, even though you know there is no happiness in the wake of their vengeance mission and their lives will never be the same again. The loyalty and love they have for one another, even when the path is not one they want to go down, is clearly very deep. Highly recommend!