What a wild ride!! I thought it couldn't get better than The Devil Takes You Home. But it clearly can.

Dripping with dread and darkness from the occult, House of Bone and Rain takes you to the dark underbelly of a post hurricane Puerto Rico where the only light to be found is from your brothers and family. Set out on a quest for vengeance, a group of close friends test their resolve, their friendship and their sanity.

When Bimbo's mother is brutally gunned down, him and his friends decide to avenge her death. They discover a dark and mystical side of La Perla that existed right underneath their noses and have to kill their way up to the head boss who ordered the kill.

This novel is amazing. I couldn't tear my eyes from the page. The mix of English and Spanish was perfect and it was so nice to see conversational Spanish accurately being used in a text. I also loved how this novel depicted the dark underbelly of Puerto Rico, but also highlighting the joys and family that can be found even in the darkest of times on the island. This author is somebody who I will always trust and buy and read their books. Because as of right now, not one miss to be found.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this upcoming release!

This book is Inglesias’ follow up to the Bram Stoker award winning novel “The devil takes you home” and let me just say, if you thought he couldn’t encapsulate the same magic that he did in book one, buckle up! Weaving a tale of grief and dark vengeance, Iglesias writes so unapologetically Puerto Rican. It’s magnificent. He does such a great job at his scene and setting that most times I ended chapters with a bizarre sense of longing. Not for violence but for the island itself.

He writes about the island just as beautifully as he touches on the depths of grief. The characters feel real, some all too real. And the narration style doesn’t miss a beat. Gabino mentions everything from La cultura, the slums of La Perla, and that infamous cemetery all boricuas know and are intrigued by. He touches on religion, but never once preached it. Religion, like the island, and the vengeance, serves a purpose here.

Bravo Gabino

Just a damn good book: gritty, instantly gripping, a true spectacle. It doesn't matter what genre is your favorite or if you even like thrillers. I think everybody can appreciate this because of how good the writing and the characters are. Highly recommended.

This book has drained me of all of my energy. It grabs you from the first page and twists you every way but loose! 5 boys growing up in Puerto Rico swear to always be there for one another. When Bimbo’s mother (Maria) is shot dead on a street in San Juan, they decide to get revenge. Maria had crossed the line in some of her business dealings and was murdered for it. These teenage boys had no idea what they were up against. A big drug lord, a corrupt government and now a cat 5 hurricane is about to hit the island! Your heart will pound and break into pieces. I dont think there will ever be a book that will effect me like this again! House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias gets too many stars to count! Due out in August 2024.

This was such a unique reading experience. I don’t typically gravitate toward books with supernatural elements but I did enjoy this. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This mixed grief and love with the perfect level of supernatural eeriness. This is the first book I have read from this author and I am so enamored. It will definitely not be my last!!

Danger has always surrounded them, this group of friends we follow... but when the mother of Gabe's best friend is killed, Bimbo lets his desire for revenge get the best of him. Bimbo will stop at nothing to make those responsible for her death pay for what they have done, bring Gabe and the rest of them into the melee.

When these boys really learn what is going on, that Maria's death was at the behest of a Puerto Rico kingpin, a storm approaches. Growing up learning that hurricanes bring spirits to the land on their ocean currents, these boys quickly see that it isn't just the untouchable criminal they are up against, but another darker presence, brought in with the storm.

Blending a high octane gritty thriller with a deep rooted and spiritual evil, House of Bone and Rain was such a unique experience. I couldn't stop thinking about this book, and don't think it will leave my brain for a long time.