"She wanted to scream— like the dying coyotes— to run away somewhere and hide and wait for all this horror to end. She’d escaped. Why hadn’t she stayed gone?"


⚠️Triggers⚠️
Graphic animal death (esp cat lovers be warned!), bullying


Brutal, wild, fascinating and action-packed supernatural horror tale.
Rich in Latin American folklore/Hispanic history.. Ancient spirits and gods...brujas and blood magic...haunted house and ghosts...cursed soul...clairvoyance...monsters like El Coco or El Cucuy, Chupacabras, hispanic vampire..family bond and trauma..friendship... second chances...sacrifices and more!
Surprisingly good for a debut novel! I enjoyed reading this one. I just find the dialogues or conversations written in dialect and sudden POV switches confusing at times (possibly an editing issue).

Thanks to NetGalley and Lanternfish Press for the arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.🖤

4.0 ✨🐍

SUNDOWN IN SAN OJUELA by M.M. Olivas

Pub date: Nov. 19th, 2024
Publisher: Lanternfish Press
Rating: 4 / 5


Is it possible to remain amongst the living when you no longer have a soul?

Liz Remolina and her sister Mary have returned to San Ojuela following their aunt's death. But this San Ojuela is not the same place the Remolinas grew up in. Liz can see that more clearly than ever, just as she can see and hear the ghosts that roam the desert land. When Liz reunites with an old friend who is now cursed, she begins to unravel the events that left her at the mercy of spirits and ancient gods– gods who took her soul so many years ago.

SUNDOWN IN SAN OJUELA is M.M. Olivas's hauntingly poetic debut novel. The plot is not the clearest, with a timeline spread across years and jumping POVs. While the POV switches may be frustrating for some readers, others may appreciate the stylistic choices to unveil character identities and add intrigue to the narrative. The unanswered questions build up to a fast-paced final act, which delivers on character growth, emotional impact, and cinematic action. The book also features figures and narratives from Mexica folklore, a prominent focus on Latine/Hispanic history and lived experiences, as well as use of Spanish phrases and conversations throughout. Fans of supernatural horror and family focused tales should not miss this debut.


(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!)

Sundown in San Ojuela pulled me into its seductive, gothic world. I love the fierce women, the passion, the pain, and the heroism. This highly textured novel rises into horror and beauty with ease, making me marvel and crave more.

The interplay between a young dancer, her mysterious former friend, and lethal danger gave the book an emotional edge. The novel lives and bleeds. It's atmospheric, poetic, moving, and rich in sensual and cultural details. The history and lore kept me in thrall.

Distractions: I didn't like the use of second person for one character and I didn't understand the capitalization of ‘boy.’

Overall, the different voices worked well, revealing differences in culture and complexities of dealing with heritage and bigotry without becoming heavy-handed. The distances and strains of cultural and sexual identity and class show in lived experiences.

Brilliant details and memories that burn create magnetic lines through the text revealing wounds, shadows, and intimacies, conquistadores, otherness–damage and power spreading through generations. The mystical and supernatural sequences mesmerized me. Certain scenes became truly magical. The relics, the beings, the ideas, and the characters connect in a controlled yet explosive choreography.

A tide of inevitability makes the final chapters wonderfully satisfying. M. M. Olivas has a wonderful, strong voice. Highly recommended for non-squeamish readers of horror, gothic, dark fantasy, #ownvoices LGBT+ and Latine fiction.

I first heard about this book when I heard M.M. Olivas speak at ALA and I knew that I needed to read it. I really enjoyed the layers and the exploration of family, folklore, trauma, and the longterm effects of colonialism in Latine culture, and how Olivas integrated some really intriguing folklore into a family saga and a vampire spaghetti western to boot. On the flip side, there were sometimes some jarring POV shifts not only between characters, but also between first, third, and even second person perspectives that would take me out of the story at times. This is a very ambitious novel, and while sometimes not all elements land I overall found it to be unique and powerful. I will definitely be checking out more books from Olivas in the future!

A very slow build for about the first 70% of the book, which lead to me not wanting to pick this up unfortunately. As much as I really wanted to love it and read it - I found it to just be too slow for me. I did overall love the storyline with the family secrets, an eerie haunted house and of course the brujería. These are all things that make for a great novel. It was just the pacing that did not work for me as the reader. The story was wonderful once it really picked up. A nice little folklore novel if you're up for an incredibly slow burn.

Thank you Netgalley and Lanternfish Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

M.M. Olivas’ “Sundown in San Ojuela” is a haunting dive into the supernatural and mythological that masterfully blends Chicana and Indigenous storytelling with elements of horror and cultural identity. The book centers on Liz, Julian, and Mary, three characters intricately connected by family secrets, ancestral legacies, and a haunted house where Aztec deities and brujería collide with ordinary life. As the mysteries of San Ojuela and the Remolina family unfold, you are taken on a journey through deeply layered themes of colonization and cultural erasure.

One of the book’s strongest points is its rich, multidimensional portrayal of identity. Liz and her siblings navigate a fractured understanding of themselves, wrestling with a heritage that is both Indigenous and colonial, Mexican and American. Their mother’s disapproval of their connection to Spanish and Indigenous roots further complicates this journey, and Olivas skillfully uses each character’s lineage and personal struggles to explore the broader tensions surrounding identity and cultural inheritance. Olivas doesn’t shy away from the messiness of these issues, presenting them in a way that feels both realistic and thought-provoking. This focus on the theme of identity does sometimes overwhelm the horror aspects, so if you wanted a more horror-based book, this may not be the story for you.

The story’s world-building is immersive, filled with Nahuatl vocabulary, unfiltered Spanish dialogue, and a gothic yet distinctly American Southwestern atmosphere that allows mythology to thrive alongside the mundane. The book oscillates between the supernatural and the terrifyingly human, providing a visceral, atmospheric read. The writing style, shifting from third-person close for Liz and first-person for the Sheriff, is both experimental and engaging, although at times the constant POV changes can feel chaotic, especially in early chapters where flashbacks appear mid-scene, disrupting the flow. Despite this, the layered perspectives create an immersive, almost dreamlike quality that amplifies the book’s unsettling themes.

Olivas has crafted characters who are flawed and complex. Liz’s perspective draws readers into her fears and self-doubt, while Julian’s storyline brings an intriguing balance of magic and mystery, and the Sheriff’s sections provide a stark contrast to the main trio, though some may find his point of view extraneous. Despite pacing issues in the first half, where dense lore and backstory initially slow the story’s momentum, “Sundown in San Ojuela” builds to an explosive climax that blends horror and identity in a memorable way. The book doesn’t spoon-feed easy answers, instead offering you a tale of otherness and self-acceptance in the face of a complicated, haunting legacy.

Ultimately, “Sundown in San Ojuela” is a dark, thrilling exploration of family, loyalty, and the inherited burdens of identity. With its thoughtful portrayal of Mexican-American heritage, Mesoamerican mythology, and cosmic horror, Olivas has crafted a story that will resonate deeply with those who have ever felt caught between worlds.

3.75 rounded up to 4 stars. Keep an eye out for this November release! This was a very layered book, steeped in Indigenous Mexican/Nahuatl lore, with lots of moving parts that culminate in a dramatic finale. I really enjoyed it, although the multiple tenses initially threw me off. It felt a little experimental but the author pulled it off well!

The characters were beautifully complex and morally ambiguous in many ways, bringing an organic discussion on generational trauma, internalised racism, colonialism, and the insidious evils of ICE and the police force in America. The fantasy elements were pretty original to other fantasies I’ve read recently, and quite creepy. There were a couple confusing moments in the narrative that I had to reread to make clear, but overall I loved the loose, poetic narrative style.

I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on future releases from M M Olivas! Thank you to NetGalley and Lanternfish Press for the ARC!

A confused, jumbled plot doesn’t make up for an ending that was fine. The synopsis promised something that I figured I would enjoy, but the execution made it a slog to get through.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars rounded up.

This is a pretty decent Latine (specifically Chicana and Indigenous) paranormal horror filled with family secrets, brujería, and a haunted house.

I really liked how each character came into their own the more you read. Every major character felt fleshed out enough that you could tell who's who and what their relationships are with each other, interwoven with paranormal elements such as Liz's ability to see ghosts and Julian's magic. Another reviewer mentioned that the sheriff character felt unnecessary, but I did appreciate a POV that wasn't so entangled with the major trio of characters (Liz, Mary, and Julian).

Unfortunately, the first ~60% was a confusing read for me. There weren't really a lot of characters to get to know, but the author switches POV within the same chapter so it was hard for me to attempt to acclimate to one character, when a few paragraphs later, it switches to another character.

There were also a lot of flashbacks (this is a story about family secrets and family history, after all). But the flashbacks would occur as a character was performing an action, so it gave me whiplash to go back and forth between different characters and their memories. I had to keep going back to figure whose POV I was in.

The last 40% really picked up in pace (the first 60% was more slow going, with backstories and world building). While the climax did feel very YA fantasy, and I'm speaking as a part-time YA fantasy hater, I did have fun with the classic sword and sorcery elements. Maybe others who were looking for something more grounded might dislike it, but imo, it really helped to amp things up.

Despite my issues with the POV switches and flashbacks, I still had a fun time with this novel. I'll definitely read another one of the author's works.

Thank you to Lanternfish Press and NetGalley for this arc.

Sundown in San Ojuela by M.M. Olivas is a haunting journey through a desert town filled with ghosts, ancient gods, and buried family secrets. When clairvoyant Liz Remolina returns home, she confronts a dark past and complex cultural identity, aided by her haunted childhood friend. Olivas crafts an atmospheric tale of memory and identity, pulling readers deep into a world where the supernatural and personal collide.

2.5⭐ dnf at 72%
i hate to be negative in these arc reviews but this book was doing too much while also giving nothing at all. the plot, the characters, the shifting povs...

**Thank you to NetGalley and Lanternfish Press for the eARC of this unique title!**

There were a lot of good pieces to this one and I really enjoyed that this book jumped right into the thick of things. I wish the pacing had stayed the same throughout the entire book as the middle dragged a lot for me.

The change in tense that came with the POV changes was not my favorite, but I enjoyed the story overall.

While ultimately I wanted to like this book more than I did, I still found much to enjoy about the story. The setting was excellent. Sometimes the characters got confusing and the pace was a bit slow. I could totally see this being a great A24 film, though.

There’s nothing quite like a story that encompasses traumatic family history and Latin American folklore.

M.M. Olivis takes us to the town of San Ojuela-a town no one has a reason to visit, but no one can escape from-and unfolds the stories of Elizabeth, Mary, and Julian. They all have broken pasts, disjointed present lives, and uncertain futures, but the author fleshed out their journeys in ways that draws the reader into their inner thoughts and struggles to feel like they have a purpose.

There is also the story of the old gods intertwined with the protagonists’ stories, and how the new can set right what has been made wrong-bringing a balance to the old. The back and forth between human and deity is fleshed out quite nicely and sets the tone for the desperation both Elizabeth and Julian feel-with Mary trying to figure out the whole story. She refuses to be left behind, and is determined to fight to protect her sister. The overall tension leads straight into the ending-with a fight for the souls and conscience of the main characters.

This debut novel is an engaging story that holds your attention until the end. I enjoyed it.

DNF @ 30%

Thank you so much for NetGalley and Lanternfish Press for the ARC.

I was super excited to read this book but unfortunately, it didn't do it for me. I think the different perspectives and the tense changes were just difficult to read for me personally.

I think this is a great book with really interesting themes but don't be discouraged but this one review. Please go read it!

gorgeously and darkly interesting, filled with depths of spirit and soul and living in this liminal space that is just so fun to explore

This book is difficult to rate. I loved the dark witchcraft and mythology. I also liked the family dynamic and family home as central to the story. Sometimes, I was a bit confused about the details of the supernatural but it may be just me. However, the amount of "action" in the second half of the book was a little intense.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Lanternfish Press for the ARC.

This is an entrancing freefall into indigenous mythological history. It delivers tensions and frights along with bloody introspection and contemplation.

There was a lot going on in this story that I appreciated so much. First off, it is a continual and really exciting exploration of identity, somehow both very explicit and intentional but never didactic, never giving easy answers. There is a constant question and exploration about the colonization of identity. Our main characters are fully Latina, and they trace their ancestry back to both indigenous Mexican or Mesoamerican as well as Spanish roots, so right away a bifurcated history of both colonizer and oppressed. Further, their mother doesn’t want them to speak Spanish, wanting them to distance themselves from that identity to assimilate into the American ideal, further complicating their cultural understanding of themselves in the world. There are other characters who have unbroken Spanish/conquistador ancestry, some who have unbroken indigenous ancestry, and some who are biracial with white and Latino mixed parents. The little details spill out as the story unfolds, and M. M. Olivas isn’t interested in giving uncomplicated answers, but instead they use these relationships between identity and ancestry to ask some really engaging questions about what we inherit and how we fit into, or belong to, the world around us.

“We are Essences. We are stories… Of the wind, and death, and water, and soil. We persist as long as we are told.”

The characters were wonderful. The main and secondary characters are all complicated and messy, and they feel lived-in. I didn’t feel like a single character was relying on stereotypes or was serving as filler or a placeholder, everyone felt realized, even characters that had only small or incidental parts to play. The writing, too, was really strong. It wasn’t lyrical prose, necessarily, but it did have a slightly ethereal nature to it, something that made it different than just straight-forward narration, which I appreciated. It helped develop the atmosphere and tone of the story. Part of that tone-setting also comes from the fact that the writing style shifted across characters. Most of the story follows the perspective of our main character Liz, but we also sometimes get section from a local sheriff as well as from Liz’s childhood friend Julian. All of the sections from Liz’s perspective (as well as occasional sections from her sister’s perspective) are told in a close third person, letting us share Liz’s experiences and doubts and fears but have a traditional distance as we see her from both the outside in and inside out. The sections that follow the sheriff are all written in first person narration, and they don’t use punctuation marks to distinguish speech, and are generally much more rambling/chaotic feeling, losing us in the contradictions he is constantly grappling with. The sections that follow Julian are written in second-person narration, positioning us in an entirely different relationship with him. Mixing these different narrative styles, even within the span of a single chapter, could be confusing and chaotic, but it isn’t, I found it worked really well. It gave the story this undulating feel, if that makes sense, a constant motion that worked given the distress and confusion our primary character was experiencing. Also, there is a considerable amount of Spanish mixed in, often without translation, which is again really effective, especially as our main character doesn’t know Spanish very well. It is a small flourish that goes a long way to help build the world. There is also a good amount of Nahuatl vocabulary sprinkled throughout, creating distance even from Spanish, which further contributed to the world-building.

That world-building was really skillful. It is set in contemporary America, but the story uses that as an entryway into a mood or atmosphere that is very distinct. There is a lot of talk about the town itself and I would have liked a little better sense of space and place, for all the talk of the town, but that didn’t detract from the world we did get. It is a twilight world, a world where myth lives side-by-side with the ordinary, where Aztec deities interceded in the mundane, where our characters are constantly caught between various opposing forces and loyalties. The history and magic and witchcraft and ordinariness of this world all mix together in a way that is compelling and feels organic, which allowed for an exciting story that I hadn’t seen told before. In some ways the story can be distilled into something simple, a young woman coming to terms with who she is and the various histories and legacies she has inherited. But that is used as a wonderful starting place to explore family, loyalty, identity, and belief, all under the shadow of colonization and coercion. There are journeys for all three of our POV characters, even though Liz is clearly the main character of the story, and the way those journeys intertwine is thoughtful and fun.

With that said, I did struggle a little with the pacing of the story. The whole story was set in a relatively condensed time period, though there were a number of flashbacks. That was fine, it worked well. But the first 50% - 60% of the book didn’t feel as propulsive as I would have wanted. There were constant interesting things happening, in terms of character, plot, and lore—it was never boring and never felt like it was stalling or dragging its feet… But there also just didn’t feel like a lot of momentum. After finishing a chapter I didn’t feel the immediate need to continue to the next. I was deeply invested in the characters and story, but it wasn’t a gripping page-turner in that way. The back half of the book changed that, with a much more explosive pacing, the pay-off for things set up in the first half. Once things really started moving I didn’t want to put the book down… but this did have the unfortunate side effect of highlight how slowly paced the first half was. There was a lot of lore and world and character development in the first half, a lot of dominoes being put into place. I don’t know, exactly, how that could have been down as effectively while also giving a greater sense of urgency. I never felt bored, I was always pulled in, and there was a worthwhile and exciting payoff to that investment, but it would have been nice to have a little more oomph in the first half.

I still really enjoyed this story a lot. It explored really complicated and thorny issues without ever simplifying them or feeling preachy. I should add there are some wonderfully bloody scenes in here, too. There are eruptions of violence and fear that carry the whole story. This isn’t a safe story. It digs it claws deep, not just through flesh and bone but through time, dissecting accepted histories. I am really glad I had a chance to read this story. It brought to life a whole world of folklore and histories that are still largely absent from contemporary pop culture, and it didn’t hold your hand at all, but instead forced you to navigate this world in an exciting, embodied kind of way. It told a story about being haunted by identity, or, maybe more accurately, of being haunted by being lost among varied and seemingly competing identities, but did so in a way that felt fresh and inclusive. It has heart, only sometimes you realize that heart has been ripped still beating from a bloody chest. I definitely recommend it and look forward to seeing what else the author creates in the future.

(Rounded up from 3.5)

I want to thank the author, the publisher Lanternfish Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sundown in San Ojuela has a beautifully eerie vibe, blending gothic storytelling and domestic family drama in a way that feels like a modern folk tale. The writing is poetic and really grounds you in the desert town of San Ojuela, but it took me a while to get into, and I don't think it ever fully took off for me. While I loved the world-building, the characters didn’t quite grab me the way I hoped. That said, it’s a unique story about ancient gods and dark family history, and while it wasn’t the horror I expected, it was still a ride worth taking.

Thank you NetGalley and Laternfish Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.I have really come to love Latin America folklore so I was pretty excited to read this book. But there was a lot going on and I was having a hard time connecting with the characters. Also, it might be more of a me problem but I just couldn’t get behind all POV tense shifts. First, second, and third person POV were all used throughout this book. I don’t know if I’m a fan of reading a book in the second person POV, where it goes ‘You did this… You did that’, I think it disconnected me from the story a bit. And again, that’s my personal preference. I can understand what the author was trying to do but it fell a bit flat for me. I enjoyed the mythology and folklore tie ins to the story. I also enjoyed the themes around cultural identity and family legacies.