First and foremost, thanks to Netgalley and Zando for gifting me the ARC of this.

A town full of secrets, a vengeful ghost granting wishes with terrible prices, and a teenage girl on the hunt for answers. This book really has it all. We meet young Ceci, when her newest stepfather gets arrested, forcing her mother and her to move back to her mother's childhood town. They take residence in the long-abandoned Sevilla manor, a family rumored to be cursed by none other than the infamous La Cegua, a vengeful ghost on the hunt for miserable and drunk men, only to lurk them into the woods. So why is it that Ceci feels a sudden and strange connection to the supposed vengeful ghost? It doesn't take long for strange things to happen and Ceci soon takes it into her own hands to search for answers and uncover not only the Sevilla's family secrets but also her very own.

This one was hard to rate for me. Both the writing and the characterization were really on point and actually made jumping into the story easy. Ceci is a flawed, angry teenager who doesn't have the best connection to her mother. Something, most people probably will understand easily. She is a loner, and never really felt like she could fit in with the people around her, as if her heart somehow was hollowed out, making her feel unlovable. And yet the thing she always desired most was exactly that: love and a close family.

When she moves to the old manor with her mother, she doesn't expect anything different to happen; yet another town with people she could care less about. And yet it seems that this small town, ravaged by a vengeful ghost, is the place she can not only finally forge the connections she always yearned for, but is also the place that makes her finally feel at home.

The whole plot was really well thought out and though I kind of figured out part of the big plot twist early on, it was still well executed. I could really feel with the characters and their choices and was hooked when the plot thickened towards the middle.

I do think that the pacing in between slowed a bit down, usually whenever I was hooked just right, something that bummed my rating down a bit but all in all, I really loved not only this story but the whole lore around it.

Definitely recommend it to everyone looking for something mysterious!

I loved the dark mystery surrounding this story. The relationship with her mother was very authentic. I am glad that Ceci learned that it was okay to open up and make true friends.

It didn’t take much for me to add this to my TBR. I think I saw the cover and that was enough. Afterwards I immediately went to Google to find the legend of La Cegua. I needed to know everything that I could about it. And now that I’ve finished it, I can say it was absolutely warranted.

Ok so this is a very slow, slow burn. There’s a lot of explanation and there’s a lot of story filling, but not that many scary bits. I know that’s a me thing, but I just feel like if you’re going to make it a slow burn, put some stuff in there to make it so that I don’t look away. You have to make it thrilling in some other way. And that’s what she did. The weird stuff with the town on down to just the descriptions of La Cegua. It was all weird lol

The characters were what threw me off the most in this book. I get that there was some extra weird going on here, but the thing with the boy? Ol dude fell hard and fast and left all common sense there lol And like she was so mean? So many of those things she was doing I kept thinking like wtf lol All the lying and the way she just made her own decisions with no regard to anyone else was sending me. Idk. I’m not usually a fan of morally gray, so maybe this is just me. But yeah, I was not a fan. (Especially since the person who SHOULD have gotten got only got a small taste because her mom kept going to visit him! she should have left him where they were lol)

And just as a heads up, this was pitched to me as a horror book and I think with me thinking of La Cegua and what the overall theme was, I had an idea on how this was going to go. But it’s more fantasy than anything. The horror is more gothic horror so I would actually call this a gothic fantasy. I’m just trying to clarify, because I think if I had been told it was fantasy, I would have rated it higher.

This book was a lot of fun, but it didn’t come without flaws. I definitely enjoyed it. I hope to see more of this later. Seeing culture in horror or just spooky books in general is EVERYTHING to me. And the author is such a wonderful human. I can’t wait to see more of this in the future.

A heartbreaking, yet heartwarming story about folklore and young love. Family secrets are being ripped apart at the seams and in the midst of it are two young people, so afraid of falling in love, yet its inevitable.

The characters, the story and the whole vibe of this book just grabbed me, and I truly enjoyed this reading experience! For the fisrt time in a long time I sat there kicking my feet, rooting for these people, and cursing others. Absolutely reckomend if you like mysteries, magic and suspense! This is a YA, but I did not feel like it read very young, which is a good thing for me personally.

I love books based on folklore. I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I think it would make a great audio book too.

This was one of those books that had potential but just fell a bit flat.

It’s very formulaic in is story and while is was interesting enough for me to finish nothing surprised me or impressed me

The FmC is a very cookie cutter I’m not like other girls type with the classic family issues. But there was no real development it didn’t feel impactful or unique.

There is great representation within our cast of characters which I love to see but I think this story could have been so much more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an E ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Anything Vanessa write I, reading. She has a way of giving you a bit of history or lore mix with her story telling abilities. Her writing is so vivid and intoxicating. You want to stay up and read the book until the very end . Definitely worth the read.

I didn't feel super connected to this story, but I did like the mystery of the past and I liked the story telling. I think I just didn't quite feel super obsessed with Ceci, but she's a character with some depth, as she's like on the grumpy side but still wants to be hopeful, so I have a feeling that other people might find a better connection with her!

Ceci and her mother are forced back to her mother's hometown when Ceci's stepfather is arrested for fraud. When they arrive, Ceci keeps hearing rumors of a curse from La Cegua. Everyone is told to stay out of the woods but curiosity killed the cat and Ceci cannot help herself. Along with her new friend Jamie, they will uncover strange and creepy things. I loved the story. It was so creepy and interesting. Thank you to NetGalley and Zando Young Readers for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐ better than my first experience from the author... there's a mystery that kept me engaged although i think there wasn't really a high point in the story, like it was just,, going on? idk how to say this, anti-climactic i guess.

First and foremost I want to thank #Netgalley for the chance to read the fantastic novel #ThesesVenegfulWishes by #VanessaMontalban in return for a fair and honest review.

Soledad though that she was leaving her family in California with a Seville man to start and amazing new life. One where she would be respected and cherished even though her mother warned her nothing good could come from leaving with this man, all he wanted were the gifts she could grant him with the mysterious power that runs through her blood. Like any love sick woman she went with him and discovered too late that he wanted her for exactly what her mother thought, there was no love to be had for her.

The line of the Sevilles has been cursed going back years to when Le Cegua began appearing and taking the lives of the men in the family. Many believed that it was the spirit of Soledad who one day went missing and whose body was never found. She is seen as an alluring woman at first and then those that have survived her wrath say that once they got close enough her beauty melted away to that of a horses skull. Leaving Santa Aguas forever haunted by her spector and thousands of missing posters of those lost to her in the woods.

Ceci finds herself and her mother thrust from their illustrious home and riches to a life in Santa Aguas living in the old Seville Mansion that for some reason her mother has been hiding from her that they own. Ceci and her mother have never gotten on very well, Ceci has always felt as though a wall blocks her mother from herself. Too many secrets kept has eroded the relationship they could have had. Living in Santa Aguas though has woken something within Ceci. She begins to find herself not feeling numb anad cut off from her emotions the way that she usually is. Especially after meeting Jaime, a young man who seems to have more odd jobs than anyone she has ever known and who seems to be able to truly see her in a way that no one else ever has.

Living in The Seville house she is learning all about the curse on the Sevilles and all about Le Cegua. She finds herself drawn to the story and the history of the place and before she knows it feels as though she has a personal connection with Le Cegua especially when she and Jaime happen upon a well with stairs into and underground cavern and at its middle is a beautiful depiction of Le Cegua. In this place they can feel magic abound and soon find that wishes can come true but all magic comes with a price and Le Ceguas is no different.
Ceci has no idea what she has begun moving into the Seville house and awakening things that have long been dormant. The question is how many wishes can Ceci make before the consequence is irreparable? If Le Cegua is still around then the curse of the Seville line ending hasn't happened yet even though the last known Seville by the name of Roman disappeared years ago, which means a Seville still lives and Le Cegua can't rest.

*These Vengeful Wishes* by Vanessa Montalban is a mesmerizing and haunting YA fantasy that explores the powerful and dangerous consequences of getting what you wish for. Set in the eccentric town of Santa Aguas, the story follows Ceci, a talented artist who finds herself caught up in a chilling legend of a vengeful spirit named La Cegua. When Ceci and her mother move into a mysterious, long-abandoned manor, she begins to unravel a web of secrets tied to her mother’s past, all linked to the menacing folklore of La Cegua, a witch who lures wrongdoers to their doom.

Montalban masterfully blends supernatural elements with emotional depth, as Ceci becomes inexplicably drawn to the spirit of La Cegua. The beautifully atmospheric setting of the town and the eerie Sevilla manor creates a sense of unease, slowly pulling readers into a world where every corner holds a mystery and a curse waiting to be uncovered. Ceci's artistic talents serve as an intriguing plot device, with her paintings of a mysterious door in the forest becoming the key to unlocking the terrifying secrets hidden in the woods.

The discovery of a well capable of granting wishes marks a pivotal moment in the story, propelling it into darker and more sinister territory. What begins as an innocent exploration with her new friend, Jamie, quickly escalates when the well’s power starts to affect those around them, placing Ceci’s loved ones in grave danger. Montalban’s exploration of vengeance and its consequences is compelling, as Ceci grapples with her own desires for retribution and the moral implications of using the well’s power. The themes of power, sacrifice, and the cost of wishes are deftly interwoven into the narrative, keeping readers on edge as they question who will ultimately pay the price.

Ceci herself is a deeply relatable protagonist. Her journey of self-discovery and moral conflict is poignant and authentic, particularly as she uncovers more about her mother’s involvement with La Cegua’s curse. As she grows closer to understanding the true nature of the well and its dark influence, her struggle to prevent the wishes from falling into the wrong hands becomes an intense and emotional battle.

*These Vengeful Wishes* is a stunning blend of gothic horror, supernatural suspense, and thought-provoking moral dilemmas. Montalban has created a world that is as richly atmospheric as it is dangerous, filled with secrets, ghosts, and the cost of unchecked power. This standalone novel will captivate fans of dark fantasy, especially those drawn to stories about vengeful spirits, curses, and the price of getting what you desire. The chilling atmosphere, the complex characters, and the tense, edge-of-your-seat plot make it a must-read for anyone craving a spellbinding, thought-provoking story.

I really loved the mother-daughter relationship. Ceci and Marina’s relationship was definitely rocky at the start. They butted heads while treading carefully during moments where they did get along. I understand where both were coming from. Ceci just wanted a family while Marina didn’t want her past mistakes to catch up to her. Them banding together at the end to fight the real villain while also having a heart to heart ultimately helped their relationship, ending that cycle of a strained family. I love when books show that “dysfunctional” families can most definitely grow and heal.

The Nicaraguan folktale of La Cegua was so, SO cool. La Cegua is said to grant wishes and I loved the absolute eeriness (and consequences) of these wishes. The birthday party wish was super creepy and translated well that these wishes are not what they seem. The story of La Cegua was so sad and gripping. I have such a soft spot for stories of women enacting revenge on men/those who’ve wronged them. I’m glad that the so-called “villain” of the story got to have her happy ending as well.

The amount of jobs Jaime has is wild, he’s had more jobs than I have had in like 10 years lol. He was definitely preaching to the choir about figuring out what you want to do as a career and how there’s no age to figure that out. I went through that same crisis when I was younger. The evolution of Ceci and Jaime’s friendship and romance was so cute! He is incredibly sweet and really cares for her. I’m glad Ceci allowed herself to open up more in letting people in.

I absolutely LOVED that Marina and Gabe were starting to have a little romance of their own going on. I wanted more of them! I do wish we got to know more about Adel and Jaime’s dad but that doesn’t take away my enjoyment from the book. This was my first read by the author and most definitely will not be my last!

This was a wonderful read, and honestly, so many things in here to rave about. I loved how rich it was in terms of family and folklore, and I really found the mystery really intriguing, particularly when it started to hit too close to home. I thought Ceci's character in a particular was an effective vehicle to take us through all those elements, and I enjoyed watching her take step after step in her adventure. A fun, eerie read, for sure!

DNF at 50%

I loved the premise of this book. I loved the South American representation and folk lore. My primary issues with this book was the lack of tension in the scary scenes. There were moments where I thought we would feel more dread but in the end I was let down.

I may pick this book back up because for the most part I did find in enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book really seemed like it was going to be everything that I wanted. The folklore elements, the terrifying cover art, the plot, the main character - it really seemed like it was going to have it all. Unfortunately, it just missed the mark for me.

I felt like the horror element was missing from this one, and I wanted it to commit just a little bit more. The concept of the spirit was definitely a good one, but it remained a bit too cosy rather than dangerous or malevolent.

I can see that it would be a great YA novel, but unfortunately I was left a little disappointed by this one,

These Vengeful Wishes was such a captivating read. Full of mystery and suspense but it also showcases a beautiful love story. This book touches on secrets and healing and was such a great read.

Do you know how nice it is to see a book from Nicaraguan myths? It is beautiful, I am so grateful the receive this arc and have this opportunity to read it. I’m Nicaraguan and I don’t think I’ve seen anything relating to Nicaragua before and it feels great.
I do have that bias but I also think this book was very well done. The writing was relatable and enjoyable. The characters and story both interesting and keeps you invested. There are points in the plot that seem very obvious but I didn’t mind at all.
La Cegua is such an interesting story to grow on and make your own and I think Montalbun did a great job. I am excited to see more from her!

Ceci has anomalously called in her stepfather’s to report the financial wrongness in that they have been living off stolen money as he was running some Ponzi scheme with his investers, Ceci doesn’t feel bad that this has happened as she considers him to be a terrible man. Why? Ceci and her mother loses their lavish life and move to a small town Santa Aguas where her mother owns a house. Her mother stops at a pawnshop to get them money to live on. Ceci sees on a sign “beware The La Cegua.” She asks her mother who is Cegua. He mother tells her the story of La Cegua. The turns out to be a neglected mansion. Ceci soon becomes enmeshed in the legend of La Cegua—a vengeful spirit said to lure bad men to their doom. As an aspiring painter, Ceci has always been inexplicably drawn to the image of a mysterious door in the forest. Now in Santa Aguas, she feels an even stronger pull toward the forbidden woods. She believes haunting tale of La Cegua, that this spirit is what brought her to the town.. somehow Ceci and Jamie go through a door into the forest that has just appeared which takes them to a wishing well. Ceci decides to research the town’s hidden past. Ceci uncovers the connections between the spirit, the cursed Sevilla family, and her own mother.

The author has written an eerie novel of wishes and curses. Nicaraguan American Ceci is a richly developed protagonist, yearning for genuine connections. Jamie emerges as a love interest. I loved the mother daughter relationship. The story of La Cegua was so sad. The novel. Held me in the need to know what would happen with the wishes the wishing well gave and La Cegua’s fate. The story is a h orror novel that is also a mystery.
I loved this story!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book!

4 stars

This was an enjoyable, spooky read. Loved the Gothic and horror elements in this.

It was a little different than other things I have read before. Can't say I have read anything based on Nicaraguan culture before, so that was new and different to me!

This would be a great fall/spooky season book. The vibes are perfect for then.
It was a little too *YA* for my own personal liking, but for readers in that target market looking for a horror option, this is a good pick.