River Woman, River Demon
A Novel
by Jennifer Givhan
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Oct 04 2022 | Archive Date Nov 04 2022
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Description
When Eva’s husband is arrested for the murder of a friend, she must confront her murky past and embrace her magick to find out what really happened that night on the river.
Eva Santos Moon is a burgeoning Chicana artist who practices the ancient, spiritual ways of brujería and curanderisma, but she’s at one of her lowest points—suffering from disorienting blackouts, creative stagnation, and a feeling of disconnect from her magickal roots. When her husband, a beloved university professor and the glue that holds their family together, is taken into custody for the shocking murder of their friend, Eva doesn’t know whom to trust—least of all, herself. She soon falls under suspicion as a potential suspect, and her past rises to the surface, dredging up the truth about an eerily similar death from her childhood.
Struggling with fragmented memories and self-doubt, an increasingly terrified Eva fears that she might have been involved in both murders. But why doesn’t she remember? Only the dead women know for sure, and they’re coming for her with a haunting vengeance. As she fights to keep her family out of danger, Eva realizes she must use her magick as a bruja to protect herself and her loved ones, while confronting her own dark history.
A psychological thriller that weaves together the threads of folk magick with personal and cultural empowerment, River Woman, River Demon is a mysterious incantation of reckoning with the past and claiming one’s unique power and voice.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
“A murder mystery with organic roots in the otherworldly…Sharp as glass shards and lush as the desert after the rain, the writing is the true magic here.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A delectable spellbinder…Equal parts murder mystery, brujería, sex and romance, hauntings and terror, femme empowerment, all with a dash of Northern New Mexican cooking. ¡Buen provecho!”
—Ana Castillo, award-winning author of So Far from God
“A richly textured exploration of personal pain, trauma, and loss…capturing that slippery dreamlike beyond that people of color feel in our bones…Visceral and revelatory.”
—Cadwell Turnbull, award-winning author of No Gods, No Monsters
“Givhan’s River Woman, River Demon is full of unexpected magick, hauntings, and secrets as a woman makes sense of her past and her power. I loved figuring out with her what exactly she was capable of.”
—Sarah Blake, author of Clean Air
"“[A] thrilling tale…[A] wonderfully written Magickal ride full of red herrings, plot twists, and authentic Magick in the Shadowlands.”
—Jamie Della, author of The Book of Spells: The Magick of Witchcraft
“Jenn Givhan is a powerful conjurer of words. In River Woman, River Demon she has woven a tale rich in culture, folklore, and social relevance. Intriguing, suspenseful, and inspiring.”
—Rudy Ruiz, author of The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez and Valley of Shadows
“This book is a stunner. Thank you, Jenn Givhan, for creating a book of such power, spirituality, mystery, intersectional thoughtfulness, and resonance.”
—Angelique Zobitz, author of Love Letters to the Revolution
Marketing Plan
STARRED Kirkus Review!
Award-winning Mexican-American and indigenous writer
Perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic
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Official Instagram: @jenngivhan
Official website: www.JenniferGivhan.com
Also available: Jubilee and Trinity Sight
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781665057509 |
| PRICE | $28.99 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Heather F, Bookseller
This is a fascinating, immersive story of grief, violence, justice, and what people owe (or don't owe) to others. I'll be thinking about it for a long time to come, and I can't wait to introduce it to readers once it's out.
Alicia E, Reviewer
River Woman River Demon
By Jennifer Givhan
I was drawn to this book because of the amazing cover. I was so happy that I did. I loved this book, I couldn’t put it down. Eva Moon is an amazing character, she is dealing with her own issues. Now her husband is accused of killing their friend. Going on this journey with Eva as she tackles the past and the present and embraces her true self, makes for a bumpy ride at times. But such a good one! It’s tense, deep, beautiful and dark. Add in the Magick and you get a truly unstoppable story. Pick up this book, you will not be disappointed! Out 10/4
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reviewer 1008421
I know Jenn Givhan as a poet first, and I love when poets write prose. I found myself so delighted when I found myself spilling into the story, finding myself mixed into the complexities of the situation. I was hesitant at first because a review a little ways down made some mis-reads of the character, so I anticipated her to be in a particular way, but it turns out she was human and complex.
(I'd like to respond to the reviewer, who mentions blackouts--they aren't because of alcohol and it turns out misinformation from another character was being spread--but there isn't a way to reply. There are also reasons why the protagonist resists systems--POC are often mistreated in these situations, so she was being protective of her son, not herself.)
Either way, this is a sharp, good book, a perfect escape. I would have loved to see Jericho more--the way Eva describes him makes me want more of him. Perhaps we'll get a sequel some day.
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