Santa Muerte by Cynthia Pelayo

Santa Muerte Reviews

• 
  Sadie Hartmann

  Ariana (Ari) Molina has a complicated lifestyle unique to her situation. Her father is an agent investigating the Mexican drug cartel so Ari lives under an assumed name outside of Mexico for protection. She is discovering that taking down the criminals runs in her blood; she desires to be a journalist with an emphasis on how women are impacted by the cartel.
  Pelayo weaves into this cultural family drama, a dark, folklore element by way of Santa Muerte-the patron Saint of Death- a female deity that personifies death itself and haunts Ari via visions of her recently deceased mother.
  
  Someone told me this book was “YA” right after I posted that I was reading it. I felt like it was cautionary, “Heads up, this book is YA!” Three years ago, I might have avoided YA Horror out of total ignorance and an assumption that YA Horror is probably too “Horror-Lite”.
  After reading several YA Horror books, that stereotype is totally unfounded and SANTA MUERTE is proof. This book did not read “too young” or fail on any “grown-up” expectations. A story is a story, no matter who the intended audience may be.
  
  That being said, I cannot stress enough how important #OwnVoices told stories like SANTA MUERTE are to any genre and especially Horror. Cynthia Pelayo’s storytelling here is invaluable to all readers as she infuses this tale with Latinx culture and mythology in a supernatural/spiritual component to this family drama. Ari is a strong, yet flawed young, female protagonist that readers will be able to easily invest in and identify with.
  
  This story starts off strong with lots of tension, suspense, and dark imagery. Later, the pace slows down to allow for character development but I do feel that the lull lingers a little too long. I was eager to find my way back to that original flavor of dread. Toward the end, the pace quickens again and leaves the door wide open for more tales in this universe. As a first book in the SANTA MUERTE series, I feel it sets expectations and lays a foundation to be built upon. Pelayo’s lyrical prose is an asset to her storytelling voice proving she can draw from a mixed bag of skill sets in order to make this folklore come to life for the duration of a series. I’m eager for it!
  
• 
  Tracy Robinson

  I first read Pelayo’s work in the Both Sides anthology (edited by Gabino Iglesias) and immediately knew I wanted to read more from her.
  
  I loved the exploration into Santa Muerte and the cartels, the author does a wonderful job of weaving the two together. When the horror and action are ramped up, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. These scenes of the supernatural juxtaposed with crime are simply delicious.
  
  This is one of Pelayo’s earlier works, and while it wasn’t the perfect read for me, I know others will dig it. I’m fact, I’m looking forward to reading the second book in this series. Having read some of her later work, I can see how much she’s grown into her voice. She has a new novel, Children of Chicago, coming out from Polis Books in 2021 and I will be first in line to read it.
• 
  Janelle Janson

  Just over here searching for a copy of this book
• 
  Juan

  I just realized this is a "young adult" book, which is very likely why I didn't really like this book. No spoiler here, since you've seen the two stars. But let's see first what I liked about the book: the history and description of Santa Muerte, the folklore surrounding it, how it goes back to the aztecs, and how people deal with it, is probably the best thing in the book. The characters and setting feel quite real, either the Mexican or the American part.
  However, there are many more things I didn't like about this book. First and foremost, errors in the Spanish names and sentences! C'mon! "Amore" is Italian, not Spanish! There were several typos throughout the book, but many Spanish sentences contained grammar or spelling errors.
  Then, the resolution of the book was quite disappointing. The buildup was interesting, but 2/3rds into the book it loses steam, and starts to wander around, losing its path as an horror book or as a thriller. Revelations do not really change characters, and it eventually ends in a way that does not really solve anything at all.
  Anyway, the book it's OK. It's a nice pool-side reading, and the author shows a lot of promise.
• 
  Erica Robyn Metcalf

  Santa Muerte by Cynthia Pelayo is a gritty young adult mystery about how far people will go for what they believe in, even when death and violence is all around them, and both their nightmares and waking hours are haunted by spirits.
  
  I had to triple check the category of YA here to make sure I didn’t mis-read that. We all know how dark some YA can get, and this book certainly serves up a lot of darkness! As Ari is a young adult, don’t let that make you think she’s a silly teenager. This girl is so brave and strong. She isn’t afraid to push aside relationships in order to keep herself safe. She isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with some of the most powerful people. And she is determined to make the bad guys pay, no matter what.
  
  I had a blast reading this one! We already saw how powerful Ari can be so I cannot wait to see where the story goes in book two.
  
  This is a must read for fans of gritty and gut-punching mysteries packed with horror and sprinkled with uplifting moments of compassion.
• 
  Sonora Taylor

  3.5 stars. A fun read.
• 
  exorcismemily

  Setting this one aside - I like the idea, but it's confusing. I'll have to pick up the new edition one day.
• 
  Josh reading

  What a great read, I chose this as one of the books I would read to celebrate Latinx Book Month. I had been wanting to read more titles of Cina Pelayo after reading her excellent short story in the anthology Both Sides: Stories from the Border.
  
  This is the story of young Ari Molina, who was born in Mexico but was moved under an assumed name to Chicago to escape the violence associated with the Mexican cartels. The story focuses on Ari’s investigation into her mother’s death in Mexico and how it is tied to the cartels devotion to Santa Muerte, Saint Death. I really loved Cina’s descriptions of the cartel violence and how it has tragically impacted the lives of numerous innocents. It is obvious she has researched this topic at great length. I have recently discovered there is a sequel to this title and look forward to picking it up soon. I highly recommend this book especially for those looking to get a greater understanding and perspective of those whose lives have been massively altered by violence along the Mexican/United States border.
• 
  Kenneth Cain

  I received an ARC of this novel and was overall rather impressed with Pelayo's effort for young adults. Her voice is clean and it is obvious a lot of research went into giving the story a sense of realism. Ariana is a character you can root for and I think the YA population will relate well with her. There are some unnerving scenes and I believe fans of horror thrillers will enjoy this book.
• 
  Heather

  In Cynthia Pelayo’s Santa Muerte, 17-year-old Ariana Garcia is having visions, or maybe hallucinations. She starts losing portions of her days to them. Then she finds herself in her father’s hospital room. Reynaldo Molina is a Mexican agent–he fights the drug cartels, and he’s very highly placed. That’s why Ariana changed her last name and moved to Chicago; it’s possible Reynaldo’s enemies might come for her. Perhaps Ariana should be trying to stay away from anything involving her father, but she wants to be a journalist, and in particular wants to cover stories involving the cartels, the drugs, the gangs, the missing women.
  
  Ariana really doesn’t seem sufficiently shocked or concerned by the fact that she’s losing chunks of time and having hallucinations/visions. I’d be seriously freaking out if I were her. Especially since the visions are very odd and mysterious. They seem to be tied to a prayer card she finds in her father’s wallet, dedicated to Santa Muerte, a “saint” who can be appealed to for various favors. We never do find out why her father had that, although Santa Muerte keeps showing up in Ariana’s life. Ariana’s cousin Lynn, with whom she lives, just tattooed Santa Muerte on a man’s skin.
  
  Ari’s mother was killed 10 months earlier when she went back to Mexico to give a lecture. Another odd thread that never gets tied off is that her father says the person who killed her mother is dead, while a young man who works for her father says they just captured the man who killed her mother. (Or at least, if it did get tied off I must have missed it.)
  
  At one point we learn that someone called her school under false pretenses to get phone numbers and addresses of a handful of people. Despite the fact that they referred to Ari by her real name (Ariana Molina)–which is obviously something that should worry her–her school somehow knew to give out Ari’s phone number and address, even though they shouldn’t have known that “Ariana Molina” was her. There are just some rough spots and unanswered questions like this. They’re small things, though.
  
  We learn a great deal about the cartels in Mexico and how they’re tied to gangs in the states. Most of this comes in either during the initial parts of the story, or through a presentation that Ari gives to her journalism class. On the one hand this makes things very slow in those parts of the story, but on the other hand it’s interesting information. Whether you’ll want to read it depends on your preferences as a reader.
  
  The slow, minimalist buildup of “magical” elements is intriguing. I really like Ari as a character, and although I’d want to know more about him, I’m also intrigued by Marco, someone who wants to be her friend (or more).
  
  This is a good book, particularly if you want to learn a few things about drug-related crime in both Mexico and the US.
  
  
  Original review posted on my blog:
  http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/06/r...
• 
  Jennifer Soucy

  Folk-horror fans? Pick this up!
  
  Ok, so based on the title, it's fairly obvious I'm a huge fan of folklore and horror. Few others factors will reel me into a story faster. And when it's done well, I will be a fan of the author for life.
  
  Yes, Cynthia Pelayo, you have a new fan!
  
  Ari Molina's a hardworking teen in Chicago, trying to rebuild her life after a tragedy. But the hits just keep on coming. Her father is back in town and promptly is injured in a terrible car crash. He's also a drug enforcement agent in Mexico--obviously, a dangerous job which has already impacted their family in more ways than one. The worst--her mother recently was murdered by a cartel. And a new gang, the Latin Apostles, are devastating the Chicago streets she calls home. And everywhere she turns, death lurks... both figuratively and literally. Ari sees Santa Muerte everywhere lately, it seems--tattoos, gangster graffiti, cards, candles...and maybe even the figure of legend, herself. How do all these groups and seemingly unrelated crimes/incidents fit together? And is Ari haunted by nightmares from stress and grief or the real Saint Death?
  
  I enjoyed Ari's journey through this book. The folklore kept me riveted, and the horror scenes were top notch. If anything, I felt a few chapters dragged in the middle and a bit later. But it was still worth it for the climax which was...ok no spoilers, but let's just say it was disturbing yet moving. I'm hoping for a sequel, but I don't know if one's coming. Either way, I would love to return to this tale and learn more about Santa Muerte😃
• 
  Brennan LaFaro

  The cover of Santa Muerte pulled me in, because let’s face it, we judge books by their covers. The story kept me. This is one of those stories that emphasizes the importance of reading diverse voices. It takes place in Chicago, but tells an unfamiliar story.
  
  Santa Muerte focuses in on Ariana Molina, affectionately known as Ari. Her relatively comfortable life in Chicago is thrown into turmoil when she becomes targeted by some of the gangs her father, a detective, is working to take down in Mexico.
  
  Falling under the umbrella of a young adult novel, Santa Muerte has, in Ari, a compelling, strong female protagonist. Not the kind we so often see in YA that discover a previously unknown set of fighting skills and single handedly take down the cartel. Instead one that uses her wits and manages to maneuver through a variety of situations with guile and brains.
  
  The cartel addition was an interesting element, one that doesn’t always make its way into horror - YA or otherwise. Hence the reading diverse voices comment above. It makes for an interesting, and truly terrifying faceless threat. The lore surrounding Santa Muerte threaded throughout the book made for another unique element. A dash of supernatural dread sprinkled over an already suspenseful story.
  
  Cina Pelayo injects a lot of heart into her writing, making the reader feel it as they get to know her characters. Whether her prose or her poetry, this is an author well worth checking out.
• 
  S.H. Cooper

  This book ran hot and cold for me. While I enjoyed the broader aspects of it, especially scenes revolving around Santa Muerte, there were aspects I had personal gripes with, like characters who intentionally don't communicate. I also didn't care for the romantic angle with Marco as it felt very rushed and overly intense. There are some very creepy scenes in here and Pelayo does a great job of combining the real world horror of dangerous cartels with the supernatural. Ari is a believable, overburdened teen who you spend a lot of time just wanting to hug and I liked her drive and ambition (but please keep the 20+ year old guys away! She's 17 and in high school, my dudes). While it might not have been perfect for me, I do recommend Santa Muerte for others looking for a well-written YA horror with a smart female lead.
• 
  Laurel

  YA Latinx horror with compelling characters, a unique storyline, and lots of dread built in. I loved the concept of Santa Muerte and how it was threaded into a modern day thriller of danger and spirituality. In Ari, Pelayo has crafted a sympathetic, tough and believeable teenaged girl who's had to grow up well before her time. She's in danger from the gangs her father targets in his work as a detective working against gangs in Mexico, but isn't cowed by the violence she's faced with. The supernatural elements were subtle and enhancing. Easy to see why this was a winner in the International Latino Book Awards. If YA had been like this when I was a teenager, I would have actually read it.
• 
  Michael

  Good book. I enjoyed the exposure to different cultures and religious beliefs. I liked the first third of the book, even though it moved a bit slow. The second third, I had fun caught up in the plot and trying to figure out the moving pieces. By the end, I was constantly checking to see how much book I had left, because I didn’t see how everything could wrap up in that time (and also because I didn’t want it to end). Suffice it to say, the story line was wrapped up. Several unknowns were made clear at the end and a couple really surprised me. Very likable MC.
• 
  Emily

  Santa Muerte – 5/5
  By Cynthia Pelayo
  
  I loved this book. Having been trying to get my hands on everything that Cynthia has written, I was absolutely ecstatic to find this on Amazon and ordered it immediately!
  
  I loved all the facts and description that went into this novel – focusing on Santa Muerte and the cartels!
  
  I loved how essentially this was a crime thriller – but it evolved into an absolutely amazing story of supernatural horror and suspense!
  
  I look forward to reading THE MISSING – when I can eventually get my hands on it!
• 
  Kevin L

  I really enjoyed this story - it felt very immediate and real. I loved the Santa Muerte mythology and how Pelayo folded that in with the narco cartels.
  
  I’d have given this 4 stars if there weren’t so many typos and grammatical errors. This could have used more editing and proofing to take it to the next level.
  
  
• 
  Norman Miller

  Great characters and great story. If I had one complaint is the ending seemed to be too quick, but still a really good book.
• 
  Josef

  Ignore your fear of YA and Death, this is a great book! The start was a bit slow for me as it follows Ari Garcia, a Mexican high school senior in Chicago in hiding from the drug cartels. Having never been a Latina journalism co-ed, it took me a while to get into the groove. Once I did, it was worth the ride. Ari's life is isolated and low-profile until her father, a Mexican police official, is hospitalized in a car crash during a surprise visit to Chicago. Then the cartels, law enforcement, and occult visions of her dead mother and Santa Muerta (Saint Death, patron of criminals and fringe-dwellers) intrude into her world. She finds herself immersed in a nightmare where nothing of her life is as she imagined and nowhere is safe. Ultimately.her only way out is an unacceptable surrender. Catch this one, I'm off to read the sequel "The Missing" next.
• 
  Michelle

  I would recommend this book with an advanced child reader and any adult that likes books that tend to be labeled young adult.
  
  It is well written, holds your attention and leaves you wanting oh so much more.
  
  I hope a sequel is coming for the main character as I would love to see the story continue.
• 
  Paul

  This deserved another star, but I had to mark it down for all the typos.