| Title | : | Children of Chicago |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1951709209 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781951709204 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published February 9, 2021 |
| Awards | : | Bram Stoker Award Best Novel (2021) |
Children of Chicago Reviews
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CHILDREN OF CHICAGO is a delicious blend of police procedural, fairy tale, and psychological horror story.
I listened to this book on audio, joining the Horror Aficionados group read, where the author was nice enough to join us and answer any questions we had. (This is a lovely feature we have every month, you should join us!).
The tale itself was intricately woven, hiding its secrets deep and only letting them trickle out a little a time. I felt for some of the characters right off, and in certain examples, my feelings towards them in the end were completely different. I love when that happens! To me that shows the author has a deft hand in manipulating my feelings-the hallmark of a great story-teller.
I loved this story with all of its twists and turns, but what I did not like was the narrator. Of course, narrators are a highly personal thing and you may love her. If my reading schedule had been a bit lighter, I would have switched from the audio to the written version. However, the story was so compelling I stuck with it and I'm glad I did.
I think Cynthia Pelayo is an author to watch, mark my words.
*I bought this audio from Audible with my hard earned cash.* -
Cynthia Pelayo’s CHILDREN OF CHICAGO blurs the line between a realistic, modern, police procedural thriller and magical realism. In this tale, Pelayo sets the stage on the streets of Chicago with all the loving details only a resident could replicate so vividly. Readers will feel like they’re riding shotgun with detective Lauren Medina as she navigates neighborhoods and crime scenes investigating the brutal murder of a teen.
Medina is burdened by her own family trauma and the recent passing of her father. The tension and frustration build as Media’s co-workers, fellow police officers, treat her as this fragile woman who can’t possibly be in the right frame of mind to be of any use to the investigation. But Medina has special insight and a keen eye that serve her well when it comes to the unusual circumstances of the case. Her tenacity and unwillingness to be brushed aside make for a vibrant, interesting character who clearly loves her city (and coffee) and the children that call it home.
Horror fans will enjoy the Pied Piper fairytale tie-in. It’s reminiscent of other evil entities that can be conjured or summoned in a time of peril or need like Bloody Mary, Candyman, or Slender Man. This book satisfies on a variety of levels: The true-crime style police work and investigation chapters are fast-paced and engrossing. The characters interact with each other in a way that feels authentic to their relationship with one another. When the POV shifts to the chapters following a group of children, Pelayo’s storytelling voice transitions into a tone that appeals to coming-of-age horror fans. Toward the end of the book, the pages turn wildly in a frenetic race to the finish. The last 50 pages are to be devoured.
Recommending to fans of true-crime, police procedural thrillers, fairytales, urban legends, horror, and coming-of-age. -
I struggled with writing this review and let it really bake in my head before putting it in words. I am a fan of Cynthia Pelayo's poetry and INTO THE FOREST AND ALL THE WAY THROUGH made my Top 20 of 2020 list after it broke my heart. With those same emotions carrying me into my venture of her fiction, I am saddened and disappointed to report, this didn't work.
What I liked:
The idea that Pied Piper was real as a tulpa like entity that acted in ways similar to the fairytale.
What went wrong:
I am not going to point out every issue I had but I will touch on the big ones. First, the dialogue was stiff. I was constantly getting slapped with the uncomfortable awkwardness every time characters interacted. It became very distracting. Second, the main character wasn't just unlikeable, she was hateable. After the events of 2020, I suggest all authors proceed with caution when creating a problematic law enforcement officer character. We got the cliche overworked and emotionally distant detective, but we also got some blatant human rights violations that were skimmed over as being justified. Third, the narrative was chunky especially when it came to explaining Chicago history and the connection between the fairytale and Lauren's case. I feel many times I was told it was connected rather than shown how it was connected.
I feel as if I was given the chance to beta-read a first draft and can see so much glowing potential in this story. Then I am highly disappointed that this will be the final cut as I feel it isn't representative of Pelayo's talent. My decision was hard, but after much thought and a huge HIPAA violation, I DNF CHILDREN OF CHICAGO at chapter 16. I want to know who the Pied Piper is and if he will be stopped, but I do not care to struggle to find out.
For the potential I can see in this even though I DNF, I gave CHILDREN OF CHICAGO 2 stars.
Thank you NetGalley, Polis Books/Agora Books, and Cynthia Pelayo for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. -
I never knew that is a dark side for fairy tales, and, reading this book made me look for the folklore. I found it more than interesting. This book is a grim retelling of Piped Piper story with lots of horror elements. Great read!
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the free copy. -
Sometimes, you review a book and you’re all cool – like, why yes this certainly deserves five stars.
Sometimes, you’re more like THIS IS FIVE FREAKING STARS AND CAN THIS ALSO BE A MOVIE PLEASE?!?!
Yup…this is the latter.
Children of Chicago can best be described as Candyman meets Slenderman meets The Brothers Grimm…but with a style all its own.
This is a sharp, dark, adventure of a read that you will not want to put down.
I finished this a couple of weeks ago, but haven't had time to review it until now and I still think about it. This one will get a reread.
So, yeah. FIVE. FREAKING. STARS.
• ARC Provided via Net Galley -
STAR review in the January 2021 issue of Library Journal:
https://www.libraryjournal.com/?revie...
Three Words That Describe This Book: strong world building, relentless place, harrowing
Draft Review:
Lauren Medina is new to the rank of Detective in the Chicago Police Department but her roots run deep as the daughter of a CPD legend. Dealing with her Dad’s recent death, the dissolution of her marriage, and a history of trauma involving the death of her mother and sister, Medina immerses herself in her work trying to stop the epidemic of violence against Chicago’s children. But there is a dark force stronger than any gang, and powered by Grimm’s Fairy Tales, stalking its young victims, and Medina unfortunately knows the Pied Piper, his strength, and the great cost of weidling his power. Pelayo, a lifelong Chicagoan presents a well researched modern fairy tale, peppered with nuggets of fascinating information that inform the story without sacrificing the pace or atmosphere. Even more remarkable is how she works the unreliable narrator trope, expertly from the first page to the final shocking twist. Verdict: With superior world building, a relentless pace, a complex heroine, and a harrowing story that preys off of current events as much as its well developed monster, this is a stellar horror novel that fires on all cylinders from the first page through to its horrible conclusion. For fans of dark fantasy based on fairy tales such as Maguire’s Wayward Children series or novels by Helen Oyeyemi with just the right touch of Paretsky’s VI Warshawski. -
"Children of Chicago," or at least the version of it which I read, is a rough but promising first draft. It is nowhere near ready for publication in February of next year. It requires intensive copy editing, not just to remove sloppy typos like "fury skin" but to delete all the carelessly Googled factoids dropped into random points of the narrative in order to provide atmosphere but turning the book into a series of Wikipedia articles interspersed with a predictable horror plot. Some of the haphazardness, like "Guy Legend" (that's the name of the club, not the singer), is just stupid. And some of it, like naming a teenage murder victim "Hadiya" after the very real Hadiya Pendleton, is offensive, and must change.
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"The man snarled, Of the Devil’s power and wickedness here I will tell you a story, I gnawed on their bones... The man in the black suit produced a bloodied toe with a flourish, with his right hand and dropped it onto his black tongue and crunched."
We all know about the urban legends that travel from person to person when we were younger. The stories that often got crazier and more horrifying as the next person relays what was told to them but with more added to it. We've all gone to parties where we dared one another to turn off the lights, light a candle, look into the bathroom mirror, and mutter the name Bloody Mary, Candyman or even The Pied Piper who was going to pop out to get us.
There's a part of us that doesn't believe in the hype of some eerie being that is supposed to kill us when we summon them but there is also that tiny little part of us that is intrigued enough to call to them in the dark and wait for their response. But what happens when you call on it and it appears? What happens when that urban legend isn't false at all?
This was pure insanity and utterly creepy. There were moments that I was reading where I felt a tad bit creeped out and then I swore that I heard someone hiss and then some footsteps followed while I was the only one home. That is what this book did to me, it made me anxious in my own home. That's the kind of story that I need more of. I love it!
RTC
Just be careful about who you call on for help. They may demand something more sinister in return. -
Cynthia Pelayo combines police procedural with suspense, horror, and a fairy tale to give you a dark genre-bending tale, perfect for readers who eschew cookie-cutter books. Perfect for X-Files fans.
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Not Your Parent’s Pied Piper
I just finished, Children of Chicago, by Cynthia Pelayo and I was very impressed. Her take on the old Pied Piper Fairy Tale was original and heart stopping. I particularly liked the way she made Chicago such an integral part of her story. It was like the city was a character in itself.
The way she weaved a police procedural into a horror was masterful. As I noticed I was coming towards the end of the book, I found myself wishing it was longer so it wouldn’t end so soon. Kudos to Cynthia for writing such a great tale of mystery and horror.
Wherever they may be, the Brothers Grimm are smiling. -
2.5 stars. I really liked the fairy tale elements in the book. The premise of the Pied Piper being real and offering children a solution to their problems is brilliant. It's cool to see how his influence is reminiscent of Bloody Mary and Slender Man. Some scenes are spooky with hints of fantasy which I enjoyed.
However, I wasn’t a fan of the superficial handling of issues like gang violence and poverty. Instead of proper characterisations, we get Wiki-like infodumps of Chicago’s history. I also have a problem with the portrayal of the main character, Lauren. As a POC I'm tired of stories about police aggression so reading about Lauren abusing her authority and intimidating people (including teenagers) was unpalatable. Especially since there's no repercussion to her actions. I also found the ending unsatisfying. Overall, a dark fairy tale entry with real-world touches that might entertain other readers, but not for me.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.
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What a great book!
Grimm's fairytales in Chicago (with a side of Law and Order)
Highly recommended! -
4
Cynthia Pelayo's new novel follows homicide copy Lauren Medina, who followed in her father's footsteps after the tragic death of her sister and stepmother. Several bodies have turned up with a "Pied Piper" tag at the crime scene, Lauren knows what has been unleashed on Chicago, and it's a race against time against this ancient force. She has come to terms with her own relationship to the Pied Piper many years ago.
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As someone who went to college near Chicago (but spent a lot of time there), it was great to see a story that featured the city so much. I enjoy a good procedural, so that part of the story was interesting. Lauren is such an interesting character who has a lot going on. I don't think she's meant to be likable and that's okay. There were some great horror scenes that felt cinamatic in the best way. Pelayo writes from a place of expertise and while that shines through in this book, it also had parts that were a bit info-dumpy. It slowed down the pace of the story in certain parts. Overall really liked this, a great modern horror fairy tale story -
This book was a mess. Candyman meets Law & Order: SVU with near constant asides from the Chicago historical society. Every turn of the plot was obvious from page one and the dialogue was so gratingly awful that I'd cringe any time a character tried to emote. If I'd not been listening to it on a long commute I never would have finished it.
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More like this please! I loved this story! Cynthia blended real life and fairy tales together so well. I would love to read or listen to more stories like this.
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Cynthia Pelayo is here to remind us of the message within The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Keep your promise. Pay what you owe. Otherwise, he will take your children.
The storyline of Children of Chicago is an incredibly promising one. The creepy foreshadowing kept me turning the page and Pelayo successfully created some vividly chilling horror scenes. Her idea here was creative and, had I liked this more, I might even call it frightening. I think, at the very least, the story started off well. Beyond that, there wasn’t much that I enjoyed.
The writing is terribly choppy. It was confusing at times because of how poorly connected the structure seemed to be. Mind you, I did read the ARC and perhaps the final product will be cleaned up a bit. But, in terms of flow, this reads like a slow drip from a leaky faucet.
This often felt less like a story and more like a deluge of information. Some of the info dump did benefit the narrative, but most of it bore little to no relevance. These drawn out details weren’t interesting to me. It’s possible that this could have been an effectively creepy novella, but as a full novel with so much filler, I was mostly dissatisfied.
I tend to gravitate toward retellings of old, familiar stories. I love inventive new twists on tales that have long intrigued me and I always appreciate the fun nods toward the originals. Although the author did build a unique story around The Pied Piper of Hamelin, there weren’t any subtle nods. Instead, readers are continuously told where the inspiration was drawn from, which didn’t just revolve around The Pied Piper, but other classic tales and movies as well. I like it when authors trust their readers enough to draw parallels and trust themselves enough to build a story that doesn’t require overexplaining. I hope Pelayo will gain that confidence as a writer down the line, but I didn’t see evidence of it here.
While the conclusion was certainly shocking, it was the type of ending I despise and, even if I could have applauded its disturbing nature, there were aspects that just seemed silly to me.
Reviews like this will always be my least favorite to write. I take no joy in criticizing, but to tell you I felt differently about this book would be a lie. Despite my feelings on it, I’m still enthusiastic about reading Pelayo’s poetry book Into the Forest and All the Way Through. I’m not writing her off as an author just yet.
The experience one has with a book is largely influenced by what they hope to get out of it. If you’re looking for some brutal horror surrounding an eerie concept, I’d say you should still give this one a chance. You might find you like it better than I did.
I am immensely grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for my digital review copy. All opinions are my own.
You can also find all of my reviews and other fun bookworm content here:
https://www.facebook.com/abookishbutt... -
Children of Chicago has been on my most-anticipated list since I first read about it on Twitter. I absolutely adored Pelayo's crime poetry collection (Into the Forest and All the Way Through), and after reading the synopsis, I was thrilled to be approved for this title. Out in February 2021, but I could not wait that long to start reading.
Detective Lauren Medina is grieving the loss of her father when a young girl is found dead. In and of itself, this is tragic but not unheard of. The city is no stranger to violence. What Medina finds concerning is a piece of graffiti in close proximity to the body. PIED PIPER, it reads, and while her new partner believes this to be another tagger making a name for himself, Medina suspects there's something more to it. She's seen this before, in her own tragedy, and as more kids wind up dead, Medina dives headfirst into a world of myths and legends. Fairy tales, it seems, may be more than stories told to children to teach them lessons. Sometimes, they are alive, and they are hungry.
I loved this book.
As a protagonist, Lauren is one of the most authentic voices I've read in a long time. She's passionate and smart and driven yet deeply troubled. I wouldn't say flawed--that word doesn't quite encompass the layers of turmoil she struggles with--but hurt by multiple things in her past and aware not only of the damage that has been done, but her own walls she constructs to compartmentalize and protect herself. At times sarcastic and lighthearted and others gritty and raw, Lauren is a strong character demanding to be heard.
The plot, too, I found fast-paced and engrossing. The Pied Piper is as exciting as he is terrifying, and there are a few choice moments that will squeeze the bravery right out of you. Pelayo breathes fresh life into this well-known classic. I'd go so far as to say this isn't a retelling, but a studied portrait of oral tradition and its effects on culture. There are some truly fascinating details here, and I think this will appeal to a wide variety of readers, both literary and leisure.
At its core, this felt like a complex and honest love letter to Chicago. An infamous city with centuries of history, Pelayo gives us both the good and the bad, the magic and the murder. We see Walt Disney and H.H. Holmes. We see fairy tales, but we also see monsters. We see a city plagued with crime and gangs and hardships--but we also see concerned neighbors. Small kindnesses. Every day acts of decency that are as much a part of Lauren's story as her work in homicide.
Overall, Children of Chicago is a taut, thrilling, insightful read with more than a story to tell. Trust me when I say this is one you don't want to miss.
Huge thanks to Polis Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration. -
Note: Children of Chicago is a genre blending work that is intended to include elements of non-fiction, crime, mystery, thriller, and horror.
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This was my first Cynthia Pelayo read and I wasn't disappointed. I picked this after going through certain book blogs and now I'm convinced to read more of her work.
The narrative of the book is very clever and since the beginning, little crumbs of hints are laid by the writer that a ( very alert) reader can pick but such is the masterful narration that the reader pays least notice to these crumber.
Oh, my my! I must say what an ingenious piece of crime fiction. Just when I thought Cynthia Pelayo couldn't get any better, I read this work of hers.
You're in for a real treat if you decide to give this book a shot. And you know what? You SHOULD. You cannot love dark fantasy and not read this one. So go ahead, prepare to have your mind blown.
A great three days read for me.
The book is good, holds the interest. Nothing seems worthless as the narrator never beats about the bush. There's something of value in every line, every gesture and remark. So keep your mind open while reading.
What sets this book above many of the excellent other Cynthia Pelayo books is the twist at the end and the change in format to her other books.
Highly recommended ! -
What Cynthia Pelayo accomplishes in CHILDREN OF CHICAGO is remarkable. Pelayo seamlessly blends genres, merging borrowed components from police procedural, historical non-fiction, and urban horror. Simply having the ambition to attempt such a complex feat would warrant praise in its own right. However, the fact that Pelayo masterfully spins all this into a successful narrative is outright impressive. Pelayo writes with confidence as she plays the role of our tour guide, educating us on the rich history of Chicago, and chauffeuring us through the dark underbelly of the city.
CHILDREN OF CHICAGO's premise might sound familiar on the surface (urban monster preying on the civilians of a city), but as we delve deeper into the story, we realize Pelayo has constructed something entirely original. It borders labyrinthine, the way Pelayo sews together a canvas of twisted fairy tale wonder.
Chilling and astonishing, CHILDREN OF CHICAGO is a showcase of limitless talent. Make no mistake, Cynthia Pelayo is a powerhouse of a writer, and I can't wait to see what she and Chicago have in store for us next. -
Children of Chicago borrows from the Grimm tale "Pied Piper" and twists and bends it to fit the horrific teenager killings taking place in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, signed with the graffiti "Pay the Piper". Detective Lauren Medina who is in charge of the case has many demons of her own and one of them just might have to do with what happened at Humboldt Park. Following her through the investigations, slowly unfolding the mysteries of that unfortunate night, doubts will unfold if she really is the right person to treat this case.
Not all is what it seems here! Cynthia Pelayo's crime/mystery/horror mash-up should be a real treat especially for horror fans who like fairy tales - it doesn't only borrow its main storyline from the tale of the rat catcher, there are also tons of talks and thoughts on fairy tales in general, and the Grimm brothers in special, and how terrifying these stories actually are. -
As a lifelong Chicagoan who LOVES Chicago history, a lot of the information in this book was either wrong or unnecessary. Still can’t get over the fact that this book references John Wayne Gacy, one of the most infamous serial killers of all time, and SPELLS HIS LAST NAME WRONG. Same for mentions of the Bradley sisters, who somehow get named the Brady sisters. Also not crazy about the police brutality, and it seems unlikely that a 25 year old would make detective AND still be on active duty after killing FOUR people in police shootings.
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3.5 Stars
This was a unique novel that blended a horror narrative into a classic police procedural. I enjoyed the main detective who shares my love of coffee. The fairy tales were easily my favourite aspect of this dark and imaginative story. At times the narrative felt fragmented and the writing was not particularly strong which held this book back from being a favourite. Regardless, I would still cautiously recommend this ownvoices horror novel to another looking for a fresh story. -
I enjoyed this one, and I'm really looking forward to reading more from Pelayo.
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An unbelievably spine-chilling, modern take on the Pied Piper fairy tale. It's a story that follows the life of Lauren Medina, a Chicago police officer with a dark past. She is investigating the murders of high schoolers in the Chicago area that are starting to have startling similarities to the murder of her own younger sister two decades prior. As events begin to unravel it will be up to Lauren to figure out what she is forgetting about her past and how it connects to the cases of modern day, and she has until the Pied Piper comes for what is his. “The Children of Chicago” by Cynthia Pelayo is an absolutely breathtaking story and you will find yourself wanting more by the end.
I was given an Ecopy of “The Children of Chicago” to read and review by Netgalley and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I genuinely enjoyed this story. If you’ve read the concept of a supernatural/thriller about the Pied Piper it kind of makes you scratch your head at what a strange idea it is. But as with all things in my life I went into it feet first not knowing exactly what to expect. I mean, if we are going to be realistic for a second the idea of a adult book having a fairy tale element can either be a huge flop or a huge success and I fully believe “The Children of Chicago” will be a success.
It has everything you crave and need in a good story, three dimensional characters who are deeply flawed, a bad guy who messes with you when no one else can see him and lastly just really good writing. Cynthia Pelayo has remarked before on the podcast “Books in the Freezer” that she used to be a journalist and it really shows in her writing. There is no messing around. She gets to the point while informing the reader and playing out the events in the story as though they are in real time. I personally wouldn’t be surprised if this is what skyrockets Ms. Pelayo to the best seller lists and hopefully a movie in the future. All in all it was everything I could have wanted and everything I didn’t realize I needed. Happy Reading! x -
3.5 rounded to 4. It took me too long to get back to this after reading it in February. That said, it says something about the power of this book that I remember everything I want to say because I still think about it from time to time.
Children of Chicago smashes genre expectations as Pelayo moves between them to create something fresh and unique. A blend of fairy tale, horror, police procedural, and dark urban fantasy, readers should expect to find something in these pages they'll love. For me, the horror parts and the main character (she is a terrible person and I love her so much and I ADORE that Pelayo held nothing back with her) are favorites, as well as the way the inherent darkness of fairy tales is woven throughout.
Pelayo has quite a lot of the history of Chicago in this book. And knowing a little about her, it is her love of this place that prompts this inclusion. For me, it seemed too much at times and I found myself taken out of the story. Not because of the information itself, but the way in which it was inserted was a little jarring. There are, however, plenty of people who love this part of the book, so please know this was just my experience. In fact, here's a review from another reader who LOVES this part of the book:
https://www.scifiandscary.com/childre...
I have read several of Pelayo's pieces, from her first book Santa Muerte, to short stories, to poetry, and I will say again I love watching the progression of her work. Looking forward to what comes next! -
4.5 stars rounded up!
Despite the downsides of Chicago seen here, in the news, and elsewhere, this book really made me want to visit even more. One can tell Pelayo has a true love for the city despite the painful downsides here and there. I believe this is my first crime book with paranormal and horror elements, and I really enjoyed it. The protagonist's struggle made me want to keep flipping my electronic pages to see if she could conquer the Piper.
I read some other reviews, ones which are more analytical and critical, and I didn't experience the same issues they did. The dialogue seemed accurate/natural for the tone and profession. And not every story needs to have perfectly lovable characters always behaving perfectly and succeeding in most aspects. I know many reading fiction is escapism for many, but sometimes ya gotta stab your readers in the eyes, so to speak, to wake some up to the realities of Chicago, and life as a whole. I respect Pelayo's decision to do these things despite the outcry of the upset few.
Looking forward to her future long fiction books. -
A very interesting combination of your typical detective story with an investigation, interviews, suspects and supernatural horror. A twist on fairy tales and a dark retelling of the Pied Piper. Similar to Bloody Mary or Candyman if you call the Pied Piper it will have consequences. Nothing is for free.
Lauren, a coffee addict and detective that has to prove daily that she knows how to do her job is trying to leave her traumatic past behind but she will be confronted with it and will not be able to hide from it anymore.
Apart from the murdered teenagers, we also follow some students that are aware of the tales that are being told about the Pied Piper.
We get to explore in depth the origins and possible theories about where fairy tales come from. There is so much information about that and about Chicago, the city history and crime gangs that the book started to feel too info dumpy for me and started taking me away from the thrill and the tension of the investigation. -
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. Great re-telling if the Pied Piper story. Great descriptions and I loved that it was horror and crime combined. Truly a rewarding read
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Kids are killing kids with increasing frequency in Cynthia Pelayo's grim Children of Chicago. What sets their crimes apart from the gangland shootings, though, is the presence of graffiti giving credit to the Pied Piper, a diabolical entity most commonly known from the pages of a Grimms' fairy tale. Within a single centuries-old collection of these stories is a single black page with an English poem that provides instructions for contracting the services of the Pied Piper, who will kill other children for a price.
Although billed as a crime novel, Children of Chicago is a horror book through and through. While much of the story is relayed through the eyes of a corrupt and abusive homicide detective, Lauren Medina, and does contain some street-level procedural elements as she works to build the case and get to the bottom of what's happening, it also contains plenty of vividly gory imagery and an unrelentingly dark atmosphere, in addition to plenty of supernatural scares that wouldn't be out of place in A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Medina herself is a fascinatingly complex and deeply troubled antiheroine, distrusted by both her fellow police officers and the public at large. Many cops can go an entire career without discharging their firearm, but Medina has been involved in an usually high number of officer-involved shootings. Pelayo makes it plain that this character is little more than a thug with a badge, one who goes to great lengths to use people to further her own ends. That Medina still has her badge is an indictment of modern law enforcement standards, and in an era where police can, largely, kill Black Americans with impunity is hardly an exception, but seemingly the rule itself these days. It's an indictment of not just the police but of the cities that allow such cancers to thrive unimpeded.
As a Chicago native, Pelayo clearly knows and loves her city, warts and all. Yes, Chicago is a deeply troubled city, but also one with an intensely rich and storied history. This city is practically a fairy tale all its own, with its beginnings as a collection of steel towers in the middle of a prairie - an Oz-like visual that served as inspiration for L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. But despite the mythologizing and magic of this man-made city, it also has a dark and troubled underbelly of serial killers, gangs, and mobsters. Through Medina's eyes, Pelayo makes the case for why Chicago is the perfect place for fairy tale horror, infusing the story with the city's own rich history. As a bit of a history nut, I found a lot to appreciate in Pelayo's asides to Chicago's past, but at times these factoids did feel a bit forced and overbearing, even as they help showcase this city as a character in its own right. And make no mistake, Chicago itself is every bit as central a character as Medina herself; the two are deeply interwoven and mirror each other perfectly with their darkness and hidden joys.
Children of Chicago is an intensely bleak and thoroughly compelling work of horror, one that twists and expands the Pied Piper myth into a compelling 21st Century monster with shades of Freddy Krueger and Candyman. But like some of the best monster stories, the most inhuman horrors are the people themselves.
