Who knew a piñata could be so haunting!

After returning home from an eerie and unfortunate trip to Mexico, Carmen finds herself and her two daughters the targets of a malicious, ancestral spirit. Based around Nahua beliefs and practices, this story shows a sweet little girl's descent into violence and evil after she finds a cursed piñata.

Great character development and very creepy scenes which are as gory as they are mentally taxing for the characters. Gout used Nahua cultural beliefs to help frame the story and make it more real. I liked that I could still follow the story despite not knowing several of the Nahuatl words that were frequently used. They were used sparsely enough that they added cultural value to the story without making it unintelligible for people who don't speak that language (unlike Nothing But Blackened Teeth imo).
I found this book to be thoroughly enjoyable with unique story that kept me guessing and worried for the characters' wellbeing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for this ARC!

This was an incredibly creepy read! Some body horror parts made me visible squirm.

I read Ghost Radio by this after a while back and I really enjoyed it! I would definitely read more from him in the future.

Much slower than I expected, but the historic dig parts were very good.

Definitely a new take on possession horror. I feel like the writing was a little much sometimes, but written almost like a screenplay.

**3.5 stars**

Piñata was a different kind of possession story than we normally see and it was a good read. Carmen was a bit unlikable, Izel a typical annoying teenager, and Luna a sweet, innocent kid just ripe for something to latch onto. There were a few parts that could have moved along faster but overall a good book. I recommend if you’re a horror fan that likes demonic possession stories, though this one has a twist from the usual. I love stories and movies that involve the Aztecs, etc and this story does not disappoint with that.

I partially listened to the audiobook so I could hear the correct pronunciation of the language. The audiobook narrator’s accent added to the story but her voice was a bit grating at times. I checked out a physical copy from my library and boy, was the font tiny! If a bigger font was chosen this book would easily have been 400 pages or more.

**Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

There are lots of reasons I can see someone picking up this book, it presents itself as the story of a divorced mom with two daughters encountering the terrible wrath of ancient Mesoamerican people murdered and tortured by the Spanish explorers and Catholic religious leaders who came to the Americas with nothing but colonized bigotry in their hearts. Something of an ancient ancestors versus modern colonized descendants story, it is, however, also not one that really holds up either that ancient culture or the many strengths of its still very much present cultural heritage or the truths of either era of Nahuatl culture. Where we could have had a strong story presenting elements of the religious and societal structures which actually existed instead of those stereotypes about the culture recorded by the very hands that harmed them we find something of a Mesoamerican Indian burial ground trope rolled into The Exorcist and centered around very flat and honestly sexist female characters we don't really know or care about apart from the young girl who is all too quickly swallowed up by the darkness just as we get to know her. Female incompetence in the forms of unreliable single mother who leaves her kids alone constantly, tropey elderly stairfall and foreshadowing delerium affected granny, lovestruck teenager who first never cared and then flies toward and away from her sibling on whims, innocent girl who is too open to the world and falls victim to evil because she's inquisitive and intuitive in a way only allowed for boys, and magical psychic indigeneity all show up here. There is also a very clear focus on imagery and scenes over context, story building, and logic which hugely distracts the reader from fully engaging with the narrative, and an all too clearly rushed ending to the book. As someone who enjoys a good revenge arch, cultural deep dive, and strong female narratives this was all too disappointing.

I was excited about this book as I'm trying to read more possession novels. However, this one kinda dragged and it wasn't as thrilling as I anticipated.

I got The Exorcist from the opening. Although as I went along I felt a little lacking in my read. I think personally I would have loved a little more horror. The story with the Mom and her daughters did play on, but a little too much. Unfortunately, this one did not hit the mark for me.

DNF @ 20%

The writing style is preventing me from finishing this book. I think the plot sounds solid: a young girl getting possessed while in Mexico and bringing the demon back with her to New York. However, a fifth of the way into this novel and, essentially, nothing has happened yet. Being over 60 pages into the book and we haven’t even read the event described in the book blurb… how long till I get there? 100 pages in… 150??? I guess I’ll never know.

The plot is held back by the inclusion of way too much insight into every character. It’s pages upon pages of character backstory, and a lot of it is repetitive. Even if someone is mentioned one time, I suddenly know where they were born and what their parents did for work. Why? It’s so frustrating to read. I know as a writer it’s important to know your characters, but you don’t need to include all the details for your readers, especially if it isn’t relevant to the plot.

Along the same vein, every single thought has a lengthy explanation to it. In one scene, Carmen wanted her daughter’s Inez and Luna to help her with the dishes. Suddenly I’m learning how they don’t help much at home, but they should while she’s on this work trip. Again, several pages justifying why a mother is calling her two daughters to do dishes. It’s important to establish characters, relationships, and personalities, but it can be done so much more concisely.

I checked out some other reviews before continuing, and I’m seeing the pacing being mentioned as an issue in most of them. There might be a gem of a story waiting in the later pages of this novel, but I’m unwilling to read through sludges of exposition and superfluous detail to get there.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publising Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an absolutely fascinating horror novel! It was a good but tough read. I wasn’t familiar with a lot of the terms and indigenous acts and ceremonies, so I kept setting the book down to go research some more because I wanted to fill gaps in my knowledge base. That said, you don’t need to do that, this book gives you plenty of information. It’s just a me thing I think. The writing drew me in and the whole plot line was great. With history and religion full of their own horror stories, it was a great read taken from those areas of our past and blended with our present.

Carmen has always been the odd woman out as an architect and being a woman and from Hispanic origins. So when an opportunity arises to go to Mexico to direct a build, she jumps on the chance to show her daughters about who their family is and where they are from. But something attached itself to her youngest and came back with them.

Loved the mixture of cultural appreciation and absolute horror.

There is just something about a creepy kid that makes things so much scarier for some reason!

This is a great book that really kept me thinking long after I finished the last page.

✨ Review ✨ Piñata by Leopoldo Gout

This starts slow but by the entire second half of the book, I was on the edge of my seat. Gout super smartly weaves in themes of colonialism, history, and historic trauma in this horror tale of possession.

Carmen and her daughters Izel and Luna are spending the summer in Mexico as Carmen supervises the renovation of an abbey into a hotel. Spooky things start happening and eventually crescendo out of control.

I don't want to give away too much from the story, but I thought it was clever in how it juxtaposes the history of piñatas, colonialism, and Nahuas in the contemporary world. I also thought it did a great job at speaking to the historical drama faced by Nahuas, Mexicans, Mexican Americans, etc. etc. in Mexico and the U.S. today. Themes of migration, colonization, religion, tourism/appropriation, etc. are woven throughout.

The book regularly changes POV -- I got to 10 or 11 and gave up counting -- some POV's only appear for a few pages, others are for much more, and while noting that this could be confusing over audio, I really appreciated the flexibility this gave in letting us see through different people's perspectives.

Giving this one 5 stars for how it had me holding my breath, frantically flipping pages to find out what happened next!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: horror
Setting: Tulancingo, Mexico and suburb near NYC
Reminds me of: The Haunting of Alejandra / V. Castro's writing
Pub Date: 2023

Read this if you like:
⭕️ slow burn horror
⭕️ reflections on impact of colonization and historical trauma
⭕️ spooky possession stories
⭕️ Mexican and Nahua history and culture

Thanks to Tor Nightfire and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

DNF

I got through about 10% of the book and couldn't motivate myself to pick it back up. It's definitely one I would like to try again in the future since it has gotten a lot of rave reviews.

"Piñata" by Leopoldo Gout is a possession story that stands out in the genre. The narrative follows single mother Carmen and her two daughters during a work trip to Mexico, where Carmen is overseeing the renovation of an old church. Rich descriptions of Mexican and Aztec lore infuse this horror novel with an eerie ambiance, featuring creepy history, unsettling insects, and eerie children that will keep you reading with the lights on.

It's been a while since a book has given me the creeps to the point where I had to pause reading at night. The story weaves a tapestry of history, lore, and religion into its pages, immersing the reader in a world that feels vividly alive. The writing, while not overly descriptive, strikes the right balance, making the setting come alive. Furthermore, the novel seamlessly incorporates themes of colonialism and social commentary against the backdrop of Mexico, providing an engaging layer of depth. For history enthusiasts, the meticulous attention to detail in the book is a real treat.

"Piñata" is a slow-burning narrative that gradually builds tension until it reaches spine-tingling heights. Multiple perspectives add depth and dimension to the story. Carmen, in particular, is a compelling protagonist, grappling with the inner conflict of whether her decisions are in the best interest of her children. This inner struggle resonates, and the addition of possession amplifies the complexity, making her character relatable despite the supernatural elements.

While I hadn't read anything by this author before, I was impressed by the writing. The overall execution of the story is well-crafted, delivering an engaging and memorable reading experience.

Piñata overall felt like it was meant more for the screen than the pages of a book. With that said, it was still an engaging book looking into the continuing horrors of colonialism. Yet it did still leave a lot to be desired and explored.

We meet the Sanchez family first on a trip to Mexico as the mom goes to work on an Abbey that played a past role in the colonization of the country.

The first half of the book drags on to set the scenes for the second half. We learn a little bit about the Nahua and their history tied to the land. The daughter of the family is at risk for being possessed and it's clear this will happen at ome point but it isn't really until the last 50 pages that something does. The book is pitched as "Mexican Gothic meets..." but lacks the atmosphere that Mexican Gothic builds.

Either way I had a lot of fun reading the book and appreciated its insights. I wanted to learn more as I read and wish it took the time to delve into more but oh well.

The best Mexican lore horror novel I've ever read, right next to Mexican Gothic..

I love a creepy and dark possession story, and I got what I was looking for with this one.

Possession, weird relics, darkness, and death. It's got it all.

Not only were the characters incredibly real and relatable, but the entire story was a learning experience for me learning about a different culture. I absolutely loved the switching timelines that kept things interesting and exciting. This is almost a historical horror, and I loved every minute.

I was so excited to be able to get a copy of this book before release day. I had seen a lot of hype and I think it didn't fully lived up to the expectations but it was a great read. I love the indigenous representation for the Hispanic community. I don't see it often and less in English. I loved the characters specially Luna, she has my heart. Im team ignore any spooky activity and I loved to see where that gets you here. It is a slower start and then the end packs a punch. I think It does a good job and getting you to care and then scaring you to your core. you might want to look at trigger warmings. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone with patience and a not fragile stomach.

Carmen Sanchez accepts a job overseeing the renovation of an old church near her hometown in Mexico. She sees this as the perfect opportunity to have her two daughters, Izel and Luna visit their home country and experience the culture. Soon after her arrival, Carmen begins to feel the hardships of being a woman running a construction site in the midst of men who don't trust her. The city is also more dangerous than she thought and Carmen feels bad for leaving Izel and Luna on their own all day. After an accident on the construction site that nearly injures Luna and opens up a part of the church with lost relics, Carmen and the girls head back to New York. However, while in Mexico, Carmen was warned of an evil that has attached to Luna and it seems that it might have followed her back to New York.

From the prologue, I was drawn into Pinata with the revenge of the Nahuas god and a culture that may not be as lost and forgotten as many believe. The story is very character driven and Carmen's character is very well done. I enjoyed her complexity and multiple viewpoints; she is a single mother, a Mexican woman, an immigrant and works in a male dominated field. Carmen was very aware of her position and the very real dangers that could be in front of her. The paranormal danger snuck in and built gradually throughout the story in a way that I wasn't quite sure if it was threatening or just a resurgence of what once was. Through the glimpses into the past, I did like learning about the Nahua culture, food and practices. There was horror built into the very real decimation of the culture by the Conquistadors as well as the story of the spirit that attached itself to Carmen's daughter. A gruesome and satisfying ending rounds out an intriguing novel of ancient retribution.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

An absolute incredible gripping and haunting story. Gout draws you in INSTANTLY as he lays out the dark and forgotten history of piñatas and their relationship with the colonization of Mexico and how it all ends up affecting the lives of a small cast of characters in the present day, Carmen, Luna, Izel, Yoltzi, Quauhtli, and Father Verón.

This book, much like V. Castro’s Goddess of Filth, is possession horror at its FINEST layered with a beautiful and rich indigenous history lesson that will make your heart weep.

Educational, heartfelt, and horrifying. I was holding my breath until the very end.

I loved this book! It took me some time to get into it, BUT it was very fast-paced, and addictive. You find historical trauma, battle between good and evil, revenge against systemic violence.. It was great, with a strong atmosphere of dread. Highly recommend.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Piñata by Leopoldo Gout. I was drawn to the gorgeous cover, and pleased to find a historical, Mexican, possession novel that was out of the ordinary.
I enjoy history in my horror novels and this one taught me about the indigenous Nahua people of Mexico, which I had known very little about before. The plot follows Carmen, a Mexican-American woman returning to Mexico to renovate an old church that has a history of erasing and condemning the indigenous Nahua people. When an artifact is unleashed, a spirit goes after one of Carmen's daughters. All the characters must work together to save her.
I didn't find the book very scary for me, but I still enjoyed the scary scenes. It also felt a bit too long and drawn out in places, so it took me a little longer to finish. It's not perfect, but definitely a good read for those who like history and horror.