Dnf @ 49%
There is such a thing as too slow of a burn. This book is dragging so much that it’s putting me in a reading slump.

Although Leopoldo Gout has a few books behind him, I first came across him way back in 2008 when he co-authored one of the excellent YA science fiction series Daniel X: Alien Hunter with James Patterson. Five other novels have since followed, including thrillers, horror and YA fantasy, before his latest release Piñata.

Advance praise has connected Gout to some very big genre names, including Paul Tremblay, V Castro and Stephen Graham Jones with “A Head Full of Ghosts meets Mexican Gothic in Piñata, a terrifying possession tale….” being one of the memorable quotes. These are honest and accurate comparisons and if you are a fan of these three authors there is a strong chance you will enjoy this book also.

I thought Piñata was a very solid read, but it failed to blow me away as I felt I had travelled across this type of territory many times previously. Ultimately it concerned a cursed or haunted piñata, with some social commentary thrown in about colonisation and the struggles of women in Mexico. Some of the non-supernatural sequences, and particularly the disintegration of the family unit with the mum struggling to succeed at work, were more powerful than those with the possessed girl, which is territory ploughed thousands of times since William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist.

The story kicks off with single-parent Carmen Sanchez returning to her Mexican homeland after many years away to supervise the restoration of an ancient abbey which is being converted into a hotel. Carmen might be Mexican, but she is still seen as a foreigner and struggles to manage the male dominated construction crew who are not used to taking orders from a woman. A decent sized section of the novel focusses on this part of the story with every clash increasing Carmen’s anxieties, which is amplified by the fact that in her time away from Mexico she has forgotten how dangerous her homeland truly is. A multitude of missing posters and never-ending newspaper stories of murders, torture, rape and kidnappings only ramp-up her anxieties and was a threatening backdrop adding a threatening level of atmosphere to proceedings.

At no point in Piñata is Carmen not stressed and whilst not much supernatural happens in the first half of the novel with the plot edging into a family kitchen-sink drama. Her surly sixteen-year-old daughter Izel wishes she was back in New York, whilst her bubbly eleven-year-old Luna is much more open to embracing local culture. Carmen’s permanent state of anxiety tested my patience, forever getting stressed when she lost sight of her daughters on multiple occasions and did not let them wander outside unaccompanied, which particularly riled the teenager.

Whilst Carmen continues to clash with her site foreman an accident at the worksite unearths a stash of ancient artifacts in a hidden room, including a very old piñata which had some connection to religion before the arrival of the Spanish colonists. What followed was fairly predictable with the object beginning to change the normally bubbly and open Luna into a much darker character. These family moments were very nicely handled, even if it took Carmen an age to accept there was something wrong with her younger daughter. Even though the elder daughter Izel was self-obsessed and not particularly likable she was very believable and a perfectly pitched teen who came into her own when she realised things were going south with her normally happily go lucky younger sibling.

Other local characters are thrown into the mix who are aware of the pre-Spanish culture and superstitions, including a clunky and unnecessary storyline involving a coyote journey into America. For the main characters the second half of the plot makes a smooth jump back to New York and some of the school scenes involving Luna, her classes, teachers and bullies were amongst the strongest in the book as they nicely clash the supernatural with every-day events.

Piñata was an entertaining possession novel which even though did not do anything especiallu new was a diverting read which made good use of a threatening Mexican location, taking characters out of their comfort zone and provides uncomfortable moments when lovely Luna turns into something significantly darker.

Gout has delivered a creepy and entertaining story. An exploration of religion and colonialism all while being entertaining and providing content for nightmares! Looking forward to more of this author’s work.

I love that this is a non Christian possession story! it's more rare to read them and I love a different view of the phenomenon of possession. Gout's writing is fantastic and just pulls me so deep in the story every time I sit down to read. This was such a phenomenal read

First off, I would like to thank the author, Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for a review. I was very excited to see this book on NetGalley because I had just enjoyed reading a previous book by this author, Ghost Radio, earlier this year. I loved the premise of Ghost Radio, but felt that it was not as scary as I was expecting. Pinata is plenty scary. This was a 5 star read for me.

Single mom Carmen Sanchez returns to her native Mexico to oversee a renovation project for her New York architectural firm. The renovation is of an ancient abbey into a “destination” hotel in Tulancingo, Mexico. It is an important step up career-wise for Carmen. The job should last the summer so she brings her two daughters Izel,16, and Luna,11. She hopes that her daughters can learn about their Mexican culture and roots. Izel really only wants to be in New York at theater camp with her friends, but Luna is very open to everything about Mexico. Maybe a little too open. Once there, pretty much everything spins slowly out of control. The final straw is an accident at the worksite and Carmen is called back to the New York office. Something else returns to New York with them!

This was a very well done, slow-burn horror story. I cared about Carmen and her family. I cared about their allies and friends. I loved that I learned some Mexican history and mythology. I also think I would pass out cold if I see black butterflies in the near future…

🪅 BOOK REVIEW: Piñata by Leopoldo Gout 🪅

From the publisher: “It was supposed to be the perfect summer.

Carmen Sanchez is back in Mexico, supervising the renovation of an ancient abbey. Her daughters Izel and Luna, too young to be left alone in New York, join her in what Carmen hopes is a chance for them to connect with their roots.

Then, an accident at the worksite unearths a stash of rare, centuries-old artifacts. The disaster costs Carmen her job, cutting the family trip short.

But something malevolent and unexplainable follows them home to New York, stalking the Sanchez family and heralding a coming catastrophe. And it may already be too late to escape what’s been awakened…”

🪅🪅🪅🪅🪅🪅🪅

This book was absolutely perfect, and if it doesn’t become a possession classic, then there’s something wrong with the reading public. The prologue alone was one of the most satisfying things I’ve read in some time.
I have a particular love for stories about moms and daughters, especially when there’s a major external complication. And boy, is there a complication here! Gout’s dialogue is so good and genuine that it’s sometimes easy to forget this is more than a family drama—until an absolutely nauseating image jumps off the page at you. Piñata has some of the most stomach-churning and spine-chilling imagery that I’ve read in a while, but it’s also gorgeously cinematic and moving.

For fans of SGJ, Paul Tremblay, cursed objects, ancient religions, and The Exorcist.

🪅🪅🪅🪅🪅/5

Thank you @netgalley and @tornightfire for the eARC

#bookreview #leopoldogout #leopoldogoutpiñata #arcreader #tornightfire

I really liked this novel by Leopoldo Gout. It's my second book read by him. I liked Pinata much better than the Ghost Radio.

I thought the pacing was great! From the first chapter I didn't want to put the book down. I wanted to know more about the Aztec history. I thought it was really well researched! I also loved the character of Carmen. I thought she was a well written woman. I loved her relationship with her daughters Luna and Izel.

The book had some pretty scary moments but I did wish it was a bit more scarier.

I always love discovering new authors in horror and I am so excited that Leopoldo Gout is now on the scene!

My favorite thing about reading this book was learning more about Mexico's rich history and culture. Fiction novels are wonderful teachers when the author allows them to be and I am thankful that Gout took the time to educate us!

I also greatly appreciated the character development in this novel. I felt connected to the main characters and deeply invested in their journeys because I could relate to them in a lot of ways.

Leopoldo Gout's Piñata wraps indigenous Mexican culture, ancient Nahua history, erasure, xenophobia, colonialism, and current discussions on sexism and misogyny all into a possession revenge story. Many of the topics that Gout touches on and discusses in this horror novel are timely and timeless. He has a skill at creating environments that engulf you as you read. Sadly, these aspects were drowned out by the slow pacing for the first 70% of the book as well as the repetitiveness from some of our characters. I always knew when a bit of information was "important" because it was usually given by the same character two to three times. Most of the action didn't take place until the last 25-30% of the book. It felt like going from a crawl to being shot out of a cannon. The change in pacing through me off a lot and at some points felt like another book entirely. One thing that surprised me the most however, in the best way, was how well Gout wrote our mother character, Carmen. She was amazingly believable as a single mother both in the way she was presented but also in the way she worried about her daughters and if she was doing enough/the right things by them. Much of her inner dialogue I have had with myself as a single mom and it was amazing that she was written so vividly by a male author. Kudos.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the exciting opportunity to read this before release.

A single mother struggles with connecting to her native country while trying to encourage her daughters to stay connected to their ancestry. A work trip to Mexico seems the perfect opportunity to do this, however perhaps they are about to be “too” connected. The ancestors are not resting easily, and they are about to find out just how dark their anger can grow.

A fantastic own voice’s narrative, I left this novel equally creeped out and feeling like I had much to learn of other cultures.

I really, really wanted to like this book. You’ve got the horrors of colonialism, sexism, misogyny, a single mom who’s a working professional and raising two girls on her own, racism, xenophobia, the current situation in Mexico with the cartels and widespread disappearances of females of all ages, the duplicitousness of coyotes when it comes to ensuring immigrants cross the border to the US safely, and the deliberate erasure of the true histories of where we all come from, even though your average child knows history is full of war and sacrifice.

I didn’t like it. It had some of the most uneven pacing I’ve ever seen in a horror novel. Once you start to build the dread you can’t just take a break from building the dread. The dread needs to keep building. That line needs to be tight, with only a little slack so the reader doesn’t get overloaded while reading. This book has dread build and stop. Suspense build and stop. This book should have made me feel like something was crawling slowly up my spine from the inciting incident. Instead, it would start to climb and then stop completely for pages and pages before it would start again, but in a different way and at a different speed. If I’m reading horror, I want to be scared, not annoyed.

There was also something about Gout’s writing that struck me as uncomfortable to read. I think there’s a formality to it that makes the book feel stuffy, or like a shirt collar that has been ironed with too much starch. It made me feel like I couldn’t take the book seriously because someone needed to let him know it was okay to relax and let the words flow instead of ensuring they were in absolutely perfect form at all times. The dialogue was done very well, but the narrative didn’t match up, and it created a disconnect that just made me groan.

I also think the book is a touch longer than it could have been due to filler material. Some scenes were unnecessary and some sections were longer than I thought were needed.

But the history research done for this book is impressive, and it’s definitely an interesting read. I seem to be rather in the minority in regards to my opinions about this book so maybe pick it up and give it a try. It may be your yum.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All ideas, thoughts, views, and opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you. Owing to personal policy, all reviews 3 stars and under will not appear on any social media or bookseller websites. Thank you.

I enjoyed this story. It has a lot of horror and suspense, and I believe if you like these element you are going to enjoy reading this story. I will be looking forward to more of this author’s writings.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review

This is an absolute beautifully written novel, and I loved it so much. I think one of my favorite things is the flow of the writing, how the author gives you different perspectives from each of the main characters, from the family and close acquaintances that are involved. While doing so, I never once was confused about who's perspective I was following.

The slow burn of the haunting/possession and the denial from the mother in the beginning and from everyone around to the point of absolute chaos. The imagery is insane, creepy and unsettling. The use of bugs, and the skin melting away to bones on the old lady's face.

I loved each of the characters we followed in this story, the dynamic of the single mom with 2 daughters at/near teen age and the daily life issues, the stress of her job and traveling, the fear of being somewhere foreign, you can easily connect.

If you like The Exorcist or Poltergeist this is a fantastic modern novel to try out!!

Out March 14, 2023!

3.5 stars, rounded up

I really enjoyed the premise of this book and was along for the ride! So many things to learn about Nahua culture and the creepiest folklore it has to offer.

Carmen Sanchez has been assigned as project manager for updating a crumbling cathedral into a swanky hotel. She has brought her two daughters along for the summer and is trying to introduce them to their Mexican heritage while balancing the stresses of work. An accident happens at work, exposing her family to an ancient evil.

The relationships between the women in this book were fantastic, I think this is really where the book shines. We have excellent mother/daughter relationships and their grandmother was an amazing aspect as well.

The only issue I had was with pacing, I think the story would have benefitted if the Sanchez family had stayed in Mexico. All the travelling brought the story to a standstill a few times.

💛🧡🖤💛🧡🖤💛🧡🖤💛

Pinata is a recently released, spooky, toe-curling and thought-provoking Possession Horror story from the mind of Leopoldo Gout. My initial attraction was to the cover. I mean, look at it!

Then I read the synopsis and knew it was something I wanted to pick up as soon as possible. I'm so happy I did.

In this story we follow single-mom, Carmen, and her two daughters, Izel and Luna. Carmen works for a prestigious New York design firm, who have projects all over the globe. Carmen has been assigned the role of site manager for a renovation project in Tulancingo, a city in the Mexican state of Hildago.

Specifically, the project is the renovation of an ancient abbey into a modern hotel, while trying to adhere to the original beauty of the space. A project Carmen is passionate about. Carmen is excited for the project for a number of reasons. It's a challenging renovation and a big step-up in responsibility for Carmen. Additionally, she gets to bring her daughters, so it's a chance for them to be exposed to the culture of their ancestors.

As they move into their little rental, Carmen is excited with the possibilities the summer holds for them. There's trepidation too, of course, it's a city after all and the girls will be home alone during the day while she is working. With this in mind, Carmen does set up some ground rules for the girls. They know not to leave the house on their own, or to open the door to strangers.

We follow Carmen as she deals with the girls, the local workers and the stress of her job. We also see how the girls are adjusting to their new environment and we meet a few of the local characters with ties to the abbey and its history.

On a day that the girls visit Carmen at work an accident occurs, which ends up exposing a hidden tomb packed full of mysterious, ancient artifacts. Unfortunately, that incident changes everything for Carmen and her girls. Although her employer doesn't necessarily blame Carmen for the accident, they need to pull her from the project, for optics, thus cutting Carmen and the girls' trip short.

As they return to New York, Carmen's concerned about the future of her job. What if she does end up getting fired? How will she provide for them?

Additionally, the girls seem to be taking the change hard. Particularly, Luna, normally bright, bubbly and out-going, now is distant and morose. What's going on there?

Things go from bad to worse for the stressed family, as violent incidents occur both at school and at home. People are getting hurt, worse even. Carmen begins to suspect that something is seriously wrong with Luna. When Izel opens up and shares her concerns about her sister with her Mom, Carmen can no longer ignore it. They need help. They need to free Luna from whatever has taken hold of her before it's too late for them all.

I loved the way Gout told this story. The settings were distinct and I enjoyed getting to know the characters, particularly Carmen and her girls. It's a very family-centered story and I was definitely along for their journey. I felt the writing was descriptive in a way that helped me to picture everything perfectly in my mind. I would love to see this adapted to film. I think it could really translate well to that format.

The tension builds rather nicely and as you get closer to the end, it starts to get quite anxiety inducing. Things definitely snowball quickly once they get back to New York and actually, for me, that did throw the pace off a little. The initial build-up, the family's stay in Mexico, it takes its time. The stage is set in a slow-burn fashion, but then the conclusion almost feels too rushed in comparison.

With this being said, I still feel like the concept, character work and themes explored were all really well done. I loved how Gout included the historical and cultural aspects to the story. For me, that made it stand out from other Possession stories I have read.

Overall, I feel like this is a memorable and engaging story that I am proud to have displayed on my shelves. I definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a solid Possession story, or dark fiction involving heavy historical, or cultural, components.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Nightfire, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This was a highly anticipated release for me and it did not disappoint!

Piñata by Leopold Gout was one if my most anticipated horror books of the year, and unfortunately it fell flat for me. Described in the synopsis as a haunting/possession story, however nothing really happens until the last 40 percent of the book. And while I do enjoy a slow burn horror, this was lacking the buildup and creepiness I was hoping for.
I did enjoy the Aztec and Mexican history that is within the story, and the second half of the book did have the horror element I was missing in the beginning.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Piñata in exchange for my honest opinion.

Leopoldo Gout's novel is brimming with Mexican folklore and revolves around a mother, her two daughters, and an age-old being. This horror novel gradually increases in suspense, with some truly eerie moments. The writing was solid and the general plot was intriguing, yet it felt like the novel never truly got going for me. However, if you're into folk horror, I would definitely check this one out!

Thank you to MacMillan and NetGalley for providing a digital ARC!

“I’ll wipe your despicable religion from the land and make a new holy empire from the rubble of your satanic temples. You savages believe in blood sacrifice do you? You think the blood of your people carries the same weight as the blood of Christ?”

Carmen and her daughters Izel and Luna travel to Mexico where she is overseeing the refurbishment of an old church (built from the colonized ruins of an ancient pre-hispanic temple) into a hotel. Due to some unfortunate circumstances at the work site she ends up having to go back home to New York and when she returns she notices her youngest daughter is… different.
There is so much to unpack with this book, Sadie Hartman (who I consider my own personal guide when it comes to all things horror) described it as a blend of the Poltergeist movie and the book Goddess of Filth by V. Castro and I can not think of a better or different way to describe it. I devoured this book in less than a day, it is a little bit of a slow burn at first but once Leopoldo unleashes the terror he really doesn't stop. On the one hand he unflinchingly covers the everyday terrors that so many in Mexico have to live with: the never ending femicides, the senseless cartel and gang violence, the predatory coyotes taking advantage of people. Then you have the supernatural terrors; the way he used Mexican folklore to weave a new take on a possession story was so good! I learned so much about piñatas from this book, like I legitimately had no idea what the origins of this ritual that I've been doing since I was a child were! I don’t want to say too much about the horror bits because I don’t want to give anything away, it’s something that you’re just going to have to experience for yourself! And trust me you definitely should!!

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for the digital ARC, this was one of my most anticipated books of this year!

4.5⭐️

The first thing about this book that caught my attention was obviously the cover, but close second was the fact it involved a kid. Not a huge fan of kids, but possessed kids? Sign me up.

Carmen Sanchez is helping to renovate an old cathedral into a hotel in Mexico, where she’s from. An accident at the location reveals an ancient piñata from the times of colonization from Spain. Carmen thinks only about her future in the field, but her poor daughter Luna starts changing in ways that are more than just puberty.

I quickly fell in love with Luna. She reminded me quite a bit of myself when I was young; interested in everything and always wanting to learn more about the world. I also saw myself in older sister Izel—someone who has lost their intrigued spirit. And then I saw myself again in Carmen, someone who just wants to get by day by day keeping her family safe.

I really enjoyed this book. I learned a lot about Nahua culture, and wrote down many more questions to be like Luna and research later. Piñata is a book that not only spooks, but it tugs at your heartstrings as well. And there’s some pretty gross parts, so a full horror trifecta.

Thank you to Net Galley and Tor Nightfire for the chance to read this advanced review copy.

TW/CW: body horror, blood, death, gore, genocide, colonization, racism, sexism, misogyny

"Piñata" begins with Carmen and her two daughters staying in Mexico while Carmen, an architect, oversees the renovation of an old abbey into a hotel. When a wall collapses to reveal a room that wasn't on any of the abbey's blueprints, it releases more than just a flurry of dust and concrete.

I loved loved loved this book! It was perfectly paced with a tight plot and compelling, complex characters. In some ways, it is an extension of a classic horror trope; someone discovers an old relic in a dusty basement/attic/etc, and everything goes off the rails. "Piñata" is a refreshing interpretation of that trope that deepens it to deal with questions of colonialism, historic and contemporary racism, and trauma. The relationship between the family was realistic and touching, the rich basis in Nahuatl history and culture solidly rooted the plot, and the themes of anger and trauma were deftly handled.

I cannot recommend this book more! You'll like this if you like horror based in culture/history, horror that deals with themes of colonization and trauma, or just a book with a fast-paced scary story.