Thank you to Tor Nightfire for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Piñata by Leopoldo Gout is a terrifying horror book set in Mexico. The story revolves around Carmen Sanchez, a single mother who has brought her daughters Izel and Luna from New York to Mexico in an attempt to reconnect with their roots. While her teenage daughter seems to be over the trip, her younger daughter is enjoying herself. But when the excavation site that Carmen is working on uncovers an ancient magical relic, Carmen learns firsthand that there are terrifying gods and monsters in the world. Can she save her family from forces from beyond, or will she lose the people she treasures most?

Here is a horrifying excerpt from the Prologue:

"The boy swung and connected with the pot, immediately dropping the stick, hoping that he had fulfilled the request. But the friar continued to shout, and grabbed the stick from the ground, shoving it back into the boy’s hands, pressing firmly so he wouldn’t drop it again. The boy hit the pot once more, weeping between shallow, shaking breaths. He shut his eyes tight, but Melquiades guided his hand, rendering him unable to stop. Suddenly, with a final strike, the pot, the piñata, cracked and broke. Flesh, entrails, and a deep burgundy syrup of coagulated blood poured from the shattered base of the piñata. The shrieks of the children grew louder, watching and wailing in their hopelessness. Their ancestral ceremonies were very similar, cracking the pot at the feet of the god as an offering to Huitzilopochtli, but even the children knew that their old ways were being perverted by the friars. These conquerors made them waste the offerings, spilling them to the ground in the process of forgetting."

Overall, Piñata is a fantasy-tinged horror book with non-stop chills and thrills. As you can see above, one highlight of this book is the horrifying opening. The finale is just as scary. Another highlight of this book is the middle-aged single mother as the main character. I don't see this a lot in books. One last highlight is the brief looks at colorism and colonialism, which are super important topics to read about. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that the summary talks about things that don't happen until halfway into the book, I would just skip the summary if I were you and dive into the book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of horror books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in March!

First of all I'm a huge fan of anything possession related, curses, folk horror, demons free on Earth, dark chaotic apocalyptic tales; especially if it teaches me something. Piñata by Leopoldo Gout is an unflinching look at the brutality of the Spanish conquest of the Americas. The ferocity of the prologue really got to me. The meaning behind the title of the book becomes quickly apparent. I could visualize the entire event. (Trigger warning for violent child abuse/death). The transition from an origin story to seeing a piñata through the eyes of our main character's child Luna was a perfect juxtaposition between then and now subtly setting the scene for the rest of the story.

This isn't an action packed storyline but the spectacular "boss battle" ending makes it all worth it. The meat of the book is mostly character driven, with a slow pace. It's a shift from the violent prologue to the more lurking violence of modern day. I found the main character Carmen to be easily identified with both as a single mother seeking to pass on her culture and the struggle as a working professional. Yoltzi is a young woman with the gift of Sight. She can feel an inhuman darkness at work throughout her city. After a chance encounter with Carmen's daughter, 11 yr old Luna, she has a vision of a tzitzimitl (Aztec skeletal diety) following Luna. Can she help Carmen and her daughters before it's too late?

The smooth, slow way the author lets us get to know his characters and the history/culture, the ghosts and unusual visions, the psychological trauma resurrected and "possession" themes (both literal in terms of the conquest and religious) are just a few of the reasons I loved this book. I didn't expect this depth from a horror novel but I should have. Folk horror as a subgenre does tend to draw old gods into the light of modern life in a thought provoking way. I will truly never look at a piñata the same way again and the poetic perfect ending MADE the book. I was at 4 stars until that fantastic ending pushed it up to perfection. If you're a fan of all that then Piñata by Leopoldo Gout is a must-read.

Gout brings a unique spin to a familiar genre, interweaving the frightening realities of colonial terror, generational trauma, and anti-immigrant sentiment into this slow-burn, Exorcism-style of possession horror The story follows Carmen, an architect and single mother, who uncovers a disturbing fragment of history in Mexico while restoring an old cathedral. Ancient Aztec and Nahua myths clash with settler colonialism both past and present as Carmen and her girls are pursued from Mexico to New York by an ancient curse. Gout is especially skilled in the art of foreshadowing: dropping ominous imagery and portentous visions like breadcrumbs that slowly coalesce into something visceral, violent, and terrifying. I also loved how Gout leans into the complexity of history, calling out atrocities of the past while reflecting on the pitfalls of absolutist morality. This is especially reflected in the character of Father Veron, a Catholic priest representing an order that directly contributed to the genocide of thousands of indigenous Nahua, who nonetheless sacrifices greatly in his attempts to save Carmen and her daughters. It can also be seen in Carmen herself, and the tension she feels between her strong cultural identity and her status as an expat interloper in a society she doesn't always understand. There's also heavy use of insectoid horror in this one: I'll never look at grasshoppers and butterflies the same again.

This book was horrifying and I don't think I'll ever recover. I had chills while reading this. Please send help.

Dark, brooding and so original. Fans of horror won't be disappointed! I was thoroughly invested in the journey of the main characters and all of it felt very satisfying in the end. Highly recommended.

Known more of his work as a filmmaker and visual artist, Leopoldo Gout is a writer from Mexico City whose work has been in exhibitions worldwide. I had not heard of him prior to learning about "Pinata," and as it turns out, he has written other books, including Ghost Radio.

Although it may seem an obvious comparison and I feel it's important not to lump folks from the same or similar identities together, Gout's work shares several aspects of award-winning director and storyteller Guillermo del Toro. It has been wonderful to see so many more Latinx/Latine authors in horror and crime fiction from Gabino Iglesias, V Castro, Angel Luis Colon, to Cina Pelayo and many others.

In "Pinata," the reader follows a woman, Carmen, who is in Mexico working on an abbey as one of the architects. She has come from the States, and worries about her daughters, including Izel and Luna. Things turn to the supernatural with Yoltzi and Quauhtli, workers involved with the abbey. Yoltzi thinks the young girl, Luna, is in danger, and that she gives off a kind of light that attracts tzitzimitl, a demon. She has more conviction in gods, demons, and darkness along with terrifying visions based on Aztec beliefs. The text also explores differences between the Nahuas and Mexicas, cultural differences, linguistic, as well as splits in belief of specific gods.

Fans of religious, and in particular, demonic and exorcism horror, will find much to love about "Pinata," which combines well-worn tropes with interesting additions.

I appreciate the opportunity from Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley to read an e-ARC of this work. Piñata by Leopaldo Gout takes an essential pivot away from its predecessors, such as The Exorcist. A quintessential mix of ancient and modern culture, as well as the dichotomy between the two, Piñata makes an entertaining read.

New York architect Carmen Sanchez accepts a job organizing the reconstruction of an old church in Mexico into a franchise hotel for her client. Carmen’s excitement to share her home country with her two daughters, Izel and Luna, slowly deflates to terror as her family becomes the target of a primeval malevolence.

Gout poses a thoughtful narrative of anger and vengeance, colonization and estrangement from one’s roots. Without these motifs, the story would be somewhat predictable. Overall, it was worth the read and a lot of fun!

The prologue is delightful. It definitely has some creepy parts & I love how it talks about colonialism. Three of the main characters are female & maybe it's just the books I'm reading but I find a lot of horror to be male centered so I appreciate the change. When a male author writes women they have a tendency to sexualize or infantalize them but this author did well. I'm not very familar with Mexican culture but reading about various cultures is valuable - even in horror. I did find it a bit slow at first but it picked up nicely. Overall a great read & I love the cover.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor, & the author for an ARC copy!

So I love horror movies, but I've been having trouble getting into horror books. I love jump scares and really vivid, gruesome scenes, and books just haven't really been able to DO IT for me, ya know?

Piñata got me on one level, and that was the gruesome scenes. The author has a way with words when describing horrific things, and it really got me going. The prologue sets the stage for a no-holds-barred, gruesome tale. It gave me nightmares, no lie. The thing is, the actual HORROR aspect, the mounting fear, the build-up, didn't really happen. I picked up more on the sociological themes than the horror, to be honest. It brought up a lot of interesting points around colonialism and the erasure of cultures. This story is so rich in cultural references. Most of the time, the social commentary made sense within the story, but there were a few times where it took me out of the mood and made me question why it was mentioned at that particular point.

Overall, I would recommend this book! It's a fun read, and worth it if you enjoy vivid, grotesque descriptions of creatures and other things.

This book is amazing!! It's nearly perfect in every sense. The descriptions are beautiful and grotesque. I got to learn a lot about a different culture, which is always exciting. Y'all should read it, seriously. If you love unique horror and rich lore preorder this book.

The cover art gave me Alien and Predator vibes. Carmen and her daughters Izel and Luna move to Tulancingo, Mexico for an architectural job transforming an old church into a fancy hotel. A workplace accident reveals a small hidden room in the church, containing an old pinata. This is a pinata made of clay, and unknown to anyone there, it contains an ancient Nahua spirit that is determined to destroy the world.

I enjoyed the first part of the book, when the family was exploring the Tulancingo and learning new aspects of the culture. The Nahua were an old race that was conquered in the 1500s. Although there are still Nahua people around, it seems they have for the most part been assimilated into other cultures.

The second half of the book takes place in New York after the family comes back home. It quickly becomes apparent that Luna is different. Her family and some friends they made in Mexico work together to save Luna and prevent the end of the world. The horror grows in the second half, with some interesting body horror.

I received a free copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

No Brightly Colored, Candy-Filled Party Game
What an excellent book! It’s part historical fiction, part coming of age story, part mythology and folklore, and part horror, and I could put it down.

I loved that Carmen wanted to share a connection with her family heritage with her girls by bringing them with her when she went to Mexico for her job. I most enjoyed and identified with Luna, her youngest daughter, who loved the immersion into the geographical and cultural environment of the village. But, despite Izel's teenage reluctance to embrace their loss of “civilization,” it’s Luna who ends up creating trouble.

This trouble begins before they leave, but once back home in the States, it explodes into a nightmare. There’s violence and supernatural suspense that made my time reading feel too short. It’s an original, scary, and satisfying story told by a skillful author, and I recommend it highly.

I received a free advance reader’s copy courtesy of the author, Tor Nightfire, and NetGalley, but my endorsement is my own, without obligation for the gift.

If you remember Poltergeist the movie and loved it, then this book is for you. While it doesn’t describe a haunted place, it does use a haunted object. Aztec gods are seeking revenge and utilizing an ancient piñata as the doorway to our world. Unfortunately for Carmen’s family, her daughter Luna is the gateway chosen to bring the revenge of the gods.

While working on an architectural project in Mexico, a piñata was found in a walled off area of an abbey being turned into a hotel. Luna unsuspectingly is drawn to this object and things go down hill from there.

There are many references to Nahua culture that are fascinating as well.

I really liked the writing and the characters. Especially, the family dynamic between Carmen and her two daughters. I liked the pacing, except I thought there was too much happening too quickly near the end. Overall, if you're looking for a good, creepy horror book, I'd recommend this.

Horrific and creepy, but a little mundane. It's definitely a culture rich story, I loved the history and how it touches on the effects of colonialism, but the pacing just wasn't for me, a bit too slow.

Well that was chock full of some of the most grotesque, innovative horror imagery I've seen in a while! The layers of colonialism, the violence of Christianity, and myth are all so well done. The prose is a little flat at times but I believe this is the author's first novel, so that's understandable.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

This book had me on the edge of my seat with the horrific imagery. i appreciated reading about the history and effects colonialism had. Really interesting! Highly recommend this book!

This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes things are better left undiscovered, like the piñata in the church. Carmen learns this when, while restoring an old abbey in Mexico, she unearths something that should have stayed buried. After leaving Mexico with her daughters and going back to the states, something followed her which threatens all existence.

I wanted to like this so much more than I did, unfortunately it just didn’t deliver. It was creepy definitely, but I didn’t feel it like I wanted to. There seemed to be a lot of storytelling that didn’t enhance the story but made it a bit muddled.

I did enjoy the mother, Carmen and her struggles and frustrations regarding being a mother and a woman in the workplace. As well, some of the secondary characters were interesting, even if they weren’t entirely necessary to the plot.

Overall it was a creepy book with an interesting story.

Piñata by Leopoldo Gout is everything I could’ve asked for and so much more! Great storytelling and world building. I’ve become so enamored by the native culture and beliefs of the people that call Mexico home and this book does an amazing job of showing the conflict between The Sanchez’s and the Gods that are coming for their family. I give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to everyone!

★ ★ ★ ★/5

From what I’ve seen so far, readers either love this or hate this.

This is a slow burn, that really takes its time in the first half going into the characters to provide background on the culture, context behind the parts the characters will play in the storyline and set the scene which I think was important to the the second half of the book to bring everything full circle.

I was immediately drawn in by the prologue, which perfectly sets the expectation for what’s to come.
Also just want to add that the cover is somehow even better and more spooky after finishing the story and under standing the references in the visual.

While this is a classic case of possession, the cultural and historic approach to how this comes about is unique and refreshing. The writing style read clear and vividly in my head, I was able to “watch” this play out in my head as a read through the pages which I think made this that much more enjoyable.

The only reason that this isn’t a five star read to me is the ending felt a bit anticlimactic. For all of the build up and all of the back story, the close out chapters fell slightly short. However, this entire book as a movie done right, WHEW, INSANE.

Definitely worth a read!


thank you Tor Nightfire for this ARC, courtesy of Net Galley . Publication date for “Piñata” is March 14, 2023.