This anthology blew me away and resonated with me deeply. It’s difficult for an anthology to have no misses at all, but Ruben Reyes, Jr. accomplishes that feat in this debut.

Review:

There is a Rio Grande in Heaven is powerful and spellbinding. Ruben pushes the boundaries of what readers can expect from an anthology, making it look effortless. El Salvador is the thread tying the stories together, and the realities of Central American identity are steeped deep in Ruben’s writing.

The stories in the anthology vary in genre, from contemporary to the speculative. There’s even a choose-your-own-adventure style story! Every story in the collection shares Ruben’s clear narrative voice, though each is markedly different from the others in the collection.

A few notable favorites of mine:

"He Eats His Own," where a man arranges for mangos to be delivered from his family in El Salvador. This story touches the edges of psychological quiet horror and goes to unexpected places. It is absolutely fantastic.

"Try Again," where a man brings back his late father’s consciousness into a robot.

"The Salvadorian Slice of Mars," where a man ends up in a detention center on Mars.

Final Thoughts:

I thoroughly loved this anthology. I highly recommend There is a Rio Grande in Heaven for fans of genre-blending works. I'm especially reminded of Emily St. John Mandel (especially Sea of Tranquility) and Premee Mohamed's lyrical novellas.

Rating: 5+/5 Stars

Thanks to Mariner Books for providing me with an arc! All the above thoughts are my own.