This book is very atmospheric with beautiful writting and interesting folklore. The mystery was well done and i loved the touch of fantasy

Be careful what you wish for!

These Vengeful Wishes was a creepy, atmospheric read. When Ceci's mom drags her back to her small hometown, she learns that the town's folklore about a generational curse is directly linked to the house she's living in.
This book sent me down a bit of a rabbit hole, learning about La Cegua.
This had the right amount of suspense and kept me turning the pages.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy to review.

I enjoyed this one! Very atmospheric and immersive storytelling. It was a tad predictable at times, and some scenes lagged, but overall, an intriguing story for fans of folklore and monstrous girls. Bit of genre confusion, though…this read more like a speculative mystery than fantasy to me!

I devoured this book! Vanessa Montalban weaves an eerie and enchanting tale with These Vengeful Wishes—it’s packed with small-town secrets, supernatural legends, and just the right amount of spine-tingling suspense. Ceci is a character I immediately connected with—her journey of self-discovery, especially through her art, made the story so much richer.

The atmosphere of Santa Aguas, with its dark folklore and that haunting wishing well, gave me chills in the best way. And La Cegua? Absolutely creepy yet so captivating! The horse-skull-faced spirit is unforgettable and adds an unsettling layer of danger. As Ceci’s bond with La Cegua deepened, I found myself holding my breath, wondering what would happen next!

My only wish (pun intended!) is that the pacing could’ve been a tad quicker in spots, but overall, this was such a fun, spooky read. It’s perfect for anyone craving a mix of magic, mystery, and a hint of vengeance. Just be careful what you wish for… 🌟🌟🌟🌟

"The boy has not returned to see me, and I am hungry. Night always draws them near. They think the dark can hide their wickedness. But I see into their rotten hearts."

WOW!!! What a ride!!! This book is labeled as YA, but I'm 32 years old and I THOROUGHLY enjoyed every spooky second of this one! This book is full of creepy folklore, magic, and curses. The author has done a wonderful job of setting the vibe, and managed to have it set, from the very first paragraph. I might reccomend this one, especially for spooky season!! Careful, you know how it goes, right? Every wish has a price. Sometimes more than you would ever dream of paying.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This myth was interesting. There’s always a price for magic and wishes; sometimes that price is very steep.

La Cegua. the specter of a wronged witch who appears on lonely roads at night, luring untrustworthy men to their deaths, and Ceci has found a wishing well that is possessed by La Cegua. Also, their house is cursed by the same witch, however, Ceci begins to feel for the cursed with and starts painting a door in the woods...and it appears. It also seems that her mother's past may play a part in this. I loved this Nicaraguan legend! This book was fast paced and fun! I will be looking for more works by this author going forward.

I was hoping for a spooky unusual folklore story, apart from the typical american or british or greek ones, but sadly I could not really connect with the protagonist or the tale overall.
I felt something was missing in the writing and the spook factor never kicked in for me.

While this book was not for me, other readers might enjoy it.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc!

i really loved this book, and it has really piqued by interest in nicaraguan folklore.

the story flowed really well and each character was distinct. my only wish was for it to have been a bit creepier. will definitely be recommending this.

These Vengeful Wishes by Vanessa Montalban is a captivating blend of Southern Gothic, horror, and romance that will keep readers spellbound from start to finish. Set in the eccentric small town of Santa Aguas, the story follows aspiring artist Ceci as she uncovers dark family secrets and confronts the legend of La Cegua, a vengeful female spirit.

Plot and Atmosphere

Montalban expertly weaves together elements of mystery, horror, and local folklore to create a rich, atmospheric tale. The legend of La Cegua, a wronged witch who lures untrustworthy men to their deaths, adds a deliciously creepy layer to the narrative. While some readers might find the beginning a bit slow, the steady build-up of tension and mystery throughout the book is well-executed.

Characters and Relationships

Ceci is a well-developed protagonist, both naive and intelligent, whose journey of self-discovery is compelling to follow. Her growing connection with La Cegua/Soledad is particularly intriguing, offering a nuanced exploration of the “monster” trope. The romance subplot, featuring Ceci and Jamie, is a pleasant surprise and adds a lighter touch to the otherwise dark story.

Writing Style

Montalban’s prose is lyrical and easy to read, effectively bringing the eerie atmosphere of Santa Aguas to life. The author skillfully balances horror elements with character development, creating a story that is both chilling and emotionally resonant.

While These Vengeful Wishes may not be the scariest horror novel out there, it offers a perfect blend of spooky atmosphere and engaging storytelling, making it an ideal read for the Halloween season. Fans of YA horror and Southern Gothic will find much to enjoy in this compelling tale of family secrets, vengeful spirits, and the power of wishes

This is the first time I have read anything by Vanessa Montalban. This book was a interesting combination of plot, characters, romance and horror. The characters were well written, especially Ceci. The book was well written, but I was expecting more creepiness. I feel like it would be perfect for a school library. I will be recommending this book to the YA crowd. Thank you Net Galley ARC!

What a thrilling read. I was unfamiliar with the folklore before reading and I have been devouring whatever information I can find now. Interesting YA plotline that holds interest from start to finish.

Oh my gosh guys, This book is pretty good. I enjoyed reading it and I am so grateful to Netgalley. I will deff put this on my shelf when ti comes out.

This is just a fun, well-written YA horror story. There’s an old Nicaraguan ghost legend, dark family secrets, mysterious woods, a plucky heroine, and a family curse. The plot is familiar enough and the author drops just enough hints to let an attentive reader figure out some of the twists while keeping a few more hidden for some fun moments at the end.

I can’t get too much into the plot without risking spoilers, so I’ll do what I can to keep things vague. Cesi and her mother have a contentious relationship, with her mother often absent, leaving Cesi alone in the giant house that’s all they have left after Cesi’s step father’s ponzi scheme took all her mother’s money, and Cesi’s college scholarship. It’s overly convenient, but it’s such a trope for teenage horror that it didn’t bother me overly much, but it did make some of the resolutions between Cesi and her mother feel unearned when the two of them hadn’t actually had that much time together in the course of the book.

There’s a plot thread left dangling and unanswered, and that did annoy me, especially since it felt like it either belonged in a different book, or with just some small adjustments might have been worked into the story. I did, however, like the final confrontation with the ghost woman, where Ceci shows compassion and cleverness in equal parts.

This was just fun, and makes for a good autumn read. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for giving me an ARC.

I was looking forward to reading this one, and was hoping for/expecting a really creepy unsettling tone with lots of hispanic folklore elements. But while the folklore was there, the creepiness was missing. There was quite a bit of borderline "cringey" YA cliches. The characters felt trite and underdeveloped, and the circumstances were very unbelievable. I was not a fan.

These Vengeful Wishes was an easy, casual read with an intriguing mystery and steady pace. Montalban's prose is easy to read. Ceci and La Cegua's story offered a tragic narrative arc and I found it a compelling mystery. Unlike most people in the reviews, I couldn't have predicted the way the story unfolded and Montalban did an excellent job of building steady tension and mystery. I also have to give at least one whole star to Jamie, I adored the banter between Ceci and him. Honestly, they were easily one of the most fun couples to root for that I have in a while.

All in all, These Vengeful Wishes was a delightful read, although I did find the beginning a little bit slow. This is exacerbated by the later pace of the book. Despite this, I still had a blast. Easily a 4/5 star read! Best of luck to Montalban on release day!

I had so much hope for this one but i was disappinted. Tho plot was kinda obvious and i couldnt really connect with the protagonist or any of the other characters. It did not gave me this creepy vibe i was hoping for. The ending did not really make sense for me. I still think people could read it if they are looking for some unsettling vibe and a kinda creepy atmosphere.

The small-town creepy vibes were interesting, though the plot was predictable. The first half had too many details and the second half feel rushed, but I enjoyed the writing style and the concept of revenge across generations. Overall, a solid idea, but the execution could’ve been better.

Though a bit predictable, this was a good read.

I loved the focus on Nicaraguan culture and legend – the book definitely sent me to the web to find out more.

Our main character is likeable. While there’s a touch too much angst for me, she definitely read as a real (angst-filled) teen. I also found her relationship with her mother realistic and emotional!

The story is nicely creepy and it kept me reading.

I’d definitely read the author again and would love more stories about Nicaraguan culture/legend!

*ARC via Publisher

Wonderful story. Everything this author writes is lyrically beautiful. I am a very huge fan of her work. Highly recommend it. 10/10