Vanishing Daughters by Cynthia Pelayo is a novel that can be packed into a single word that is a viable review. The writing is simply elegant. The research is impeccable, the insight into Sleeping Beauty the fairy tale is insightful and important. Just the simple fact that in the most important versions Sleeping Beauty is not awakened by true love's kiss, or saved by a Prince. The curse ended. She woke up.

How Pelayo winds all of this into the life of a grieving daughter, living in a clearly haunted house and trying to write about grief is the atristry. This novel is a slow burn. The first parts are beautiful and enticing, but once the action begins things progress at nearly breakneck speed, while losing none of the beauty of the prose.

This is a wonderful novel and I look forward to further stories by this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Vanishing Daughters” by Cynthia Pelayo is a haunting, genre-blending novel that combines dark magical realism, psychological horror, and a deep critique of true crime culture. Set in Chicago, the story follows Briar Rose Thorne, who, after the death of her mother, inherits a family home steeped in mystery and magic. As Briar navigates her grief, she becomes entwined in a chilling tale of urban legends, eerie visions, and an active serial killer terrorizing Chicago.

The book is as much an exploration of grief as it is a psychological thriller. Briar’s journey is rooted in her struggle to reconcile the memories of her mother and the supernatural history she’s inherited. Pelayo portrays Briar’s grief with raw intensity, weaving it through Briar’s sleepless nights and hazy, surreal visions of a ghostly woman desperately seeking a way home. The book does not shy away from the painful depths of loss, and the portrayal of mourning sometimes blurs the line between reality and dream.

Pelayo’s Chicago setting becomes a character in its own right, painted as a gritty yet captivating place with a rich history of urban legends and haunted spaces. The presence of Archer Avenue—a well-known Chicago road believed to hold paranormal energy—adds a layer of folklore that brings out the city’s mysterious, dark side. Pelayo’s evident love for Chicago permeates every page, rooting the story in the city’s unique culture and mythology.

Briar’s inherited house mirrors her emotional state, acting almost as a sentient being, echoing her grief and amplifying her fear. This enchanted, menacing home becomes the focal point where Briar confronts the family’s secrets and the spectral figures that haunt her. With echoes of fairytales, particularly Sleeping Beauty, Pelayo’s book reimagines the “sleeping beauty” as a trapped soul, turning the innocent tale into a darker cautionary story.

While “Vanishing Daughters” is a character-driven story, its slow-burn pace may be challenging for anyone expecting a conventional thriller. The tension unfolds gradually as Briar’s mental state unravels, leaving her in a dreamlike limbo between reality and hallucination. The climax was a bit subdued, but the story’s rich themes and evocative prose create a memorable experience that transcends a simple plot-driven thriller.

Overall, “Vanishing Daughters” is as enigmatic as it is unsettling. Fans of Pelayo’s previous work or lovers of psychological horror and magical realism will find a unique and thought-provoking experience here. Pelayo’s blending of supernatural elements with the raw realities of grief ensures that “Vanishing Daughters” lingers long after the final page is turned.

*4.5 stars*
Vanishing Daughters is entirely genre-defying. It is dark magical realism. It is an intense portrayal of grief. It is a love letter to Chicago. It is a rebuke of the way our society obsesses over and is entertained by true crime, in a way that can be validating of the murderers and dehumanizing of the victims. It is a dreamlike, rambling modern fairy tale. It is a mystery. It is all of these things at once, and I have never read a book quite like this before.

Briar Thorne is grieving the death of her mother in her magical inherited home as a serial killer stalks the streets of Chicago. She is haunted by dark dreams and visions: her mother, and the house, need her to do something. But she doesn’t know what. Processing her grief while trying to get to the bottom of her families peculiar legacy, she starts to realize that the killer in her city might be closer than she realizes.

Vanishing Daughters weaves together a modern day psychological thriller with our oldest fairytales and legends, and the result is utterly unique. I really enjoyed this book, but I think it is one that won’t work for every reader. The writing style is dreamlike and rambling; in some chapters, it’s almost a flow of consciousness from our main character Briar. And as I mentioned in the first part of the review, this book covers a lot of themes and topics; and while they’re all handled incredibly well, it can come across as slightly overwhelming at times. But if you are a reader who loves dark modern magical realism, and you don’t mind an atmospheric rather than fast-paced story, I think you will really enjoy Vanishing Daughters. The closest book comp I can think of is not perfect, as they are very different books; but if you enjoyed The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, I think you should give this one a try.

I would say there is a big TW for this book in its intense portrayal of grief over losing a loved one. It is handled extremely well and carries the story, but it is a deep-dive into a very intimate and raw exploration of human grief; and if you as a reader have recently lost a loved one, I would recommend proceeding with caution. It has been several years since I have lost a family member, but this book did move me to tears a few times. This is not a negative; the book is incredibly powerful and moving, and Briar’s journey through grief is inspiring. But just be aware going into the book that it doesn’t pull punches in this area.

Overall, I really enjoyed this darkly beautiful book. I know the story will stay with me a long time, and has actually changed the way I think about some things. It’s rare to find an entirely unique story, and this book is one. I would recommend Vanishing Daughters to readers who enjoy magical realism, stories influenced by fairy tales and myths, and unique reading experiences.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the arc in exchange for a review!

Vanishing Daughters is about a young woman named Briar who has just moved into her childhood home shortly after the death of her beloved mother. The house is a gorgeous but decaying mansion in Chicago that seems to take on a life of its own. A lot of this story feels like a fever dream, you aren't sure what is real or what is just in Briar's grief-stricken and sleep-deprived mind.

Not only is Briar trying to cope and grieve in a possibly haunted house, but there is a serial killer on the loose who is obsessed with taking young women and putting them "permanently to sleep" adding to his collection of sleeping beauties and he has his eye on Briar…

The first 1/3 of this book was so entrancing, and I loved the setup. Towards the middle it got a bit repetitive and maybe even a little off track. There was added general background of serial killers and their motivations which didn't feel necessary to this story. Then the book leaned a little too much into the supernatural vs. reality and ultimately I ended up just liking this one, not loving.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc of this upcoming read!

Well, its official folks, Pelayo is one of my favorite writers. Her prose is delectable and rich without feeling heavy or muddled and she spins a tale with the fierce caliber of so many seasoned writers before her. Bravo

The book was good, but I don't think this is my cup of tea. But I enjoyed reading it until the last page.

I was really excited to read this book as it was something different from my normal reads. I really enjoyed the start but as I reached around 60% through, the storyline seemed to get a little more boring and I don't think I particularly enjoyed the paranormal aspects in the end. Towards the end of the book I had lost a lot of interest which had built up in the first half of the book, which is a real shame.

Not for me. I requested this to read in October, as I always like to stock up on "spooky stories" to get me in the Halloween mood. This wasn't quite what I expected, and not my favorite.

This is a tale of grief, the anguish of a fairytale, dark Chicago history, and the unchecked dangers of a serial killer. I absolutely devoured this book! Cynthia Pelayo delivers a haunting anguishing tale of horror, and I loved every minute of it! Briar's dead mother leaves clues about a family curse throughout the old house Briar has inherited. I loved the history of Chicago woven into this story as well. This is a definite must read for horror lovers.

This book is a captivating mix of urban legend, myth, fairytale, and Chicago folklore. It gave me the sensation of reading a modern mystery/horror story, all while echoing the charm of a fairytale at some points. I was especially fond of Briar’s character and enjoyed the different takes on Sleeping Beauty that were included. The prose was absolutely lovely, though I’m still a bit puzzled by the ending, which raised more questions than it answered.

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read this ARC.

I love Cynthia Pelayo. She writes about Chicago which is a city I am from. I love seeing what she's going to write about next. She has you drawn into the story and keeps your attention from beginning to end.

This book was pretty good, I would definitely recommend

~This was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

"Screaming. Screaming. They are screaming in their glass coffins. In their golden towers. I will let them out in the nighttime, and then they will scream. And then they will walk , and then they will repeat their ghostly patterns."

"She neither sleeps, nor dreams, but ever dwells."

Enchanting, magical, wicked 💀🖤
A blend of Urban Legend. Myth. Fairytale. Chicago Folklore.
💀 Story of an adult Briar-Rose 🌹and what life has in store for her after her dearest mother Aurora's passing...
💀 How she is connected to Mary a.k.a. Bloody or Resurrection Mary...
💀 To stop the killings, she needs to break the pattern - she needs to bring Mary home..but How will she stop the Chicago Strangler and the evil fairy, Mal?
The story is lyrical in its prose..beautiful and haunting..morose and melancholic. Not impervious to our main character's suffering, my only complaint is that it seemed to focus heavily on Bri's dealing with grief and loss, her anxiety and fears. Ruminations and flashbacks of conversations with her mother, Aurora, as she comes to terms with her death. The story lingered around grief a bit longer than necessary and was repetitively emphasised throughout. I didn't mind the ending though it took a different turn from what I expected.
Bonus:
🖤 I learned other revisions and retellings of Sleeping Beauty :
🌹Perceforest
🌹“Sun, Moon , and Talia.” from Pentamerone
🌹 The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods - Charles Perrault’s adaptation
🌹Grimm's Little Briar Rose and also The Glass Coffin
🌹And also the latest Disney Version- Maleficent (starring Angelina Jolie, no less 🖤)
🌹 Her different names - Talia, Rosamund, and lastly, Briar Rose.
🖤 Little bit of trivia and science behind binaural beats, sound waves, vibrations and its power to manipulate energy. Think ASMR! As a lover of ASMR to alleviate stress, I find this appealing and noteworthy. 👌🖤
🖤 Once Upon A Dream by Lana del Ray (Maleficent OST - Young Ruffian Remix) is a perfect soundtrack for this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free arc 🖤

4✨

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC of this this book!

Vanishing Daughters is a psychological thriller with a old school gothic writing vibe. Briar Rose, the main character, is living in her childhood home and completely overwhelmed with grief from losing her mother. She starts having nightmares and unsettling feelings in the home. Meanwhile, a dangerous serial killer is on the loose nearby and has set his sights on Briar Rose. How these are related, well that's for you to find out in this gripping and suspense filled thriller!

The book in theory sounds incredibly intriguing and I wish I could have continued reading this book as the plot had a lot of promise. I believe many others would enjoy this book, however I did have to dnf the book only a short while in due to not being gripped or interested in the actual writing style. I personally could click with this book but I would still recommend giving it a shot as the plot is very interesting and could definitely turn around past my reading point.

Fairy tales, urban myths and serial killers all rolled up in neat little book. Bri has just lost her mom and is living in her childhood home. She can't sleep, hears music...the house is trying to tell her something. Set in Chicago, Archer Avenue...interesting tidbits about cemeteries along the avenue...Alsip, Tinley Park, Lemont are mentioned, which I know well having lived near this area. A well weaved story incorporating Sleeping Beauty, the Vanishing Hitchhiker and Resurrection Mary. A perfect book to read in fall and around Halloween. The author writes so vividly and transports you.
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and give honest feedback.

“Vanishing Daughters” is a psychological thriller that intertwines the haunting experiences of journalist Briar Thorne with the grim realities of a serial killer targeting women in Chicago. The narrative begins on a fateful night when Briar’s mother passes away in their old mansion, setting off a series of unsettling events that blur the lines between grief and supernatural occurrences.

As Briar grapples with her mother’s death, she is plagued by nightmares featuring a mysterious woman in white who pleads for help. These dreams are compounded by eerie happenings in her home, such as music playing from locked rooms and an overwhelming fear of darkness. Initially, Briar attributes these disturbances to her emotional turmoil rather than any ghostly presence, reflecting her struggle to reconcile her grief with the supernatural beliefs instilled by her mother.

“Vanishing Daughters” masterfully combines elements of suspense, horror, and psychological depth, exploring themes of loss, memory, and the intersection between reality and the supernatural.

vanishing girls
♡ Dark and Suspenseful
♡ Mystery/Horror

CW: death of a parent, murder, stalking, night terrors

When Briar Thornes's mother passes away, she inherits the family home as her mother did before her. While she navigates her grief, she begins to experience strange dreams and unsettling encounters in the house—while a serial killer is on the loose in Chicago. Women are being picked off the street and disposed of in areas. Both her boyfriend and her friend are EMTS and witness to the horrific remains of the missing girls. The dreams and the murders seem to be intertwined, prompting Briar to uncover the truth. Overall, it was an engaging read with a solid storyline, though I found the ending felt almost too neatly wrapped up with a bow. I appreciated the premise, the author skillfully weaves together themes of Sleeping Beauty and true crime cases famous in Chicago.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC!

I loved the prose in this book. It felt like a fairytale and I enjoyed the plot as well. Briar is such a great character and I loved her relationship with her friends and her dog. 3.75 rounded up - full review on TikTok

Picked this up because it had an interesting premise; then while reading it felt a bit like a fever dream — but not one that I was on the wavelength for. By the time I'd gotten almost a third of the way through, the most I still really knew about the protagonist is that she's grief stricken and not sleeping well (because it's often repeated), and the most that had really been shared about the plot is that there's a killer of women who might be interested in the protagonist and that the 1893 world's fair could maybe mean something.

There was too much description and detail to parse through when reading that was telling instead of showing —for example, the main character says her mom liked to sow and then the next paragraph is a whole list of things the mother had once sown— and I just personally was not grabbed by it to the point of wanting to know more about where the plot would eventually get to.

I do appreciate the author trying to build some suspense with a POV shift and by peppering in references to the sleeping beauty myth. I just did not vibe with it enough to keep going. 2/5 because I DNF