DNF at 38%
I was so excited about this as a fan of Mexican Gothic, but this writing style tanked it for me. The author kept bringing up the word "gothic", but the book seemed to lack the elements that make a gothic piece of fiction, like immersion and mood. I feel this was most hindered by the writing style and sentence structure, and the author was writing as if I knew things... which just made me more confused. The reader is just told a bunch of information instead of being shown. The premise is fascinating, but that's all it had going for it because it needed a lot more editing.

Bochica is a fantastic debut that has all the elements of a gothic horror - the tension is ever present, the secrets are everywhere, and the descriptions of both haunted house and Colombian mythology add to the vertiginous feel of the story.

Antonia lost her mother to the massive waterfall that stares into her home. While the death was attributed to a suicide, Antonia has never believed this, and spends her days caring for her grief-stricken father and teaching in a convent school where she is continuously scrutinized. When her old house is turned into a hotel and she and her father are invited, Antonia summons all her courage to step back into the house that took so much from her.

Immediately, the house makes it known that Antonia should leave. Now. But then her father is accused of murder and she must not just set him free, but also deal, once and for all, with the evil behind all the tragedies.

This was a compelling, captivating story and Antonia has so much to carry on her shoulders, but she does so with determination and bravery. I look forward to more stories from this author.

I’m always ready to pick up horror that incorporates new to me folklore or mythology. In Bochica, the author draws on myths from the Muisca people, a group that inhabited present day Columbia. Premise-wise this was a perfect book for me. I love when horror draws on ideas that have existed for centuries and that are, or were, believed to be true.

That said, there were a lot of details with the execution that kept me from enjoying this as much as I wanted to. First, I never felt embedded in the time period. Many of the characters exhibited modern day behaviors and mindsets. The language was also pretty present day. Secondly, the transitions could be really confusing. I often couldn’t tell if I was present moment, flashback, or in a dream.

I was really excited to read this, and would still recommend to anyone who feels the same about mythology based horror novels. Obviously, the things that bothered me, may not bother everyone.

Thank you to @netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC 💜
This is Carolina Florez-Cerchiaro’s debut novel, translated into English. While I love a good gothic mystery, I do feel like the translation on this could’ve been better. The description of La Casona, perched above the Salto de Tequendama waterfall, was very well done. The folklore in this is based off of real Colombian folklore which I really enjoyed. I think this would be a great intro to anyone wanting to get into gothic mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for early access to this book in exchange for a review.

Let’s start with the good parts. This book is atmospheric (love Gothic settings) and provides a lot of detail on Colombian lore, especially the Muisca civilization and their beliefs. Unfortunately, that’s about it.

There were so many flashbacks and dream sequences that I kept wondering what was real and what wasn’t. Sometimes Antonia would be in one location and then immediately in another, and I had no idea how she got there. My biggest pet peeve is the amount of repetition. Antonia constantly repeats the same thoughts about her mother, father and the house, to the point where it negatively affects the pacing. I also don’t think the romantic element was needed, as it seemed like an afterthought.

Overall, this book was disappointing because the premise sounded amazing and I thought I would love it. I’m rating 3 stars because I feel the story has a lot of potential, and with good editing, it could be so much better. It reads like a rough draft almost? Anyway, 3 stars for the Gothic atmosphere and detail of Muisca lore.

Oh, this one was just unbelievably disappointing. I loved the idea of it (and the cover!), and was so excited to receive an ARC and dive right in. But the intriguing premise and setting that had drawn me in were, ultimately, all Bochica had going for it. The writing is choppy and weak, and feels frankly like an early draft - it desperately needs several more rounds of editing and revision, from the individual word choice/sentence structure level, all the way to more overarching plotting and character development issues.

I *was* inspired by this book to go elsewhere and find out more about the waterfall and the building (now a museum) at the heart of the story, as well as the Muisca culture & deities, so I'm grateful for that inspiration to learn about something I was previously ignorant of.

I hope this author's next book gets the editorial support it needs to take it to another level, because I really did like the bones of Bochica - I just wish the final product had been stronger.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Primero Sueño Press via Netgalley for providing me with this ARC!

I have been really into gothic literature this month and this was a very enjoyable gothic horror debut to continue that mood! Bochica, whos namesake is a mythical figure in the religion of the Muisca people, explores grief, empowerment, fear, and finding oneself when all feels lost. Whenever I sat down to read this I always found it hard to find a good stopping point, the prose and plot did keep me on edge. There was a romance sublot that I found to be well incorporated into the plot and I enjoyed getting to read as it progressed. My main critique would be that I felt like the ending was slightly rushed, and upon finishing I found myself wanting to get more detail and insight into the final resolution.

Overall though I enjoyed getting to read this book and would recommend folks who enjoy haunted house / gothic horror / Latin American lit to look into picking up this book! Will definitely be looking out for future releases from Carolina Flórez-Cerchiaro.

Release Date: May 13th, 2025

DNF at 25%

I'd been looking forward to reading this, as I enjoy a good horror novel now and then but the writing proved to be subpar: pointless infodumps at every turn, awkward turns of phrases, stilted dialogue, and generally graceless prose. It's hard to fall into the story or get a sense of the eeriness of the story when I'm trying to figure out what, exactly, a badly worded sentence means. This book could have used another round or two of editing to clean up the prose and better develop the atmosphere and early plot dynamics. It was also terribly didactic. I don't need to be whacked in the face with the book's message at every turn.

Thank to Atria and NetGalley for an early digital release in exchange for my honest feedback.

Bochica - publishing May 13th - is an excellent addition to the gothic horror genre, providing an intense insight into Colombian mythology. The story is set in a mansion built above what is speculated to be a haunted waterfall and follows FMC Antonia as she struggles with returning to her childhood home - now converted into a luxury hotel - to confront the tragedies and secrets of her past.

This book really nailed the atmospheric setting by creating this eerie ambiance of the Colombian landscape. I really loved the vivid descriptions that truly brought the haunted mansion and its surroundings to life. They created sense of dread and mystery that gave me goosebumps at times throughout the story.

I absolutely love a good haunted house story with underlying cult vibes, and this one certainly did not disappoint. This was a fast-paced book that kept me guessing and left me rooting for the FMC to the very end. I would definitely recommend this one!

This would be a great read for those that love Mexican Gothic. 2025 is the year of Gothic reads and this falls into that category beautifully. I loved the mystery, I loved the setting in Colombia. A true haunted house story, I was really drawn into Antonia's journey to find out what happened to her mother. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to recommend it for purchase at my work libraries when it is published.

Everything about this book was interesting to me before I started reading it. The cover is beautiful, the gothic vibes, the title, but that’s where it ends. The story is very slow, and it felt like it needed another round of editing. The story is better told in first person point of view, rather than third. Calling Antonia’s parents by their first names and then switching to mother/father was confusing. The abrupt flashbacks without transitions were annoying. The repetitive voice of Antonia saying the same things, asking herself the same rhetorical questions had me feeling like I was reading the same page over and over again. Antonia’s personality was not well fleshed out; one minute she is a demure puppy getting pushed around by a nun, the next she is forcing her way into prison to talk to her father.
Overall, it wasn’t for me and I dnf’d at the 42% mark because I could not bring myself to care for what happens.

2.5 stars

Wanted desperately to love, even like this book. The premise is just the kind of thing I usually go for; a big cursed house, creepy folklore, a protagonist on the hunt for answers to their mysterious past.

I was, unfortunately, let down. The characters (especially our protagonist Antonia) felt distant and dull. The pacing was disjointed and made the book hard to follow or get invested in.

I think there was a lot of potential when it came to the Indigenous Colombian folklore and monsters, but I was left wanting there too.

I would love to read a more polished book from this author because it is apparent that they took a lot of care in their research. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

It might have been a translation issue but I felt very detached during the story. I'm not sure if that was the goal but it didn't work for me

I was really hoping to enjoy this book as I love gothic horror and thrillers, but unfortunately this didn’t hit the mark for me. It felt like things happened too fast (especially with the love interest.) I had zero attachment to the characters or their plight.

I will say the descriptions were on point and when I saw a photo of the inspiration for the house it was spot on.

A gothic horror that is atmospheric and vibey. Antonia is haunted by her traumatic past. She must face her fears and much darker things when her father is accused of murder when they return to the home that took everything from her.
Antonia is a young woman yearns to find freedom that she has had to set aside to care for her father. She pushes against the social structure of her time and resents the place that she has been stuck in. As she fights to clear her father’s name and expose the truth, she finds that the darkness that follows her is only an indication of a bigger evil.

The book is dark, creepy, and immersive. The description of this big, expansive mansion tucked alongside a waterfall is so detailed and creates a gorgeous backdrop for the book. Most of the side characters are intriguing and help create stakes for Antonia. The horror scenes are vivid and scary and truly haunting. The inclusion on indigenous practices and how they can be bastardized by those who chase power was a good addition. I like how Alejandro is there as a support and trauma bond for Antonia. I do feel a couple of revelations were foreshadowed too soon. Instead of finding out with the character, we know before her. Overall it’s a very good book and I’m looking forward to more from this author.

I really liked this book. The house really felt so real and the house was like its own character. I loved the Mexican history and lore that was blended into this gothic horror.

I'm always drawn to haunted house stories like a moth to flame, and "Bochica" absolutely delivered that unsettling atmosphere I crave. La Casona, perched above the Salto del Tequendama waterfall, is practically its own character – malevolent, brooding, and impossible to forget. Those nighttime scenes where the house seems to breathe had me checking my locks twice before bed.

That said, the pacing nearly drove me up the wall at times. There's building tension, and then there's beating around the bush. Florez-Cerchiaro opts for the latter, layering on allusions and metaphors that often obscure rather than enhance the central mystery. I found myself flipping pages faster, desperate to discover what actually happened that night and the truth behind the deaths, only to encounter more atmospheric detours.

Some characters veered dangerously close to caricature territory, particularly Madre Asuncion. While I understand it was an illustration of the oppressive societal expectations of 1920s Colombia and the prejudices women faced, the Madre’s portrayal occasionally felt one-dimensional rather than nuanced.

The scene where Antonia returns to her childhood bedroom after three years away? Pure gothic perfection. The way the author describes the shadows stretching across the walls and the subtle movement just beyond peripheral vision created this delicious sense of dread that had me putting the book down for a bit (anyone else do that?).

Despite my frustrations, the Colombian mythology woven throughout absolutely fascinated me. The legend of Bochica himself and how it connects to the waterfall's dark history provided a cultural richness you don't often find in gothic horror.

Overlooking the pacing for the reward of genuine chills and cultural depth, "Bochica" delivers an atmospheric haunting worth experiencing.

Thank you, Atria and NetGalley, for my free books for review.

This is a fantastic debut! I found the setting, plot line, and the FMC, Antonia, so refreshingly unique! The writing was lush with gothic descriptions, and the haunted home became alive with the author’s writing. Readers who enjoyed Mexican Gothic or The Shining will enjoy Antonia’s quest to wage through her past memories of her mother’s death in order to set her father free and cease the violence that plagues the area. This was a quick and entertaining read, perfect for spooky season!

-1930’s Bogota Columbia;
-A five story malevolent gothic mansion (later turned into a hotel)
-Indigenous lore
-Journal entires/flashbacks/nightmarish visions
-Haunting demons, ritualistic murders, and high-stakes

Thank you to Atria books for my complimentary arc!

2.5 rounded up - I was really excited for this one as I thought it would have more folk horror involved.. but unfortunately this one ultimately fell flat..

The atmosphere was the highlight of this story, along with the historical house set against the Salto del Tequendama. I had hoped more of the lush setting would have had a larger role in the story, but it was only ever briefly mentioned.

Throughout the book, Muisca legends and the people were referenced often, but ultimately didn’t actually play that large of a role in the story, either. The MC was also very repetitive and a bit dense, it was hard to want to read any of her dialogue.. there was also a lot of modern speech used throughout the novel that really shattered the world that was supposed to have taken place in 1923.

I think better editing could have really helped this story really be told, but as it is, I rated it a 2.5 strictly off the setting alone.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

3.5 stars! i really enjoyed this debut! definitely for fans of mexican gothic! or for some readers (like me) who maybe wanted a little more out of mexican gothic, in the spooky, gothic atmosphere, this delivers. unfortunately it took me about 30% into the book to fully get invested, and while some of the sentences felt a little stilted, and we would end up in a new location without much explanation of how we got there, overall i really enjoyed the story. i loved the gothic house and spooky aesthetic as well as any references to mythology, wether real or fictional, and themes of the occult and cults. i would definitely recommend this and am looking forward to what this author releases in the future!