Book Review: Piñata by Leopoldo Gout

My childhood friend was watching you and thinks your daughter is under demonic threat.

Summary:

It was supposed to be the perfect summer.

Carmen Sanchez is back in Mexico, supervising the renovation of an ancient abbey. Her daughters Izel and Luna, too young to be left alone in New York, join her in what Carmen hopes is a chance for them to connect with their roots.

Then, an accident at the worksite unearths a stash of rare, centuries-old artifacts. The disaster costs Carmen her job, cutting the family trip short.

But something malevolent and unexplainable follows them home to New York, stalking the Sanchez family and heralding a coming catastrophe. And it may already be too late to escape what’s been awakened…

They were worshiped by our ancestors.
Now they are forgotten.
Soon, they’ll make us remember.

Goodreads Amazon

My Thoughts:

The cover of Piñata caught my eye many times as I walked around my local bookstore. I finally borrowed a copy from the library. I listened to an audiobook of Piñata, the narrator was excellent. 

Piñata is a modern exorcism story, everything that comes to mind when you think “exorcist” is pretty spot on with Piñata. I absolutely loved the atmosphere of Piñata. A Mexican woman who has lived in America for some time now, returns to Mexico to work on a project restoring a Mexican Abby. She is excited to bring her daughters to experience Mexico, but realizes Mexico offer more than nostalgia and a cultural experience, there is a darkness lurking around the family. 

I was hoping for more spooky things to happen. Piñata is a slow burn with a savory payoff at the end. There is a battle with an old force that seeks ventagce, there is a haunting sense of possession, there are bugs, there is threat of harm, and there is a rich lore that will pull you in. Really a perfect October read.

Should You Read Piñata?

While I did not find Piñata scary, you might. I definitely consider Piñata to be new-horror-reader friendly. If you are looking for a classic story rich with Mexican history and lore, look no further than Piñata.