Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Horror!

Autumn is Autumning, bringing with it moody, creepy vibes – in other words, the perfect time to read horror! And since it’s Hispanic Heritage Month, check out these three titles for a taste of Puerto Rican, Mexican, and Argentinian horror.

House of Bone and Rain: A Barrio Noir by Gabino Iglesias

“Todas las historias son historias de fantasmas. All stories are ghost stories.” This ghost story is all about ride-or-die friendship and processing grief in a world that doesn’t care for you. Best friends Xavier, Tavo, Paul, Bimbo, and our narrator Gabe have all just graduated from high school when tragedy strikes. Bimbo’s mother, Maria, is shot and killed in a drive-by outside the club where she works (both watching the door and dealing drugs). Bimbo and his friends crumble into grief, swearing vengeance. But then things calm down, and you think everyone is processing and moving forward, only to lead to a gruesome chain of violence being unleashed after Bimbo is released from jail, during Hurricane Maria. This is a propulsive fusion of a high-octane thriller, the vengeance of crime, and a haunting, cosmic horror story. You will not want to put it down! Prepare yourself for a swirl of emotions that stem from cathartic release and hollow aches of devastation.

The Secret Life of Insects by Bernardo Esquinca

Early praise from fellow Latine horror author (Ecuadorian), Mónica Ojeda, really captures the core of this short story collection: “Bernardo Esquinca is a writer who knows that fear is another form of desire. Of the desire for the dark, the desire for the mysterious, and the desire for life in death. His writing grabs you and takes you by the hand through obsessions where what is beautiful and monstrous in humanity dwells. Read him: you’re going to be terrified and amazed at the same time.” If this testimonial isn’t enough to pique your interest, I urge you to read the introduction by another Latine horror author (Argentinian), Mariana Enriquez. Her introduction captures the themes and influences. From religious horror to grief horror, cosmic horror, and more, this is a captivating volume from a contemporary, must-read author. This collection will appeal both to fans of classic horror and literary fiction, with nods to classics (and Star Trek!) and several stories that have unique and complex structures. Mystery fans will delight in the twists and turns. Accompanying the collection are seven black and white illustrations by Spanish artist Luis Pérez Ochando. The drawings are rendered with incredible, realistic detail and foreshadow the themes and scenes from their accompanying stories.

Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk

This is a vividly written novel about death, loneliness, and hunger. Split into two parts, part one follows an unnamed young woman through several centuries as she is sold to a vampire, becomes one, and then must figure out survival on her own. If you are a fan of the vampire mythology, you will enjoy watching her as she discovers the extent of her powers, the most comfortable place to sleep (a coffin), and the increasing difficulty of hunting as technology and policing advance. Seeing the world through her eyes is enthralling, despite her penchant for violence, and sometimes because of it. “It was beautiful and obscene, like everything about her.” In part two, we jump to the present and are introduced to Alma, a young, single mother, who is watching her mother waste away from an illness that steals her movement and ability to communicate. Drowning in grief, she follows the last clue her mother can offer to her inheritance – a mysterious crypt. In what feels inevitable, our protagonists meet, and what follows is a challenging exploration of seduction and solace. Read this if you want to fall into the moment, into Buenos Aires, and into the minds of complicated, imperfect characters.

Looking for more horror by Hispanic/Latine authors? Check out Latine Horror!

~posted by Genesee R.