First, how can you not be intrigued by that opening line in the blurb? Ok, let me say, I’m a big horror fan, but I’m a picky one. This was an engaging book, and I really enjoyed it. Part mystery, part horror, this book will keep you turning pages and giving you chills. Ann did a great job weaving in local lore to the story, and bringing her characters to life. Absolutely recommend. ( )

A nice blend of mystery, supernatural and increasing cultural awareness that keeps the reader turning pages all the way to the end. ( )

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**Content Warning: Deaths, alcoholism, drug mentions & drug use.**

This book paints such a vivid picture of Puerto Rico, from the scenery, to the food, to the darker parts of the island involving crime and drugs. Every second it just felt like you were right there in the scene as everything was going down. For the most part it sort of feels like a crime mystery, we have our characters looking for evidence, researching, talking to witnesses, etc. But every so often you get that creepy reminder that we have a supernatural being roaming around as well, which totally flips everything going on.

Now I really loved every character in a different way, but just mainly in how unapologetically Puerto Rican they all are. I felt like I have met the majority of these people at some point, everyone felt so familiar to me. I also really appreciated how they all have their own heavy baggage, and those struggles add to how they interact with each other and the situation at large.

Lupe’s struggles with her family problems and her biracial identity, really made me feel for her. Especially since she couldn’t seem to get a break when it came to her identity, and how often she felt the need to prove she was Puerto Rican. Now Javier’s struggles with his recovery, and how heavy his past mistakes weigh on him was so much! And I feel that’s one thing this book did so well, giving you that view on how drug addiction destroyed so many of these characters lives. How difficult the attempts at recovery are, and how devastating relapse can be. This book really went in and discussed how huge the drug problem on the island is, without sugarcoating any of it.

Overall this is such a great book, the creepy parts really weird you out while the rest of the investigations keeps you wondering what really is going on. I loved meeting all the characters and finding out how exactly they were all tied together. The ending really blew me away because so much happened so quickly, but I was so glad over some of those events! ( )

Young Lupe lives in Vermont with her dad but each Summer visits Puerto Rico where much of her family still lives. Her uncle is a policeman and she gets involved in a case in which a group of boys are murdered on their eighteenth birthday. The boys are killed in such a savage way that it is believed that something supernatural is involved. The book should really attract the young adult audience for which it is intended. ( )

I was intrigued by this YA horror novel because it seemed original and unusual to me. Let's just say I was not disappointed. The novel takes place in Puerto Rico and was written by a Puerto Rican female author.
Five friends are being killed one by one and it is up to Javier Utierre who is one of the five, and Lupe Dávila who is the niece of the police chief investigating the murders to work together to solve the murders before Javier becomes one of the victims.
Ann Davila Cardinal utilizes the legend of El Cuco and skillfully interweaves the culture of Puerto Rico in the narrative. This is the first book I have ever read that takes place in Puerto Rico and the author put so much marvelous detail that it came to life for me especially the food.
The book is marketed as horror but I did not find it frightening but more of a very developed exploration of human nature, society, and myths. It did not detract from the novel at all but actually made it a more interesting read for me. It is a YA horror novel and it is written exactly the way it should be. It is a wonderful introduction to the horror genre for YA, and also rocks in the sense that the author is not only female but from Puerto Rico. All in all, I really enjoyed the writing and will be looking for more books by this author. ( )