Many thanks to my friends at @berkleypub for the free #gifted copy of this book.  #berkleypartner

 

“Evil never really goes away. It just searches for its next opportunity to spread and possess and steal all our light. It relocates.”

 

Dark. Unsettling.  Medina delivers another riveting thriller as he reclaims the narrative surrounding native burial grounds.  

 

Told in dual perspective and timeline, Medina returns us to the fictional Takoda tribe from his debut.  In the present day, we follow Noemi’s journey through grief after learning of her boyfriend’s apparent suicide.  In the past timeline decades before, we meet teenage Louie, struggling to make sense of a series of mysterious deaths tied to the legend of the Takoda vampire.   

 

Medina’s powerful storytelling kept me on edge and fully engaged.  The slower pace and strong character focus enhanced the unnerving plot and heightened the wisdom found within the themes.  

 

There was a satisfying dichotomy between the oppressive heat and humidity of the Louisiana summer and the chilling atmosphere of the reservation that loomed with terror.  The setting itself became a living entity that breathed dread and tension over the storyline.

 

But most haunting was the unflinching look at generational curses- like poverty, suicide, and alcoholism- that plague the Indigenous community.  With a seamless blending of horror and lore, Medina crafted a narrative that was as relatable as it is humanizing.  

 

Rich in Native American mythology, Medina delivers another winning Indigenous horror/thriller, proving he has a strong future in this genre.  I can’t wait to see what he does next!