The cover of Santa Muerte pulled me in, because let’s face it, we judge books by their covers. The story kept me. This is one of those stories that emphasizes the importance of reading diverse voices. It takes place in Chicago, but tells an unfamiliar story.

Santa Muerte focuses in on Ariana Molina, affectionately known as Ari. Her relatively comfortable life in Chicago is thrown into turmoil when she becomes targeted by some of the gangs her father, a detective, is working to take down in Mexico.

Falling under the umbrella of a young adult novel, Santa Muerte has, in Ari, a compelling, strong female protagonist. Not the kind we so often see in YA that discover a previously unknown set of fighting skills and single handedly take down the cartel. Instead one that uses her wits and manages to maneuver through a variety of situations with guile and brains.

The cartel addition was an interesting element, one that doesn’t always make its way into horror - YA or otherwise. Hence the reading diverse voices comment above. It makes for an interesting, and truly terrifying faceless threat. The lore surrounding Santa Muerte threaded throughout the book made for another unique element. A dash of supernatural dread sprinkled over an already suspenseful story.

Cina Pelayo injects a lot of heart into her writing, making the reader feel it as they get to know her characters. Whether her prose or her poetry, this is an author well worth checking out.