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shannonm44's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book and really liked the magical realism and themes of cultural identity, shared cultural practices, community, forgiveness, and more. It had the ending it needed but I was holding out on a different ending. But this was a page-turner and I basically read it in one sitting. So glad my librarian recommended this book to me!
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
4.0
This immensely enjoyable novel was allegedly inspired by the author’s son asking him to write a Western horror story. What a great idea! So much about the West is strange, with the combo of cultures and beliefs not necessarily blending and the overarching sense of loneliness that formed the experience.
So welcome to Olvido, a town whose name means forgetting. Once part of Mexico, a massive flood that altered the course of the Rio Grande has now stranded it in Texas. It’s 1883, blazing hot and dusty. The Sheriff’s family has been horribly murdered, his little daughters disappeared. The townspeople approach Solitario Cisneros, a former Mexican army captain, to take over and solve the crime. Solitario (whose name can be translated as “Loner”) is the younger son of a wealthy family, dedicated to the law, dressed in the black and silver clothing of a charro, riding a gorgeous horse, bearing a curse and haunted by his dead wife. He drags a lot of baggage, and he’ll have to call on the living and the dead, Apache, Aztec, Mexican and American to figure out the increasing number of violent murders.
There are lots of surprises in “Valley of Shadows” and even for a reader like myself who is pretty worn out on magic realism, plenty of delight. This is a new take on horror that I thoroughly enjoyed. How about a sequel?
However, this book could have used some better editing. A child is given antibiotics, which would not be discovered until 1928. There are lots of photos, unlikely given the remoteness of Olvido and the complicated equipment required for picture taking. Dialogue would flow better if characters didn’t “utter” or “proclaim.”
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the digital review copy of this imaginative and satisfying read.
So welcome to Olvido, a town whose name means forgetting. Once part of Mexico, a massive flood that altered the course of the Rio Grande has now stranded it in Texas. It’s 1883, blazing hot and dusty. The Sheriff’s family has been horribly murdered, his little daughters disappeared. The townspeople approach Solitario Cisneros, a former Mexican army captain, to take over and solve the crime. Solitario (whose name can be translated as “Loner”) is the younger son of a wealthy family, dedicated to the law, dressed in the black and silver clothing of a charro, riding a gorgeous horse, bearing a curse and haunted by his dead wife. He drags a lot of baggage, and he’ll have to call on the living and the dead, Apache, Aztec, Mexican and American to figure out the increasing number of violent murders.
There are lots of surprises in “Valley of Shadows” and even for a reader like myself who is pretty worn out on magic realism, plenty of delight. This is a new take on horror that I thoroughly enjoyed. How about a sequel?
However, this book could have used some better editing. A child is given antibiotics, which would not be discovered until 1928. There are lots of photos, unlikely given the remoteness of Olvido and the complicated equipment required for picture taking. Dialogue would flow better if characters didn’t “utter” or “proclaim.”
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for the digital review copy of this imaginative and satisfying read.
kleonard's review
3.0
A magical realist novel set in the American West and drawing on historical conflicts between white colonialist settlers and Indigenous groups, this book brings together Native American magic and generically white ritual magic to create a mystery. The characters are a bit stock--the evil, racist, white guys, the indigenous woman with magic, the stoic man who sees and communicates with ghosts. But even so, it's a complex and entertaining read, good for long hot summer days when you can easily imagine the setting alongside a river run dry and heat mirages flickering like phantoms.
sparkietwad's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
3.0
There was so much promise in the story and I did really like the magical realism elements.
I’m going to hold a border tale to a higher standard than most books, and I recognize that is my bias/hang ups
My issue is, being a border chicana I felt like the community built at that period of time, based on family lore, was unrealistic, and I had a hard time letting that go.
I do think the story was compelling, but I just wanted more from the story and I feel like the author was close to getting the readers there.
I’m going to hold a border tale to a higher standard than most books, and I recognize that is my bias/hang ups
My issue is, being a border chicana I felt like the community built at that period of time, based on family lore, was unrealistic, and I had a hard time letting that go.
I do think the story was compelling, but I just wanted more from the story and I feel like the author was close to getting the readers there.
corimari's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Gorgeous book. Felt like actually being there, it was so beautiful. Lots of poignant messages but also a supernatural-esque crime whodunit. Loved all the characters.
sarahb_513's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
jasmineteters's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
100pagesaday's review
5.0
Solitario Cisneros was the sheriff in the town of Olvido, Mexico until the Rio Grande changed course and left Olivido and its inhabitants as part of the United States. Along with losing his job, soon after Solitario lost his wife, Luz. He blames a curse, a maladiction placed on his family, but he is still comforted by Luz's ghost that visits every night. Now, a gruesome killing has hit Olvido and Solitario has been asked to investigate. He wants to stay away, but the ghost of a young boy killed that night encourages Solitario to find his siblings. Solitario agrees to take the case, but as he makes headway in finding the lost siblings, more ritualistic killings occur and more children are taken. With the help of Apache seer Onawa, an old bruja as well as the ghosts of those who have passed, Solitario is on the hunt for those behind the murders.
Valley of Shadows is a masterful blend of western, horror, historical fiction and magical realism. I have previously read the Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez and this book takes place before it, explaining more of the history of the curse, it was nice to fill in some backstory there. The story starts off immediately in the action and pulled me into the mystery of the strange murders. Solitario's character brings in more mystery as his complexities arise. Solitario is cursed and lonely, but he also has a strong sense of justice and a special set of abilities that have been bestowed to him. Through some flashbacks, Solitario's past, love life, curse and the experiences that made him the man he is are revealed. It almost seemed like this could have been another book. As the crimes continue to build, Solitario realizes the impact of racism, fear and greed that has overtaken the town. Solitario must relinquish his loneliness and use his abilities to fight for the people of his town and bring down an evil that wishes to separate them. Valley of Shadows is a complex story from unique viewpoint of a Mexican-American in the 1880's that creates a haunting and compelling mystery.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
The night is dark, but it is also full of light.
Valley of Shadows is a masterful blend of western, horror, historical fiction and magical realism. I have previously read the Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez and this book takes place before it, explaining more of the history of the curse, it was nice to fill in some backstory there. The story starts off immediately in the action and pulled me into the mystery of the strange murders. Solitario's character brings in more mystery as his complexities arise. Solitario is cursed and lonely, but he also has a strong sense of justice and a special set of abilities that have been bestowed to him. Through some flashbacks, Solitario's past, love life, curse and the experiences that made him the man he is are revealed. It almost seemed like this could have been another book. As the crimes continue to build, Solitario realizes the impact of racism, fear and greed that has overtaken the town. Solitario must relinquish his loneliness and use his abilities to fight for the people of his town and bring down an evil that wishes to separate them. Valley of Shadows is a complex story from unique viewpoint of a Mexican-American in the 1880's that creates a haunting and compelling mystery.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.