Some of the best reads in the horror genre have come from Latin voices.
Whether this is anthologies, tales of Mexican demons such as La Llorona or simply putting hispanic characters at the forefront; there are stories worth reading.
Celso Hurtado’s The Devil’s Promise feels like a throwback to yesteryear with its teenage antagonist Erasmo Cruz a self-appointed detective of the supernatural.
Things get a bit too close to home for Erasmo here, as he is forced to tackle the powers of evil but with offers of greater power, will he make the right choice?
The Devil’s Promise is quite linear in plot and moves along quite nicely, but doesn’t really carry the jolts and intensity you want from a horror novel. It conjures up good scenarios but doesn’t have the scares to match the setup.
Hurtado’s novel does promise further adventures of Erasmo Cruz, so while not the finished article, there is enough potential in the character for a better follow-up.
The Devil’s Promise by Celso Hurtado is available from 3 October 2023.
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