ARC Book Review: Muñeca by Cynthia Gómez

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

Who would have thought that my review of The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia could offer so many opportunities in the ARC world? Maybe this proves Moreno-Garcia's positive influence on the success of rising Latina authors and their Gothic horrors. Either way, I was very happy to see an email in my inbox that offered an early insight into Gómez's latest novel.

Muñeca is a Gothic fantasy that follows Nati as she returns to witchcraft in order to save a paralysed young heiress from dark magic. As feelings start to develop between the two women, Nati has to face her own demons and the powers threatening to devour her humanity.

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Initially, I was quite intrigued by the premise and the mystery of Violeta's illness. I have a soft spot for witchcraft and Gothic fantasies, so it comes without surprise that I had high hopes for this one. A damsel in distress and a strong female character with tendencies for the dark arts as a knight in shining armour? I'm hooked. Whilst I do think this book has a lot of potential, I have to admit that Muñeca could have benefitted from being a longer novel.

My favourite part about the book was Gómez's use of music to activate spells. This element made the reading experience feel more atmospheric, the author's rich descriptions lending strength to the overall story. The rules of the magic system were laid out to the reader in bitesized chunks, so that it was easy to follow along without any confusion. It was also interesting to see the clash of views on colonialism between Nati and Violeta's mother, a scene that paid homage to the real-life events in American history. I am partial about books that teach me more about history and give me a microscopic view of the people at that time, and I believe Muñeca managed to do that without straying from the main plot.

Although it was a short read, I found that the length was detrimental to the book. There weren't enough pages to connect with the characters, so in the end I didn't really care about Nati or Violeta. The attraction between the two women also blossomed way too early for me as there was no real lead-up to the romance. In the same breath, I felt that the Gothic elements promised in the blurb fell a bit short. We didn't have enough time to dwell on any of the settings, so it was difficult to feel the effects of what the author might have intended. Additionally, the plot twist was quite obvious, so it didn't come as a shock. I would have preferred it if the novel had a darker twist, but that might just be due to my personal tastes.

Rating

⭑⭑⭑⭒⭒

Still, I would recommend this book to readers who are interested in a short read with witchy elements.

Muñeca by Cynthia Gómez is out on the 2nd June 2026.