Cynthia Pelayo

Press

Reviews, interviews, and features.

Praise & Reviews

It Came From Neverland (2026)
  • ★ Starred review · Booklist
  • ★ Starred review · Library Journal
  • Chicago Tribune — 50 Coolest Summer Books of 2026
Forgotten Sisters (2024)
  • ★ Starred review · Library Journal
  • Locus Award Finalist — Horror Novel
The Shoemaker’s Magician (2023)
  • ★ Starred review · Library Journal
Lotería (2023)
  • Esquire — Best Horror Books of 2023
  • International Latino Book Award — Best Short Story Collection, Silver
Children of Chicago (2021)
  • International Latino Book Award — Best Mystery, Gold
  • Bram Stoker Award Finalist — Superior Achievement in a Novel

Selected Press

Jun 17, 2026
It Came From Neverland
Chicago Review of Books · Review
Jun 2026
It Came From Neverland: A Stunning, Devastating Take on Peter Pan
Bloody Disgusting · Review
Jun 2026
Robin Williams’ Hook Revealed a Dark Side to Peter Pan
People · Feature
Jun 2026
It Came From Neverland — Excerpt
The Nerd Daily · Excerpt
Jun 2026
5 Dark and Speculative Adaptations of Peter Pan
CrimeReads · By Pelayo
Nov 2025
A Conversation with Cynthia Pelayo: A Prolific Voice in the New Wave of Horror
Novel Suspects · Interview
2025
10 Books That Celebrate Latin American Voices
People · Feature
Sep 2, 2025
Lotería
BookTrib · Feature
2025
Cynthia Pelayo: The PEN Ten
PEN America · Interview
2025
SAIC Graduate Makes Marvel Comics Debut Celebrating the First Latin American Superhero
ABC7 Chicago · Feature
Apr 8, 2025
Cynthia Pelayo on Vanishing Daughters
Chicago Tribune · Interview
Mar 11, 2025
Cynthia Pelayo on Vanishing Daughters
Chicago Review of Books · Interview
Mar 3, 2025
12 Must-Read Books of March 2025
Chicago Review of Books · Roundup
Mar 2025
My Neighborhood: Hermosa
Chicago Magazine · Feature
2025
Vanishing Daughters — Excerpt
Paste Magazine · Excerpt
2025
Cynthia Pelayo on Vanishing Daughters
The Nerd Daily · Interview
c. 2025
Cynthia Pelayo on Grief, Mystery, and Chicago Ghost Stories
Chicago Magazine · Interview
Aug 2024
How to Write Horror
LitReactor · By Pelayo
c. 2024
What Is Gothic Fiction?
Publishers Weekly · Feature
Mar 20, 2024
Checking Out Historical Chicago: Cynthia Pelayo’s Forgotten Sisters
Chicago Review of Books · Interview
Mar 15, 2024
Cynthia Pelayo, Forgotten Sisters, and Chicago Ghost Stories
Chicago Sun-Times · Interview
Jun 3, 2023
Author Cynthia Pelayo Blends Horror and History in The Shoemaker’s Magician
WTTW News · Feature
May 26, 2023
New Horror Books
The New York Times · Review
Jun 22, 2021
38 Books to Read Before Labor Day: Summer 2021 Reading List
Chicago Tribune · Roundup
Mar 2021
Fairy Tales Are Dark for a Reason — They’re Trying to Warn Us About Danger
CrimeReads · By Pelayo