Cynthia Pelayo
About
Books
Short Work
Events
Press
Contact
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