Muñeca

Happy release day to Cynthia Gómez‘s debut novella, Muñeca. This has been high on my list since I first learned about it, and what a compelling and quick read it turned out to be. It’s set in Orinda, California in 1968. Natalia used to help her mom cleaning at the affluent Miramontes home, and it turns out the adult daughter, Violeta, got married and, during her honeymoon, suddenly lost all ability to move or communicate. She’s been bedridden for the past six years, and no doctor has been able to help her. Nati knows exactly what’s happened to Violeta and how to undo it. All it will take is a bit of the dark magic Nati’s grandmother taught her years ago… unless things go awry.

What I Liked:

• Spells and dark magic. I went into Muñeca expecting horror, and although it is certainly Gothic, it’s not quite scary. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the frequent use of dark magic to cast (and undo) spells. Following in her grandmother’s footsteps, Nati has become a master of creating tinctures from everyday household items. No wands or spell books needed! I really enjoyed this version of folk magic, as well as the resurfacing question of whether these spells are for good or for evil.
• Creepy dolls and trading bodies. Dolls are a hallmark of some of my favorite horror stories, and the animation of the titular muñeca (doll) is perfectly done. What is Violeta now if not a doll with no power or agency? It gets even stranger when Nati and Violeta find ways to trade places.
• Sapphic romance and love letters. This book leans more towards Gothic romance than Gothic horror, and indeed, Nati and Violeta quickly develop romantic feelings for each other. My favorite part of their love story was the letters Violeta wrote to Nati—the only time we got to be in her head throughout the novella.
• Class dynamics and righteous rage. The Miramontes have owned land for generations, and their wealth comes from horrific beginnings. Into the 1960s, they continue to live a life in exploitation of the working class: people like Nati and her mother, who clean and care for the affluent families. I appreciated seeing discussion around these major class and wealth differences and atoning for past wrongs.
• Identities and societal perception. I liked seeing a Gothic novel centering a queer, Latine, working-class woman: someone who might slip under the radar but has her own power and knows how to wield it. In contrast there is Violeta’s mom, Inés: a wealthy woman from a long Spanish line, but under scrutiny for her weak mental health in the wake of her son-in-law becoming the “man of the house” she grew up in. That women in the 1960s were still in danger of being locked away in an asylum is horrific. Inés isn’t always a sympathetic character, but she has her moments. Sex, sexuality, class, and ethnicity all collide here in sometimes surprising ways.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

• A little too short. The romantic relationship between Nati and Violeta doesn’t feel like it has enough foundation. If this book was a bit longer, even with just a few scenes added to strengthen the bond between both women, it would have felt more believable and justified.

Final Thoughts

Muñeca is a fast read that will get under your skin. It’s eerie, romantic, and magical, with thoughtful considerations around right and wrong. I only wish this book had been a little longer, because I really enjoyed falling into these characters. I look forward to more from Cynthia Gómez.

Special thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy Muñeca here – it’s available as a hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.

Muñeca by Cynthia Gómez
Audience	Adult
Genre	Gothic
Setting	California
Number of Pages	176
Format I Read	Audiobook & Ebook (NetGalley ARCs)
Original Publication Date	June 2, 2026
Publisher	G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Official Summary

A vivid, surreal Gothic about a queer, Latine, working class witch who sets out to rescue a bespelled heiress and loses control of her powers and her heart in the process.

It is 1968 Oakland, and Natalia Fuentes has been hearing rumors about the beautiful Violeta Miramontes. The young heiress to Spanish colonial wealth has been left paralyzed by a mysterious illness. But Nati knows a thing or two about witchcraft, and she is certain that this is the work of dark magic.

Armed with a plan to break the spell and earn a handsome reward, Nati works her way into the house as Violeta’s caretaker, and immediately discovers her suspicions are true. But who cursed Violeta? And why?

As feelings between the two women bloom into romance, Nati grows more and more reckless, and is forced to face her own ghosts— ones she hoped would stay gone forever. 

Riveting and richly layered, Muñeca explores how far one will go to save the person they love—even if that means damning themselves. Cynthia Gómez fills her debut novel with moments that chill your bones and warm your heart, a razor-sharp examination of deep-rooted issues that will haunt readers long after the last page is turned.