“Ortega amplifies terror with every subtle detail — an impressive amount of work went into The Ordinary Bruja.”

Essien Asian

“I love how unique this book is. This dark fantasy follows Marisol Espinal -FMC, currently grieving the death of her mother. She returns to her hometown where she never felt like she never really fit in. Family secrets begin to unfold; keeping glued to the book!
I really enjoyed the “Spanglish” style of writing and the Latin folklore depicted in the book. Highly recommend this book for those readers that enjoy…
Dark fantasy, curse( generational), psychological suspense, Latin folklore, resilient FMC, and magical realism.
Thank you Netgalley and Johanny Ortega for providing me with this eARC.”

ARC Reader

“A powerful story of love, hope, and remembering who you are.”

Danelle Petersen

“Grief, self reflection, and uncovering the past/trauma of the main characters ancestors play a big part of the story. Marisol’s character growth of going from self isolating to then breaking down her walls and accepting the help of others was a beautiful process. The way Marisol fought to uncover and fight against the thing that had been haunting her family and now her was super interesting to read.

The in depth information of the other characters and their connection to Marisol and Salvador helped tremendously with bringing the story to life.

The setting was spooky. Many frightening moments involving the hill, Salvador, and Marisol’s visions/the voices she’d hear.

Intriguing use of Dominican folklore and culture. I loved the representation of the folklore and culture along with queer representation in this story.

I loved the ending.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.”

ARC Reader

“I was so deeply connected to Marisol in many ways: being scared to show my own culture, to actually know my own history. This book felt like a mirror— tender, haunting, and healing all at once.”

Ege M.

“I am blown away by what this book manages to accomplish. The writer is especially talented with her turn of phrase, as the imagery her words create are so visual and evocative. I was captivated by the dark beauty of some of the supernatural scenes.

There is also a strong narrative voice that takes the story of Marisol, a character who perfectly captures the post-covid malaise many of us feel, into a rousing experience that reminds us not to sink into the shadows or hide ourselves away.
The characters are very relatable, and I adored the sweet relationship between Marisol and Kia.

The book tackles complex themes of grief, experiences of being a second generation migrant, ancestral trauma and the power of reclaiming identity, through the process of remembering. Although these are heavy topics they are weaved into the fabric of the plot in a seamless way.
The magic is described in detail and I was intrigued by the use of Dominican folklore, such as the briefly mentioned Ciguapa. I also really appreciate that the climax wasn’t over too quickly, but was well thought out and planned.
The book may start a little slower than expected, but it continually builds pace until the climax.
This novel is clearly a passion project and the writer has put their soul into it. I really look forward to the next novel in the series and learning more about Isadora’s story.
If you are a fan of Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches, or dark supernatural witch themed books in general you will love this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.”

ARC Reader