You've Awoken Her

“Cardinal’s tale lures you in with a great cast and then it wraps its tendrils around you."— Cynthia Pelayo, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Vanishing Daughters

"Quick, funny, with relatable teens and unknowable cosmic horrors." — Adam Cesare, author of the Clown in a Cornfield series

Fans of You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight and Your Lonely Nights Are Over will love this thrilling YA horror about a string of disappearances and "accidental" drownings in the Hamptons, the changing relationship between two best friends, and their desperate attempt to not be the next victims of a Lovecraftian monster terrorizing the coastline.

Gabi should be thrilled to be visiting his best friend for the summer. But with its mansions, country clubs, and Ruth’s terrible new boyfriend, Frost Thurston, the Hamptons is the last place he wants to be. And then Gabi witnesses a woman being dragged under the ocean by what looks like a tentacle . . .

When no one—not the police or anyone else—seems to care, Gabi starts to wonder if maybe the beachside town’s bad vibes are more real than he thought. As the number of “accidental” deaths begins to climb, the Thurston family name keeps rising to the top. And what’s worse is that all the signs point to something lurking beneath the water—something with a hunger for blood.

Can Gabi figure out how the two are intertwined and put an end to the string of deaths . . . before becoming the water’s next victim?

• Perfect for Halloween reading
• Ideal for fans of the supernatural
• For teens who love dark and scary stories

A departure from the Eurocentric roots of traditional sci-fi/horror.

Mixing the "Social-Economic System" (SES) framework with Cosmic Horror and Latin American folklore is a bold move—it moves the focus from the typical "helplessness" of Lovecraftian tropes toward the strength found in community and heritage. By weaving Latin American folklore into a speculative future, it creates a unique "Ecological Horror" that feels both ancient and prophetic. The emphasis on friendship provides a necessary emotional anchor, making the vastness of the science fiction elements feel intimate and urgent.