Where to Start Reading Ann Dávila Cardinal
Ann Dávila Cardinal's books bridge two distinct worlds—both culturally, shifting between the snowy streets of Vermont and the lush landscapes of Puerto Rico, and in terms of target audience. Because she writes across different age groups and genres, the best place to start depends entirely on what kind of story you are looking for:
- For Supernatural Thrills & YA Mystery: Start with her award-winning debut, Five Midnights (2019). This is the first book in her only connected series, the Lupe Dávila duology. It serves as the perfect introduction to her signature blend of Puerto Rican folklore and dark contemporary issues.
- For Rich, Adult Magical Realism: Start with The Storyteller’s Death (2022). This is her debut adult novel, focusing on family secrets, ancestral spirits, and generational history in Puerto Rico.
- For Horror-Comedy: If you prefer spooky tales mixed with humor and romance, pick up Breakup from Hell (2023), a hilarious yet creepy tale of a teen who accidentally dates the son of Satan.
The Lupe Dávila & Javier Utierre Duology
This is Ann Dávila Cardinal's main interconnected series. These books should be read in order of publication, as the character arcs and real-world timelines directly carry over from the first book to the second.
1. Five Midnights (2019)
Set in Puerto Rico, this young adult urban fantasy introduces Lupe Dávila, a bicultural teenager from Vermont sent to spend the summer with her uncle, the island's police chief. When local boys start turning up dead under bizarre, supernatural circumstances, Lupe teams up with Javier Utierre, a local teen in recovery from drug addiction. Together, they discover that the murders are tied to El Cuco—the infamous Latine boogeyman—who is hunting down a specific group of friends. The novel blends urban legends with the harsh realities of teenage drug abuse, grief, and identity, earning it a spot as a Bram Stoker Award finalist.
2. Category Five (2020)
Set in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria, this sequel returns to Puerto Rico, shifting the focus to the offshore island of Vieques. Lupe and Javier find themselves caught in another mystery when developers and government officials are murdered under suspicious circumstances. Amidst the physical and emotional destruction of the hurricane, the duo must confront malevolent spirits while navigating Javier's struggle with PTSD and the exploitation of the island by outside investors. This book successfully combines real-world ecological disaster with classic ghost story elements.
Standalone Adult Novels
Cardinal's adult fiction shifts away from horror toward lush magical realism, focusing on family lineages and deep cultural roots. These can be read in any order.
The Storyteller's Death (2022)
This magical realist mystery is set in Puerto Rico during the late 1970s and 1980s. It follows Isla Larsen Sanchez, a young woman who inherits a strange family gift upon the death of her grandmother: she begins to see the stories of her ancestors play out before her eyes like living memories. However, when she witnesses a murder that has been swept under the rug, she must use her visions to solve the mystery and break a generational curse. The book is deeply atmospheric, dealing with grief, Nuyorican identity, and family dynamics.
We Need No Wings (2024)
An adult magical realist novel centering on Teresa "Tere" Sanchez, a woman grieving the sudden death of her husband. When Tere suddenly begins to physically levitate and float, she embarks on a journey from her home in the United States to Spain. The story connects her strange affliction to her historical ancestor, Saint Teresa of Ávila, exploring themes of faith, identity, midlife transition, and the physical manifestation of grief.
YA Horror-Comedy & Standalones
In addition to her darker mysteries, Cardinal has written standalone young adult horror-comedies that showcase her range and sense of humor.
Breakup from Hell (2023)
Set in Vermont, this novel follows Miguela Angeles, a teenager who falls for a charming new boy named Sam. When she discovers that Sam is literally the son of Satan, Miguela has to find a way to break up with him without unleashing hell on her small town. Assisted by her close friends and drawing on Puerto Rican traditions, she embarks on a comical yet dangerous quest to exorcise her love life.
You've Awoken Her (2025)
A fast-paced young adult horror-comedy set during a summer in the Hamptons. The story follows Gabi, a teenager who gets caught up in a series of suspicious, deadly accidents linked to an ancient, Lovecraftian sea monster. The book balances humor, social commentary about wealth and class, and monstrous thrills.
Hispanic Star: Bad Bunny (2024)
Co-authored with activist Claudia Romo Edelman, this middle-grade non-fiction biography tells the inspiring story of Puerto Rican music icon Bad Bunny. It documents his journey from a grocery store bagger to a global superstar, emphasizing his cultural pride and impact on the music industry.
Anthology Contributions
For readers who want to explore her short fiction, Ann Dávila Cardinal has contributed stories to several notable collections:
- Lockdown: Stories of Crime, Terror, and Hope During a Pandemic (2020): A collection of thriller stories written during and themed around the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Other Terrors: An Inclusive Anthology (2022): An anthology highlighting marginalized voices in horror, focusing on the concept of "the other."
- Our Shadows Have Claws: 15 Latin American Monster Stories (2022): Features Cardinal's short story "Dismembered," which explores Puerto Rican monster myths and folklore.
What to Know Before You Start
Ann Dávila Cardinal's writing is heavily informed by her own bicultural upbringing as the daughter of a Puerto Rican mother and a white father. Her stories frequently deal with characters who feel like they are caught between two worlds, struggling to find where they belong. The setting of Puerto Rico acts as more than just a background; it functions as a character in its own right, with its lush environment, political struggles, and rich folklore shaping the narrative drive of each book. While she does not shy away from dark themes such as addiction, trauma, and colonialism, her stories are ultimately grounded in hope, community, and the power of family bonds.