The Sleeping Sisters by Jennifer Givhan
The Sleeping Sisters by Jennifer Givhan
A threatened mother and a relentless detective collide when a series of murders awaken something long buried in the New Mexican desert in this mesmerizing novel of literary horror, perfect for fans of Carmen Maria Machado and Stephen Graham Jones.
“A marvelously strange story of murder and motherhood. . . . I have no idea how to describe what I just read, but it was really, really cool.” —T. Kingfisher, author of What Moves the Dead
A mother’s love is the oldest curse
Fortuna Miércoles has finally moved her family to a better neighborhood across the Rio Grande, desperate to outrun the curse that’s stalked her bloodline since her greatest grandmother crossed the desert with a cactus thorn splitting her throat. But burying a family’s violent legacy—or her own haunting secret—isn’t so easy. Twenty years ago, girls and women vanished into the Albuquerque night, their bones later unearthed on the mesa. The so-called Reaper was never caught. Now, beneath the dormant volcanoes called the Sleeping Sisters, the killings have begun again, and they’ve called forth something in Fortuna that she has long fought to keep buried...
Detective Jeanette Palacio has spent decades promising justice to the ghosts of her murdered cousins—alongside the memory of the other women she couldn’t avenge. When a new body turns up in Fortuna’s backyard, both women are pulled into a dangerous, ancient plot. Are the Sleeping Sisters awakening—or has someone in Fortuna’s family set a trap?
Inspired by true events, The Sleeping Sisters begins as a taut mystery shot through with myth and a Chicana-Indigenous reimagining of the legend of the headless woman—but by its cataclysmic end has spiraled into a fevered, feral hymn to motherhood and a mesmerizing portrait of trauma and the monstrous bargains we make to protect those we love.
"A haunting mystery and a fierce ode to motherhood. It will lodge in your heart like a cactus spine.”―Nat Cassidy, author of When the Wolf Comes Home
"Givhan’s lovely prose brings incisive introspection to this pulse-pounding mystery with a mythic twist.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"It’s everything I love—a wily mystery, blood-stirring Indigenous folklore, and complicated ties to land and family.”―Laurie L. Dove, author of Mask of the Deer Woman
"A folkloric masterpiece. Givhan winds a story as supple and horrifying as a bloody silk ribbon, and the result is electrifying.”―Taylor Grothe, author of Lethal Kiss
Please Note: Pre-order items will ship when the final item in your order is ready to ship.
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Full Store Policy
PAYMENTS & ORDER CANCELLATIONS
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All sales are final.
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We do not allow order cancellations once an order has been placed. This includes all regular books, merchandise, and preorders.
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Please review your cart carefully before checking out.
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Discount codes cannot be applied retroactively.
IN-STORE PICKUP POLICY
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After 14 days, unclaimed orders will be restocked, and no refund will be issued unless you contact our customer service team within the 14-day window at hello@steamylit.com
RETURNS & REFUNDS
Online Return / Exchange Policy
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- We offer store credit or a partial refund on a case-by-case basis if your item arrives damaged or there is a fulfillment error.
To request assistance:
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- Include your order number and clear photos of the issue.
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In-Store Return/Exchange Policy
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We do not offer returns, but we’re happy to offer exchanges for eligible items.
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Exchanges must be made within 30 days of purchase
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Items must be in new, unused condition with original packaging (if applicable).
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Books must be unread and free of damage (no bent pages, cracked spines, or markings).
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Exchanges made in-store require the original receipt for proof of purchase.
We do not offer store credit for exchanged items—only a one-time exchange for an item of equal or greater value (customer pays the difference if applicable).
DAMAGED ITEMS POLICY
We consider an item damaged if:
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There are deep scratches or gouges on the cover, spine, or dust jacket.
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Pages are missing or misprinted.
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There is significant water damage or binding issues.
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Tears larger than 2 inches are visible.
We do not consider the following as damage:
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Minor corner dents or edge wear.
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Light scuff marks or scratches.
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Small cosmetic imperfections under 2 inches.
All claims are handled case by case. If approved, we may offer store credit, a replacement (if inventory allows).
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Thank you for choosing Steamy Lit Bookstore!
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Orders placed for pickup at our Tampa location cannot be shipped. If you would like your order shipped, please place your order through our Miami or Fort Lauderdale locations.
If an item only shows Tampa as available, it means that our Miami and Fort Lauderdale locations are sold out of that title. In that case, if you place an order for pickup in Tampa, the order must be picked up at our Tampa location and cannot be transferred or shipped from another store.
Fulfillment Timeline
- Orders are processed within 3 weeks.
- Pre-ordered titles (titles purchased before release day) begin to be shipped the week of their release date.
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Carriers & Tracking
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A shipping label being created does not mean your order has shipped yet. Tracking updates may take anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks.
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Flat-Rate Shipping
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All orders are charged a flat shipping rate, shown at checkout. With the option for Media Mail ( no insurance).
Please Note: Steamy Lit is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged packages shipped via Media Mail
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- Steamy Lit is responsible for the condition of your order only until it is successfully delivered to the shipping address provided at checkout. Once a package has been delivered to a forwarding facility and accepted by that facility, our responsibility for the shipment ends.
Incorrect Addresses & Returned Packages
- If a package is returned due to an incorrect or incomplete address, the customer is responsible for return shipping costs.
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If the reship fee is not paid, the order will not be resent or refunded.
Replacements
If a replacement is approved:
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- The label must be used or scanned within 5 business days (excluding holidays).
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LOST PACKAGES
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If your tracking number shows a package as "delivered" but you have not received it:
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Wait 72 hours, as carriers sometimes scan early.
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If the package still hasn’t arrived, contact us at hello@steamylit.com within 30 days of the delivery date.
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We are unable to assist with lost packages after 30 days.
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Wait 72 hours, as carriers sometimes scan early.
EVENTS POLICY
- One ticket = one person.
- Paid tickets are non-refundable
- All author events/signings have different signing book limits. Please ensure to read the ticket page/ flyer and caption in its entirety.
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Book Ticket Vs Voucher Ticket
- Book Ticket = Includes the book + your entrance to the event.
- Voucher = A $15 voucher to spend in our store during the event + entrance to the event. Please note: Vouchers may only be redeemed in person by the registered attendee during the time of the event.
If your event ticket includes a book:
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You have 14 days to pick it up in-store.
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You may request shipping within 14 days (shipping costs apply).
After 14 days, the book will be restocked, and no refund or store credit will be issued.