Enter to Win The Ordinary Bruja – A Story for Anyone Who’s Ever Felt Like They Weren’t Enough

Tomorrow, October 19th, marks the start of something special—the official StoryGraph Giveaway for The Ordinary Bruja! From October 19th through November 18th, I’ll be giving away 10 digital copies (EPUB format) of my debut in the Las Cerradoras series. And because this is a digital giveaway, it’s open internationally—yes, you can enter from anywhere in the world. 🌍

This giveaway means a lot to me because The Ordinary Bruja isn’t just a story—it’s an invitation to come home to yourself.

🎉 Enter the StoryGraph Giveaway

When I wrote this book, I wanted to reach the people who have ever looked in the mirror and felt like they were disappearing. The ones who feel out of place, who second-guess every word that leaves their mouth, who were told to be smaller, quieter, or more acceptable. The Ordinary Bruja is for everyone who’s ever felt like they’re not enough—or worse, like they’re going crazy for feeling so deeply.

It’s a psychological horror story layered with magical realism, where the supernatural mirrors the emotional. Marisol Espinal doesn’t believe she’s special. Not when she’s back in her small Ohio hometown, working as a barista, haunted by grief and by the girls who once made her life hell. But when mirrors flicker with strange words, cigar smoke curls where no one is smoking, and voices whisper from Hallowthorn Hill, she realizes something darker has always been watching.

Generations ago, the Espinal family’s magic was silenced—bound by Salvador, the ancestor who feared the power of women. Now, his ghost feeds on fear and self-doubt, and Marisol is his next target. To survive, she must reclaim her heritage, unearth the truth buried in her mother’s journal, and face the hill that has been waiting for her all along.

At its heart, this book is about identity, belonging, and the courage to embrace every part of yourself—even the parts the world told you to hide. It’s for those who walk between cultures, between languages, and between the living and the ghosts of their past.

So if you’ve ever looked for a story that reminds you that your voice matters, that your roots have power, and that there’s magic in the ordinary—this giveaway is for you.

👉 Enter between October 19th and November 18th on StoryGraph for your chance to win one of 10 digital copies of The Ordinary Bruja.

Because you’re not too much.
You’re not imagining things.
You’re magic—just waiting to remember.

🎉 Enter the StoryGraph Giveaway

#bookGiveaway #giveaway #identityAndBelonging #indieAuthor #LatineLiterature #magicalRealism #newAdultFiction #PsychologicalHorror #TheOrdinaryBruja

A #brand-new book prize is here, and it’s shining a spotlight on one of the hottest and buzziest corners of publishing right now: #newadultfiction. 📚

The winner will be chosen by a panel that includes authors, content creators, and festival programmers.They’ll announce the first-ever winner at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on October 18th as part of the festival’s VOICEBOX programme.

Read more ⤵️

https://www.booknotification.com/news/why-new-adult-fiction-deserves-the-spotlight-and-now-has-its-own-prize/

Want to Be a Beta Reader for The Ordinary Bruja?

Something in the dark knows her name… and I hope you do too.

Hey familia-Vacitos
I’m so excited (and honestly, a little nervous) to share this with you. After months of edits, rewrites, and emotionally walking through the fog of grief, doubt, and ancestral magic… my next book, The Ordinary Bruja, is almost ready.

But before I take the next big step—I need your help.

I’m officially opening up beta reader sign-ups for a small group of readers who want to be part of this story’s final transformation.

🌿 What is The Ordinary Bruja?

It’s a Dominican-American psychological horror + magical realism novel about Marisol Espinal, a woman returning home to a town that won’t let her forget who she used to be. Haunted by grief, twisted family secrets, and a cursed hill that calls her by name, she uncovers that her family’s magic was never truly lost—just buried.

This story is about:

  • 🖤 Grief that lingers in the walls
  • 🌀 Magic passed down through silence
  • 🌙 The tension between identity and inheritance
  • ✊🏽 And what it means to reclaim the power you were taught to fear

If you’re into books like The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, White Smoke, or anything that blends supernatural dread with soul-deep reflection—you’ll vibe with this.

🕯 What’s a Beta Reader?

A beta reader is someone who reads an early version of a book before it’s published and gives the author feedback. Think of yourself as my creative confidant—you’re not proofreading or editing line-by-line. You’re helping me answer questions like:

  • Did you care about Marisol?
  • Did the story hook you?
  • Did the magical rules make sense?
  • Were there parts that confused, bored, or emotionally wrecked you (in the best way)?

You’ll get to read the book before anyone else, give feedback, and help shape this story into its final form.

📅 What’s the Timeline?

  • Beta sign-ups close: April 30
  • Reading begins: May 1
  • Feedback due: May 31
    (I’ll send reminders + keep it flexible for life things—we’re human here.)

✨ Want to Join the Beta Crew? (Fill the form below)

Please leave this field empty

Thank you for joining The Ordinary Bruja Beta Reader Crew. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

I’ll send you everything you need: the manuscript, feedback questions, and a warm thank-you from the bottom of my bookish little heart.

If you’ve ever connected with my work, resonated with themes of healing, cultural identity, or just want to read a haunting-ass story about a girl who stops running and starts remembering—this is for you.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s bring The Ordinary Bruja to life, together.

🧿 P.S.

If you’re not ready to beta read but want to support the book, you can:
💬 Share this post
📩 Sign up for my newsletter
📚 Grab my free preview here

#ancestralStories #betaReaders #culturalIdentity #DominicanAuthor #indieAuthorSupport #magicalRealism #newAdultFiction #OwnVoices #PsychologicalHorror #TheOrdinaryBruja

The Ordinary Bruja (First Six Chapters) - by J.E. Ortega

Something in the dark knows her name… Download the first four chapters of The Ordinary Bruja, a haunting blend of magical realism and psychological horror. Perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia & Isabel Cañas. Will Marisol Espinal uncover the truth—or will the past consume her? Grab your free teaser now!

Diverse Books | Have A Cup Of Johanny
These are my April hopefuls!

I started Yellowface last week but have not finished it. I like Kuang's writing style, and I can see why this book is hyped up.

I've finished the Caraval series and can not wait to dive into OUABH. Jacks is one of the characters that made the Caraval series more interesting, and I can't wait to read more about him.

I can not remember where I got the recommendation for Just Some Stupid Love Story. But after re-reading the summary, I can't wait to see what's in store for me.

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#Pixelfed #bookfed #booktok #bookstagram #bookcommunity #booklover #reader #bookish #book #books #kindle #fictionbook #romancebook #thrillerbook #literarybook #contemporaryromance #youngadultfiction #newadultfiction #yellowface #onceuponabrokenheart #justsomestupidlovestory
After reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, I needed to read a fast-paced and lighter book to get me out a reading slump I felt myself falling into. The Nightingale is one of those books that will stay in the back of my mind for a really long time. It is so well written, and brought forward a side of WWII that is not talked about enough: women’s efforts in the War while staying behind at home and dealing with the chaos brought on by war.

The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas is a lighthearted romance book that follows Catalina and Aaron and their attempt to deceive Catalina’s family in Spain into thinking that they are in a true and loving relationship.

I started this book on Thursday, and even though I have not had much time to read it, I am already 60% finished. This is definitely a perfect book to prevent or get out of a reading slump.

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#Pixelfed #bookfed #bookstadon #booktok #bookstagram #bookcommunity #booklover #reader #bookish #book #fictionbook #romancebook #contemporaryromance #newadultfiction #currentread #thespanishlovedeception
Both of these books are slow burn romances.

Left Field Love is one of the most slow burn romance books I have read to date. But it's a romance that develops through a long period of time and hardships. Overall, I was satisfied with the ending of the book.

The Letters We Keep by Nisha Sharma is set in a university, and the story interconnects a campus legend with the present situation Ravi and Jessie are in.

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#Pixelfed #bookfed #bookstadon #booktok #bookstagram #bookcommunity #booklover #reader #bookish #book #kindle #fictionbook #romancebook #contemporaryromance #youngadultfiction #newadultfiction #leftfieldlove #theletterswekeep
My February tbr includes a lot of romance and a little bit of mystery.

I’m excited to read all of these books. But Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia have been in my tbr for a long time, so I am most excited to read these two.

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#Pixelfed #bookfed #booktok #bookstagram #bookcommunity #booklover #reader #bookish #book #books #kindle #fictionbook #romancebook #mysterybook #historicalfiction #contemporaryromance #youngadultfiction #newadultfiction #onetrueloves #mexicangothic #setonyou #thespanishlovedeception #sevendaysinjune #thenightingale