The name of the titular monster in V.S. Lawrence’s latest novel is obviously a cute portmanteau that immediately evokes images of puffy tacos and bloodsucking cryptids. 

The novel’s title also makes me think of other wacky monster combinations, such as a warty Burritoad, a colossal Nachozilla, a spooky Tacomancer and (my favorite) a Green Enchiloblin. BTW: I freely give the author permission to use any of these puns when she sits down to write her sequel to Chalupacabra Y2K.

The title may be artfully contrived, but it effectively tells readers what they’re getting. However, the question remains: How does a tasty menu item from a Mexican fast food joint become a grotesque monster that sucks the blood out of people and then goes on a hot sauce bender? 

The whole situation is a nightmare, thought Janet. She was one of the two restaurant employees who inadvertently created the Chalupacabra. “Who’s ever heard of a chalupa—or any food, for that matter—coming to life and slaughtering fast food workers?” It didn’t make sense to her. 

One-hundred and eighty-two years ago, Dr. Frankenstein stitched together dead body parts to create life. And now, just a few short months into Y2K, Janet and her coworker have successfully created a sentient monster from a vat of fried food. 

Laugh if you want, but the Chalupacabra wasn’t a joke, especially when it became an eight-foot-tall chalupa deluxe. It was a weirdly rendered creature that skittered on alligator-like legs. In addition, it had a forked tongue, a mouth full of shark teeth and eyes that were literally made of diced red tomatoes. 

The author admits in her afterword that Chalupacabra Y2K was inspired by numerous midnight runs to Taco Bell. I can definitely relate to that. During college, I ate at Taco Bell every single day. And believe me, I can totally see how their food could easily turn into a sentient monster. 

The novel ends when Janet and her friends Trina and Landon confront the Chalupacabra at a weekend chili festival. Together, they have a vague and improbable plan to stop the creature. If they fail, they know that it will be the end of their small town, and very possibly, the entire world. 

Like all high-concept novels, Chalupacabra Y2K includes a strong hook and is written with a clear premise. Characters are generally de-emphasized in favor of high-stakes drama (although I did kinda fall in love with Trina, the MegaBarbie). If the author were to pitch her book to a movie studio, she could probably do it in one simple sentence. Who knows, this could be the start of a long-running deep-fried franchise. 

[ Chalupacabra Y2K / By  V.S. Lawrence / First Printing: September 2025 / ISBN: 9798230647225 ]