A supernatural thriller blending São Paulo’s underworld with Nikkei-Brazilian folklore to expose the devastating cost of ambition and betrayal.
A legacy that cannot be refused
The Canavarro family runs its criminal operations in São Paulo while carrying a supernatural burden that traces back to Mexico. Everything starts when the family patriarch steals a ritual whistle and comes into contact with the entity Xolotl. From that moment on, horror becomes an inseparable part of the family’s history — crossing generations and shaping the fate of every descendant.
This is the premise behind Canil dos Condenados (Kennel of the Damned), written by Vinicius Tetsuko C. Sato under the pen name TetsuUcorvo. The story follows brothers Severino and Álvaro, raised under their father’s strict code of courage and loyalty, and led as children into a ritual that determines who will carry the family relic.
The fracture between two brothers
Against all expectations, it is Severino — not the eldest — who is chosen. That moment opens an irreparable rift between the brothers. On one side, the burden of carrying the power. On the other, Álvaro is left to wrestle with resentment that will come to define every choice he makes.
He understood what it meant to be a Canavarro. He understood where the burning cold came from and knew, with a painful clarity, that his life and the world he once knew would never be the same.
Years later, as an adult, Severino leads the family alongside his loyal dogs. But he loses his connection to the relic after a confrontation in a warehouse — when he fails in the presence of the Crow, a malevolent entity that takes human form. That episode traps him in fear, paralysis, and submission.
When ambition demands payment
Álvaro, driven by ambition and wounded pride, strikes a deal with the Crow itself. In exchange for eliminating rivals and seizing control of the family business, he betrays its deepest secrets — putting the entire bloodline at risk. The pact brings to the surface the novel’s central tensions: sibling rivalry, inherited violence, and the merciless cost of alliances with dark forces.
TetsuUcorvo makes a clear case: power inherited without readiness does not protect. It fractures bonds, exposes vulnerabilities, and slowly erodes everything it was meant to preserve. The courage and loyalty the father taught are replaced by fear, greed, and the hunger for control.
Folklore horror with its own voice
The book is a strong recommendation for readers drawn to the urban tension of Peaky Blinders, the dangerous bargains of Supernatural, and the dark fantasy of Pan’s Labyrinth — all filtered through a singular lens of Nikkei-Brazilian folk horror. In just 100 pages, it delivers narrative depth, an oppressive atmosphere, and questions that linger long after the final page.
Event Info
- Title: Canil dos Condenados
- Author: TetsuUcorvo (Vinicius Tetsuko C. Sato)
- Genre: Thriller, Horror, Suspense/Mystery
- Pages: 100
- ISBN (print): 978-65-01-91224-0
- ASIN/ISBN (e-book): 978-65-01-67532-9
- Price: BRL 4.99 (e-book)
- Where to find: https://amzn.to/3NVI6R9
