The Bad Blessings chronicles the misfortunes of the Rendar family in the fictional town of Amourville, located somewhere in the San Joaquin Valley, California. The novella spans over 12 years and features the female protagonist, Rose Rendar, who becomes cursed by a santera (Spanish term for witch) while visiting a remote farm while her father assisted a mare's parturition. After she witnesses macabre and surreal events, the curse spreads to her entire family, giving Rose a daunting task; break the curse or suffer eternally. However, Rose struggles with profound disbelief in the occult and spirituality. She also battles with gender and sexual identity issues, which aggravate the conflict between her overprotective father, her zealous mother, and a conservative town that oppresses women, diversity, and any modern outlook on life. Fantastically conceived through irony, wit, and vivid imagery, this story blends the magical world of each character's mind with the immutable realities of a modern family. It also explores a queer Latinx coming out journey and her growth to adulthood amidst supernatural forces. This novella gives full rein to Sotelo's creative style that exposes the emotional undercurrents all humans suffer and shines a new light on the theme of existence versus society.