Synopsis

Vampires of El Norte is a gothic horror novel set in 1840s Mexico during a time of political unrest and growing danger along the frontier. The story follows Nena, a young woman who survived a mysterious attack years earlier, and Néstor, her childhood friend who returns to her life as a new threat emerges in the countryside. As strange deaths and supernatural horrors begin to spread, the two must confront both the monsters stalking the region and the unresolved feelings between them. Blending historical fiction, romance, and folklore-inspired horror, the novel explores themes of love, family, identity, and survival.

Quotes

Nestor, she felt as if each step they took led them closer to a future that she wanted. One she caught in glimpses of color and smell like a half-remembered dream.

Nothing worth wanting came easy.

No matter how hard or far he rode, she clung to his skin like the smell of sleep. His soul bore her brand, the wound deep and blackened and scarred over.

To him, the crickets feel silent. The nose of the assembly in the courtyard faded; the moon ceased to glow. The night had no mistress but her.

Notes

10%

• I forgot how much I love Isabel Cañas writing! She has such a way of pulling you into the story. She describes the atmosphere and emotions of the character so well.

20%

• I love how she makes such amazing analogies. Between the actual threat of bloodsucking vampires, and then the threat of the people stealing and sucking their land dry.

42%

He would keep trying, no matter how many barbs she flung at him, no matter if she shouted or cried.

• thought this part was a bit crazy or toxic. Yes I get that its a bit of a love story in a way. But also... that's obsession.

66%

• The back and forth, of both intimacy and pain between the MC's is both driving me crazy, and luring me in. The author knows right when to pull you back into their romance, and then hurt you lol. She does such a great job of making you forget the threat that faces them.

74%

• This book does so well at capturing the point of view of Mexicans, and what they went through with Americans and Texas rangers taking their land. But with a supernatural aspect. Also the analogy between the real vampires and the colonizers is so good.

"Besides, Felix always says that Anglos have never met anything they couldn't turn into a means to take what they want."

Review

This book was so good... so so so good...
I loved every minute of it. There were so many moments I was on the seat of my pants, holding my breath to read what happened next.
I love the characters, and the relationships between them.
I love the deeper meaning of the books plot, and the historical significance.
Seriously such a good read!
I am never disappointed with Isabel's writing.