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emily_journals's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Full disclosure on this book, the horror elements are not the main aspect of this story. Although this book is categorized as a horror novel, I would categorize it more as a historical romance with horror elements woven in.
That being said, I really loved this book. I got recommended this book, so I already knew that this was more of a romance than a horror and was fully prepared for that, which I think is what most people didn't love about it. This romance is so good. The yearning and the pining is done so perfectly and the introduction really builds a good foundation for this friendship to become more. I also think the horror elements were woven in really well. The horror elements in this book are really used to mirror the colonialism of Mexico and I thought the way the horror was used to amplify and mirror those themes was really expertly done.
I don't think this book will be perfect for everyone, but it was perfect for me and hit the perfect level of every element to make me eat it up. I'm immediately going to go read this author's other works.
That being said, I really loved this book. I got recommended this book, so I already knew that this was more of a romance than a horror and was fully prepared for that, which I think is what most people didn't love about it. This romance is so good. The yearning and the pining is done so perfectly and the introduction really builds a good foundation for this friendship to become more. I also think the horror elements were woven in really well. The horror elements in this book are really used to mirror the colonialism of Mexico and I thought the way the horror was used to amplify and mirror those themes was really expertly done.
I don't think this book will be perfect for everyone, but it was perfect for me and hit the perfect level of every element to make me eat it up. I'm immediately going to go read this author's other works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Medical content, and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content
h4ppycupcake's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An adventurous romance with lots of tension and thrills. I didn’t find the characters’ journey in overcoming their personal conflict very believable; I wasn’t convinced that their childhood feelings would translate to adulthood after such a long time. In a lot of ways this felt like fan fiction of characters that exist already and unfortunately I as the reader don’t have access to their extensive character history.
About the ending:She saves the vampires??????? What the hell is that about??????????? Come on, no way, that’s the dumbest way to end this
About the ending:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
lippi's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Slavery, and War
janeadventures's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
kaiyakaiyo's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
first read of the year! I marked this as started in Dec just to immediately put it down in favor of some Palestine readings so this truly does count!
The romance was sweet, if a bit fade to black, but the true shine in this book was Nena (super badass), and the folklore. I am a slut for tales and creatures tied to a specific land or people. This delivered that many times over!
I am also a slut for supernatural creatures as metaphors for how white settlers destroyed and warped the land they stole. this book delivered that quite well. colonialism and environmental devastation are not unrelated; we’re seeing that right now with the species disappearing in hawaii, so I like when authors don’t shy away from it in historical fiction.
all in all a fun and surprisingly quick read! I didn’t mind the POV switches for once, as it made the Feelings more juicy. will def read more by this author if I can!
The romance was sweet, if a bit fade to black, but the true shine in this book was Nena (super badass), and the folklore. I am a slut for tales and creatures tied to a specific land or people. This delivered that many times over!
I am also a slut for supernatural creatures as metaphors for how white settlers destroyed and warped the land they stole. this book delivered that quite well. colonialism and environmental devastation are not unrelated; we’re seeing that right now with the species disappearing in hawaii, so I like when authors don’t shy away from it in historical fiction.
all in all a fun and surprisingly quick read! I didn’t mind the POV switches for once, as it made the Feelings more juicy. will def read more by this author if I can!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Gore, Misogyny, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Death
albernikolauras's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Despite its fair share of horrifying scenes, but the book is more of a romance and a metaphor of the Americans stealing the Northern lands of Mexico than a horror. Canas is great at writing the seeping tension and the horrific scenes that break up the similarly well-written romantic tension. Nestor was definitely a high point as well. Nena was at times very frustrating - which definitely held the book back from being as excellent as the Hacienda.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and War
kattyenn's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Colonisation
Moderate: Death and War
Minor: Animal cruelty and Child abuse
morethanmylupus's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I wanted to love this one but it ended up being pretty "meh" for me. The vampires felt crammed in as an afterthought. The history was presented so vaguely that I had to google to refresh myself on the history. Otherwise, I had only a vague idea of who the different parties were and why they were at war. Our MC is super bratty and self-centered and we end up getting very little insight into the battles. This didn't deliver what it promised, and I wish I'd enjoyed it as much as some of these 4 and 5 star reviews.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
annslittlelibrary's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall I enjoyed Vampires of El Norte, although it took me awhile to get into and was a little slower paced. More than anything this is a romance, and the historical and horror elements are primarily a backdrop to the love story. (I do not like horror, so for me that was a win.) Isabel Cañas has a gorgeous, lyrical writing style that brings the setting of 1840s Mexico to life. Would definitely round up a star for her writing style alone, but I could've done with a faster paced plot. (Also miscommunication is unfortunately my least favorite trope...but that's a me problem!)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Colonisation
Minor: War
bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The premise of this book really hooked me, and the setting was really engaging. however the romance angle and horror angle felt like reading two separate books rather than one whole book. it felt like one had nothing to do with the other. i also found myself distracted at time by the author rehashing the same scenes fro different pov without reply adding anything. the power of this story was diluted by extraneous elements and lack of cohesiveness.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content