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bcollent's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Absolutely loved this book. I usually don't like the miscommunication trope, but this was so well done. I loved the dual pov and the romance. The way the author describes the scenery makes me yearn for a place I can never visit.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism and Colonisation
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
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
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
aryelee's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
If I could rate this higher than 5 stars, I would. From the first two chapters, I knew this was going to be one of the best books I've ever read, and boy did it deliver! Nena and Néstor felt so real. Their voices carried through so well, and all the emotions they felt hit me in the chest. The way their characters developed, how they've changed since they were children, what nine years apart did to them and what finding each other was like.... everything just had a GRIP on me. I will be thinking about this book forever. What an incredible novel.
The portrayal of vampires is also so interesting. I don't think I've read another book featuring vampires that uses them in this way. Paired with the background of the Mexican-American war... absolutely stunning. Easily one of my favorite historical fiction novels ever. Please read this book.
The portrayal of vampires is also so interesting. I don't think I've read another book featuring vampires that uses them in this way. Paired with the background of the Mexican-American war... absolutely stunning. Easily one of my favorite historical fiction novels ever. Please read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and War
Moderate: Stalking, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
alisonvh's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A writer who can make me feel terrified of vampires and then turn around and make me feel sorry for them is talented indeed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
meg_andd's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
directorpurry's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.25
Not as vampire-y as I might have hoped, but interesting! The creatures that Cañas has created are quite fascinating.
I agree with other reviewers - definitely more historical romance with spooky elements than horror, really. Personally, I preferred The Hacienda, but I really think I've found a new auto-read author!
I agree with other reviewers - definitely more historical romance with spooky elements than horror, really. Personally, I preferred The Hacienda, but I really think I've found a new auto-read author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Classism
blakeandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content