Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

33 reviews

vixenreader's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

4.25

A historical Mexican romance mixed with effective body horror, this novel is anchored by its central characters chemistry and journey towards harnessing their potential, despite their circumstances. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Hate crime, Racism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Animal death

A lot of the racial tension is between the Mexican settlers and the American colonizers going South of the border to claim land, as well as the tension of abandoning someone you love over a huge misunderstanding.

mlovesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racism

thenextbookdilemma's review

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.75

As a lover of vampire books, I was excited to see multiple raving reviews of this book— I knew I was in for a good time!

What I didn’t expect was how incredibly beautiful the writing would be. So much of this book reads like poetry, perfect sentences lingering with you for pages or chapters. Her descriptions, of the Mexican landscape, of the tension between Néstor and Nena, of the impending evil coming their way, were simply breathtaking. I am shocked that most of Cañas’ previous writing has been for a PhD, not in poetry. 

Vampires are often an allegory for many evils & Vampires of el Norte is no exception. This was my first historical romance that takes place during the Mexican American War & witnessing the invasion of the Anglos—of the white rangers destroying the homes & lives of the Mexican people in pursuit of land and stolen livestock— was just as terrifying as blood-sucking monsters, the symbolism of which was not lost on me. 

Just as vivid & complex were our MCs. 

Nena. At times I cheered for her rage & later, paradoxically raged against her. Nena’s plight against the patriarchy, of trying to show others her value beyond corporeal honor & marriageability, was infuriating in its futility. Cañas highlights how the burden of carrying a family’s honor falls suffocatingly on its daughters. But Nena must also face her privilege as a ranchero’s daughter & the classism that rules her rancho & shadows her relationship with Nestor. 

Néstor. A silver-tongues poet in his head, a cowboy with a booted foot in his mouth in reality. I spent a solid chunk of this book Big Mad with Néstor, right alongside Nena. But Néstor allows himself to be vulnerable and brave as he confronts the classism & challenges between he and Nena.

The romance was ardent & fraught with tension after years of damage & social hierarchy. Cañas weaves the social violences of classism & sexism so seamlessly alongside the violence of war that it’s hard to figure out which is the greater evil. And then she soothes some of your rage with hope for the fragile but beautiful love trying to survive it all.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Sexism, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Blood

luverbyrd's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexism, Blood, and War

maregred's review

adventurous 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Blood, and War

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Gun violence, Grief, and Death of parent

swilson16's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

imstephtacular's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Medical content, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury

tlaynejones's review

slow-paced

3.0

This is a YA romance - with all of the commensurate angsty stubborn judgemental insecurities that endlessly create conflict within the relationship - placed in historic Mexico, with vampires. I didn’t realise this was going to be quite so YA, and I found it to be a frustrating read. There are some great parts to this book, but the patriarchy is fierce in this story and  I found the female protagonist’s awakening waaaay too slow. The vampire part of the story is interesting and creative. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and War

soniajoy98's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Gun violence, Sexism, Blood, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Moderate: Gore, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual content

catsandbookstacks's review against another edition

3.75

*Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC.*

Vampires of El Norte is a multi-genre story set in historical Mexico filled with longing and familial obligations. I'd describe this book as gothic historical romance with paranormal horror elements. The novel is an angsty and slow burn dual POV, where the two are reunited nine years after Nena's almost death and Nestor's leaving the rancho. Nena hopes to stay at the rancho as their curandera instead of being married off for strengthening political bonds. Nestor returns after receiving a letter summons and is shocked to see Nena is alive.

Isabel Cañas sets the mood in a beautiful, barren and hostile environment where survival is already a struggle without worrying about the blood-sucking creatures that lurk in the darkness. The reader will also question who the villains actually are amidst land disputes and colonization. Cañas' historical knowledge of 1840s Mexico is showcased and I look forward to reading her debut novel, The Hacienda.

The romance does take a front seat to the novel and uses familiar tropes of forbidden love, childhood friends to lovers and second chances. While I was rooting for Nena and Nestor, I found the pining/longing from both sides became repetitive to the point of skimming when the pacing slowed. There is a fade to black scene and some descriptions of intimacy. The vampires are monstrous and twisted, which I appreciated and allowed for a high stakes plot. While I wasn't expecting romance to be at the forefront, I did enjoy the characters and the story.

CW: body horror, blood, violence, death, murder, sexism, classism, colonization, war, animal death

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Blood

Moderate: Animal death, Sexism, Colonisation, War, and Classism