Scan barcode
velvetcelestial'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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, and Violence
historicalmaterialgirl's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Came for the vampires, stayed for the tóxicos!
The pacing felt a little rushed sometimes but the lush description, relationship tension and research that went into this were superb
The pacing felt a little rushed sometimes but the lush description, relationship tension and research that went into this were superb
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Moderate: Gore
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Finished reading: June 28th 2024
“Don't you always. He did. Porque así fue la suerte. Nothing worth wanting came easy; nothing worth wanting was ever given to men of dust and sweat.”
I'm honestly still speechless. It's no secret that I'm usually allergic to vampire stories, but after being blown away by The Hacienda I decided to take a gamble and add Vampires Of El Norte to my TBR anyway. I absolutely loved Isabel Cañas' writing style in her debut, and I had high hopes that this alone would be enough to help me forget about my aversion towards fanged creatures. Not only did this happen, but this might actually be the first time I end up giving a vampire story the full five stars. What an absolutely stunning and simply glorious read! Vampires Of El Norte is part historical fiction, part romance and part supernatural horror, with a war and family drama thrown in to add even more dept. The historical Mexican setting is sublimely done, and it truly transports you to the 1840s and a turbulent time in Mexico. The writing itself is vivid and stunning, and I basically knew this book was going to get the highest rating after just a couple chapters. This also has a lot to do with both main characters Nena and Néstor, who were able to win over my heart almost immediately. Vampires Of El Norte uses a dual POV structure, switching between Nena and Néstor to give us a better idea what happens both when they are apart and together. The supernatural horror element is also extremely well done, and I loved how the curandera healing was incorporated into the plot. I'm honestly a bit lost for words as it is SO hard to write a review that does this story justice... If you enjoy well written historical fiction with a supernatural twist as well as a dose of romance and don't mind things getting dark and twisted, I cannot recommend Vampires Of El Norte enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
cannibaldear's review against another edition
5.0
LOVE A VAMPIRE AS A METAPHOR FOR WHITE GREED AND TURNING GOVERNMENTS/ENVIRONMENTS AGAINST THEIR PEOPLE!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
vegeterrain's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
really interesting concept for what vampires are and how it plays into the story, but i think the pacing was to slow (probably slowed more by me searching up things since i don’t know spanish) was a bit to slow for me to really enjoy to its full potential
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
dmrosenblatt's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
sydapel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
It really pains me to say it, but this absolutely did not work for me. Based on other reviews I had seen, I was anticipating something much more fantasy based, rather than historical fiction with a touch of paranormal. The writing style also felt overly descriptive for what I think what meant to feel like a fast paced thrilling adventure, and personally I did not find either main character worth rooting for. If a spooky historical fiction and the childhood friends to long lost lovers trope works for you, then absolutely pick this up, but a miss from me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Violence and War
Minor: Sexual content
thiaroberts'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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
janey_bones's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Isabel Cañas' 'Vampires of El Norte' pleasantly surprised me with its captivating blend of romance, historical fiction, and socio-political commentary. While initially expecting a horror narrative akin to 'The Hacienda,' I found myself immersed in a richly detailed world where the metaphorical 'blood-sucking colonizers' take center stage. Cañas' exquisite prose effortlessly transports readers to a vividly depicted time and place, evoking a sense of nostalgia and intrigue. While not a conventional horror tale, 'Vampires of El Norte' excels in its unique exploration of themes and its ability to keep readers engaged until the very end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, and War
Minor: Animal death, Death, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
beccaand's review
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content