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blewballoon'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Woah! So much tension, drama, action, history, passion in this story! This is my first book by this author and I appreciated the historical and cultural details. They were woven really well with the sweeping romance and family/cultural tensions. And for me, adding vampires to the mix made it all the more interesting. I loved how their presence highlighted the other threats and discoveries happening in the story. I absolutely loved how Nena came to sympathize and reason with them, arguably one saved her life. It may be cliché but I love a good "the real monster is man" monster story. I do wish the romance had involved less miscommunication/hurting the other person. I could sympathize with their mutual bad choices given their different experiences and understanding after what happened, but once they both knew the truth they still fumbled a lot and Nena's constant one step forward two steps back with her treatment of Nestor was frustrating
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and War
Minor: Sexual content
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
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
ashhearddwrites's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Blood
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Sexism, Colonisation, War, and Classism
el393way's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
This genre of Mexican-inspired gothic horror is quickly becoming an unsung hero, a favorite. It’s not often that, as someone raised in south Texas, you get to read books set in your area. The familiar names. The familiar language. The familiar history. So right off the bat, the book is fantastic for that alone. I may be a bit biased but I don’t care.
The take on vampires in this telling is so unique. It pulls of old folktales and fireside stories from grandmas and vaqueros. It was a vampire story but also not a vampire story and I loved it for that.
Nena and Néstor’s story was touching and beautiful and made me happy even though the book was dark at times.
Review given on advanced copy from NetGalley.
The take on vampires in this telling is so unique. It pulls of old folktales and fireside stories from grandmas and vaqueros. It was a vampire story but also not a vampire story and I loved it for that.
Nena and Néstor’s story was touching and beautiful and made me happy even though the book was dark at times.
Review given on advanced copy from NetGalley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism and War
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