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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
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.
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism, Blood, and War
yourbookishbff's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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: Misogyny, Violence, Stalking, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood
yilliun's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Solid cozy fall weekend read. Definitely expected Twilight/ Vampire Diaries type vampires not monstrous Nosferatu types, BUT I think that sexy vampires would have detracted from the story. I did find myself genuinely afraid at certain points in the book. I like that Cañas blended historical romance with a definite gothic thriller twist.
I still don’t 100% understand the choice to rush back to Los Ojuelos instead of trying to regroup and find their companions. It did give us the forced proximity trope so I can’t be too mad about it
Being a non-Spanish speaker, there were a few terms I needed to look up to understand the story. I do think the mix of English and Spanish terms made the characters and their landscape more believable.
Being a non-Spanish speaker, there were a few terms I needed to look up to understand the story. I do think the mix of English and Spanish terms made the characters and their landscape more believable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Misogyny, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
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
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
elizabeth_lepore's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, and Grief
erinwolf1997's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism
trollmila's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
gaby_readsss's review
dark
emotional
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
From the first time I saw its title, Vampires Of El Norte caught my attention and I knew I wanted to read it.
I thought it was so cool how the author unapologetically used “Spanglish”throughout her book. That’s something I personally enjoyed since Spanish is my first language and it feels so natural to read it on paper.
Besides that, there were many other aspects of the story that I thoroughly enjoyed. One of them was how Cañas was able to create a tale of vampires that felt fresh and original around urban legends that are well known in Hispanic culture, such as “El Cuco”.
This was a thrilling read that had a great balance between different genres. It was a blend of historical/western romance, and a little bit of horror.
Another aspect I loved was how reading this book kind of felt like watching a telenovela. The plot was giving “she’s the daughter of a ranch owner and he’s a simple worker but they’re in love since they were children, even though nobody approves, but there’s also vampires and she died nine years ago”. Like… this was such a good plot. I loved it!
On top of the romance there are also many other important topics in this book such as patriarchy, classism, colorism, and colonialism.
I highly recommend this book!!
I thought it was so cool how the author unapologetically used “Spanglish”throughout her book. That’s something I personally enjoyed since Spanish is my first language and it feels so natural to read it on paper.
Besides that, there were many other aspects of the story that I thoroughly enjoyed. One of them was how Cañas was able to create a tale of vampires that felt fresh and original around urban legends that are well known in Hispanic culture, such as “El Cuco”.
This was a thrilling read that had a great balance between different genres. It was a blend of historical/western romance, and a little bit of horror.
Another aspect I loved was how reading this book kind of felt like watching a telenovela. The plot was giving “she’s the daughter of a ranch owner and he’s a simple worker but they’re in love since they were children, even though nobody approves, but there’s also vampires and she died nine years ago”. Like… this was such a good plot. I loved it!
On top of the romance there are also many other important topics in this book such as patriarchy, classism, colorism, and colonialism.
I highly recommend this book!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Blood, Colonisation, War, and Classism