Take a photo of a barcode or cover
bookswithbets 's review for:
Salvación
by Sandra Proudman
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Sandra Proudman and Wednesday Books (through Netgalley) for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
After traveling from their home to a mining community called Coloma in order to pursue their Mother's call to healing the sick, Lola de La Peña and her brother Victor have taken it upon themselves to keep the magic of sal negra safe from encroaching Yankee forces. The black salt heals all wounds, new and old, and in the wrong hands, could mean doom for the small town. As Salvación, Lola finds her true purpose in life. Is her determined nature enough to keep evil forces at bay?
My feelings for Salvación are pretty mixed. This novel is marketed for a young adult audience. It's absolutely perfect for that age. As an adult I found many continuity errors that distracted me from the overall plot and some unbalanced pacing in the novel, although I would still describe the story as fast paced.
I had a difficult time with the inner monologue of a character who strives for confidence in her alter ego, but constantly worries about a few very distinct problems: her need to wear pants, her relationship with her parents/brother, and keeping her town safe. The relationships between Lola and her Mother and Father also didn't seem as desperate as she made them out to be. Honestly though, her take on her problems was probably age appropriate.
The discussion about invading forces on indigenous people, and claiming land as yours when it isn't, is very important. And the book has a very strong “girl power” vibe that I can get behind. A lot of events wouldn't have been possible if Lola’s family hadn't, even begrudgingly, supported their daughter. I also didn't know anything about Alta California, and plan on remedying that soon.
I think I absolutely would have eaten this up as a younger person, I just wasn't the optimal audience!
Available (today!) May 20, 2025.
After traveling from their home to a mining community called Coloma in order to pursue their Mother's call to healing the sick, Lola de La Peña and her brother Victor have taken it upon themselves to keep the magic of sal negra safe from encroaching Yankee forces. The black salt heals all wounds, new and old, and in the wrong hands, could mean doom for the small town. As Salvación, Lola finds her true purpose in life. Is her determined nature enough to keep evil forces at bay?
My feelings for Salvación are pretty mixed. This novel is marketed for a young adult audience. It's absolutely perfect for that age. As an adult I found many continuity errors that distracted me from the overall plot and some unbalanced pacing in the novel, although I would still describe the story as fast paced.
I had a difficult time with the inner monologue of a character who strives for confidence in her alter ego, but constantly worries about a few very distinct problems: her need to wear pants, her relationship with her parents/brother, and keeping her town safe. The relationships between Lola and her Mother and Father also didn't seem as desperate as she made them out to be. Honestly though, her take on her problems was probably age appropriate.
The discussion about invading forces on indigenous people, and claiming land as yours when it isn't, is very important. And the book has a very strong “girl power” vibe that I can get behind. A lot of events wouldn't have been possible if Lola’s family hadn't, even begrudgingly, supported their daughter. I also didn't know anything about Alta California, and plan on remedying that soon.
I think I absolutely would have eaten this up as a younger person, I just wasn't the optimal audience!
Available (today!) May 20, 2025.