A review by spongebobbiii
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I can hardly believe it myself—I rated a vampire book just 2 stars! And I’m so disappointed because the cover of "Vampires of El Norte" by Isabel Canes is absolutely stunning. I even own a hard copy that I might keep solely for its beautiful cover.

Supernatural historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. Going into this book, I knew there wouldn't be a heavy emphasis on vampire elements, so I hoped the other aspects of the story would compensate. Technically, they did, but unfortunately, I found the rest of the narrative less than enjoyable. The main characters, Nena and Nestor, were particularly frustrating. Their inability to communicate their feelings was exasperating. Both of them had numerous opportunities to express themselves to each other and those around them, yet they consistently chose not to, which only exacerbated the situations they faced.

The ending was predictable, and while I kept hoping for a surprising twist, it never came. Such a twist might have been the saving grace that could have elevated my rating to at least 3 stars.