A review by starrysteph
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

adventurous challenging 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? Yes

4.25

Lush, romantic writing with simmering slow burn tension & fresh dangers lurking on every page. Vampires of El Norte was riveting and haunting, with characters that you’ll root for so fiercely it hurts. 

Nena and Néstor are childhood friends - and maybe someday something more. But Nena is the daughter of a rancher who is expected to marry a wealthy man of her class, and Néstor works for her family as a vaquero. One night as the pair playfully hunt a legendary treasure, they’re attacked by a strange beast. Thinking Nena dead, Néstor flees into the night, leaving Nena betrayed and broken-hearted.

Nine years later, they’re unexpectedly brought back together as adults when the United States attacks Mexico. Nena is a healer determined to prove herself an equal to the men that dominate her life, and Néstor is fighting alongside the cavalry. They stumble through an awkward reunion, but have to quickly reconcile as monsters, both human settlers and blood-sucking beasts, threaten the lives of everyone they love. 

Cañas hooked me from the introduction - the bond between Nena and Néstor as children is so fiery and sweet that you can’t help but optimistically believe they’ll end up together against all odds. As adults, their miscommunication will hurt your heart but is also completely believable and understandable from both points of view. Their hesitancy to let each other back in - and their fear of vulnerability - makes for a compelling slow burn romance. 

There’s a cavernous divide between the two lovers, and watching them navigate classism and their expected roles in society is so compelling. Nena learns to be defiant and finds a voice for her rebellion; Néstor learns to break cycles and forge a new future for his love. 

The horror and romance elements elevate each other, with moments of sharp fear and loss but also passion and rage. 

And the vampires. Ooo. This was a unique spin on vampire lore. It starts with folktale horror and whispers of things that bite at dark, and builds up to terrifying fight scenes.

The plotline follows a historical fight against colonialism (the Yanquis are forcibly taking Mexican land), and the vampires are cleverly woven into this plotline, both as metaphorical tools of oppression and literal villains. Without spoilers, the resolution of the vampire arc was clever, beautiful, and satisfying. 

I loved the genre-bending, but I do think there was a dip in the middle where we were only getting romance. I would have loved to go deeper on the vampires and to go deeper on Nena’s journey as a healer, finding her independence and power even apart from Néstor.

CW: death, gore, gun violence, war, blood, sexism, colonialism, injury, classism, animal death, body horror, emotional abuse, misogyny, murder, racism, indentured servitude 

Follow me on TikTok for book recommendations!

(I received a free copy of this book from Berkley; this is my honest review.)