Scan barcode
A review by dr_dr_olshakes
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was one of my most anticipated novels. I loved La Hacienda, and expected to love this one. I didn't, though I eventually came around and did enjoy the latter third.
Much like La Hacienda, this novel situates itself in the historical context of the Mexican-American war, a time period rife with horror. I love how interested the author is in this era and their deployment of the supernatural to explore it. I especially appreciate any book that understands how fucked up the Texas Rangers were (and still are). I hesitate to call it a twist, but I loved the reveal of the vampires' true nature.
But holy guacamole, that first half is hard to get through. Nestor and Nena just talk in circles about their "miscommunication" over and over.She literally tells him that him thinking she was dead for 9 years wasnt a good enough reason for him to have abandoned her. The setting and plot, and some of the characters, are so rich but it all gets bogged down by the author's inability to let them talk about anything else.
I quite enjoyed Nestor's POV, but his blind devotion in the first half was frustrating. Nena had interesting and complex motivations, but was also at times incredibly annoying and stubborn. Eventually though, they moved on to other topics of conversation, the vampires and Texas rangers became more prominent, and the book really picked itself up. It does all end up in a too-quick nicely tied bow, but I can live with that.
Overall, I came around to it in the end, but I am bummed that this book didn't live up to my hopes.
Much like La Hacienda, this novel situates itself in the historical context of the Mexican-American war, a time period rife with horror. I love how interested the author is in this era and their deployment of the supernatural to explore it. I especially appreciate any book that understands how fucked up the Texas Rangers were (and still are). I hesitate to call it a twist, but I loved the reveal of the vampires' true nature.
But holy guacamole, that first half is hard to get through. Nestor and Nena just talk in circles about their "miscommunication" over and over.
I quite enjoyed Nestor's POV, but his blind devotion in the first half was frustrating. Nena had interesting and complex motivations, but was also at times incredibly annoying and stubborn. Eventually though, they moved on to other topics of conversation, the vampires and Texas rangers became more prominent, and the book really picked itself up. It does all end up in a too-quick nicely tied bow, but I can live with that.
Overall, I came around to it in the end, but I am bummed that this book didn't live up to my hopes.