Vampires of El Ñorte by Isabel Cañas Review

 Title: Vampires of El Nórte

Author: Isabel Cañas

Age Group: Adult

Genre: Horror/Romance

Series: Standalone

Star Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

I bought a copy of this book and reviewed it.

I will be honest: I have had this and another book by Isabel Cañas in my library for a long time now, and I haven’t read them yet. I’m trying to finish all of my physical books that have accumulated throughout the years, and I initially started this around Halloween. I finished this book around a week ago, and I’m still not quite sure how I feel about it. Did I enjoy it? Absolutely. Did it require a lot of patience and concentration? Also yes. I wasn’t expecting a Western, much less one with vampires, but I enjoyed the surprise. If all Westerns were like this, I would give the genre as a whole a chance. Nonetheless, I’m excited for more work from Cañas. She is a promising author I will be watching!

This novel is a horror romance set in the 1840s, on the edges of Mexico during the US. and Mexican War. Neña and Nestõr have been friends since childhood, despite being divided by class lines. She is the cherished daughter of a rancho, and he is a cowboy, or vaquero. When Neña is attacked by a monster as a young girl, Nestõr flees, believing her dead. Years later, they are reunited by the chaos of the war, and the threat of a coming darkness that might not even be human. Struggling to navigate their feelings for one another, flames old and new, they must team up to protect their land and families, or death may be the least of what is coming for them…

This book was unlike any I have ever read before. I’m not really a fan of Westerns normally, but I really liked this one! The pacing was kind of slow, but once it set off, I couldn’t put it down! I loved the historical setting; I know very little about the US and Mexican War, but I will be searching out more information about it. These characters were ones that I was rooting for; I loved Nestõr and Neña’s struggle, with their stations, each other, and the supernatural force that descends upon their lands. I liked the way their romance was intertwined with the more grim and stark parts of the war. The prose was so sharp and vivid, I could easily picture the scenes in my head. My favorite part was the ending; it really made it all worth it! This book wasn’t perfect, but it was very enjoyable regardless. I will be seeking out more of Isabel Cañas’s work. She is a talented and inspiring author, and I can’t wait to read more of her body of work! Next on deck: The Knight and The Moth by Rachel Gillig!