Staff Pick
This gothic horror novel reminded me of HBO's series The Last of Us because it is scary, suspenseful, and visceral, while also telling a love story that will make every part of you ache. It was hard to stop myself from skipping to the end of each page. Recommended By Sarah B., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Vampires and vaqueros face off on the Texas-Mexico border in this supernatural western from the author of The Hacienda.
As the daughter of a rancher in 1840s Mexico, Nena knows a thing or two about monsters — her home has long been threatened by tensions with Anglo settlers from the north. But something more sinister lurks near the ranch at night, something that drains men of their blood and leaves them for dead.
Something that once attacked Nena nine years ago.
Believing Nena dead, Néstor has been on the run from his grief ever since, moving from ranch to ranch working as a vaquero. But no amount of drink can dispel the night terrors of sharp teeth; no woman can erase his childhood sweetheart from his mind.
When the United States invades Mexico in 1846, the two are brought abruptly together on the road to war: Nena as a curandera, a healer striving to prove her worth to her father so that he does not marry her off to a stranger, and Néstor as a member of the auxiliary cavalry of ranchers and vaqueros. But the shock of their reunion — and Nena's rage at Néstor for seemingly abandoning her long ago — is quickly overshadowed by the appearance of a nightmare made flesh.
And unless Nena and Néstor work through their past and face the future together, neither will survive to see the dawn.
Review
"The vampires of this tale are incredibly original, a whole new brand of folklore that slowly unspools as the story progresses." — Kirkus
Review
"Cañas's background as a historian is on full display here as she writes a rich, confident, and compelling story wrapped in an authentic and detailed frame, with a satisfying romance." — Library Journal
Review
"Set in 19th-century Mexico, this vibrant novel combines historical fiction, horror, and romance to tell a thrilling story." — Shelf-Awareness
About the Author
Isabel Cañas is a Mexican American speculative fiction writer. After having lived in Mexico, Scotland, Egypt, Turkey, and New York City, among other places, she has settled in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and writes fiction inspired by her research and her heritage.