Skip to main content

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas

“During a tumultuous time in Mexican history Magdalena (Nena) and Nestor, two childhood friends who are now grown, are forced to confront their own feelings as well as Vampires that the invading forces are using as weapons. The supernatural element was more background filler and Nenas’ constant struggle between duty to her family and herself made for an infuriating character. This was a disappointment.” 

⭐️⭐️

Pros: Nestor was the only reason I didn’t DNF this book/Beto was another one. 

Cons: Nena is spineless, selfish and cruel/I didn’t DNF because I wanted to see what happened to Nestor, I honestly couldn't have cared less about Nena.

Full Review: 

Magdalena (Nena) and Nestor are best friends. Nenas father is the head of Los Ojuelos, a large ranchero in the villages of El Norte. Nestor is her best friend but only a lowly Vaquero, not someone she should be spending so much time with, since he is beneath her in the hierarchy of society. 

When white men come calling, Nena hears her parents discussing what to do. They plan to marry her off to the richest man thus securing their continued successful lifestyle.

She meets with Nestor to go to the river and dig for silver, hoping that one of Abuelas tall tales about a Count burying all his silver, is true and with their wealth, they can start a new life together 

What they find there instead is a hideous gray skinned, ravenous beast. Nestor kills it but not before it bites Nena. He rushes her home but her mother screams fhat she’s dead. When faced with her father’s wrath, Nestor runs. 

Nine years later, he returns to Los Ojuelos to join a small force of men that’s being gathered to try and defend the land against invading Yanqui forces. Nena, who’s alive and well, having survived the Vampire attack, joins the squadron as a healer. She’s determined to prove her worth to her Father and avoid the fate of being married off to a rich Ranchero.

Of course, everything’s flipped on its head with the arrival of Nestor. It’s been almost a decade since they last saw each other and Nena is still hurt that he left her. When they’re forced to travel alone together and must rely on one another for survival, old feelings are dredged to the surface. 

There are betrayals, the heavy weight of familial and societal expectations and of course, Vampires. In the end, the Vampires were more of an after thought and the real threat against Nena/Nestors happiness was being honest with themselves and those around them about their feelings. 

I understand it was a commentary on a time in Mexican history and the conformities of society but, Nena was infuriating and I am almost DNFed it 80% through. This was more of an agonized romance than a supernatural thriller and I was disappointed. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury

"Obviously targeted to writers but honestly, anyone could benefit from Bradbury's practical yet poetic advice, this was a collection of esasys by Bradbury about his writing process and reflections on some of his greatest works."   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pros: Bradbury, duh, though I'm biased, to me, the man's prose is pure poetry, every word beautiful/Since writing is not my career, it was an interesting way to view Bradbury's life. Writing was his job and he was the only income. If he did not produce material, he would not get paid. It help put things into perspective.  Cons: The man can go on for a bit 😂/Bradbury's insane work ethic and endless endurance to just produce story after story seems insane and overwhelming but then again, this was his livelihood, so I'm sure it was insane and overwhelming. If he didn't write and get paid, they'd starve, so, it was a life or death situation. Full Review:  This was essentially a collection of essays written by Bra...
Post a Comment
Read more

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

“Rick Deckard is a Bounty Hunter who's on the trail of six "Andys" (Androids) who have come to Earth illegally. His job is to track them down and "retire" them. Something he found easy to do until he met her, Rachael Rosen. The Android that does the impossible, passes the "Voight-Kampff" test. The story quickly devolves into a slow, drawn out and frankly boring mystery that was putting me to sleep by the end."    ⭐⭐ Pros: I was more interested in comparing it to the film, "Bladerunner."/At first I kind of liked the drab, dreary atmostphere but it soon became soporific.  Cons: I had no real idea what was going on with Mercerism/The end there had me blinking in bewilderment, like with Herbert's 29th Dune Book/There was a lot of idle chit-chat while they were in murderous/intense situations, it just seemed odd.  Full Review:  Rick Deckard, a Bounty Hunter, contracted with the San Francisco Police Department hunts down and retires rogue ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Glutton by A. K. Blakemore

"Though dark, disturbing and at times, truly disgusting, Blakemore has created an unforgettable character in Tarare and his sad, sordid tale. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time for many different reasons and to me, that's a sign of a great read."  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ Pros: Tarare wasn't a monster, it just seemed that the world was against him/I liked Lozeau and his strange band of misfits/Dr. Dupuis seemed like a genuinely good person, or at least, he had his moments.  Cons: Some of the timeline/people of the French Revolution were just white noise to me/Courville was a despicable man.  Full Review:  The Bottomless man, the Glutton of Lyon, Tarare the Terrible. The man who has many titles but who's name is simply, Tarare, is dying in a hospital in Versailles. Citizen Doctor Tissier has written to his friend, Dupuis, in hopes that he'll be able to cure this mysterious illness that plagues Tarare. For now though, he lays, chained to his bed and waits for...
Post a Comment
Read more