Review by Booklist Review
By 1765, Spanish colonial profiteers had long availed themselves of the lucrative silver mining opportunities to be found in Nueva España. Alba Díaz, the adopted daughter of a wealthy but childless couple who wishes to make her own way in the world, has gambled everything on a coerced engagement to the eldest son of the Monterrubio family, who are deeply indebted to her father. Carlos accepts the bargain, seeing it as mutually beneficial because Alba's father would never call in the debt of his beloved daughter's husband. Meanwhile, Elias Monterrubio, the educated but disgraced cousin of Carlos, has just arrived from Spain with the alchemical knowledge and supplies needed to finally make the family silver mine profitable. When plague descends on the city, both families retreat for safety to the Monterrubio home near the mine, where an unspeakable evil awaits Alba and Elias. Cañas' latest gothic thriller (after Vampires of El Norte, 2023) combines an exploration of history, greed, toxic silver mining techniques, forbidden knowledge, and the dichotomies of wealth, family, class, faith, and good versus evil into a compelling, horrifying tale of possession that will only expand her growing audience.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This chilling gothic horror novel from bestseller Cañas (Vampires of El Norte) transports readers to 18th-century Mexico, where a plague outbreak in Zacatecas forces Alba Diaz and her devout Catholic family to flee the city. They escape to Mina San Gabriel, an isolated mining village in the mountains, to stay with Alba's fiancé, Carlos, and his family. But instead of finding a quiet, rustic life, Alba is troubled by sleepwalking and terrifying hallucinations. Carlos's cousin Elías is newly arrived from Spain, hoping to make a quick fortune off the family's silver mine. There's immediate romantic tension between Alba and Elías, despite him knowing that she is off-limits. When Alba attempts to kill him during one of her mysterious episodes, Elías recognizes the signs of demonic possession and sets out to help her. The pair work together to rid Alba of the demon, while confronting the Catholic church's stance on the supernatural and family secrets. Cañas creates a lush, detailed atmosphere thick with tension and dread. Despite a slow opening and somewhat uneven pacing throughout, the richly layered narrative offers much to hold readers' interest as it probes themes of colonialism, patriarchy, and autonomy. Cañas's fans will not be disappointed. Agent: Kari Sutherland, KT Literary. (Aug.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
In 1765, fleeing the plague-filled city of Zacatecas, Mexico, Alba Díaz and her wealthy parents shelter at an isolated silver mine belonging to the family of Alba's fiancé, Carlos. Her engagement is not a love match, but marriage to Carlos promises to give Alba some of the freedom she craves. As soon as she arrives at the mine, Alba experiences a sense of foreboding and has terrifying hallucinations and sleepwalking episodes. Elías, Carlos's cousin with a troubled past, is at the mine to make his fortune while facing the legacy of his late father. An ambitious priest, family tensions, and whatever has escaped from the mine to attack Alba combine into a threat more dangerous than the plague. Cañas's vivid and detailed descriptions of the novel's setting in 18th-century Mexico add to the experience of reading this atmospheric and original take on the possession story. VERDICT Readers who enjoy Cañas's (Vampires of El Norte) beautiful and evocative use of language will find more of what they love here, as will fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Alexis Henderson.--Lila Denning
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