Vampires of el Norte by Isabel Cañas

Vampires of el Norte is a historical novel that makes use of vampires to tell a part of Mexico’s history with the founding of Texas. If you take the different elements that Isabel Cañas used to build this original story, you would miss the genius of the complex compound that is the end result. 

At times a story of love between different classes, a condemnation of the underhanded tactics that Texas used to carve out their dominion over contested lands, and an ode to the native creatures and the beauty of the land that preceded the gringos, the Mexicans, the Spaniards (and were known maybe only to the indigenous population). Also it has vampires!

The sexual tension is not actually with the vampires for once. Although this is still a story of missed connections, misunderstandings, longing, and sacrifice: it focuses on Nena the daughter of a ranchero and Néstor the son of a vaquero during the time of the Mexican American war. It makes use of Mexican folklore and superstitions, legends still around today as they terrify and tantalize the people who spread around the tales. It also uses the words of Mexicans who were assessing the American intrusion for what it was at times. 

The vampires, when they show up, add to the mood and atmosphere, while also tying in the messages in this novel about monsters and the unknown. They are very much not sexy and even in their death remind me of the old school baddies in Buffy. In fact I could see this as some prototype slayer tale, even if the ending deviates from this initial impression. 

This is short review, as I think everyone should discover this for itself. Highly recommend, go read it now!