cbr16bingo horses
Mexican gothic has, to my surprise, become a new favorite genre for me. It’s a different flavor from the British gothic that I grew up on, more of a sense of connection between the living and the not-so-much living, that seems to be a part of the Dia de los Muertos Mexican mentality. So it’s always a treat to get a new sort of being, such as the vampires in this book. So yes, they want to drink blood for nourishment (not unheard of with humans as well) but mostly they stick to cattle. But there are new forces in play, and their world is not changing for the better.
Nena, the daughter of the owner of the Rancho Los Ojuelos, and young Nestor, a vaquero on the rancho, have grown up together, but Nena is nearly of age, and knows that her duty is to marry the right man to make an appropriate alliance for the rancho’s future. But there are rumors that the Yanquis are moving southward into Northern Mexico (or as it is called these days, Texas), and that is not all. Cattle have begun to drop dead, desiccated, and strange grey creatures have been spotted near riverbanks in the evening. Yes, they are seriously creepy with grey eyeless faces and wicked chompers, but mostly seem to want to not interact. However, on one fateful night, Nena is attacked when she and Nestor are by the riverbed. Nestor managed to turn them away and carry her back to the rancho, but she is pronounced dead, and he flees in grief.
But time passes, nine years actually, and Nestor with his Vaquero pals finds himself back on rancho property, and guess what! Not dead after all, but very pissed off at him because she thinks he deserted her. But there are other matters at hand. The Yanquis are attacking and there are a lot more of those vampires out and about. Could there be a connection? Nena’s skills as a curandera (healer) are in great demand, and she follows her father and the rancho’s men into battle, and off we go!
I especially liked the way we come to find out that the vampires are not senseless monsters, but have been unwilling forced into this mess. Respect!