Challenge Corner discussion

When a demonic presence awakens deep in a Mexican silver mine, the young woman it seizes must turn to the one man she shouldn’t trust… from bestselling author Isabel Cañas.

In 1765, plague sweeps through Zacatecas. Alba flees with her wealthy merchant parents and fiancé, Carlos, to his family’s isolated mine for refuge. But safety proves fleeting as other dangers soon bare their teeth: Alba begins suffering from strange hallucinations, sleepwalking, and violent convulsions. She senses something cold lurking beneath her skin. Something angry. Something wrong.

Elías, haunted by a troubled past, came to the New World to make his fortune and escape his family’s legacy of greed. Alba, as his cousin’s betrothed, is none of his business. Which is of course why he can’t help but notice her every time she enters a room or the growing tension between them… and why he notices her deteriorate when the demon’s thirst for blood grows stronger.

Ugh, I ended up with a raging migraine today. My first time it actually affected my vision!

so had hoped to start today but actually starting tomorrow!!

I am going to start this one as soon as I finish . I'm so excited for this one. I love this author!!

oooh I hope you love that conclusion! it was so good!

I'm finally starting this one!

9 chapters / 24%

(view spoiler)[ hmm . . .this one is a bit slow for me so far

I'm finding the cave weird

It's pulling Alba in with the baby cry but also telling her to go, leave, run. . .and wasn't she found in this mine? what is she doing in there? lol

and Carlos doesn't seem bad - he doesn't want to get married but it didn't seem like she really blackmailed him. she's really saving him by marrying him and putting herself into, hopefully, a good situation (although I'm not sure Carlos is a good guy. . .)

of course, I feel bad for Elias. he was drawn back under false pretenses only to find out his dad had another family
I don't know what to make of the sister acting like she had more claim over something than the oldest son. Even I knew that was not how it worked lol (hide spoiler)]

17 chapters / 50%

(view spoiler)[ her sleepwalking was scary. that was so freaky when he tried to wake her up and she wouldn't. . .

and then that guy was killed - but who did it. I don't think it was her but since she's tied to this mine. . .is she tied to someone there? The baby of someone? but could it have been her?
I don't know, that guy was mean enough, I think he would have hurt her but I'm not sure who did it.

I'm glad both the priest believed her and got Carlos out of jail AND kept her secrets.

I'm not sure I like Carlos. Interesting that she believes they are friends when he seems so cruel to others, at times.

I worry about her mom (hide spoiler)]

27 chapters / 75%

(view spoiler)[ wow, Alba was really scary when she was possessed. I was curious how bad she would hurt him - it was getting really close

I'm glad they got help but I wonder how the priest will help - he won't hurt her, right?
and why does she keep seeing him covered in blood? Didn't the demon want to go head to head with the priest? I wonder why?

and now we know how she was possessed - another girl in the town dumped the baby in there, thinking she would die but she was possessed and then given away.

saying she was sick was quick thinking - and makes it easier to keep her hidden away. I wonder how this will all go down (hide spoiler)]

and done

(view spoiler)[ this one, for some reason, was a struggle. I did not love it

I'm glad Elias came back - um, from the dead? - and "saved" her
I don't blame her for wanting to kill the priests - especially the main guy who just wanted fame

I was glad Carlos helped them (even if they didn't get away that first time) (hide spoiler)]

I finally started this one this morning. It's too early to comment on anything yet. Just meeting characters so far.

EEE! I hope you love it! 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Oh I also got this one today: Matchmaking for Psychopaths!! Let me know if you want to try to squeeze it in somewhere ! 🤣😂

Trisha wrote: "EEE! I hope you love it! 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Oh I also got this one today: Matchmaking for Psychopaths!! Let me know if you want to try to squeeze it in somewhere ! 🤣😂"

Oh, yeahhh, I would love to get to that one, I'm really excited for it. Could we set it for like 7/19 and just get to it when we can?

To 18%: I've really enjoyed this author's two earlier books and she definitely has a feel and formula. Like I can tell this is one of her books already, even if I haven't seen her name on the cover. I also feel like her MCs have very similar vibes, but I like it. At least I know what I'm getting. We already have some (view spoiler)[sparks flying between Elias and Alba, which is fun, and I love the idea of these mines. I get super creeped out by mines, or caves, the claustrophobic feel, so I'm excited to see how deeply this might explore that angle. (hide spoiler)]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Trisha wrote: "EEE! I hope you love it! 🤞🏼🤞🏼

Oh I also got this one today: Matchmaking for Psychopaths!! Let me know if you want to try to squeeze it in somewhere ! 🤣😂"

Oh, yeahh..."

yay! 19th is perfect!! I'll go request our thread!

To Ch 11: Obviously, everything Carlos is saying about Elias is only serving to make Alba more curious about him! 😆 Carlos, you fool! Also, the scene where Alba (view spoiler)[gets sort of lost in the mine was making me so claustrophobic and uncomfortable. It was written well! (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "9 chapters / 24%

hmm . . .this one is a bit slow for me ..." Definitely a slow build to start. Have you read her other books, I feel they were both that way as well. There is something about it though that still captures me snd draws me in. Her settings are always fabulously developed!

To Ch 16: Elias's family is (view spoiler)[so horrible to him. Accusing him of murder? I really hope Padre Bartolome helps, after everything Alba 'confessed' to him 😝 (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "17 chapters / ..."

The (view spoiler)[sleepwalking is scary. I just read another novel where a woman was sleepwalking as well anf it creeped me out. That would be so scary to wake up and not know where you are or what you'd done. The lack of control...it chills me! (hide spoiler)]

megs_bookrack wrote: "Trisha wrote: "9 chapters / 24%

hmm . . .this one is a bit slow for me ..." Definitely a slow build to start. Have you read her other books, I feel they were both that way as well. There is somet..."

Yes! I've read 2 others by this author -
loved one and didn't love the others so I wasn't sure where I'd land with this one. . .

Done! I really, really enjoyed this. I'm just an Isabel Canas stan, which doesn't make sense, because I don't consider myself a Historical Reader, but there's something about her slow burn Historical Horror novels that always captures me. I love the slow build, and how much time and care she takes with the setting and building a sense of uneasiness. I also like the real history she peppers throughout the stories, and how the land/area always feels such an important part of the story. I would probably put this last out of her three books in enjoyment order, but I still really liked it.

Trisha wrote: "megs_bookrack wrote: "Trisha wrote: "9 chapters / 24%

hmm . . .this one is a bit slow for me ..." Definitely a slow build to start. Have you read her other books, I feel they were both that way a..."
Which one did you love? Vampires of El Norte is my fave :)

Trisha wrote: "and done

this one, for some reason..."

I'm sorry this one was a bit of a struggle for you. Was it the pace? It was quite slow, particularly the first half.

I was disappointed (view spoiler)[ in Bartoleme. I felt like he turned on them. I wanted him eliminated after that. LOL -- the ending was a bit surreal, but I was happy they were reunited. They were both sort of of the earth, or part of the land. Him due to his exposure to the mercury, or quicksilver, and her due to her origins and the demon. I wish we could have found out more about the actual demon and it's connection to the land/cave.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Yes, I think the pacing didn't work for me. I really wish I'd loved it!
but I'm so glad you did!!