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The Possession of Alba Díaz
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Horror (2025)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 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 the growing tension between them every time she enters the room…and why he notices her deteriorate when the demon’s thirst for blood gets stronger.
In the fight for her life, Alba and Elías become entangled with the occult, the Church, long-kept secrets, and each other… not knowing that one of these things will spell their doom.
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 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 the growing tension between them every time she enters the room…and why he notices her deteriorate when the demon’s thirst for blood gets stronger.
In the fight for her life, Alba and Elías become entangled with the occult, the Church, long-kept secrets, and each other… not knowing that one of these things will spell their doom.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 19, 2025
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72971 people want to read
About the author
Isabel Cañas
13 books4,761 followersIsabel Cañas is a Mexican American speculative fiction writer. After having lived in Mexico, Scotland, Egypt, Turkey, and New York City, among other places, she has settled in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and writes fiction inspired by her research and her heritage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,628 reviews
September 24, 2025
Demon possession but make it yearning.
Girls don’t want boyfriends, they want alchemists with mercury-stained hands who will help them banish the unholy spirits tormenting their souls, am I right?
I didn’t expect that I would describe a horror novel about possession as beautiful and elegant. And yet, The Possession of Alba Diaz is exactly that. Isabel Cañas somehow delivers chills and horror written in luminous, lyrical prose. The writing itself is that good that I found myself staring at the page in awe.
But this book is more than just pretty prose. It's also full of substance and it gets under your skin. At the heart of it is choice, agency and autonomy. Alba is engaged to her friend, Carlos, a man who isn't into women. But being married to her closeted friend is the only path forward that will let Alba control her own life and freedom. Choice and agency are the kinds of themes that you might say are “timely,” because women having autonomy and agency over the trajectory of their lives is apparently still up for debate centuries later to this present day, mostly amongst those who don't possess a uterus, which is kinda wild?
Then there’s Elias, an alchemist of sorts who refines silver with mercury and has some metaphorical demons of his own. His romance with Alba is tender, forbidden and occasionally rudely interrupted by, you know, demonic possession.
What really grounded the novel for me was its intricate and illuminating historical attention to detail of Mexico in the 1700s. From Zacatecas to an isolated Mexican silver mining town, combined with the Inquisition. Religion here is oppression, colonisation and hypocrisy. If you’re getting déjà vu, then you and me both.
And for those wondering about the horror, it was really satisfying. The first half paves a solid foundation, but the second half gets creepy, and it had me glued to the pages. I had an e-arc and I combined it with listening and the combo was perfect. If you can swing the audiobook, do it. Carolina Hoyos and Anthony Rey Perez have a range that includes guttural and hissing tones for... certain scenes... and that really enhances the experience.
Finally, I love stories that throw shade at the patriarchy and colonisation, and this one delivered that commentary with style.
So yeah, if your idea of a good supernatural gothic horror includes romance, Mexican history, and just a little righteous fury, this book is for you.
Thank you so much to Rebellion | Solaris & NetGalley for the digital arc!
Girls don’t want boyfriends, they want alchemists with mercury-stained hands who will help them banish the unholy spirits tormenting their souls, am I right?
I didn’t expect that I would describe a horror novel about possession as beautiful and elegant. And yet, The Possession of Alba Diaz is exactly that. Isabel Cañas somehow delivers chills and horror written in luminous, lyrical prose. The writing itself is that good that I found myself staring at the page in awe.
But this book is more than just pretty prose. It's also full of substance and it gets under your skin. At the heart of it is choice, agency and autonomy. Alba is engaged to her friend, Carlos, a man who isn't into women. But being married to her closeted friend is the only path forward that will let Alba control her own life and freedom. Choice and agency are the kinds of themes that you might say are “timely,” because women having autonomy and agency over the trajectory of their lives is apparently still up for debate centuries later to this present day, mostly amongst those who don't possess a uterus, which is kinda wild?
Then there’s Elias, an alchemist of sorts who refines silver with mercury and has some metaphorical demons of his own. His romance with Alba is tender, forbidden and occasionally rudely interrupted by, you know, demonic possession.
What really grounded the novel for me was its intricate and illuminating historical attention to detail of Mexico in the 1700s. From Zacatecas to an isolated Mexican silver mining town, combined with the Inquisition. Religion here is oppression, colonisation and hypocrisy. If you’re getting déjà vu, then you and me both.
And for those wondering about the horror, it was really satisfying. The first half paves a solid foundation, but the second half gets creepy, and it had me glued to the pages. I had an e-arc and I combined it with listening and the combo was perfect. If you can swing the audiobook, do it. Carolina Hoyos and Anthony Rey Perez have a range that includes guttural and hissing tones for... certain scenes... and that really enhances the experience.
Finally, I love stories that throw shade at the patriarchy and colonisation, and this one delivered that commentary with style.
So yeah, if your idea of a good supernatural gothic horror includes romance, Mexican history, and just a little righteous fury, this book is for you.
Thank you so much to Rebellion | Solaris & NetGalley for the digital arc!
March 4, 2025
So, yeah, that was good. Really good. I thought I was going to have to hate it once I got a few chapters from the end, but … nope. Cañas really had me going for a minute there, though, I'm not going to lie.
The Possession of Alba Díaz is about, well … the possession of Alba Díaz, obviously. But it's also about patriarchy and colonialism and the Catholic Church and toxic family and revenge, and it's really all quite dark and gothic-y and entertaining. There's definitely some romance, and I generally despise romance in novels but let me tell you I was totally rooting for Alba and Elías. Why? I've no idea. They barely even know each other and, I mean, Alba spends a good portion of their time together possessed. But somehow they're like the Romeo and Juliet of Mexican horror … which, now that I think about it, actually kind of makes sense since Romeo and Juliet barely knew each other either.
But I digress. This is an atmospheric, creepy novel with a fantastic setting (a 1700s Mexican silver mine during a plague outbreak). The characters are multifaceted and complex and – with the exception of Alba and Elías themselves – almost entirely unlikeable. Carlos (Alba's fiancé) is a particularly fascinating character and I do wish we could have learned slightly more about him – with the exception of a small bit toward the end, he's mostly just the “guy who hates Elías for no reason.” The Big Bad is terrifying, and the Bigger Bad (who's maybe not really completely bad? I don't even know) only slightly less so.
And the ending? Fantastic. No spoilers here, but when you're near the end of the book and wanting to sling it across the room in frustration (you'll know it when you get to it), just know that the story isn't over yet. I was totally composing a hate mail to Isabel Cañas in my head there for a while, though.
Anyway, yeah. If you're a horror fan, definitely consider giving this one a read. It's atmospheric and dark and creepy and haunting, but also just maybe a little bit hopeful too? 4.55 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is August 19, 2025.
The Possession of Alba Díaz is about, well … the possession of Alba Díaz, obviously. But it's also about patriarchy and colonialism and the Catholic Church and toxic family and revenge, and it's really all quite dark and gothic-y and entertaining. There's definitely some romance, and I generally despise romance in novels but let me tell you I was totally rooting for Alba and Elías. Why? I've no idea. They barely even know each other and, I mean, Alba spends a good portion of their time together possessed. But somehow they're like the Romeo and Juliet of Mexican horror … which, now that I think about it, actually kind of makes sense since Romeo and Juliet barely knew each other either.
But I digress. This is an atmospheric, creepy novel with a fantastic setting (a 1700s Mexican silver mine during a plague outbreak). The characters are multifaceted and complex and – with the exception of Alba and Elías themselves – almost entirely unlikeable. Carlos (Alba's fiancé) is a particularly fascinating character and I do wish we could have learned slightly more about him – with the exception of a small bit toward the end, he's mostly just the “guy who hates Elías for no reason.” The Big Bad is terrifying, and the Bigger Bad (who's maybe not really completely bad? I don't even know) only slightly less so.
And the ending? Fantastic. No spoilers here, but when you're near the end of the book and wanting to sling it across the room in frustration (you'll know it when you get to it), just know that the story isn't over yet. I was totally composing a hate mail to Isabel Cañas in my head there for a while, though.
Anyway, yeah. If you're a horror fan, definitely consider giving this one a read. It's atmospheric and dark and creepy and haunting, but also just maybe a little bit hopeful too? 4.55 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is August 19, 2025.
August 14, 2025
Alba is set to marry her childhood best friend, who seems pretty safe (read: I don’t think she’s his type) and gosh darn it a plague starts to sweep through Mexico so she has to be spirited away to her fiancé’s family’s silver mine and oh my god why is his cousin so mysterious and hot and mysterious oh Jesus is that unmitigated, unrepentant yearning, too? This, on top of her mom being a complete drama queen 24/7, is enough to drive Alba absolutely batty but unfortunately she is also possessed by a demon which is, like, simply too much. This sounds like a lighthearted romp but make no mistake: the demon is extremely mean and Elías is stressed to the max with how much his family hates him, so crushing on his definitely straight cousin’s intended is a whole bucket of not fun. Cañas poses a lot of questions here, like is mercury actually effective in exorcisms and why aren’t there more historical Mexican horror romances when it’s clearly one of the best subgenres out there? That mystery may never be solved, but worry not — this book’s ending is as satisfying as the crunching bones of your enemies (priests).
September 28, 2025
Isabel Cañas’ The Possession of Alba Díaz is a spellbinding blend of gothic horror, historical fiction, and forbidden desire, all set against the haunting backdrop of an 18th-century Mexican silver mine. The story centers on Alba, a young woman fleeing the plague who seeks shelter with her fiancé’s family. But instead of finding safety, she begins to experience terrifying hallucinations, uncontrollable convulsions, and an overwhelming sense that something dark is taking hold of her. As her condition spirals, Elías—her fiancé’s mysterious and brooding cousin—finds himself drawn into her nightmare. Though he knows he should stay away, he becomes an unwilling witness to her suffering, and the two are pulled into a battle against a malevolent force neither of them fully comprehends.
Cañas weaves an atmosphere so thick with tension and dread that it feels almost tangible. The eerie isolation of the mine, the secrets lurking in every shadow, and the slow-burning chemistry between Alba and Elías create a story that’s as emotionally gripping as it is terrifying. The novel delves into themes of faith, power, and the resilience of the human spirit, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page—unsettling, beautifully written, and utterly unforgettable.
If you’re a fan of gothic horror, slow-building suspense, or historical fiction with a dark twist, this is a must-read. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the chance to dive into this advance copy—it’s a story that will haunt you in the best way possible.
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Cañas weaves an atmosphere so thick with tension and dread that it feels almost tangible. The eerie isolation of the mine, the secrets lurking in every shadow, and the slow-burning chemistry between Alba and Elías create a story that’s as emotionally gripping as it is terrifying. The novel delves into themes of faith, power, and the resilience of the human spirit, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page—unsettling, beautifully written, and utterly unforgettable.
If you’re a fan of gothic horror, slow-building suspense, or historical fiction with a dark twist, this is a must-read. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the chance to dive into this advance copy—it’s a story that will haunt you in the best way possible.
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October 25, 2025
This book was something I didn't know I needed.
I started it when I was in a bad place and was feeling very down. And I think that's partly why it took me almost 3 days to complete this book, even though it's really short. So, yeah, this helped me escape quite a lot. I think this one really helped with my sanity. I was afraid that I would actually spiral. lol.
So, I went in with zero expectations, and what can i say- it was such a pleasant experience. I just knew that I had to read something that would distract me, and you know, chill me to my bones because I really needed something like that.
I didn't know it was also a historical fiction- a historical fiction with horror and a romantic subplot? My cup of tea.
And, boy, was I invested!!
Isabel Cañas completely took me by surprise.
When I was reading this, all I was, and all that I am, ceased to be. I was there- with Alba and Elias- an unseen companion in her isolation and feeling his helplessness, like it was my own.
Alba is such a strong character- THAT IS HOW YOU WRITE A STRONG FEMALE LEAD. her determination to gain autonomy over her life (and body) made me tear up.
Elias- my sweetheart. I'm so glad that this is a dual pov book. His perspective just elevated my reading experience, yk. He suffered so much all his life, and still he was so caring and so empathetic.
Even though they hardly knew each other- and Alba was possessed most of the time they were together, I was so invested in their romance.
And the YEARNING- OML!!
Well, there were quite a few things that were slightly vague, and just brushed over- like, the role of mercury in exorcism (?) and elias' backstory. also, it wasn't that creepy or haunting, like I had expected it to be. but despite all that, I was on the edge of my seat and it kept me engaged throughout (*whispers* and i might be slightly biased). Also, the writing is beautiful. So, a win is a win.
I started it when I was in a bad place and was feeling very down. And I think that's partly why it took me almost 3 days to complete this book, even though it's really short. So, yeah, this helped me escape quite a lot. I think this one really helped with my sanity. I was afraid that I would actually spiral. lol.
So, I went in with zero expectations, and what can i say- it was such a pleasant experience. I just knew that I had to read something that would distract me, and you know, chill me to my bones because I really needed something like that.
I didn't know it was also a historical fiction- a historical fiction with horror and a romantic subplot? My cup of tea.
And, boy, was I invested!!
Isabel Cañas completely took me by surprise.
When I was reading this, all I was, and all that I am, ceased to be. I was there- with Alba and Elias- an unseen companion in her isolation and feeling his helplessness, like it was my own.
Alba is such a strong character- THAT IS HOW YOU WRITE A STRONG FEMALE LEAD. her determination to gain autonomy over her life (and body) made me tear up.
Elias- my sweetheart. I'm so glad that this is a dual pov book. His perspective just elevated my reading experience, yk. He suffered so much all his life, and still he was so caring and so empathetic.
Even though they hardly knew each other- and Alba was possessed most of the time they were together, I was so invested in their romance.
And the YEARNING- OML!!
▪️It was not until he had shut the door behind him that Elias set his head in his hands-which shook hard, harder than they ever had before- and wept.
▪️"I care Alba." The words cracked as he lifted his face to her. "I care so much it is like a physical pain, right here, and I don't even know how to stop it. I don't think I want to stop it."
▪️I made you a promise. And I'm here to keep it
Well, there were quite a few things that were slightly vague, and just brushed over- like, the role of mercury in exorcism (?) and elias' backstory. also, it wasn't that creepy or haunting, like I had expected it to be. but despite all that, I was on the edge of my seat and it kept me engaged throughout (*whispers* and i might be slightly biased). Also, the writing is beautiful. So, a win is a win.
▪️The sorcerer who had brought mercury to Nueva España left with me instead of silver. After all, love was all San Cipriano had spun spells for, and love was what Elias had won
August 19, 2025
One of my most anticipated reads of 2025 & I must say I'm slightly disappointed. While I didn't hate it, I also didn't love it especially when comparing it to some of her previous work..
As always the writing is immersive, Isabel Cañas always does a great job of transporting you back to Mexico during the 1700-1800's. I usually love the way she blends gothic horror with romance. It always felt perfectly balanced. But there's something about The Possession of Alba Diaz that missed the mark for me.
My biggest issue is how much time spent over explaining in the beginning. The first 200 pages is really just about family drama & the mines/alchemy, that it almost felt like the possession was an afterthought. The last 40% felt so rushed which ultimately let me down because the possession elements & the descriptions were creepy but I also didn't get enough time to be spooked . The romance felt a little insta lovey, which I don't usually like, but I think this is due to how much time over explaining on other things in the beginning that we really didn't get enough time to connect to the characters/romance.
Overall, I can see why other people would love this & I can still see myself recommending it but this just wasn't my favorite from Isabel Cañas.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
As always the writing is immersive, Isabel Cañas always does a great job of transporting you back to Mexico during the 1700-1800's. I usually love the way she blends gothic horror with romance. It always felt perfectly balanced. But there's something about The Possession of Alba Diaz that missed the mark for me.
My biggest issue is how much time spent over explaining in the beginning. The first 200 pages is really just about family drama & the mines/alchemy, that it almost felt like the possession was an afterthought. The last 40% felt so rushed which ultimately let me down because the possession elements & the descriptions were creepy but I also didn't get enough time to be spooked . The romance felt a little insta lovey, which I don't usually like, but I think this is due to how much time over explaining on other things in the beginning that we really didn't get enough time to connect to the characters/romance.
Overall, I can see why other people would love this & I can still see myself recommending it but this just wasn't my favorite from Isabel Cañas.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
December 16, 2025
**4.5-stars**
I will not be cured...but neither will I be caged.
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
In 1765, a plague sweeps through Zacatecas, Mexico, forcing our MC, Alba, along with her family, to flee the city and seek refuge at a property owned by her fiance, Carlos's, family.
The property is an active silver mine and many of Carlos's family members are there, involved in the day-to-day operations, including a black sheep cousin, Elias, whom Alba finds quite intriguing.
Living there is a bit of shift in lifestyle for Alba, but she's not hating it. One day on a tour, she actually gets to venture into the mine, and wanders off a little on her own to explore.
Big mistake and let this be a lesson to us all.
Alba has a disturbing first experience in the mine, including auditory hallucinations that shocked and confused her. She became disoriented and feared herself lost. It's after this initial exploration that events start trending into negative territory for Alba.
She begins hallucinating, sleepwalking and experiencing strange convulsions. She also starts having dark thoughts that are completely out of the norm for her.
Fearing for her sanity and her life, Alba ends up befriending the last person she should, and seeking solace through his company. As the two try to figure out what's going on with her, they boldly face enemies from all sides.
Heck, yeahhhhh! Isabel Cañas has done it again. The Possession of Alba Diaz is dripping in atmosphere, and full of an unsettling dread. How does Cañas make me love Historical Fiction?
Answer: With the atmosphere, that's how!
Granted caves, or anything cave adjacent, such as, oh, I don't know, silver mines, are definitely a real life fear of mine, so Cañas played right into that with this novel.
I have had great success with Cañas's novels in the past and this one did fall more into my comfort zone, as far as content goes, than the previous two. I love a possession story, and although this is a very slow burn, I feel it paid off.
Cañas definitely has a feel, or a formula, to her work. I'd be able to tell it's one of her novels, even if I hadn't seen her name on the cover. Her MCs have similar vibes, but I like it. I always know what I'm getting myself into and it keeps me coming back for more.
In addition to following Alba, we also get Elias's perspective and I adored him. I'm so glad that it was a dual narrative, because I felt like he brought so much.
His backstory was very interesting, and though he was such a sweet cupcake, he was treated terribly by his family, but that's a whole other thing. Both he and Alba were out of their element at this place, and I liked that they were able to be there for each other through some crazy stuff.
At the end of the day, this was a very satisfying reading experience. I always appreciate how much time and care it seems Cañas takes with the settings of her stories and building a sense of uneasiness.
I also like the real history she peppers throughout, and how the land/area always feels like such an important part of the story. I would probably put this last out of her three books in overall enjoyment order, but I still really, really liked it. I'm just an Isabel Cañas stan; what can I say?!
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I can't wait to see what this author releases next. We've had haunted properties, vampires and possessions, what are we getting next!?
I will be on the edge of my seat until we find out. Whatever it is though, you better believe I will be first in line for a copy.
I cannot wait!
I will not be cured...but neither will I be caged.
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
In 1765, a plague sweeps through Zacatecas, Mexico, forcing our MC, Alba, along with her family, to flee the city and seek refuge at a property owned by her fiance, Carlos's, family.
The property is an active silver mine and many of Carlos's family members are there, involved in the day-to-day operations, including a black sheep cousin, Elias, whom Alba finds quite intriguing.
Living there is a bit of shift in lifestyle for Alba, but she's not hating it. One day on a tour, she actually gets to venture into the mine, and wanders off a little on her own to explore.
Big mistake and let this be a lesson to us all.
Alba has a disturbing first experience in the mine, including auditory hallucinations that shocked and confused her. She became disoriented and feared herself lost. It's after this initial exploration that events start trending into negative territory for Alba.
She begins hallucinating, sleepwalking and experiencing strange convulsions. She also starts having dark thoughts that are completely out of the norm for her.
Fearing for her sanity and her life, Alba ends up befriending the last person she should, and seeking solace through his company. As the two try to figure out what's going on with her, they boldly face enemies from all sides.
Heck, yeahhhhh! Isabel Cañas has done it again. The Possession of Alba Diaz is dripping in atmosphere, and full of an unsettling dread. How does Cañas make me love Historical Fiction?
Answer: With the atmosphere, that's how!
Granted caves, or anything cave adjacent, such as, oh, I don't know, silver mines, are definitely a real life fear of mine, so Cañas played right into that with this novel.
I have had great success with Cañas's novels in the past and this one did fall more into my comfort zone, as far as content goes, than the previous two. I love a possession story, and although this is a very slow burn, I feel it paid off.
Cañas definitely has a feel, or a formula, to her work. I'd be able to tell it's one of her novels, even if I hadn't seen her name on the cover. Her MCs have similar vibes, but I like it. I always know what I'm getting myself into and it keeps me coming back for more.
In addition to following Alba, we also get Elias's perspective and I adored him. I'm so glad that it was a dual narrative, because I felt like he brought so much.
His backstory was very interesting, and though he was such a sweet cupcake, he was treated terribly by his family, but that's a whole other thing. Both he and Alba were out of their element at this place, and I liked that they were able to be there for each other through some crazy stuff.
At the end of the day, this was a very satisfying reading experience. I always appreciate how much time and care it seems Cañas takes with the settings of her stories and building a sense of uneasiness.
I also like the real history she peppers throughout, and how the land/area always feels like such an important part of the story. I would probably put this last out of her three books in overall enjoyment order, but I still really, really liked it. I'm just an Isabel Cañas stan; what can I say?!
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I can't wait to see what this author releases next. We've had haunted properties, vampires and possessions, what are we getting next!?
I will be on the edge of my seat until we find out. Whatever it is though, you better believe I will be first in line for a copy.
I cannot wait!
August 9, 2025
Dripping with blood on the cathedral steps all by yourself gorgeous?
in which giving into your inner demons is sexy and morally correct
With the state of things, now more than ever I want to read about blood soaked women, the women who fight tooth and claw (wink wink) for their futures in a world set to dually possess and demonize them. With that resounding desire in mind, The Possession of Alba Díaz found its way into my hands. Isabel Cañas’ latest novel is an atmospheric gothic bloodbath involving the Inquisition, patriarchy, and autonomy, furthering plots far more violent than a mere possession. Alba Díaz, a young woman facing down a loveless marriage, flees various monsters real and mythic in a desperate attempt to seize control of a future that was never hers to own. From the moment I read the lines, “Alba plotted to sin again,” I knew I was in the hands of a master and Cañas spends this entire novel proving that to be true. Where the greatest fear is standing strong in the face of those who seek to demean and control, The Possession of Alba Díaz leads its protagonist down a path where she aligns with the demon within. It’s a haunting tale retold that begs the question if we can ever achieve control of our own narratives or if autonomy can only be gained through giving into our own demonization.
no idea why my initial review was deleted, but thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
in which giving into your inner demons is sexy and morally correct
With the state of things, now more than ever I want to read about blood soaked women, the women who fight tooth and claw (wink wink) for their futures in a world set to dually possess and demonize them. With that resounding desire in mind, The Possession of Alba Díaz found its way into my hands. Isabel Cañas’ latest novel is an atmospheric gothic bloodbath involving the Inquisition, patriarchy, and autonomy, furthering plots far more violent than a mere possession. Alba Díaz, a young woman facing down a loveless marriage, flees various monsters real and mythic in a desperate attempt to seize control of a future that was never hers to own. From the moment I read the lines, “Alba plotted to sin again,” I knew I was in the hands of a master and Cañas spends this entire novel proving that to be true. Where the greatest fear is standing strong in the face of those who seek to demean and control, The Possession of Alba Díaz leads its protagonist down a path where she aligns with the demon within. It’s a haunting tale retold that begs the question if we can ever achieve control of our own narratives or if autonomy can only be gained through giving into our own demonization.
no idea why my initial review was deleted, but thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.
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August 20, 2025-A genre blend of historical, gothic, romance, suspense, and horror
-Demonic possession
-Silver mines, mining, and alchemy
-A woman trapped by circumstance fighting for agency
This is Isabel Caña's third book so if you’re familiar with her previous two releases, The Hacienda and The Vampires of El Norte, and you enjoyed her unique brand of genre-blending horror, you will not be disappointed. To me, this book is closely related to The Hacienda by way of themes, tropes, and tone. It’s evocative and menacing–maybe even gruesome at times. It certainly has its chilling moments but there are also some romantic scenes that will make your pulse race. It’s all a part of what Isabel Cañas does best–paint a cinematic setting, bring warm-blooded characters to life on the page, and run a thread of supernatural or paranormal horror through the whole thing, leaving readers breathless by the end.
-Demonic possession
-Silver mines, mining, and alchemy
-A woman trapped by circumstance fighting for agency
This is Isabel Caña's third book so if you’re familiar with her previous two releases, The Hacienda and The Vampires of El Norte, and you enjoyed her unique brand of genre-blending horror, you will not be disappointed. To me, this book is closely related to The Hacienda by way of themes, tropes, and tone. It’s evocative and menacing–maybe even gruesome at times. It certainly has its chilling moments but there are also some romantic scenes that will make your pulse race. It’s all a part of what Isabel Cañas does best–paint a cinematic setting, bring warm-blooded characters to life on the page, and run a thread of supernatural or paranormal horror through the whole thing, leaving readers breathless by the end.
October 13, 2025
☆☆☆☆
The Possession of Alba Díaz drew me in from the start with its haunting atmosphere and chilling take on demonic possession. Isabel Cañas has a real talent for writing horror that feels both visceral and historical, and this book delivers on that front.
Alba and Elías were definite highlights for me, both complex, layered characters I enjoyed spending time with. Alba especially stood out; I loved that she didn’t just resign herself to her fate. She fights back, questions, resists, and clings to her sense of self in the face of something truly terrifying.
The possession scenes were genuinely creepy and well-executed. Cañas does such a good job of making the horror feel personal and psychological rather than relying on clichés.
That said, a few things held this back from being a 5-star read. The first 30-ish pages were a bit confusing timeline-wise. I had trouble orienting myself in the story and wasn’t sure what was happening when. Thankfully, this smoothed out after a while and didn’t impact my overall enjoyment too much.
Like with her other books, the side characters were not particularly likable. This seems to be a running theme, and while it adds to the sense of isolation the protagonists often face, it can be frustrating when no one around them feels fully fleshed out or sympathetic.
The romance between Alba and Elías also didn’t quite land for me. I’ve felt similarly about the romantic elements in all of Cañas’ books, they tend to feel a bit rushed or not fully believable. I wanted to root for them, but I didn’t entirely buy the depth of their connection.
While the possession plot was gripping, everything happening around it felt kind of bland in comparison. The rest of the story lacked the momentum and intensity of the central horror element.
That said, the ending was a real standout for me. It felt incredibly redeeming and provided the emotional payoff I was hoping for. After everything Alba goes through, it was satisfying to see her come through in the end, and it added a nice layer of resolution that balanced out some of the earlier confusion and tension.
Still, this was a much stronger offering than Vampires of El Norte (which didn’t quite work for me), though I personally found The Hacienda to be the stronger in terms of atmosphere and storytelling.
Overall, a solidly spooky read with a standout protagonist, some real chills, and a satisfying ending.
The Possession of Alba Díaz drew me in from the start with its haunting atmosphere and chilling take on demonic possession. Isabel Cañas has a real talent for writing horror that feels both visceral and historical, and this book delivers on that front.
Alba and Elías were definite highlights for me, both complex, layered characters I enjoyed spending time with. Alba especially stood out; I loved that she didn’t just resign herself to her fate. She fights back, questions, resists, and clings to her sense of self in the face of something truly terrifying.
The possession scenes were genuinely creepy and well-executed. Cañas does such a good job of making the horror feel personal and psychological rather than relying on clichés.
That said, a few things held this back from being a 5-star read. The first 30-ish pages were a bit confusing timeline-wise. I had trouble orienting myself in the story and wasn’t sure what was happening when. Thankfully, this smoothed out after a while and didn’t impact my overall enjoyment too much.
Like with her other books, the side characters were not particularly likable. This seems to be a running theme, and while it adds to the sense of isolation the protagonists often face, it can be frustrating when no one around them feels fully fleshed out or sympathetic.
The romance between Alba and Elías also didn’t quite land for me. I’ve felt similarly about the romantic elements in all of Cañas’ books, they tend to feel a bit rushed or not fully believable. I wanted to root for them, but I didn’t entirely buy the depth of their connection.
While the possession plot was gripping, everything happening around it felt kind of bland in comparison. The rest of the story lacked the momentum and intensity of the central horror element.
That said, the ending was a real standout for me. It felt incredibly redeeming and provided the emotional payoff I was hoping for. After everything Alba goes through, it was satisfying to see her come through in the end, and it added a nice layer of resolution that balanced out some of the earlier confusion and tension.
Still, this was a much stronger offering than Vampires of El Norte (which didn’t quite work for me), though I personally found The Hacienda to be the stronger in terms of atmosphere and storytelling.
Overall, a solidly spooky read with a standout protagonist, some real chills, and a satisfying ending.
October 15, 2025
mama a demon (but also freedom) behind you
Read
August 5, 2025Cañas's The Hacienda had me by the throat when it first came out. Listening to it on audiobook had me looking over my shoulder. The atmosphere was rich—very gothic, very demure. That's why her latest—which has a demonic possession (!!)—is on this list. I also got an advanced copy of it and am super excited to get into it.
It's 1765 when a plague strikes Zacatecas, Mexico. Alba is privileged and able to flee with her wealthy parents to her fiancé Carlos's isolated mine. But then other things start happening: she starts having strange hallucinations, sleep walking, and having very violent convulsions. There's also the matter of that thing that cold angry thing that's lurking just beneath her skin.
Elías is Carlos's cousin. He is off to the New World to make his own way outside of his family's greed, but he can't seem to stop thinking about Alba and the growing tension between them...or the way she's started to deteriorate as the demon's desires grow stronger. —Erica Ezeifedi
It's 1765 when a plague strikes Zacatecas, Mexico. Alba is privileged and able to flee with her wealthy parents to her fiancé Carlos's isolated mine. But then other things start happening: she starts having strange hallucinations, sleep walking, and having very violent convulsions. There's also the matter of that thing that cold angry thing that's lurking just beneath her skin.
Elías is Carlos's cousin. He is off to the New World to make his own way outside of his family's greed, but he can't seem to stop thinking about Alba and the growing tension between them...or the way she's started to deteriorate as the demon's desires grow stronger. —Erica Ezeifedi
August 24, 2025
3.5 Stars
This is very much a case where I appreciated the novel more than I actually enjoyed it. I love possession horror but historical horror rarely lands for me so this novel felt torn between what I love and what I don't.
This is clearly a rich novel filled with history, cultural and complex characters. However, on a personal level, I struggled to connect with it. I felt the writing was objectively good but I wasn't as invested in the story as I wanted to be.
I would recommend this story to those than love historical horror because they will ultimately be most satisfied with this horror novel.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This is very much a case where I appreciated the novel more than I actually enjoyed it. I love possession horror but historical horror rarely lands for me so this novel felt torn between what I love and what I don't.
This is clearly a rich novel filled with history, cultural and complex characters. However, on a personal level, I struggled to connect with it. I felt the writing was objectively good but I wasn't as invested in the story as I wanted to be.
I would recommend this story to those than love historical horror because they will ultimately be most satisfied with this horror novel.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
November 18, 2025
alba díaz survived a demon, a mine, a marriage plot, and catholic men. i nearly had a breakdown because my pasta was overcooked. that’s the review.
October 7, 2025
The Possession of Alba Díaz is a fun gothic novel, it is obsessive, and a dark read. It pummels you into a frightening and claustrophobic mood. It exudes a sexual appeal from the cover to the writing. The tension is unexpected and expertly used in this storyline. The writing from Cañas is absolutely gorgeous and filled with so much emotion.
The historical and cultural nods are perfectly woven in to build sustenance. Loved reading this at night! A very atmospheric and dark take of the Possession of Alba Diaz. The hard cover first edition is exquisite and deserves a look!
P.S. Listen to Sade for the last chapter! 🔥
The historical and cultural nods are perfectly woven in to build sustenance. Loved reading this at night! A very atmospheric and dark take of the Possession of Alba Diaz. The hard cover first edition is exquisite and deserves a look!
P.S. Listen to Sade for the last chapter! 🔥
September 25, 2025
The gorgeous cover art caught my attention immediately and I've been meaning to read Cañas for some time - and this is a great introduction to the way she mashes up genres. Part historical fiction exploring the exploitation of Mexican silver mining, part romance and part horror, this uses a demonic possession story to obliquely think about other forms of possessions, specifically the hold that the church has over communities and the way women are made subordinate to patriarchy more widely, particularly in the family - as well as the material possessions that drive mining for wealth.
There is something a little distanced in the stories of Alba and Elias, framed as they are by a present-day narrator telling their almost mythic story from the past. It's a nice nod to the embedded framing of traditional ghost stories by people like Henry James and M.R. James where a group of men (and it's pretty much always men) gather around the fire after dinner as they pass the port and light cigars to tell their tales. Cañas' narrator is ungendered but certainly there's a trope of female rage that operates in the story, ambivalently figured both as the demon and as the strength to fight the demon.
There's an ample amount of blood being splattered around and some creepy images and scenes - just the thing to get into the mood for upcoming Halloween month, but with more going on than just gleeful horror.
Many thanks to Rebellion for an ARC via NetGalley
There is something a little distanced in the stories of Alba and Elias, framed as they are by a present-day narrator telling their almost mythic story from the past. It's a nice nod to the embedded framing of traditional ghost stories by people like Henry James and M.R. James where a group of men (and it's pretty much always men) gather around the fire after dinner as they pass the port and light cigars to tell their tales. Cañas' narrator is ungendered but certainly there's a trope of female rage that operates in the story, ambivalently figured both as the demon and as the strength to fight the demon.
There's an ample amount of blood being splattered around and some creepy images and scenes - just the thing to get into the mood for upcoming Halloween month, but with more going on than just gleeful horror.
Many thanks to Rebellion for an ARC via NetGalley
August 22, 2025
I’m so sorry but this did not work for me 😩 don’t get me wrong Cañas’ prose and cultural world building is fantastic, but I was so bored. This book fell completely flat for me. Unlike her previous two novels, I could not connect with the MCs and that just snowballed into not caring what was happening. It was very underwhelming.
August 9, 2025
yup yup yup this was the spooky possession book i didn’t know i needed. absolutely devoured this one
August 28, 2025
I absolutely loved this book!
This book wasn't completely perfect, but the vibes certainly were. I'm deeply in love with Isabel's writing, it's so beautiful. Her writing was immersive and lyrical. I thought she did a fantastic job of transporting the readers back to the 1700s. The start of this book leaned heavily on family connections and issues. This story also leaned into the struggles of women within the patriarchy, classism, sexism, and religious bigotry. There was a bit of everything within this story, but I thought it was decently well-balanced.
I don't normally expect romance in possession story, but it worked here and didn't detract from the progression. This book honestly made me feel like I was watching a movie in my head.
To criticize, I do wish that the possession started earlier on within the book and combated the familial and social drama a bit more. I wish the split went something more like 1/3 of the book relating to the family/social drama and 2/3 relating to the possession. Instead, it felt more split halfway for both. It's a small criticism as I didn't mind it too much, but I still would've found that to be a better layout.
As I was reading, I was preparing myself to be unsatisfied with the ending. Isabel was putting me through some emotional turmoil but I actually ended up liking how the story concluded. I would love to see this turned into a movie. We are lacking in possession and exorcism movies lately and I feel like this would translate wonderfully into a film from paper.
I wish I had read this when autumn was already here, but I'm strongly considering a reread at some point during October. Overall, I really don't have many complaints. I can see how a some people might not like the slow, family building start, but I think the second half makes up for it.
I'm so relieved that one of my most anticipated reads of the year, did not disappoint me.
CW: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Confinement, Infertility, Abandonment
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
This book wasn't completely perfect, but the vibes certainly were. I'm deeply in love with Isabel's writing, it's so beautiful. Her writing was immersive and lyrical. I thought she did a fantastic job of transporting the readers back to the 1700s. The start of this book leaned heavily on family connections and issues. This story also leaned into the struggles of women within the patriarchy, classism, sexism, and religious bigotry. There was a bit of everything within this story, but I thought it was decently well-balanced.
I don't normally expect romance in possession story, but it worked here and didn't detract from the progression. This book honestly made me feel like I was watching a movie in my head.
To criticize, I do wish that the possession started earlier on within the book and combated the familial and social drama a bit more. I wish the split went something more like 1/3 of the book relating to the family/social drama and 2/3 relating to the possession. Instead, it felt more split halfway for both. It's a small criticism as I didn't mind it too much, but I still would've found that to be a better layout.
As I was reading, I was preparing myself to be unsatisfied with the ending. Isabel was putting me through some emotional turmoil but I actually ended up liking how the story concluded. I would love to see this turned into a movie. We are lacking in possession and exorcism movies lately and I feel like this would translate wonderfully into a film from paper.
I wish I had read this when autumn was already here, but I'm strongly considering a reread at some point during October. Overall, I really don't have many complaints. I can see how a some people might not like the slow, family building start, but I think the second half makes up for it.
I'm so relieved that one of my most anticipated reads of the year, did not disappoint me.
CW: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Confinement, Infertility, Abandonment
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
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August 31, 2025
I'm angry and upset.
This book could have been so good if only focus was given to the horror elements and not endless conversations about mercury and silver. The story dragged with its worry about describing how the mine worked and mentioning alchemy and going on and on about measuring mercury. It dragged with Alba wanting to take control of her own life and, still, never standing up to her parents or speaking her mind. It dragged with Elías's thoughts of his father and family and work, none of which went anywhere all that interesting.
The final few chapters? Would have been incredible if Cañas had taken the time to touch more on the folklore surrounding the mine, the religious beliefs of the people who lived there, even the wariness Alba felt when first arriving. There was so much that could have helped with the build up of Alba's character arc and her possession that was tossed aside and/or rushed throughout for no reason other than... I don't know... Cañas fascination with detailed historical settings.
I feel like this was an attempt at a female rage novel???? Except it fell flat because the female in question only came into contact with her own feelings of anger and rage in the final couple of chapters. And those scenes were rushed so she could have her happy ending. The discussions about autonomy and freedom and embracing the darker parts of yourself go nowhere because they're over and done with before they even properly began. Because, again, the focus on on establishing the setting and mercury as some sort of motif gets all of the damn development and effort.
There might have been some intent on Cañas' part to, possibly, use mercury as... like... I don't know how to word this... an element of the people (who were colonized) that was responsible for defeating evil that was brought to their land (by colonizers)? But that falls like a house of cards when very little attention was given to the local belief and religious system.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that this wasn't, personally, a well developed story that successfully did what it... might have been trying to do. Mostly due to, it seems, a lack of focus from the author--or at least the editing team. Maybe this was trying to tackle to many things and have too many conversations at the same time? I don't know. But it really really didn't work for me.
This book could have been so good if only focus was given to the horror elements and not endless conversations about mercury and silver. The story dragged with its worry about describing how the mine worked and mentioning alchemy and going on and on about measuring mercury. It dragged with Alba wanting to take control of her own life and, still, never standing up to her parents or speaking her mind. It dragged with Elías's thoughts of his father and family and work, none of which went anywhere all that interesting.
The final few chapters? Would have been incredible if Cañas had taken the time to touch more on the folklore surrounding the mine, the religious beliefs of the people who lived there, even the wariness Alba felt when first arriving. There was so much that could have helped with the build up of Alba's character arc and her possession that was tossed aside and/or rushed throughout for no reason other than... I don't know... Cañas fascination with detailed historical settings.
I feel like this was an attempt at a female rage novel???? Except it fell flat because the female in question only came into contact with her own feelings of anger and rage in the final couple of chapters. And those scenes were rushed so she could have her happy ending. The discussions about autonomy and freedom and embracing the darker parts of yourself go nowhere because they're over and done with before they even properly began. Because, again, the focus on on establishing the setting and mercury as some sort of motif gets all of the damn development and effort.
There might have been some intent on Cañas' part to, possibly, use mercury as... like... I don't know how to word this... an element of the people (who were colonized) that was responsible for defeating evil that was brought to their land (by colonizers)? But that falls like a house of cards when very little attention was given to the local belief and religious system.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that this wasn't, personally, a well developed story that successfully did what it... might have been trying to do. Mostly due to, it seems, a lack of focus from the author--or at least the editing team. Maybe this was trying to tackle to many things and have too many conversations at the same time? I don't know. But it really really didn't work for me.
August 6, 2025
Isabel Cañas is an auto-read author for me since her 2022 debut novel, The Hacienda. Her books are so immersive, suspenseful, and beautifully written, and her 2025 release, THE POSSESSION OF ALBA DÍAZ, continues that trend. With a beautiful cover and intriguing synopsis, I knew that this would be high on my TBR list.
In 1765, Alba flees plague-stricken Zacatecas with her parents and fiancé to a remote family mine—but safety quickly turns to terror as she’s consumed by visions, sleepwalking, and violent seizures. Something cold and furious is waking inside her, and it wants out. Elías came to the New World to escape his family’s legacy, not fall for his cousin’s bride-to-be—but he can’t ignore the pull he feels toward Alba or the darkness slowly taking hold of her.
I will be honest and say that this book was almost a DNF. I was not used to Cañas' heavily detailed, yet beautifully written prose, and I was struggling with paying attention. Once I switched my focus onto the audiobook version via @prhaudio, I was hooked. I would recommend if you are struggling with the narrative. Isabel Cañas' writing is so immersive and beautiful that once I got hooked, I was committed. My rankings for her novels are below, but THE POSSESSION OF ALBA DÍAZ is immersive and atmospheric, with suspense that kept me wanting more until the final act. STARS: 4, PUB: 8/19
RANKINGS:
1. The Vampires of El Norte
2. The Possession of Alba Díaz
3. The Hacienda
In 1765, Alba flees plague-stricken Zacatecas with her parents and fiancé to a remote family mine—but safety quickly turns to terror as she’s consumed by visions, sleepwalking, and violent seizures. Something cold and furious is waking inside her, and it wants out. Elías came to the New World to escape his family’s legacy, not fall for his cousin’s bride-to-be—but he can’t ignore the pull he feels toward Alba or the darkness slowly taking hold of her.
I will be honest and say that this book was almost a DNF. I was not used to Cañas' heavily detailed, yet beautifully written prose, and I was struggling with paying attention. Once I switched my focus onto the audiobook version via @prhaudio, I was hooked. I would recommend if you are struggling with the narrative. Isabel Cañas' writing is so immersive and beautiful that once I got hooked, I was committed. My rankings for her novels are below, but THE POSSESSION OF ALBA DÍAZ is immersive and atmospheric, with suspense that kept me wanting more until the final act. STARS: 4, PUB: 8/19
RANKINGS:
1. The Vampires of El Norte
2. The Possession of Alba Díaz
3. The Hacienda
November 5, 2025
This book might be easier to read in a text format than it is to listen to on Audible. The author uses a confusing sentence structure that makes listening painful. This isn’t from the book, but an example would be something like: “I found a sweater in the bag that was torn.” You can’t tell if the sweater or the bag is torn.
I’m probably in the minority on this one, but if I can’t even understand the basics of what the book is trying to say, then it’s a failure. Clarity over style, please!
I’m probably in the minority on this one, but if I can’t even understand the basics of what the book is trying to say, then it’s a failure. Clarity over style, please!
May 16, 2025
4.5 stars - get you a man who falls in love despite you being possessed by an unhinged demon <3 RTC
August 4, 2025
I still had a good time, I swear 😭
I really liked Alba and Elias, and I was rooting for them from the start. The demon itself was terrifying and effective - but the side characters/plots just fell really flat to me. Everything about the priest, Carlos, Alba's family, and the back story of the mine just felt very predictable unfortunately.
The ending truly could have brought this to a four, but the last chunk of this book really had me scratching my head. The third act kind of descended into a chaotic free for all, and I had a hard time keeping up with who was possessed, and who was attacking who - but the end smoothed everything out and left us with a satisfying conclusion. There's a bit of insta-love here as well, but given the dire circumstances - I'll allow it.
I think this fell more in line with the Hacienda, but if you loved Vampires of El Norte you'll enjoy this as well.
I feel like I'm just having the most hateful reading year of my life, so honestly take all of this with a grain of salt.
I really liked Alba and Elias, and I was rooting for them from the start. The demon itself was terrifying and effective - but the side characters/plots just fell really flat to me. Everything about the priest, Carlos, Alba's family, and the back story of the mine just felt very predictable unfortunately.
The ending truly could have brought this to a four, but the last chunk of this book really had me scratching my head. The third act kind of descended into a chaotic free for all, and I had a hard time keeping up with who was possessed, and who was attacking who - but the end smoothed everything out and left us with a satisfying conclusion. There's a bit of insta-love here as well, but given the dire circumstances - I'll allow it.
I think this fell more in line with the Hacienda, but if you loved Vampires of El Norte you'll enjoy this as well.
I feel like I'm just having the most hateful reading year of my life, so honestly take all of this with a grain of salt.
October 26, 2025
Honestly, I always love to read/listen to Isabel Canas’s books for the vibes. She knows exactly how to create that dark, gritty atmospheric setting in which to place her very dynamic characters. From the go, she brings chills the more I read. There is gore, yes. And yet her gorgeous lyrical prose makes the bitter pill very easy to swallow. And her characters are always a force to be reckoned with. Her books are fantastic all year round, but even more fun in the fall.
🎧 Always, always read Isabel Canas’s books with your ears (and your eyes for an immersive experience) if you want to be fully swept up in the beauty of her writing.
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Berkley Pub and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
🎧 Always, always read Isabel Canas’s books with your ears (and your eyes for an immersive experience) if you want to be fully swept up in the beauty of her writing.
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Berkley Pub and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
September 17, 2025
This was one of my more anticipated reads but it never quite delivered the way I imagined. On the surface it had everything I wanted: an isolated silver mine in 18th-century Mexico, a young heroine, a ghostly atmosphere and an undercurrent of resistance. Some of the book’s most compelling moments come from how it shows Alba navigating not just a haunting but the weight of patriarchy and empire. Those sections ,where possession reads as both a literal horror and a metaphor for women’s bodies, labour and belief being taken from them , are powerful. I also admired the way colonial history seeps through every description of the mine and the town.
Where it lost me was in execution. The characters, although conceptually strong, sometimes felt more like symbols than people; Alba’s choices could feel opaque, and the men around her occasionally read as stock figures rather than foils. The writing, while graceful at points, rarely evoked the sustained dread and urgency the premise promised. Long detours into backstories and minor characters slowed the narrative instead of deepening it, which is a shame because the core idea is so strong.
It is still a bold book, and one that deserves praise for its feminist lens and its unflinching look at colonial exploitation. Those aspects elevate it far above a typical historical thriller. But for me, the uneven pacing and muted horror kept it from becoming unforgettable. I had hyped it up in my head and that is partly my fault too. Readers drawn to layered history and social critique may still find it deeply rewarding, even if I did not.
Where it lost me was in execution. The characters, although conceptually strong, sometimes felt more like symbols than people; Alba’s choices could feel opaque, and the men around her occasionally read as stock figures rather than foils. The writing, while graceful at points, rarely evoked the sustained dread and urgency the premise promised. Long detours into backstories and minor characters slowed the narrative instead of deepening it, which is a shame because the core idea is so strong.
It is still a bold book, and one that deserves praise for its feminist lens and its unflinching look at colonial exploitation. Those aspects elevate it far above a typical historical thriller. But for me, the uneven pacing and muted horror kept it from becoming unforgettable. I had hyped it up in my head and that is partly my fault too. Readers drawn to layered history and social critique may still find it deeply rewarding, even if I did not.
November 13, 2025
As with all Isabel Cañas novels, The Possession of Alba Díaz is layered with atmospheric, gothic writing, true horror, a devastating plight for the female main character, and yearning that balances everything out.
This book enraged me! It takes place in Mexico in the 1800s, and Alba has resigned herself to her fate that she must marry and obey her parents, but she tries to make her own path within that, choosing her best friend Carlos Monterrubio even though his family is not financially on the level of hers due to outstanding debts owed to Alba's father. When there is an outbreak of illness, the Díaz family joins the Monterrubios at the Monterrubio family home near a silver mine. They are joined by Carlos' good friend who is a priest, and Carlos' disgruntled cousin with a dark past, Elías. Pretty soon after, Alba becomes possessed by a demon that inhabited the mine, and the story goes on an infuriating and heartbreaking journey.
I ached for Alba. I wanted her to own her life the way she so desperately wanted to. I wanted her to have the answers about her past and to have confidence in her future. I wanted Elías to be believed when he tried to be a decent man. I wanted Alba's parents to see their daughter. The ending made up for all of my heartbreak, but something about this novel reminded me of the show Midnight Mass, and how religious dogma, secrets, and fear can lead people right to danger.
4.5 ⭐️s
This book enraged me! It takes place in Mexico in the 1800s, and Alba has resigned herself to her fate that she must marry and obey her parents, but she tries to make her own path within that, choosing her best friend Carlos Monterrubio even though his family is not financially on the level of hers due to outstanding debts owed to Alba's father. When there is an outbreak of illness, the Díaz family joins the Monterrubios at the Monterrubio family home near a silver mine. They are joined by Carlos' good friend who is a priest, and Carlos' disgruntled cousin with a dark past, Elías. Pretty soon after, Alba becomes possessed by a demon that inhabited the mine, and the story goes on an infuriating and heartbreaking journey.
I ached for Alba. I wanted her to own her life the way she so desperately wanted to. I wanted her to have the answers about her past and to have confidence in her future. I wanted Elías to be believed when he tried to be a decent man. I wanted Alba's parents to see their daughter. The ending made up for all of my heartbreak, but something about this novel reminded me of the show Midnight Mass, and how religious dogma, secrets, and fear can lead people right to danger.
4.5 ⭐️s
December 5, 2025
team Elías forever
July 15, 2025
Vampires of El Norte was one of my favourite reads of 2023 and was always going to be a tough act to follow. It brought horrormance into the sunlight in a way no one else was really doing, incorporating rich historical elements and genuinely spooky vampire lore with a lush and romantic second chance love story.
While The Possession of Alba Díaz was clearly a labour of love and provides a thoroughly researched portrait of 18th century Mexican life, it wound up feeling very dense and exposition heavy. This, combined with very purple prose made this a somewhat perplexing read to settle into. The characters feel kept at arms length, and plot developments largely unfold through conversational info dumps rather than tangible actions taken on the page by the characters. The titular Alba, is a young woman who seeks to secure her freedom through brokering a marriage that allows her to live a life unfettered by the whims of a stranger. Her best option? Get engaged to her childhood friend Carlos, a man with whom she shares a platonic understanding, and will never force himself upon her or keep her on too short a leash. Following her betrothal, Alba relocates to her future husband’s estate/silver mine as a plague sweeps its way through Mexico. There she crosses paths with Elías, Carlos’ handsome cousin she shares an undeniable connection with, and who also happens to be the black sheep of the family with a dark past.
Not long after her arrival, Alba starts to slowly lose herself and her grip on reality, having become the unwitting host to a demon. Casual. Will Elías be able to save her or will Alba be able to save herself and be free once and for all?
While the bones of a good story are set out early, the pacing struggles to set out the various elements in a propulsive way. There is a LOT of silver mine shop talk and backstory about the characters, and it seems to come at the detriment of Alba and Elías’ burgeoning relationship. Alba is a woman struggling to maintain her grip on things like reality, and her soul - let alone fight a forbidden attraction to her fiancé's cousin. Both the possession plot and the relationship subplot could have had more room to grow if the mining aspect had been edited down.
The possession narrative itself was fun once it kicks off, but the trouble with these stories is that there’s only so many places the plot can go. I wish more time had been spent showing the extent of the possession closing in on Alba from her POV, rather than leaping feet first into the inevitable exorcism arc. Ultimately, what led me to bump this from a 3 star read to a 4 star, was the ending. How things came together - earned or not - was too satisfying not to reward. Is it a little heavy handed in its messaging? Sure! But after everything Alba is put through, I was locked in despite some earlier skepticism.
All told, while this is my least favourite of Isabel Cañas’ books so far, it is still absolutely worth your time. It’s atmospheric, evocative and ambitious, and while not everything worked for me, the elements that did connect were so very satisfying. If you’re a fan of unique historical fiction or possession stories, be sure to pick this one up when it hits shelves next month (August 19th).
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
While The Possession of Alba Díaz was clearly a labour of love and provides a thoroughly researched portrait of 18th century Mexican life, it wound up feeling very dense and exposition heavy. This, combined with very purple prose made this a somewhat perplexing read to settle into. The characters feel kept at arms length, and plot developments largely unfold through conversational info dumps rather than tangible actions taken on the page by the characters. The titular Alba, is a young woman who seeks to secure her freedom through brokering a marriage that allows her to live a life unfettered by the whims of a stranger. Her best option? Get engaged to her childhood friend Carlos, a man with whom she shares a platonic understanding, and will never force himself upon her or keep her on too short a leash. Following her betrothal, Alba relocates to her future husband’s estate/silver mine as a plague sweeps its way through Mexico. There she crosses paths with Elías, Carlos’ handsome cousin she shares an undeniable connection with, and who also happens to be the black sheep of the family with a dark past.
Not long after her arrival, Alba starts to slowly lose herself and her grip on reality, having become the unwitting host to a demon. Casual. Will Elías be able to save her or will Alba be able to save herself and be free once and for all?
While the bones of a good story are set out early, the pacing struggles to set out the various elements in a propulsive way. There is a LOT of silver mine shop talk and backstory about the characters, and it seems to come at the detriment of Alba and Elías’ burgeoning relationship. Alba is a woman struggling to maintain her grip on things like reality, and her soul - let alone fight a forbidden attraction to her fiancé's cousin. Both the possession plot and the relationship subplot could have had more room to grow if the mining aspect had been edited down.
The possession narrative itself was fun once it kicks off, but the trouble with these stories is that there’s only so many places the plot can go. I wish more time had been spent showing the extent of the possession closing in on Alba from her POV, rather than leaping feet first into the inevitable exorcism arc. Ultimately, what led me to bump this from a 3 star read to a 4 star, was the ending. How things came together - earned or not - was too satisfying not to reward. Is it a little heavy handed in its messaging? Sure! But after everything Alba is put through, I was locked in despite some earlier skepticism.
All told, while this is my least favourite of Isabel Cañas’ books so far, it is still absolutely worth your time. It’s atmospheric, evocative and ambitious, and while not everything worked for me, the elements that did connect were so very satisfying. If you’re a fan of unique historical fiction or possession stories, be sure to pick this one up when it hits shelves next month (August 19th).
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2025
"Something was wrong with Alba. Wrong in the way that a dream could be wrong..."
This story of a young woman’s fight for her autonomy both literally and supernaturally was unputdownable! Author Isabel Cañas reminds readers in this paranormal historical fiction horror how it is an infuriating tragedy that women’s bodies are rarely something to be honored and often something to be “possessed”.
[Thank you to NetGalley for this review copy!]
This story of a young woman’s fight for her autonomy both literally and supernaturally was unputdownable! Author Isabel Cañas reminds readers in this paranormal historical fiction horror how it is an infuriating tragedy that women’s bodies are rarely something to be honored and often something to be “possessed”.
[Thank you to NetGalley for this review copy!]
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