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The Last Bargain
Not yet published
Expected 2 Sep 26Mexico, 1893.
When a grieving widow bargains with an immortal servant of the Catholic Church, she discovers that every miracle demands blood—and every act of mercy carries a terrible price.
Hidalgo is an immortal bound by vows to the Catholic Church. In exchange for his protection, Soledad must surrender the only thing she has left to give—her own blood. Bound together by an oath neither fully understands, she is drawn into a hidden world where saints and ancient gods walk the same earth, and where faith and blasphemy are separated only by the stories people choose to believe.
As they journey south through the violence of the Porfiriato, Soledad witnesses a nation abandoned by both government and God. Yet Hidalgo refuses to intervene, constrained by laws older than the Church itself.
To him, order preserves the world.
To her, justice demands rebellion.
Caught between an immortal who believes every revolution ends in tragedy and a nation desperate to rise against tyranny, Soledad must decide whether evil is defeated through obedience—or by bloodshed.
If she chooses wrong, she will lose far more than her own soul.
The Last Bargain is a haunting historical fantasy blending Weird West atmosphere, Catholic mythology, and Mesoamerican folklore into a story of power, sacrifice, complicity, and the terrible cost of choosing who deserves salvation.
When a grieving widow bargains with an immortal servant of the Catholic Church, she discovers that every miracle demands blood—and every act of mercy carries a terrible price.
Hidalgo is an immortal bound by vows to the Catholic Church. In exchange for his protection, Soledad must surrender the only thing she has left to give—her own blood. Bound together by an oath neither fully understands, she is drawn into a hidden world where saints and ancient gods walk the same earth, and where faith and blasphemy are separated only by the stories people choose to believe.
As they journey south through the violence of the Porfiriato, Soledad witnesses a nation abandoned by both government and God. Yet Hidalgo refuses to intervene, constrained by laws older than the Church itself.
To him, order preserves the world.
To her, justice demands rebellion.
Caught between an immortal who believes every revolution ends in tragedy and a nation desperate to rise against tyranny, Soledad must decide whether evil is defeated through obedience—or by bloodshed.
If she chooses wrong, she will lose far more than her own soul.
The Last Bargain is a haunting historical fantasy blending Weird West atmosphere, Catholic mythology, and Mesoamerican folklore into a story of power, sacrifice, complicity, and the terrible cost of choosing who deserves salvation.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 2, 2026
About the author
Valentina Santamaria
1 book9 followersValentina Santamaria is a Latina American who once investigated crimes against children. These days, she prefers hunting monsters that exist only on the page from her home in southwest Kansas.
Her novels weave together history, folklore, and dark fantasy, asking what people will sacrifice to survive—and whether the greatest monsters are ever truly supernatural.
*The Last Bargain* is her debut novel.
Her novels weave together history, folklore, and dark fantasy, asking what people will sacrifice to survive—and whether the greatest monsters are ever truly supernatural.
*The Last Bargain* is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Want to Read
July 17, 2026The author asked me to read this book.
I must admit it is not my usual genre (i read history typically) but did so happily.
This is a must read.
I was completely immersed in 1890's mexico and the brutality of the Porfirato regime. From the violence of the mining revolts, to the smelting trains, to the water and food shortages, to the racial targeting. I was completely enthralled.
This book had vampires, which made me hesitant but the vampires are not the main driver of this story, in fact they are an engine to drive philosophical questions about who the real monsters are.
And let me tell you, the vampires are not the real monsters.
Mankind is.
It was a fascinating thought experiment based in the historic Tomochic rebellion that ignited the Mexican revolution.
What is the right choice? Help rebels and create widespread chaos? Enforce order and protect the masses?
This passage from the novel summarizes this conflict beautifully:
"Hidalgo stepped closer barely a hand's breath between their faces, "Tell me, how do you stop the Porfiriato when every poor starving town is fooled into thinking they can win by refusing to kneel. How many children will die when the next rebellion is put down with artillery?"
She met his hard gaze and did not back down. "You can kill everyone in Tomochic. There'll be another that rises and the next. It is not the Rebels that make the world ungovernable, it's the sickness at the root of it, and you know it! Every time you cut away the fighting men, you cut away the only people that could ever truly make a difference. You're just pruning the tree so that it grows back more twisted and more poisonous."
She jabbed her finger to chest her voice almost a whisper, but sharp enough to score the air. "You think you're the gardener Hidalgo, but you're the rot."
It harkens the situation in current day mexico, and reminds the reader of the division between cartel law versus the government. Is the government better if it corrupt?
I don't know. The book doesn't answer the question. No one is completely good. No one is completely right. Everyone is just doing their best, which is what made this book such a fun read.
It reminded me greatly of Fevre Dream by George RR Martin. Which was also a vampire book that was not really about vampires, but the tug boats of the Mississippi.
I highly recommend it folks. It was a pleasant surprise with a tragic and touching ending that made me uncertain who the villain really was. And honestly, it may have been the protagonist herself.
I must admit it is not my usual genre (i read history typically) but did so happily.
This is a must read.
I was completely immersed in 1890's mexico and the brutality of the Porfirato regime. From the violence of the mining revolts, to the smelting trains, to the water and food shortages, to the racial targeting. I was completely enthralled.
This book had vampires, which made me hesitant but the vampires are not the main driver of this story, in fact they are an engine to drive philosophical questions about who the real monsters are.
And let me tell you, the vampires are not the real monsters.
Mankind is.
It was a fascinating thought experiment based in the historic Tomochic rebellion that ignited the Mexican revolution.
What is the right choice? Help rebels and create widespread chaos? Enforce order and protect the masses?
This passage from the novel summarizes this conflict beautifully:
"Hidalgo stepped closer barely a hand's breath between their faces, "Tell me, how do you stop the Porfiriato when every poor starving town is fooled into thinking they can win by refusing to kneel. How many children will die when the next rebellion is put down with artillery?"
She met his hard gaze and did not back down. "You can kill everyone in Tomochic. There'll be another that rises and the next. It is not the Rebels that make the world ungovernable, it's the sickness at the root of it, and you know it! Every time you cut away the fighting men, you cut away the only people that could ever truly make a difference. You're just pruning the tree so that it grows back more twisted and more poisonous."
She jabbed her finger to chest her voice almost a whisper, but sharp enough to score the air. "You think you're the gardener Hidalgo, but you're the rot."
It harkens the situation in current day mexico, and reminds the reader of the division between cartel law versus the government. Is the government better if it corrupt?
I don't know. The book doesn't answer the question. No one is completely good. No one is completely right. Everyone is just doing their best, which is what made this book such a fun read.
It reminded me greatly of Fevre Dream by George RR Martin. Which was also a vampire book that was not really about vampires, but the tug boats of the Mississippi.
I highly recommend it folks. It was a pleasant surprise with a tragic and touching ending that made me uncertain who the villain really was. And honestly, it may have been the protagonist herself.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Last Bargain is an ambitious novel that blends suspense, mystery, and emotional drama. It is driven more by its ideas and characters than by constant action, rewarding readers who enjoy stories that gradually reveal their secrets. Rather than relying on shock value, the novel builds tension through
uncertainty and the moral choices its characters face. This gives the story a reflective quality.
The concept behind the "Last bargain" is intriguing because it raises questions about sacrifice, consequences, and the price people are willing to pay for what they desire most.
The premise is compelling enough to keep readers engaged as they try to understand where the story is heading.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its emotional core. Themes of loss, regret, hope, loyalty, and redemption are woven throughout the story. The emotional stakes often feel more compelling than the external conflict, giving the novel greater depth.
Several scenes are vivid and immersive, creating a strong sense of atmosphere. The gradual unfolding of information maintains a sense of curiosity, encouraging readers to keep turning the pages.
Themes
The novel explores several meaningful questions:
• What are we willing to sacrifice for the people we love?
• Can past mistakes truly be redeemed?
• Do our choices define us more than our circumstances?
• Is every bargain worth its cost?
These themes give the story substance beyond its central plot.
My Final Thoughts
The Last Bargain succeeds because it combines emotional storytelling with an intriguing premise. It feels like the work of an author more interested in exploring human choices than simply delivering plot twists.
Overall, I found The Last Bargain to be a compelling and sincere novel with memorable themes and a
satisfying emotional foundation. Readers who enjoy reflective suspense and character-driven stories
are likely to appreciate it.
uncertainty and the moral choices its characters face. This gives the story a reflective quality.
The concept behind the "Last bargain" is intriguing because it raises questions about sacrifice, consequences, and the price people are willing to pay for what they desire most.
The premise is compelling enough to keep readers engaged as they try to understand where the story is heading.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its emotional core. Themes of loss, regret, hope, loyalty, and redemption are woven throughout the story. The emotional stakes often feel more compelling than the external conflict, giving the novel greater depth.
Several scenes are vivid and immersive, creating a strong sense of atmosphere. The gradual unfolding of information maintains a sense of curiosity, encouraging readers to keep turning the pages.
Themes
The novel explores several meaningful questions:
• What are we willing to sacrifice for the people we love?
• Can past mistakes truly be redeemed?
• Do our choices define us more than our circumstances?
• Is every bargain worth its cost?
These themes give the story substance beyond its central plot.
My Final Thoughts
The Last Bargain succeeds because it combines emotional storytelling with an intriguing premise. It feels like the work of an author more interested in exploring human choices than simply delivering plot twists.
Overall, I found The Last Bargain to be a compelling and sincere novel with memorable themes and a
satisfying emotional foundation. Readers who enjoy reflective suspense and character-driven stories
are likely to appreciate it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a review.
This book was...wow. It was not what I thought it was going to be. I expected a gothic vampire fiction. It was not this. Or some kind of paranormal romance. It was not this either.
But it did have elements of both.
It was big, profound, powerful - more philosophical discussion on oppression and justice wrapped in a fun, paranormal package. I learned an enormous amount about Mexican history that I never knew and it sent me down google rabbit roles that showed me how much effort went into making this novel historically accurate (with vampires). It was fascinating to learn that each of the vampiric Regateadores (the novel uses this word, never vampires. It means Bargainer in Spanish) were actually philosophical Frankensteining of different real life historical individuals.
The crazy part is the word vampire is never used and they are definitely not the traditional European vampires. They eat, they breath, the suffer. They have been around for millennia, the brutal and exacting gods that the Maya and Aztec and Purépecha Indians worshipped before the invasion of Cortez.
And then, these ancient Gods (the novel explains it like an infection, or disease) assimilate into the Catholic Church to avoid annihilation, instead using the church as a means to continue to protect their people from extinction. One of my favorite quotes was:
"Over time, I saw it happen—not all at once, but slowly. The faces of my people changed. The darkness in their skin lightened as they were absorbed into new tongues, new customs, new names. I told myself it was survival."
This is from Erendira, the Abbess who is some sort of matriarch of the remaining Regateadores. (They were almost wiped out to extinction from the diseased blood brought over by the Europeans).
All in all, this book was excellent. I expected a quick foray into vampire romance with a Mexican twist...but instead I walked away not knowing who I agreed with, who was right or wrong, if I would have made different choices. There was a profound theme of choosing between what is right, what is just, and what is the best outcome for everyone and I'm still not sure which I would choose.
There was some romance. There were some vampires.
But that was not what this book was about.
This book was...wow. It was not what I thought it was going to be. I expected a gothic vampire fiction. It was not this. Or some kind of paranormal romance. It was not this either.
But it did have elements of both.
It was big, profound, powerful - more philosophical discussion on oppression and justice wrapped in a fun, paranormal package. I learned an enormous amount about Mexican history that I never knew and it sent me down google rabbit roles that showed me how much effort went into making this novel historically accurate (with vampires). It was fascinating to learn that each of the vampiric Regateadores (the novel uses this word, never vampires. It means Bargainer in Spanish) were actually philosophical Frankensteining of different real life historical individuals.
The crazy part is the word vampire is never used and they are definitely not the traditional European vampires. They eat, they breath, the suffer. They have been around for millennia, the brutal and exacting gods that the Maya and Aztec and Purépecha Indians worshipped before the invasion of Cortez.
And then, these ancient Gods (the novel explains it like an infection, or disease) assimilate into the Catholic Church to avoid annihilation, instead using the church as a means to continue to protect their people from extinction. One of my favorite quotes was:
"Over time, I saw it happen—not all at once, but slowly. The faces of my people changed. The darkness in their skin lightened as they were absorbed into new tongues, new customs, new names. I told myself it was survival."
This is from Erendira, the Abbess who is some sort of matriarch of the remaining Regateadores. (They were almost wiped out to extinction from the diseased blood brought over by the Europeans).
All in all, this book was excellent. I expected a quick foray into vampire romance with a Mexican twist...but instead I walked away not knowing who I agreed with, who was right or wrong, if I would have made different choices. There was a profound theme of choosing between what is right, what is just, and what is the best outcome for everyone and I'm still not sure which I would choose.
There was some romance. There were some vampires.
But that was not what this book was about.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Last Bargain is not just a good story idea—it is a rich, haunting, beautifully imagined novel with real emotional weight.
Valentina's prose is one of the things that struck me most. She has a rare ability to say so much in so few words—sometimes a single sentence carries grief, danger, beauty, and meaning all at once. Often one sentence will stop me to be read and re-read while my mind visits its beauty, its density, and long ago memories.
The world she has created is dark, strange, and unforgettable, but what stayed with me most was the heart of it: survival, sacrifice, justice, faith, and the terrible bargains people make when life leaves them few choices.
I am hooked. She has something special here.
Valentina's prose is one of the things that struck me most. She has a rare ability to say so much in so few words—sometimes a single sentence carries grief, danger, beauty, and meaning all at once. Often one sentence will stop me to be read and re-read while my mind visits its beauty, its density, and long ago memories.
The world she has created is dark, strange, and unforgettable, but what stayed with me most was the heart of it: survival, sacrifice, justice, faith, and the terrible bargains people make when life leaves them few choices.
I am hooked. She has something special here.
Review of advance copy
If you loved the Sinners movie… or anything by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, I feel like this is the book for you!
This novel has gorgeous writing and wonderfully captures the feel of frontier Mexico, with a sympathetic (yet dark) heroine who is willing to risk her soul to save her people. Soledad is an intriguing and complex heroine and her relationship with Hildalgo - a not-so-human-man she reluctantly works with - is complex and fascinating. As is the world they reside in, which is beautifully nuanced and detailed.
This novel has gorgeous writing and wonderfully captures the feel of frontier Mexico, with a sympathetic (yet dark) heroine who is willing to risk her soul to save her people. Soledad is an intriguing and complex heroine and her relationship with Hildalgo - a not-so-human-man she reluctantly works with - is complex and fascinating. As is the world they reside in, which is beautifully nuanced and detailed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was very captivating! Parts of me identified strongly with Soledad, the lead character. The interactions between her and Hidalgo leave you yearning for more and excited to continue reading. The author builds each scene in a way that you can see it like a movie in your head. I highly recommend this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Amazing debut! The world Soledad is navigating becomes your own as you read. It's just the right amount of dark! You are unsure who to root for...who is right who is wrong? The honor to one is horrifying to another yet justified in the "long term". I can't wait for the next one!!!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews