First published 1499
Calisto glimpses the beautiful Melibea and falls desperately in love, but she spurns his advances. Desperate, he turns to Celestina, an aging woman who peddles perfumes and potions while secretly practicing witchcraft. Celestina agrees to help him win Melibea's heart, but her methods involve more than mere cosmetics. She inhabits a shadowy world of prostitutes and dark arts, wielding both street cunning and supernatural powers to manipulate those around her. As Celestina works her schemes, she successfully brings the young lovers together, but her machinations set in motion events that will destroy them all. The tale unfolds in 1499 Spain, where passion collides with corruption, and where getting what you desire most may cost everything you hold dear.
Genres: classic-literature, romance, historical-fiction, supernatural
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, supernatural-powers
Setting: Spain
Period: 1499
219 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books Ltd
Content warnings: violence