by V. Castro
First published 2024
Malinalli once served as translator for conquistador Cortés, known to history as the infamous La Malinche. After watching her people fall to Spanish conquest, she emerged from the empire's ruins transformed into an immortal vampire. Now she travels the globe hunting stolen artifacts from conquered civilizations, returning them to their rightful homes. Her latest quest brings her to Dublin, where she seeks a pair of Aztec skulls tied to her own dark past. Instead she discovers two men who awaken desires she thought lost to centuries of solitude. One is a mortal horror novelist who finds her vampiric nature fascinating rather than frightening. The other shares her immortal burden and understands the darkness that drives her. As Malinalli pursues the artifacts, she must navigate her growing attraction to both men while confronting the human longings that persist despite her supernatural transformation. Her mission becomes complicated by emotions she has avoided for centuries, forcing her to choose between the safety of isolation and the risk of opening her heart.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy, supernatural, paranormal
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, immortality
Setting: Dublin, Mexico
Period: Conquest Era
304 pages · Paperback · Del Rey
Content warnings: colonialism, violence