When you realize that a demonic possession is on par with archaic societal expectations and the patriarchy, you know you're in for a good time with The Possession of Alba Diaz. Alba is making an advantageous marriage, as is expected of her. She doesn't particularly want to marry this guy, but you know, at least it gets her away from her parents. When the plague hits her hometown, the family flees to the town where her fiancé's mine is located. But there are things worse than a plague there, not including Elias, the bad sheep relative of Alba's fiancé.

Something has reawakened, something ancient and powerful, and Alba becomes its new host, but Elias and Alba form a bond that may be the only thing that saves her soul.

Atmospheric, immersive, cinematic - all my favorite adjectives go to this horror masterpiece. The tension is ever present, the fear dotted through every page, until we reach a point where I just sat there, staring at the same page for minutes because areyoufuckingserious???

Fear (ha) not, you're in good hands here, because the characters (and other things) come alive and demand you follow their stories. Alba, dear Alba, I see you. Fighting so hard for a better life on her terms, Alba had me rooting for her along with Elias, the man who is always leaving, until he finds something to stay for.

Isabel Canas has written a masterpiece, and I am so excited for horror fanatics to enjoy this one!

The dread in this story build slowly, but once it arrives, it comes forth with sharp teeth bared. I really enjoy the writing style this author has and the spooky scenes were great. There wasn't a ton of lightness in this novel and it's for sure a dark read but it's a well done possession story with some exorcist scenes included.

"Santa Alba, patron of those who suffer under the yoke of pig fiancés, hear our prayer."

The prose was stunning, the story was haunting, the atmosphere was everything. A full range of emotions are elicited while reading this book. Every time you think you know what's going on, you learn that you actually don't! It swept me up and I just couldn't put it down!

4.5 stars - wow, wow, wow. a masterclass in writing and an ode to the craft and the perfect horror romance. reads just like The Exorcist and was sooo fascinating.

I was struggling with this one until I got through the first half when things picked up. It went from a 3 star to a 4 star pretty quickly. I found the first part of the story slow as the author was setting the scene for the possession to kick into gear. Once we started getting into the possession I absolutely LOVED this book. It was eerie and dark, and I found myself fully invested in the story between Alba and Elias. I was put through the emotional rollercoaster at the end and I’m so glad the author went in the direction she did! I do love a story where women get sweet sweet revenge and this time it was especially good. In addition to being a cool gothic demon possession story this was also a really good historical fiction novel. The setting of the mine was super cool and I think the lore of the mine and the demon was very well executed. I haven’t read any other of this authors books but I’m definitely interested to check out her other works now!!

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. “The Possession of Alba Diaz” will be published August 19, 2025.

The Possession of Alba Díaz is the third book I’ve read by Isabel Cañas and it might be my favorite so far. This book is stuffed with so many things I love: supernatural mysteries, actual history that will send me down a Wikipedia rabbit hole, possibly star-crossed love. This book is incredible!

Our story begins very far away and a long time ago. Elías, an alchemist with a shady past, receives word in Constantinople that his father has died in Nueva España. It’s only when he meets with his grandfather in Madrid that Elías learns that his father died with debts so massive they could send the entire Monterrubio family into poverty. Elías is informed that the only way to rescue his family is to travel to Zacatecas, where his father bought into a mine, and work until he saves enough silver from the city’s mine to save them all. Needless to say, Elías is not happy. Cañas then whisks us away to Zacatecas and another unhappy character weighted down with family expectations. Alba Díaz de Bolaños is expected to marry well. This means that she is supposed to marry a wealthy man; it doesn’t matter if they like each other or not. Alba manages to wrangle a proposal from an old friend, Carlos Monterrubio. Her plan to marry the kind Carlos might’ve worked if plague hadn’t broken out in Zacatecas, sending everyone with money into the literal hills to wait for the disease to burn itself out.

Then, things get even more interesting.

I don’t want to spoil the deliciously tense atmosphere Cañas creates for her characters to stew in. That said, Cañas lets us in on Alba’s other secret. She is a foundling. None other than Elías’s father found her in the Monterrubio mine when she was an infant. Alba’s mother was so desperate for a child that she adopted the wee girl. No one knows much more than this, so Alba seizes the opportunity to travel to the mine to find anyone who might have known where she came from. Once Alba steps foot near the mine and the Monterrubio’s rustic house (named Casa Calavera or Skull House, for extra spookiness), she finds that the mine has a strange power over her. She begins hearing things and sleepwalking. The only one willing to listen to her is Elías, the only man she’s ever met who makes her heart race.

The Possession of Alba Díaz is one of those books that I fall into slowly, at first, then start to race through as the plot picks up. I was hooked on the setting and Cañas’s descriptive writing. I’m a sucker for books set in the eighteenth century, especially ones set in places I haven’t “visited” before. Once Cañas had me hooked with the setting and Alba and Elías’s secrets, she carried me away with an incredible plot that involved the Inquisition, colonial brutality, the trap of propriety, questions about who is friend or foe, and the supernatural. I cannot say enough great things about this novel or Cañas’s writing. If anything in this review sounds interesting, hurry to pre-order it or get on the wait list at your local library. You’ll thank me later.

Thank you @berkleypub for the gifted copy and @prhaudio for the gifted ALC. This account is an Isabel Canas Stan account!!! I’m constantly recommending The Hacienda and Vampires of El Norte to my fellow horror/romance friends. I enjoy her storytelling style and think she writes historical fiction immaculately.

The Possession of Alba Diaz took me a really long time to get into, I won’t lie. I was surprised at how slowly the story progressed and at times the prose felt borderline…boring? But I had faith Isabel wouldn’t steer me wrong and of course around the 60% mark, I was HOOKED. HAD to finish in one sitting.

The characters were all wonderfully written, but I felt most strongly about the Priest’s character, and I believe this was intentional. Despite him being an antagonist I felt his dialogue and scenes most viscerally, contributing greatly to the themes of Indigenous vs. colonizer practices, Christian dogma as a catalyst for individualism, and several other heartbreaking outcomes of forced Evangelism.

The horror aspects of this book were a little lackluster (lackluster because I was promised something grisly in the dedication!!!) but I thoroughly enjoyed the plot twist at the end. It was truly magnificent.

I’d recommend The Possession of Alba Diaz to fans of Latine historical fiction with strong romance subplots, those who enjoy critical depictions of dominant religions, and fans of supernatural horror.

Isabel Cañas' newest, The Possession of Alba Díaz, leans more into the horror than the romance but still combines the two in a successful slow burn Gothic. There is a plague sweeping 1765 Zacatecas. Our heroine Alba and her new fiancé Carlos (whom she likes as a friend but does not love), along with her parents, flee the city to take shelter at Carlos' family's silver mine. There Alba becomes re-acquainted with Elías, Carlos’ cousin, a broody alchemist who is the outcast of his family. The attraction is undeniable, but Alba’s forgotten past with the remote village as well as a creepy encounter in the mine proves to add adversary to their already ill-fated romance. Something feels... not right.

I really liked the blend of both horror and romance (truly something for everyone!). As someone who usually doesn't like possession or religious horror, I actually thought the elements of this paired with historical horror and Gothic horror worked really well. Alba is a strong female character and I was rooting for her the whole time. If you’re craving not-too-scary horror vibes, look no further than Isabel Cañas’ latest. The Possession of Alba Díaz is sure to satisfy any fans of her work.

I had no idea I would yearn for romance in a book about possession until I read this. Isabel Cañas does it again: perfectly mixing horror, supernatural, historical fiction, and romance. The writing is beautiful-- so atmospheric and immersive. This is more than a horror story.

There were hints to Alba's possession from the very beginning, which I really appreciated since the possession itself is no secret (see: the title). The themes of freedom, bodily autonomy, love/acceptance, and colonialism made this book more than just a horror story. I also was not expecting romance to play such a central role, but thought it was really well done and well integrated.

As someone with decent knowledge of Spain, the Spanish language, and Catholicism, I think I may have enjoyed those aspects more than the average reader, which was just an extra treat.

TY to NetGalley and Berkley for the eArc!

I am but a humble and novice reader of fiction outside of the romance genre or literary fiction. And I say this in a fully complimentary way: The Possession of Alba Diaz has me reeling. Readers familiar with either Vampires of El Norte or The Hacienda will find similar levels of the supernatural and the grotesque. What makes Alba Diaz stand apart, however, is how deeply imbued with symbolism and metaphor it is. And while I like to think of myself as a smart person, this is the kind of book that I had to take my time with, pause and look very closely, and ask myself what is the deeper meaning in these very carefully chosen words.

The most clear cut theme explored in the book is Alba’s desire for autonomy—namely bodily autonomy. Intersecting thieves of this autonomy are at play. The patriarchy, which dictates that a woman of a certain age and class must find an advantageous marriage. The Peninsulares, who enforce the casta system and seek to extract wealth from the country they have colonized. The demon, which causes Alba to lose control of her physical self. The church, which demands obedience and submission. The Inquisition, who seek to silence those who would challenge the dictates of the church.

In some ways I could also see this as a broad metaphor for the COVID-19 pandemic. It is, indeed, a highly contagious disease that drives both the Diaz and Monterrubio families from their home in Zacatecas to the isolated and rural area surrounding Mina San Gabriel, much the same way other wealthy families sought protection from COVID by retreating with their family or friend pods outside of larger metropolitan areas in hopes of escaping the disease. And while they may have escaped the matlazahuatl, they were now forced to confront the thornier reality of their family dynamics, secrets, and resentments. High family drama with no one to trust? It added to the intensity of Alba’s possession.

I am going to be thinking about this book for a very long time.

This is a slow burn of a gothic novel—steeped in sense of place and peril. I generally like a slowly unfolding plot, but this doesn't work as well for me as "the Vampires of El Norte," her sophomore novel that I absolutely loved. The first half of the novel is focused on the family dynamics and the mine itself. The possession doesn't become an acute plot point until the midway point. I wish the pacing had intermixed less explicit dread about the mines and shown us more about the community surrounding the mine to build that suspense.

All in all, even though this book didn't really resonate, reading it made me want to read the "Hacidena," which is still sitting on my TBR pile.

Really, this was a 3.5 star read, but I am giving it four stars because I am sure it will find its audience and its readers. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this ARC from netgalley & I was sooo happy. I immediately started reading it and I couldn’t stop. I read it on my Kindle and it was a good choice since Kindle has a dictionary that lets you look up the words. She used alot of vocabulary I haven’t seen before so it was soo helpful. I learned so many news words and so much history about Zacatecas! The way Isabel writes and describes everything really lets you submerge yourself into the time period and feel the story unravel. The ending was something I was hoping for but I didn’t expect it and that fulfilled me soo much ❤️
I’ve officially read all of Isabel Cañas books and I love them all the same 😭 hoping one day she writes a story based in Puebla ❤️‍🩹

I have devoured each of Isabel Canas's books. Each is full of genuinely creepy horror elements and insanely thick sexual tension; the way Canas simultaneously inspires heart-racing dread and captures soul-crushing yearning is absolutely unparalleled. The Possession of Alba Diaz is a vindicating story of body autonomy and forging your own path, no matter the cost. Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC!

I am typically not a horror reader and I loved this. It’s something about the way Isabel Cañas writes. She has a way of writing that pulls you into the stories. I really enjoy her descriptions of place settings as well.

I was rooting for Alba & Elias, then when I believed what Alba did I was rooting for Alba to take her vengeance. I thought I knew where the story was going and continued to be pleasantly surprised.

I was not expecting that twist with Carlos & I left myself wanting to know even more about Bartholomew’s secrets that the possession spoke into life— & I’m hoping the epilogue ending will mean more of this world.

I spent a lot of time reading this during the day because I tend to get nightmares (which is why I don’t often read horror books) but the way this historical gothic piece was written, I had to finish it tonight. Just WOW.

Thank you to Berkley Pub for this gifted ARC in their Underrepresented Voices program. As a Latina I am appreciative I was given the opportunity to read and review this piece early.

Spine-chilling doesn't begin to describe how I felt while reading "The Possession of Alba Diaz." From the onset, Cañas's hypnotic writing creates a suffocating gothic atmosphere, especially during Alba's dangerous sleepwalking episodes.

Adding to the tension is the complex relationship between Alba's fiancé and his cousin, further complicated by Alba's mysterious past that connects to everything unfolding. While undeniably dark, the unexpected love story serves as a welcome beacon of light amid the horror.

I particularly appreciated the rich historical details about the mine and the families' backgrounds, which ground both the setting and narrative. Cañas excels at crafting those chilling moments when characters confront the supernatural—scenes so vivid I wished I could cover my eyes while reading.

Overall, this perfect blend of horror with romance left me simultaneously terrified and enamored. A must-read for anyone who enjoys gothic horror with emotional depth.

Special thanks to Berkley Pub and NetGalley for providing advance copies. As always, the thoughts shared here are completely my own.

In the future, just inject Isabel Cañas’ novels directly into my veins because I know it’s going to be exactly what I need.

Isabel Cañas is one of my favorite authors. I really enjoyed this story and the way the possession was portrayed was great. It did feel a bit repetitive and there were some slower points but nonetheless it kept me intrigued. Cañas always has a way to write the best atmospheric settings.

2.5 stars

I’ve only read one other book by Isabel Cañas (Vampires of El Norte) and I really enjoyed that one, so I went into The Possession of Alba Díaz feeling optimistic. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. I don’t want this to be a full-on comparison between the two books, but it’s hard not to draw parallels when so many of the things I loved in Vampires felt lacking here.

My biggest issue was that this was just... boring. I actually appreciate that Isabel Cañas doesn’t lean too hard into horror, but for a story centered on demonic possession, this felt incredibly flat. At least in Vampires, the supernatural elements had layers. The vampires were eerie and dangerous, but there was a touch of humanity and complexity to them that made them interesting. Here, the demon element felt... basic? There were hints of backstory - how the demon was brought over, how Alba came to be possessed - but it barely scratched the surface, and I never felt invested.

As for Elias and Alba, they were fine together, I guess, but again: flat. I wanted to root for them, but the chemistry and tension just weren’t where I would have liked, personally. In Vampires, the romance worked so well because of that push-and-pull dynamic and a fair bit of angst. Yes, they were childhood friends, but I think the circumstances negated that and the same dynamic was still achievable here. Their characterization and relationship needed a lot more development.

Pacing-wise, this book felt way longer than its 384 pages. The exposition was heavy. Like, really heavy. There’d be a single line of dialogue, followed by pages of internal monologue or historical context before the conversation picked back up again. It didn’t feel meaningful either, it just dragged.

And the mercury. OMG, the mercury. If I have to hear about mercury one more time, I will drown myself in quicksilver. For something that dominated Elias’s thoughts and so much of the text, it had zero actual impact on the plot. You could swap it out for freakin apples and make the mine an orchard and tell the exact same story. It was like the book kept trying to make mercury “a thing,” and - like fetch - it’s not going to happen.

Lastly, I found the Spanish language and cultural references much less accessible here than in Vampires. In that book, the Spanish terms and settings felt familiar and easy to follow. But this one had so many names of cities, villages, prisons, job titles, etc. that I’d never heard of. I had to pause and look things up just to figure out if they were real or fictional. I know that’s on me to some extent (I’m absolutely terrible at geography and despite being part Mexican and trying to learn Spanish all my life, I can barely form a sentence), but I also think it’s something authors should consider. Keeping places and terms more minimal would have been fine and easier to consume. If a reader has to reread a term four times and still feels confused, it just makes it harder to get into the story.

Despite these critiques, I do want to say that I think Isabel Cañas is such a talented writer. Her style, atmosphere, and concepts are unique and powerful. This one just wasn’t for me, but I’ll check out whatever she writes next!

This story was hauntingly beautiful. Isabel Cañas is a such an amazing storyteller, she had me hooked from the first chapter. I appreciated that the story went straight to the point and in my opinion, was perfectly paced. This story was literally about the possession of Alba Diaz with a bit of romance sprinkled throughout it. I was a little skeptical of the idea of a romance in a story of possession but Cañas was able to write it perfectly;
Alba and Elías were so precious and they deserved the world!!
Cañas also does a wonderful job of putting the reader in 1700s Mexico with her incredibly detailed writing, like how was it possible that she made me crave (my grandmothers) tortillas and jícama by just reading words off a page?? How was it that I felt suffocated by the incense and perfume or felt creeped out by the eeriness of the mines and mountains?? Truly amazing.
Here are some themes and/or ideas in this story:
-gothic
-colonialism
-patriarchy
-revenge
-atmospheric
-autonomy
Also, thank you Isabel Cañas for teaching me about the silver and mining industry in Mexico!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for my review!

I would like to thank Isabel Cañas for always giving us an mmc she throws into the most absolute horrific scenarios for the forbidden love of the fmc. Like yes, prove your love to me by facing death multiple times all so you can gaze into my eyes with yearning and maybe brush my hand. 😏

Cañas has mastered the perfect combination of horror and romance. In The Hacienda I wanted more love, in Vampires of El Norte I wanted more terror. She then said “here damn” and threw this book in my face. Perfect, absolutely no notes. 🤩

You know that scene in Nosferatu where Ellen gets possessed by the vampire lord and starts convulsing all over and spitting at her husband Thomas and he still bangs her? Yeah if you saw that scene and said “damn thats love” then you’re going to love this.😛

Elías as the mmc of course graduated top of his class from the school of YEARNING!!🧎‍♂️‍➡️🧎‍♂️‍➡️
This also has incredible character development done with multiple side characters I kept getting confused about: do I hate them or not?? As always I adore and will protect the fmc with my life. Alba get behind me, this world does not deserve you. 🗡️

While this is indeed a supernatural horror novel it also is an uplifting feminist story of a woman who faces her demons (those in her and outside of her) and finally gets to decide her own future for the first time. A bloody tale that will have you giving it a standing ovation in your own living room.

Summary: Your crush is possessed by a demon and also engaged to the cousin you hate.

THANK YOU to Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.