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.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the arc!

This book blew me away. I've been wanting to read a Isabel Cañas book for a while and I'm so glad I finally got my hands on a copy.

What this book is about is in the title, the possession of Alba Diaz but this book is so much more than that. It dives into patriarchy, the church, colonialism & even some racism. There's toxic families, self loathing, feminine rage & even some romance. This book was extremely dark and I loved every second of it. The first about 40ish percent is world building but it's done so in a way that you're not bored.

Alba is determined to live life for herself & freely but during her time, women just aren't given any freedom. When the plague hits her town she manipulates her parents into moving to a mining town with her fiancé. In the process, Alba becomes possessed and horror ensues. I refuse to give anything away so you must read for yourself. If you're a fan of horror & feminine rage, I highly recommend.

Hello again dear reader or listener, midway through summer and my contrarian nature is calling for spookies and gloomies so what better read than a Gothic historical horror from an author whose evocative work I’ve loved in the past?

With thanks to the Berkley Publishing Group for offering this eARC to our team here at BWG, let me tell you, dear reader, why I pounced on Isabel Cañas’ upcoming book, The Possession of Alba Dìaz.

You see, even though I am yet to read The Hacienda, which I am fairly certain I will love as it’s got many of my favorite elements, I have read and absolutely adored Cañas’ previous book, Vampires of El Norte. It was romantic, seeped in folklore and myth, Romantic, as well as a nuanced and emotionally intelligent story that touched on many an important topic from class disparity to feminism. If you want to read more of my gushing on that particular book you can find it here.

What about this new entry in what I hope will be the author’s very long bibliography? In very short: Possession is an intriguing and atmospheric tale that will keep you hooked till the very end, even if the romance plot in particular didn’t feel as transporting as in her previous work. It does however fit perfectly within the demonic possession subgenre.

Let me elaborate, will you?

I don’t believe every book by an author should be run through the achievements of their predecessor, for one. I do however feel that once an author sets a bar for their writing, the reader will inevitably have set expectations to be met, and it is perfectly alright if the author doesn’t always meet that exact mark because they’re trying things a little differently. I welcome the change because I love seeing how an author with flex their skills in varied ways, so long as they keep the core of what made me love their writing in their first place. Cañas certainly does this with her newest book even if it didn’t have all of the elements that made me love the previous one. Which is why I will still be reading every new thing she writes!

I have been vague, so let’s get to the meat of it, without any actual plot spoilers!

With Possession, the reader is presented with a tale and setting that feel much more intimate and contained than the sweeping story that was Vampires. In fact, the reader spends most of the story near a Mexican silver mine that is isolated in the mountains. Not far off from the author’s debut, The Hacienda, focusing on a single location to aid the claustrophobic and inescapable feelings that would give that much more depth to the story. Interestingly enough, I didn’t find this to be entirely the case in this book, as I felt the mine itself to be more of an ominous presence to the edge of our proverbial periphery rather than the truly claustrophobic, dangerous, and more relevant set piece that I originally expected. Given the direction of the narrative focus though, it does feel like this book leaned more on inner character work rather than setting to render its story, and that is perfectly fine as well. It all played well with the hidden dangers of mercury, a highly toxic substance, key to the story both literally and metaphorically, and cleverly woven into one of the overall themes in this book, i.e. facing up with the cost of one’s actions and deciding their worth.

The dynamic between the two protagonists may not have been as strong in its yearning as the one we’d been treated with in Vampires but that doesn’t mean it didn’t work well or that they lacked chemistry. There was a lot of softness in the ways the author brought these two people together, and especially in the ways in which Elìas shows himself to be the right match for Alba purely out of being the only one to treat her in a polar opposite way to other people in her life. This is something the author has thematically touched on before as well, showcasing the various forms of consent and agency, by way of one character being the vehicle for the other to truly emphasize their autonomy on the matter. That said, while Elìas as a character lacks no depth (just as much as Alba), the author breezed over an aspect of the story, namely his affinity for the occult, that I feel deserved some more time and exploration, and would’ve made his connection to Alba ring that much truer.

In fact, Cañas returns to themes of female autonomy and the fight that it was (and embarrassingly still is in some places, let’s be real). She doesn’t shy from the maneuvering, posturing, and manipulation that was society in the Eighteenth century, the world over. And, even more effectively, she plays really well with reader expectations when it comes to the topic of religion, through a priest character. I’d actually argue, that this was my favorite part of the whole novel in ways I wasn’t even expecting. Truly, even though I thought I knew how it would go and how that character would develop, Cañas actually managed to seed true doubt in me till the final act, in a display of masterful and clever writing craft. So much so that I wasn’t even mad when the final plot twist that I had semi called at the very beginning turned out correct! Because that is exactly the same kind of manipulation that her characters fall for and the reader is fully immersed in it! Who is the real villain of this story? Is what you keep asking yourself till the final act and the answer is not only satisfying, but also not singular in nature!
I have no doubt that there will be lots of commentary on this aspect of the book, be it for the metaphors, the tropes, or even the analysis of what organized religion – in this particular context Catholicism – was at the time the story is set in (again, still is in some places, but that is a very big and nigh endless can of social commentary worms I won’t unleash here).

I do however want to mention one thing and that is the way the author presented a common undertone in almost every possession story that has an exorcism of the Catholic variety within the story. More studied and well-read people than me will tell you about the inherent violence against the innocent that is the core of these types of narratives. They will better explain the nuance found within the images of the righteous priest who harms the possessed in the name of ridding them of the demon, because even if they suffer and die, at least their immortal soul will go to Heaven. But what really stuck with me was that Cañas not only displays the horror of losing one’s bodily autonomy in the form of protagonist Alba being possessed and all that it entails, but in the invalidation and hurt that comes from those who are supposed to be your allies, hurting you in the name of their ideals. Or the even worse betrayal of those who are supposed to love you, letting you be hurt and doing nothing to actually make sure you are not merely being tortured, because they’re deferring to a perceived higher authority. Tacit support/endorsement through inaction is a powerful and painful message, and one that should never be overlooked.

While pairing themes of female autonomy, struggle, and agency, with plots of possession and ensuing exorcisms is not in any way novel, Isabel Cañas offers a truly powerful entry in that literary niche that hits right to the core, with lines that are deceptively simple. The difference between what is imposed onto a person and what is wanted is stark, and the way that the author shows this by giving the reader two opposites who seem to work toward the same goal but only the one that is rooted in consent is the one that can work to solve the issue, is downright poetic if not brilliant.

That sentence may have gotten a little away from me, I’ll admit. Frankly there is so much yet to say about this book and how the author brought forth plots of rotten family legacy, redemption, the fraught path toward forgiveness or understanding, or even personal sacrifice, but this review has already run way too long and I don’t want to spoil anything!

The Possession of Alba Dìaz comes out August 19th and if you’ve enjoyed this author’s work before you will certainly like this. So long as you go into it with fresh eyes and expectations for the romance aspect, as it is good but very much secondary to the other (very important) themes present in this story. And if you haven’t yet read Isabel Cañas, what treats you have ahead! If you love atmospheric language and engrossing narratives, steeped in culture but also pervaded by a sense of the uncanny and eerie, not to mention her nuanced handling of very important themes, then this author is for you!

Until next time,
Eleni A.E.

I liked this one, and I think anyone who loved Isabel Cañas's other books will too. It is a slow burn historical horror with a little bit of a love story mixed in. As the title says, it's a possession story, and I thought it was really well done!

Gripping, gothic, and gorgeously written

Isabel Cañas delivers a richly layered gothic tale in The Possession of Alba Díaz—a story that blends historical horror, slow-burning romance, and generational trauma with eerie elegance. Set in 1950s San Francisco and Mexico, this novel explores the haunting of not just bodies, but memories, bloodlines, and borders.

Alba is a compelling protagonist—brilliant, haunted, caught between cultures and worlds. Her voice is grounded yet lyrical, and the supernatural elements unfold in ways that are both terrifying and intimate. The possession itself isn’t just a horror trope; it becomes a metaphor for inherited grief, suppressed identity, and the cost of silence.

While the pacing starts slow, it’s meant to be—and once the possession and mystery take hold, the payoff is chilling.

A must-read for fans of literary horror, feminist gothic, and stories that weave cultural identity through a supernatural lens.

As always, Isabel Cañas delivers a hauntingly beautiful tale. I still very much enjoyed the gothic setting and story of this novel, but something about it didn't land for me the way Vampires of El Norte did. It was spooky! And I did find myself rooting for the romantic pairing in this. I will continue to pick up Cañas' books and I'm excited to see what kind of gothic story she tells next!


Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC!

The Possession of Alba Díaz reminded me with visceral clarity, while I will religious read everything Isabel Cañas writes. Rich in atmosphere, painful yearning, and heart racing terror, this is an absolute master class in the kind of writing that grips you by the throat and refuses to let up. Written in Cañas unique blend of literary leaning prose and inventive storytelling, I adored the closely confined settings of the mines, the frigid house, and the exposed shape of the surrounding land. Alba was headstrong and determined while remaining tangibly malleable, characteristics that lend themselves remarkably well to a possession. And what possession it was!! I was genuinely scared at moments, until the horror was tempered so well with the romance. As always, it was full of longing and a painful touch of the forbidden. Absolutely too notch, as always!

As usual (for the third time), Cañas delivers a very mysterious and atmospheric historical horror story. I particularly loved how more supernatural (and less fantasy-ish) this book is, when compared to her previous one. Cañas has a gorgeous and immersive writing, making the characters feel more realistic and relatable. This book reminded me a lot of The Hacienda (which still is my top favourite novel by this author) with the slowburn, character development, eerie vibes and mystery. However, I do think now this book is much more horror than Cañas' previous ones.
I can easily recommend this book to anyone who has read a book by this author before and enjoyed it. Even if you haven't read any, this one can be a good start, too. Also recommend it to any historical+horror readers out there.

I loved The Hacienda. I really, really wanted to love this too.

I found this story hard to connect to. There were characters and details that I felt were ignored that really could have rounded out this story more. I liked Alba and I understood why she chose to become betrothed to Carlos but if they were such good friends before the betrothal why wasn’t he a larger part of this story? Her parents were also there but didn’t seem too bothered with anything until the end.

I found the slow burn romance between Alba and Elías believable but again, where is Carlos while all of this is happening?

Spoilers below:

Despite Carlos being gay, it doesn’t appear that this is common knowledge and he should have been around more, especially after Alba’s possession became known to everyone. Even before that—she’s gone all the time, why didn’t he wonder where she was?

There was a lot about mining silver/mercury. I wish the author had left those details out and perhaps expanded more on the initial possession itself. I felt like that entire thing was kind of glossed over. While I realize she was possessed since birth that wasn’t really discussed in as much detail as I wish it would have been.

Despite these complaints, I liked the ending a lot.

I felt the beginning was good, the middle dragged a bit for me, I had to force myself to keep picking it up. I read at night and I kept falling asleep reading this.

Either way, I would absolutely read another book by this author because I know what she is capable of despite this one not being my favorite.

I would like to thank Berkley, Penguin Random House, Isabel Cañas, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital ARC for review. Opinions are my own.

Read This Book If…The Exorcist is one of your favorite movies!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas

Genre: historical gothic horror with romance
Spice Level: 1/5🌶, just kisses
Setting: central Mexico in 1765
POV: dual, 3rd person, past tense

My Thoughts:
Ahhhh this one was so spooky! There wasn’t as much romance as Vampires of El Norte, but I still loved the dynamic between these two. There were a lot of great parallels between Alba wanted control of her body: from her parents, prospective husband, and oh - the demon that possesses her!

I loved getting to see Carlos’ view as an outsiders perspective. I know almost nothing about mercury except that it’s scary, and even moreso now!

Memorable Quote: “Meeting his gaze was not a sin. It should not feel like one.”

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!

Alba Díaz has plans to control her fate by marrying her friend, much to her parents disappointment. When the plague hits her town, Alba, her betrothed and their families pack up to go to a family home near the mines. Here, Alba encounters a demonic presence, which possesses her…


Isabel Cañas is now solidified as an auto buy author for me!! I adore her writing style and love her mix of historical horror and romance. She creates such a rich atmosphere with characters that you instantly connect with, this book is no exception!

My one hang up with this book is the ending 😭, I was so shocked when she went one way with the ending and actually loved it as it was a change up from her previous books, but then it twisted in a way that was slightly disappointing for me. I wish it had stuck with the original direction she was heading. BUTTTT I still really enjoyed this book and think if anyone is in the mood for a good paranormal horror book with a splash of romance they should pick up this book!


💕 Thank you Berkley Publishing for the ARC 💕



Review posted to Goodreads, will be posted to instagram on pub day

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the novel but the pacing was more of a struggle than I thought. I felt it dragged for the first 60% but the last 40% flew by. I enjoyed the romance part but what I really wanted was the creepy horror possession and exorcism parts and there just wasn't much of it I thing the Vampires El Norte is favorite book by the author but you like a very slow burn novel this one is for you.

In 1765, a plague sweeps through Zacatecas. Alba leaves with her wealthy merchant parents and fiancé, Carlos, to his family’s isolated mine for refuge. Alba begins suffering from strange hallucinations, sleepwalking, and violent convulsions. She senses something cold lurking beneath her skin.

Elías came to the New World to make his fortune and escape his family’s legacy. He then meets Alba, his cousin’s fiancée and he can't but notice her every time she enters a room. He also notices her deteriorate when the demon’s thirst for blood grows stronger.

I'm not much of a horror fan, but I always know Isabel Canas is going to deliver a deliciously atmospheric story, dripping with beautiful prose, fascinating history, and a bonus romance. And this book did not disappoint. This one took some time to get going and explain the setting and characters, but once it did, it moved quickly. The ending was a delight!

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 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. 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 mutual respect and understanding, who 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 Elias, 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 Elias 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 it seems to come at the detriment to Alba and Elias’ burgeoning relationship. At some point they make the leap from mutually attracted to fully in love, and I’m still not sure how it happened while Alba is struggling to maintain her grip on things like reality, and her soul.

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. We know we’re getting an exorcism or two. 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 my 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!

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I tend to enjoy possession stories so I hoped that I would love this one. However I don't necessarily love historical horror. Unfortunately this one felt more heavily focused on the historical elements over the possessions ones, which ultimately diminished my enjoyment. It's not a bad book but simply not to my tastes.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

Thanks so much to @berkleypub for the free book!

A horror story with a very satisfying twist.

Pub date August 15,2025.

Set in the silver mines of Mexico, this story of demonic possession involves a plague, a priest, a murderer, and a romance.

This is third novel by Isabel Cañas but my first time reading her work. The writing was solid, it was atmospheric, the horror scenes were deliciously scary, and it ended with a rebellious show stopper.

The only two reasons this wasn’t a five star book for me (but could be for you!) is because 1) I am not a romance reader and 2) because I felt that it sometimes dragged. This is not to say that I never enjoy a romantic subplot (obsessed with The Safekeep, for example), but this romantic subplot felt surface level; there was nothing there to make me feel emotionally invested. As for the pacing—although I thought the ending was stellar, the middle was very formulaic and had me skimming a bit. But if you’re a romance reader that likes some truly scary scenes, then this really could be a perfectly fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my free copy of this book.

Alba Díaz and her family flee Zacatecas to an isolated mine to get away from a plague spreading in the city. While there, Alba tries to learn about her connection, but something is wrong. Her sleepwalking and strange hallucinations makes her think something is lurking there, something with ill intentions. Elías has arrived in the new world hoping to get away from the family legacy. But having to work on his families mine means he is contact with his cousin and his fiance. He should be ignoring them and doing what he must but he can’t help but notice Alba. Which means he notices when she starts acting weird, and he believes he knows what is happening. Can he help her before it’s too late?


Ok Isabel Cañas has done it again! A gothic horror book that brings Mexican history and culture together with horror and intrigue, and a sprinkle of romance. Reading this gave me chills and kept me entranced the entire time. Reading about what Alba was going through and, to me, being a commentary on bodily autonomy was just amazingly done. This just might be Dr. Isabel Cañas best book yet. Though it is a tie for me on this and The Hacienda. This book will be great for spooky season and I can’t wait to see what else she brings us.

Isabel Canas has a certain way with words. If you're not prepared to be dripping in syrupy language, then you may need to take a deep breath before plunging in.

The Possession of Alba Diaz takes the traditional ancient demon trope and transports it to the unique location of silver-rich Mexico. The beginning is a slow burn as the dark forces bide their time, allowing the reader to really connect with Alba and her precarious position in society and life. Anyone who has had to make tough choices involving autonomy will relate, if not be triggered (tread carefully). Add the dark and brooding Elias into it, and of course there's forbidden romance.

The descriptive writing is where this story shines, You feel the possession through both Elias and Alba. The pain they both encounter as the people around them promise to "help" while destroying nearly every possibility for a happy ending. But do possession stories ever end happily?

Horror readers who also enjoy a bit of historical detail will have a treat with this one.

Historically, I have not been much of one for horror, but The Possession of Alba Díaz pulled me in and kept me turning the pages *Insert your own bad joke about being possessed by this book here*

The Possession of Alba Díaz is set in 18th century Mexico, where a plague drives the upper classes to flee from the city to remote countryside towns. Alba Díaz, adopted daughter of a wealthy couple, takes refuge with her family in the silver mining town adjacent to the mine run by her fiancee's family. Yet, something sinister lurks in the mountain, and Alba's presence seems to awaken it...

Due in large part to its setting in a Mexican silver mining town and the unsettling, gothic atmosphere that drives the novel's tension, Isabel Cañas's latest will inevitably draw comparisons to Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic (a novel responsible for spreading awareness of Anglo-Mexican and silver mining histories beyond academic circles). And, yes, if you enjoyed MG, you will probably love Possession. But beyond these superficial similarities, the books differ in their primary thematic interests. While MG was hugely concerned with race, eugenics, and the exploitation of both people and place, The Possession of Alba Díaz is primarily interested in gender and bodily autonomy, and, to a lesser extent, religion. It's a lighter, less academically rich text than MG, but still thoroughly enjoyable, with satisfying twists (and a better conclusion than MG, imo)---and I will continue to devour basically any book set in 18th or 19th century Mexico.

I LOVE when my romance books have a little demonic possession and religious horror in them, as a treat!

In typical Isabel Cañas fashion, this was absolutely incredible in every way. Horromance is truly Isabel's world, and I'm just grateful to live in it for however many pages she allows....and then shameless enough to beg for more as soon as possible.

Having read The Hacienda and Vampires of El Norte, I can safely say that where The Hacienda was scary but not overly romantic, and where Vampires was romantic but not as scary, Possession has both by the handful, making this a perfectly balanced horromance that will scare you and make you yearn in equal measure.

Pick this up if you're hankering for an eerie silver mine with mysterious labyrinthine hallways, an engagement-of-convenience to a man with a painfully hott(er) cousin, dark magic forbidden by the Catholic church, and a hefty dash of demonic possession as the cherry on top.

While this was a short, scary, and romantic read, the only aspect that left me wanting was that I do wish it was a bit scarier. With a haunted mine and demonic possession, I expected more of the ominous, something’s-behind-you, cold dread kind of terror that The Hacienda evoked. Though it’s still sufficiently scary — enough to keep you up at night, but not enough to sleep with the lights on.

This is truly a perfect autumnal read for a cold, rainy, dark-too-soon night. Just make sure you keep some salt and holy water at your bedside. Just in case.