In true Isabel Cañas fashion, The Possession of Alba Diaz is one part horror novel and one part romance that will both make you giggle and kick your feet, but also make you crawl under the covers and hide. Cañas is a master of writing both gothic atmosphere and romance full of yearning and forbidden desire, and The Possession of Alba Diaz is no exception. Cañas weaves an intricate story of agency and taking back your power while also offering a critique of colonialism, the catholic church, and patriarchy during colonial Mexico. The main characters Alba and Elias are well developed protagonists whose romance is not just beautiful and full of capital Y Yearning, but also works alongside the horror elements of the mine and demonic possession to make for an intricately woven story of facing your demons. Get you a hot alchemist who will love you even if you’re possessed by a demonic entity.

I think it’s this author’s scariest novel, however, so keep that in mind when going in. Also, for anyone like me who has a fear of caves or being lost underground, please proceed with caution.

Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the arc copy!

Alba knows her parents want to marry her off so she tries and secures a different future for herself. In the process, she starts having these strange hallucinations that seem to involve the mercury mines. As she tries to figure out what's causing it, she ends up in the company of Elias, the cousin of her betrothed and despite trying to stay away, she keeps coming back to him. Overall, an atmospheric and suspenseful novel that leans towards the supernatural. It's partly a commentary on the patriarchy with what few options Alba thinks she has, and also colonialism, with the way she starts to understand how her family is involved in the mining business. While there are horror elements, readers of historical romance fiction may get more out of this one.

I really enjoyed The Possession of Alba Díaz. Isabel Cañas blends gothic horror and historical detail so well, and the eerie atmospheric vibes kept me hooked. Alba’s fight for autonomy and her connection with Elías were compelling, and I liked how the romance complemented the darker themes instead of overshadowing them. Now, the middle did drag a bit, and I wanted more of the eerie mine setting, but the ending made up for everything. This was my first read by Cañas, and I can’t wait to pick up more of her work.

I love a good horror romance and this book did not disappoint! I have loved all of Isabel canas books! The setting was eerie and the romance was full of yearning. I really loved

The Possession of Alba Díaz is gothic Mexican horror at its best—dark, atmospheric, and layered with themes of patriarchy, colonialism, and family. The 1700s silver mine setting is chilling, the Big Bad terrifying, and the ending absolutely worth the ride. Creepy, complex, and unforgettable.

Was hoping this would be more horror than romance but the characters and world building was really well done.

Alba is a bit of a brat but I do like her conniving side. I saw real potential in Carlos and Alba getting engaged out of convenience but forming a real connection through everything but I guess love triangles make for some drama. meh.

All and all, there were some pretty good moments of unease but I would have preferred more focus on the supernatural than the love struggles.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for the Advanced Reader Copy.

A haunting love story forged in the silver mines of Mexico.

Alba Diaz wants to escape the controlling fists of her parents, but not into the controlling fists of a husband. Thus she proposes to her childhood friend, Carlos, in hopes of gaining some semblance of freedom. When sickness arrives in their town of Zacatecas, Alba and her parents flee to Carlos’ rustic home near the mine along with his family, including his disgraced cousin, Elias. Upon arrival, it is clear there is a darkness lingering and it seems to be affecting Alba the most. As the threat shows itself more, Alba finds herself drawn to Elias and hoping he can help her.

Canas is a master of her game - romance wrapped in a cloak of horror. An excellent read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this title!

I don’t know, I think this was just me. I was really enjoying it for the first 2/3 of the book, but somewhere along the way I just started to lose interest in the characters and their dilemmas. Things were happening but not a LOT was happening, if that makes sense. The pace seemed to drag and then slightly pick up and then drag again. I did enjoy the conveyance of Alba’s struggles as a poc who was also adopted on top of the struggles she had to face as a woman in that time period and how little control was afforded to her. I just didn’t really appreciate the rest of the story as I did the point of it. Thanks to NetGalley for ARC access.

When a plague sweeps through 18th century Mexico, Alba is whisked away to her fiancé’s family’s silver mine. But instead of finding refuge, she experiences terrifying hallucinations, violent convulsions, and feels a cold rage building up inside of her. As Alba’s condition grows more severe, she finds herself grappling with her possession, her desires, and fighting for control over her life. Canas expertly builds the tension and terror while tackling huge themes of women’s autonomy, colonialism, and religion. This story has everything you’d want in an eerie tale of horror, suspense, and forbidden love. An atmospheric, spooky, and romantic read that is the perfect book for fall.

Thank you Isabel Cañas, Berkley Publishing, and Netgalley for the ARC!

Honestly 2.75 rounded up

I was a disappointed with this one, but only because I have such high expectations for Isabel Cañas' work.

It was still a sweeping, beautifully written historical horror novel, but I felt like it lacked some of the layers present in her other books. Both The Hacienda and The Vampires of El Norte have richly woven themes throughout- and this one was just kind of eh. As a result, the romance wasn't as swoon-worthy, the setting wasn't as creepy, and the emotional aspects of the book didn't hit me where they should've. Obviously, a possession book is going to be metaphorically about control and autonomy, but I felt like I was just CONSTANTLY beat over the head about it. It's like, the one theme the book had going for it and it made sure you knew that. In this way, it really read like YA and I just was not in the mood for that. What's more, it put me in the worst reading slump.

I love your work Isabel Cañas. Just please assume your audience is capable of grasping the meaning behind your stories! I wouldn't recommend this one, but her other books are fantastic!

The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas
4.5 Stars

The way I am a sucker for historical fiction horror, and truly, no one is doing it better than Isabel Cañas. She is a master class in setting the vibes. The atmosphere is so vivid in her writing, I swear I could smell the damp, dank rot in the air.

From the jump, I was obsessed with this book. The setting, the story, the deliciously eerie build. I was hooked. I loved this idea of a woman secretly plotting to carve out some agency in her life. Alba’s search for autonomy is what sets her down a path of deep, terrifying self-discovery, and I was strapped in for every twist.Yes, there was a stretch where the pacing lagged for me, but honestly? I see now how necessary it was to build the foundation for that jaw-dropping second half. Once the momentum kicked in, it was like stepping off a cliff, utterly exhilarating, pure dramatic free fall.

And Elias and Alba? Their connection was everything. The story is so dark, yet their bond was the brightest, fiercest light cutting through the shadows.

This book sealed it: demons and possession may officially be my new favorite horror niche.

The Vibes:
Historical gothic horror
Demons & possession
A woman fighting for autonomy
Forbidden love blooming in the dark
Atmosphere so heavy you can taste it

Would I recommend it? Absolutely—if you love historical horror as much as I do, The Possession of Alba Diaz needs to be on your list.

Thank you so much to Berkley and Penguin Random House Audio—this book was a triumph.

-SPOILER FREE REVIEW- If you love fiction that reads like Historical Fiction mixed with supernatural and family drama, this book is for you! This is my first Isabel Cañas book- I just added her other books to my read list. Her writing is fascinating! It is descriptive and laced with Spanish words as you go, resulting in an enthralling and fascinating fable.

🩸⛏️❤️Silver, horror & romance❤️⛏️🩸

This book was perfection from beginning to end, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since I've read it. It's gothic, is creepy, is romantic, and it's cultural. Everything my little heart craved all in one.

You get:

🩸A love triangle
🩸Mystery of a town
🩸Demonic possesion
🩸Yearning
🩸Historical fiction
🩸Family drama

Reads kinda like a telenovela. If you're Hispanic, it reminded me of Amor Real meets The Exorcist. It was juicy and creepy, and I loved every single page of it. It was so beautifully written, and the historical aspects of it sent me into a rabbithole of learning about the caste system, the minas de plata and the routes as well of the native Mexican indigenous beliefs of different native people. It was so good and engaging. Surprisingly, this was my first book by Isabel, and it will not be my last, as I have two other books of hers right on my shelves. I look forward to reading more from her imagination!

I would love to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review. I can't wait to read more!

The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas is gothic historical fiction with a supernatural twist.

We’re in Mexico during the Spanish Inquisition, where a haunted silver mine becomes the backdrop for secrets, faith, and survival. The atmosphere is eerie, the history is rich, and Alba is a heroine with real depth.

For me, it’s a strong 4-star read. The pacing is slower in spots, but the payoff is worth it. If you’re looking for something chilling, romantic, and rooted in history; this one should be on your TBR.

I really enjoyed this book, my first by Isabel Cañas. The first half of the book was probably my favorite though. I was greatly intrigued by all of the characters and the tension and creepiness was well built. After that first half though I felt like it went a little bit downhill. Some things got repetitive. I stopped liking the characters as much. The ending did tie it up nicely for me, but about 1/3 of the book felt a little slow/repetitive. Alba could have been more fully developed.

I came away from The Possession of Alba Díaz feeling underwhelmed, though I can see what Isabel Cañas was aiming for. The strongest part of the book for me was its social commentary — especially on control, patriarchy, and hypocrisy — which gave me a fresh way of looking at possession stories. I also found Maria, Elias’s sister, to be a standout character, and I appreciated how the flaws of the other characters (the fiancé, Elias, and the priest) were revealed as the story progressed.

That said, the pacing was uneven. The first half of the book felt slow and repetitive, with Alba voicing the same frustrations again and again, while the final stretch felt rushed. I also struggled with the writing style and didn’t connect as much with the Gothic horror elements, which missed the mark for me.

In the end, I think I was not the right reader for this book. Readers who love Gothic horror — with its slower burn, atmosphere-first storytelling, and symbolic layering — may enjoy it more than I did. As someone who usually prefers historical fiction with a stronger plot, I found myself wanting more story momentum to carry me through.

If you’re a fan of gothic fiction, then this one is for you especially as we head into the fall season!

Our story centers on Alba, a young girl who just wants control over her own life. And a large part of her journey is wanting bodily autonomy; not just with any potential marriages and children, but also with the demon that is possessing her.

While I loved The Hacienda and Vampires of El Norse, this one slightly missed the mark for me. I wasn’t that invested in the romance between Alba and Elias. I also wish the book had been longer, and we had seen some more high stakes and drama before things were resolved.

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for an eARC in exchange for an honest review…even if it is a couple weeks late. 😅

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for an e-arc of this read!

The Possession of Alba Diaz was such a great read. And while I am absolutely not surprised, I was absolutely enthralled by this story. I am not usually a spooky read gal but I was so interested in this one that, of course, I had to give it a read. And folks, I was SPOOKED.

At first I thought, perhaps the "Possession" part was a play on words as Alba is a woman who is trying to escape the possibility of marrying someone who her parents choose. So maybe it was about who owned Alba? And in a way, I think it was.. but not how I thought because a demonic presence literally possesses her!

The setting was moody and dark and gritty. It gave a sense of panic behind the scenes because its in mining town in Mexico in the 1700s. Oh, and there's a plague-like sickness sweeping through major cities. No biggie. But in the thick of it all there is Alba who just wants to have her own life! At first, I loved the childhood friends/marriage of convenience thing with Carlos but then in walks Elías..

While the spooky parts were SPOOKY. The romantic subplot had me foaming at the mouth. Its giving yearning, its giving forbidden love, its giving "ill do anything to save you". I was so here for it. But overall obviously, the possession itself I thought would give me nightmares. Isabel Cañas does an excellent job with her descriptions because when she described what Alba looked like to Elías while possessed... I thought I was going to have nightmares.

I mean this story was just so complex and full of things going on at all times and it had us racing towards the end. Don't get me started on the ending because there was a not-so-brief moment when I thought I was gonna be really mad at the end... if you know you know. Not gonna get spoilery up in this part but I literally exclaimed when I thought we were taking that road to the end.

Overall, I loved this book. I will absolutely be reading more spooky books, especially by Isabel Cañas. I loved the historical and latin flavor of this book. I forever in love with books that are written by Latin American women and that have our culture and heritage in them. Just a ten out of ten.

That being said, it may be a minute before I read another spooky book because ... dang I was spooked out!

I’ve heard so many great things about the author’s prior books. It’s not my usual genre, but I wanted to give this a shot. It’s possession / horror, mixed with the historical aspect. The writing is fantastic. At the same time, I didn’t fully connect with the story. Nevertheless, if you enjoy horror / historical horror I have a feeling you’ll love this one!

Thank you Berkley for the advanced digital copy!

Isabel Cañas brough the heat with The Possession of Alba Díaz! As a young woman from a wealthy family living in 1765 Zacatecas, Alba yearns to gain control of her own life. Just as she sees a way forward through her engagement to her best friend, a plague forces both of their families to flee to his family’s isolated mine for refuge. This place rouses something strange within Alba. Something that Elías, her fiancé’s troubled cousin, can see.

Once again, Cañas brings us an Historical Horror Romance w/ feminist & anti-colonial themes. This time, I was extra excited about the diverse cast. Throughout this story, we see the Indigenous peoples of Zacatecas, Criollos, & a character who’s mother was a Moor (Muslim peoples of Northern Africa).

I loved listening to this book on audio! The tension was fantastic, as was the entire book. I felt like I was immersed in the storyline which made me want more, even when it ended well. Y’all need to read this!!!