Isabel Cañas is a beautiful writer, and her characters fascinate and enthrall me. This book was atmospheric and tense, but also romantic and thoughtful in ways that I really enjoyed, and I'll definitely be recommending it to horror readers at my library.

5/5⭐️

🖤📜"I promise I will always be here. Forever."📜🖤"

...are we really surprised I gave this five stars😭?

but seriously, this was amazing. Vampires of El Norte is one of my absolute favorite novels, so I was beyond ecstatic when I saw I got the chance to read an early copy of this new project. Isabel Cañas truly has a talent for weaving tales of delicious gothic-horror with historical mexican roots, and a dash of romance sprinkled throughout. I eat it up every goddamn time.

this book follows the events of, *duh* the possession of Alba, but it also reflects themes of the patriarchy, sexism, and the horrors of colonialism. The consequences that these themes held over women in 1700's Mexico, and that still shine through today. It's a big part of why I enjoy this author's storytelling, because even if it technically is historical fiction, I can always see parts of myself in her characters. It's also a treat to see peeks of Mexican rep and culture too❤️.

ofc now, the romanceeee😩this was a subplot, but when I tell you I was eating up every little crumb that was dropped in each chapter!! This woman KNOWS how to write compassionate, kind, soft MEN😩. I was lowkey in tears over Elías and his miserable POV's, especially the last 20% of the book. The way he was so loyal and understanding and CARING towards Alba was everything and more.

this beaut releases Aug 19th!!

thank you SO much for this arc Netgalley and Berkeley!!💋

Things that I liked: the atmosphere, the writing, the setting, the world building.
The story didn’t work for me personally, but I would recommend it to readers who are fans of gothic/horror romance.

The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas is the story of two types of possession. The juxtaposition of demonic possession alongside the possession of a woman who is given no say in her future choices was so ominously well depicted. I found this parallel to be unique and created depth in the story and characters. I also found the setting of the mysterious silver mine interesting and unsettling.

Thank you to Berkly Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

If you liked Isabel's first book (Hot Priest) and her second book (Hot Vampires), you will love her third book, Hot Demon Possession. I joke--but Isabel Canas once again brings readers what they love: lots of pining. Alba flees a plague with her fiance Carlos, only to fall head over heels for his criminal cousin Elias--but is it love or is it demonic possession? Maybe it's just the vapors, ladies used to get those, and these may be coming from the family's mysterious silver mine, where the cries of children can still be heard. Poor Alba may go insane before she can be exorcised or determine the true nature of her feelings for Elias. A beautiful book. Get possessed!

Thank you NetGalley for the early read.

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing Group for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Posession of Alba Dìaz by Isabel Cañas is a horror story about the eerie possession of a young woman in 18th Mexico. The story follows the titular Alba as she flees to a small mining village to escape an illness in the city and to grow closer to her fiancé’s family. Her fiancé, Carlos, is a choice of convenience, as Alba greatly values her autonomy and fears being controlled by others. This theme will repeat through the story. As Alba begins to show strange signs of posession she also becomes romantically entangled with the mysterious and ostracized cousin of her fiancé.

The good; Cañas, as she has in her other books, is a master of creating lush, detailed settings. Her dedication to crafting a historically accurate setting in 18th century Mexico is really incredible. The details of household goods, meals, and the settings were wonderful and really immerse the reader in the setting.

The author also did do a very good job of creating an eerie and gruesome possession. The details of gaping maws and limbs hanging at odd angles were appropriately gross and horrifying. Some of the descriptions of Alba’s physicality are really horror-film levels of gross.

Unfortunately the book didn’t hit every mark. For example, the book can get sort of bogged down in exposition, especially as it pertains to the family’s financial/social situation and the silver refining process. There really is quite a lot about mining silver and refining it. At the same time there are mentions to alchemy, which are barely touched on, besides giving a scaffolding for why the book comes into play. At a lot of points this books is hurrying up to wait. It takes a lot of patience to get to the exorcisms, or for the things to get started in the first place.

For me, I also found the metaphor about the possession and the social rules Alba is bound by to be heavy handed. It’s a good theme and definitely is applicable, but it’s rather ham fisted. I think it approaches YA levels of earnestness and really would have benefitted from a touch more subtlety.

I am a big fan of Cañas, and count The Hacienda as one of my favorites. They write some of my favorite atmospheric and romantic spooky stories. For me, this didn’t have the same impact as other works in the past. It didn’t have the same tension and sharpness. While I definitely liked reading it, it wasn’t my favorite.

For me it was a 3.5/5 with reservations that if you don’t have a tolerance for slow-burns that this won’t be for you.

Such a sumptuous blend of historical and supernatural horror, the writing was sublime, immersive, poetic and lush, really enjoyed this! Felt like a classic gothic!

4.5- I really enjoyed this book. The language is poetic and lyrical and sucks you right in. The FMC is every woman since the beginning of time who simply wants to belong to herself. The MMC is the flawed hero who is deliciously human and who isn’t the best but tries to be his best. I loved the history interwoven into the story. And I loved the metaphor and nuance that made me think of a classic Poe novel. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Randomhouse for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Publishes August 19th and follows Alba in 1765 flees with her parents and fiancé to an isolated mine for safety when a plague sweeps through Zacatecas Mexico. Unfortunately, the mine doesn’t provide safety for Alba as she begins experiencing hallucinations, sleepwalking, and violent convulsions.

I have to admit, I struggled a bit with the business forward plot line centering the quicksilver industry and the highlighting of wealth that takes place in this story.

That being said, I was really on board with the possession storyline and the romantic subplot weaved throughout. I found it tense, eerie, and it kept me engaged.

I loved how the possession worked as a sort of metaphor for the pressures and expectations Alba was enduring from her parents.

The writing was superb, the dark atmosphere was haunting, and overall I thought this was a solid historical fiction gothic horror. I liked it slightly less than the only other book I’ve read by this author - Vampires of El Norte. 3.5 stars

The Possession of Alba Díaz is a chilling blend of historical fiction and supernatural horror. Set against the backdrop of 1765 Mexico, the story follows Alba, whose horrifying symptoms are linked to a demonic force unleashed in a silver mine. As she struggles to maintain her sanity, she must turn to Elías, the last person she should trust.

Isabel Cañas masterfully builds suspense with a rich, atmospheric setting that immerses you in the tension of both the haunting and the forbidden romance. The slow burn of Alba and Elías’s complicated relationship, paired with the ominous threat lurking beneath the surface, keeps you hooked. While some plot developments are predictable, the eerie tone and deepening mystery make for an engrossing read.

A fast-paced and addicting read. From the start the book was engaging and the didn't waste anytime jumping into the overall meat and potatoes of the plot. The characters were interesting and the romance between Alba and Elías was fabulous! I ended up deciding to rate it 4 stars because I felt that some plot points were a bit rushed and I wished would've been explored with a bit more depth. Overall, this was a gripping story of possession that made you root for the main characters!

I received an arc for an honest review.
3.5 stars

Romantically gothic, written with a melancholy storytelling style, The Possession of Alba Diaz was a fascinating horror novel set in 18th century Mexico!

Alba hears whispers that pull her further into the mines and dreams of horror that will evidently come true. Her fight and possession as a whole was compelling but her love interest Elias completed the story with his alluring backstory and charismatic character.

The haunting work and horrific setting held my attention up until the final page in which Isabel ends this story but leaves room for another to begin.

Isabel Cañas' The Possession of Alba Díaz is a spectacular edition to the horror genre. The carefully curated blend of atmospheric tension from the mines and the psychological dread coming from both Alba and Elias had me on the edge of my seat for the entirety of the book.
Alba's character was so expertly crafted and following her inner musings and her battle with not only the possession but also herself. The true horror was not the demon or the mine, but Alba's battle for agency and her inevitable loss.
I absolute love horror books and the folkloric was that Cañas' told this story was so engaging. I quite literally could not stop reading this book. At its core for me this book is about the struggle of being a woman and not having a choice and be able to break that cycle and take back agency. I will not stop screaming about this book from the rooftop, it is definitely joining my horror hall of fame. This was my first Isabel Cañas novel, but it certainly wont be my last.

Thank you Netgalley for the review copy :)

Isabel Canas delivers another creepy yet romantic thrill of a book with THE POSSESSION OF ALBA DIAZ. This may be her sexiest book yet.

A historical fiction that’s dark and atmospheric that will keep you captivated from beginning to end! I enjoyed the chemistry between Alba and Elias even though they hardly knew each other.

Holy ---- Isabel cañas has done it again. The possession is a masterpiece. Unsurprisingly, as too, are La Hacienda and Vampires of El Norte. If you have not read Cañas other works, I urge you to. She just gets better and more refined with each book. Perhaps historical mexico is the mercury to her silver.

The possession of alba Diaz, at some point along the way grips you by the throat and doesnt let go. It proceeds to fling you around like a ragdoll, break your heart, possess you with murderous intent towards fictional characters and finally it leaves you breathless on the floor. My eternal thanks to Jen Monroe, per the acknowledgements- truly you have performed a service to fiction.

I have been known to lovingly refer to Isabel Cañas stories as romance books (for goths) but I'm not going to do it with this one. The dedication refers to this as the grisliest book yet and that rings true.
Trigger warnings for gore, body horror and grisly murder. Also some cannibalism?
There is plenty of violence in this book and yet not one ounce of it is gratuitous.. But I would avoid, if that is not something you can stomach. This is very bloody.

As always this story is rich with subtext. The use of women's bodies as tools, Patriarchal ownership and lack of autonomy for all but rich men is both blatant and symbolic. The demon is an allegory for feminine rage- considered distasteful, even by its host, but fearsome and powerful. Something to be controlled and preferably disposed of or perhaps not.
The Possession of Alba Diaz is historically faithful and still glaringly relevant.

Isabel cañas has cemented herself as a master storyteller, and for me, she is an automatic read.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this digital book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I found this book to be delightfully creepy! Isabel Canaz does another magnificent job of crafting a horror story interlaced with romance and family drama in a breathtaking historical setting. I enjoyed Alba as a character. She was level-headed and smart. She was also terrrriffyiing. Canas's descriptions of her possession sent goosebumps over my skin.

Everything I love about a gothic horror novel is represented: a mysterious origin/upbringing, misunderstood circumstances, forbidden love, a dangerous evil, and religious intolerance and trauma. The setting was bleak, the mine and the looming mountain over a desolate locale enhanced the more intimate dual narrations of Alba and Elias and their increasing isolation and desperation. Together they navigate the growing horror of Alba's present circumstances while balancing their growing attraction and affection for each other, shackled as they are by propriety and differing class standings.

The possession was fascinating to read. Especially considering that the very thing Alba wished to avoid by marrying a man of her mother's choosing (losing her bodily autonomy) was manifested anyway through the demonic possession. The slow way the possession grew roots in Alba's mind, the infestation of her thoughts and the disjointed way it controlled her body, was honestly disturbing (in a great way!). I had a great time with this book and found the ending to be satisfying.

5/5

So, yeah, that was good. Really good. I thought I was going to have to hate it once I got a few chapters from the end, but … nope. Cañas really had me going for a minute there, though, I'm not going to lie.

The Possession of Alba Díaz is about, well … the possession of Alba Díaz, obviously. But it's also about patriarchy and colonialism and the Catholic Church and toxic family and revenge, and it's really all quite dark and gothic-y and entertaining. There's definitely some romance, and I generally despise romance in novels but let me tell you I was totally rooting for Alba and Elías. Why? I've no idea. They barely even know each other and, I mean, Alba spends a good portion of their time together possessed. But somehow they're like the Romeo and Juliet of Mexican horror … which, now that I think about it, actually kind of makes sense since Romeo and Juliet barely knew each other either.

But I digress. This is an atmospheric, creepy novel with a fantastic setting (a 1700s Mexican silver mine during a plague outbreak). The characters are multifaceted and complex and – with the exception of Alba and Elías themselves – almost entirely unlikeable. Carlos (Alba's fiancé) is a particularly fascinating character and I do wish we could have learned slightly more about him – with the exception of a small bit toward the end, he's mostly just the “guy who hates Elías for no reason.” The Big Bad is terrifying, and the Bigger Bad (who's maybe not really completely bad? I don't even know) only slightly less so.

And the ending? Fantastic. No spoilers here, but when you're near the end of the book and wanting to sling it across the room in frustration (you'll know it when you get to it), just know that the story isn't over yet. I was totally composing a hate mail to Isabel Cañas in my head there for a while, though.

Anyway, yeah. If you're a horror fan, definitely consider giving this one a read. It's atmospheric and dark and creepy and haunting, but also just maybe a little bit hopeful too? 4.55 stars, rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is August 19, 2025.

Definitely a very fun and enjoyable read. I found the historical setting interesting and was excited to learn more about it. It leans a little more heavily towards gothic romance than true horror, which wasn’t necessarily a problem for me but perhaps might be for other people.

TEN OUT OF TEN, NO NOTES.

I didn't think I could love Isabel Cañas more than I did after finishing The Hacienda, and then Vampires of El Norte blew me away - but this book, The Possession of Alba Díaz, oh my my my, all I can say is her books just keep getting better and better. She was already on my auto-buy author list but frankly, I would read this woman's grocery lists. Zero notes, zero feedback, I loved everything about this and I don't even like horror or suspense books generally.

Absolutely fantastic.