A stunning YA debut from gothic master Isabel Cañas, bestselling author of The Hacienda, Vampires of El Norte, and The Possession of Alba Díaz.
Despite near-constant political violence in the city and an abusive father at home, Minerva Treviño’s cowardice has kept her alive for sixteen years. But even she has a limit. Unable to take another beating or miss another meal, Minerva musters enough courage to flee to a neighborhood full of rich people loyal to the deposed fascist viceroy and take a job as lady’s maid to a wealthy widow.
Minerva is happy serving Encarnación del Valle. She has food in her belly and the safety of a warm house lit by magical chispa. Why should she care who runs the country or how her employer affords the magic?
When the viceroy sweeps back into power, Encarnación gleefully retreats to the family’s mountainside estate to wait out the inevitable slaughter of the viceroy’s enemies—and of course Minerva may join her. At la Casa de las Gardenias, Minerva is surrounded by more experienced servants and the cruel, scheming del Valles. But the living residents of the house are the least of anyone’s worries, and Minerva quickly discovers that the ancient estate is home to forces far older and more bloodthirsty than anything she could have imagined.
"This is gothic storytelling with teeth: a lyrical and devastating tale of one maid caught in a spiderweb of loyalty, courage, revolution, and monsters both dead and alive. Ygnacio and Minerva's story will haunt you long after the last page is turned."— Marissa Meyer, #1 NYT-bestselling author of The House Saphir
"A hauntingly atmospheric Gothic read with dazzling prose and a heroine I would follow anywhere—even into the darkness of the Casa de las Gardenias. Minerva believes she is weak and pitiable, dependent on others to care for her, until isolation forces her to discover an inner strength that crackles like chispa against the shadows threatening to consume her. Chilling, intimate, and steeped in dread, this is the kind of book you devour in a single sitting.” —Romina Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Lobizona
★ "An immersive and mesmerizing YA debut.... Elegant depictions of a nation’s struggle for democracy and chilling portrayals of class inequality result in a page-turning novel that exhilarates from start to finish.”—PW, starred review
★ "The atmospheric worldbuilding and steadily mounting tension create a delicious genre-blended mix of gothic horror, historical fantasy, and anti-colonial fiction.... A brilliant novel with characters that linger long after the screams fade."—Kirkus, starred review
"A gripping historical horror novel sure to please both teens and adults. Highly recommended."—SLJ
Isabel Cañas is a Mexican American speculative fiction writer. After having lived in Mexico, Scotland, Egypt, Turkey, and New York City, among other places, she has settled in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and writes fiction inspired by her research and her heritage.
View titles by Isabel Cañas
A stunning YA debut from gothic master Isabel Cañas, bestselling author of The Hacienda, Vampires of El Norte, and The Possession of Alba Díaz.
Despite near-constant political violence in the city and an abusive father at home, Minerva Treviño’s cowardice has kept her alive for sixteen years. But even she has a limit. Unable to take another beating or miss another meal, Minerva musters enough courage to flee to a neighborhood full of rich people loyal to the deposed fascist viceroy and take a job as lady’s maid to a wealthy widow.
Minerva is happy serving Encarnación del Valle. She has food in her belly and the safety of a warm house lit by magical chispa. Why should she care who runs the country or how her employer affords the magic?
When the viceroy sweeps back into power, Encarnación gleefully retreats to the family’s mountainside estate to wait out the inevitable slaughter of the viceroy’s enemies—and of course Minerva may join her. At la Casa de las Gardenias, Minerva is surrounded by more experienced servants and the cruel, scheming del Valles. But the living residents of the house are the least of anyone’s worries, and Minerva quickly discovers that the ancient estate is home to forces far older and more bloodthirsty than anything she could have imagined.
Praise
"This is gothic storytelling with teeth: a lyrical and devastating tale of one maid caught in a spiderweb of loyalty, courage, revolution, and monsters both dead and alive. Ygnacio and Minerva's story will haunt you long after the last page is turned."— Marissa Meyer, #1 NYT-bestselling author of The House Saphir
"A hauntingly atmospheric Gothic read with dazzling prose and a heroine I would follow anywhere—even into the darkness of the Casa de las Gardenias. Minerva believes she is weak and pitiable, dependent on others to care for her, until isolation forces her to discover an inner strength that crackles like chispa against the shadows threatening to consume her. Chilling, intimate, and steeped in dread, this is the kind of book you devour in a single sitting.” —Romina Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Lobizona
★ "An immersive and mesmerizing YA debut.... Elegant depictions of a nation’s struggle for democracy and chilling portrayals of class inequality result in a page-turning novel that exhilarates from start to finish.”—PW, starred review
★ "The atmospheric worldbuilding and steadily mounting tension create a delicious genre-blended mix of gothic horror, historical fantasy, and anti-colonial fiction.... A brilliant novel with characters that linger long after the screams fade."—Kirkus, starred review
"A gripping historical horror novel sure to please both teens and adults. Highly recommended."—SLJ
Isabel Cañas is a Mexican American speculative fiction writer. After having lived in Mexico, Scotland, Egypt, Turkey, and New York City, among other places, she has settled in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and writes fiction inspired by her research and her heritage.
View titles by Isabel Cañas
