Full disclosure, I was provided a copy of this book by the author, however, have voluntarily chosen to write a review. All opinions are my own
Muerte Rising
With the departure of Brandon and Gina from her life, Matea is increasingly more isolated but with the change going on inside of her this may be for the best. She has noticed the strange markings taking hold of her. What initially started as a weird birthmark has grown and morphed in such a way that she can no longer hide it. She feels La Santa’s pull every day and she wants to fight it, but she is also increasingly drawn to the power that flows inside her when La Santa takes over. Matea is not the only one who has noticed this change, as Esme has also recently become aware that her powerful rival may not be all that she seems. With Brandon caught in the middle and linked to both women Esme has a little more skin in the game than she wants to admit. She doesn’t want to see Brandon ruined and she also fears what Matea will unleash if La Santa uses her to enter the world of the living. What started out as a tit for tat between two budding brujas has turned into something much larger and Esme finds herself once again in Matea’s orbit whether she likes it or not. Even with increased skill and powerful allies on her side Esme may still be no match for La Santa’s sacrificial vessel.
Vessel is the second in the Santa Muerte series by author Carol James Marshall. Picking up some time after the end of Sinner, Matea is more isolated as La Santa gains influence in her life. Having pushed away her two best friends for fear of hurting them she focuses on her work and most of all avoiding Brandon. Even her relationship with her mother is strained and it seems the only people Matea can stand to be near these days are her uncle and her trusty Pitbull Mijo. As she becomes more aware of La Santa’s influence in her life she also becomes more wary of her grandmother. Matea may not yet realize how deeply Oralia is involved in what is happening in her life, but she will soon enough.
With Vessel, Marshall has continued to advance the story of the warring brujas. While a bit slow to start, I feel this was mainly necessary to set the stage for the events to come. Catching up with where the characters landed after the end of Sinner, I feel was necessary to provide the reader with the current “lay of the land”. It’s a way to reset without pages of back story. When the story finally picked up I was drawn in completely as the events began to unfold. Matea’s conflicting thoughts are palpable as she feels La Santa’s power, but also knows that to let her in will be to lose herself as a person. But the surprising sleeper character for me is La Done Lupe who has been in Matea’s corner her entire life. Her drive to protect Matea from La Santa at all costs and even in death is endearing and adds a bit of this character that was on the fringes of the story in Sinner. I can definitely see her playing a major role in Salvation the final book in this series to be released this October.
If you enjoyed Sinner, Vessel is an excellent follow up; and with a cliffhanger ending I am looking forward to jumping right into Salvation when it is finally unleashed onto the world.
Jennly Reads 