Book Review: Salvación by Sandra Proudman

Title: Salvación
Author: Sandra Proudman
Pages: 336
Publication Date: May 20, 2025
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
Synopsis:

In this Latinx YA fantasy inspired by El Zorro, Lola de La Peña becomes the masked heroine Salvación in order to save her family and town from a man who would destroy it for the magic it contains…if she doesn’t fall in love with one of his men first.

Lola de La Peña yearns to be free from the societal expectations of a young Mexican lady of her station. She spends her days pretending to be delicate and proper while watching her mamá cure the sick and injured with sal negra (black salt), a recently discovered magic that heals even the most mortal of sicknesses and wounds. But by night, she is Salvación, the free-spirit lady vigilante protecting the town of Coloma from those who threaten its peace and safety among the rising tension in Alta California after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

But one night, a woman races into Coloma, barely alive, to tell the horrifying tale of how her town was obliterated by sal roja, a potent, deadly magic capable of obliterating anything it comes into contact with and the man who wields it: Damien Hernández. And when Hernández arrives the next day with a party of fifty strong and promises of returning Alta California to México, Lola knows it’s only a matter of time before he brings the region under his rule—all Hernández needs is the next full moon and the stolen, ancient amulet he carries to mine enough sal roja to conquer the land. Determined to protect everything she loves, Lola races against time as Salvación to stop his plans. What she didn’t count on was the distracting and infuriating Alejandro, who travels with Hernández but doesn’t seem to share his ambitions. With the stakes higher than ever and Hernández getting closer to his goals, Lola will do anything to foil his plans, even teaming up with Alejandro—who she doesn’t fully trust, but can’t help but fall in love with.

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I was initially drawn in by the stunning cover and the premise, which sounded so intriguing. I was all in for a gender-bent Zorro reimagining! I liked the characters and a lot of the messages about equality, empowerment, corruption, justice, and the importance of family. However, the pacing was uneven, and the internal monologue felt repetitive at times.

Lola has a great arc, and her character proves to be a bold and determined vigilante. She changes and matures so much, especially when it comes to standing up to her parents and facing obstacles that are far more deadly than she expected. Her inner dialogue was a bit much for me, but it definitely showed her growth over the course of the story.

I also liked the love story, though I wish it were a little more prominent in the story. It was definitely more of a sub-plot than the main focus. I actually enjoyed reading about the relationship between Lola and her brother more. They worked together well and had a strong connection built on love, trust, and respect.

The author does a good job of meshing history with fiction, and the imagery and magic system were great. But I wanted a bit more world-building. There were parts of the world and magic that I thought could have been detailed more, and I constantly wondered why no one could figure out who Salvación was. There are only like three possibilities in the entire town. It seemed pretty easy to narrow down. lol That being said, the messages about women’s strength and savvy are strong.

Overall, this was an ok read for me. There were parts I really liked and a few things that fell flat, but it was still enjoyable and unique. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

“We’re only as good as the people who push us to be better than them.”

SANDRA PROUDMAN (she/her/ella) is the editor of the YA Latinx SFF anthology, Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories and a contributor to the YA horror anthology, The House Where Death Lives, both out now. Salvación is her first full-length novel. She is also a literary agent, passionate about bringing underrepresented voices to the forefront. When not busily immersed in all things publishing, you can find her spending time with her amazing husband and adorable toddler gathering rollie pollies and going on adventures, catching up on all her shows, or trying to get the perfect tortilla puff.