Salvacin

(Hardback)

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Description

Lola de La Pea 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 mam 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 Salvacin, the lady vigilante protecting the town of Coloma among the rising tension in Alta California after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. But one night, a woman races into town, barely alive, with a horrifying tale of how her town was obliterated by the potent and deady sal roja, a magic capable of obliterating anything it touches and the man who wields it: Damien Hernndez. When Hernndez arrives the next day with a party of fifty strong and promises of returning Alta California to Mxico, Lola knows he plans to bring the region under his rule-all he 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 Salvacin to stop him. But she didn't count on the distracting and infuriating Alejandro, who travels with Hernndez but doesn't seem to share his ambitions. With Hernndez getting closer to his goals, Lola will do anything to foil his plans, even teaming up with Alejandro-who she can't help but fall in love with.

Reviews

Book Riot, "Spring Releases by Latine Authors to Have On Your Radar"

The Nerd Daily, "72 Of The Most Anticipated YA Books Of 2025"

FIERCE by mit, "Un Poco de Todo: 2025 Books by Latina Authors You'll Want on Your Shelf"

Pop! Goes the Reader, "36 Most-Anticipated Young Adult Books January-March 2025" and "55 Most-Anticipated Young Adult Books: April - June 2025"

HipLatina, "14 Romance Books by Latina Authors Coming Out in 2025"

"Action-packed and thrilling with a touch of romance, Proudman's debut novel is an homage to folk hero stories told through a feminist lens...A heartfelt, swashbuckling, standout novel." - Kirkus (starred review)

"In this swashbuckling, Zorro-inspired historical fantasy set after the signing of the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Proudman (Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories) utilizes a stubborn yet vulnerable heroine and an inventive magic system drawing from the history of Central American salt mines to levy weighty examinations of colonization and tradition." - Publishers Weekly

"Proudman's debut YA novel is perfect for fans of Latin historical fantasy and romance...A supreme choice for readers who have yearned for a femme Zorro." - Booklist

"From the gorgeous world-building to Lola's absolutely compelling voice, everything about Salvacin makes it difficult to put down. As you root for Lola and her devoted family, their world, so thick with salt magic, feels as though it seeps into your bones as you read." - Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, USA Today bestselling and Pura Belpr Award-winning author

"Growing up, Zorro was my favorite hero. I watched every episode of the show and yearned to have the book. I was delighted to read Sandra's novel. It's an addictively fast read, full of action, magic, and heart. I love the family dynamic and the love story between Lola and Alejandro. But my favorite is Lola. She embodies the best attributes of my favorite child hero, and more. She's brave, strong, and determined, and she loves with her whole heart. Like me, readers will be clamoring for more." - Yamile Saied Mndez, author of Furia, a Pura Belpr award winner

"Sandra Proudman's Salvacin will heal your heart as quickly as sal negra. This beautiful debut highlights Lola's journey into vigilante life with a love for family, homeland, and justice...no matter the cost." -Amparo Ortiz, author of Last Sunrise in Eterna

"A dynamic tale filled with longing, action, high-stakes, and dangerous magic. Salvacin swept me away with spirited characters that felt like family and a vivid world that felt like home." -Angela Montoya, author of Sinner's Isle and A Cruel Thirst

Author Bio

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. Salvacin is her first novel. She is also a literary agent. When not busily immersed in all things publishing, you can find her spending time with her amazing husband and adorable toddler, catching up on all her shows, or trying to get the perfect tortilla puff.