Salvación releases May 20th, 2025 from Wednesday Books; 336 pages
Content Warning: Violence
About the Author: “Sandra Proudman (she/her/ella) is a Mexican American author of unabashed Latinx stories and literary associate living in the heart of California. When not busily immersed in all things publishing, you can find her spending time with her amazing husband and adorable preschooler, catching up on all her shows, and baking five-star pies. She is the author of the YA fantasy, Salvacíon, out 2025 from Wednesday Books and the editor of the Latinx anthology RELIT: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories, which is being published by Inkyard Press in Winter 2024” (Bio from Las Musas Books).
Find Sandra Proudman on the following platforms:
By day, Lola de La Peña conforms to the expected standards of a young señorita, but by night, Lola becomes Salvación, a vigilante who has sworn to protect her town from those who endanger the safety of the community. Lola and her family came from Sonora to Coloma because of a call her mother received from a magia (magic) present. This magia was the sal negra (black salt), with the ability to cure the sick and wounded. But with every bit of good magic, there is bad magic along with it. With the safety of the city threatened by Yankees and vengeful men, Lola learns of a sal rojo (red salt) that can destroy just as easily as sal negro can cure. Teaming up with her brother, Víctor, and an unlikely ally, Lola is tasked with saving the historical town of Coloma.
I was excited for a genderbent Tales of Zorro and liked the pacing of this novel, but despite my enjoyment, there was a lot that left me confused and a little disappointed. Lola’s relationship with her brother is endearing, and the two joining forces to both become the famed Salvación was quite moving. I also appreciated the bilingual aspects of this novel, which offer representation of the Spanish language and the colonization of Hispanic communities in America. Finally, I thought that the sal negra being a replacement for gold in the gold rush era was a creative idea that added some realism to this fictional tale. But for everything I enjoyed about this book, there were things I felt a little underwhelmed by. First, I was confused why Lola’s mother is the only one who can use sal negra to cure the sick, because it later becomes apparent that anyone can use it. Additionally, there are only three women in Coloma, including Lola and her mother, so it is unclear why no one knows who Salvación is. I was also a bit disappointed by the writing style. The book aims for a young adult audience, but reads a bit younger, with far more telling than showing and several lines repeating the same sentiments. These sentiments are important, such as not all women want to wear dresses and evil must be stopped, but they are said so frequently that it detracts from the underwritten world-building. Ultimately, I think this is a good book for younger teenage audiences interested in Latinx female heroines.
Salvación releases on May 20th, 2025.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank Wednesday Books for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Jenica Delaney, Pine Reads Review Writer