Single Sundays: Salvación by Sandra Proudman

Single Sundays: While this blog may be focused on reviewing book series as a whole, we can’t forget about the good ole’ standalone novel! On Sundays, I will review a novel that is considered to be a standalone novel. Here is this week’s offering:

Synopsis for Salvación (from Goodreads):

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.

Author: Sandra Proudman
Genre: Young Adult, Magic, Historical Fiction
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: First Person, Single
Publication Date: May 20, 2025
Source & Format: Netgalley–eARC

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I remember going to see the movie the Legend of Zorro as a kid, so when I saw that this story was inspired by El Zorro but with a female as the lead? So there! I was looking forward to action, danger and a dash of romance.

The Concept / The World:

I wasn’t expecting the magic to be a the main foundation for this story but it is. What I did like is that the people aren’t the ones yielding the magic themselves; rather they utilize the magic of the salt that comes from the Earth so that anyone can use the magic. What’s even better is how the magical elements are used as a metaphor for the exploitation of the land/resources and the power that comes for controlling it. You can draw a lot of parallels to the various conflicts throughout the world right now with the events Lola and her family bare witness to throughout the novel.

The Plot:

When I heard that it took some inspiration from the legend of Zorro, I thought there would be more physical action and fight scenes, but there ended up being a lot of inner monologues instead. Lola’s struggle is more internal and philosophical than physically combative; more focus on what is morally right vs wrong. And I appreciated that, even if it made the book’s plot feel slower and often repetitive at times.

The Characters:

Because we don’t get that action packed story, this book is more about Lola’s coming of age story as she finds herself a various crossroads in her life. She’s at that age where she is losing her naivety about the world: what her role in society is, her role in her family, her role in the community, etc. I also appreciated how she is at that time in her life when you start to see that your parents aren’t perfect and you may disagree with their choices in life.

The Romance:

This took a back seat in my eyes to the rest of the story. It’s sweet, albeit underdeveloped, but serves its purpose as a tool to the events as they unfold.

My Rating: 3/5

I think if you are looking for a human story set in a world of magic and metaphors, this is a great book for you. But if you want more action and a more developed romance, look elsewhere.

Read if You Like: coming of age stories, magical elements
Avoid if You: want action