Vampires of El Norte

Content Warning: This book contains depictions of sexism and graphic descriptions of war.

Nena is the daughter of Don Feliciano, the patrón of Rancho Los Ojuelos. She is best friends with Néstor as a child, but as she grows up her parents expect her to be a proper woman, willing to marry whomever they believe will bring an alliance that will strengthen Los Ojuelos. Nena is hardworking and headstrong but defers to her parents’ wishes out of fear that they will no longer love her if she refuses. Her brother Félix often voices Nena’s opinions so that her parents take them seriously. She is training with Abuela to become a healer and hopes to use those skills to prove her worth to her father. She feels deeply connected to the land at Los Ojuelos, and for this reason, she considers marrying to protect her home.

When the novel begins, Nena disobeys her parents to see Néstor. By the time Néstor returns to Los Ojuelos, she is more fearful and docile. She explains this in relation to Néstor leaving: she was so fearful of losing her home again that she obeyed their every wish so she never would. By the end of the novel, she confronts her parents and decides for herself what her future will be.