With every review, I try to connect myself to the words on the page. This time, I did that, but it’s a bit different from my other reviews.

My maternal grandfather grew up in New Mexico. He spoke Spanish, he had an eighth-grade education, and like most of his generation, he worked his ass off.

He worked for Union Pacific for years when my mother was young and took trips with him to San Francisco for railroad things. His family, growing up, was very poor. I’m relaying this from what I know. His last name was Jaramillo. I knew him as a man who worked and cared for his family.

When I started this book, I related to the author’s last name. I know it’s a common name. I thought of my grandfather and the environment he grew up in. I knew it was similar to the one that Nena had.

There were so many instances while reading when I thought of my grandfather. I had to put that aside a few times to focus on what I was reading.

The elements of witches within the book and the environment around the life in the book are essential.

Marta is like many women trying to make a life for their family. She wants to live her life, but her grandmother lives with her, and there’s something about her aunt that she can’t understand.

As we dive deeper into the story, we understand the connections as we shift from Nena’s story, where she travels back in time, to Marta’s. The connections between the two are done very well.

Marta is trying to save lives in the present day, and Nena is attempting to save lives as she existed in the past.

I enjoyed this book. Marta is such a wonderful character. Nena reminds me of my grandmother, who was married to my grandfather. She wasn’t a witch, but she knew many things that could be construed as such. I enjoyed how everything came together in the end.

I would like to know what happened to the lawsuit in the book. I was a bit invested in it and hoped it would be told.

I think my grandfather would have enjoyed this story.