A Tall Dark Trouble

Raised to fear their magic, twin witches begin receiving premonitions of a killer targeting brujas and must embrace their powers to save lives . . . before it's too late. The high-stakes worldbuilding of Divine Rivals meets the witchy romance of Practical Magic in Vanessa Montalban's thrilling YA Latine fantasy debut.

In contemporary Miami, twins Delfi and Lela are haunted by a family curse that poisons any chance at romantic love. It's no wonder their mother forbids them from getting involved with magic. When Lela and Delfi receive premonitions of a mysterious killer targeting brujas, however, the sisters must embrace their emerging powers to save innocent lives. Teaming up with their best friend Ethan and brooding detective-in-training Andres, Delfi and Lela set out to catch a murderer on a dangerous hunt that will force them to confront the dark secrets of their family's past.

Meanwhile, in 1980s Cuba, Anita de Armas whispers to the spirits for mercy-not for herself, but for the victims of her mother's cult. She's desperate to rid herself of her power, which manifests as inky shadows and an ability to speak to the dead. As political tensions rise and Anita's cult initiation draws near, she must make a decision that could change not only her fate, but the fate of the nation.

Lela, Delfi, and Anita's stories intertwine in a thrilling fantasy that spans oceans and generations as each woman steps into her power, refusing to be subdued by any person or curse.

Florida Book Awards YA Winner

“Readers will ugly cry for all that Anita loses, and then cheer for Delfi and Lela as they conquer both internal and external crises. VERDICT: Hand to YA readers who enjoy their history told with an abundant dose of horror.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“Richly rendered main characters and a knotty central mystery captivate . . . Utterly bewitching.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Captivating debut.” —Publisher’s Weekly

“This action-packed fantasy about discovering a magical inheritance and unearthing long-buried family secrets adds an appealing touch of romance." —Booklist

“Practical Magic meets Miami, A Tall Dark Trouble is bound to become a Cuban American classic.” —Nina Moreno,author of Don’t Date Rosa Santos

“A Tall Dark Trouble will have readers glued to the pages from beginning to end.” —Francesca Flores, author of The Witch and the Vampire

“Uniquely thrilling and sure to cast a spell on every reader.” —Sophie Isabelle, author of The Witchery

“Equal parts magical, romantic, and heart wrenching.” —Isabel Sterling, author of These Witches Don’t Burn and The Coldest Touch

Miami-born Vanessa Montalban channels her wanderlust for far-off worlds into writing young adult fiction, including A Tall Dark Trouble, winner of the Florida Book Awards in the YA category.

She's a first-generation college graduate, and is hard at work creating a collection of stories. Her work has appeared in Diabolical Plots and Entropy Magazine, and her newest novel These Vengeful Wishes is coming spring 2025.

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