Maria the Wanted
Published on 10. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-1-80336-672-2 (ISBN)
Description
Newly turned Mexican vampire, Maria, is not just out for blood, she wants answers. From the twice Bram Stoker-nominated author of The Haunting of Alejandra and Immortal Pleasures, a gripping tale of empowerment, desire and belonging, perfect for readers of A Dowry of Blood and Certain Dark Things.
Maria is a wanted woman. She's wanted by an Aztec trafficker, a cartel boss, the people she fights for, and now the Devil she can't resist. Her journey begins as a would-be immigrant turned vampire in Juarez, Mexico until the injustices of the world turn her into something else.
Forced to leave her home and family, she embarks on a journey across Mexico seeking those answers. She learns a new language and how to survive as a vampire. To ease her restlessness she finds work with an ex-boxer and learns to fight, becoming an unlikely bad ass enforcer of justice for the community that has embraced her. Is she a saint or an old God from a forgotten past?
An encounter with a violent, ruthless vampire boss leads her to finally find her creator, and he is nothing like she imagined. Drawn into a world of ancient vampires, deadly conspiracies and a dangerously seductive devil, Maria must find a way to fight for herself and all humankind.
A fierce and seductive vampire thriller, pulsing with rage, fear and desire, that explores the dark back streets of Mexico and a vampire woman's determination to find her place in the world.
Maria is a wanted woman. She's wanted by an Aztec trafficker, a cartel boss, the people she fights for, and now the Devil she can't resist. Her journey begins as a would-be immigrant turned vampire in Juarez, Mexico until the injustices of the world turn her into something else.
Forced to leave her home and family, she embarks on a journey across Mexico seeking those answers. She learns a new language and how to survive as a vampire. To ease her restlessness she finds work with an ex-boxer and learns to fight, becoming an unlikely bad ass enforcer of justice for the community that has embraced her. Is she a saint or an old God from a forgotten past?
An encounter with a violent, ruthless vampire boss leads her to finally find her creator, and he is nothing like she imagined. Drawn into a world of ancient vampires, deadly conspiracies and a dangerously seductive devil, Maria must find a way to fight for herself and all humankind.
A fierce and seductive vampire thriller, pulsing with rage, fear and desire, that explores the dark back streets of Mexico and a vampire woman's determination to find her place in the world.
Reviews / Votes
Praise for Maria the Wanted:A high-octane, heartfelt story that puts a refreshingly human spin on the birth-of-a-vampire tale.
-Kelley Armstrong, New York Times bestselling author of The Haunting of Paynes Hollow and the Women of the Otherworld series
Without a doubt, V. Castro is a searing and stunning voice in modern horror. Maria the Wanted takes the vampire mythos and entirely reinvents it in a way only V. Castro can. Dark, sexy, and a whole lot of fun, this book should not be missed.
-Gwendolyn Kiste, Four-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Haunting of Velkwood and Reluctant Immortals
Fast, fun, and furious, Maria the Wanted gives us a new vampire mythology with echoes of Anne Rice and a powerful heroine determined to save herself - and the world.
-Delilah S. Dawson, New York Times-bestselling author of House of Idyll and Guillotine
A gripping tale of heart-wrenching loss, gory vengeance and brutal justice! Never underestimate the weak, especially a woman armed with deadly fangs and a blistering, all-consuming rage! A relentless page-turner!
-Nuzo Onoh, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Where the Dead Brides Gather and Futility
Brutal, bloody and brilliant, Maria the Wanted will shock and delight you. It's V. Castro at her very best.
-Tim Lebbon, New York Times-bestselling author of Secret Lives of the Dead and Among the Living
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 132 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
253 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80336-672-2 (9781803366722)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
V. Castro is a two-time Bram Stoker Award nominated author of Aliens: Vasquez, The Haunting of Alejandra, The Queen of The Cicadas, Goddess of Filth, Hairspray and Switchblades, and Out of Atzlan. She is a Mexican American expat living in the UK. As a full-time mother, she dedicates her time to her family and writing. Her official site is vcastrostories.com.