Author: Sandra Proudman

"A heartfelt, swashbuckling, standout novel." - Kirkus (starred review)

In this Latinx YA fantasy inspired by El Zorro, Lola de La Pe?a becomes the masked heroine Salvaci?n 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 a boy in his company first.

Lola de La Pe?a 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 mam? 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 Salvaci?n, 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 (red salt), a potent, deadly magic capable of obliterating anything it comes into contact with, and about the man who wields it: Damien Hern?ndez. So when Hern?ndez arrives the next day with a party of fifty strong and promises of returning Alta California to M?xico, Lola knows it's only a matter of time before he brings the region under his rule--all Hern?ndez 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 Salvaci?n to stop his plans. What she didn't count on was the distracting and infuriating Alejandro, who travels with Hern?ndez but doesn't seem to share his ambitions. With the stakes higher than ever and Hern?ndez 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.

Publisher: Macmillan Publishers (MPS)
Published: 05/20/2025
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.06oz
Size: 8.25h x 5.38w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9781250895080

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 03/01/2025
Publishers Weekly 03/03/2025
Booklist 04/01/2025 pg. 108

About the Author
SANDRA PROUDMAN (she/her/ella) is the editor of the YA Latinx SFF anthology, Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories and a contributor to the YA horror anthology, The House Where Death Lives, both out now. Salvaci?n is her first full-length novel. She is also a literary agent, passionate about bringing underrepresented voices to the forefront. When not busily immersed in all things publishing, you can find her spending time with her amazing husband and adorable toddler gathering rollie pollies and going on adventures, catching up on all her shows, or trying to get the perfect tortilla puff.