These Vengeful Wishes Summary, Characters and Themes
These Vengeful Wishes by Vanessa Montalban is a gripping tale of mystery, family secrets, and supernatural forces. The story follows Cecilia, a teenage girl who is forced to confront the dark legacy of her family as they move to the small, eerie town of Santa Aguas.
Struggling with her strained relationship with her mother, Cecilia is drawn to the mysterious Sevilla Manor and its haunting past, particularly the curse tied to La Cegua, a powerful figure from Nicaraguan folklore. As Cecilia unravels her family’s secrets and the town’s unsettling history, she must grapple with the dangerous allure of wishes and the consequences they bring.
Summary
Cecilia, a young woman struggling with her identity and an emotionally distant relationship with her mother, is introduced to us in the prologue of These Vengeful Wishes. The eerie atmosphere of the prologue sets the tone for the unfolding narrative, where an unsettling narrator recounts the tragic death of a boy in the woods.
This ominous introduction hints at the dark forces that will be explored in the story, particularly through the figure of La Cegua, a ghostly character tied to the family’s legacy.
The story picks up with Cecilia living in a luxurious family estate, where she feels alienated from her mother, Marina, who is more focused on maintaining appearances than on fostering genuine emotional connections. Cecilia’s mother envisions a traditional future for her daughter, one centered around law school, but Cecilia has no interest in following that path.
She feels trapped between the societal expectations her mother imposes and her own desire to pursue her artistic ambitions. This internal conflict deepens when Cecilia receives an acceptance letter to the University of Miami, a decision made more to appease her mother than to follow her own dreams.
The family’s financial collapse forces them to move to Santa Aguas, a small, mysterious town where Marina once lived. This move is a significant blow to Cecilia, who is reluctant to leave behind her old life.
The town itself is steeped in superstitions and has a connection to the Sevilla family, whose mansion they now occupy. The mansion, with its gothic architecture and haunting portraits, is said to be cursed, and its history is intertwined with La Cegua, a mythological figure from Nicaraguan folklore believed to prey on men with dark pasts.
Cecilia’s arrival in Santa Aguas is marked by strange dreams and feelings of being pulled toward the woods surrounding the manor. She becomes fascinated by the tales of the Sevilla family curse and the mysterious disappearances tied to La Cegua.
Despite her skepticism, Cecilia is drawn to these stories, and her curiosity only deepens when she meets new people like Myra, a classmate with an interest in the occult, and Jamie, a mysterious young man with a connection to the town’s history.
Cecilia’s exploration of the town and its legends leads her to encounter a girl named Adel, who seems to know more than she lets on. Adel’s cryptic remarks leave Cecilia unsettled but intrigued.
As Cecilia learns more about the Sevilla family, she uncovers disturbing details about the family’s history, including the mysterious disappearance of Roman Sevilla, the previous heir to the mansion. She begins to realize that her family’s history is deeply entangled with the curse that plagues the Sevilla name.
One day, Cecilia discovers a hidden doorway in the woods behind the mansion, which leads her to a cenote, a sacred and secret place. Here, she finds a stone statue resembling La Cegua, deepening her connection to the dark forces at play.
Intrigued by the idea of making a wish in the cenote, Cecilia is torn between her desire to control her destiny and the fear of the consequences of tampering with the supernatural.
As she continues to delve deeper into the Sevilla family’s secrets, Cecilia learns that her mother’s past is also connected to the curse. Her mother, Marina, had once sought to escape the curse by making a wish to La Cegua, but this attempt led to years of suffering and isolation.
Cecilia’s investigation into the curse reveals the tragic history of Soledad, the woman behind La Cegua, who was once a powerful witch whose fate was forever tied to the Sevilla family.
Cecilia’s search for answers brings her to Curandera Lupe, an old psychic who explains that in order to break the curse, Cecilia must find La Cegua’s heart and bones hidden in the cavern beneath the manor. As Cecilia continues to uncover the truth, she begins to understand the weight of her family’s legacy and the dangerous allure of La Cegua’s magic.
The closer she gets to uncovering the full extent of the curse, the more her reality begins to blur with the supernatural.
Throughout the narrative, Cecilia grapples with her relationships with her mother and Jamie, the latter becoming a confidante and partner in her journey. As she learns more about her family’s dark past, Cecilia is forced to confront the realization that she may be the last living Sevilla, the one destined to either break or continue the curse.
The power of her wishes grows stronger, and Cecilia must decide whether she is willing to risk everything, including her own soul, to alter the fate of her family.
The culmination of Cecilia’s journey comes when she faces a critical decision: to make a final wish that will break the curse once and for all. The consequences of her actions are profound, and the price of tampering with the supernatural is far higher than she could have ever imagined.
In a moment of painful revelation, Cecilia is forced to confront the truth about her father’s role in the curse and make a decision that will determine the future of her family.
In the end, Cecilia succeeds in binding La Cegua’s power, ending the curse that has haunted her family for generations. However, this victory comes at a personal cost.
As Cecilia reflects on her journey, she begins to embrace her new life, free from the dark forces that once controlled her. The relationships she has formed with Jamie and others provide her with the emotional grounding she needs to move forward.
The story concludes with a sense of closure, signaling not just the end of the curse, but a new beginning for Cecilia, who is finally able to step into her future with hope and determination.
Characters
Cecilia
Cecilia is the protagonist of These Vengeful Wishes, a young woman caught in the midst of a profound personal and supernatural crisis. Initially introduced as a teenager struggling with her sense of self and burdened by the weight of her mother Marina’s expectations, Cecilia’s journey is one of self-discovery.
She is rebellious, intoxicated by the notion of independence, and deeply resentful of the life her mother has planned for her. Cecilia’s transition into Santa Aguas, a town fraught with dark secrets, marks the beginning of her personal unraveling, as she is drawn into the eerie and mysterious world of the Sevilla family curse.
Her intense curiosity about the supernatural elements surrounding her family’s past, including the haunting presence of La Cegua, shapes her character’s growth. Throughout the narrative, Cecilia’s internal conflict between her desires for a normal life and the pull of dark, ancient forces reveals her vulnerability and strength.
Her interactions with figures like Jamie and her discovery of hidden truths about her father’s past force Cecilia to come to terms with her family’s legacy, ultimately positioning her as the key to either breaking or continuing the curse that has tormented her family for generations. Cecilia’s final decision to bind La Cegua’s power and heal her family underscores her maturation, signaling her acceptance of the difficult truths about her lineage and her willingness to sacrifice personal desires for the greater good.
Marina
Marina, Cecilia’s mother, is a complex figure driven by social expectations and appearances. Her obsession with maintaining a luxurious lifestyle and her preoccupation with superficial aspects such as gardens and diet reflect her inability to connect with her daughter on a deeper, emotional level.
While Marina’s fixation on outward appearances creates a strained relationship with Cecilia, it also exposes her own internal battles. As the story progresses, Marina’s past is slowly unraveled, revealing her earlier attempts to escape the curse that plagues her family by making a wish to La Cegua.
This attempt, however, only led to more suffering and isolation, leaving Marina emotionally disconnected and desperate to protect Cecilia from the same fate. Throughout the narrative, Marina’s character serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of tampering with forces beyond one’s control.
In the end, her relationship with Cecilia evolves as they confront their shared history, and Marina’s role in the curse becomes pivotal in understanding the deep-seated trauma that affects their family.
Jamie
Jamie serves as a confidante and emotional anchor for Cecilia throughout her journey. Initially presented as a mysterious but friendly character, Jamie becomes a key figure in helping Cecilia navigate the supernatural mysteries surrounding the Sevilla family and the town of Santa Aguas.
His growing bond with Cecilia helps her come to terms with her inner conflict and provides her with a semblance of normalcy amid the chaos. Despite the eerie atmosphere of the town, Jamie remains a grounding force for Cecilia, offering insights and support when she faces increasingly dangerous revelations.
His role in the story not only offers emotional depth to Cecilia’s character but also provides a sense of stability as she wrestles with the curse and her family’s dark past. Jamie’s unwavering loyalty and willingness to help Cecilia unravel the mysteries of the Sevilla family deepen their connection, marking him as an integral part of her journey toward self-discovery and resolution.
Soledad / La Cegua
La Cegua, also known as Soledad, is a vengeful and enigmatic figure whose presence casts a long, dark shadow over the entire story. Once a powerful witch whose love and longing for freedom led her to curse the Sevilla family, Soledad transforms into La Cegua, a spirit who preys on men with dark pasts.
Her connection to Cecilia is deeply personal, as the two are linked by a shared bloodline that has carried the curse through generations. Soledad’s tragic fate, driven by her desire for love and her ultimate transformation into a vengeful spirit, serves as the catalyst for the narrative’s central conflict.
Throughout the story, La Cegua’s influence is felt in the mysterious visions and dreams that plague Cecilia, drawing her into a world of magic, loss, and unfulfilled desires. Despite being a figure of terror and danger, Soledad’s tragic backstory humanizes her, shedding light on her motives and the deep pain that led to her vengeful transformation.
The supernatural power she wields is both a gift and a curse, one that forces Cecilia to reckon with the consequences of her own desires and actions. In the end, the confrontation with La Cegua reveals the complexity of the curse and the heavy toll it exacts on those caught in its grip.
Adel
Adel is a cryptic and unsettling character who adds an air of mystery to the narrative. Her knowledge of the Sevilla family and her eerie remarks about the curse leave Cecilia more intrigued than ever, prompting her to delve deeper into the family’s dark past.
While initially a distant figure, Adel’s presence becomes increasingly significant as she offers Cecilia crucial information about the family’s tragic history. Her mysterious nature, along with the sense of foreboding she brings, serves to heighten the supernatural elements of the story.
Adel’s role in the narrative is one of both guidance and manipulation, as she pushes Cecilia to explore the hidden truths that lie beneath the surface of the Sevilla family legacy. Though her true intentions remain unclear, Adel is instrumental in Cecilia’s growing awareness of the dangerous forces at play, acting as both a harbinger of doom and a source of knowledge.
Myra
Myra is a classmate of Cecilia’s and an important character in fleshing out the town’s deep-rooted supernatural lore. With a fascination for the occult and the occult history of the Sevilla family, Myra serves as a conduit for Cecilia’s growing understanding of the curse.
She shares information about the Sevillas, their tragic history, and the legends that surround them, offering Cecilia insight into the powers at play in Santa Aguas. Myra’s role in the story is to provide historical context to the family’s curse and the town’s dark past, but her own personal investment in these myths shows how the town’s legends have shaped the lives of its inhabitants.
While she provides valuable information, Myra’s presence also underscores the pervasive influence of the supernatural in the town, making it difficult for Cecilia to separate reality from myth. Myra’s knowledge, however, is a double-edged sword, as it only serves to pull Cecilia deeper into the world of La Cegua and the dangerous forces connected to her family.
Curandera Lupe
Curandera Lupe is an old psychic who plays a crucial role in guiding Cecilia through the magical and supernatural elements of the story. As a wise and mystical figure, Lupe provides Cecilia with important insights into the nature of La Cegua and the power required to control her.
Her knowledge of ancient magic and her connection to the spiritual world help Cecilia understand the deep forces that govern her family’s fate. Lupe’s presence in the story serves as a pivotal turning point for Cecilia, as it is through her that Cecilia learns of the only way to control La Cegua—by finding the heart and bones of the witch.
Lupe’s character represents a connection to the past and to the mystical traditions that tie the town of Santa Aguas to the supernatural world. While her guidance is invaluable, Lupe’s warnings about the price of tampering with magic highlight the dangerous consequences of Cecilia’s growing understanding of her family’s curse.
Themes
Identity and Self-Discovery
Throughout These Vengeful Wishes, Cecilia embarks on a journey to understand herself, her past, and her place in a world filled with dark legacies and supernatural forces. As a teenager, she is caught between the expectations of her mother, Marina, and her own desires for independence.
Cecilia’s search for identity is complicated by her family’s financial downfall and their forced relocation to the mysterious town of Santa Aguas. In this strange new environment, she struggles with feelings of alienation, particularly at her new school where she feels like an outsider.
Her mother’s obsession with social appearances only exacerbates Cecilia’s feelings of disconnection. This tension between familial obligations and personal desires is central to Cecilia’s internal conflict.
Her struggle with identity deepens as she becomes increasingly involved in the eerie stories surrounding the Sevilla family and the curse of La Cegua. The more she uncovers about her family’s dark past, the more she questions who she truly is and what her role in this legacy should be.
As she contemplates the power of making wishes and the potential consequences of those wishes, Cecilia must also confront her fears about her own desires. Is her longing for autonomy a means of breaking free, or is she merely repeating the mistakes of those before her?
By the end of the novel, Cecilia’s journey is one of transformation, where she not only learns about her family’s cursed legacy but also comes to terms with who she is and how she can shape her future.
Legacy and Family History
The curse that haunts the Sevilla family is not just a supernatural force but a reflection of the burdens of family history. These Vengeful Wishes explores how the past weighs heavily on the present, shaping the identities and decisions of the family members.
Cecilia’s relationship with her mother, Marina, is a direct result of this inherited trauma. Marina’s secretive nature and obsession with maintaining appearances are rooted in the painful history of the Sevilla family, especially her connection to the curse.
As Cecilia uncovers more about the family’s dark past, including her father’s role in trying to break the curse, she realizes that their fates are inextricably linked to a tragic history that they cannot escape.
The Sevilla family’s curse is rooted in Roman Sevilla’s attempt to gain immortality, which resulted in his loss of humanity. This attempt to defy fate and change the course of destiny is a key aspect of the novel’s exploration of family legacy.
Cecilia’s discovery that she is the last living Sevilla marks her as the one who must either break or continue the curse, highlighting the theme of inherited responsibility. The weight of this knowledge forces Cecilia to confront her family’s legacy, and the tension between continuing the cycle or breaking free becomes a central aspect of her journey.
The theme of legacy is explored not only through the supernatural curse but also through the relationships between family members, as they struggle with the impact of past decisions on their present lives.
Fate and Free Will
The question of fate versus free will is central to These Vengeful Wishes and is explored through Cecilia’s interactions with the supernatural forces around her. The curse that binds the Sevilla family seems to be an inescapable force, a symbol of destiny that cannot be altered.
However, Cecilia’s ability to make wishes presents a challenge to this deterministic view. As she learns more about the power of wishes and their consequences, she begins to realize that while her family’s fate has been shaped by past actions, she still has the power to make choices that can affect the future.
This tension between fate and free will is highlighted in Cecilia’s growing understanding of her own desires. She must grapple with whether her wishes are truly her own or whether they are being influenced by the powerful forces tied to La Cegua and the Sevilla family’s legacy.
As Cecilia confronts the cost of making wishes and the sacrifices involved, she comes to understand that while she may not be able to completely escape her family’s past, she does have the ability to choose how she responds to it. Her journey becomes a quest to find agency within the confines of a destiny that seems already written.
Sacrifice and Consequence
The theme of sacrifice is woven throughout These Vengeful Wishes, with characters repeatedly facing choices that come at great personal cost. Cecilia’s discovery of the curse and her connection to La Cegua forces her to grapple with the consequences of her actions, particularly the wishes she makes.
The power to alter fate through wishes is seductive, but it is clear that every wish has a price. As Cecilia uncovers the full extent of her family’s dark past, including the death and suffering caused by previous attempts to break the curse, she must confront the reality that her own actions will have far-reaching effects.
Cecilia’s final wish, which seeks to break the curse, requires a tremendous sacrifice. This act of selflessness and the heavy toll it takes on her underscores the theme of consequence, not just for the individual but for the family as a whole.
By the end of the novel, Cecilia learns that breaking the cycle of suffering in her family requires more than just a wish—it demands the willingness to endure loss and to make difficult choices that can alter the course of her destiny. This theme resonates with the novel’s exploration of identity and legacy, as Cecilia must decide what she is willing to sacrifice for the possibility of a better future.