Alicia Yánez Cossío Knihy

Set in a small town in the Ecuadorian Andes, the narrative revolves around the Benavides family, guardians of the Potbellied Virgin, who holds the town's historical secrets. Their authority is challenged by the Pandos, a group of elderly men with a penchant for altering local narratives. When a military conflict endangers the Virgin and her hidden documents, the Benavides women must act swiftly to safeguard their legacy and thwart the Pandos from seizing power, highlighting themes of rivalry, tradition, and the complexity of social history.

Set against the backdrop of northern Ecuador, the story follows a wealthy, eccentric family haunted by their tumultuous history. Bruna grapples with the lingering ghosts of past scandals that permeate their ancestral home in the mountains, weaving a narrative rich in family legacy and intrigue. The novel explores themes of memory and the impact of history on personal identity.