Mariana Travacio
World Editions
6 October 2026
145
eBook - EPUB
Literary Fiction
ARC via NetGalley
Set in a stark landscape of cliffs and precipices high above the Argentine pampas, Mariana Travacio's All That Dies in April follows the members of one small family as each makes a solitary journey out of their treacherous mountain home in search of a better life. Lina has dreamed for years of leaving her tiny village in the drought-stricken region. Her son left long ago to find work and a better fortune. Relicario, her husband, is content to stay put in the land of his ancestors, tending to their graves. Ignoring Relicario's pleas, a desperate Lina decides to abandon their home in search of her son, work, and water. She starts her journey on foot, and Relicario eventually follows behind, bringing a donkey and a sack with his ancestors' bones. Both witness unspeakable violence, cruelty, and folly, but the hope of reuniting their family keeps them alive. Poetically charged, restrained, and delicately condensed, this suspenseful novel captures the haunting cycle of perpetual inequality and its impact on families in Latin America.
All That Dies in April captivated me initially with its sparse prose and interesting narrative voice. I was intrigued by the dual quests of Lina and Relicario and keen to see where their travels would lead them. However, once things shifted in the book's second half, my attention did waiver a little. The flow of the narrative became more disjointed and I was not able to follow events so clearly. The themes of the book were well established despite the short page count and offered a snapshot of the living experience of those at the poorer end of the society in Latin America, with additional thought on the meaning of family and connection to ancestors and land. I only wished I could have been more engaged with the ending of the story, as that second part didn't resonate with me as well as the opening had. Nonetheless, I am giving this book 4 stars. Even if its style didn't completely suit my tastes, it was still a fascinating work I am glad I had the opportunity to read.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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