How much are you willing to sacrifice for those who you love?

Orphaned under mysterious circumstances and raised by her grandmother, Maia thinks she’s left her tragic past behind her.

Now a dreamy seventeen-year-old, Maia longs to find true love with her high school crush when she receives the appalling news that her long-dormant Cancer has returned, not just to mess with her romantic plans, but to ruin her entire life.

One night, during her stay at the hospital, Maia is visited by a peculiar young man who confesses he is about to claim the soul of her beloved grandmother. But Maia offers her own soul instead and joins this gorgeous harbinger of death in an odyssey to the hereafter. The dizzying journey takes Maia and her beguiling companion from an elaborate ball, to a steam locomotive in the sky, to a haunted abandoned country house, to the bottom of a lake, and other magical locales. They face otherworldly obstacles as Maia attempts to save her only relative and determine if there is any hope for her own tortured soul.

VANDELLA is a Young Adult (YA) magical realist tale with a heartbreaking and vividly surreal story, layered with intriguing characters, lush settings, and a fast-paced and exciting narrative. This novel is the first entry of the VANDELLA series.

“Dark, intriguing, and guaranteed to tug the heartstrings, M. Ch. Landa’s Vandella is a young adult paranormal romance novel packed with mystery, danger, and highly relatable characters.” — San Francisco Book Review ★★★★☆

“Vandella by M. Ch. Landa is a masterpiece when it comes to creativity. The author created a world we can easily lose track of time in.” — Online Book Club ★★★★★

“Any book that truly makes you ask questions and holds your interest until you find the answers is a great book, and this one goes way beyond that. It should be added to everyone’s list of must-reads, not just those who enjoy the Fantasy genre.” — Feathered Quill

“Paranormal YA readers will absolutely devour Vandella. It’s emotional, dark, surprising, and fun. Landa has this wonderful skill of shocking readers with every chapter.” — Independent Book Review

“The writing in Vandella is exquisite. The narrative is fascinating, dramatic, dark, and engaging. I wish M. Ch. Landa would write more books of this caliber because Vandella is such a fantastic story.” — Readers’ Favorite Review ★★★★★

“Landa spins readers headlong into a jarring but intriguing odyssey through an underworld where dreams and nightmares trump logic.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Strong worldbuilding and an engaging teen protagonist ground this fantasy in real emotion.” — Booklife Reviews

“A vivid depiction of life after death and the sacrifices we make for the ones we love.” — Reedsy Discovery ★★★★☆

“Vandella is a refreshing, gentle read that explores human connection and the will to survive.” — Literary Titan ★★★★☆

“The afterworld portrayed in this novel might give Dante himself nightmares.” — Booklife Prize