Román Sabaté entra al mundo de la política casi por casualidad, pero es allí donde se sella su destino. La permanente tensión entre la necesidad de trabajo de un joven de provincia y las ocultas intenciones del político que lo ha elegido como secretario privado es lo que mueve los hilos de esta novela: dos hombres en conflicto en una historia en la que hasta la paternidad está en juego. Magia, doble discurso o crimen, todo vale. Las maldiciones desnuda la verdad de la llamada "nueva política", basada en un pragmatismo absoluto que esconde la inescrupulosidad del engaño y la ambición sin límites. ( )

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I expected a little more excitement about the machinations of an election campaign in Argentina, on the other hand, the figures of the journalist China and the private secretary Román could have done better.
Román and his chance acquaintance Sebastián apply for a job with the 'Pragma' party. Sebastián actually wants to be a political analyst, while Román just applies that he has a job to make money.
Román is actually observed, found useful and hired by the party leader, while Sebastián has to wait for Román to be able to put in a good word for him.
China is a TV journalist who reports on pragma again and again and soon senses the chance that there is more to this campaign. She wants to write a non-fiction book because there is a curse on all candidates from Buenos Aires that they can never become president of Argentina.
Fernando Revira, the party leader, is surrounded by malicious advisers. On the one hand, they go over dead bodies or manipulate the press and the population. He also assigned a special task for Román to father his son with his wife, all in the name of the election campaign, since a candidate with family does better. Román refuses at first, but under pressure finds out that he has to do this. When Joaquín was born, Román took on the role of father and mother. Revira's wife was murdered. The longer Román is in Revira's environment, he becomes more afraid for his life and that of his son. He decides to go into hiding. He can count on the help of his uncle, a political veteran, Sebastian and China.
The end of the story is rather lame. I was hoping for a little more excitement. ( )

Román Sabaté entra al mundo de la política casi por casualidad, pero es allí donde se sella su destino. La permanente tensión entre la necesidad de trabajo de un joven de provincia y las ocultas intenciones del político que lo ha elegido como secretario privado es lo que mueve los hilos de esta novela: dos hombres en conflicto en una historia en la que hasta la paternidad está en juego. Magia, doble discurso o crimen, todo vale. Las maldiciones desnuda la verdad de la llamada «nueva política», basada en un pragmatismo absoluto que esconde la falta de escrúpulos del engaño y la ambición sin límites.