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on_your_raedar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Some things I loved:
1. Love a good ghost story
2. In incorporation of a culture different than mine
3. The dual POV
4. A strong mother/daughter relationship (though this is is minimal at the beginning and end)
Some things I didn't enjoy:
1. The priest that made his flaws everyones problems
2. The dutiful marriage trope
3. Any level/ amount of DV
Overall, I would recommend. This is my first Gothic thriller/horror and I will be exploring more in this genre.
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Classism, Confinement, Alcoholism, and Death
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abortion
bandysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is no knock off. While I understand the comparisons, I don’t feel they really do It justice. This is gothic horror set in Post-Independence Mexico. Even though it’s about a long past time, it feels so fresh and in some ways relatable.
One of the biggest strengths is the way this book is so deeply anchored in the time and place. The mentions of cultural beliefs, foods, and traditions really help make this feel deeply set in Mexico. The mentions of the people living through colonialism, the colorism, sexism, misogyny, etc. are all things that were common to that era. There are just so many details that really bring the story to life.
The main two characters, Beatriz, the young, naïve wife of a Ascendado and Andrés, a local priest with unusual powers are both so interesting. Usually, for me, one POV is stronger, but in this case I found both of them enjoyable.
I did find myself wishing that the ending was slightly different. I was able to predict a few key parts of it, but not enough to ruin the story. I think it mostly made sense.
All in all, if you are into gothic horror, you’ll like this book. It has all of the elements for a good spooky read!
Graphic: Gore, Colonisation, Confinement, Animal death, Gaslighting, Death, Misogyny, Blood, Sexism, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Rape and Abortion
blissofalife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Body horror, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Classism, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Abortion, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Mental illness, Vomit, Pregnancy, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, War, Confinement, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Animal death, and Colonisation
silene's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Murder and Racism
Minor: Abortion and Rape
bootsmom3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Colonisation, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Fatphobia, Cursing, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Gaslighting
Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
meredith_williams_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Colonisation, Blood, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pregnancy, Rape, and Abortion
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
rachelunabridged's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Alcohol, Blood, Gaslighting, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Racism
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Minor: Abortion, Rape, and Sexual content
tigger89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Something I didn't like was that the female characters weren't as strong as I'd expected. They were all either very passive or they were under heavy aid from(or motivated by) male characters, particularly Padre Andres. It's not that I feel he was a bad character, but for a novel which contained themes centering around patriarchal control and violence, it was disappointing to see the female characters essentially led around by a male lead, even one who was respectful and good. This is especially jarring in comparison to Mexican Gothic, which I felt handled the partnership of the female lead with a male companion much better.
Graphic: Death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Colonisation, Abortion, Murder, Classism, and Racism
Minor: Alcoholism, War, Sexual violence, Rape, Confinement, and Death of parent
pages_with_panda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
After the Mexican War of Independence, Beatriz has lost her father and her home. Desperately trying to regain some stability, she marries Don Rodolfo Solórzano despite the rumors around his first wife’s death.
But Hacienda San Isidro is not the sanctuary she imagined.
After Rodolfo leaves for work at the capital, Beatriz finds herself alone in a house none of the servants want to enter and with no one willing to share why. She only knows two things for certain: Something is wrong with the hacienda. And no one there will help her.
I really loved this book. Can't say I've read any other Mexican Gothic books so I can't for sure how well this fit that genre; but the creepy story, the mystery, the characters were all amazing. Sad I couldn't read this before Halloween season ended! Not horror per se, but definitely a suspenseful, mysterious book with creepy scenes. The author did well to set up the scenes and give the house its personality.
Andres was amazing as well, and I liked how well he and Beatriz worked together. I actually liked the back and forth between the past and the present as well, it set up the mystery nicely.
I borrowed this from the library but will be getting my own copy; I enjoyed it so much!
Check content warnings!
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Racism
Minor: Abortion, War, and Death of parent
camelliagwerm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Racism, and Blood
Moderate: Rape and Abortion