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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Child death
Wow. This book was everything I wanted- mystery, thriller, set in Mexico, ect. And it did not disappoint. It’s been a while since I’ve finished a book feeling like this and I know it’s going to stay with me for a long time.
*I received an electronic ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Pop Sugar’s 2017 Advanced Reading Challenge - A book about a difficult topic
Pop Sugar’s 2017 Advanced Reading Challenge - A book about a difficult topic
A great YA thriller. Check out my full review: https://seeorange.wordpress.com/2017/03/29/review-saint-death/
Arturo’s predictable daily struggle to scrape by working for a local mechanic and playing cards for a little extra cash is interrupted when his friend Faustino, who he has not seen for over a year, shows up asking for help. In the year since Arturo has seen him, Faustino has joined Los Libertadores one of the many gangs that run the city of Juarez, Mexico. Faustino has “borrowed” money from El Carnero, the boss of his gang, and must pay it back in twenty-four hours or face dire consequences. Faustino had been charged with holding $20,000 and had taken $1000 to pay a smuggler to take his girlfriend and child across the border into the US. He wants Arturo to gamble on a card game called calavera to win the money that he needs. Arturo knows how to play the game, but he has never played for stakes so high. He tries to refuse, but Faustino eventually convinces him that this is his only hope for survival.
I’m not sure why this is marketed as a YA novel. I don’t think the age of the characters is ever stated explicitly, but it is possible that they are teens put into a very adult situation. Putting character age aside, the style seems more adult literary fiction than YA. Though there are tense and suspenseful points in the plot, I had a feeling of dread at turning the page rather than anticipation that made me want to find out what happened next. The situation is so grim that you know from the outset there will be no happy ending for these characters. The book opens with the description of the body of a young girl floating in the Rio Grande and that sets a tone of despair and hopelessness that is carried throughout the book. The Mexican border city Juarez is dominated by gangs who are financed by the drug trade and more powerful than the police. Crime is rampant and the only way to earn a good living seems to be through working for one of the gangs. Arturo wants to be a good person and has no desire to be a part of the system that is responsible for the crime, violence and corruption that dominate the city, but there is no clear path to leading a prosperous life with integrity in Juarez. Faustino is a clear example of this. Joining a gang and engaging in criminal activity was the only option available to him to support his family, but it doesn’t lead them to happiness in the end. Unfortunately, this portrayal of the plight of people living in and around Juarez is probably very realistic, and the author rightly shines a light on the fact that the United States is complicit in creating this situation. Overall, this book wasn’t bad but I don’t see it having wide appeal for its intended audience.
I’m not sure why this is marketed as a YA novel. I don’t think the age of the characters is ever stated explicitly, but it is possible that they are teens put into a very adult situation. Putting character age aside, the style seems more adult literary fiction than YA. Though there are tense and suspenseful points in the plot, I had a feeling of dread at turning the page rather than anticipation that made me want to find out what happened next. The situation is so grim that you know from the outset there will be no happy ending for these characters. The book opens with the description of the body of a young girl floating in the Rio Grande and that sets a tone of despair and hopelessness that is carried throughout the book. The Mexican border city Juarez is dominated by gangs who are financed by the drug trade and more powerful than the police. Crime is rampant and the only way to earn a good living seems to be through working for one of the gangs. Arturo wants to be a good person and has no desire to be a part of the system that is responsible for the crime, violence and corruption that dominate the city, but there is no clear path to leading a prosperous life with integrity in Juarez. Faustino is a clear example of this. Joining a gang and engaging in criminal activity was the only option available to him to support his family, but it doesn’t lead them to happiness in the end. Unfortunately, this portrayal of the plight of people living in and around Juarez is probably very realistic, and the author rightly shines a light on the fact that the United States is complicit in creating this situation. Overall, this book wasn’t bad but I don’t see it having wide appeal for its intended audience.
How much is a life worth, if you are not really living? Set in Anapra, Mexico Arturo puts his life on the line for a friend. Landing himself in trouble with Los Libertadores, a local gang, will Santa Muerte help him or take him into her arms?
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very very very good. This book had so many levels I'm not sure I caught them all! There's Arturo's story, which in a way was a bit predictable but still shocking. There's gangs, money, drugs, murders, guns. There's topics of loneliness, human impact, anti-capitalism, family, the American dream, immigration, refugees. All of this spiralises around different imagery of the number five, skulls and Mexican Gods.
I also really liked how speech is written with the same punctuation as how it is written in Spanish.
I also really liked how speech is written with the same punctuation as how it is written in Spanish.
It okay and it was quick read also it was bit slow. the characters were okay but I didn't care about them and I think the first half better story then second half of story. I like how the book never shies away from challenging topics. And the cover of the book is stunning.
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes