Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

303 reviews

tiudragonfly's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

It’s really disturbing to say the least. Wished I didn’t read it, I’m still disgusted 🤢

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

brookiebridge's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

This was an intense, fascinating book with incredibly vivid and beautiful description and imagery. The author did an amazing job fleshing out the characters, and I absolutely adore Naomi, the main character and I was rooting for her the whole time. Themes of the impact of abuse and colonialism are woven throughout this tense story. I couldn’t put the book down and was listening to it at all opportunities. It’s wonderful and creepy from the beginning to the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Incest, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, and Classism

Minor: Gun violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Although there is no explicit rape in the book, there is a consistent fear and threat of rape, and a nightmares in which the main character is raped by being unnaturally coerced into wanting to have sex. Some characters have an unnatural ability to make others feel uncontrollable lust for them, which they use to threaten or attempt rape. There is also a forced kiss, and people viewing the main character naked against her will, and appearing to her naked against her will.

amandadevoursbooks's review against another edition

slow-paced

• 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

4.25

This is a gothic novel. Highly recommend reading more about how gothics are paced before diving in, but it has a gloriously haunted house, an irritating heroine, and a family filled with gruesome, disturbing secrets. I loved it, but I know it's not for everyone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Incest, Racism, and Colonisation

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

cavefly's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

ghoulishshark's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicide, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

maroonedpeaches's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book was fantastic. The pace was just slow enough to keep you on the edge of tense and deeply curious as small pieces of the puzzle came together. I loved the exploration of colonial repercussions in Mexico and the awful legacy of racism/eugenics that is passed down ideologically through families.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

piphux's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Murder, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Minor: Drug use, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

kelly_e's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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? No

3.0

Title: Mexican Gothic
Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Genre: Gothic Horror
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: June 30, 2020

T H R E E • W O R D S

Edgy • Atmospheric • Creative

📖 S Y N O P S I S

When her father receives a frantic letter from his niece begging someone to save her, he enlists Noemi's help, sending her to High Place in the Mexican countryside. Trading her glamourous lifestyle for amateur sleuthing, Noemi doesn't know what to expect when she arrives. She certainly isn't afraid: not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.

Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Of course, I'd seen and heard all of the hype surrounding Mexican Gothic when it was originally published a few years ago. Honestly, I had no interest in picking it up until it landed on the 2023 Canada Reads shortlist. Even then, I was hesitant as it's not a genre I gravitate towards. In my opinion, it was a rather odd pick for the shortlist. Nonetheless one of my reading goals each year is to read all five contenders ahead of the debates, so I decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised until I got about two-thirds of the way through and it took such a disturbing turn and lost me.

What I like:
• the writing. The writing is phenomenal. So engrossing. So cinematic. So mysterious. So atmospheric.
• the house. The house is its own character and I cannot recall ever reading one quite like this. In addition, the historic setting helped create an unsettling feeling that something wasn't quite right.
• the beginning. Through the first 50%, I was pleasantly surprised and entertained by the narrative. There was more tension and mystery building that anything else.
• the audio. The audio is very well done, and adds an extra layer to the atmosphere.

What I didn't like:
• the second half. The plot started getting weirder and weirder (when it didn't need to). There was significantly more gore and grotesque subject matter. And the story lost me at this point. I don't even think it needed to go the places it when in order to be successful. In fact, I think it would have been better if it hadn't gone that route at all.
• the pacing. The pacing felt extremely slow to begin with (which I was fine with), and yet somehow when I got to the strange twist it felt like it came out of nowhere and the pacing shifted gears to the point it felt rushed.
• the twist. Ugh. It felt unnecessary. And some of the scenes where incredibly unsettling to the point I don't even think they served the story at all. It left me with an icky feeling (which is probably the point), but I read to enjoy myself and it just wasn't enjoyable at all.

Overall, Mexican Gothic is an incredibly creative and disturbing story set in an old house and filled with family secrets. There are certainly some underlying social commentaries on racism and colonialism, but I didn't necessarily find the novel overly thought-provoking or perspective shifting in that regard. In fact, I think it went places it didn't need to go simply to add shock value. It's quite clear I am not the intended audience,, but if gothic horror is your thing than you'll probably love this book.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who like secluded settings
• fans of haunted houses

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"After all, nothing in this place was what it seemed."

"The future, she thought, could no be predicted, and the shape of things could not be divined." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Mental illness, Suicide, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation

maresuju's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Xenophobia, Blood, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Suicide and Vomit

modernmatilda's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

CHECK YA CONTENT WARNINGS

My sister in law has been trying to convince me to read this book for ages. I finally caved when she invited me to her book club where we'd be reading this book for the first meeting. 

I am FLOORED. This book is a fantastic ride that kept me in a chokehold the last three HOURS of the audiobook. It has a FIERCE female protagonist, the most vial and disgusting villains, a thrilling ending, and the kind of nature-body-horror shiz I love. 

I wouldn't blanket recommend this to everyone because of the content warnings, but I would recommend this to anyone looking for a gothic thrilling horror with a great edge of your seat reading experience. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail