Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

186 reviews

jovanh's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This was exactly what you'd expect from a Gothic horror story:

• Moldering Victorian mansion
• An aristacratic family with secrets
• Gaslighting
• Creepy dreams

If you enjoy this genre, as I do, this book will fit the bill. That said, I felt like I knew what was going on pretty early. That could be because I've a bit too much Gothic horror. Or it could be due to the author's repeated description and motifs. Regardless it's was a fun read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Gaslighting, Incest, Classism, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Sexual violence, Racism, Sexual assault, Rape, and Infertility

Minor: Mental illness, Child death, Abortion, Suicide, and Cannibalism

karinreadsalot's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

1.0

DNF at 53% 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Sexual harassment, and Mental illness

Moderate: Vomit, Sexual assault, and Gore

mypoormeatball's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This was a truly excellent example of horror exploring patriarchy, white supremacy, imperialism, cycles of abuse both personal and systemic, AND how those cycles can begin to be broken. All wrapped up in a deliciously intriguing mystery with a touch of romance — a truly epic haunted house story. I think this book will be taught in colleges someday to students studying  postcolonial and intersectional novels. 

While some of the symbolism is a bit on the nose, I think that’s in the legacy of great haunted house novels!  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Body horror, Cannibalism, and Child death

Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Murder, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Incest

Minor: Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Miscarriage, Slavery, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Colonisation, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

flygonjinn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Medical content, Gun violence, Death, Emotional abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Rape and Xenophobia

emsavors's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

What was that???

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Sexual assault, Murder, Vomit, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Genocide, Gun violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Self harm

a_bow's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Gore, Classism, Xenophobia, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Incest, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Misogyny, Mental illness, Infertility, Fire/Fire injury, Chronic illness, Blood, Racism, Death, Child death, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexual assault

adrienne_rennie's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Violence, Death, Medical content, Sexual assault, Blood, Colonisation, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Classism, Gore, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Cannibalism, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, and Rape

saracgeib's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Child death, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Death, Gun violence, Colonisation, and Blood

Moderate: Incest, Suicide, Violence, Rape, Miscarriage, Murder, Racism, and Misogyny

hexentart's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

An interesting premise, intriguing plot, and a deplorable cast of characters.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It obviously held my interest, but it's rare to not positively engage with any character. 

Catalina and Ruth get a pass, but the rest of the characters were either sick, twisted, and thoroughly evil, shallow, self-centered, and pompous, or just woefully pathetic.

Noemi, the FMC/protagonist, is nothing more than a wilful, spoiled, rich girl with delusions of grandeur. She's flaky as hell, uppity, shallow, manipulative, and pig-headed. Not to mention her naivety. She's quite obnoxious and annoying. 

I honestly didn't care if any of them made it out alive, but the writing held my interest until the very end. I needed to see how this all resolved; good, bad, or ugly. 

Now that's not to say I didn't enjoy the book, it just wasn't quite what I expected. The world building, lore, and horror was top-notch. The characters were well fleshed out and felt quite real; they were all just awful people. 

If you're a sensitive reader I implore you to mind your squicks. There's a lot of abuse, gaslighting, and body horror within this book. 

I enjoyed it, but YMMV of course. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Chronic illness, Misogyny, Body horror, Classism, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Incest, and Mental illness

emzinator's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

4.75

This book has a sleepy lull in the first half - but don't worry, it picks up SO much. I think this book reads almost like a screenplay, and I hope the Hulu limited series gets back on track! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual harassment, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Gore

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Drug use, Incest, Gaslighting, Blood, Confinement, Child death, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Murder