Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

Mexická gotika by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Silvia Moreno-Garcia

38 reviews

lovelybibliomanic's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Incest, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, and Death

Moderate: Cannibalism and Child death

alloftaysreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This was a slow up hill roller coaster of a read. The building up to the main plot twist assisted in an ending that I could not stop reading. Finished this book at 2 am with a look of “holy crap” on my face. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

pumpkinpit's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Sexual harassment, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Cannibalism, Incest, and Panic attacks/disorders

kaylee1957's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Loved the dark tense elements if this book and all the Botanical imagery. Loved Naomi as main character. The reveal of the horror/haunt felt to fantastical and unbelievable. The ending felt to happy ending. This is the reason I have it 3.5 stars. Wished it could have rated it higher. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, and Vomit

Minor: Death of parent, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Panic attacks/disorders

brookey8888's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This starts out slow, but I was interested in what was going on the whole time. I really loved Our main character she made me laugh. Also there’s a romance which obviously isn’t the main plot but I’m a sucker for it. I also like some of the topics/themes discussed in this as well. I wasn’t scared or grossed out tbh but I still enjoyed this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Violence

soundlysmitten'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? It's complicated

4.0

In a decadent, decaying manor, high above the rural town of El Triunfo, lives a strange English family. The year is 1950 and the mines the Doyles came to exploit have been in disrepair for decades, but still, the standoffish brood remains isolated a top the hill. Noemí Taboada, a socialite from Mexico City, is an unwelcome visitor. Having received a chilling letter from her cousin Catalina, who recently married into the Doyle family, Noemí arrives at High Place concerned for her wellbeing. The Doyles claim that Catalina is ill with tuberculosis and experiencing feverish delusions, but they are suspiciously controlling and prevent Noemí from spending more than a few minutes with Catalina at a time. As the days drag on, Noemí clashes with the family and feels increasingly powerless to help her cousin. When she starts having disturbing visions of her own, Noemí becomes even more desperate to sort things out and depart. But things get a whole lot weirder before the dark reality of Catalina’s illness and the house’s horrific secrets are finally revealed.

Mexican Gothic combines Latin American magic realism and historical suspense with mystery, horror, and a hint of romance. The narrative is told in third person. The beginning mostly details the dreary aspects of life at High Place. But then a series of abnormal events occur, and bizarre supernatural circumstances ultimately bring the story to a head.

This book is full of beautifully crafted depictions of unsettling things that freaked me out to the point of sleeping with the lights on. It might not be the best read for those who prefer a faster paced novel, but the writing is so atmospheric that I personally found even the instances of monotony engrossing. I did not so enjoy the most grotesque horrors, but I’m a wimp and I get sleep paralysis so I’m surprised I even picked this story up… still, no regrets.

Although most of the cast is unlikeable, I was rather fond of the main character. Capable, clever, outspoken, and flirty, Noemí is a strong heroine, but not in a stereotypical way. People underestimate her, but she challenges the standards that say to be feminine is to be weak and that a woman who fancies fashion and fun is just silly or slutty or shallow. As the author has pointed out, we don’t see many Mexican characters portrayed as anything other than maids and laborers in spite of the different socio-economic classes that exist. But Noemí comes from a degree of privilege, and her position also helps embolden her in dealing with the Doyles.

At the start, it seems like the Doyles all have relatively flat personalities. But what lies beneath the family’s austere demeanor is a sadistic ruthlessness. Shy, kind Francis is the only one with any redeemable qualities. Despite being raised up in a household of white supremacists with misplaced humanity, he does not see the world their way or behave like the rest of them. He stays passive far too long, but abuse is all he’s ever known, and it’s important to recognize how hard such things can be to escape.

In terms of messaging, Mexican Gothic contrasts the use of old gothic tropes with a modern discourse on the state of the world, broaching issues like colonialism, racism, and eugenics. The setting makes use of a less referenced part of Mexico's history. And while examining the limits of a woman’s autonomy in 1950s Mexico, the narrative also touches upon the violations women have faced across the world for millennia. I just wish it didn’t depend on repeated descriptions of sexual harassment and assault to get its point across. Certain parts felt a bit excessive to me and I’m not sure all of the graphic content was necessary.

The only other thing I wish was different is the exploration of Catalina’s character. I would’ve liked her to play a bigger role in the story, seeing as she was the whole reason Noemi ended up at High Place.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Minor: Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Vomit

redthistle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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? Yes

4.5

I am not someone to typically reads books in the horror genre, however, I do love gothic literature and decided to dip a toe this spooky season with Mexican Gothic.

Overall I very much enjoyed reading this book. This book hits all the right notes for a gothic novel with an eerie house full of secrets, an old money family that isn't quite right, and a bright and go getting outsider willing to do what it takes to save her cousin from a terrible fate.
I thought the atmosphere that was built throughout the novel was beautiful and haunting. It kept me reading and captivated me from start to finish.
I loved Noemí as a main character. She was intelligent, loyal, and brave in the face of true horror and her perspective was delightful and easy to step into.

Some spoilers on my thoughts about the horror elements of this story and what the most horrifying element was for me.

I thought the device of the mycelium as the vehicle for the horror of the house and its family was clever and interesting. I had a feeling early on, with the foreshadowing of Francis' love of mushrooms, that the mold was going to be what was causing people in the house to have hallucinations.
I think for me though the true horror that turned my stomach laced through the entire novel was the power the men held over women. Stripping away the body horror and the magical mushrooms you are left with a reality all too many women know. Men who take what they want and care not for the people they step on and break in the process. The constant threat of sexual violence that Noemí was under the entire time had my stomach turning and me cringing. Not to mention the Doyle women who were all used and abused to the point of their children being eaten and their bodies being used as mulch to create more mushrooms for the men to exploit. This element of the story was, for me, the most horrifying and unsettling.

For me, a major factor whether I like a scary story is in the ending. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending of this book. It left me very satisfied and if you like gothic literature (and make sure to check the content warning since this is a horror) I recommend you give this book a try.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Colonisation, Confinement, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

The theme of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape runs very heavily through this book and could be upsetting to those with trauma stemming from these topics.

carodonahue's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

The writing in this was beautiful and the setting and characters well-drawn. I thought I’d try something spooky around Halloween, and while the ghost and haunted elements were quite engaging, I found the sexual violence, or more accurately the threat of it, incredibly disturbing and at several points considered setting the book aside. I was curious enough to finish, but I found this further into real life terror rather than otherworldly horror and would not have chosen it had I known it was intense in that way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Minor: Rape, Torture, and Violence

mateoj's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Never in my life have I been  more grateful that a book doesn't have pictures.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Cannibalism, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Child abuse, Colonisation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Racism

hellscape_princess's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug use, Body horror, Racism, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Slavery, Sexual violence, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Incest and Forced institutionalization