Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

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

145 reviews

hmatt's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

I was really intrigued by the genre fusion, but it sorely disappointed me. I suppose there's a case for the author saying something by differentiating whether a character was "good" or "evil" based on whether or not they spoke Spanish, but I really didn't feel the Mexican part of Mexican Gothic particularly stood out to me. The first chapter introduces this really interesting urban historical Mexico, and then we immediately pivot to the middle of nowhere and never return to that setting.

I found the character development to be weak and I was not convinced by any of the close relationships, including the romantic one. I was put off by how drawn-out the lead-up was for just a few teeny itsy-bitsy action scenes. The horror elements echo the likes of Jeff VanderMeer's Annihilation and Rory Power's Wilder Girls. I intend to read Authority next and I recently finished Wilder Girls, so it could be over saturation, but I just didn't find any of the descriptions of the Gloom to be as compelling as comparable descriptions in these other novels.

I think this all sounds very negative, but the writing itself is solid and the premise is interesting. It reads a lot like YA except for a few random R-rated bits. I just feel like it's been done before, and better.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, Incest, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, and Murder

Minor: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

silviaaa's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Cannibalism

mercurial's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

both content warning and spoiler:

could really do without the rape and attempted rape

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Cannibalism

keen's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and Mass/school shootings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, and Xenophobia

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infertility, and Suicidal thoughts

gabibrose's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Mexican Gothic has all the ingredients for an alluring gothic horror; a strong-willed heroine, a spooky house, a reclusive family and a hidden secret. When Noemí Taboada receives an alarming message from her cousin Catalina, stating an impending doom, she sets off to the Mexican countryside to ensure her cousin’s health and safety. Noemí arrives at High Place, the ancestral home of Catalina’s new English in-law’s, and what she finds during her stay incites horrors beyond her imagination. 

Silvia Moreno-Garcia weaves insightful historical tidbits of 1950’s Mexico with disturbing imagery that slithers through the mind to paint a nightmarish gallery. Perhaps the story’s most unforgettable moments come from the acutely crafted atmosphere, extending off the page and allowing readers to experience a chilly draft or disorienting fog along with the characters. Moreno-Garcia took care with the construction of our heroine, Noemí, who could have been written off as a frivolous socialite but instead possesses a ferocity and self-awareness that bring her to life. The finale of this novel is not to be overlooked, as it incites some of the most ghoulish and heart racing storytelling I’ve read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Excrement

fionac326's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, and Cannibalism

debussy's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Vomit

sorcha's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, and Violence

Moderate: Incest, Sexual content, and Cannibalism

Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, and Rape

samchase112's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This was a beautifully crafted novel about truly horrific things. The world Moreno-Garcia created is beautiful and terrifying all at once, yet so intricate I couldn't help but be impressed. As the mystery unfolded I was pulled into the story and the strange beauty of the Doyle world. Noemí was a strong and curious character, and I loved her as the narrator. Readers are able to find things out about the Doyle house along with her, and she never made a decision where I wanted to scream at her. I was surprised by how immersive this book was, and how beautiful the writing was. I highly recommend it, especially as a spooky October or chilling winter read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Incest, Violence, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Gore, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Blood

Minor: Child death, Confinement, and Sexual content

icfasntw's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Racism