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jenn_magoo's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the copy of this e-arc for my honest review.
Wow, this story packs a punch. The author draws you in from the first chapter. I immediately connected to the main character and loved the generational history of her family, as well as the horror. The chapters were nicely broken down to read more about history of Alejandra's family and the folklore surrounding this entity. I loved getting to know about Mexican folklore. Just be aware of the trigger warnings of mental health and suicide.
The cover is absolutely gorgeous, loved the strong female characters and I will be sure to check out V. Castro back-list of books. 5 Stars
Wow, this story packs a punch. The author draws you in from the first chapter. I immediately connected to the main character and loved the generational history of her family, as well as the horror. The chapters were nicely broken down to read more about history of Alejandra's family and the folklore surrounding this entity. I loved getting to know about Mexican folklore. Just be aware of the trigger warnings of mental health and suicide.
The cover is absolutely gorgeous, loved the strong female characters and I will be sure to check out V. Castro back-list of books. 5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness
keatynbergsten's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
shereadytoread's review
dark
emotional
fast-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? Yes
4.0
This is a book that follows a lot of large themes and pushes them into an easily followed horror story. In being haunted by La Llorona, she truly being haunted by depression, motherhood, adoption trauma, generational trauma, feelings of inadequacy and feelings of alienation from her own culture. The imagery of this haunting figure is well-done, striking and pretty creepy. Switching between every day unhappy domestic life, horrific apparitions, and flashbacks to Alejandra's ancestors from whom she has lost connection. This book is a paranormal haunting, but takes on more of a psychological haunting feel as she deals with her depression and trauma. I thought this book had a lot of wonderful commentary around connecting with a clinician that you can relate to culturally and the importance of the therapeutic relationship.
Disclaimer: I received a gifted ARC
Disclaimer: I received a gifted ARC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child death, Body horror, Suicide attempt, and Miscarriage
chloesnotscared's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Mental illness and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy, Racism, and Violence
readyourbookshelf's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ARC provided for review through NetGalley
Alejandra knows what she is: a Mexican American woman, adopted as an infant and grown into a mother who puts everyone before herself. Now if only she could figure out who she wants to be. Quietly weeping in the shower one evening, the voice inside her head reminds her how worthless she is. But when the shape moving in the mist causes her to second guess where that small voice originated, Alejandra starts down a path of investigation and self-discovery.
I really enjoyed this book. It was generational trauma all the way down. . . but in a good way? This book is a story of not only the trauma that makes its way down the family line, but also the strength. While Alejandra is the protagonist, we are given multiple POVs throughout history that give us a clearer picture of where it all came from: the fortitude and the pain. The connections between Alejandra and the women she chooses to take her journey with are wonderful.
There are a few places where the dialogue felt a little stilted and the moral of the story felt a little heavy handed, but it still did exactly what it set out to do, which is talk about how we find our place in the world and how it is always easier when we find a tribe, be it blood relations or found family. Each of the characters is interesting and rooting for Alejandra, which makes the things happening to her all the more horrific. This is a horror story about hope and that is one of my favorite things. I highly recommend checking it out.
Alejandra knows what she is: a Mexican American woman, adopted as an infant and grown into a mother who puts everyone before herself. Now if only she could figure out who she wants to be. Quietly weeping in the shower one evening, the voice inside her head reminds her how worthless she is. But when the shape moving in the mist causes her to second guess where that small voice originated, Alejandra starts down a path of investigation and self-discovery.
I really enjoyed this book. It was generational trauma all the way down. . . but in a good way? This book is a story of not only the trauma that makes its way down the family line, but also the strength. While Alejandra is the protagonist, we are given multiple POVs throughout history that give us a clearer picture of where it all came from: the fortitude and the pain. The connections between Alejandra and the women she chooses to take her journey with are wonderful.
There are a few places where the dialogue felt a little stilted and the moral of the story felt a little heavy handed, but it still did exactly what it set out to do, which is talk about how we find our place in the world and how it is always easier when we find a tribe, be it blood relations or found family. Each of the characters is interesting and rooting for Alejandra, which makes the things happening to her all the more horrific. This is a horror story about hope and that is one of my favorite things. I highly recommend checking it out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Colonisation, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Minor: War, Dementia, and Infidelity
magalis's review
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey/Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to love this one, but it just wasn't what I expected. I think the premise is great, and the horror is (for the most part) well-done, but the book itself falls flat. I do think with some editing and some polishing this could still end up being a good book, but as it currently stands (unpublished, expected out in April), it needs some work.
The good:
*I thought that the monster was really well done! The descriptions of it and its actions were genuinely creepy. The little segments at the end of the flashback chapters where we learned more about its origins were interesting.
*The premise itself is very interesting. The idea of a monster preying on generations of women, and the cultural aspects from Mexico that were brought in were interesting, and I wish there had been more of them.
The less good:
*I found the dialogue really stilted and awkward throughout (no one in real life actually talks like the people in this book). There were a lot of weird monologues that very much felt out of place, and all of the therapy parts felt like they were copied straight out of a psychology textbook example conversation. Pretty much whenever the characters were having a serious conversation I got pulled straight out of the story because of how awkward the dialog felt.
*I felt like this relied a lot on body horror, lots of descriptions of periods and childbirth and general female pain, which is fine, but not my cup of tea. (TW for rape, blood, and suicide throughout)
*The alternating chapter structure could use some work. The ancestor stories jump aren't chronological so you don't really get a good grasp on how the generational trauma is building.
*The final flashback chapter, featuring the original La Llorona, felt tacked on at the end, kind of like an afterthought. It didn't feel necessary.
*The pace of the book was very slow. A lot of time was spent on Alejandra's mental state, which was fine, but it really felt repetitive and boring after awhile. A book this length would normally take me about a week to finish, but this took me over a month because I just wasn't invested enough to want to pick it up and keep reading.
I really wanted to love this one, but it just wasn't what I expected. I think the premise is great, and the horror is (for the most part) well-done, but the book itself falls flat. I do think with some editing and some polishing this could still end up being a good book, but as it currently stands (unpublished, expected out in April), it needs some work.
The good:
*I thought that the monster was really well done! The descriptions of it and its actions were genuinely creepy. The little segments at the end of the flashback chapters where we learned more about its origins were interesting.
*The premise itself is very interesting. The idea of a monster preying on generations of women, and the cultural aspects from Mexico that were brought in were interesting, and I wish there had been more of them.
The less good:
*I found the dialogue really stilted and awkward throughout (no one in real life actually talks like the people in this book). There were a lot of weird monologues that very much felt out of place, and all of the therapy parts felt like they were copied straight out of a psychology textbook example conversation. Pretty much whenever the characters were having a serious conversation I got pulled straight out of the story because of how awkward the dialog felt.
*I felt like this relied a lot on body horror, lots of descriptions of periods and childbirth and general female pain, which is fine, but not my cup of tea. (TW for rape, blood, and suicide throughout)
*The alternating chapter structure could use some work. The ancestor stories jump aren't chronological so you don't really get a good grasp on how the generational trauma is building.
*The final flashback chapter, featuring the original La Llorona, felt tacked on at the end, kind of like an afterthought. It didn't feel necessary.
*The pace of the book was very slow. A lot of time was spent on Alejandra's mental state, which was fine, but it really felt repetitive and boring after awhile. A book this length would normally take me about a week to finish, but this took me over a month because I just wasn't invested enough to want to pick it up and keep reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Abandonment, Blood, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Violence, Sexual content, Infidelity, Rape, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Dementia
readingwithtrey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
I was nervous to start this book as I didn't have any idea of what to expect. I make it a point to read books with subject matter from different cultures as much as I can, but I was nervous that I had bit off more than I could chew with this one. What I found, however, was much more than I could have ever expected.
This book starts with Alejandra in the thick of post-partum depression. I seriously read the first 10-15% of the book through tears because I could relate so much to Alejandra's experience. I suffered from post-partum depression after my first child and it felt like the deepest, darkest pit and I'd never be able to get out of it. I'm grateful to have had an amazing support system that helped me get out of it. I really felt for Alejandra as she didn't have that support at home. I think this aspect of the book was done extremely well, and I appreciated that the author used therapy and talked so much about Alejandra not just healing for her children, but also healing for herself because she was just as important.
This book was SO creepy. It is the perfect spooky season read and if you're looking for horror, this one definitely takes the cake. It was so spooky that I almost wasn't sure I'd be able to finish it. I would say the story is medium paced, but I needed to know how it ended so I couldn't put it down. I didn't have any problems with the timelines and thought that the overall story timeline was done well.
Overall, this creeped me out so so so much, but it had a great underlying message and I would highly recommend it!
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book starts with Alejandra in the thick of post-partum depression. I seriously read the first 10-15% of the book through tears because I could relate so much to Alejandra's experience. I suffered from post-partum depression after my first child and it felt like the deepest, darkest pit and I'd never be able to get out of it. I'm grateful to have had an amazing support system that helped me get out of it. I really felt for Alejandra as she didn't have that support at home. I think this aspect of the book was done extremely well, and I appreciated that the author used therapy and talked so much about Alejandra not just healing for her children, but also healing for herself because she was just as important.
This book was SO creepy. It is the perfect spooky season read and if you're looking for horror, this one definitely takes the cake. It was so spooky that I almost wasn't sure I'd be able to finish it. I would say the story is medium paced, but I needed to know how it ended so I couldn't put it down. I didn't have any problems with the timelines and thought that the overall story timeline was done well.
Overall, this creeped me out so so so much, but it had a great underlying message and I would highly recommend it!
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Mental illness
taratearex's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Wow this book was incredibly unique, it's a horror book, but it is so much more and is really genre bending, and expanding!
A retelling of the La Llorona legend told through generational trauma, and battling our own demons, figuratively and literally. A story of familial and community love, of self care and living as our authentic selves.
It's got gore and incredibly creepy scenes that'll make your skin crawl, but it's also this inspiring and beautiful story of overcoming hardship and finding inner strength.
I definitely recommend this if you're a fan of horror, but also if you're a fan or multi-generational stories, and stories about strong women.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the e-arc!
A retelling of the La Llorona legend told through generational trauma, and battling our own demons, figuratively and literally. A story of familial and community love, of self care and living as our authentic selves.
It's got gore and incredibly creepy scenes that'll make your skin crawl, but it's also this inspiring and beautiful story of overcoming hardship and finding inner strength.
I definitely recommend this if you're a fan of horror, but also if you're a fan or multi-generational stories, and stories about strong women.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the e-arc!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Gore, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Child death
onemorepagecrew's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
4.5
The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro is one of the rare books that blends horror and literary writing, creating a tense environment that still manages to have reflections on the society and human nature. I will say upfront that this is a disturbing read with content warnings that should be checked, especially if you have sensitivities to postpartum depression or anxiety.
The story centers on Alejandra, who is struggling to find joy and purpose in her life as a wife and mother. She begins to have paranormal visions that are rooted in child loss and heartbreak, so she begins to search for her family history. She also begins to work with a therapist who specializes in generational curses, to try and break her family’s cycles.
At its heart this is a version of the ghost story of La Llorona. It paints a vivid and often visceral portrayal of a haunting. It’s an accurate usage of the label “horror” in that the imagery is often repulsive or upsetting, and though I have a high tolerance for disturbing books, this one had me wincing at times.
I really loved the way the generational curse was unfolded and understood, and the way womanhood and sisterhood were portrayed as a bond that doesn’t end when life on Earth does. I thought the author did a fantastic job weaving in Alejandra’s adoption experience and her journey towards understanding her Mexican heritage, while keeping the tension in place.
Rating: 4.5 / 5.0, with the only piece keeping it from a 5.0 being the repetitive descriptions of the encounters, which is a minor note. Overall, I was really happy to read this book and glad for an accurately labeled horror novel that gave character depth. And the cover – so stunning, the perfect juxtaposition to the content inside.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the advanced copy in exchange for my review – I was thrilled to read it!
Content warnings: Self-harm, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Postpartum depression, Postpartum anxiety, Body horror
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Body horror, and Child death
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