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kristinajoy07's review
dark
reflective
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
3.75
arcalie's review against another edition
dark
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
1.5
I really enjoyed her previous work, Goddess of Filth
so I had hopes for this one, especially it's also containing La Llorona, but this book absolutely did nothing for me personally.
It was all children, motherhood, maternity, spirituality and ancestry - rich topics all in themselves, but they were all so blandly and poorly executed, none of these things I can truly relate to, so that for sure didn't help.
To me, it was repetitive, sluggish and preachy. The dialogue and monologue felt unrealistic and just a lot of train of thought barely going anywhere. It felt too constructed, too sentimental, too cheap self-help'y.
I know that this is also a very personal thing, but I could not feel anything with or for the main character and that constant mentioning of her children and her babies.. Was just too much for me. The stories of her ancestors were slightly more interesting, but in the end didn't add much. The creature was just something that went along for the ride.
2 stars because I like Goddess of Filth so much and there were some rare moments I felt engaged.
so I had hopes for this one, especially it's also containing La Llorona, but this book absolutely did nothing for me personally.
It was all children, motherhood, maternity, spirituality and ancestry - rich topics all in themselves, but they were all so blandly and poorly executed, none of these things I can truly relate to, so that for sure didn't help.
To me, it was repetitive, sluggish and preachy. The dialogue and monologue felt unrealistic and just a lot of train of thought barely going anywhere. It felt too constructed, too sentimental, too cheap self-help'y.
I know that this is also a very personal thing, but I could not feel anything with or for the main character and that constant mentioning of her children and her babies.. Was just too much for me. The stories of her ancestors were slightly more interesting, but in the end didn't add much. The creature was just something that went along for the ride.
2 stars because I like Goddess of Filth so much and there were some rare moments I felt engaged.
elevingston1's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
2.5
esther_habs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
burghbooksandbrews's review
5.0
This book was not at all what I was expecting, and I loved it. What a beautifully haunting story. This novel deals so powerfully with topics such as motherhood, depression, and multigenerational trauma told through a horror lens utilizing Mexican folklore.
Following Alejandra, a woman struggling in her marriage with feelings of hopelessness after giving up everything to be a mother, it soon becomes clear that her family may have a history of women struggling in similar ways (and it may not just be genetics). This was such an interesting take on the La Llorona story and I don’t want to say too much more there because it is worth reading for yourself!
This was my first work by V. Castro and certainly won’t be my last. She has such an engaging writing style that kept me gripped throughout the story. I love that this was told through vignettes and gave us different POVs as we learned about the female ancestors of Alejandra and the similar struggles that they went through. Flor in particular was very interesting as we learn about her involvement in the Mexican Revolution.
This story was just such an interesting take on a traditional haunting story, and I cannot recommend it enough for horror fans!
Following Alejandra, a woman struggling in her marriage with feelings of hopelessness after giving up everything to be a mother, it soon becomes clear that her family may have a history of women struggling in similar ways (and it may not just be genetics). This was such an interesting take on the La Llorona story and I don’t want to say too much more there because it is worth reading for yourself!
This was my first work by V. Castro and certainly won’t be my last. She has such an engaging writing style that kept me gripped throughout the story. I love that this was told through vignettes and gave us different POVs as we learned about the female ancestors of Alejandra and the similar struggles that they went through. Flor in particular was very interesting as we learn about her involvement in the Mexican Revolution.
This story was just such an interesting take on a traditional haunting story, and I cannot recommend it enough for horror fans!
lukakay's review
dark
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
bookish_withsky's review
4.0
A haunting, beautiful book that I think a lot of moms out there could or would greatly appreciate and relate to on some level. I think this is a great bookclub discussion book. There were moments when the dialogue felt weird and clunky, but the atmosphere, story, and general writing were phenomenal.
lareske's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
5.0
harriett4's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.0
chaiteaandbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to PRH Audio for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
Haunting is absolutely the exact word I would use to describe this story. This story takes depression and post-partum to a new level, adding in supernatural entities into a familial line of cursed women. V Castro takes absolutely normal feelings in motherhood and adds in outside forces that amplify them. I wasn't prepared for the turn this took with the La Llorna story, but I'm not mad about it. Overall a good listen.
Alejandra has 3 children who she loves very much, but is constantly overwhelmed with. Her spouse is not a partner, and is no help. They moved away from her birth mother not long after she found her. But she needs help. She seeks out a therapist who might be able to help. Because she is seeing things. Things that shouldn't be there. Things that are telling her to do terrible things. And it's time she stood up to the things she is seeing.
Haunting is absolutely the exact word I would use to describe this story. This story takes depression and post-partum to a new level, adding in supernatural entities into a familial line of cursed women. V Castro takes absolutely normal feelings in motherhood and adds in outside forces that amplify them. I wasn't prepared for the turn this took with the La Llorna story, but I'm not mad about it. Overall a good listen.
Alejandra has 3 children who she loves very much, but is constantly overwhelmed with. Her spouse is not a partner, and is no help. They moved away from her birth mother not long after she found her. But she needs help. She seeks out a therapist who might be able to help. Because she is seeing things. Things that shouldn't be there. Things that are telling her to do terrible things. And it's time she stood up to the things she is seeing.