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kbairbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Deadnaming, Drug use, and Transphobia
troisha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Transphobia
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Body horror, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Child abuse
akblair's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Deadnaming and Medical content
mryshells's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, and Transphobia
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Drug use, Dysphoria, Medical content, Physical abuse, Racism, and Vomit
emily_mh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
While the initial conflict of the ending felt anticlimactic,
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Deadnaming, Racism, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Body shaming, Animal death, Cursing, Alcohol, Drug use, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Car accident, Body horror, Vomit, Ableism, and Medical content
evilscientist's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Medical content, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Transphobia, Deadnaming, and Grief
Minor: Child death
genny's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Blood and Death
Moderate: Deadnaming, Grief, Medical content, Transphobia, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Murder
Yadriel gets deadnamed, though the name itself is never shown in the text. Though people in his family and community aren't actively hostile about his sexuality, some are still uncomfortable/confused and haven't fully accepted him. A character is described to have abusive parents. Some characters wake up in a hospital after being dealt with physical violence.elenamarmiroli's review against another edition
- 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
Vedere come la cultura ispanica è stata incorporata nel magic system, in maniera così organica e naturale è stato fantastico, soprattutto per tutto ciò che riguarda el Día de Muertos, festività che avevo studiato a scuola qualche hanno fa. Altra cosa che ho apprezzato è il fatto che l'autore ha lasciato in spagnolo i dialoghi che avvengo in tale lingua, senza invece tradurli come fanno ha volte altri scrittori, dando un esempio concreto del bilinguismo dei protagonisti.
Una altra cosa fenomenale è il personaggio di Julian, che così pieno di vita da farti scordare che
Altro punto a favore è come vengono trattate tutte le tematiche inerenti alla comunità lgbtq+, che vengono sempre affrontate in maniera impeccabile e sicuramente adatte al target per cui il libro era stato realizzato.
Unica pecca del libro è l'inizio che tende agli spiegoni ed è anche particolarmente lento. Per fortuna in seguito il ritmo della storia accelera, e gli spiegoni diminuiscono, fino a quasi scomparire.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Grief, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
hmatt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
To start - THIS was what I wanted from Mexican Gothic in terms of incorporating the culture. Not just a wee sprinkle here and there, you're in it. Fantastic. To add to this, I loved that not every Spanish phrase was translated. It felt like it was written for Latinx readers first, and other readers after. Very cool.
I always enjoy when the narrator matches the perspective character, and in this case that was true, but I felt that this narrator sometimes put weird emphasis on the wrong words in a sentence. It was like they hadn't read the passage in advance of reading it aloud and were surprised by its pacing. Words hang off the edge of sentences where you can tell how it was written is not how it's being read. However, I respect that the author/publisher sought out a trans, Latinx narrator and I guess this might just be a first-time-narrating thing.
Remainder of the review contains BIG spoilers.
I was left a little peeved that some minor plot bits weren't resolved. In these instances, it felt as though the author bit off a bit more than they could chew. Example: we never learn how Yadriel's mother really died - a car accident is mentioned but it's heavily hinted that there is more to the story. But we never circle back around to it.
I also felt like Maritza was brushed to the side in the latter half of the book. I know she technically got her glory and all that, but I would have preferred a bit more fanfare.
I left the book feeling a bit disappointed that it was a romance. There was a moment, when Luca was introduced, that I thought he could have been Julian's love interest. I think it could have been just as strong and interesting if this had been the case, or if no one was paired, but I can see the significance of Yadriel getting a romance plot too.
Now. Okay. Biggest piss off.
Did we really need to play into the "loner evil uncle" trope? I really think this book could have done better. And then it's just BRUSHED OFF by the family, even though we've repeatedly been told how important family is to these people. It didn't fit. Catriz as the uncle who is also isolated from the family but supports and stands up for Yadriel? Winner. So much potential. I was SEETHING when I figured out this was how it was going to go down.
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content and Murder
water_violin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Blood, Death, Murder, Racism, and Transphobia
Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, and Xenophobia