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welshbookfairy's review against another edition
5.0
Changed this to five star because this book has truly HAUNTED me. I initially dropped a star because I thought it should have/could have gone on for much longer but in all honesty, the impact of this novella is too powerful to give it anything less than 5.
andreag23's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. The storytelling is beautiful and vivid. The genre seems to be a mix - there is a bit of horror which feels like gothic, a bit of coming-of-age, a bit of romance. The narrative voice of the protagonist Mercy is quite dry, but this suits her well - accordingly, her narration is not very emotional and even the more dramatic events are not overdramatised.
Mercy becomes a farmer in the course of the plot, she loves to plant and work with plants. Meanwhile, La Llorona hovers over Mercy's life like an evil shadow throughout the plot, and I won't spoil how that turns out in the end. Depending on how you want to interpret the story, La Llorona could be seen as a spectre, an urban legend or even as a metaphor - a metaphor for everything that prevents people from living their lives to the full - because of anxiety, depression, worries or other problems. I really liked Mercy's character development and highly recommend this book.
Mercy becomes a farmer in the course of the plot, she loves to plant and work with plants. Meanwhile, La Llorona hovers over Mercy's life like an evil shadow throughout the plot, and I won't spoil how that turns out in the end. Depending on how you want to interpret the story, La Llorona could be seen as a spectre, an urban legend or even as a metaphor - a metaphor for everything that prevents people from living their lives to the full - because of anxiety, depression, worries or other problems. I really liked Mercy's character development and highly recommend this book.
jessbookscoffee91's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book!! Got to see Mercy and her friend Sherry grow up together and the history of La Llorona. The fear that Mercy and Sherry felt about her. You can feel and understand all the emotions.
Then seeing Mercy having to live life in her own with only a older man as a friend. Seeing her struggle with the pain of the loss of her best friend. Fear that she would be next.
A dark Hispanic fairytale that kept you wanting to read to learn more and see what’s going to happen next.
Would love to read more books like this!
Then seeing Mercy having to live life in her own with only a older man as a friend. Seeing her struggle with the pain of the loss of her best friend. Fear that she would be next.
A dark Hispanic fairytale that kept you wanting to read to learn more and see what’s going to happen next.
Would love to read more books like this!
seitenreise's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Obwohl ich zwischendurch das Gefühl hatte, dass es sich ein wenig im Kreis dreht, hat sich am Ende alles gefunden und ich bin extrem angetan von DeBlassies Stil, wie sie ihre Elemente und Details verwebt und am Ende eine Geschichte der Hoffnung und des Wachstums geschaffen hat.
tightgenes's review against another edition
4.0
ARC from Netgalley
This book is about a woman named Mercy who lives in New Mexico dealing with the trauma bestowed upon her from the generations of women before her. She's determined to make a life for herself despite La Llorona, the river witch who tries to drown the girls in her town and especially Mercy after a few close encounters. She feeds off the sadness of the women and girls and is determined to make them all live a life of complacent sorrow.
I really enjoyed this novella. The underlying threat at all times of La Llorona was just the tinge of spooky I like. It had uplifting moments of hope and creepy moments with the weeping woman to make an all around good read.
This book is about a woman named Mercy who lives in New Mexico dealing with the trauma bestowed upon her from the generations of women before her. She's determined to make a life for herself despite La Llorona, the river witch who tries to drown the girls in her town and especially Mercy after a few close encounters. She feeds off the sadness of the women and girls and is determined to make them all live a life of complacent sorrow.
I really enjoyed this novella. The underlying threat at all times of La Llorona was just the tinge of spooky I like. It had uplifting moments of hope and creepy moments with the weeping woman to make an all around good read.
vanquishingvolumes's review against another edition
4.0
A short novella about the grief of women that carries generational trauma within it, this story takes the legend of La Llarona and makes it feel like something happening next door. We follow a lonely young woman as she grows up haunted by tales of La Llarona, and seeing what the figure in white has done to other women in her small town. Women seem to be bred to be docile, to be subjected to the wims of uncaring men, to be mothers to daughters who may one day become the next victim. But some curses need to be broken.
My thanks for the opportunity to read this ARC, I thoroughly enjoyed this read!
My thanks for the opportunity to read this ARC, I thoroughly enjoyed this read!
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
5.0
4.5, round up
I admit that I am not really a raver. I tend to be fairly reserved in my praise. Regardless, I have to say that Weep, Woman, Weep is a truly exceptional story of surviving and escaping generational trauma (sometimes over generations, by virtue of dilution as much as individual grit). Through Mercy the reader is able to see the struggles and challenges of the endeavor—as well as the failures— and feel the exuberance of growth, revelation, freedom, and rejuvenation.
The writing is haunting and lyrical (quite gothic) and DeBlassie manages to relay the despair and dangers to Mercy’s (and the other young women of her town) without forcing the reader to sit through anything graphic for the shock factor. (It wasn’t needed.) The characters are likeable and distinct. The editing is clean and the cover is gorgeous. Whether you call it gothic horror, fairy-tales, or magical realism, I’ll be well up for more of DeBlassie’s writing.
I admit that I am not really a raver. I tend to be fairly reserved in my praise. Regardless, I have to say that Weep, Woman, Weep is a truly exceptional story of surviving and escaping generational trauma (sometimes over generations, by virtue of dilution as much as individual grit). Through Mercy the reader is able to see the struggles and challenges of the endeavor—as well as the failures— and feel the exuberance of growth, revelation, freedom, and rejuvenation.
The writing is haunting and lyrical (quite gothic) and DeBlassie manages to relay the despair and dangers to Mercy’s (and the other young women of her town) without forcing the reader to sit through anything graphic for the shock factor. (It wasn’t needed.) The characters are likeable and distinct. The editing is clean and the cover is gorgeous. Whether you call it gothic horror, fairy-tales, or magical realism, I’ll be well up for more of DeBlassie’s writing.
sturgesschildren3's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Mexico is rich is folklore and legends not just monsters and cartels 🙈😉
How the story came about the weeping woman is rather heart wrenching and frightful .
Growing up Mercy and Sherry were more like siblings than friends and neither really had it easy growing up and tensions are high with the “baptism” looming …
Mercy and Sherry have a run with La Llorona and life as they know it is about to change . Things happen to Mercy that she blame on La Llorona , she’s labelled as a witch and folks seem a little fearful but respectful of her farming skills , Sherry’s caught in an uphappy marriage and those mason jars filled with tears is just too much for me ….
Other than Sherry and Mercy I like Santos and the interest he shows and he’s not bothered by the rumour mill and Jesse James you’re a sweetheart .
P.S. Thise tears in the mason jars were put to good use 😉
How the story came about the weeping woman is rather heart wrenching and frightful .
Growing up Mercy and Sherry were more like siblings than friends and neither really had it easy growing up and tensions are high with the “baptism” looming …
Mercy and Sherry have a run with La Llorona and life as they know it is about to change . Things happen to Mercy that she blame on La Llorona , she’s labelled as a witch and folks seem a little fearful but respectful of her farming skills , Sherry’s caught in an uphappy marriage and those mason jars filled with tears is just too much for me ….
Other than Sherry and Mercy I like Santos and the interest he shows and he’s not bothered by the rumour mill and Jesse James you’re a sweetheart .
P.S. Thise tears in the mason jars were put to good use 😉
cup_o_joa's review against another edition
5.0
What a great story. This is a story of perseverance wrapped in speculative fiction and magical realism that weaves mystical/folkloric creature—La Llorona. It reminded me of Like Water For Chocolate.
While the small amount of dialogue threw my brain off at first it soon normalized it because I started to see it as an oral account (like when someone else passes down a story) in my head. I love the message within the story and the creative way the author used to tell it.
While the small amount of dialogue threw my brain off at first it soon normalized it because I started to see it as an oral account (like when someone else passes down a story) in my head. I love the message within the story and the creative way the author used to tell it.
renettereads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
I was offered a copy of Weep, Woman, Weep in exchange for an honest review. This was an incredibly gripping tale following Mercy who, having survived the Weeping Woman aka La Llorona, comes back unable to cry without causing a disaster. Storing her tears in jars whilst also trying to survive La Llorona’s torment, Mercy learns to grow and overcome.
Essentially about breaking ancestral curses, this book is incredibly moving and I found the character arc so fulfilling. It’s super snappy, mostly because there’s a lot of story to tell in this short novella, but the pace suits it well. I devoured this in a day. It was easy to love Mercy and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys curses, more gothic tales, and empowering stories.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide