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sonaea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I really liked the first half (4+ stars) though there are a lot of problematic things in there (esp. in the later half) that aren't handled very well/believably (~2 stars).
At the start there's not a lot of plot but rather a lot of just the vibes of dark, creepy houses, though the plot picks up at about the middle. I was surprised by the solution to the puzzle as I did not expect
I really liked that Noemí is headstrong, intelligent and doesn't let people run her over. That made an interesting protagonist and the setting was quite nice too as I haven't read many books set in historic Mexico (though that wasn't really in the focus of the story).
What could have used a bit more work is the pacing (at the first half of the book next to nothing happens, it's just all vibes and setting and only the slightest hints, while in the second half it's reveal after reveal). I would have liked that to be more stretched out in the book.
Also the action scenes at the end were not written like action scenes but rather just the same as the scenes about the setting (short descriptions, all the sentences about the same length, no focus on anything. There was next to no suspense in the writing. The only bit of suspense came from the plot though that wasn't a lot because
!!! Also there are a LOT of pretty heavy topics in this book, some CNs would have been appreciated!!!
CN r*pe:
That's a part where I think some character work would have been necessary. Her reacting shocked and then continuing as if normal really doesn't fit the situation.
CN c*n*balism:
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Misogyny, Incest, Sexual assault, Murder, Classism, and Racism
Moderate: Terminal illness, Suicide, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual violence, Stalking, Gore, Gun violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Vomit and Miscarriage
There are A LOT of problematic things happening. Most are mentioned, the description style of the book isn't one that goes into detail much. I tried to find most things that should have a CN, but I certainly didn't get every single one. So do be careful when reading this book! (Also I added 'toxic relationship' by which 'toxic family-relationship' is meant)averagesparrow'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
4.5
Graphic: Incest, Kidnapping, Colonisation, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Emotional abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Confinement, Racism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Classism, and Genocide
Minor: Gun violence, Suicide, Alcohol, and Murder
celery's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Child death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Racism, Rape, Body horror, Classism, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Infertility, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Violence, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Incest, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Sexual content, Vomit, Terminal illness, Infidelity, Medical content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
slavic_bookworm's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Violence, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Gun violence, Body horror, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Sexism, Mental illness, Gore, Torture, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Stalking, Death, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Incest, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Cannibalism and Rape
laratboulos's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Misogyny, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Gaslighting, Suicide, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual violence and Child abuse
sophieamreacher's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Rape, Violence, Incest, Confinement, Classism, Child death, Vomit, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Alcohol, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Gun violence, Death, Cannibalism, Blood, Medical content, Infertility, Gore, Emotional abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
megan_martha_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I found the main character a bit hard to stomach at times - she was a bit of a cartoon version of a character.
I found the characters and plot more compelling and the writing more delicious in ‘The Hacienda’ by Isabel Canas.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Confinement, Gore, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Rape
tamara_joy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Blood, Racism, Murder, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Gun violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Classism, Mental illness, Medical content, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Cannibalism, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide, Miscarriage, and Alcohol
arayo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Xenophobia, Body horror, Confinement, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Gaslighting, Gore, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Cursing, Gun violence, Cannibalism, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Child death, and Sexual content
veepopp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Miscarriage, Cannibalism, Racism, Blood, Murder, Incest, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, and Sexual harassment