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loukazoo's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
4.75
clo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? No
4.5
marianasimoes19's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lou_loo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I had very high hopes for this book and I have to say I'm a bit disappointed.
By no means was it bad, but it wasn't as good as I expected.
I would say my main takeaway was the atmosphere. I'd been told this book had a distinct eery and gothic atmosphere, yet I couldn't find it, it felt like the only atmosphere there was to see was mould and mouldy wallpaper.
The writing style wasn't bad by any means (I had already read Gods of Jade and Shadow by S. Moreno-Garcia, and I loved it), but it didn't feel adequate for the mood she was trying to construct.
The plot and the intrigue were super interesting though, I was trying to understand what was going on and felt compelled to read until the end to find out even with the lack of the atmosphere I was searching for. I also feel like the characters were well-developed at first, but didn't evolve much throughout the book. The situation Noemi was in was getting increasingly worse and worrying, yet she didn't seem much troubled by it.
Even if these elements took me out of the story and the vibes during my read, I have to say that I still enjoyed reading it and I will read more books by Silvia Moreno Garcia. I could recommend this book, but not for someone looking for a gothic and eerie vibe.
By no means was it bad, but it wasn't as good as I expected.
I would say my main takeaway was the atmosphere. I'd been told this book had a distinct eery and gothic atmosphere, yet I couldn't find it, it felt like the only atmosphere there was to see was mould and mouldy wallpaper.
The writing style wasn't bad by any means (I had already read Gods of Jade and Shadow by S. Moreno-Garcia, and I loved it), but it didn't feel adequate for the mood she was trying to construct.
The plot and the intrigue were super interesting though, I was trying to understand what was going on and felt compelled to read until the end to find out even with the lack of the atmosphere I was searching for. I also feel like the characters were well-developed at first, but didn't evolve much throughout the book. The situation Noemi was in was getting increasingly worse and worrying, yet she didn't seem much troubled by it.
Even if these elements took me out of the story and the vibes during my read, I have to say that I still enjoyed reading it and I will read more books by Silvia Moreno Garcia. I could recommend this book, but not for someone looking for a gothic and eerie vibe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Incest, Racism, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Suicide, Rape, Vomit, Violence, and Body horror
Minor: Miscarriage, Gun violence, and Confinement
shiftyelliott's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
sparkin's review against another edition
5.0
If you like haunted houses, women of colour being badasses, Gothic fantasies, women refusing to stay in the boxes they're put in, mind control and mushrooms, then this is the book for you.
It uses genre conventions with absolute earnestness, reminding you of the best bits of Rebecca or Crimson Peak, but then works them into a cultural context where you haven't seen them very much at all (or at least I haven't in English-language writing) so the texture is unique. I would happily read this author's takes on every single genre, having also really enjoyed Gods of Jade and Shadow.
I did feel like the relationship between the two women at the heart of the story ended up being overshadowed by the love interest, but it's hard to get around that when keeping the women apart is often the point. I think it would have helped if we'd had chance to hear more from Catalina herself instead of hearing snatches of what she'd been through from everyone else. But I also appreciated that she got her own revenge in the end instead of Noemà doing the killing for her.
And ultimately, a colonialist, eugenicist, incestuous necromancer gets stabbed in the eye. I enjoyed the hell out of this.
It uses genre conventions with absolute earnestness, reminding you of the best bits of Rebecca or Crimson Peak, but then works them into a cultural context where you haven't seen them very much at all (or at least I haven't in English-language writing) so the texture is unique. I would happily read this author's takes on every single genre, having also really enjoyed Gods of Jade and Shadow.
I did feel like the relationship between the two women at the heart of the story ended up being overshadowed by the love interest, but it's hard to get around that when keeping the women apart is often the point. I think it would have helped if we'd had chance to hear more from Catalina herself instead of hearing snatches of what she'd been through from everyone else. But I also appreciated that she got her own revenge in the end instead of Noemà doing the killing for her.
And ultimately, a colonialist, eugenicist, incestuous necromancer gets stabbed in the eye. I enjoyed the hell out of this.
book_kat34's review against another edition
5.0
This is what the Haunting of Hill House book should have been. Amazingly creepy and exactly what a horror should be. Very full and deep. Definitely kept me up at night.