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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
" I don't believe in ghosts either. But sometimes they're here anyway."
dark
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5/5 stars
DUDE. WOW.
This is a short novel but does it pack a PUNCH. Having never read much of the noir genre other than short stories in college, I wasn't sure what to expect. But I loved Viridiana within the first few pages - she wants, she craves, she dreams about so much more than this provincial life!! And though she's mature, she truly feels like an 18-year-old. She makes mistakes, she trusts the wrong people, she's petulant and irrational at times - and I loved it! The antagonists are also such devilish charmers. They pull you in and you WANT them to be good even though you know deep in your bones it's all a farce. I also really liked Viridiana's relationship with her secondary love interest - the subtle manipulation on top of the build-up to genuine affection. Plus the explosive, blistering climax and the fulfilling falling action - Moreno-Garcia hasn't disappointed me yet and I'm looking forward to reading Mexican Gothic even more!
Additionally, the imagery is breathtaking, especially when Moreno-Garcia uses sharks and other sealife as metaphors for the characters. All the allusions to movies from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and how Viridiana was shaped and influenced by them kept me engaged, created an almost sepia-toned atmosphere, and made Viridiana genuinely feel real.
DUDE. WOW.
This is a short novel but does it pack a PUNCH. Having never read much of the noir genre other than short stories in college, I wasn't sure what to expect. But I loved Viridiana within the first few pages - she wants, she craves, she dreams about so much more than this provincial life!! And though she's mature, she truly feels like an 18-year-old. She makes mistakes, she trusts the wrong people, she's petulant and irrational at times - and I loved it! The antagonists are also such devilish charmers. They pull you in and you WANT them to be good even though you know deep in your bones it's all a farce. I also really liked Viridiana's relationship with her secondary love interest - the subtle manipulation on top of the build-up to genuine affection. Plus the explosive, blistering climax and the fulfilling falling action - Moreno-Garcia hasn't disappointed me yet and I'm looking forward to reading Mexican Gothic even more!
Additionally, the imagery is breathtaking, especially when Moreno-Garcia uses sharks and other sealife as metaphors for the characters. All the allusions to movies from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and how Viridiana was shaped and influenced by them kept me engaged, created an almost sepia-toned atmosphere, and made Viridiana genuinely feel real.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No