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xkrow's review
2.5
Probably a case of "me problems" stacking up, but I did not enjoy this horror/gothic adventure into the Mexican countryside. Some light spoilers follow.
The plot of this book is simple. Some may call it charming, I do not. I don't even think it was a case of expecting something different because I went into it with zero expectations other than a hopefully compelling mystery. And there are hints of that. Why is Catalina behaving how she is? What is the connection to the mines? Why are these people so estranged from the town? All fine questions to be set-up. But then we get into the "family past" and it becomes a whole lot of family drama that occurred some decades ago and it all goes downhill. Not because this is a bad way to unravel the story. Indeed, mystery stories need these sorts of clues for the character to gather and decipher. But the conclusion we get from it is so utterly unsatisfying, jarring, and plain expected that it throws all the "build-up" in the trash. What it then becomes is a run-and-gun climax where everything is resolved via force rather than brains.
On the character front, Noemi does not have a very flattering first-impression, but she is sort of fine for the rest of the book. There are still some problems I have with her treatment of Francis corresponding with how "attractive" she grows to find him, but I might just be reading too much into it. It is the other characters that I have a problem with - none of them feel like real believable people, only caricatures made to fit a mold. Maybe that fits the themes, but does not overcome the lack of interest they inspired in my throughout the read. The words that come out of their mouths are inconsistent and jumbled, twisting from one set of emotion to the next. I get that it is meant to inspire a sort of confusing mood, but this is the case in the first few chapters as well.
Yes, there are conversations about 19th century anthropological theories and racist caricatures, but those were not interesting enough to carry the page space they seemed to occupy.
Though, as you may notice in the star rating, my feelings on this book were not wholly negative. It is a perfectly finely crafted book that hits its marks when it should. The prose itself is good, picking up good things to describe in the surroundings and within the character. I will also praise the moments the book decided to really lean into the creepy and weird side. But all of this is counterbalanced against a whole lot of "meh" that it is unfortunately not able to overcome.
The plot of this book is simple. Some may call it charming, I do not. I don't even think it was a case of expecting something different because I went into it with zero expectations other than a hopefully compelling mystery. And there are hints of that. Why is Catalina behaving how she is? What is the connection to the mines? Why are these people so estranged from the town? All fine questions to be set-up. But then we get into the "family past" and it becomes a whole lot of family drama that occurred some decades ago and it all goes downhill. Not because this is a bad way to unravel the story. Indeed, mystery stories need these sorts of clues for the character to gather and decipher. But the conclusion we get from it is so utterly unsatisfying, jarring, and plain expected that it throws all the "build-up" in the trash. What it then becomes is a run-and-gun climax where everything is resolved via force rather than brains.
On the character front, Noemi does not have a very flattering first-impression, but she is sort of fine for the rest of the book. There are still some problems I have with her treatment of Francis corresponding with how "attractive" she grows to find him, but I might just be reading too much into it. It is the other characters that I have a problem with - none of them feel like real believable people, only caricatures made to fit a mold. Maybe that fits the themes, but does not overcome the lack of interest they inspired in my throughout the read. The words that come out of their mouths are inconsistent and jumbled, twisting from one set of emotion to the next. I get that it is meant to inspire a sort of confusing mood, but this is the case in the first few chapters as well.
Yes, there are conversations about 19th century anthropological theories and racist caricatures, but those were not interesting enough to carry the page space they seemed to occupy.
Though, as you may notice in the star rating, my feelings on this book were not wholly negative. It is a perfectly finely crafted book that hits its marks when it should. The prose itself is good, picking up good things to describe in the surroundings and within the character. I will also praise the moments the book decided to really lean into the creepy and weird side. But all of this is counterbalanced against a whole lot of "meh" that it is unfortunately not able to overcome.
babybuzzcut's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
danydany28's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rose_ndrd's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
courtneypearson_'s review against another edition
4.0
I am a huge chicken when it comes to horror/thrillers. And I’ve got to say, the reviews I read for this made it seem a lot scarier then it ended up being. Don’t get me wrong, this book is twisted. It is a great book to instantly feel immersed in! Such a page turner! I highly recommend. The only thing I would warn about is there are quite a few scenarios that might be triggering for some people. There are plenty of reviews out here that talk about all of those triggers in some detail! Otherwise great read!
asthepoetsays's review against another edition
4.0
4,5
vraiment pas mal même si un peu trop descriptif parfois à mon goût. intrigue très bien écrite et pensée même si c’était un peu incompréhensible à certains moments
francis mon bb coeur
vraiment pas mal même si un peu trop descriptif parfois à mon goût. intrigue très bien écrite et pensée même si c’était un peu incompréhensible à certains moments
francis mon bb coeur
aj_humphreys's review against another edition
4.0
I'm rounding up to 4, but really Mexican Gothic is a solid 3.*something above five* read. In the end, what I loved most about this book are the reveal and subsequent climax.
There's a lot of mystery and intrigue in the book, but it makes for genuinely slow PACING, and in a novel that hardly breaches the 300-page mark that can make for a longer read than it should.
Then you have the CHARACTERS, who are just a tad dull in my opinion. My main issue lies with the protagonist, Noemi, who I want to like, but find it difficult. She never really changes. We're led to believe she has, but there's nothing to truly show it. In the end, Noemi is still living in the Noemi-centric world of a 20-something who won't take no for an answer, wants what she can't have, and lives in a state of denial. The supporting characters are good enough, but highlight more than anything that this is Noemi's world, and they're all just living in it. It makes things seem predictable because she always appears to get what she wants, one way or another--never allowing for antagonistic characters to have a genuine shot at their personal HEA.
If there's one thing I would have really liked to see in this book, it would have been a bigger question mark at the end. I don't think this book needs a sequel, but it would be nice to have a discussion with people about a large hanging "?" at the end of Happily Ever After (For Now).
Let's end on some HIGH NOTES though. The PROSE is so genuine and well crafted. In a gothic novel with visions and sounds that need to create a sense of dread, paranoia, and questions of reality, Moreno-Garcia gets the reader there. The world she crafts is easy to see in the mind's eye and the five senses are well evoked.
After its all said and done, I'd have to say, I think A LOT of people will love this book, but I just needed more from it in regards to the character development, pacing, and post-climax resolution.
There's a lot of mystery and intrigue in the book, but it makes for genuinely slow PACING, and in a novel that hardly breaches the 300-page mark that can make for a longer read than it should.
Then you have the CHARACTERS, who are just a tad dull in my opinion. My main issue lies with the protagonist, Noemi, who I want to like, but find it difficult. She never really changes. We're led to believe she has, but there's nothing to truly show it. In the end, Noemi is still living in the Noemi-centric world of a 20-something who won't take no for an answer, wants what she can't have, and lives in a state of denial. The supporting characters are good enough, but highlight more than anything that this is Noemi's world, and they're all just living in it. It makes things seem predictable because she always appears to get what she wants, one way or another--never allowing for antagonistic characters to have a genuine shot at their personal HEA.
If there's one thing I would have really liked to see in this book, it would have been a bigger question mark at the end. I don't think this book needs a sequel, but it would be nice to have a discussion with people about a large hanging "?" at the end of Happily Ever After (For Now).
Let's end on some HIGH NOTES though. The PROSE is so genuine and well crafted. In a gothic novel with visions and sounds that need to create a sense of dread, paranoia, and questions of reality, Moreno-Garcia gets the reader there. The world she crafts is easy to see in the mind's eye and the five senses are well evoked.
Spoiler
When we begin getting the reveal of this entire world being poisoned by mushroom spores, mold, and fungi, it becomes so easy to experience it all. We're given enough information that we can picture the paranormal/supernatural occurrences without asking more questions. The scenes of Howard's kiss, the graveyard, and the crypt are all so visceral that it is easy to chill oneself thinking about all of the sounds, smells, colors (especially black and gold), physical sensations, and unfortunately enough . . . tastes. They all live with the reader through the climax, making it difficult to put the book down toward the end.After its all said and done, I'd have to say, I think A LOT of people will love this book, but I just needed more from it in regards to the character development, pacing, and post-climax resolution.
rachelfaye's review against another edition
4.0
The added sections in the back are SO worth reading! Gives tons of very intelligent context and meaning to the book.