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morecrocs's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Torture, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Addiction, Blood, Murder, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Cancer, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, and Racism
grimdark_dad'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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Racial slurs, and Racism
cyanide_latte's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Body horror, Cancer, Classism, Death, Gore, Grief, Child abuse, Murder, Racism, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Vomit, Misogyny, Child death, and Drug abuse
quackthump's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Addiction, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Torture
enchantressreads'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? Yes
5.0
Wow.
What a book. The Devil Takes You Home is my first Gabino Iglesias book, and I’m not sure why I waited so long to read him. His writing is visceral. He had me crying in the first few pages, and I don’t think I stopped until the end. Even then, maybe a few hours afterwards. It’s been over a month since I’ve finished this book, and it’s one I can’t stop thinking about.
Mario and Melisa live in Austin TX, and their daughter, four-year-old Anita, has been diagnosed with cancer. At first they’re hopeful. It is an easily treated childhood cancer. The doctor comes with bad news, though. Anita’s leukemia is a rare type that’s hard to treat. The bad news keeps coming when Mario loses his job due to Anita’s appointments.
“You can wrap a shotgun in flowers, but that doesn’t make the blast less lethal.”
Tragedy after tragedy sees Mario become a hit man. He comes to the realization he can’t do this any longer, and works with a friend of his to do one last job. We follow Mario and two companions on the way to make some easy money. It seems too good to be true, and maybe it is.
This is not an easy read. There’s a lot to it (content warnings are below), but it really is worth it. If you are in the right headspace for a novel like this, I definitely recommend it. It combines a lot of subgenres to make one beautiful novel. There’s crime, horror, and fantasy. All wrapped up into a really bleak book.
I don’t want to give much more away, but I have to say, The Devil Takes You Home is one of my favorite books of all time. No pressure. Any author who makes me cry within the first few pages has a special place on my bookshelf.
Thank you to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
CW for death of a child, death, blood, gore, racism, body horror, murder, gun violence, grief, addiction/drug abuse, cancer, domestic abuse, suicidal thoughts, animal cruelty, miscarriage, transphobia, and child abuse
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gun violence, Racism, Death, Murder, Child death, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, and Cancer
Minor: Animal cruelty, Miscarriage, Transphobia, and Child abuse