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scwilliams's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Hate crime, Child death, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, Death, Cancer, Child abuse, Addiction, Terminal illness, Grief, Gun violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, and Body horror
Minor: Transphobia
kingsteph's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Terminal illness, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Classism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Cursing, Racism, and Racial slurs
Minor: Transphobia and Suicidal thoughts
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
symabee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was my August BOTM pick, so I was aware beforehand that a lot of Spanish was used in the book, and BOTM was nice enough to send me a translation guide in my box. However I don't see how the use of Spanish is a reason to give this book a lower rating. If you read the description, and possess critical thinking skills, it shouldn't have come as a surprise that the characters sometimes spoke Spanish. If I hadn't had my translation guide, I would have just used Google translate. Yes it would have slowed me down, but that doesn't make it a bad book. I know many people's entitlement has probably led them to believe this, but authors are not obligated to cater to English speakers.
I also saw several reviews stating that this book was racist and anti-white, which is laughably absurd. The main character is a Latino man living in the United States, and he does encounter several racist white men throughout the book. And? That's reality for a lot of people. No where in this story does it say all white people are bad and you should feel shame for being white. If that was your main take away from this book, then you need to spend more time with a therapist unpacking your own baggage, and less time giving negative reviews on the internet.
Anyway, if you like dark and gritty books, definitely read this one.
Graphic: Cancer, Violence, Grief, Child death, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Gore, Death, Blood, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Homophobia
chloesnotscared's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, Body horror, and Child death
Moderate: Addiction, Racism, and Blood
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
meaganbellovin'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
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Violence
Moderate: Grief, Racism, Cursing, Racial slurs, and Gore
Minor: Transphobia
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