Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - Mexican Gothic - Mexikói rémtörténet

Wow, the author does an amazing job of creating a menacing and creepy atmosphere. From the moment you enter High Place, you can feel something is wrong. Throughout the story, it's hard to pinpoint the source of the discomfort and the author kept me guessing. In contrast to the awful house and its denizens, Noemi is a plucky and courageous heroine - she knows when to fight and when to play along - and it's easy to root for her. Horror is not my favorite genre, but this is a really well done story and lingered in my mind after I finished.

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theliteraryteapot's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.75

I wanted to try the horror genre and I have to say I didn't feel there was much horror in the first 200 pages. And then lol.

This was a page-turner and it's been so long since I didn't have to force myself to read. Because of its genre, I knew there'd be lots of trigger warnings but I enjoyed the book.

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strixy16's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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dithorba's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

If you're a fan of gothic literature and/or the works of H.P Lovecraft, but want something more self-aware and critical, I have the novel for you. Mexican Gothic is fully aware of its tropes and conventions and utilizes them in new and interesting ways to tell a uniquely Mexican horror story in the proper context of colonialism and patriarchy.

I have minor nitpicks with the book, I think some of the actual words in the prose and dialogue might be anachronistic. I'm unsure if this is a byproduct of English/Spanish translation, but it was sometimes jarring.

Overall a splendid read.

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behindherpages's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.5

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dragoninwinterfell's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Noemí Taboada is one of the most refreshing and relatable heroines I have read in a long time. Noemí is a socialite in 1950s Mexico who enjoys parties and flirting while having no intention to marry anytime soon. She's also an ambitious, intelligent, and well-educated woman who wants to pursue a master's degree. She's well aware of the sexism in her culture and is adept at navigating antagonistic situations with charm while still demonstrating her intelligence. Female characters with this combination of traits are very rare. Following her as she navigated her way through this eerie story was so enjoyable.

Then there's the story itself. The plot starts with Noemí being sent to check on her cousin who sent a cryptic letter. Said cousin lives with her new husband and in-laws in a secluded area. She finds her cousin sick, but cated for while everyone resident of the home is creepy without being overtly hostile enough to come to obvious conclusions about. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is an incredibly gifted author. Her prose flows beautifully, creating such strong visuals. While the story is slow, it felt like the exact right pacing for the plot. It never felt like the story was dragging even as the narrative took its time in unveiling each creepy twist.

My only struggle with this book was the "romance". I put that word in quotes because, despite being an essential part of the climax and resolution, the connection between Noemí and her love interest wasn't well-developed. As wonderfully as Noemí herself was written, the love interest and his motivations were completely empty. He felt like more of a plot device than an actual character in his own right. In turn, his dynamic with our heroine felt very formulaic and lacking in emotional substance.

Despite this issue, the overall novel was incredible. It's absolutely an instant favorite for me.

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lord_trashcan's review against another edition

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dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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seventhswan's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

The final 20% of this book was excellent - gripping, scary, and cleverly constructed. However, the process of getting there was just so torturously slow that I almost gave up. I also found the characters to be quite flat and one-dimensional, with the possible exception of Virgil who made a compelling villain, and therefore didn't get invested in Noemi's relationship with either her love interest or her cousin. I feel like this might have worked better as a short story, perhaps.

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