2.93k reviews for:

Musim Prahara

Fernanda Melchor

3.97 AVERAGE

djrennie7's review against another edition

4.0

---

The sickening psychosexual roots of the widespread machísimo violence and depravity that plagues Melchor’s Mexico, driven home through a relentless onslaught of coarseness, muck, shock. Is 100% of that shock value necessary, contributing to the wider picture? I’d argue no - much more interesting are the lengthy chapter-long character studies, microdosed revelations in overlapping non-linear time structures. The unbroken streams of consciousness were difficult to put down. So much of the instability and horror is built on male insecurity, fear, prejudice and ignorance, an elemental maelstrom that leaves no-one victim-less

symbioted's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Ow. One of the first stream of consciousness novels I've ever been able to finish, and very well done in the sense that you feel as uncomfortable as the characters in the book trying to keep up with it. Very well done but woof, a tough read. Made me feel sick a few times just because of how awful some of it was. Definitely tells a story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Classism

ddeblieck_13's review against another edition

4.0

dark sad tense

---

I think this is a great book but it is exhausting to read.  The lack of paragraphs and the run-on sentences create a frenetic reading environment.  Not exactly a happy read either.

andyortiz13's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexism, Abortion

xibalba133's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

spooky_snoopy's review against another edition

1.5

dark sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

I didn't like this book to be frank. The whole book should be a trigger warning. And it got really dark, honestly I had to skip parts. I understand why it was written, probably something like how the stories connected via violence in the town. But yeah mostly sad and ugly. 
Added a star for the stream of consciousness writing and the understanding there was a deeper meaning to what the Bruja represented. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Abortion

tisa_j's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark tense

---

A whirlwind of outstanding, stream-of-consciousness prose. 

Melchor touches on many of the tragedies that come hand in hand with poverty, lack of education, and rigid patriarchal structures which still mark many rural communities worldwide. 

A novel that’s both grim and grimy, centered around a gruesome murder in a small Mexican town full of old school superstitions and modern prejudices. 

rikm67's review against another edition

4.0

---

Interest hoe intelligente vrouwen die opkomen voor hun ideeën behandeld worden in onze macho-wereld. Beklijvend.

valerio10's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

gsdiazc's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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