Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

355 reviews

thoseoldcrows23's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

This was exactly what I wanted it to be. It's rare that a horror novel actually manages to gross me out, but man oh man did this manage it. It also managed to evoke such visceral anger in me that I had to put the book down and walk it off. The characters were well crafted, the atmosphere was unnerving, and the plot gave me all the gothic vibes I was looking for. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

yarisbooksandbevs's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• 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? No

3.0

This book was wild. I’m still not sure what to think of it. It wasn’t bad by any means

The beginning was a little slow then there was a lot happening. After the twist was revealed I wasn’t as interested in how they solve the issue. I liked Francis as a character with some complexity. The rest of the Doyle family gave me the Ick and I think that was the point. The author did a good job characterizing the Doyle family

as vile and disgusting. You have eating babies, multiple incestuous relationships, attempted rape, fungi that increase life span, using bodies as fertilizer, hallucinations. It was a wild ride

.

I don’t think the book was bad I just think it was mysterious, then the mystery was revealed and shocking and everything else was just fine.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Pregnancy

Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, and Alcohol

_teoeo's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

4.0

~3,75☆

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Incest, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, Cannibalism, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

lizzie24601's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Very much its genre, so I feel like it'll be a hit or miss depending on how much you like gothic horror. Like most stories in this genre, the pace really picks up after the Big Reveal. Noemi is a very fun protagonist and Virgil and Howard are very creepy villains. It was cool to see gothic horror set somewhere outside, like, Victorian England. Definitely recommended for a fun, chilling October read.

If you like the body horror part of this, I recommend also reading Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Sexual assault

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Racism, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting

Minor: Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

passionatereader78's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Perfect Fall read especially if you like creepy and weird but not horror stories. This book has so much happening in it. I had to go back and reread certain parts. I love the creepy mysterious feeling the book gives.   I loved the dark weird house that the story is set in. I love Noemi! I love the fight and strength she brought. I didn't like some of the plot, but the deliver was great.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Murder, and Pregnancy

Family drama, Mystery, Gothic, haunted house, family secrets, dark thriller, snake, nightmares

ravenpuff's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I was really looking forward to an immersive gothic atmosphere but I never really got that. The main character was so smart throughout the book but made some frustrating choices towards the end. 

There wasn't a ton of character development but I understand why. Most of the characters feel empty, but I feel like they're supposed to given the plot development in the second half of the book.

The book did a good job of reflecting the time period, especially the racism, sexism, misogyny, and the really gross way Howard views "purity". 

The mushrooms themselves felt like a metaphor for colonization and toxic family hierarchy. To support the patriarchal figure of the family, women, children, and indigenous people are literally sacrificed so an old man from the UK can preserve himself and his gross views that only benefit him. Historic events have shown that colonization is a selfish and horrific thing, Mexican Gothic depicts it as such.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Suicide and Fire/Fire injury

bugaboobear's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

For a book called Mexican Gothic it certainly is very European. I was pretty disappointed with that; I was really looking forward to the Mexican setting and characters.

The plot itself was good and the pacing picked up around the half way mark and kept me reading until it was finished. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Incest, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Incest, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Murder

Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic

beeminor's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

A good spooky read. Grotesque at times and wilding enchanting, like a fairy-tale turned fever dream. I love the imagery and symbolism. I love how at times the lines between dream and reality blur. 

 I think Moreno-Garcia’s pacing and delivery of spooks and information as well as plot development are spot on. It’s a great concept which was executed excellently. Besides the outright horror aspects, the scariest thing for me while reading is the controlling, abusive white man dynamic. 

Mexican Gothic is a testament to the rage and suffering of women at the hands of abuse, violence and misogyny. 

It was a near perfect read. Very clever. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Misogyny

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Gun violence, Incest, Sexual assault, Suicide, Cannibalism, Murder, and Colonisation

zombie_loves_books's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I love a good gothic novel and this hit the mark in more ways than one. At first it felt like a great homage to the classics. I quickly found myself engrossed in the story and the people. Then in the last 80 pages I had to remind myself to breath. Even though I predicted some things in advance it didn't diminish my enjoyment one bit.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Incest, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Violence, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury

justinecm's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting