Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

17 reviews

briegordon's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Bullying, Suicide, Sexual content, Racism, Murder, Mental illness, Incest, Violence, and Sexual violence

Minor: Murder, Death of parent, Vomit, Infertility, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, and Miscarriage

marillpop's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Murder, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Rape

Moderate: Death

Minor: Cannibalism and Incest

thereadingwells's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This gothic horror novel starts out slow - which initially I disliked, but slowly realized was intentional to build tension, suspense, and atmosphere. When this book picks up, it PICKS UP. I couldn't put it down about 3/4 of the way through, and without saying too much I really appreciated the twist on the horror genre with something other than magical creatures or ghosts. I will say, however, that if you're whatsoever intrigued by mycelium, you might love this book.

Noemí Taboada is our 1950's socialite protaganist. She's sent on what seems like a simple, albeit inconvenient errand by her father (with the promise of a reward) to go check in on her cousin, Catalina, who sends a wild, troubling letter from the home of her new husband in a distant misty, mountainous town.

I don't read horror often, but this was our October 2021 book club pick, and it was perfectly unsettling, gothic, and dark for the occasion without being too gory. The ending felt a little bit abrupt, and I was left with lots of questions. Maybe Silvia Moreno-Garcia will fill us in some other time?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence

carodonahue's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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

3.5

The writing in this was beautiful and the setting and characters well-drawn. I thought I’d try something spooky around Halloween, and while the ghost and haunted elements were quite engaging, I found the sexual violence, or more accurately the threat of it, incredibly disturbing and at several points considered setting the book aside. I was curious enough to finish, but I found this further into real life terror rather than otherworldly horror and would not have chosen it had I known it was intense in that way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Minor: Rape, Torture, and Violence

nemysysbeck's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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

1.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Incest, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

silviaaa's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Xenophobia, Vomit, Violence, Torture, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Medical content, Kidnapping, Incest, Gore, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, and Cursing

theintrovertedintrovert's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

If you like slow build thrillers, Mexican Gothic is for you. I saw the twist coming, but wasn't at all disappointed by the ending. I would have given it 5 stars except for the following spoiler content: 

attempted sexual assault, sacrifing and cannibalization of children/babies in a flashback style scene --that's a big go-to for me

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Gun violence, Body horror, Racism, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cannibalism, Suicide, Self harm, Rape, Incest, Child abuse, and Blood