A review by sophiaalf
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Here we go. This book was a slow start. The author is a very talented writer, as she is thorough and has an ornate language style. It was very easy to imagine every scene, to feel transported with every word. My complaints for this book are that of the pace. This is one of the first books I’ve read where I felt like loose ends were tied, but the thrill is late to come. I struggled with the first 100 pages, especially because the mystery felt faint. I’m sure the author meant to have a slow start, but I wish there was something to pull me in sooner. It could have been a sub-plot; something insignificant, yet entertaining. I kept reading the book in anticipation of its climax and I’m glad I kept going. In terms of the actual story, I loved it. Everything was so well thought out and the author’s writing exceeded my expectations, especially for the gorier scenes. It was a complex, well thought out story, and I did not want to put it down once I got into it. The author conveyed the protagonist’s weariness, fear, and relief with success. I cannot stress how beautiful she seamed together what was reality and what was a “dream” for the narrator. I love thrillers and gothic fantasy; it felt like a perfect blend of realism and horror. I’m not sure I would read this book again, but I can say the end was warm and satisfying—something that would compel me to return. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings