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ggcd1981's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
thissagreads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Pros:
-Familia protecting familia!
-Noemí was a well written superhero of sorts, and a true rebel of her time.
Cons:
-Noemí needed more backstory! And more settings besides the weird house and the tiny town, would've been a nice break.
-Francis is so weak willed that I wanted him to be removed from the story.
-Catalina is nearly just as frustrating, but she's dealing with a lot more, so she gets a pass.
-The amount of SA in this book was unsettling, and I'm aware of the time period of this story, but it was still a lot to stomach.
-Colonialism and the lack of respect women had, and all the BS they had to endure from these gross men, had me on edge and irritable during the ENTIRE read.
-Virgil and Howard's egos and actions were atrocious!
While I tried to stretch outside of my comfort zone with period literature, this wasn't my cup of tea. I think the concept was different, and I appreciate the
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racism and Classism
Minor: Racial slurs and Colonisation
dianacn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
coethedragon's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Cannibalism
Minor: Miscarriage
ineedrhythm's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Incest, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, and Classism
liesthemoontells's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Overall I think this is an accomplished entry into the Gothic literary canon. It takes many of the tropes of the genre (e.g. young female protagonist who wonders if she's going mad, scary house, mean old lady who hates protagonist) and weaves them into a new story.
I was surprised at first at how much the setting is literally a transplanted English Gothic setting into the Mexican countryside, however as I kept reading I was very impressed at how this was used to explore themes of colonisation, misogyny, and the subjugation of poor and female bodies.
The atmosphere in the book begins with low level, constant dread which slowly ratchets up the tension into full panic, and the body horror is incredibly visceral and stomach-turning.
I did however find it dragged in some moments, and the plot became a bit convoluted towards the end. I felt like the book was trying to fence sit on whether or not the cause was supernatural, and having it end up being
I also found
Overall I think this is is a more polished book than Gods of Jade and Shadow, but I found that to be a more enjoyable and emotionally engaging read, hence it receiving a higher rating.
I also think this is a book that would benefit from a second reading once all of the plot twists are revealed.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
elissa_t's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Moderate: Gore, Sexual assault, Violence, and Gaslighting
ghostsversion's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide
desiderium_incarnate's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Personally, I've had issues with the more historical genre so this wasn't off to a great start with me. The dark ambiance and the masterium that doesn't get revealed at all until you're in over your head was well crafted, but it just didn't get me, so I'm sorry about that. Gods of jade and shadow, which I've already read before just felt so much more vibrant (and of course, everything here is foggy and gloomy and muted). Anyways, interesting work ; you kind of leave this story with a still uncertain feeling.
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Vomit, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
rsb12's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic