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sherigan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
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
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
honeybeewitched87'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? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Cannibalism
bookscatcoffee's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
rusticowgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, and Confinement
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Xenophobia
Minor: Incest, Infertility, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
knittingarch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
elizas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Incest, Infidelity, Sexism, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Racism, Rape, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
trying_ceratops's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Id recommend this book to people who enjoy a slow build and a touch of spookiness. I wouldn’t consider this horror by any means, but it can be creepy. I can understand the hype this book created and am glad I read it.
Graphic: Misogyny, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Mental illness, Racism, and Gaslighting
Minor: Body horror, Child abuse, Incest, Rape, Blood, and Cannibalism
ebp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Miscarriage