Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

40 reviews

mypoormeatball's review

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

This was a truly excellent example of horror exploring patriarchy, white supremacy, imperialism, cycles of abuse both personal and systemic, AND how those cycles can begin to be broken. All wrapped up in a deliciously intriguing mystery with a touch of romance — a truly epic haunted house story. I think this book will be taught in colleges someday to students studying  postcolonial and intersectional novels. 

While some of the symbolism is a bit on the nose, I think that’s in the legacy of great haunted house novels!  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Body horror, Cannibalism, and Child death

Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Murder, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Incest

Minor: Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Miscarriage, Slavery, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Colonisation, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

emsavors's review

dark tense fast-paced

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

What was that???

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Sexual assault, Murder, Vomit, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Classism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Genocide, Gun violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Self harm

priamoon's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious tense

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Physical abuse, Violence, Slavery, Death, Genocide, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Rape, Body horror, Sexism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Colonisation, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Incest

Minor: Pregnancy, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Cannibalism

sauriaiel's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Suicide, Xenophobia, Racism, Confinement, Sexual violence, Colonisation, and Violence

Minor: Cannibalism, Vomit, Incest, and Slavery

angelfireeast24's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Gore, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Body horror, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Classism, Colonisation, Drug use, Grief, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Bullying, Child death, Violence, Slavery, and Murder

Moderate: Terminal illness, Abandonment, Pedophilia, Vomit, Alcohol, and Miscarriage

Had me on the edge of my seat. I both wanted to throw the book across the room due to the unsettling nature of the subject matter and read another page to know what will happen.

I like that in the end, there was no one person being the grand hero. Everyone had their moment. All I'm thinking at the end of the story is they better not have kids together. Cause I know that it will come again down the bloodline. Also, all three of their bodies better be burnt when they die

sophieamreacher's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

Dark and disturbing fantasy that grossed me out. Interesting setting, plot and characters but a little slow at times. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicide, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Rape, Violence, Incest, Confinement, Classism, Child death, Vomit, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Alcohol, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Domestic abuse, Body horror, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Gun violence, Death, Cannibalism, Blood, Medical content, Infertility, Gore, Emotional abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent

fkshg8465's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

I really enjoyed this book. I'm starting to understand the appeal of the horror genre. When it's done well, it has a way of creeping into the tiniest recesses of my mind and poke around in each one. That's what it felt like to read this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Racism, Confinement, Kidnapping, Slavery, Pandemic/Epidemic, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Incest, and Sexual assault

jessy4550's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Slavery, Death, Blood, Child death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Violence, Pregnancy, Suicide, Chronic illness, Genocide, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Gun violence, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Colonisation, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Vomit, Alcohol, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

moonchild_cos's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Suicide, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Misogyny, Murder, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

Moderate: Incest, Genocide, Medical content, Sexism, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Cannibalism, and Gun violence

Minor: Sexual content, Slavery, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Cursing, Rape, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

thoseoldcrows23's review

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. 

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Content Warnings

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