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victoriaharris001'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
jennifer_bush_73's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
diamondgoose's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
meliroo's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
grimdark_dad'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
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
enchantressreads'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
5.0
Wow.
What a book. The Devil Takes You Home is my first Gabino Iglesias book, and I’m not sure why I waited so long to read him. His writing is visceral. He had me crying in the first few pages, and I don’t think I stopped until the end. Even then, maybe a few hours afterwards. It’s been over a month since I’ve finished this book, and it’s one I can’t stop thinking about.
Mario and Melisa live in Austin TX, and their daughter, four-year-old Anita, has been diagnosed with cancer. At first they’re hopeful. It is an easily treated childhood cancer. The doctor comes with bad news, though. Anita’s leukemia is a rare type that’s hard to treat. The bad news keeps coming when Mario loses his job due to Anita’s appointments.
“You can wrap a shotgun in flowers, but that doesn’t make the blast less lethal.”
Tragedy after tragedy sees Mario become a hit man. He comes to the realization he can’t do this any longer, and works with a friend of his to do one last job. We follow Mario and two companions on the way to make some easy money. It seems too good to be true, and maybe it is.
This is not an easy read. There’s a lot to it (content warnings are below), but it really is worth it. If you are in the right headspace for a novel like this, I definitely recommend it. It combines a lot of subgenres to make one beautiful novel. There’s crime, horror, and fantasy. All wrapped up into a really bleak book.
I don’t want to give much more away, but I have to say, The Devil Takes You Home is one of my favorite books of all time. No pressure. Any author who makes me cry within the first few pages has a special place on my bookshelf.
Thank you to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
CW for death of a child, death, blood, gore, racism, body horror, murder, gun violence, grief, addiction/drug abuse, cancer, domestic abuse, suicidal thoughts, animal cruelty, miscarriage, transphobia, and child abuse
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Racism, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Transphobia