Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

18 reviews

ender24's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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: Incest, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Confinement, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Death, Xenophobia, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Infertility, Misogyny, Racism, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, and Pedophilia

jlaz_13's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Blood, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Self harm, Incest, Injury/injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Body horror, Murder, and Suicide

Minor: Child death, Sexism, Trafficking, Infertility, Rape, Sexual violence, and Cursing

emmalouisereads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I wanted a spooky read for Halloween and I wasn’t disappointed. Incredibly atmospheric… and genuinely revolting at times. 

It’s a really strange story (that I enjoyed mostly for reasons that would be spoilers and I can’t mention). It certainly won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.

I’d love to see this made into a gothic film. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Suicide, Mental illness, Murder, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Vomit, and Xenophobia

thoughtsontomes's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Body horror, and Suicide

ria_aaa's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Infertility, Injury/injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Racism, Vomit, Abortion, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Incest, Chronic illness, Medical content, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Child death, Rape, and Self harm

lilithreads's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cannibalism, Suicide, Pregnancy, Body horror, Gore, Murder, Blood, Death, Violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Incest, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Self harm

helenferg's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Racism, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Infertility, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Rape, Miscarriage, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Violence

iamnotyourally's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

4.5

Pacing and tension were excellent. The further into the book you read the more questions you have. 
Ending could have been stronger, but still satisfying. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Sexual assault, and Sexism

Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, and Incest

thereadingwells's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This gothic horror novel starts out slow - which initially I disliked, but slowly realized was intentional to build tension, suspense, and atmosphere. When this book picks up, it PICKS UP. I couldn't put it down about 3/4 of the way through, and without saying too much I really appreciated the twist on the horror genre with something other than magical creatures or ghosts. I will say, however, that if you're whatsoever intrigued by mycelium, you might love this book.

Noemí Taboada is our 1950's socialite protaganist. She's sent on what seems like a simple, albeit inconvenient errand by her father (with the promise of a reward) to go check in on her cousin, Catalina, who sends a wild, troubling letter from the home of her new husband in a distant misty, mountainous town.

I don't read horror often, but this was our October 2021 book club pick, and it was perfectly unsettling, gothic, and dark for the occasion without being too gory. The ending felt a little bit abrupt, and I was left with lots of questions. Maybe Silvia Moreno-Garcia will fill us in some other time?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Injury/injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence

softestbug's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Incest, Injury/injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia