Scan barcode
mari1532'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Brief Summary: Juan is trying to figure out a plan to raise his son, Gaspar while keeping him safe from his in-laws in the wake of his wife, Rosario's, mysterious death. As Juan tries to keep Gaspar from the family's secret society, he farther into its clutches. However, as Gaspar ages, he begins to realize that his family history is far more dangerous than he could have imagined.
Thoughts: Enríquez is an exceptional writer. The way that this book is so long and has so many different subplots, but there is not a single loose end at the conclusion of the book is truly a triumph. Each of the characters in this book feels like a real person and the personalities and motivations of each produce a strong reaction from the reader. Overall I did not like many of the characters in this book, but I think that how Enríquez wrote each of them, may have been the point. In the world created in this book, people are complicated, and not necessarily meant to be liked.
My favourite character in the book was Rosario. She was at once entirely relatable being at once loving and dastardly. Her story arch throughout the book was truly what kept me reading even though she was a character in the background of the story, Rosario is very much central to the the plot. I also appreciated how Enríquez allowed Rosario to be her own person and did not let her love for Juan subsume Rosario's whole personality.
I do not have a lot of experience reading books in the horror genre, but I can safely say that I will continue to read it as long as Enríquez continues to write. I highly recommend this book.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
sourpatchsims'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
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Colonisation, and Classism
rnr2117'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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Mental illness, Grief, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
maryam16080208'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
4.75
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War
lilly_dav_reading'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I took away a star because I was a little disappointed with the ending. I would have liked to have seen Gaspar be able to heal from his pain and trauma. Will there be a second??
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and War
dbrivera55'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Miscarriage
kneecole's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Animal death
Death of a pet dog is “off screen”alexfrankfiction's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting
shay43geek's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Mental illness
ka_cam'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
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism