Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - Mexican Gothic

The setup: Noemí Taboada is partying it up in Mexico City, flirting with cute men, attending debutant-like balls and events, and pondering what she should do with her life when her father notifies her that they have received quite an alarming letter from Noemí's cousin Catalina. The letter reads as if Catalina needs some psychiatric help—she sees ghosts, the walls talk to her, and she is having intense nightmares. It doesn't help that Catalina recently got married to essentially a stranger, and one of European descent no less. They live with his family in the Mexican countryside, where his British lineage ~~once made a name for themselves~~ exploited Mexicans in the mining industry.

Noemí isn't necessarily the closest with her cousin, but she is worried, and her father offers to pay for her anthropology school if she goes to investigate. Therefore, Noemí treks to High Place, where Catalina lives with Virgil, her husband, Virgil's father, Howard, and others in the family, including Florence, Virgil's cousin, and Francis, Florence's son. Noemí discovers that Catalina isn't well, but everything is not as it seems. We trek on a journey with Noemí as she discovers a house that brings about nightmares and a family's past that unravels long-time secrets.

What I liked: I'm going to preface my entire review with this fact: I knew going into this that this wasn't as scary as it may have been set out to be. I forget where I heard it, but I knew that this was not a jump scare horror novel. Regardless, this is an odd tale that intertwines a creepy family and some natural wonders (but not in the best way!). I honestly loved the "horror" aspect to this - an utterly unhinged family and their story and a captivating plot around a house of horrors. I found it unique and compelling. I'm being vague for a reason - I don't want to give any spoilers to the house of horrors, but I thought it was exciting and original. This story made me cringe at parts, so while it didn't scare me a lot, it psychologically spooked me in other ways. Additionally, I thought Noemí was a refreshing and lovely character. She somehow didn't annoy me, which is quite challenging in a thriller/mystery/horror novel like this one. The main character inevitably decides something to further the plot where you want to scream "NO!" That didn't happen to me here, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The slight romance plot was also refreshing as Noemí most certainly didn't act like a woman of the 1950s (at least by American standards). I liked this novel's plot, thriller aspect, and characters.

Lastly, I was struck by the novel's profound symbolism, particularly its exploration of colonialism and racism. The theme of eugenics, set in 1950s Mexico, was a powerful reminder of the country's history. The Spanish conquest, the Revolution, and the exploitation of the land and its people by colonizers all resonated strongly. This voice, so prevalent in the novel, was a necessary and thought-provoking element.

What could have been better: Like many reviews, I must acknowledge that the pacing was a bit uneven. The first half of the book was admittedly slow, but the last 20% picked up dramatically. However, even during the slower parts, I was still invested in Noemí's journey, and it kept me hooked. Some parts were slightly predictable and occasionally dull, and the horror element wasn't as pronounced as I expected (or, at least, in the way I expected). Also, the writing was not atmospheric or flowery for a gothic novel. Still, the gothic elements were at least described - particularly an old, outdated house with no electricity and plenty of bad weather, mist, and fog hovering on the mountain.

Lastly—and this didn't impact my review, but I think for expectation sake, I will share—this book did not necessarily explain the how behind the horror-like element of it; you were just expected to roll with it. Did it make a ton of sense? No. Nor was there a lot of time explaining it. However, was it interesting and a great take on something different in the genre? Absolutely.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel, even when the pacing prevented me from rating it higher. I particularly liked the natural elements that weaved into the overall premise, and it was generally well done.

Content Warnings

luna_lovelace's review against another edition

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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? No

5.0

Mexican Gothic is such an incredible thriller book that had me on the edge of my seat!

The way Noemi's character was written was simply amazing. She had a sassy attitude and wasn't afraid to speak her mind, which made her stand out from other characters in the book. Noemi's personality was the key to solving the mystery and I loved how the author portrayed her.

Francis, on the other hand, was timid at first, but his character development was admirable. He grew stronger as the story progressed, and I was pleasantly surprised by his actions towards the end. The author did a fantastic job of making his character come to life.

It took a little while for the story to truly turn into a horror story, but I was alarmed from the start by Howard's character.

His twisted personality gave me the chills and it didn't help that he was racist. I was more disturbed by the scene where he's on his deathbed, made me gag.

The ending was unexpected,

but it was a happy ending for Noemi, so you won't hear any complaining from me. Although the ending was left open to interpretation by the reader on what happens next, I think it was the perfect way to end the book.

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sophieamreacher's review against another edition

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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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yungblonde's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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mari1532's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I have had the copy of this book for way longer than I care to admit and the fact that I did not read this book sooner frankly makes me want to ask my past self what I was even thinking for not reading this book immediately. Although I have this book on my Kindle I decided to check the audiobook out of my local library and did not want to stop listening.

Marino-Garcia paints a vivid and dark world full of intrigue. Noemí leaves her life of studying anthropology by day and attending high society parties by night when a strange letter from her cousin arrives. Having recently married an Englishman, Catalina now lives in an isolated mansion and appears very ill when Noemí arrives. However, as Noemí attempts to figure out what exactly may be the cause of her always-healthy cousin's illness, Noemí begins to experience strange things in the house. Little does she know it is only a matter of time before she will have the answers she's looking for, but they might lead to even bigger problems.

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Marino-Garcia's writing was fantastic! Not only is her writing beautiful it is vivid and you almost feel as if you are watching a movie rather than reading/hearing words from the page. There were so many instances throughout the book when I felt exactly as Noemí must have at that moment.

Highly recommend this book! It's one of my new favourite books.

Content Warnings

elisasifaa's review against another edition

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mysterious tense slow-paced

3.0

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