Scan barcode
knapier5's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ellius's review against another edition
I had a lot of technical problems with the writing, it got in the way of me enjoying the story and I ended up just giving up.
readingmom_jess's review against another edition
3.0
The first half was pretty slow. Then it was pretty predictable. Perfect fall read. I wouldn't recommend the audiobook. I thought it was pretty monotone.
mandymorebooks's review against another edition
3.0
2.75 rounding up.
Somewhere between mystery, fantasy and horror, Mexican Gothic has a unique blend of themes throughout the book that create what could have been a great book. The scenic descriptions are on point but the characters are bland and the story is a bit slow at times. The ending seems rushed to wrap everything up. I know Hulu bought the rights to a mini series which I would watch because I think the potential for graphics is awesome.
Somewhere between mystery, fantasy and horror, Mexican Gothic has a unique blend of themes throughout the book that create what could have been a great book. The scenic descriptions are on point but the characters are bland and the story is a bit slow at times. The ending seems rushed to wrap everything up. I know Hulu bought the rights to a mini series which I would watch because I think the potential for graphics is awesome.
cloaknquill's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
For a book everyone PRAISED about, I expected far more an a combination of Crimson Peak & What Moves the Dead
kaylo88's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I loved this book. After hearing about it for ages, I honestly wondered if it would live up to the hype, and for me, it 100% did. I went into it knowing very little beyond the title and blurb, and I have to say, it wasn’t what I expected at all. Without giving too much away for those who haven’t read it, I thought vampires might play a major role, but I was pleasantly surprised as the story unfolded.
The pacing is slow and eerie, which at times made me want things to move faster—though only because I was enjoying the suspense and intrigue so much.
I had a love/hate relationship with almost all the characters. The exception was Noemí’s father, whom I really disliked, despite not knowing much about him. Imagine bribing your intelligent daughter to chase after a relative’s letter, using her education against her. What a jerk!
Noemí herself isn’t always likeable and has some traits that make her feel flawed, but that only makes her more real and human to me. I loved her sass, her refusal to back down, and her determination to stand up for what she believes in, even when surrounded by more powerful people.
What I enjoyed most were the mushroom references and the scientific discussions woven into the story. They added a unique element that fascinated me.
My only criticism is that the ending felt a little underwhelming—it seemed to fizzle out rather than end on a strong note. That said, I still loved the book overall. A solid 4.5 stars for sure!
papillina's review against another edition
3.0
It was a good read but it didn't spark anything for me, unfortunately. I feel like I went in with high expectations and felt disappointed in the end. I don't know how to describe it fully, but if the author didn't mention certain details of the environment and people, I would forget this was supposed to take place in Mexico (I kept visualizing the places in Twilight). I don't know what that says about me, maybe I just lacked the visualization of a gothic horror story, or maybe I was hoping to relate with the protagonist a bit, either way, I finished it. I will try SMG's other books with a different mindset for sure.