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moonytoast's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.5
I really liked pieces of this story: snippets of prose, overarching concepts, and certain themes. However, the overall book itself felt too meandering in its plot and tone. Casiopeia has the foundation of a great, compelling character, but at moments she just feels like an empty vessel. I still really loved the Mayan mythology here and I will very much be reading other works by Silvia Moreno-Garcia in the future, but this was a tough read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse
catcherinthepi's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
As I really loved Mexican Gothic, I needed to read another novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and I found this one in a lending library. Moreno-Garcia masterfully immerses you into historical settings in her work, weaving in aspects of ancient myths, and this one is no exception. That being said, the characters left much to be desired for me; this story ultimately kinda felt formulaic to me, and the characters were a plucky underdog heroine and a brooding mysterious male love interest, which is a tried and true trope. I also found her writing relatively basic, so...yeah. Read it for the world-building and otherwise expect some stereotypical plot lines and characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
wooblatoober's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
so glad i read this. i enjoyed it so much & it had an ending that i had wanted to see in a novel for quite some time, which makes it very special. i wasn’t sure about, then eventually loved, the semi-omniscient narration. i thought it was interesting and different, yet wasn’t distracting, & helped to make certain moments more impactful. i felt like something was missing in regards to the romance as i read, but that’s likely purely personal since i couldn’t tell you what it was that i felt was missing. i definitely loved the climax of the story.
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
the race through the black road & what happens on it kept me on the edge of my seat. moreno-garcia did an amazing job of writing cassiopea’s descent into irrationality on the black road, & her descent into thinking she’s old, when she “strays” from the path. VERY well-written, as its seamlessness reminded me of my own descents into psychosis that i’ve had. i REALLY appreciated that she chose not only to do the right thing (go to the black road), but ALSO to live her life after. after an entire romantic buildup, an ending where it just simply doesn’t happen, and where the life she’s about to live independently is more romantic than the relationship she would have had, is very special to me. i also like that the reader is unsure whether she’ll be able to be with him after her death, or, better put, after her life. i almost like to think it won’t happen, & that that’ll be okay. but i also like the idea of him watching her fall deeper in love with life, while falling deeper in love with her. but i think i like the first one more. it’s melancholy & beautiful.
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
alex_wordweaver's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! These two are so stinkin' cute!!! *squishes Casiopea and Hun-Kame's faces together*
Hun-Kame gives me suuuuuuuuuuch death god vibes. I mean, I know he is one, but he just radiates death god energy (death gods can be such secret squishy lovey sexy nerds sometimes behind that aloof exterior). Martin deserved a chancletazo at the beginning, but his sad-sackness at the end earned him a reprieve. Vucub-Kame... *gestures at him vaguely* He's a decent villain, cool looks--he's definitely a Sesshomaru--can see him having possible redemption arc if ever there's a sequel, or if not redemption, at least some on-the-heroes' side anti-heroics. Even with all the stuff you learn about him in the book in his sections, still feels like there's a lot unknown about him. Which is great! Makes me want more. I'm just less inclined to squish his face. I will hug each and every one of his owls, though; they deserve pets for being such good messengers and Huracán especially for having to carry Martin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Violence
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Racism
neens_m's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Death of parent
tamara_joy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Suicide, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Colonisation and Classism
dreadspawn's review against another edition
adventurous
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
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Racism and Death of parent
readingelli's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Human sacrificebdunks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Suicide
rockysoap's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Like others have said, I found this book slow in the beginning, which was fine with me because I was listening to it to fall asleep at night. But somewhere around halfway, it suddenly picked up and I became very invested. The world building in particular was captivating. The ending didn't work for me, but not because it was bad - it was just a personal preference thing. Overall, I enjoyed it and I'm glad I gave it a chance. I would gladly read this author again (although I might try to vet the story's ending first).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Suicide, Violence, and Classism