A review by kaylo88
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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!