Mexican Gothic is a gothic horror novel set in 1950s Mexico. Noemí Taboada, a twenty-two-year-old socialite from Mexico City, is sent to the remote town of El Triunfo by her father after receiving a concerning letter from her cousin Catalina. Her newly-wed cousin claims that she is being poisoned by her husband and that the house is haunted by ghosts. So under the promise of being allowed to study a master’s degree in anthropology, Noemí accepts to go to El Triunfo to find out if there is any truth in Catalina’s words or if the young woman just needs psychiatrist care.

I was really excited about reading this ownvoices novel despite not being a fan of the horror genre. Something about the synopsis caught my attention and the gorgeous cover didn’t hurt either. Whatever it was, I was right. I found a compelling story between the pages of Mexican Gothic and Silvia Moreno-García definitely got to creep me out with some of the scenes that takes places in the haunted house of High Place.

The book focuses on the haunted house trope while delving into the horrors of eugenics, colonialism and misogyny. There are some disturbing scenes and characters in this book. The Doyle family definitely unnerved me with their obsession about maintaining the bloodline and the thing just gets worse as their secrets and past begins to be unfolded.

I have to recognise I didn’t enjoy the last part of the book as much as the rest. I was more into the story when I didn’t know what to expect, when Noemí was in the dark about what was really happening in the house. I really liked how she tries to connect the dots through the book and the stetting of High Place and the rest of El Triunfo. Unfortunately, once the truth is revealed, I found myself not enjoying the story as much. Nevertheless, my overall impression of this story is quite positive.

Summing up, I enjoyed the spooky atmosphere, the main character and the important themes that the author discusses through Mexican Gothic. I think this is a recommendable read for Halloween if you like to delve into scary and dark books during that time of the year. But honestly, if you’re a fan of the genre, just pick it up no matter the season.

Mexican Gothic has alot of elements making it worthy of praise; including a strong heroine, complex characters, old-school horror, and a gripping plotline.
Weaving together the easily recognizable tropes of the "haunted house" novel with her own ideas Moreno-Grace creates a very successful thriller that grasped my attention throughout.
On a less positive note I found the writing sometimes lacked sophistication, leaning towards telling over showing. Also Noemi could be quite an unlikeable protagonist at times. However, the text held such a wonderful array of twists, surprises and secrets that the minute I came across an element I didnt enjoy I was quickly ushered on to one I would.
I would definitely recommend giving it a read, especially those of you who love a gothic tale.

This book had me captivated until the very end, as soon as I saw the title of this, I knew it was one for me, set in 50's Mexico with an eerie, creepy undertone throughout the story but with characters that draw you in and leave you wanting more. The Gothic element of this is spot on but there is a lot more to this story with historical references, strong family ties and horror themes. I really, really loved this, it was beautifully written and I will definitely be picking up more from Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

"The mushrooms glowed brighter, and she thought perhaps later she might touch them, running her hands against the wall and settling her face against the softness of their flesh. It would be good to rest there, skin pressed tight against their slick bodies, and maybe they'd cover her, the lovely fungi, and cram into her mouth, into her nostrils and eye sockets until she could not breathe and they nestled in her belly and bloomed along her thighs."

This book is MOOD. It's atmosphere, texture, colour, smell. It's so vivid I feel like I lived in it. The title is so perfect – I didn't realise until I read this how ideal Mexico is for a gothic story. It's more than just seeing the usual gothic tropes overlaid on a non-European setting; Mexico's history and culture are vital to the narrative. Also I love that the evil at the heart of the story is patriarchy. I'd be very surprised if this wasn't already being developed as a film – Guillermo del Toro being the obvious choice, though Darren Aronofsky would also be interesting. Or the people behind The Haunting of Hill House. Anyway, I hope it is a film because I want to watch it. This is the most atmospheric books I've read in months.

I really enjoyed reading Mexican Gothic as I feel Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s style of writing suited the mystery and gothic tone perfectly. Usually, horror, gothic and paranormal aren’t my favourite genres however I couldn’t help but enjoy Moreno-Garcia’s evocative and gorgeous style of writing creepy scenes and settings.

Completely absorbing. I couldn't put this down. The tension built to breaking point in this novel as you're drawn into this magical surreal world of horrors. I'd love to read more by this author!

4.5 stars.

'Mexican Gothic' by Silvia Moreno-Garcia was a breath of fresh air.

In this adult gothic horror novel, Moreno-Garcia masterfully weaves a storyline weeping with twists, unlikeable characters and most creepy of all, pulsating, brainwashing, poisonous sentient mushrooms. This book had it all. I typically steer clear of horror novels because they are not usually what I enjoy to read as I find them formulaic and not overall engaging or enjoyable. I wanted to read 'Mexican Gothic' because I had previously read 'Gods of Jade and Shadow' by the same author and fell in love with her writing. I must admit, 'Mexican Gothic' blew me away with how much I enjoyed it. I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of the book.

Mexican Gothic tells the story of Noemí Taboada, who upon being told by her father that her cousin who has just gotten married, is in need of help. Noemi embarks to High Place, the perfect 1950s mansion for our gothic horror setting, and immediately is wary of the family her cousin has married into and the house itself. After a slow-burn beginning, Noemi stars to unravel the tightly held secrets of this place and the family, not knowing the depth of horror she has uncovered. Moreno-Garcia perfectly painted a terrifying picture: with hallucinations and dreams that feel like and act like reality, with lond empty darkened hallways, the feeling of being watched, the apparitions at the edge of Noemi's vision. The atmosphere was incredibly terrifying and I absolutely loved it.

Taking up the classic gothic tropes, what I also loved was the character of Noemi herself. She was not passive or weak, she had a her own agency and it was through her that the story found its pivotal moments. Noemi had such a strength to her character that I found myself incredibly invested in her survival. It was Noemi who was the hero of this story.

One of the major elements of this book that I loved was Moreno-Garcia's writing. It reminded me of the way Carlos Ruiz Zafon wrote in 'The Shadow of the Wind'. There is a descriptive element to the writing, a telling, that I fell in love with. I know that some people will find this to be a negative, but it is a style of writing that I thoroughly enjoy and Moreno-Garcia is almost masterful with her writing in this way.

# Mexican Gothic Review

Do you like a book that will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat from start to finish and even after finishing leaving you feeling unsettled? If so, Mexican Gothic is the book for you. It’s such an interesting yet engrossing book that really surprised me when I read it. I’m even more shocked that I haven’t heard that many people talk about it either! So if you haven’t heard of Mexican Gothic or you’re interested in it, this is the review for you!

Before I start though I feel that I should mention that this book deals with some pretty dark topics and if you don’t feel comfortable reading those topics it’s totally okay!! The TW’s for this book are:
- Sexual Assault
- Incest
- Murder
- Gore
- Cannibalism
- Eugenics
- White Supremacy
- Death of a parent
- Death of family members
- Miscarriages
- Stillbirths
- Suicide
- Alcohol
- Smoking

## In Short

**_In Short_**: Unease + Creepy House + Strange Family + Mexico = Mexican Gothic

## In Depth

I loved this book. a lot. Everything about it was fantastic, from the atmosphere to the writing and the worldbuilding there was just something about it that felt special. It had this really old worldly vibe that just was incredible. It was really slow at first but that was mainly to set up the atmosphere and what would happen later on. Just every part of this book was incredible, from the disgusting aspects of the house to the so called delusions of a newly married wife.

If you want a book that will keep you on edge whilst at the same time having that adrenaline rush that a great book gives you? Then this is 100% the book for you.

Thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.
I adored Gods of Jade and Shadow, so I was looking forward to reading this book. This book is touted as a “feminist re-imagining of Gothic fantasy” which sounded like it would be a great book to lose myself in and give myself some fun heebie-jeebies.

The story is set in Mexico in the 1950s. The heroine of the story, Noemi, goes to visit her recently married cousin at her mysterious mansion in the countryside after receiving a strange letter from her begging for help. Upon arriving at the mansion, Noemi is quickly enveloped in the strange and uncanny atmosphere as she endeavours to get to the bottom of her cousin’s fears.

Noemi is a socialite and I found her quite a vapid and unlikeable character from the outset. My opinion did not much improve as I continued to read, something about her just grated on me. Spoiled, self-centred brat characters never really click with me, so I had a bit of trouble caring about any of the perils she experienced. It is not a great sign when you find yourself actively hoping something bad will happen to the main character. The other characters were ok I suppose. They were all just a bit weird, I know that is probably the point, but it made it difficult to engage with them or to be curious about their stories.

The mysteries of the mansion and the family are slowly exposed whilst Noemi finds herself more and more unable to separate herself from the mansion and its secrets. There are some genuinely creepy moments but nothing to really elevate it to the promise offered by the synopsis. There are some issues with pacing too and a large chunk of the middle section is rather dull with lots of conversations and wandering about aimlessly. The romance element also seemed distasteful and unnecessary for a reason I can’t quite put my finger on. Maybe Noemi’s constant reference to how unattractive and sickly he was didn’t help.

If I had to describe this book to someone, I’d say it was like a not so great riff on Crimson Peak. There are a lot of elements that I found very similar to that movie but whereas it was genuinely creepy, this just wasn’t really. The cause of the mysterious events turned out to be a bit of a let-down and it all just felt a bit underwhelming all round.

I had high expectations for this book as the title, synopsys and especially the amazing cover are incredibly intriguing. Sadly though I have to admit that I was a little disappointed,
We follow a young socialite In 1950s Mexico on a trip to visit her cousin and new husband‘s family in a rural area of the country. The family emigrated from Great Britain decades earlier and everything about their estate and lifestyle is british and quite uptight, contrary to our socialite Noemi. She son discovers that something is off about the family and their home.
At this point I expected the story to pick up and waited for the horror to begin, however I kept waiting to no avail. Except for maybe the last fifth of the book ist is pleasant enough and at times a tiny bit creepy but far from horrifying. Certainly not the gripping horror story that keeps you up at night I was hoping for. The characters sadly remain rather flat as well. The idea of the story is interesting enough but could have been executed far better.
Would only recommend if you are NOT looking for a horror story but instead want something like a mystery beach read.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an arc for review.

"There's heavy places. Places where the air itself is heavy because an evil weighs it down. Sometimes it's a death, could be it's something else, but the bad air, it'll get into your body and it'll nestle there and weigh you down. that's what's wrong with the Doyle's of high place."

Mexican Gothic has been on my radar since it's cover was released (colour me shallow but that cover is stunning), so when I saw it available for request to review I couldn't resist taking the chance to request a copy.

Noemí Taboada's a glamorous debutante who enjoys spending her time teasing men and sipping champagne so when her father receives a frantic letter from her newlywed cousin filled with mysterious ravings that indicate she's not safe in her husbands family home.

The Doyle's family home is named High Place, it's a typical gothic mansion with it's creaking floor boards and mysterious goings on. Upon Noemi's arrival she is informed of the rules that must be abided during her stay in High Place, no smoking and no talking during meal times are just the start of the weird behaviours taking place in the family home.

Noemi quickly realises that Catalina is not her usual self, bedridden and rambling of people in the walls and other mysterious events within the house. She needs to get them out of the house, but with the Doyle's watching her every move and restricting her from seeing her cousin Noemi finds an unlikely ally within High Place, Noemi and Francis form an unlikely pair, a beautiful socialite with fire in her blood and a will of steel and a boy who has the appearance of one who's ill, a gentle soul who finds comfort hunting for mushrooms in the family cemetery.

"Remember to open your eyes," Ruth told her. "Open your eyes," Noemi whispered.

The stories that surround High Place and it's residents are well known in the town and avoided by all the townsfolk, the more time Noemi spends time within the walls of the Doyle's household the house's tightens it's hold of Noemi & Catalina and time is running out for them to escape.

This is the firs book i have read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia but it won't be my last the writing is stunning and though many people have said the pacing of the book pushed them into DNF'ing but the thought never even crossed my mind, I found the pacing to be perfect to the story the slow build creepiness gives the perfect feel to such an original gothic tale.

Though Mexican Gothic is by no means a romance story, the connection between Noemi & Francis melted my heart and every time the gentle boy and stubborn girl graced a page together i had the hint of a grin and flutter in my heart.

If your new to the horror genre this would be a perfect place for you to start. I would also highly recommend this to fans of Darcy Coates & the Netflix series Haunting of Hill House.

I finished this book over two das & know i will be revisiting High Place with a most anticipated reread.

"Sleepwalker," she whispered. "Time to open your eyes."

This book is proof for me that sometimes I need to venture outside of my comfort zone. I'm not a horror reader, and so I was a little hesitant to read this book, and I made sure to wait until I was in the right mood for it. But I'm literally stunned by this beautifully eerie novel. I was completely unable to put it down, and I found it such an engaging and immersive read that even though it moved quite slowly, especially in the first half, I still felt incredibly invested and my mind never wandered. It's such a gorgeously written book, Silvia Moreno-Garcia has a truly amazing writing style. And the book was so creepy and so atmospheric, it was absolute perfection.

CWs: incest, (attempted) rape, gore/body horror, human sacrifice, murder, death, racism/fetishization/eugenics

It’s the 1950s in Mexico. Society girl Noemí wants to check on her cousin Catalina, who should be embracing wedded bliss. Instead she sent a missive to her relatives that hints at strange things going on in her new home in a rural part of Mexico. Indeed, from the moment of her arrival Noemí knows that something sinister is going on in this very strange, stuck in the Victorian era, house and household.

The writing is excellent and makes the dark house, the foggy cemetery, and especially the creepy figures come alive. Nevertheless, and although the beginning and ending of the book are worthy of the Gothic Horror genre, the middle is boring. One could easily skip the middle part and still understand the end of the story. Further, having an idea what the underlying problem of the plot was very early on made it a dull read for me.

Mexican Gothic has proven to be a really tough book to review! I have mixed feelings about the book, but those mixed feelings are, on the whole, positive, if that makes any sense? Basically, there's nothing I disliked about Mexican Gothic. It's an atmospheric, eerie gothic story, and I was super invested in it for the most part.

I have to say, it all got a bit weird about halfway through. It was a little bit strange in the beginning, but as the book continued I kept wondering just how weird it was going to get. The atmosphere throughout was eerie and chilling, and then towards the end it was less atmospheric and more just outright bizarre.

I loved that the main character wasn't your usual strong and likeable heroine. She was snarky and negative, and downright fierce. I didn't click with her at the start, but as the book continued I was really rooting for her and her cousin.

I did find that there were a lot of characters to try to wrap my head around, and since I read this book over many sittings rather than just in one go, it got a little confusing. Especially as it seemed as though everyone was related, and I couldn't figure out the family tree.

I did NOT like the romance, though. I mean, it was fine, if you like that kind of thing, but I personally found it unnecessary, and you all know how I love my slow burn... this was not that. I almost never like romances in books nowadays, though, so don't dismiss this book just because of this one tiny thing.

Overall Mexican Gothic was a real gothic treat, and despite the bizarre elements and the... interesting relationships in the book, I ended up really enjoying it!

** I read this book with the Space Sirens Book Club, a speculative fiction book club which you can check out on Twitter and Youtube **

I admit, what made me want to read this book was first and foremost the cover. Because let's be honest, it's gorgeous. But what made me love the book was the ambiance, the way the story was crafted, the pacing... This book kept me on the edge of my seat! I kept trying to figure out what was actually going, and the reveal? Didn't disappoint at all!

This was a deliciously dark Gothic masterpiece. As someone who has studied the Gothic in depth for the past two years, it was so brilliant to see these classic tropes of the genre be played with and reimagined through a fresh, new and more diverse lens.

Moreno-Garcia’s writing is just so gorgeous and sumptuous, with interesting, eloquent word choice and an almost effortless vivacity infusing every page. It is so evident that she has seriously honed her craft, creating a masterpiece in tension and unsettling, spine-chilling subtle horror. The atmosphere she creates completely wraps you up in her dark, twisted gem of a story.

For me, the horror aspects built up gradually, forming more of a slow burn effect where the creepiness grew on you. It also allows you to focus on the abhorrent evil of people, with eugenics and incestual relationships in order to preserve the ‘purity’ of bloodlines being a key theme of the story. This utilises the classic Gothic idea of exposing the bestial nature that humanity can delve into, discussing taboo topics in an impactful and thought-provoking way. Decay and corruption, both in the physical sense and mental sense, also play a huge role, both affecting the characters and the setting itself.

I loved how Moreno-Garcia carefully chose the historical period in which Mexican Gothic was set, as the 1950s are often viewed as this romanticised ideal by some historians. This was far from the case and through the story, this is explicitly highlighted and the rotten core of the period is brought to central stage. Mexican Gothic is a disturbing but deeply intriguing book, packed to the brim with unnerving imagery and a subtly unsettling atmosphere that only grows. It’s a whisper in the dark, the slight creak of a floorboard that expertly plays with classic tropes and tension, whilst being wrapped up in some of the most beautiful prose.

After receiving a frantic, disturbing letter from her cousin, socialite Noemí Taboada leaves Mexico City for High Place, the countryside family home of her newlywed cousin's husband: Virgil Doyle. But soon after she arrives Noemí realizes that something in that house is very wrong--the wallpaper seems to move, absolute silence is required at most times of the day, and Noemí is plagued by terrible nightmares that feel a little too real. She finds an unlikely ally in Francis Doyle, Virgil's shy and gentle cousin. But as Noemí desperately tries to help her cousin, she starts to realize that she is already much more entwined with the house and family than she thought, and leaving may prove almost impossible...

Huuhhhh. This is such a haunting book. The atmosphere builds up slowly, with you only gradually realizing that something in the house is deeply, deeply wrong. The feeling of unease builds up, until it finally erupts and the book turns into a hair-standing-on-end, chillingly brilliant tale of horror and suspense. And it is a horror--don't let the pretty cover fool you! I truly did not expect the narrative to explode as it did, but I loved it so so much!
Noemí is a fantastic main character. She is very unlike many heroines in traditional horror novels--she is a socialite who loves parties and flirting. She is unapologetic and instantly likeable, with a happy-go-lucky attitude and a very optimistic outlook on life. Throughout the book, she maintains her positive attitude and tries to see things in a good light, even as they start spiralling. It was so refreshing to read!

Francis is in many ways Noemí's exact counterpart. Quiet and shy, he follows his family's instructions without question and rarely stands up for himself. As the one person in the house that Noemí trusts, he quickly becomes her ally, but is for a long time torn between loyalty to his family and his growing feelings for Noemí. His character development throughout the book was fantastic to witness, and so satisfying to read.

It truly is the perfect book to start slipping into autumn; a book to read while sitting in front of the fire, curled up in an armchair with a storm beating against the windows and branches scratching over the roof. It is creepy and disturbing, brilliantly written and deeply atmospheric.

"In a sense all dreams foretell events, but some more clearly than others."

Mexican Gothic was everything I was hoping it would be! Atmospheric, dark, mysterious events, disturbing dreams, horrific rituals all while set in the perfect house, High Place. Truly reprehensible characters (Howard Doyle first and foremost) were balanced with a few really great ones (Noemí Taboada). Bringing eugenics and colonization in to the mix further intensified this gothic story.

Mexican Gothic has definitely cemented my love of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's writing. Readers Note: I am really glad I thought to tab all the dream scenes while reading as well because it was great to go back and read them at the end.

This book was incredibly lush, atmospheric, and creepy. Silvia Moreno-Garcia never fails to craft a wonderful plot with relatable, fleshed out characters. 5/5 stars. I am recommending this to everyone!

Mexican Gothic is not my typical type of book. I am not a big fan of horror or suspense books. With that being said the cover of this book immediately caught my attention. The cover for this book as AMAZING!

Now the book itself… Noemi is asked by her father to go and visit her newlywed cousin after he receives an intriguing letter. In the beginning, Noemi really got on my nerves, she came across as a high maintenance spoiled brat that only carers for her appearance and which party to go next. The character development for Noemi is amazing, the way that she cares for her cousin and navigates the strange family of her cousin in-laws brings another side of her and we can see that she is changed by the end of the book.

The gothic atmosphere created by the author is something out of this world, a cross between The Addams Family and Dracula by Bram Stoker and an Edwardian novel. This book really got me wanting to read the next page and not able to put it down.

Although not my style, it was an amazing read!

*A special thank you note to Netgalley and QuercusBooks by sending me an ARC of this book.

#mexicangothic #silviamorenogarcia #readingismyworkout #2020