Weep, Woman, Weep

This is quiet, rural horror done right, though in the end this novella is as much about grief, intergenerational trauma, and intimate partner violence as it is about the dangers of La Llorona. I loved the representation of New Mexico, and I thought main character Mercy was a fabulous, and at times heartbreaking, narrator. The novella's focus on brujeria via farming and finding happiness in spite of a world designed to stamp out the least bit of joy was delightful. It was, in many ways, a truly meditative read, despite the narrator's prickly style and the overall body count. (Also, as an aside, this is THE most beautiful cover of a self-published work that I've ever seen.)

A powerful novella about systematic oppression and just how deep, and generational, it is. I saw La Llorona as just another form of oppression and it is from that the real horror unfurls. She was both a victim of it and, in turn, created a long line of it via her myth. Only when Mercy started to stand on her own 2 feet and flip the script from oppressed to free did the power of La Llorona truly subside.

The writing is inspired. I could see the New Mexican landscape in my minds eye while reading. The narrative is sparse and direct, as it is written almost as though Mercy is talking to us as she plants or harvests her turnips. It might be a slight tome, but it packs a punch.

Recommended.

A very quick and dark gothic read. I love fairytales and gothic fairytales are the best in my opinion, I mean I love Disney but sometimes life is gritty and dark and shocking and that is what you get with this book. It was raw and I loved it

I really loved this book! The aspect of bringing in the myth of La Llorona is amazing and I was on the edge of my seat the entire book! The concept of her tears is so amazing and I can't say enough good things about this story! My only complaint is that it is not available in physical form to purchase!
The cover is stunning as well!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this story very much. I don't know if it's because I was also reading "The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep" at the same time, but I at moments felt a really deep connection with Mercy and could visualize Mercy's Farm and the feeling of joining her on her couch to read.

Anyways, it's a good tale of overcoming loss and finding what it is to learn to love oneself and allowing others into your life.

Not so much horror though.... I would have love it if La Llorona were a little more present in the story.

I was very surprised by this little book, it was wonderful! It was beautiful and heart-wrenching.. I absolutely loved it and I will be thinking about it for a long time.

Weep, Woman, Weep by Maria DeBlassie is a dark but hauntingly beautiful novella set in New Mexico and based on la Llorona, the Weeping Woman of Latin American folklore.
Mercy lives in a town where the women are cursed to live a life filled with sorrows. They do their best to avoid walking by the river at night in hopes of avoiding the curse, but too often La Llorona finds them anyway. When Mercy's best friend becomes her latest victim, sentenced to a life of tears and suffering, and Mercy only narrowly avoids the same fate , she decides to fight back, to build a better life for herself , a life filled with magic, healing and rebirth, and maybe even a little romance.
I was blown away by the strength and beauty of the writing in this little book , I was completely gripped from the opening lines to the last page, which came far too soon for my liking. I can honestly say that my biggest problem with this book was that I wanted more of it.
The theme of oppression and how it shaped Mercy's character and her choices was another interesting aspect of the story, and added a lot of depth to what initially appeared to be a more slight story.
I also have to compliment the beautiful cover artwork, which initially drew my eye to the book, and fit the story perfectly.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Weep Woman Weep is a haunting yet uplifting gothic fairytale which dabbles in the urban legend of La Llorona but also focuses on how childhood trauma can affect how we live our lives.

Mercy and Shelly are regular girls, who have heard the tales of the weeping woman and know to stay away from the river nearby to prevent her pulling them under.

When an unfortunate incident changes their friendship forever Mercy must try to move forward with her life, all with the curse of La Llorona as a constant.

A short, snappy tale of a haunted life, Weep Woman Weep is as tragic as it is heartwarming, making it play out more heightened reality over a depressing horror tale.

DeBlassie spends a lot of time on the character of Mercy, the heartbeat of the story. At just over 100 pages this is the sort of book you could easily get through in one reading and feel better for it once it is finished.

Weep, Woman, Weep is a gorgeous horror folk tale about a woman who dares to live her own life in a town whose women are haunted by the spirit of La Llorona. I’m so glad I picked this one up: it hit my personal sweet spot of creepy myth, strong characters, and feminist themes.

DeBlassie filled the story with strong, likeable characters, a delicate balance between warm, heartbreak, and dread. When I finished this novella-length book I felt like I’d read a novel, I knew Mercy and her town so well. The writing is stunning and I found myself slowing down to savour particular phrases.

Weep, Woman, Weep is a quiet, beautiful story that reads like a wonderful dreamy mix between Seanan McGuire and Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to review.

This was a really good witchy story that covers loss, grief, not meeting society's expectations, and the love and happiness the characters find along the way. I loved the New Mexico setting and found the big open landscape a perfect backdrop to the big emotions that our main character, Mercy, experiences. I thought the narrative form was also well done, it was as though Mercy is speaking directly to the reader. Overall, a solid reading experience and I'm really glad I picked this up! Thank you Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for my thoughts.

Weep, Woman, Weep is the story of Mercy and how La Llorona molds and tries to control (and destroy) her life, as well as little by little, Mercy is released from that harmful influence on her life, leaving aside the sorrows.
It is a beautiful fable in the form of a novel, that anyone can apply to her/his life and learn to put aside fears and be able to live a full life.

ARC from Netgalley

This book is about a woman named Mercy who lives in New Mexico dealing with the trauma bestowed upon her from the generations of women before her. She's determined to make a life for herself despite La Llorona, the river witch who tries to drown the girls in her town and especially Mercy after a few close encounters. She feeds off the sadness of the women and girls and is determined to make them all live a life of complacent sorrow.

I really enjoyed this novella. The underlying threat at all times of La Llorona was just the tinge of spooky I like. It had uplifting moments of hope and creepy moments with the weeping woman to make an all around good read.

A short novella about the grief of women that carries generational trauma within it, this story takes the legend of La Llarona and makes it feel like something happening next door. We follow a lonely young woman as she grows up haunted by tales of La Llarona, and seeing what the figure in white has done to other women in her small town. Women seem to be bred to be docile, to be subjected to the wims of uncaring men, to be mothers to daughters who may one day become the next victim. But some curses need to be broken.

My thanks for the opportunity to read this ARC, I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

Such a gorgeous cover this book has! One of the prettiest I have seen! It definitely drew me and when I saw that the story is a fairytale set in the modern world, I had to read it.
It is beautifully written too, this tale of the women of the town of Sueno in New Mexico who are fated to inherit and pass on sorrow through generations because of La Lorolla, the witch of sorrow who was herself plunged into sadness in her own life. So she lies in wait on riverbanks and other waterways to drag girls and women into her own misery.
Mercy and her best friend Sherry have plans to escape to the city until Sherry succumbs to La Lorolla and Mercy can only watch helplessly. At first. Then she begins to build a life for herself, sustaining herself by farming the land, growing food and trying to avoid the ever grasping La Lorolla. In all this, she is still very wary of building relationships, of the company of others, of accepting friendship or doing anything that will make her happy because she is sure that that will lead to more sorrow for her and everyone she associates with.

She contains her tears and keeps to herself until she is slowly drawn out by the promise of love, hope and a miracle that she can believe in; the belief that she can and should defy everything that stands in the way of being happy and take the moments life offers confidently.

It's a novella so quite a short read but i definitely wanted more of Mercy and her world. A more detailed exploration would definitely be a treat.

Mercy and Sherry, two Inseparable friends, live in the town of Sueño, so close to the Shadow Lands. Part of a forgotten place in New Mexico, A sorrowful land!

La Llorona, lady of the river, made a horrible mistake, can be heard on stormy nights, weeping and wailing for all she lost. La Llorona, Weeping Woman, hurting people because she hurt too much to know better, always got the women, came for them. Women had no power. They will be like La Llorona, weeping and always in sorrow!

"We were powerful women, and we could choose our own fate."

Mercy and Sherry want to escape from here, from La Llorona. But, La Llorona is too vindictive to let them free. Always something gets wrong with the plans.
"I am built for tears. It's in my blood."
...
"The next time I cried, I killed someone."

Now, it's the time for Mercy to face her family curse alone. She manages to buy a farm, Mercy Farm. Growth miracles and lives her loneliness. She collected each tear spilled into the jar. It took some time but, by the end of it, the many jars were full. She doesn't want to let La Llorona see her weep and moan and break.

"But nothing makes a woman brave except living."

This gothic- horror tale was very beautifully written, so engaging, and compelling! I loved the story, Narration, Mercy's character. The story told by Mercy made it very heartwarming. I really enjoyed this book and Please do not forget the cover!

Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and Netgalley, I have given an honest review of Weep, Woman, Weep (A Gothic Fairytale about Ancestral Hauntings) by Maria DeBlassie.

Weep, woman, weep by Maria DeBlassie.

A quiet feminist horror novella perfect for spooky season which will keep you turning the page. I really enjoyed this and it had the perfect pacing. I have given it 4 wonderful stars.

The women of Sueño, New Mexico don’t know how to live a life without sorrows. That’s La Llorona’s doing. She roams the waterways looking for the next generation of girls to baptize, filling them with more tears than any woman should have to hold. And there’s not much they can do about the Weeping Woman except to avoid walking along the riverbank at night and to try to keep their sadness in check. That’s what attracts her to them: the pain and heartache that gets passed down from one generation of women to the next.

Mercy and her best friend Sherry have plans to escape to the city until Sherry is caught by La Llorona. Mercy escapes, but La Llorona leaves her mark on her. We then we follow Mercy as she builds her life with La Llorona's curse following her.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I think the best part of this beutifull novella is that it’s not only horror: it’s a story about losing the ones you love, overcoming that situation, trying to move on with your life, even when everything seems to be way too dark. I loved the fact that it started as a twisted and wicked fairy tale, but it ended totally different. The atmosphere is just perfect, very gothic and creepy. The events that happen between the protagonist and La Llorona are really spooky. Very nice story.

I was immediately drawn in by the gothic fairytale nature of Weep, Woman, Weep. This book is well-written horror done right.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review!

TWs: domestic abuse, drownings, racism, assault

'Weep, Woman, Weep' is a gorgeously written novella about a woman from New Mexico faced with the realities of living beside a river that is home to La Llorona (the Weeping Woman) as she haunts women through the generations. The curse takes Mercy's best friend, Sherry, and leaves behind a husk of a woman; Mercy is determined not to become another victim. The atmosphere of this novella is incredibly powerful and the horror was dark and well written. I loved the influence of Mercy's friends and family on her resistance against the Weeping Woman and how determined she was to live as well as she could despite her ongoing curse. The romance aspect of this was very slight and promised more, there was no rushing past Mercy's traumas and it was well developed. This was such an easy read, enjoyable with a strong character voice that I related to and I was worried about Mercy throughout. I read this all in one sitting and I know it will stick with me for a long time after finishing it. It has such a beautiful cover and I would have read an entire book based around this story!

I loved this book a lot more than i thought i would, i honestly couldn’t out it down. Phenomenal writing style, great representation and lots of diversity. The storyline was amazing and really well written. What more could you want?

Absolutely beautiful. Please pick this up right now! A great spooky read with an amazing cultural background. There were a lot of horror elements like the world itself and the La Llorona aspect that just fit together so well. I wasn’t hesitant because I didn’t know if this twist on the classic La Llorona would work but 100% did!

This was a beautifully written novella that covers topics of depression and overcoming loss and fear to live a happy and fulfilled life. Based on the Latin American folklore of “la llorona” (“The weeping woman”), Mercy tells her tale of living in a cursed town where marked women are doomed to live a life of sorrow. Tears that are shed have potential to cause death if not careful enough. Mercy tries to avoid falling victim to la llorona by avoiding the river and any water sources at all costs.
Not only is the cover art of this novella amazing but the story within is just as beautiful., It was a deep and meaningful read. I loved how Mercy tries to set aside her fears by distracting herself in creating beautiful things with her farm. Not so much horror as it is dark fantasy but still a worthwhile read. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

This book was so incredibly beautiful. The writing was poetic, the story full of scary soul, and the MC was lyrical. Was honestly a pleasure to read. My only gripe was that it wasn’t enough - I need more! I do wish it had been a bit longer but what was there was wracked with emotion and so well written that is it really any wonder I could go on reading it forever?

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this!

I was instantly intrigued by the synopsis of this book. This book instantly drew me in. I really enjoyed this book and the plot. This author did amazing. I loved the writing style.

Ahh, Mercy!!! I just loved reading her POV 😍. She is just awesome and wise and kinda my role model 🥰. She talks about racism, sexism, poverty, and her views about society in an effortlessly impacting way (a big THANK YOU to Maria DeBlassie). The Weeping Woman had ALMOST baptized Mercy but somehow she escaped from La Llorona’s muddy hands. Now, Mercy has to continue living her life with constant surprises from La Llorona.

And then this girl just BLOOMS out of all her miseries!! She changes her life, saves money, starts her farm, sells her produce, and makes new friends. Mercy was never willing to give up her LIFE and DREAMS for a Weeping Woman! That’s my Mercy 💖. This book taught me so much about life, courage, and hope! looking forward to reading more books by this magical author!! Also, Mercy has the most wonderful bookshelf in the world!!!

It was an awesome book!

Mercy is a small town girl surrounded by sorrows, fear, and misery all around. La Llorona, or, the weeping woman, likes to take those who are just like her- young, innocent, and full of sorrows, So, Mercy and her best friend Sherry make a pact to never get taken by the Weeping Woman. They will work hard and stay away from the river as much as they can, where the weeping woman resides and lures her victims. But one fine day, La Llorona gets Sherry, and Mercy's life has taken a sad and drastic turn, because of which both of theirs dreams of leaving the down are far-fetched.

I loved the setting of this book. This was my first time trying the horror genre and I must say, I was not disappointed. The characters were cleverly sketched, each unique and realistic. Apart from the main character, I loved Sherry the best.

The plot was so interesting, it lured me towards it like La Llorona lures women with sorrows in the river. Overall, the book was amazing, and I recommend everyone who wants to try something new this spooky season, to give this novel a go.

I love haunted/ghost type stories so when I heard about Weep Woman Weep featuring La Llorona, I was so excited to read it! This was a quick read and had me pulled in right away. The characters were fantastic, especially seeing Mercy develop and grow over time. The writing was really well done with drawing me in and painting a vivid picture of the story!

The ending did feel a little bit rushed but it was a satisfying end to the story. I would’ve loved the book to be longer and see Mercy as a more dimensional character instead of the surface level we saw.

Overall a fantastic gothic/horror ghost story, which I very much enjoyed!

Triggers: alcoholism (brief), murder, child death, colorism, racism, child abuse, blood (brief), infidelity, death, domestic abuse, death of parent, grief, sexual assault (brief), animal death

This was a wonderful, smart feminist horror narrative. I loved the themes surrounding an experience as an Mexican American living in rural New Mexico. The actual horror was subtle, yet unsettling. I loved how it drew on ancestral horror and buja magic. This story really hits on an emotional level.

Weep, Woman, Weep follows Mercy’s complicated relationship with her family, her small New Mexico town, her inheritance from her family’s pain and from the land itself, and the generational traumas that stem from systemic racism, colorism, misogyny, and history repeating itself. La Llorona—herself a victim, albeit a vicious one—feeds off of pain and preys on those who succumb to depression, fear, and rage. As Mercy says, “Our pain is her feast.”

The novella's focus on brujeria via farming and finding happiness in spite of a world designed to stamp out the least bit of joy was delightful. It was, in many ways, a truly meditative read, despite the narrator's prickly style and the overall body count.

The way that landscapes and people were described was truly lovely: specific, succinct, and pretty without falling into a trap of purple prose. The dialogue—including Mercy’s internal voice—was believable and fresh, a bit off-kilter from the usual voice of a teenage and then-adult heroine.

Seeing Mercy navigate rage, grief, and acceptance was genuinely beautiful and handled well, page by page, although it seemed to be too fast, simply because of the time skips. The book felt a bit undeveloped in that, although I appreciated it was told in a retrospective format, so overall the time skips do not feel far-fetched, just sometimes clunky in their usage.

My only problem is that wish it was a full book instead of a novella because I honestly could not get enough of the story and the way Mercy told it. I want to learn more about the world and La Llorona.

I highly recommend this novella to anyone looking for a diverse, own voices horror story that hits on heavy themes while bringing the scares.

I received an eARC of this title through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book left me with a lot of feelings and a lot of questions. I loved it, but also, as a woman who is, as the main character Mercy says, "the wrong side of thirty", I found a lot to connect with in this book. I loved the length of it as it essentially goes through Mercy's whole life. I usually do not like books that follow a character from young until old, but this book does a really good job at finding what is necessary for the story and pacing the outcomes of everyone.

Mercy is such a great character that I connect with on more than one level. She is independent and does not want to conform to social norms. I have felt that in my life and may still hold some stubborn aspects of my beliefs such as creating a life for myself before thinking of getting married or having a family. Mercy goes through a lot and finds herself plagued by the infamous La Llorona.

I loved the gothic feel of this novel as not really knowing if La Llorona is real or is a metaphor for breaking social norms. I think it works to believe either is true. The author does a really good job of being vague enough with the descriptions of what "La Llorona" has done to Mercy, that it could be both.

I can't recommend this book enough. It is everything you want in a gothic fiction novel minus a build up to a big fight at the end, which in this story was not needed. It's about fighting your own self to find happiness and I loved it. It is a book I would definitely read again.

Revolving around the legend of La Llorona, Weep, Woman, Weep is a subtle horror novella that reads in the vein of a gothic fairytale. Its themes of ancestral trauma, feminism, and the deeply personal storytelling of our protagonist, Mercy, are great strengths and leave quite the emotional impact.

There’s green witchery, intergenerational haunting, a soft hint of romance, and a protagonist bent on making her own way through life and dodging the curse that seeks to claim her too. All in all, the perfect October/November read!

TW: assault, racism, sexism, colourism, domestic and child abuse, death and grief

I went into this novella knowing nothing except that the cover was amazing but it was a really nice surprise diving in this beautiful story. The only issue I faced it was the pacing, that I thought was a bit slow, however, at the end it didn't bother me at all, because this story wasn't something to read super fast and be done with... it's to be savoured. Summing up, this is a quiet story about grief, overcoming sadness and a violent past, about being strong despite the fears. It has a touch of witches, folklore, love and everyone should give this one a try.
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Quando decidi ler esta novela, não sabia de nada, exceto que eu gostava muito da capa, mas foi uma ótima surpresa mergulhar nessa linda história. O único problema que eu tive foi o ritmo, que achei meio lento, porém no final não me incomodou em nada, porque essa história não é para ler super rápido e seguir em frente ... é para ser saboreada. Para resumir, a história traz sobre o luto, a superação de uma tristeza passada de geração em geração, sobre ser forte apesar dos medos. Também tem folclore, bruxas, amor de mãe, de amizade, de romance, e todos deveriam dar uma chance para esse livro. .

Horror and folklore go together so well. Just look at how Midsommar (2019) mingles shattering grief with a "folksy" festival, or how Carmen Maria Machado employs it in her stories in Her Body and Other Parties, specifically in 'The Husband Stitch'! The stories that are told from generation to generation always carry a specific trauma and I adore it when authors explore that to the extent that DeBlassie does in Weep, Woman, Weep. Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love the scary side of folklore, the dead women that haunt particular bends in rivers, the little lights hat confuse your path in the woods, the stones that call you and then entrap you. I'm about it, especially because Northern European folklore is full of them. But there is so much more to explore, so many other cultures full of the scary and the awe-inspiring. And that brings me to Weep, Woman, Weep, a Horror novella that doesn't so much put a spin on the La Llorona tale, but rather draws it to a conclusion. La Llorona, or the 'Weeping Woman', is a big part of Latin American folklore and has become so well-known that Hollywood tried to incorporate her into their Conjuring franchise. As is natural with folklore, there are a variety of stories about her, but central elements remain the white dress, the midnight wailing, the drowning of children and women, and the crushing weight of the patriarchy. All these come to play in Weep, Woman, Weep, where crying is dangerous, openly expressing sadness is dangerous, and where men and their desires and expectations are dangerous. The content warnings in the blurb should be taken into account, as DeBlassie does not pull her punches when it comes to the horror. But thankfully she also doesn't shy away from beauty, magic and the slow journey of healing.

Mercy's life is marked by the sorrow of those around her and the growing sorrow within herself. The women of her town carry their sorrow wherever they go, especially once La Llorona has baptized them in her river. Sometimes it seems that the only way to survive is to give in, to let her drag you down into the watery depths and emerge wet-haired and red-eyed. Mercy has lost her friend to La Llorona, but she is determined she won't be dragged down herself. You see, Mercy is a fighter. Not in the traditional, almost cliché, way, where everything becomes a battle and heroism is worn like a cape. Instead, Mercy takes one step after another, moves forward without looking up; survives day by day, letting time pass and her flowers grow. It is a seemingly small act of rebellion and yet it feels epic. Through sumptuous language, a casual yet sharp tone, a down-to-earthness that belies the magic, Weep, Woman, Weep tells of recovery, of restraint, of the difficulty of opening up, and of the beauty of a fulfilling life.

DeBlassie almost seamlessly weaves a whole set of heavy themes into her story without interrupting its flow. Despite the horrors it describes, Weep, Woman, Weep never loses faith in its own main character. It never undercuts her power, even when she is at her lowest. Mercy's journey throughout the novella is one that utterly gripped me as I accompanied her from her teenage years to solid middle-age. DeBlassie shapes her growth well, the way in which the world moves around her but she doesn't let its movements affect her core. There is loneliness there, but also beauty, a balance I believe is at the core of good horror. Magic is something elemental in Weep, Woman, Weep, not in that it is linked to the elements, although it is, but that it is something normal in Mercy's life. She speaks to her plants, just like her mother buried protection charms. I loved how DeBlassie balanced the inheritance of trauma with this inheritance of skill and understanding. I can't wait to read more by Maria DeBlasie!

I raced through Weep, Woman, Weep, engrossed by Mercy's story and fascinated by the folklore and details that DeBlassie weaves throughout her story.

What this book did best was how it pulls you in slowly and then begins to subtly bring in the gothic elements throughout. It was a little bit of a slow burn, but once I finished the book, I did appreciate this element and I ended up really enjoying it. I was also surprised at this because usually when I read a novella, because of its short length, I end up feeling unsatisfied and left wanting more from it. Although, I wouldn’t have complained if this was a full novel and not just a novella.

This book on the surface is about La Llorona and how she takes the women who are sad and unable to keep their sadness hidden from her, with her then baptizing her victims. While reading it though, I found myself going a little deeper and looking at it as a way that women are controlled when it comes to their emotions. The way that La Llorona is used in a way that tries to prevent women from being sad and showing weakness in their emotion, having to try and push all of those negative feelings down, because otherwise there are consequences. The struggle to find happiness in a world full of grief.

This may be a short read, but it packs a good punch. Perfectly paced - it kept me wondering what was next and also worried about what was going on. I loved the lore and the creepy feel of the crying woman. Good read, so glad I gave it a try

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
At first I was annoyed by the format of the book. It’s one chapter with page breaks. I quickly got over it as I became involved with Mercy’s story. Her emotions and depth grow so much throughout the story. I loved watching her slowly learn how to trust some people throughout the book and how forward and unfiltered she is with the other characters.
The author is able to weave a tale that show’s magic as a real force that steals women’s ability to stand up for themselves due to the evil of men. But the author also shows that there are good men who fight against the evil and that a women’s ability to be unapologetically herself might be the strongest power of all.

Trigger warnings: alcohol abuse, domestic violence

I didn’t have any expectations when I picked up this book but I was blown away. What a beautiful, heartbreaking and hopeful story about breaking patterns and thriving despite all odds. It has a dose of magical realism but works on several levels. Super excited to pick up something else by the author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

OH, this one was gorgeous. Definitely not horror, which was a surprise because it's so heavily marketed that way; I'd say it's more magical realism than anything. That's not a bad thing at all; I loved the fantastical elements here, the questions about La Llorona's malevolence and influence, and Mercy's bold, powerful narration. The voice here is just wonderful. The central relationship between the protagonist, Mercy, and her old best friend was heartbreaking and so realistically drawn. I loved every character in this and the gentle kindness that exists between so many of them. It felt like a real community.

I do think some of the lore needed sketching out a bit more, as it wasn't always clear exactly what La Llorona's powers were, and some of the things in the text seemed to directly contradict each other (such as near the end, where Mercy explicitly says she's thinking of all the ways in which La Llorona hasn't controlled her life, and that the power in this is because she's not thinking about La Llorona - well, she quite literally IS thinking about her!) but that's a minor quibble. For such a short novella, this is perfectly paced and not a word was wasted, but it feels entirely complete. I'd love to read more of it, but I don't need to. I loved it entirely.

I would recommend this book for people who enjoy magical realism, strong witchy women, and horror that's not too scary. It's also a fairly short and quick read that still has an emotional punch.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this gothic style fairytale. I really think it was a true feminist horror plot and what’s not to love about that? It is a novella so it’s short but still packs a punch! This is one I would reread. This was dark, spooky, and emotional. Tied in family ancestry and the path of buja magic.

Loved this little gothic novel about a gal tryna escape the persistent clutches of La Llorona! We've got a fast and compelling read, horror elements, breaking generational trauma, female friendships + so much more. It's smart, feminist, sensitive horror that's 100% my kinda thing so if its yours - def pick this up!

Big big thanks to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and the author for the e-ARC. Available to buy now!

Lovely enjoyable gothic fairytale. Bittersweet to the end, with great characters - i would definitely recommend it.

Sometimes you need the kind of that book that sweeps you into the story, and keeps you from wanting to let go. Weep, Woman, Weep is that kind of story. Told from the POV of Mercy, this short book is about La Llorona, generational trauma, and the desire to escape the strongholds of your past.

Life is full of sorrows for the women in Sueño, New Mexico. La Llorona stalks the nearby river, and claims any girl who comes too close, baptising and marking them. Mercy survives an encounter with La Llorona, but her best friend is lost, changing into the type of woman both girls promised they wouldn’t turn into. Mercy, however, is determined not to let La Llorona win, and against the whisperings of the town and the seemingly bad luck that plagues her, she is determined to live her life on her own terms.

There’s a really lovely fairy tale/storyteller quality to this, and Maria DeBlassie does a great job with making you feel like Mercy is talking directly to you. The novella feels almost designed to be read out loud, and it matches well with the themes and plot.

I loved Mercy. It’s the type of POV that really stands out because you become so immersed in it, and eager to see Mercy escape La Llorona’s clutches. And there’s an element of bending reality, too – is La Llorona a real, physical threat, or is she Mercy’s manifestation of something else? Because of the intimacy of the POV, it’s honestly hard to tell, but it feels deliberate and works really well. Mercy and her best friend quickly grow apart, and Mercy discovers her own kind of power, one that could cause a great deal of harm, and she goes out of her way to stop it from doing so.

Weep, Woman, Weep deals with generational trauma, but specifically looking at the impact on women such as Mercy, who removes herself to the edges of society to escape the same fate she’s others succumb to. It’s about toxic mothers and mothers who will do anything to protect their children, and it’s about the way a white, patriarchal society forces itself on everyone.

Above all, it’s an evocative, impactful book, and one that’ll linger in my head for a long time to come.

I love a dark gothic read and Weep, Woman, Weep fits into this character beautifully. The writing and setting is gorgeous and it's not too scary. I would've loved for this to be developed into a longer read.