Crimson Peak meets Annihilation in Silvia Moreno-Garciaās newest gothic novel. While the Gods of Jade and ShadowĀ remains my all-time favorite novel, Mexican Gothic did not disappoint.
We head back to the beautiful country of Mexico in the 1950's, to a hillside mansion modeled after the English countryside. Our heroine, Noemi, is strong willed and intelligent but also flawed by her own hubris. Beseeched by her father, she sets out to save her cousin, Catalina, after a letter arrives highlighting her deteriorating mental state. Upon arriving at High Place, Noemiās psyche begins to unravel as she is tested by the spirits that haunt the Victorian mansion. She begins to alternate between questioning her own intelligence and her surroundings. Could the house be as malevolent as Catalina described? As with Gods of Jade and Shadow, Moreno spares no detail into building suspense and crafting a dark world filled with shadows lurking in corners. The victorian house and the rundown village are a classic setting for gothic novels but it is juxtaposed against the sunny countryside of Pachuca, Mexico. Interspersed with references to Grimāa dark fairy tale, the heroine encounters horror of the worst possible kind at the hands of her captors.
I really enjoyed Mexican Gothic for its innovative plot and setting. As a fan of horror in general, itās pretty difficult to think of a thrill that hasnāt been done before. Moreno manages to weave a fresh tale of gothic horror using a very unique prop. At the center this tale is Ouroboros, the World Serpent, a symbol of life and death and is prevalent throughout our tale. While the plot is focused on the gothic mystery, there is a little nod to romance. However, donāt expect Wuthering Heights or Daphne. That said, if this sounds like a book you would loveāorder a copy today! You won't regret it.
Also I don't know if I have just been following the news recently but I pictured Howard Doyle (the patriarch) as Harvey Weinstein and that just made him even more ghastly.
5 stars to Mexican Gothic.
Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
