This book hit me like a gut punch. I’m telling you, my reaction to the first act of this book was visceral. I don’t normally find books hard to read, but I related so much to Alejandra as a mother who feels so isolated and lonely in her marriage and in motherhood that I was absolutely transfixed by this book despite how much it was making my heart hurt. I knew I had to keep reading, not just for Alejandra and her story, but for my own sake. I needed to see this story through.

I’m so glad I did. Books about generational trauma, no matter the culture (in this book it’s Mexican) are not only some of my favorite books to read but I feel like they are some of the most important books I read. They’ve become even more important as scientists discover more and more how different generational traumas (one example is poverty) can affect our DNA, truly passing the trauma down, right into our very genetic makeup. But besides the science, generational trauma is a real thing, and it can be a dangerous thing. My whole maternal line is full of generational trauma, much like Alejandra. Granted, mine doesn’t come with La Llarona, but it does come with mental illness, a need to please people, and a ton of built-in guilt, but what can you do?

This book is told non-linearly and from multiple POVs. It’s easy to see the rhyme and reason in taking this approach when you’re reading the book, and when Castro switches POV it’s only for a very short time. And when the timeline shifts, it’s always into the past to serve both as exposition and to show how the generational trauma has presented itself before in Alejandra’s maternal line.

I think this book may be a little divisive if you haven’t had kids or if generational trauma isn’t something that resonates with you for some reason. (Please note I said “may be”--not “will be”). We all know there are people in the developed world who know nothing but privilege. This book may not ring as true with those who have never known hardship.

The prose is spooky, ethereal, evocative, and emotionally moving. “La Llarona” itself is spectacularly ghoulish and demonic in how it is described, how it speaks, and in how Castro both explains the character and its motivations in the specter’s inner narrative. It was absolutely nice to actually find an antagonist to be creepy instead of just mildly freaky.

I was moved, I was creeped out, I was scared for Alejandra and her children, and I loved every single minute of reading this brilliant book. It’s a great read.

I was provided a copy of the title by NetGalley and the author. All opinions, views, ideas, and thoughts expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Read/Gothic/Women’s Fiction/Folklore Retelling/Folk Horror/Ghost Story/Historical Fiction/OwnVoices/Psychological Fiction

Wow just WOW!
I can’t tell you how many times I was sitting here is pure shock with some of the chilling descriptions in this book. Whether it was of some creep entity or the chill of pure depression and mental health descriptors.
I legit found myself is such admiration for the author in the way she told this story.

Seeing as a woman has so many haunted thoughts even as you find out more about this story.
This is definitely a book one has to go prepared in before reading. Heavy of mental health thoughts of harm etc.
nonetheless this story regarding generational trauma not only physically but mentally! That to me was so interesting. I loved read all the different perspectives from all generations. Also the pov from said entity in this book.

As someone that comes from a Hispanic household this book hit so many crazy targets. By this I mean the story regarding “la llorona”
As a kid I heard many stories like this and it just seeped into my bones as this author described characteristics and the sheer similarities.

Not only was it such a vision. She also really got into all dynamics of a family, though this is haunting it really highlighted on more trauma. Cheating, self harm thoughts, child abandonment, horrible husbands etc. this was legit a story I can’t wait to share.

If you have thoughts about reading this. I believe your is will be blown with the description and chilling aspects of this story.

The Haunting of Alejandra was a tough book for me to rate. There some elements that I really loved and several that I wasn't a big fan of. The thing that first drew me into the story was the Mexican folklore and the setting of Texas. I love reading stories set in my home state and the inclusion of Mexican and Mexican American culture is an added bonus. Another aspect that drew me to this book was that the author was Latina that writes books in the horror genre. It's encouraging to see more authors like this being published.

what i did like

Alejandra's journey of learning about her matrilineal family history gripped my interest. She was given up for adoption when she was born, and grew up with knowing anything about her family or Mexican culture. It wasn't until Alejandra was a grown woman with a family that she found her mother and started building a relationship with her. I was intrigued by the role that her mother played in this book.

There are several chapters that tell the experiences of past women in Alejandra's family. Many of them went through similar struggles of dealing with marriage and motherhood despite being in different time periods and locations. It made me think alot about the women in my own family and their experiences. After I finished the book, I had some insightful conversations with my mom about her life and what she remembered about my grandmother when she was growing up. We discussed love, marriage, children, and mental health. It also lead to us talking about my current experiences and feelings.

Another element in the Haunting of Alejandra that I liked was the exploration of motherhood and mental health. In modern times, society understands more about postpartum depression and the overall well being of mothers. The internet and social media plays a pivotal role in disseminating information about it. Women are sharing more of what they feel with others. After I had my baby, it was comforting to know that other mothers were going through what I was feeling.

It's encouraging to see a mother's mental health reflected in a book and I hope to see more of it in the future. There are also not many fiction books that have characters of women with young children. There is a definite need for that in today's market. I loved that Alejandra's character had three kids with different ages. I could relate to so much of what she was thinking, feeling, and experiencing while caring for her children.

what i didn't like

Even though I was interested in the horror aspect in the beginning, it just didn't interest me as I read through The Haunting of Alejandra. There were several creepy parts and I appreciated that it wasn't too scary for me. However, there was a repetitiveness to the creature's descriptions and actions that got tiring. The were also sections from the creature's point of view that I thought were unnecessary. They didn't add much value to the story and there are already chapters following at least 5 other characters.

Alejandra's husband, Mathew, was a character that I would have liked to know more about. A big part of Alejandra's struggle was with her relationship with him and the misogynistic way he treated her. Unfortunately the depiction of this was underdeveloped. He just pops in and out of scenes with a bit of gaslighting dialogue. I would have preferred for the book to focus on him as the main antagonist instead of having La Llorona in the story.

Final thoughts

I came across this article with the author discussing her influences in writing the book and it allowed me to examine the book in alternate ways. Despite my opinions on the horror aspects, there is much to appreciate in The Haunting of Alejandra. The elements of learning family history, the hardships of motherhood, and the importance of mental health are worthy topics to contemplate.

A haunting tale that I was devouring like a starved man! It may not be halloween, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't treat yourself to this story.

As a brown Mexican immigrant mother of three
this review will be as own voices as it gets, because let me tell you @vlatinalondon wrote this book para nosotras.

Alejandra can't cope with the pressures of motherhood that are placed on women by society. A patriarchal society so accurately represented by her husband Matt, who takes her for granted and underestimates her worth. Her struggle with depression and thoughts that say she's a bad mother and the world would be better off, are manifested into the infamous bad mother of Mexican folklore, La Llorona.

To break the curse of La Llorona, Alejandra must heal herself. She seeks help from a therapist who embraces curanderismo and her healing journey begins when she calls out to the women of her bloodline. The theme of motherhood and the pressure of gender roles that often expect women to prioritize motherhood over self and how it can create a sense of loss of identity, is so masterfully combined with the sense of loss that results from colonization and the expectation that Latinx people and immigrants must assimilate to be accepted. Alejandra's healing journey, in which she must break the cycle of generational trauma by reclaiming her roots and shedding gendered expectations is a great reminder to women, especially mothers, that self-love is an act of courage and it empowers our future niñas to never be defined by the expectation of others. So to my beautiful brown mamis who have ever felt alone, and have mourned a piece of yourselves this book is for you!

Thank you @hearourvoicestours for the physical ARC and @netgalley for the digital copy in exchange for honest review. I devoured this overnight, I regret nothing!

The Haunting of Alejandra is a slow burn. One which, I'll be honest, initially, I wasn't sure was going to be for me. I am happy to say that this slow-burner is well-worth the wait. It ended up really grabbing me. It is such a powerful story; so much more than a pretty cover.

In this story we follow, Alejandra, wife, mother and homemaker. When we meet her, Alejandra is struggling. She feels trapped, like she has no control over her life. She feels judged by her husband, used by her children and overlooked by the rest of the world.

Alejandra has no close family for support either. She was adopted when she was just a baby, by a super-religious family, she has since broken ties with. She has found and contacted her birth mother though and was starting to build a relationship with her. Unfortunately, due to her husband's work, they had to move and now her bio-mom lives far away.

Alejandra is having visions. She is depressed, in a black hole she sees no way out of. It's difficult to read at times. I could definitely see her side, but man, was it bleak.

This is a story of generational trauma as well, so even though Alejandra doesn't know a lot about her ancestors, or their lives, we get to follow some of them through different historical perspectives. I did enjoy this. Some of these perspectives were more interesting than others, but where they really succeeded was in shining a light on the similarities of these women's lives.

No matter how far they were separated in time, they all struggled with the same issues. The largest being, lack of choice and a battle for personal autonomy.

The Horror elements in this stem from Alejandra's haunting by a spirit appearing as La Llorona, the Mexican Folk Demon, seemingly attached to Alejandra's family. This is the first novel I have read by V. Castro and I was impressed with the level of Horror imagery brought to the page. Toe-curling in some sections, visceral and biting, it definitely made me cringe.

Additionally, I loved how tied the haunting was to Alejandra's culture. As mentioned above, she didn't know a ton about her heritage initially, but believe it or not, I felt like what happened to her inspired her to learn more; to be more in touch with that part of herself.

Overall, I am so glad that I stuck with this one. It was a little tough to get through at first, but Castro made it worth it. There was a plan behind it all and it paid off big time. This will stick in my mind for a long time.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Del Rey, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am looking forward to reading more from this author!

Alejandra has three children and a husband who feels l8ke a fourth. She is struggling to be happy every day and can't help but wonder if it would be better if she wasn't around. Meanwhile a haunting figure keeps showing up that makes her wonder if LA Llorana is haunting her. This book is a slow cooling build on generational trauma both seen and unseen. It looks at the struggles of motherhood and self worth. It was an exquisite read that I kept wanting to return to as quickly as possible. Highly recommend reading this one!

I’m not even sure how to eloquently put my thoughts into words to describe just how cathartic of an experience reading this book was for me. There are many literary heroes and heroines that people identify with, but as much as I like some of them, I could never claim that life changing connection with a character - until now.

While listening to the chapters describing Alejandra and her feelings/thoughts/struggles/fears, I found myself nodding along and thinking to myself: she is me and I am her. I had a visceral reaction to these chapters. I often struggled with the same demons of motherhood and being a woman in a man’s world. Alejandra’s experiences were very familiar to me (well, minus the La Llorona haunting part, as I can thankfully say, I have never seen a woman dressed in white with skin peeling off her bones trying to get me to hurt myself, phew, right?).

I am in total awe of V. Castro’s ability to flesh out characters with such profound honesty, rawness and accuracy. If people ask me now which literary character I identify with, I can say without hesitation it’s Alejandra.

The Haunting of Alejandra is, of course, a horror story. An atmospheric, cinematic, beautifully rendered and gloriously creepy horror story. But it’s also more than that. La Llorona isn’t the only demon the characters have to face in this book, and she isn’t even the worst one. The most terrifying demons are the ones we’re battling with on the inside, day after day. And I have to say, I really loved reading about La Llorona origin’s story and the very human spin Victoria put on it. This book will not only scare you and raise hair on the back of your neck, it will also make you profoundly sad and ultimately hopeful. I officially found my favorite book of the year thus far.

The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro: ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌟
Format: ebook ARC courtesy of Del Rey and NetGalley

Buckle up friends, this is gonna be a long one.

Are you a mother of at least one human child? Have you been sucked into clock app videos about generational female trauma and rage to the tune of “Labour” by Paris Paloma like I have? Do you have a semi-strong stomach and can you tolerate a few spookies? If the answer to those questions is a resounding YES, I have the book for you.

In The Haunting of Alejandra, veteran horror writer V. Castro weaves a haunting (get it) tale of a generational curse that has run its course. As the book opens, we are introduced to Alejandra, a woman at her breaking point. A stay at home mother of three, she is exhausted, physically and mentally. Her critical and controlling husband is more than happy to let his wife bear the brunt of the housework. After moving out of state, Alejandra is more isolated than ever when she begins seeing an apparition. The specter is the visage of La Llorona, a phantom of Mexican folklore who is said to be summoned by grief, and who waits in the shadows to lure women and children to their deaths. As the sightings grow more frequent and severe, Alejandra learns that she is only the most recent victim of La Llorona, who has been haunting the women in her bloodline for centuries. With the power of her ancestors behind her, Alejandra knows that she alone must break the curse and banish the evil spirit forever- but can she afford the price of her family’s deliverance?

Holy goodness, I REALLY liked this book. From page TWO, we are jumping right into the plot with some scaries. Zero pages of this book are wasted on introductions or fluff. The characters and their struggles sprang to life from the pages, especially Alejandra, who’s character development was *chef’s kiss*. But this is a story about so much more than one person- and while this is a work of fiction, the hardships faced by latina women today and for centuries past are very real. There are multiple POVs in this book; each chapter depicts the story of the character it is titled after, past and present. I personally enjoyed this structure, as it kept me interested and the plot moving fast. Speaking of plot, while the message behind the story is relatable to many, the actual events in the book were unique, and I enjoyed the role that the author and the character’s Mexican American culture played in the story. By the final chapters, as more is revealed about the curse and folktale’s origins, the emotional impact grows and grows. This book spoke to me on a spiritual level in part because it is just that good, but also because it is the right book at the right time for me, as a married woman and a mother, as a person curious about their family’s history. (Also, the cover is just so GORGEOUS and I love that there is a playlist to accompany the book on Spotify from the publisher- how cool is that?)

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read it, but especially to women, to latinx readers, to mothers, to horror-lite readers, to people who are passionate about women’s rights and social justice. This is definitely in the realm of the horror genre, but was not the scariest, most horrifying book I’ve ever read- a perfect book for someone looking to get into the genre. If you’ve read and loved books like Mexican Gothic or The Hacienda, I cannot recommend this book enough. Thank you so much to Del Rey for the ARC of this awesome book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-arc of this book!

Let me say, firstly, that I'm so glad to read V. Castro's work. I love the way Castro incorporates Mexican and Mexican American folklore and traditions into the horror, and I find the plots of the stories to be pretty imaginative and unique.

<i>The Haunting of Alejandra</i> is no different. Castro deftly weaves in the traditional story of La Llorona into a narrative about a mother who feels unsatisfied with her life. The way Castro handles generational trauma and violence in the story is beautiful and speaks to the importance of community, love, and family. I don't have children, so I can't speak to the representation, but I thought the way Castro depicted depression and motherhood was so well done and emotional.

I thought Alejandra's relationship to her children was great, as well as her relationship with her mother. I wish there had been a bit more nuance to her relationship with her husband; while I'm well aware men like him exist, he felt a bit too mustache twirling and over the top with the way he spoke to her.

What didn't work for me, and what doesn't work for me in Castro's other work, is the writing, unfortunately. The dialogue between characters is so stilted and awkward; it doesn't feel or read like an authentic conversation. The writing can also be repetitive. A bit more fine tuning with the mechanics of how the story is told would help the writing match the imaginative and unique plot points that make Castro's work so special.

I would still recommend this to horror fans. The body horror in this is great and it gets quite gross, in all the best ways possible.

Alejandra is a woman haunted by her choices and position in life. Unfortunately it is something she has in common with many of the women in her family. She is in a dark place mentally and that is the perfect vulnerability for evil to creep in.

I love the cover art so much! It is bright and vibrant which you don’t often see in horror books. It perfectly reflects the themes in the book and the many layers of a persons life.

Instantly we can understand what Alejandra is going through. She has children pawing at her all day and a husband who doesn’t seem to appreciate all she does. Goes to show you that some people may have a life that seems perfect but be battling demons.

Alejandra discusses the pressure put on moms to “bounce back” and be grateful for what they have. And when you still feel unhappy, you are made to feel selfish and wrong which only makes you feel worse.

Cathy is Alejandra’s biological mother. We know from conversations that Cathy’s mom was distant and under a cloud of darkness. Cathy gave up Alejandra so that she could pursue her dreams of being a doctor. Goes back to how women are perceived by society. If they get an abortion they are evil and slutty. If they give up a baby they are seen as selfish or heartless. And if they have children but not a career (like Alejandra) there is judgement as not being ambitious.

The villain in this book may be La Llorona but more likely it is the societal and generational trauma put on women throughout history to fit a mold. Alejandra must find a way to fight for her family and herself.

I really enjoyed learning more about Alejandra’s culture and her getting back to her roots. If you enjoy Day of the Dead history I believe you’ll like The Haunting of Alejandra. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it. I have written this review voluntarily.

The Haunting of Alejandra
by V. Castro

4.5/5

V. Castro does it again with this masterful retelling of La Llorona; we face breaking generational trauma and discovering self love in this gruesome story.

Watching Alejandra fall into indifference with her husband shows how feeling unseen in a marriage can be devastating to your psyche. Despite all her marital issues, she holds her children close.

As we follow the stories of Cathy (Alejandra’s mother) and a few other ancestors, we begin to see just how far this “curse” goes back.

I know these women; I love these women.

I love her relationship and camaraderie with her therapist. It truly shows how finding a therapist that works for you and how women can truly uplift each other.

I’m still processing this macabre story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey.

This should definitely come with a trigger warning for anyone who suffers with suicidal ideation especially in relation to motherhood. That said, qualifying for years on both counts made this book especially compelling for me. I am a fan of V. Castro already, and she doesn't disappoint with the mix of Mexican folklore and modern identity.

The things keeping it from a five:

1) The men are very one dimensional characters and kind of get a bad rap. The husband, Matthew, is just a foil representing societal expectations and nothing more. There could have been so much more, and we get a small peek at that when Alejandra speaks of her father's demons when she meets him.

2) Things are just a bit too simple / this needed a bit more time and attention. Part of this is the men, as stated above. Part is break in flow when the setting or time or other basic given shifts when it shouldn't. I think another review goes into much detail here, so I won't belabor. I am not a stickler on these things, but when it breaks the scene, then it's too far.

3) Um, what was that ending? Why? How? Huh??? My wtf reaction to the resolution undermines the whole thing. Also, still a bit confused here, and think this may be where other reviewers are talking about the demon being "just depression."

Overall, understand some women and how our crap morphs and transfers to the next generation despite anyone's best intentions. Motherhood and daughterhood are complicated. The demon is a very cool haunt if you just go with it.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but I had a difficult time putting this down. I really loved the combination of Mexican folklore and how it relates to the story of one family throughout the generations. It was creepy and sad. Alejandra’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. I would highly recommend.

I was unfortunately unable to finish this book. I love books with ghosts, so I thought the synopsis was intriguing. Especially since La Llorona is one of my favorite legends. I tried multiple times to sit down and read this novel, but the dark mood at the beginning was too much for me. Alejandra is so depressed and negative about her family. The suicidal ideation to start, and her hatred of motherhood were a bit too intense for me, and they should really be trigger warnings. I probably should have realized this from the synopsis, but I just found that I couldn't stomach it once I tried to read it. The writing wasn't anything special from the 50 pages or so I read, so it was a DNF for me. I don't know I'd try any other works from her either.

This book was heartbreaking, terrifying, soul wrenching, while also being empowering and utterly and completely beautiful. I loved every second of it, even as some moments (... Matthew) made me so angry. I loved Alejandra so, so much and was so invested in her journey of self-love and discovery. I was so worried how it would turn out but the ending was relatively solid.

This addressed some pretty heavy topics, especially ones that not a lot of people are comfortable addressing: not being a good mother, not wanting kids after you've had them. Oftentimes people will skirt around this issue, or have t be about other things so I have a deep appreciation for Castro hitting this head on and without softening her words (also, shamelessly using the word vagina. Thank you!).

The only critique I do have, which stunted my reading just a bit, was how dry the dialogue was and how the kids talked almost exactly the same as the adults. It was just a bit monotonous at times, when there were heavy bits of dialogue, but Castro's beautiful and vivid descriptors more than make up for it.

This book felt very special and wonderful and I am so pleased I was given the opportunity to read it.

this book is going to be on my mind for a while! v. castro's writing is so absorbing and puts you right into alejandra's shoes while reading, I honestly couldn't put it down. of all the retellings and stories that feature mexican folklore/la llorona, this is by far the best I've read. not only are the supernatural/horror aspects of this story top tier, the themes relating to multi-generational trauma (or "curses"), being a woman who feels trapped in her own life and motherhood, all stand out in their own way without being too bogged down by each other or ruining the plot (is it really a la llorona retelling if we don't see these themes though?) as a mexican-american woman, it was very validating to see these topics brought up in a story like this. while they aren't the cheeriest things we sometimes struggle with, just seeing a woman take control of these "curses" and protect herself along with her children, it feels very important and I hope everyone reads this book!

An intriguing multi-generational narrative with a supernatural and creepy flair. I really liked the progression of Alejandra as a character throughout this, and the framing of everything around the La Llorana myth was very intriguing.

There's a lot of potential for discussions here- this seems like a perfect book club book.

I really wanted to love this, but I think I just didn't quite "get" it for whatever reason. I still really enjoyed reading it, but it just didn't fully click for me, though it was written and structured in a way that I believe it will for many other readers. I do think I would have loved reading this as a part of a book club to discuss some of the nuances with others though.

I liked the idea of the story and the use of folklore but the execution wasn’t for me. I like a nice buildup and a mystery. The mystery of the ghostly vision is revealed very early so no buildup to the ending. The tension just wasn’t there.

The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro is a story of grief, anger, and generational trauma that won’t remove its claws from the backs of the women in this bloodline.

Content Warnings:
Miscarriage, gaslighting, grief, death, suicidal thoughts, suicide, self-harm, and others.

Let’s dive in!

My Thoughts on The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro
Alejandra is struggling. She has a privileged life when it comes to classic things like the family and the house, but that’s where the picture-perfect reflection ends. Within her mind, there’s a storm that won’t settle. Finally hitting a breaking point, Alejandra goes to therapy. But there, she learns that this wasn’t all just in her head. There is a real danger, and it has set its sights on her and her children.

Will Alejandra be able to sever the cord of this generational curse once and for all, or is her bloodline doomed to keep repeating the horrors of the past?

Set up in a way that jumps from the current mother struggling with the demon to each of her ancestors throughout the years since the curse began, we slowly learn why each mother seems destined to meet a horrible end after an unhappy life.

I will caution readers, the first half of this book was difficult to read as it is very raw and will leave readers feeling miserable if you’re one that puts yourselves in the character’s shoes. But eventually, the story starts to come out of the darkness as Alejandra becomes stronger and the focus shifts to determination and hope!

My Favorite Passages from The Haunting of Alejandra
For years she abandoned herself to be a willing sacrifice to please everyone around her, and now nothing existed within her anymore. Even her own hand was not a hand at all, but a blade she used to carve her heart for anyone who asked for it.

I’ve come to learn that thoughts often get in the way of intuition. You have to turn the dialogue down and listen to the music of your soul.

Words could eviscerate or they could be a miracle.

My Final Thoughts on The Haunting of Alejandra
This deeply distressing tale is an amazing example of real-world horror mixed with the paranormal.

Get ready with your tissues and a stress ball (or a stiff drink!) to prepare for the rage some of this will induce, and dive into this story. Just make sure you have calmed your inner demons by the time you hit the last page so you don’t bring the cursed one back to life!