Raise your hand if you've been victimized by the thought of LaLlorona kidnapping you in the middle of the night. Seriously, aside from quicksand and Yellowstone national park exploding, La Llorona was a big fear of mine growing up as a Mexican kid. I blame Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and the fact that I lived a few minutes away from a river.

This book has everything you would want in a domestic woman litfic: a husband you want to punch in the face, adorable, but needy children, underappreciation, a so many “girl, divorce him already” moments

Now add the horrors of La Llorona (if you’ve never heard of her, I highly recommend a quick google) and generational trauma, and we have the perfect silent horror cocktail!

This book is a slow burn for sure, and I recommend going into it with the knowledge that it’s more about breaking familial curses than it is a horror story about La Llorona herself.

This book might just change your perspective on the Sra. Llorona and paint her in a completely different light!

Please check TW before reading this! There is a ton suicidal ideation in this.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the digital copy. A special thanks to V. Castro, my SATX queen! All opinions are my own.

I DNF'd half way through.

I had no idea it would be multiple POV's, which I have nothing against but sometimes you were just thrusted into someone elses POV and then back to Alejandra's that it just changed the pace a lot.

It felt like too long of a read and I had to force myself to keep reading it at time because all she did was complain and complain and complain. I understand depression, as someone who has it, but Alejandra was so unlikable that I wasn't invested in her having to overcome this.

This just wasn't what I was expecting from a story that said that it used La Llorena as it's point when its more of a generational curse/breaking cycles type of story. A type of story I absolutely would love.

It just wasn't for me.

This book was a beautifully haunting look into generational trauma, motherhood, and the historical struggles of women, especially WOC. I found this very enjoyable.

Since I was little I have always heard stories of the Llorona, the Mexican folklore of the woman who walks around crying for her dead children. So when I read the description of this book, I knew I had to read this book. This book provides a gothic ambience while you read it, immersing you in the situation the main character is going through. The author gives the story of the Llorona a unique twist, and adds layers to her story by shining a light on generational trauma, specifically that of women. The main character must embark on a journey to find herself, who she is outside of a mother, daughter and wife and learn why there is this dark looming over her. If you love strong women, retellings and a spooky reads, this is the book for you!

OH MY GOD THIS BOOK!?!?!?! The Haunting of Alejandra simply blew me away and there is no way that I will be able to do it justice. Haunting and beautifully written, this is a powerful and infuriating story that I won't soon forget.

This book deals heavily with depression and suicidal ideation so please be sure you are in the right headspace before picking it up.

"I watched my husband achieve his dreams while I sat at home wanting to die, forgetting any dreams of my own."

My heart absolutely aches for Alejandra, who had slowly given up pieces of herself to her husband and the life that he wanted for their family. Their interactions are microaggressions against her pain and he treats her like a servant. I love that we watch her unpack these feelings and work with a therapist. I appreciate the trauma and healing tools that are discussed.

"The tension between them remained in the air like a smoldering vapor. In that vapor floated the dust of all the unloving and inharmonious things they have ever said."

Fast paced and effortlessly crafted, the narrative captured me from the first page to the very last. The Haunting of Alejandra is a book about learning to love oneself and heal both personal and generational trauma. It's more than a ghost story and Alejandra is haunted by more than La Llorona. It's also about the horrors of the patriarchy and is an honest look at the thankless reality of motherhood. This book made me cry and while I am not a mother myself, I feel seen and will treasure this book.

Representation: adoption rep, bisexual main character, Mexican American rep, trans rep
Content Warnings: ableism, bloody injury and gore depiction, depression, generational trauma, menstruation, miscarriage, parental abandonment, racism, religious oppression, sexual assault mention, suicidal ideation

eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subject to change upon final publication.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was the first book I have ever read by V. Castro but it definitely won't be the last. I loved it so much. As a Hispanic woman, who grew up hearing about the legend of La Llorona I was super excited and interested in this book as soon as I heard about it. I read this book in one sitting and now I am constantly recommending it to customers and friends. I loved how it analyzed generational trauma which is something that happens in every culture but definitely in the Latine/Hispanic cultures. Just an overall beautiful and clever story.

Oh, how I loved this book! Yes there is a haunting. But it's about so, so much more than that. Culture, bloodlines, family, friends, love, loss, pain, strength...so many facets! It's also about the love of a mother and the lengths they will go to in order to keep her children safe. As a mother myself, although I've never dealt with a haunting, I completely understand how Alejandra was feeling about her life, husband, and children. Getting to watch her essentially come back to life, figure out who she is and what she wants, and taking charge of herself and her life was amazing. I cannot recommend this book enough!

"The Haunting of Alejandra" by V. Castro is a thrilling and haunting novel that kept me captivated from start to finish. With its atmospheric setting, rich cultural backdrop, and compelling characters, this book effortlessly blends supernatural elements with the intricacies of human relationships.

The author's writing style is vivid and descriptive, painting a vivid picture of the eerie atmosphere surrounding Alejandra, the main protagonist. Castro's attention to detail is commendable, as she expertly weaves together the supernatural and everyday aspects of Alejandra's life, creating a believable and immersive world.

The characters in "The Haunting of Alejandra" are well-developed and relatable. Alejandra's journey is particularly fascinating as she navigates her connection to the spirit world, confronting her own fears and uncovering family secrets along the way. The supporting cast is equally compelling, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.

What sets this book apart is its exploration of Mexican folklore and traditions. The incorporation of Day of the Dead rituals and other cultural elements enriches the story and adds an extra layer of authenticity. Castro's knowledge and respect for these traditions shine through, making the reading experience all the more engrossing.

The pacing of the story is well-balanced, with suspenseful moments and quieter introspective scenes that allow readers to fully immerse themselves in Alejandra's world. The author maintains a sense of tension throughout, building up to a satisfying climax that delivers on the promises set up earlier in the book.

If I were to offer any critique, it would be that the resolution felt slightly rushed compared to the deliberate pacing of the rest of the story. However, this does not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the book.

"The Haunting of Alejandra" is a must-read for fans of supernatural thrillers, particularly those interested in diverse and culturally rich narratives. V. Castro has crafted a chilling tale that explores the power of family bonds, the complexities of the human psyche, and the enduring presence of the supernatural. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking an engaging and immersive reading experience.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

V. Castro's The Haunting of Alejandra is an atmospheric and riveting novel that seamlessly combines horror, folklore, and personal struggle. With its compelling characters and rich cultural backdrop, this book delivers an unforgettable reading experience.

Castro's storytelling is masterful, striking a perfect balance between suspense and emotional depth. The protagonist, Alejandra, is a resilient and relatable character, and readers become fully invested in her journey through unexplained occurrences and terrifying encounters.

The exploration of cultural folklore adds a vibrant layer to the story, immersing readers in a world where the line between the living and the dead blurs. The prose is elegant and evocative, creating a sensory experience that brings the haunting landscapes and unsettling encounters to life.

Beyond its gripping narrative, the novel delves into themes of grief, trauma, and the power of family bonds, adding emotional depth and resonance. With its atmospheric storytelling and thematic exploration, The Haunting of Alejandra is a must-read for fans of horror. Prepare to be captivated by this dark and compelling tale.

La Llorona! All of Mexico knows her story. Hundreds of years ago a creature took on the persona to trick women to feed it's hunger.

Alejandra comes from a long line of tortured women under a curse but she is unaware of her history because she was adopted by a white fundamentalist family. It is not until she is married to Matthew and her first child is born does she begin to hear the creature. Alejandra is a people pleaser and loses herself in the marriage. Matthew is the bread winner and she is the stay at home wifey. Alejandra didn't want to quit her job but Matthew though it best. She has two more children, the third one because it's what Matthew wanted. She loves her children but they drain her of energy.

La Llorona takes this opportunity and whispers horrible things to Alejandro that reinforce her feelings of loneliness, worthlessness, self doubt. It encourages her to hurt herself. It shows itself to her in all its horrible putridness. She thinks that she is losing her mind! In her search for a therapist she finds one who is similar in age with a Mexican background. With the help of her therapist, Melanie, Alejandra starts to regain her confidence and sense of self but La Llorona continues to taunt her. As shares more and more about her experiences, Melanie (who is also a curandera) begins to think there is something else going on.

Will Alejandra be able to rid herself of the La Llorona curse? Will she be able to find happiness with her husband and children? Read to find out.

#NetGalley #TheHauntingOfAlejandra #MexicanCulture #Horror

I have greatly enjoyed V Castro’s work as she expresses latinidad in her stories so well. The Haunting of Alejandra is no exception. Motherhood is explored through the story of La llorona alongside trauma and generational trauma.

My biggest gripe is that I was really wanting more about la llorona in this story but it was a quick and spooky read

Appreciate NetGalley and RHPG for the arc

There was nothing inherently wrong with the writing or the plot of this book. But as a new-ish mom still struggling to find a balance between being a mom and wife and the person that I want to be, this was hitting a little too close to home. I was not in the right headspace to read this and had to put it down for now. I may pick it back up again when I am ready, and if I do, I will update my review with my actual thoughts because the premise still sounds great.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Del Rey, and V. Castro for the opportunity to review a copy of The Haunting of Alejandra.

"The Haunting of Alejandra" by V. Castro

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

"The Haunting of Alejandra" weaves together powerful Mexican folklore, women's fiction, fantasy, and horror, delivering a haunting tale of self-discovery and generational struggles. Alejandra's journey, intertwined with the vengeful spirit of La Llorona, explores themes of depression, lost identity, and the power of family history. While the incorporation of cultural details and folklore is compelling, the writing style falls short, with repetitive sentence structures and excessive exposition. The lack of emotional connection to the characters hinders the overall impact of the story. Nonetheless, it remains a gripping read with moments of suspense. Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for the early copy.

THE HAUNTING OF ALEJANDRA hooked me from the first page. The writing is exquisite. I think this book can speak to everyone who reads it on different levels. Our main character is a woman and a mother of 3 (of which I am neither) who has this darkness lurking and is trapped in this oppressed and claustrophobic life. Her marriage seems... awful does not really begin to describe it. She is underappreciated and seemingly invisible. And to top it all off there is this creepy bloodied woman watching her and her children. This story is rich in family history, horror + folklore (La Llorona), and reclaiming one's own power and self. The emotions I felt while reading this were all over the place... but I was mostly devastated, heartbroken, and scared. I absolutely LOVE this book!

I was absolutely fascinated by the mix of Mexican folklore and the concept of evil and the very real views into was it's like to have post partum depression that we see throughout this book from the beginning. Readers were quickly immersed into the mind and life of Alejandra as she fought against the emotional abuse and gaslighting of her husband while also journeying to learn more about her past and culture and work toward mental and spiritual healing, and self discovery.

This was a fascinating read and I can honestly say I haven't read a book quite like it.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the e-ARC. Pub date was April 18.

I know this book has been out for a bit now, but it took me this long to get into it. While slow to start it is a slow burn and doesn’t disappoint.

While I did enjoy this, there are definitely some parts I enjoyed more than others. She is haunted by the Mexican folk demon of La Llorona as dark secrets of her family are revealed.

The horror level is just right on this one. The writing is good, but room for improvement.

There are quite a few TW: suicidal ideation, depression, and miscarriage to name a few

Hey bookbots! Who is ready for a review?!? Today I am reviewing THE HAUNTING OF ALEJANDRA by @vlatinalondon . Thank you to the author, the publishers @delreybooks / @randomhouse and @netgalley for the e-ARC.

Y'all, this book is an absolutely perfect example of what I have been saying lately - horror is the genre for you if you are working out some feels! I find horror to be one of those genres people shy away from because fear is a hard emotion, but horror has so much more to offer than just fear...

This story is about generational trauma through multiple women in one family and how one woman finally has the wherewithal and space to challenge that trauma.

While at times scary and creepy, this book also includes fierce love of others and self, overcoming adversity, living your authentic life and coming into your own. It has heartache and tender moments as well as the spectre (literally in this book!) of your past haunting you.

This is one of the best books I have ever read regarding grief and it isn't a self-help book or a scholarly article. It is a horror love-letter to self, to family, and to heritage.

If you are interested in horror but not here for too much body horror or gore, this might be a good place for you to start. There is so much heart and soul in this book mixed in with folklore, terror and triumph.

💀ABSOLUTELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.💀

Castro is a stunning and welcome voice in horror and I will devour anything she writes! This one came out in April but check out her other titles too if you have a chance! An auto buy author for me! Who is yours?

💚SMASHBOT💚

#bibliophile #booknerd #horror #thehauntingofalejandra
#vcastro #netgalley #horrorreads
#netgalleyreviewer #booksta
#randomhouse #delrey #horrorbooks

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book. I couldn’t get into the story or writing. The characters fell flat to me, and I just became too bored.

I struggled originally with how to tackle this review as I had to DNF this book. I made it 1/3 of the way (33%) and I just wasn't meshing with the writing style and pacing. I was completely intrigued by the premise and the first couple of chapters were fantastic. I especially liked that we were getting different POVs that show the different generations of women in this familial line, showing the traumas and struggles of each, but I went into this book expecting a horror story and there just wasn't enough meat to keep me hanging on.

I think Castro's writing is beautiful. However, it can be a bit wordy and descriptive at times, which adds a ton of detail to the world and helps build atmosphere, but can also weigh down the story and create disinterest. I am heartbroken about this because I feel like this is the kind of story I would love. A multi-generational story showing the stigmatized struggles and exploitation of women and the curses they carry. Sign me up! But I just couldn't find enough to hang on to to keep me turning pages.

I will say that this is not a review of a completed book. I have many friends that absolutely adored this novel. That's what makes this ever more tragic. I encourage you all to give this book a read. I think, for many of you, you will find something to love here. I recommend for fans of slower, atmospheric horror reads that are about more than just cheap thrills and chills. This book has a story to tell and I know there is a large audience that needs to hear it.

Sometime after the birth of her third child, Alejandra's world comes comes crashing down revealing her unhappiness in a tidal wave of emotions. Her loss of identity as a whole person consumes her ever waking thoughts and now follows into dark dreams of many strange and very sad women who seem to beckon to her yet they're tied to death somehow and this frightens Alejandra yet she feels comforted as well. Alejandra loves her children although she doesn't seem to enjoy motherhood anymore so she just performs her duties like a robot, day after day. Her life as a wife feels so empty, unappreciated while needing help with caring for the children, the meals, the never-ending chores yet still expected to excitedly perform her wifely duties while she only wants to crawl into bed and maybe get a good nights rest without one of the little ones crying out for Mommy once, twice or more waking her to care for their needs while husband and daddy never hears a sound and gets to have uninterrupted sleep each night while the good wife handles anything and everything.

In the darkest corners of the room a creature lurks watching, waiting, listening and salivating over Alejandra's tears and sorrows. Unknown and invisible to her right now is how the creature feeds while it grows stronger to reveal it's insidious nature and monstrous physical appearance to Alejandra and then to her beautiful children because it wants their innocence and purity. It wants to consume their souls while it whispers lies of how peaceful death would be and all her pain would end forever because she is a horrid mother, wife and person. No one would miss her, her family would be better off without her causing them unhappiness.

Well, this sounds like classic, severe depression but in this strange case Alejandra will find out her bloodline had been cursed by a demon which for many centuries that had been taking the form of the legendary ghost of "La Llorona" who (as the story goes) murdered her own children and then took her own life for revenge at the supposed rejection from a man who did not want any children and her spirit. would be doomed to walk the earth for eternity hearing the cries and screams of her children and never being able to reunite with them.

Alejandra desperately needs help before she succumbs to the darkness and misery saturating her life in every way possible. If there is such a demon.haunting Alejandra can anyone help her in time since it is very, very vicious and soul-sucking hungry or is it possible that everything Alejandra now sees and believes are only products of a severe psychotic break that has brought about dangerous and suicidal delusions of a broken mind, heart and spirit. Either way, a psychosis or curse they can equally destroy Alejandra if she doesn't find someone to to help her fight these demons!

Trigger Warnings: Dark Depression, Suicidal Thoughts.



This was a well-written and thought out story of the darkness and danger of severe depression while also turning the depression into a horror story of a Latina woman's bloodline curse. The storyline was intriguing about some of the history Latina women surrounding curses etc. but for me it became too dark and depressing more about a woman's unhappiness with her life and life choices instead of a spooky, scary horror book. Granted there was some creepiness and a creature but it fell flat for me as a truly, frightening horror story. Too many women issues that were so morbid and miserable (imo). I know I may be in the minority but I had to plow through this one. Also, the story really wasn't about "La Llorona" which was a big letdown.

Remember this is just my opinion and most people will probably enjoy this book and probably find it scary. It just seemed this book was a disconnect for me. I do still recommend this story to others so they can form their own opinions!


I want to thank the publisher "Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given a rating of 3 FRUSTRATING AND DEPRESSING 🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!