This book is a love letter to every woman who has ever felt overwhelmed, under appreciated, disrespected, depressed, alone…the list goes on.
I felt for this woman with every new challenge she had to face and, while I have never had children or felt the post-partum stress and anxiety she was going through, I can relate to her internal frustration.
The side plot of a generational curse was interesting and ramped up the horror aspect but, really, it almost felt like filler compared to the angst-driven story of a woman who desperately wanted out of the life that she living/surviving(?).
It was a little metaphysical in places, but an overall enjoyable read.
I’ll be searching more from V Castro in the days to come.

3.5⭐️

This was my first V. Castro book and am looking forward to reading more from her. The Haunting of Alejandra tackles issues of generational trauma and mental health through horror. I did enjoy the story but found it dragging at times. This could just be that this isn’t the typical horror I’m used to reading nevertheless I’d still recommend reading this if slow burn mental health horror is something you’re interested in. It’s definitely probably more of a specific audience and that’s alright it just wasn’t for me.

Generational trauma, rediscovering a lost culture, La Llorona, and a personal fear of drowning in a unwanted marriage. This story was tailored made for me, the good and the bad.

Beautifully written with really emotional themes from Alejandra. Also the tie in of her being adopted and so having lost touch with her heritage. I would recommend to anyone who likes the unsettling and foreboding atmosphere.

I don't know if this wasn't that great or if I just didn't give it the time it deserved. It was an interesting concept, but the book did not hold my interest.

The premise of this story is what initially caught my attention. The Mexican folklore and feeling like I was going to finally read something that really sat with me and related to me. That being said: what a heavy read!! Immediately throws you into the themes of depression and suicide and pretty much how the main character feels like her life ... sucks. I guess I just felt surprised because I went into it expecting it to be more of a mystery/thriller type story vs self discovery. Overall, I think I would've enjoyed it more if I had been able to connect to the main character.

It might be beach reads season, but that doesn’t mean you can’t dive into some Halloween-level nightmares courtesy of the literary world’s latest horror offerings. Case in point: The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro, which has an excellent (and terrifying) concept that had me blanching in fear more than once on my well-lit, crowded subway commute.

The novel combines traditional Mexican folktales with contemporary horror, specifically revolving around modern-day motherhood, to nightmarish effect, as a woman grapples with a familial curse threatening to destroy everything she holds dear.

The story really excels during scenes of horror, where the vengeful La Llorona stalks its victims through history. From a candlelit bedroom belonging to a despicable Spanish colonizer, to a steam-filled bathroom in Philadelphia, these interludes are incredibly spooky and graphically rendered. I wasn’t necessarily expecting the level of gore that goes down in scenes (sparingly, but it’s there), which hammers home just how perilous — and grotesque — Alejandra’s situation is.

I’d had a bit of knowledge about the background of this particular demon thanks to watching The Curse of La Llorona back in 2019 (a truly abysmal movie undeserving of Linda Cardellini), but V. Castro gives a far more authentic (and disturbing) portrait of how the spirit came to be. She ties its origins in seamlessly with ill-fated stories of the female ancestors in Alejandra’s family. It took some getting used to, but I ended up really enjoying that storytelling device.

Where things fell apart for me, unfortunately, was the dialogue. I wasn’t a big fan of how the book handles themes involving the painful realities of motherhood, either, which I think also comes down to how characters express themselves throughout. Pretty much anytime a character opened their mouths, it felt off, to be honest.

Conversations between characters are rough and choppy, and hardly feel like genuine interactions real people would have, supernatural content or no. This is particularly glaring where the character of Alejandra's husband is concerned — he comes across as a cardboard stand-in for the Bad and Neglectful Husband trope, rather than a fully fleshed-out character. His presence is so shallow, in fact, that it makes an important decision towards the end of the novel far less impactful. At that point I could hardly bring myself to care.

All in all, as a horror fanatic I loved the freaky idea behind the book, but the execution ultimately fell short.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’ll read just about anything with “haunting” in the title, and the mention of a Mexican folk demon immediately intrigued me.

Alejandra is struggling, and despite being surrounded by a husband and three children, she feels alone and depressed. Her husband doesn’t understand why she’s unhappy , but he doesn’t make an effort to understand or really listen to her. Alejandra also misses her birth mother who she’d just started to build a relationship with before having to relocate for her husband’s job. Then she begins to see ghostly visions of a woman in a white gown. Even as Alejandra seeks help from a therapist and explores her family history, the apparition goes after her children.

I had my ups and downs with this one. I enjoyed the inclusion of the Mexican folk demon La Llorona and chapters from Alejandra’s ancestors explaining the curse on her family. It’s certainly a dark origin story. There are chilling moments that may send tingles up your spine, but some of the imagery is particularly gruesome, which I didn’t mind, but as a warning it may be disturbing for some readers. While I admired Alejandra for her determination to learn more about her family history, free herself from the demon, and protect her children, I didn’t like her very much and found it difficult to connect with her. Although it’s a short novel at less than three hundred pages, it moved at a slow pace, and my attention drifted in some parts of the novel.

The story has a fascinating premise and while part of the ending is horrific, it’s also satisfying, empowering, and hopeful.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This story was a great piece of Latin folklore and while I enjoyed it, I have mixed feelings about the book. On the one hand, I appreciated the author's effort to weave together the themes of generational trauma, colonization, systemic oppression, and motherhood into a horror story centered around the Mexican folk demon, La Llorona. The book had a powerful message about the impact of historical trauma and how it can manifest in individuals and families for generations.

However, I found the execution of the story to be somewhat lacking. The pacing of the plot was slow, and the horror elements felt repetitive at times. Additionally, while I appreciated the author's attempt to address complex social issues, I felt that some of the themes were not fully developed, and some of the characters felt underdeveloped as well.

That being said, the book did have its moments of terror, and I thought the exploration of Alejandra's family history was an interesting way to approach the story. Overall, I think The Haunting of Alejandra is a decent read for fans of horror who are looking for a story that blends supernatural horror with social commentary, but it may not be the best fit for those looking for a fast-paced, action-packed horror novel.

The thrill, man oh man.

I love the fact that not only we have a child who was adopted, like myself, but she later on becomes a mother and has struggles and mom guilt. The mental health issues were handled so well.
The spirit was so creepy at times i absolutely enjoyed it. The ending though… amazing.
I almost cried at the reuniting

What a way to kick off my May reads. The Haunting of Alejandra is a beautifully written book surrounding the legend of La Llorona. Generations of Alejandra’s family have been haunted by a creature they believed to be La Llorana. Castro allows us to read the stories of each woman, while simultaneously telling us the story of Alejandra and her fight to break her family’s curse. This story gives us themes of adoption, identity, colonization, systemic oppression, and adoption; it gives us a taste of folklore and a look into the many different ways women love their children through their own struggles.

As a side note, I would put this book off for later if you are currently struggling with postpartum anxiety/depression. Some of the events and thoughts in the book may be triggering.

DISCLAIMER: I was given an ARC of this book by @netgalley. No other compensation was given for this review and I have written the review of my own volition.

Cross-posted to NetGalley, @goodreads, @the.storygraph, and Amazon.

Alejandra is a SAHM to three children with a husband who doesn’t seem to understand how difficult her daily life has become and how there is something dark growing around her and her children. This book is focused on motherhood and generational trauma that takes the shape of an actual haunting by a demon known as La Llorona, which I found an interesting way of approaching the topic. The first half pulled me in, but the last half felt a bit boring and poorly written. There were times when the dialogue in particular felt unrealistic and I didn’t really buy Alejandra’s emotional journey throughout the book. There was an element of emotional depth that was missing throughout the book and I mostly chalk that up to the writing itself. Also, I thought the ending was really stupid 🤷🏻‍♀️ Oh well, they can’t all be amazing!

I've patiently waited for the chance to read this book for months, and am so glad I didn't have to wait a moment longer! Alejandra's life appears ideal from the outside. A stay at home mom married to a successful husband, with three healthy children, and a large home in Philadelphia. Yet, Alejandra struggles every day to hold on to her sanity as she fights an inner dialogue that fills her mind with horrible thoughts and a wish for a different life. But what if these are more than just random thoughts? Why are things getting worse, and seemingly affecting her children too? The reader will journey along with Alejandra as she learns that this affliction isn't unique to her, and that sometimes we must unravel the past to save our future.
The Haunting of Alejandra does a beautiful job examining modern motherhood and marriage, and reminds us to heed the call of ancestral knowledge. This book is a must-read for anyone who roots for generational healing, breaking trauma cycles, and the continuous magic of mujeres. I only wish that we had even more detail into Alejandra's point of view. This book does not disappoint, but readers of longer, slow burning thrillers like River Woman, River Demon might feel that this book is a bit abrupt.
Basically, my only critique here is that I wanted more of this necessary story about a woman facing her inner demons and the healing that is possible for all of us.

Thank you to Net Galley and Del Ray, Penguin Random Randomhouse for the advance copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine as well as the author for this ARC. I truly appreciate it.
#NetGalley #RandomHouseBallantine #V.Castro #TheHauntingofAlejandra

Well, this won’t be the last book by this author that I read. Ms. Castro is a very talented writer. This book had a lot of great things going for it.
Alejandra begins as a very relatable figure for many of us. She is a stay-at-home mother of three kids ranging from nine to eighteen months. She’s married to a man who is way too concerned about his career and himself to notice how much his wife is struggling. Alejandra is experiencing severe depression and anxiety related to her life as a mother. She desperately needs a break, some support, and counseling. Alejandra has considered suicide more than once. She also seems to be being followed by a ghost. Finally, she reaches out to a local therapist as well as a spiritualist for help. Melanie, the therapist and curandera, is just the support system she needs for both her depression and her haunting.
This story is a definite slow burn. There were times I wasn’t sure I could stick. This story definitely could have used some editing. Alejandra, as much as I empathize, could have been portrayed as less whiny at times. There was a lot of repetition. I’m glad I stuck it out though because the pay out was good.
The cultural aspect of this book was the best part. I love the story of La Llorona. She’s terrifying because she’s such a sympathetic and desperate character. Alejandra believes that La Llorona is the ghost that she keeps seeing because it appears as a woman in white. Alejandra is hell bent on protecting her children from the ghost who is known to steal kids. If only it were that easy! Very, very fun! Also, I believe it’s important for the depression that many women experience surrounding motherhood and childbirth. It’s a very real problem. I love how the author was truthful about it while also making sure to clearly communicate how much she loved her kids and how they weren’t the cause of her troubles but that didn’t make her troubles any less real.
This book is great for lovers of ghosts and demons. It’s also good for horror-loving moms. It’s too slow in parts but, stick with it.

From the publisher:
Alejandra no longer knows who she is. To her husband, she is a wife, and to her children, a mother. To her own adoptive mother, she is a daughter. But they cannot see who Alejandra has become: a woman struggling with a darkness that threatens to consume her.

Nor can they see what Alejandra sees. In times of despair, a ghostly vision appears to her, the apparition of a crying woman in a ragged white gown.

When Alejandra visits a therapist, she begins exploring her family’s history, starting with the biological mother she never knew. As she goes deeper into the lives of the women in her family, she learns that heartbreak and tragedy are not the only things she has in common with her ancestors.

Because the crying woman was with them, too. She is La Llorona, the vengeful and murderous mother of Mexican legend. And she will not leave until Alejandra follows her mother, her grandmother, and all the women who came before her into the darkness.

But Alejandra has inherited more than just pain. She has inherited the strength and the courage of her foremothers—and she will have to summon everything they have given her to banish La Llorona forever.

My Thoughts:

This was a tough read at the beginning just from Alejandra's state of mind. She loves her kids and husband, but things are tough on her. She's crying in the shower. It's like she has some form of post partum psychosis. Her state of mind is part of what draws La Llorona.

Thankfully, Alejandra seeks professional help. I couldn't have continued to read the despair and depression she was feeling. In the process of therapy, she discovers that not only has she inherited La Llorona, but the strength of her ancestors. And she needs it all.

Alejandra is the most fleshed out character in the book, which makes sense. Her counselor, her biological mother, and some of her ancestors also have enough page time to give them depth. This is a women's tale.

While it is slow in places, overall, the book moves at a decent pace appropriate to the story. The horror is done well. Creepy in places and it's downright terrifying in others. It had me worried for the characters, especially Alejandra and her children.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's a good horror story - terrifying in parts, creepy in others. And the feeling of horror lasts on beyond the last page. The pacing is slow in parts, but overall it's appropriate. I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed other books like Mexican Gothic.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinions.

I think this is one of those books that has a very specific audience- luckily for me, I am in that audience. I think the pacing is slow, but because the book deals so deeply with emotions and generational trauma, it makes sense to me that the author would take time to delve into those things and spend time with those feelings.

While it is most definitely horror, this book uses it as a heavy handed (but effective) metaphor for all sorts of evils and traumas experienced by women and women of color. As a results, the horror elements dim in comparison- and I think that's the point.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey, for this arc.

This book has a magnificent cover and gives you so much to think about! Written by a Latinx author, The Haunting of Alejandra is a ghost story that mixes folkloric monsters with generational trauma. The Mexican mythical vengeful ghost of La Llorona plays a prominent part in this book.

In this story we follow Alejandra, a Latinx woman who has not been in touch with her roots, she was adopted when she was an infant, and her adoptive parents were very religious so she was never allowed to connect to her roots or anything related to her ancestry. She is married and a stay-at-home mom of two children who feels overwhelmed and everyday less attached to her judgmental husband.

She believes her demons and the visions she has with more and more frequency are symptoms of a illness. With the help of a therapist - and curandera - and also with the help of generations of women who have come before her and found a way forward, Alejandra needs to balance her emotional turmoil, her bad marriage, motherhood, depression with a curse that plagues her family.

This novel is so well-done and terrifying. It shows us the importance of connecting to our own roots. The more the protagonist connects to her roots more powerful she becomes to confront the ghost of La Llorona. It is a tale of female empowerment, a tale of a woman who gives so much of herself and who does not hesitate to do everything she can to find a way out, to end a cycle of generational pain and suffering.

A compelling and enjoyable novel with very rich imagery. I am kind of obsessed with V. Castro.

I would say the first 80% of this book was engaging but then stuttered at the end. Alejandra is married to a guy who believes her only job is to be a stay at home but she feels unfulfilled. Turns out La Llorona has ties to her family and Alejandra starts seeing visions. She finds a therapist who helps her tap into her history and connect with her ancestors.

I couldn't really relate to Alejandra because I have no desire to have children but I found the story interesting even if the conclusion went by too quickly.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for a eARC in exchange for my honest review. Never have I felt a book so deeply in my soul. I loved the different points of view and stories within the story. Eerie and thought provoking. This book put me down a deep hole and brought me out with hope. Being a mother is hard let’s work together to be there for each other. There are many triggers in this book so if you know the Folklore of La Llorona look it up before reading.

The Haunting of Alejandra" is a spine-chilling ghost story that had me on the edge of my seat. The author's writing style is atmospheric and haunting, creating a sense of dread and unease that stayed with me long after I finished the book.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, and their struggles with grief and loss add an emotional depth to the story that I appreciated. The setting is also beautifully described, with the lush jungle landscape and old mansion providing a perfect backdrop for the eerie events that unfold.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, there were a few moments where the pacing felt a bit slow, and I found myself wanting the story to move forward more quickly. Additionally, some of the supernatural elements felt a bit confusing at times, and I would have liked more clarity around the ghostly happenings.

Overall, "The Haunting of Alejandra" is a well-written and chilling ghost story that is sure to delight fans of the horror genre. While it's not without its flaws, it's a solid and entertaining read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a spooky tale to keep them up at night.