This cover is STUNNING, definitely one of the best I've seen in awhile. Thank you so much for the early copy, I really enjoyed this!

I liked the first half much more than the second half. V. Casto is an interesting author. The prose was pretty and well-paced, but unfortunately, I couldn't connect with the family history of the characters. Some parts of the story were confusing and muddled. I liked the present tense, but once the story shifts back into the past tense, I became frustrated and overwhelmed. I love reading horror novels, but this one lacked some punch. It's a good book, just not a favorite.

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House for the digital ARC.

DNF at 35 percent.

I agree with other reviewers that this is incorrectly marketed as a horror novel.

Was very excited to read about la llorona as it was a tale I heard a lot about growing up.

Unfortunately the plot and characters just fell flat for me.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I was hopeful that this book would be awesome based on the premise of it. I had heard of La Llorona before but never the whole story and was curious how it would be told in this story and/or integrated into Alejandra’s life. I was disappointed because the book was really stale. Whenever the characters talked to each other it seemed so formal and not likely to happen in reality. The therapist that is also a curandera? Kind of weird in my opinion. The book over did it when talking from the creature’s point of view. It was cheesy at some points.

Wow, this is an achingly haunting work of art. Try as I might, I cannot escape the beauty of what I just experienced. This isn’t just a book to read; it isn’t meant to be opened and closed on a whim. It’s a book to be respected; it’s one to dip your toes into, trepidatiously testing its waters, and then ever-so-slowly and respectfully, inch by inch, as its mysteries consume you, begin to immerse yourself fully into its magic until you’re drowning in its influence. It longs to possess every nook and cranny of your heart, your mind, and your very soul, and it plays for keeps.

Who is Alejandra? Yes, that is the question. She is many things to many people, but who is she on her own? As she seeks purpose, she is haunted by La Larona, the Mexican folk demon. By delving into the pasts of the women in her family, can Alejandra banish the demon and recapture her own sense of significance?

This is a story that is tragic: it’s dark; it’s moving. At times, it hurts. The despair propels Alejandra to search for answers, and the possibility of hope compels readers to keep her company on her journey. We are with her. We feel what she feels, and we fear what she fears. The atmosphere suffocates while it hypnotizes. We might want to flee from these pages, but we cannot. We are trapped by the sheer beauty that encompasses the agony of it all.

Is it creepy? Yes. Is it unsettling, threatening, and distressing? Yes, yes, yes. Are those the reasons I’m asking you to read it? No. I’m asking you to read it because it’s powerful. You’re being given the gift of watching Alejandra strive for meaning, for an identity, for freedom. You’re invited to listen to a talented author whisper a story that you will not soon forget. Accept this invitation.

Enjoy!

Mexican folklore mixed with horror. I didn't truly appreciate this story until the very end. This book was a mixture of overcoming generational curses and discovering a true love for self. I will say that some may appreciate a trigger warning for all of the suicide discussion. This may be sensitive for others.

In the beginning, I mostly felt an extreme amount of sorrow for Alejandra because it was clear that in many ways she was really suffering. However, as the tales of her and the other women were woven into the book, I felt an overwhelming understanding and compassion for the struggles that these women faced.

Towards the end, the folklore and imagery really took center stage for me. I'm so glad that I continued to read this story because it truly is a beautiful story.

I am so grateful to have received early access to this horror read from V. Castro, Random House/Ballantine, and NetGalley before it hits shelves on April 18, 2023. The Haunting of Alejandra tells the tale of a generational curse that has stricken women from the same bloodline, where the demonic spirit of La Llorona lusts after their families' death and destruction, especially the souls of their children.

Alejandra has had a rough life, as have her mother and female ancestors before her; the cycle continues to spin onward. As she learns to mother her three children and her man-child husband through their lives, she harbors a sense of resentment toward all four of them, wishing for an escape, envisioning a woman in white who comes to her in hallucinations and dreams. This malevolent seeks to alter their daily life and frighten them into a darkened corner. After reconnecting with her birth mother and seeking help from a therapist, Alejandra equips herself with the family history and wisdom to fight off this ages-old curse and stop it in its tracks for good.

This terrifying read combines Mexican folklore, generational flashbacks, and a haunting environment that will have you sleeping with a nightlight on.

While I enjoy historical fiction/thrillers, I was not impressed by this book. I liked the perspective of the ancestors, but didn't enjoy the perspective of Alejandra.

I thought this was an interesting retelling of La Llarona with some genuinely scary passages. The author addresses postpartum depression and the effects on families while creating a solid horror story.

This had an incredible start and a very satisfying ending, I have never highlighted another book more. My only problem with it was I wanted more of Alejandra. I felt like the alternating POVs with the women in Alejandras blood line started to feel a pretty repetitive. I loved the first few chapters and related so much to Alejandra, but up until the 60% mark it seemed to drag a bit. Once I hit the 60% mark, I was flying through it and loved the ending.

To be honest as I began to read this I was unsure of it and if I was even going finish it much less like it. However, the more I read the more engrossed I became. It's honestly a very creepy and all around beautiful read. I don't even know where to begin. Initially I thought it was a simple ghost story, but it is so much more! It's a powerful read that deals with depression and multigenerational family issues.

This is the third book I’ve read by V. Castro and I have to say she just keeps getting better. This story is both painful and beautiful , touching on generational curses, generational trauma, the beauty and horror of motherhood, and the pain of being a woman. It resonated deeply with me as I think it will for anyone who has lived as a woman. I can’t wait to read more of her work and am so thankful to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

This was a good story about folklore and a curse that follows a family for generations. I was not terribly familiar with the Mexican culture until I started working at a bilingual school. Not only did I make some great friends, I learned so much about their beliefs. And, they take their stories very seriously.

La Llorona is a creepy story to begin with, but this author describes the 'demon' in such amazing detail. When Alejandra describes her despair and how she felt after the birth of each of her children and the lack of feeling from her husband you could really feel it. I didn't care for her husband and felt he dismissed her easily.

The book really took a turn for me when she met her therapist, who I absolutely loved. This was an interesting tale about how far you will go to save yourself and your family.

First of all V. Castro is quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors. As a Mexican woman who grew up in the states I like Alejandra feel a disconnect from my own culture, traditions, and mythology. Reading V. Castro's books has been like a beacon in the dark for me, an introduction to myths and legends that I should have grown up knowing.
I went into The Haunting of Alejandra exhilarated, I grew up hearing the stories of La Llorona (and I swear I even saw her in Guanajuato, but that is another story!) I was very much looking forward to a spooky story about this being. And this book was that, but it also wasn't.
What it was was a beautiful story about mothers and daughters, and the generational curses and trauma that we have to overcome. Do I wish that it had been scarier and more "typical" horror yes, but that is because I love to be scared. There were some genuinely creepy and scary parts but when I was done with the book all I wanted to do was light a candle for my ancestors and call my mom. It was moving in ways that I did not expect and I continue to look forward to anything that V. Castro writes.
NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine were kind enough to provide me a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I want to thank Netgalley and Ballantine for my gifted e-arc!!! The Haunting of Alejandra was on my most anticipated releases. I love V.Castro's books so I've been looking forward to this book.

I really liked it. I thought it was creepy and atmospheric. I really love how V. Castro writes unconventional main characters. Alejandra is a SAHM of three kids. Her marriage is going through some troubles since her husband is pretty selfish.

As a Latina, I grew up listening about stories of La Llorona. I thought V.Castro had a unique twist to the legend. I didn't give it the full five stars because it wasn't as scary as I wanted! I wish it would of been. I never felt scared but I felt it was still a good solid story. If you don't know anything about La Llorona then this book would be a great one to start with.

2.5

hmm, i’m not sure how to feel about this book. i feel like i lost interest throughout it and got more tired of reading it as time went on. i also wasn’t that connected to the characters, and, most of the time, i didn’t like the going back and forth timelines/point of views. i also didn’t really feel scared and was getting tired of the horror-type tangents and descriptions that were written. the dialogue felt kinda off every now and then, and i wish some characters, like matthew, had more depth.

however, i did really enjoy the concept. it was something i’d never seen being the plot of a book before. it was really interesting to learn more about mexican culture.

thank you to netgalley and random house publishing for the ARC !!

This was a struggle for me to read and it’s really disappointing because I really loved “Goddess of Filth” and “Mestiza Blood” by this author. This book I would not recommend. Alejandra felt lifeless and i couldn’t connect with her character, she was really lacking something. The POV and timeline shifting was also excessive and became irritating. I understand the author wanted to explain generational trauma but I would have preferred if there was just mention of what they went through and not full chapters. It felt very repetitive and the book read like one long complaint about struggling to be a good mother.

The one star is for La lloronas creature design. It was grotesque and I loved the visual it gave me. However, the creature would have been much more horrifying and mysterious if it didn’t actually talk.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Definitely a page turner, this book was creepy and atmospheric and kept me invested the entire time. Well done and terrifying at times. Loved this book and will recommend to horror lovers. Thank you for giving me early access!

I want to thank #Netgalley for letting me read an eArc of #TheHauntingofAlejandra.

This book was amazing! The beginning of it starts with Alejandra in the shower practically having a breakdown while her husband and kids are at the door all needing her for one thing or another. While in the shower she sees a vision of something she’s just not sure what.
Alejandra wants to know more about her past, she has recently connected with her bio mother and decided to dive into her past. She begins having dreams of women far in the past but it seems as though they want to help her.
She feels as though she is losing her mind. Unbeknownst to her something stalks her family and has for many many years and it wants her children as it has taken so many others.
This is an interesting take on The Curse of La Llorona. I definitely recommend!

4 stars for a prose that will stick with you. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. TRIGGER WARNINGS: Suicide, Emotional abuse, and a heavily religious family.

Alejandra feels trapped....trapped in her marriage, trapped by her children, and trapped by the voice telling her she isn't enough. Is there more to this voice, something ancestral that has poisoned her lineage? And will Alejandra be able to find the strength and support she needs to break this cycle once and for all?

This novel is everything you want in a spooky story. It's atmospheric, an original origin story, and will make you check under the bed before swinging your legs out in the morning. Alejandra is such a relatable character, even with her feeling of being overwhelmed with her children, being alone in her marriage, and wanting to understand where she came from. Being a fellow adoptee, her struggle with her heritage and wanting that relationship with her birth mother hung with me. Her relationship with her husband(to me) borderlines and even crosses the line of abuse throughout this story and it's amazing to watch Alejandra grow and reroute bad situations. La Llorona was a new story for me, but this contains such a unique story that fans of the classic folklore will enjoy the author's take.

4 stars and a recommendation for fans of supernatural horror/mystery. Age recommended for 16+ as there is alot of older topics that aren't suitable for younger readers. Allow Alejandra to share her journey with you, I promise it won't be one you soon forget.