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Lizeth

@fictionfanatica

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Rating…review?? lol

Come Closer by Sara Gran was such a good read! I felt for Amanda as her life started to unravel, and I loved how unsettling the story became. It’s a short, fast paced read that pulled me in and left me wanting to know what would happen next.

Honestly, the less you know about this book going in, the better. 😂 I don’t even want to say much about the plot because I think discovering it for yourself is part of what makes the experience so good.

If you enjoy psychological horror and demonic possession, definitely give this one a try! 👀

5/5 stars ⭐️!

Qotd: what’s on your spooky tbr?

#horror #bookstagram #bookflatlay #spookyseason by @fictionfanatica

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21 hours ago

Book review

Visceral by María Fernanda Ampuero

Latine Heritage Month has come to an end, and I wanted to close it out with a book by one of my favorite authors! 💚

María explores womanhood, the body, violence, sexuality, shame, and the complicated ways we learn to see ourselves. Her writing is raw, personal, and unapologetic, and she isn’t afraid to tackle subjects that can be uncomfortable to talk about.

One of my favorite things about this collection is how honest it feels. The author doesn’t try to make painful experiences sound pretty or turn them into some inspirational lesson. She writes about the things we’re often taught to hide, the expectations placed on women, and the anger that comes with being expected to stay quiet. I appreciated how she allows these feelings to exist without trying to make them more acceptable to others.

I love reading books that challenge me to think differently, and this collection reminded me that literature doesn’t always have to offer answers or leave us feeling good. Sometimes, it simply needs to make us reflect on things we might otherwise overlook.

I also have to mention how much I loved the translation! I’ve listened to the audiobook in Spanish, and the translation in this edition was top tier! I really appreciate when a translated book manages to preserve the feeling and impact of the original writing, and I think that makes the reading experience even more special.

Overall, this was a 5 star read for me! I’m so glad I got to experience this collection, and I’m always happy to see more people discovering María Fernanda Ampuero’s work.

If you haven’t read her books yet, I highly recommend Cockfight and Human Sacrifices. Both are 5 star reads for me, and I can’t recommend her writing enough! 💚

Thank you so much to Feminist Press for sending me an ARC! Visceral releases on November 10, 2026, so be sure to add it to your TBR!

And a little reminder that we should be reading Latine books all year round, not just during Latine Heritage Month. There are so many incredible Latine authors and stories worth discovering, and our reading shouldn’t be limited to one month of the year!! 💚

#bookstagram by @fictionfanatica

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2 days ago

Book Review

What The Forest Devours by Elaine Vilar Madruga

I read this a few weeks ago, and I still think about how wild and unsettling this story was 😭

Set in a terrifying Cuban rainforest, this novel explores a world where survival comes at a horrifying cost. The gods demand offerings, mothers raise their children as food, and women’s ability to reproduce becomes essential to their survival. It’s a brutal cycle with seemingly no escape, and I was so intrigued by the way the author builds this world and makes you sit with just how horrifying it really is.

What I loved most was how the horror goes beyond the grotesque and becomes a commentary on women’s bodies, motherhood, and what women are forced to sacrifice just to survive. There’s something especially disturbing about a society where these horrors have become part of everyday life. The rainforest setting also adds so much to the atmosphere, making everything feel oppressive, dangerous, and almost otherworldly.

This book gets dark, and I loved how unapologetically strange it was. It’s brutal, uncomfortable, and definitely not a story for everyone, but I found it incredibly compelling. I especially love when horror makes me think about the bigger ideas behind all the madness instead of relying on shock value alone.

If you enjoy literary horror with dark folklore, disturbing imagery, and themes that will leave you with plenty to unpack, I’d absolutely recommend giving this one a chance!

Thank you so much to @harperviabooks for sending me both an ARC and a finished copy! 💚 What the Forest Devours will be release on October 20th! Definitely add this one to your TBR if you’re in the mood for something dark and different!!

QOTD: Do you prefer your horror to be supernatural, psychological, or downright grotesque?

#latineheritagemonth #latinebooks #bookstagram #horrorbooks #litfic by @fictionfanatica

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8 days ago

Book review

I’m going to fully admit that some of my expectations probably got in the way because I’m a vampire girlie. 😂 I’ve read SO many vampire books that I’ve definitely gotten used to a certain formula. So when I went into this expecting a vampire novel and got something completely different, it caught me a little off guard.

And honestly, I think that’s where my biggest criticism comes in. I actually loved how weird and different this book was, but I wish the marketing had prepared me for that book. I understand what the author is doing by taking the traditional vampire tale and twisting it into something much stranger, but personally, I didn’t really experience this as a vampire book. I almost wish it had been marketed more as a parasite/body horror novel, because that’s where I think this book really shines. We don’t get enough parasite horror, and I think leaning into that aspect would have made this book stand out even more.

The opening scene was SO attention
grabbing. It immediately had me like, okay, what the hell is happening? 👀 It pulled me in right away.

I also really appreciated the representation!! I loved seeing Mexican American & LGBTQ+ representation, and it genuinely made me happy to see.

——>>>

The pacing was interesting for me. We spend a good portion of the first half getting to know the characters and watching them interact, argue, and deal with their relationships. It felt more character driven and almost literary fictionish at times.

And then the second half???

Absolutely. Unhinged 🪱!

Once things really got going, it was basically back to back scenes of WTFery. It was gross, disturbing, bizarre, and completely insane.

Overall, I have mixed feelings, but I’m really glad I read it. It was weird, creative, and definitely different from anything else I’ve read. For a debut, I thought it was really good, and I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing what the author does next.

Nota para el autor, si lo lees 👀: A.J., espero que no me vayas a tomar a mal esta reseña. Te juro que sí me gustó tu libro, nomás que soy demasiado fan de los vampiros y creo que llegué con expectativas bien específicas 😭🖤 by @fictionfanatica

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a month ago

Mini Book review

Medea Sang Me a Song by Dahlia de La cerda

I loved the writing style so much, it’s sharp, raw, and really immersive. There’s something about the way the author writes that feels both intimate and intense at the same time. The interconnected stories were really engaging, and I liked how everything slowly built into something bigger and more impactful as I kept reading.

I also really appreciated how strong the voice of the book was. It doesn’t hold back, and it makes you sit with a lot of emotions while reading. Some parts were hard hitting, others were more reflective, but overall it felt very powerful and memorable.

I read this in both English and Spanish, I listened to the audiobook in Spanish and also read the English ARC and I thought the translation was excellent. Nothing felt lost between versions, and both experiences complemented each other really well. The audiobook especially added so much to the atmosphere and emotion of the story.

Overall, I really loved this book. It’s one I’ll definitely be thinking about for a while, and I’m excited to read more from this author in the future.

Thank you @feministpress for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review 💜

Rating: 5/5 stars!!

Available on JUNE 16 (aka my birthday 🤭😂)

Qotd: how often do you read short stories collections?

#feministpress #bookstagram #latinebooks #litfic #horrorbooks by @fictionfanatica

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5 months ago

Latine heritage month is around the corner and this is my tbr 😊

#booksta #latineheritagemonth #litfic by @fictionfanatica

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a month ago

BOOK REVIEW:

I finished Monstrilio months ago and it’s STILL living rent free in my head like the messy little creature it is. This book is grief with teeth; strange, intimate, and so full of feeling it practically hums.

From page one, The author drops you into a world where love and monstrosity are tangled together, where a mother’s heartbreak becomes something literal, hungry, and alive. And instead of leaning on pure horror, the book digs deep into the emotional fallout: the guilt, the longing, the way grief keeps reinventing itself until you barely recognize the person you were before.

I loved how the story shifts between POVs Magos, her circle, and eventually Monstrilio himself, each voice showing a different angle of what loss does to people. It never feels like a gimmick; it feels like a chorus of broken hearts trying to figure out how to live with the impossible. Some sections hit softer, some hit HARD, but together they form this beautifully strange portrait of a family trying to survive the unspeakable.

And the writing? Devastating. Lush. Unsettling in ways that creep up on you. The author makes the grotesque feel tender and the tender feel dangerous, and that balance is honestly what makes the book unforgettable. It’s horror, yes but it’s also deeply human, messy, and emotionally loaded.

I walked into this expecting “scary creature story” and got a meditation on grief, identity, love, and the parts of ourselves that feel too monstrous to show the world. I’m obsessed.

🩸 haunting, beautiful, and unlike anything I’ve ever read.
🖤 Still thinking about it months later.
👹 Perfect for readers who love literary fiction with a dark, feral heart.

#bookreview #bookstagrammer #bookflatlay by @fictionfanatica

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10 months ago

Book review:

Piñen by Daniela Catrileo

This is a beautifully written collection of interconnected stories that follows young people trying to find their place in a world that often feels stacked against them. The stories explore family, friendship, identity, loss, and survival, and while they’re often heartbreaking, they’re also deeply compassionate.

What impressed me most was the author’s writing. It’s lyrical and atmospheric without ever losing sight of the characters. Even though this is a short collection, every story felt purposeful, and I found myself becoming attached to the people in these pages almost immediately. There were several moments that made me stop and sit with what I’d just read.

This isn’t a light read by any means, but it’s one I’ll be recommending to anyone who loves literary fiction and short story collections that leave a lasting impact.

4.75 stars from me!

Thank you to @librofm for providing the audiobook. The narration was wonderful and made an already powerful collection even more immersive 🩷

Qotd: what’s a book that you have loved and been recommending to everyone lately?

#bookstagram #pinkbooks #womenintranslation #litfic by @fictionfanatica

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2 months ago

✨ Frankenstein by Mary Shelley + Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein movie Review✨

"If you are not to award me love,
then I will indulge in rage."
- Frankenstein (2025)

Finished Frankenstein and… I get it now. This book isn’t just a classic, it’s a whole existential crisis wrapped in gothic vibes. Mary Shelley really handed us a story about grief, ego, loneliness, and the consequences of playing god, and somehow it still hits just as hard today. The creature had me feeling sympathy, fear, heartbreak… all of it.
And Victor? Sir, PLEASE seek therapy immediately.

But I’ll be honest: I did have a hard time connecting with the book at first. The vibes were vibing, but my brain was not braining.

However, Then I watched Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and OH. MY. GOD.
I freaking loved it so, so, so much! a full 5/5 stars. The way Guillermo del Toro understands monsters and humanity??!. He took the soul of the novel and turned it into something visually stunning, emotional, tragic, and completely unforgettable. It honestly helped me appreciate the book so much more, like suddenly everything clicked. It felt like the story Mary Shelley always meant to tell, but filtered through Guillermo del Toro’s beautifully twisted brain.

If you’re into gothic classics, morally questionable characters, emotional monsters, and masterful filmmaking, this combo is elite.
Read the book, watch the movie, cry a little, and rethink your life choices!

Qotd: have you watched the movie?

#frankenstein #classics #bookreview #film by @fictionfanatica

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10 months ago

Book Review:

I sat with Paradais for a couple of days before writing this review because I honestly loved this book and wanted to really think about how I felt about it.

I listened to in Spanish, and I honestly think that made the experience even better. The narration was so satisfying to listen to, and I was surprised by how easily I understood everything. I didn’t have to constantly stop and look up words, which made it so easy to stay immersed in the story. I think part of that is because the author is Mexican and she uses a lot of slang and expressions that felt familiar to me 😂

This book completely pulled me in. I was so invested that I finished it in under 2 hours. Paradais follows two teenage boys from very different backgrounds who form an unlikely friendship. As their relationship develops, the story explores resentment, privilege, inequality, desire, and how people’s circumstances can influence the choices they make.

What I loved most about this book was how much it made me feel. It’s disturbing, uncomfortable, and honestly hard to look away from, but I couldn’t stop listening. I found myself thinking about the characters, their choices, and the situation they were in even after I finished.

It’s definitely not an easy or comforting read, but it was such a memorable experience.

The reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is simply because I’ve read other books in this genre that I personally connected with more or enjoyed more when exploring similar themes. But that doesn’t take away from how much I enjoyed it.

I can honestly see Fernanda Melchor becoming one of my top 5 favorite authors in the near future. I’m definitely excited to read more of her work.

Rating 4.75 ⭐️’s

Qotd: what books do you have on your tbr for this month?

#womenintransition #litfic #translationfiction #bookstgram by @fictionfanatica

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2 months ago

BOOK REVIEW:

I finally read This Thing Between Us and honestly??
I thought I was picking up a normal horror book… NOT a full emotional breakdown disguised as a haunted smart speaker story.

This book follows Thiago, who’s grieving the loss of his wife Vera, and I’m over here crying like I knew these people personally. The way he talks to her throughout the book??? Sir, please, I am fragile 💔💔💔💔

And then there’s the horror.
Not jump scare horror more like:
“Why is the smart device acting weird?”
“Why did that happen??”
“Should I unplug everything in my house??”

Me: 🤡👀slowly disconnects WiFi just in case

Other readers say it’s cosmic horror and existential dread… but I say it’s “therapy would like to know your location.”

What I loved is how it blends the sadness of grief with the creepy “something is seriously wrong here” energy. One minute I’m tearing up, the next I’m like, “OH NO WHAT IS THAT??” The vibes whiplash was real 🫨🫨🫨

5 stars because:
✔️ The emotions were emotionaling
✔️ The horror was horrifying
✔️ Vera (the speaker) was acting like it was paying bills
✔️ And I was fully invested while also terrified 😅

If you want a book that’s heartbreaking, weird, creepy, beautifully written, AND makes you wonder if your Alexa is plotting against you… this is the one!! 😀😂

(It’s more then the speaker lol it’s complicated to explain 😂)

I have no question today 😶

#booksta #bookreview #bookstacks by @fictionfanatica

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a year ago

Tomorrow kicks off Women in Translation Month!!!

Okay, so I spent about two hours taking pictures and making these two very simple pages in Canva, only to realize at the very end that I didn’t separate my TBR from my recommendations 🥲 At that point, I was already fed up with Canva, the sun was setting, and I wasn’t about to redo everything or retake all the pictures, so I decided to just roll with it. 😂

I’m a mess, I’m sorry, but also… this is a hobby, and I really shouldn’t be this stressed over it 😫 Anyway, this is what I ended up with! I was trying to get it out before the beginning of the month because I wanted to hopefully help at least one person with their own TBR😭💚

Qotd: Have you read any of these? And more importantly... what are you planning to read for WIT Month?

#bookstagram #WITMonth2026 #TranslatedFiction #litfic by @fictionfanatica

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3 months ago