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An Immaculate Deception
THE UNMISSABLE GOTHIC HORROR EVENT OF 2026
A LIFE IN LIMBO. A SIN SO SWEET. AN IMMACULATE DECEPTION.
I feel the bond that has been created between me and him - this one made of shadows, the one who pulses in my depths and who promises to fulfil my yearning...
Pernambuco, Brazil, 1877. Raised in a deeply religious household, Madalena knows Dante's Inferno by heart and fears her mother's reaction as much as she fears God. When she falls pregnant with a child conceived in sin, her mother issues a marry or surrender the baby.
Confident that the father, the dashing Leandro Neves, will propose, Madalena sets off to his sprawling estate. After a storm wrecks her carriage, she awakens in Leandro's crumbling mansion, tended to by the magnetic Doctor Lobo. Leandro is there... but he is no longer the charming poet she knew. He's silent. Obsessed. Always watching.
Strange perfume haunts a locked room. Pages vanish from books. Jewels lie untouched in a forgotten wardrobe. And mirrors begin disappearing after Madalena sees something - or someone - ghastly in the reflection.
Leandro is unravelling. Doctor Lobo may be hiding something even darker. Trapped in a decaying house of secrets, Madalena must uncover the truth before the men around her destroy her, and before the hell she fears becomes the one she's living in...
A LIFE IN LIMBO. A SIN SO SWEET. AN IMMACULATE DECEPTION.
I feel the bond that has been created between me and him - this one made of shadows, the one who pulses in my depths and who promises to fulfil my yearning...
Pernambuco, Brazil, 1877. Raised in a deeply religious household, Madalena knows Dante's Inferno by heart and fears her mother's reaction as much as she fears God. When she falls pregnant with a child conceived in sin, her mother issues a marry or surrender the baby.
Confident that the father, the dashing Leandro Neves, will propose, Madalena sets off to his sprawling estate. After a storm wrecks her carriage, she awakens in Leandro's crumbling mansion, tended to by the magnetic Doctor Lobo. Leandro is there... but he is no longer the charming poet she knew. He's silent. Obsessed. Always watching.
Strange perfume haunts a locked room. Pages vanish from books. Jewels lie untouched in a forgotten wardrobe. And mirrors begin disappearing after Madalena sees something - or someone - ghastly in the reflection.
Leandro is unravelling. Doctor Lobo may be hiding something even darker. Trapped in a decaying house of secrets, Madalena must uncover the truth before the men around her destroy her, and before the hell she fears becomes the one she's living in...
9 pages, Audiobook
First published September 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 386 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
AN IMMACULATE DECEPTION was one of my most anticipated books of the year and I'm so happy to report that it lives up to the hype, especially if you are looking for more gothic fiction in non-European settings, with twists that will turn you on your head. Watch out for spoilers when this book comes out! This is the sort of story that is best ventured into cold, and you're going to want to be surprised.
Madalena is a young religious woman living in Brazil in the late-1800s. She also has a problem: she's pregnant out of wedlock, from sleeping with the son of a local wealthy family, Leandro, and now she's afraid to tell her lover the truth because she knows what can happen to unwed young women and the shame that they can bring to their families-- not to mention the peril it puts their immortal souls in.
This book is told in two POVs. The first POV is Madalena's, the second is Leandro's. They're both incredibly different protagonists, which I appreciated. Madalena's is about religious trauma and the dangers of being a woman under the socioreligious institution of the patriarchy. Leandro's is about a man driven by lust and guilt and torment. If you think you know where this book is going-- no, you don't. That's all I'm going to say about that.
IMMACULATE DECEPTION is like a cross between Isabel Canas's THE POSSESSION OF ALBA DIAZ and Guillermo del Toro's Crimson Peak, so if either of those creators speak to you, I think you'd really enjoy this book. Some people are shelving this as horror, which it kind of is, but if you're new to the gothic genre, you should know that the hallmarks of a gothic is slow pacing, atmosphere, and a slow build up of psychological dread. Please adjust your expectations accordingly for an ideal reading experience.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy!
4 stars
Madalena is a young religious woman living in Brazil in the late-1800s. She also has a problem: she's pregnant out of wedlock, from sleeping with the son of a local wealthy family, Leandro, and now she's afraid to tell her lover the truth because she knows what can happen to unwed young women and the shame that they can bring to their families-- not to mention the peril it puts their immortal souls in.
This book is told in two POVs. The first POV is Madalena's, the second is Leandro's. They're both incredibly different protagonists, which I appreciated. Madalena's is about religious trauma and the dangers of being a woman under the socioreligious institution of the patriarchy. Leandro's is about a man driven by lust and guilt and torment. If you think you know where this book is going-- no, you don't. That's all I'm going to say about that.
IMMACULATE DECEPTION is like a cross between Isabel Canas's THE POSSESSION OF ALBA DIAZ and Guillermo del Toro's Crimson Peak, so if either of those creators speak to you, I think you'd really enjoy this book. Some people are shelving this as horror, which it kind of is, but if you're new to the gothic genre, you should know that the hallmarks of a gothic is slow pacing, atmosphere, and a slow build up of psychological dread. Please adjust your expectations accordingly for an ideal reading experience.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy!
4 stars
August 3, 2026
I have one word to describe this book: Phenomenal! It’s a must read and definitely is going down as one of my favorites. Everything worked with this from the gothic-style atmosphere to the perfectly written characters. I had no idea where the plot was going, and I was genuinely surprised where it went. In a good way. No quibbles here!
I would advise going into this one as blind as possible. I didn’t know much going into it besides the setting, and I think it definitely enhanced my reading experience. Which, by the way, was read under 24 hours. That addictive.
Definitely one to add to the TBR!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would advise going into this one as blind as possible. I didn’t know much going into it besides the setting, and I think it definitely enhanced my reading experience. Which, by the way, was read under 24 hours. That addictive.
Definitely one to add to the TBR!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2026
‼️BANGER ALERT‼️ BANGER ALERT ‼️ BANGER ALERT ‼️ 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
We got an official BANGER on our hands! I picked this up an 1am last night, slept a few hours, and woke back up three hours later just to finish this book. Incredibly UNPUTDOWNABLE!
This is a gothic horror lover’s wet dream! An Immaculate Deception is the most atmospheric novel I have read this year. From the beginning, I was completely unsettled. As the story unravels, I could feel the hairs on my neck begin to rise. There are scenes that ultimately terrified me.
GO INTO THIS 100% BLIND!!!!!! TRUST ME! DO NOT READ THE SYNOPSIS. All you need to know is it is 1877 in Brazil.
The twist WHAT 😱😱? Blew my freaking mind! You will be shocked to your core for that final reveal. Believe that!
Please don’t miss one of the most atmospheric and dreadfully gothic horror stories of our time. This one will leave you sleeping with the lights on.
ALL OF THE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you to Dutton Books and the author for my free copy.
Pub Day 9/1/26
We got an official BANGER on our hands! I picked this up an 1am last night, slept a few hours, and woke back up three hours later just to finish this book. Incredibly UNPUTDOWNABLE!
This is a gothic horror lover’s wet dream! An Immaculate Deception is the most atmospheric novel I have read this year. From the beginning, I was completely unsettled. As the story unravels, I could feel the hairs on my neck begin to rise. There are scenes that ultimately terrified me.
GO INTO THIS 100% BLIND!!!!!! TRUST ME! DO NOT READ THE SYNOPSIS. All you need to know is it is 1877 in Brazil.
The twist WHAT 😱😱? Blew my freaking mind! You will be shocked to your core for that final reveal. Believe that!
Please don’t miss one of the most atmospheric and dreadfully gothic horror stories of our time. This one will leave you sleeping with the lights on.
ALL OF THE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you to Dutton Books and the author for my free copy.
Pub Day 9/1/26
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**3.5-stars rounded up**
An Immaculate Deception is a debut Historical Horror novel from Isabela Livino. This book is set in 1870s-Brazil, where we meet and follow a woman named Madalena.
Madalena has fallen in love with a dashing young man, and as sometimes happens, finds herself pregnant, out of wedlock. Having been raised in a strict and religious household, Madalena fears her mother's head could actually explode when she learns Madalena's secret.
After Madalena confesses, her Mom's head doesn't explode, but she does put up a forceful ultimatum: marry, or surrender the baby.
Madalena feels confident that the baby's daddy, Leandro, will do the right thing when he hears the news. He's bound to propose. He loves her. Yeah, yeah, he loves her.
She picks a night to tell him, and just as she's about to share the news, a terrible storm sweeps in and causes the carriage they're traveling in to careen off the road.
Awakening after the accident, Madalena finds herself in a bed at Leandro's secluded estate. She's being looked over by a Doctor Lobo, and she let's him know she's pregnant, to which he's surprised.
Leandro is also there, but he doesn't seem the same since the accident. His personality has completely changed. No longer the charming and affectionate lover she once knew, he's now glowering and always watching.
It's not just Leandro though, the house itself sets Madalena on edge. She fears it's haunted. There's phantom smells, things disappearing, a startling lack of mirrors. She begins to fear Leandro and Doctor Lobo as well. She doesn't trust them at all. She feels trapped.
She's got to figure out what's happening here and get away before it's too late. It's not just herself she needs to think about, but also her unborn child. It's a race against the clock for Madalena; one girl against the world.
This was good. I enjoyed my time with it, and while it didn't necessarily blow me away, I feel like it's a strong debut novel. I was particularly intrigued in the 1st-half. It was mysterious and I enjoyed the descriptions of Leandro's house and the things going on there.
Additionally, there was shift at one point that really surprised me, and I loved that the author chose to set the narrative up the way that she did. It made the reveals more impactful, IMO.
There were some aspects that I found odd and slightly-confusing, but for the most part it had a solid premise, good characters and lightly-creepy vibes.
I would recommend this to fans of The Hacienda, or Mexican Gothic. I think if you like those sort of Gothic Historical Horror stories, this could work for you as well.
I will say, I do feel a little weird about the cover. Speaking of The Hacienda. I feel like perhaps they hit a little to close to Isabel Cañas's cover style. As soon as I saw this, I thought, does Isabel Cañas have a book coming out that I don't know about?
I feel like it's sort of her thing now to have this beautiful, artistic covers with a lone woman in a red dress, especially outside, with some sort of weather brewing, and that's exactly what this is. I just wish they would have gone in a different direction, as it feels a little copy-catty.
With this being said, this isn't a review of the Publisher's choice of cover, it's a review of the story itself, and that's what I've based my rating on.
Thank you to the publisher, Dutton, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would definitely pick up more from Isabela Livino in the future.
An Immaculate Deception is a debut Historical Horror novel from Isabela Livino. This book is set in 1870s-Brazil, where we meet and follow a woman named Madalena.
Madalena has fallen in love with a dashing young man, and as sometimes happens, finds herself pregnant, out of wedlock. Having been raised in a strict and religious household, Madalena fears her mother's head could actually explode when she learns Madalena's secret.
After Madalena confesses, her Mom's head doesn't explode, but she does put up a forceful ultimatum: marry, or surrender the baby.
Madalena feels confident that the baby's daddy, Leandro, will do the right thing when he hears the news. He's bound to propose. He loves her. Yeah, yeah, he loves her.
She picks a night to tell him, and just as she's about to share the news, a terrible storm sweeps in and causes the carriage they're traveling in to careen off the road.
Awakening after the accident, Madalena finds herself in a bed at Leandro's secluded estate. She's being looked over by a Doctor Lobo, and she let's him know she's pregnant, to which he's surprised.
Leandro is also there, but he doesn't seem the same since the accident. His personality has completely changed. No longer the charming and affectionate lover she once knew, he's now glowering and always watching.
It's not just Leandro though, the house itself sets Madalena on edge. She fears it's haunted. There's phantom smells, things disappearing, a startling lack of mirrors. She begins to fear Leandro and Doctor Lobo as well. She doesn't trust them at all. She feels trapped.
She's got to figure out what's happening here and get away before it's too late. It's not just herself she needs to think about, but also her unborn child. It's a race against the clock for Madalena; one girl against the world.
This was good. I enjoyed my time with it, and while it didn't necessarily blow me away, I feel like it's a strong debut novel. I was particularly intrigued in the 1st-half. It was mysterious and I enjoyed the descriptions of Leandro's house and the things going on there.
Additionally, there was shift at one point that really surprised me, and I loved that the author chose to set the narrative up the way that she did. It made the reveals more impactful, IMO.
There were some aspects that I found odd and slightly-confusing, but for the most part it had a solid premise, good characters and lightly-creepy vibes.
I would recommend this to fans of The Hacienda, or Mexican Gothic. I think if you like those sort of Gothic Historical Horror stories, this could work for you as well.
I will say, I do feel a little weird about the cover. Speaking of The Hacienda. I feel like perhaps they hit a little to close to Isabel Cañas's cover style. As soon as I saw this, I thought, does Isabel Cañas have a book coming out that I don't know about?
I feel like it's sort of her thing now to have this beautiful, artistic covers with a lone woman in a red dress, especially outside, with some sort of weather brewing, and that's exactly what this is. I just wish they would have gone in a different direction, as it feels a little copy-catty.
With this being said, this isn't a review of the Publisher's choice of cover, it's a review of the story itself, and that's what I've based my rating on.
Thank you to the publisher, Dutton, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would definitely pick up more from Isabela Livino in the future.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Gothic, gripping, atmospheric, mesmerizing, dark, and mysterious. An Immaculate Deception kept me on my toes and had my mouth hanging open with a shocking reveal! This book had so many questions going through my mind and coming up with so many theories as to what was happening. I loved not knowing all of the facts so that when the author dropped that jaw dropping reveal, I was truly amazed and shocked. I love it when that happens.
1877, Pernambuco, Brazil - When deeply religious Madalena discovers that she is pregnant, she is confident that her baby's father, Leandro Neves, will marry her and she is about to tell him about the pregnancy when a carriage accident occurs. When Madalena wakes up, she finds herself in Leandro's home, but he is not the same man that she remembers; he is now quiet and reserved. She also finds a perfume scented locked room and various other things which do not make sense.
I love how the author built tension and unease throughout the book. I also found that having Madalena telling her POV in the first half of the book and Leandro providing his POV was a brilliant touch! I found myself reeling from everything that was being observed, disclosed, and witnessed. I kept thinking "Holy Crap" while reading because what I thought I knew was happening kept getting turned on a dime by the author. What a nice touch! This made for a wonderful and engaging reading experience. I can't wait to read what Isabela Livino writes next!
Wonderfully written, well thought out, gothic, atmospheric, and riveting!!
*A Witches Words buddy read with Mary Beth. Please read her review as well to get her thoughts on An Immaculate Deception!
Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
1877, Pernambuco, Brazil - When deeply religious Madalena discovers that she is pregnant, she is confident that her baby's father, Leandro Neves, will marry her and she is about to tell him about the pregnancy when a carriage accident occurs. When Madalena wakes up, she finds herself in Leandro's home, but he is not the same man that she remembers; he is now quiet and reserved. She also finds a perfume scented locked room and various other things which do not make sense.
I love how the author built tension and unease throughout the book. I also found that having Madalena telling her POV in the first half of the book and Leandro providing his POV was a brilliant touch! I found myself reeling from everything that was being observed, disclosed, and witnessed. I kept thinking "Holy Crap" while reading because what I thought I knew was happening kept getting turned on a dime by the author. What a nice touch! This made for a wonderful and engaging reading experience. I can't wait to read what Isabela Livino writes next!
Wonderfully written, well thought out, gothic, atmospheric, and riveting!!
*A Witches Words buddy read with Mary Beth. Please read her review as well to get her thoughts on An Immaculate Deception!
Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's 1877, Brazil, and Madalena is being raised by her very strict and religious mother so when she finds out she's pregnant at only 19 years old she is terrified to let her mother know.
Her mother is furious of course. She is either to wed Leandro or to give up the baby.
Madalena is certain that when Leandro finds out she's pregnant he'll be quick to propose to her.
On the night of the fair where she plans to let Leandro know they're to be parents, their horse drawn carriage careens off the road and crashes into the woods.
When Madalena comes to she is in an unfamiliar place being tended to by Dr. Lobo. She's understandably confused but also relieved when she finds out she's at Leandro's home, that Leandro is doing fine, and that Dr. Lobo is the family doctor.
Until she see's Leandro. He is nothing like what she remembers. He's quiet, nervous, with terror in his eyes. He'll barely even acknowledge her.
What's going on? You'll have to read this to find out!
Holy heck, what a debut! If you like gothic vibes then add this one to your list ASAP.
The first half of the book is Madalena's perspective while the second half switches to Leandro. Both will have you wondering who, if anyone, is an unreliable narrator.
What Livino does here is nothing short of stunning. To say I NEVER saw this coming would be an understatement. I was completely bamboozled. I was also completely satisfied with the turn of events. A lot of times a twist can be so out of left field I'm left scratching my head but this was a jaw dropper that had me flipping the pages as fast as I could.
If you like a moody, atmospheric book that will have you questioning everything then look no further. This is a debut that shouldn't be missed! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for my complimentary copy.
Her mother is furious of course. She is either to wed Leandro or to give up the baby.
Madalena is certain that when Leandro finds out she's pregnant he'll be quick to propose to her.
On the night of the fair where she plans to let Leandro know they're to be parents, their horse drawn carriage careens off the road and crashes into the woods.
When Madalena comes to she is in an unfamiliar place being tended to by Dr. Lobo. She's understandably confused but also relieved when she finds out she's at Leandro's home, that Leandro is doing fine, and that Dr. Lobo is the family doctor.
Until she see's Leandro. He is nothing like what she remembers. He's quiet, nervous, with terror in his eyes. He'll barely even acknowledge her.
What's going on? You'll have to read this to find out!
Holy heck, what a debut! If you like gothic vibes then add this one to your list ASAP.
The first half of the book is Madalena's perspective while the second half switches to Leandro. Both will have you wondering who, if anyone, is an unreliable narrator.
What Livino does here is nothing short of stunning. To say I NEVER saw this coming would be an understatement. I was completely bamboozled. I was also completely satisfied with the turn of events. A lot of times a twist can be so out of left field I'm left scratching my head but this was a jaw dropper that had me flipping the pages as fast as I could.
If you like a moody, atmospheric book that will have you questioning everything then look no further. This is a debut that shouldn't be missed! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for my complimentary copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An Immaculate Deception by Isabella Livino from @duttonbooks
September 1st, 2026
294 pages
.
-Exciting debut author
-Gothic historical horror
-1870s Brazil
-Romance & domestic drama
-Social isolation & strict religious upbringing
-Mysterious physician
-Secrets & lies
-Dual his/hers POV
🍰 🪞 👻 🩸
.
“What you want is not love, but destruction.”
I enjoyed the author’s choice to use traditional Gothic horror storytelling for Madalena’s harrowing experience waking up in her lover’s mysterious estate.
I felt immersed in the atmosphere of historical Brazil while Madalena navigates her new strange surroundings and meets the mysterious Doctor Lobo. The first 100 pages are a bit of a slow burn but one visit to a secret part of the estate changes everything! My eyes were like 👀‼️
The POV switch to Leandro was slightly disappointing but the narrative grew on me. I had no idea where this could possibly go and the pages FLEW for those last 40-50 pages 📖
Definitely a solid debut. I will show up for anything by this author again.
Joining Isabel Cañas, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Daphne du Maurier on my Gothic era shelves.
.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-Damn Near Perfect, add this to your TBR or library immediately
September 1st, 2026
294 pages
.
-Exciting debut author
-Gothic historical horror
-1870s Brazil
-Romance & domestic drama
-Social isolation & strict religious upbringing
-Mysterious physician
-Secrets & lies
-Dual his/hers POV
🍰 🪞 👻 🩸
.
“What you want is not love, but destruction.”
I enjoyed the author’s choice to use traditional Gothic horror storytelling for Madalena’s harrowing experience waking up in her lover’s mysterious estate.
I felt immersed in the atmosphere of historical Brazil while Madalena navigates her new strange surroundings and meets the mysterious Doctor Lobo. The first 100 pages are a bit of a slow burn but one visit to a secret part of the estate changes everything! My eyes were like 👀‼️
The POV switch to Leandro was slightly disappointing but the narrative grew on me. I had no idea where this could possibly go and the pages FLEW for those last 40-50 pages 📖
Definitely a solid debut. I will show up for anything by this author again.
Joining Isabel Cañas, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Daphne du Maurier on my Gothic era shelves.
.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-Damn Near Perfect, add this to your TBR or library immediately
September 11, 2026
A masterpiece of gothic atmosphere and slow-burning psychological dread, An Immaculate Deception was just what the title claimed: a perfect mind-f*** of twists and turns. Delivering a suffocating sense of unease that only got stronger with every page and a small cast of characters who were all deeply flawed and morally gray, it was a fever dream of a read that kept me pinned to my seat. You see, between the ominous mansion, the darkly atmospheric mood, and the oodles of secrets around every labyrinthine turn, the setting felt more like a character than just a simple locale. Don’t get me wrong, though, it was the twist halfway through that took this book from just a good one to a mind-boggling knockout of a debut. Deliciously twisted, mind-bending, and well-executed, it was a “WTF?!” worthy jaw-dropper that took everything I thought I knew, balled it up, and threw it away as I questioned what was real and what wasn’t.
So what else did I love about this one-sitting read? Well, the characters had me tied up into knots the entire time. From Magdalena, who was the picture of contradiction as her deeply religious beliefs conflicted with her morally gray behavior, to Leandro, who was a troubled soul unraveling more and more with each page, they formed a nuanced cast of complex yet untrustworthy characters. The star of the show, though, was Doctor Lobo. Enigmatic, suspicious, and larger-than-life, his whole persona made me feel certain there was something oh so very sinister going on. So if you think you’d love a genre-bending book that brings together gothic horror, domestic suspense, historical vibes, and paranormal thrills into one Mexican Gothic-esque novel, this is a definite must-read. With thought-provoking themes, unreliable perspectives, and a plot that will have your mind spinning by the end, I’m begging you to read this…just please go in 100% blind. Rating of 4.75 stars (upgraded).
Read if the following sounds intriguing:
- A character-like mansion
- Dark family secrets
- Two unreliable narrators
- Slow-burning dread
- A growing sense of paranoia
- Mounting tension
- “WTF?!” mind-bending twists
- Morally gray characters
- Mexican Gothic-meets-Rebecca vibes
- Thought-provoking themes
- Short chapters
- A deliciously dark feel
- Genre-bending plotting that combined gothic horror, domestic suspense, historical fiction, and soap-opera-esque drama into one unputdownable novel
BRIEF BLURB:
PLEASE OH PLEASE go into this one at least mostly blind! Even the publisher-provided synopsis might tip you off to the mind-blowing twists. All you need to know is…
1877, Pernambuco, Brazil: Pregnant and unmarried, a young woman named Magdalena ends up stranded at the remote estate of her lover, Leandro Neves, after they’re involved in a carriage accident. From the moment she encounters Leandro in the sprawling mansion, however, she finds him changed. Instead of the charming and affectionate man she fell for, he’s silent, obsessed, and unraveling. While trying to understand the changes in him, Magdalena finds herself under the care of the enigmatic Doctor Lobo. Cut off from her family and unnerved out by the happenings in Leandro’s home, Magdalena must uncover the truth before it’s too late.
Thank you Isabela Livino and Dutton Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 1, 2026
Content warning: pregnancy, toxic relationship, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, gaslighting, sexual content, death, grief, infidelity, mental illness, blood, forced confinement, misogyny, classism, death of a parent, murder, chronic illness
So what else did I love about this one-sitting read? Well, the characters had me tied up into knots the entire time. From Magdalena, who was the picture of contradiction as her deeply religious beliefs conflicted with her morally gray behavior, to Leandro, who was a troubled soul unraveling more and more with each page, they formed a nuanced cast of complex yet untrustworthy characters. The star of the show, though, was Doctor Lobo. Enigmatic, suspicious, and larger-than-life, his whole persona made me feel certain there was something oh so very sinister going on. So if you think you’d love a genre-bending book that brings together gothic horror, domestic suspense, historical vibes, and paranormal thrills into one Mexican Gothic-esque novel, this is a definite must-read. With thought-provoking themes, unreliable perspectives, and a plot that will have your mind spinning by the end, I’m begging you to read this…just please go in 100% blind. Rating of 4.75 stars (upgraded).
Read if the following sounds intriguing:
- A character-like mansion
- Dark family secrets
- Two unreliable narrators
- Slow-burning dread
- A growing sense of paranoia
- Mounting tension
- “WTF?!” mind-bending twists
- Morally gray characters
- Mexican Gothic-meets-Rebecca vibes
- Thought-provoking themes
- Short chapters
- A deliciously dark feel
- Genre-bending plotting that combined gothic horror, domestic suspense, historical fiction, and soap-opera-esque drama into one unputdownable novel
BRIEF BLURB:
PLEASE OH PLEASE go into this one at least mostly blind! Even the publisher-provided synopsis might tip you off to the mind-blowing twists. All you need to know is…
1877, Pernambuco, Brazil: Pregnant and unmarried, a young woman named Magdalena ends up stranded at the remote estate of her lover, Leandro Neves, after they’re involved in a carriage accident. From the moment she encounters Leandro in the sprawling mansion, however, she finds him changed. Instead of the charming and affectionate man she fell for, he’s silent, obsessed, and unraveling. While trying to understand the changes in him, Magdalena finds herself under the care of the enigmatic Doctor Lobo. Cut off from her family and unnerved out by the happenings in Leandro’s home, Magdalena must uncover the truth before it’s too late.
Thank you Isabela Livino and Dutton Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 1, 2026
Content warning: pregnancy, toxic relationship, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, gaslighting, sexual content, death, grief, infidelity, mental illness, blood, forced confinement, misogyny, classism, death of a parent, murder, chronic illness
Currently Reading
October 4, 20261877, Brazil. Deeply religious family, a young woman falls pregnant outside of marriage. Her family demands that she either marries the father or gives up the baby. But before she can make the choice, she's in a carriage accident and wakes up in a decaying, isolated estate. The house is awfully strange and disturbing: isolated rooms, vanishing mirrors, things are disappearing... and there is a doctor with unclear intentions.
This is a story of examination of faith, religious oppression and living outside of someone else's ideas of 'purity'. The title alone suggests something that is divine or virtuous (‘immaculate’) is much darker on the inside (‘deception’).
*I'm just trying to get through some of my prior ARCs I never had a chance to read*
Many thanks to NetGalley, Dutton and the author, Isabela Livino for an ARC.
Publication date: September 1, 2026
This is a story of examination of faith, religious oppression and living outside of someone else's ideas of 'purity'. The title alone suggests something that is divine or virtuous (‘immaculate’) is much darker on the inside (‘deception’).
*I'm just trying to get through some of my prior ARCs I never had a chance to read*
Many thanks to NetGalley, Dutton and the author, Isabela Livino for an ARC.
Publication date: September 1, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was totally surprised by this one! I had a feeling I would like it before going in, but I didn’t know how completely blown away I would be by it!
An Immaculate Deception reads like a modern day Daphne Du Maurier esque puzzle. It’s part horror, mystery, psychological, all with a gothic atmospheric setting (crumbling old mansion, anyone?). Told with a heavy sense of foreboding and dread, this claustrophobic story had its grip on me from page one until the very end. The story also contains religious themes which add another element to the creepiness factor.
I've seen An Immaculate Conception being compared to so many other works and I have to disagree with all of them. An Immaculate Deception is a completely original and unique work so I see it being one of those books that other books will be compared to in the future.
An Immaculate Deception by Isabela Livino will be available on September 1. Many thanks to Dutton for the gifted copy!
An Immaculate Deception reads like a modern day Daphne Du Maurier esque puzzle. It’s part horror, mystery, psychological, all with a gothic atmospheric setting (crumbling old mansion, anyone?). Told with a heavy sense of foreboding and dread, this claustrophobic story had its grip on me from page one until the very end. The story also contains religious themes which add another element to the creepiness factor.
I've seen An Immaculate Conception being compared to so many other works and I have to disagree with all of them. An Immaculate Deception is a completely original and unique work so I see it being one of those books that other books will be compared to in the future.
An Immaculate Deception by Isabela Livino will be available on September 1. Many thanks to Dutton for the gifted copy!
September 3, 2026
“Sometimes, if I am distressed, I hear the sounds of Hell in my head…”
What an absolutely phenomenal debut!!! This might be one of my top favorite reads of the year!
What an absolutely phenomenal debut!!! This might be one of my top favorite reads of the year!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨✨✨A prime example of why I love gothic horror!! ✨✨✨
This is the authors debut? I’m blown away!
👏MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR 9/1/26 and LOCK IN, it’s a wild ride and go in as blind as you can!!!👏
An Immaculate Deception grabbed my attention immediately and kept it the whole way through! This story just kept getting better and better. I really don’t want to give anything away at all. You must read it for yourself!! If the plot summary sounds intriguing, read it. You’ll LOVE it!!! 😍 A new favorite book for me!!!
Whatever this author writes next, I’ll absolutely be reading it!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released September 1, 2026 .
This is the authors debut? I’m blown away!
👏MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR 9/1/26 and LOCK IN, it’s a wild ride and go in as blind as you can!!!👏
An Immaculate Deception grabbed my attention immediately and kept it the whole way through! This story just kept getting better and better. I really don’t want to give anything away at all. You must read it for yourself!! If the plot summary sounds intriguing, read it. You’ll LOVE it!!! 😍 A new favorite book for me!!!
Whatever this author writes next, I’ll absolutely be reading it!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released September 1, 2026 .
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September 11, 2026Oh my god this was so good wow
September 1, 2026
An Immaculate Deception
Isabela Livino
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
ARC - release date 9/1
🖤 Gothic Horror
🖤 Dual POV
🖤 Debut Novel
Okay… this debut deserves the hype. 👏🏼
Set in 1877 Brazil, An Immaculate Deception follows Madalena, a young woman whose pregnancy outside of marriage sends her to the isolated estate of the man she loves. But once she arrives, things are… not what they seem.
Secrets, strange occurrences, a deeply unsettling atmosphere, and a family with far more going on than meets the eye had me questioning EVERYTHING.
I really liked this book!
The same story told through two different POVs was chef’s kiss 🤌🏼
I loved seeing the story unfold from both perspectives, especially when certain things started clicking into place.
I genuinely had NO idea where this story was going while I was reading.
And that plot twist?! 👀
I’m saying absolutely nothing about it because this is exactly why I love going into my books blind!
I want everyone else to experience that same moment of WAIT… WHAT?! 👏🏻
I am seriously impressed that this is a debut novel. The gothic atmosphere, the storytelling, the dual perspectives, and the way the story kept me guessing made this such a fun read.
If you love Gothic Horror & going into a book knowing as little as possible, you’re going to want this one on your TBR.
I’ll definitely be recommending it to everyone who loves the genre!
Thank you to Isabela Livino, Dutton, and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader. 🖤
#bookreview
Did Not Finish
September 1, 2026DNF 61% (skimmed the rest)
This novel is marketed as a gothic horror, but unfortunately, it left a lot to be desired on both fronts for me.
The writing is simple—overly so—and completely devoid of the literary rigor or poetic flair expected in a gothic story; very little was done to establish a strong sense of setting or atmosphere. This was disappointing because atmosphere is such an important part of what makes gothic fiction effective. The atmosphere seems to be a point of praise in other reviews, but I personally felt none of that immersive quality in this novel.
The overall tone is very youthful, and it lacked a certain level of complexity and subtext. It’s possible the age of the FMC contributed to this, as I found her characterization to be quite melodramatic, whiny, and petulant. That may work for some readers, but it made it difficult for me to take the FMC or the story as seriously as I maybe should have.
There are horror elements, specifically in the second half, but they were fairly light because of the execution. I never felt any strong tension or dread being built throughout the story, which made the eventual twist feel anticlimactic. For me, a reveal (which is different from a twist, but I digress) is most effective when they are a result of a culmination of an intricate setup—something that had been building beneath the surface and became more disturbing in hindsight. But the execution of this story was closer to that of a popcorn thriller.
This story just felt corny to me to be honest. There wasn’t enough atmosphere, tension, dread, or intricate buildup to make the twist land with the impact it seemed intended to have, and incorporating a “twisty twist” for the sake of it isn’t enough for me.
This novel is marketed as a gothic horror, but unfortunately, it left a lot to be desired on both fronts for me.
The writing is simple—overly so—and completely devoid of the literary rigor or poetic flair expected in a gothic story; very little was done to establish a strong sense of setting or atmosphere. This was disappointing because atmosphere is such an important part of what makes gothic fiction effective. The atmosphere seems to be a point of praise in other reviews, but I personally felt none of that immersive quality in this novel.
The overall tone is very youthful, and it lacked a certain level of complexity and subtext. It’s possible the age of the FMC contributed to this, as I found her characterization to be quite melodramatic, whiny, and petulant. That may work for some readers, but it made it difficult for me to take the FMC or the story as seriously as I maybe should have.
There are horror elements, specifically in the second half, but they were fairly light because of the execution. I never felt any strong tension or dread being built throughout the story, which made the eventual twist feel anticlimactic. For me, a reveal (which is different from a twist, but I digress) is most effective when they are a result of a culmination of an intricate setup—something that had been building beneath the surface and became more disturbing in hindsight. But the execution of this story was closer to that of a popcorn thriller.
This story just felt corny to me to be honest. There wasn’t enough atmosphere, tension, dread, or intricate buildup to make the twist land with the impact it seemed intended to have, and incorporating a “twisty twist” for the sake of it isn’t enough for me.
September 11, 2026
Well that reveal took me completely by surprise. I’m so happy this one was as good as I was hoping it to be. 😌
April 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for providing me with the eARC in exchange for this honest review!
Dawg…. This was a wild ass ride omg. To start by saying that Horror and Gothic Horror are one of my favorite genres to read, so the premise of this intrigued me and BOY did it deliver. The prose and writing style drew me in and kept me LOCKED IN, like I legitimately couldn’t put it down I wanted to do know what was happening and only took a break to eat. I literally don’t want to give anything away about this, it’s best to not read any spoilers because wow, I literally screamed what aloud at the plot twist. 😭 like I would LOVE to do a more in-depth review, but literally I don’t want to give anything away, so please do give this a chance and read it!!
This was an amazing novel, I had such a fun time reading this!!!
Dawg…. This was a wild ass ride omg. To start by saying that Horror and Gothic Horror are one of my favorite genres to read, so the premise of this intrigued me and BOY did it deliver. The prose and writing style drew me in and kept me LOCKED IN, like I legitimately couldn’t put it down I wanted to do know what was happening and only took a break to eat. I literally don’t want to give anything away about this, it’s best to not read any spoilers because wow, I literally screamed what aloud at the plot twist. 😭 like I would LOVE to do a more in-depth review, but literally I don’t want to give anything away, so please do give this a chance and read it!!
This was an amazing novel, I had such a fun time reading this!!!
May 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a review of this book.
From the beginning, a had a lot of mixed emotions. What drew me in was this idea that it was a blend of The Hacienda and Rosemary's Baby, and in some ways, I think it succeeded in doing that. The plot hooked me in, kept me motivated in understanding the mystery. I was intrigued in understanding why the characters were acting the way they were - I felt intense emotions about how Magdalena was a woman trapped and these men were keeping secrets from her, oppressing her, which I think goes to show how well the writing can be.
However, on the other side, there were times were I was pulled out of the story. Sometimes the writing failed for me. It felt novice when it tried to show Magdalena's desperation, and it repeated itself too much in part two. I felt like I reread the same novel again, and even though I was rereading it in new context, it was still annoying because I was rereading the passages I had just read.
Credit where credit it due, the twist of the novel is spectacular, so if you love a good plot twist, you will love this novel. And if reading from an unreliable narrator is your favorite perspective, this is also for you.
So overall, I did find the plot intriguing and the strongest part of the story. If you care about writing presentation, however, this novel might lack for you.
From the beginning, a had a lot of mixed emotions. What drew me in was this idea that it was a blend of The Hacienda and Rosemary's Baby, and in some ways, I think it succeeded in doing that. The plot hooked me in, kept me motivated in understanding the mystery. I was intrigued in understanding why the characters were acting the way they were - I felt intense emotions about how Magdalena was a woman trapped and these men were keeping secrets from her, oppressing her, which I think goes to show how well the writing can be.
However, on the other side, there were times were I was pulled out of the story. Sometimes the writing failed for me. It felt novice when it tried to show Magdalena's desperation, and it repeated itself too much in part two. I felt like I reread the same novel again, and even though I was rereading it in new context, it was still annoying because I was rereading the passages I had just read.
Credit where credit it due, the twist of the novel is spectacular, so if you love a good plot twist, you will love this novel. And if reading from an unreliable narrator is your favorite perspective, this is also for you.
So overall, I did find the plot intriguing and the strongest part of the story. If you care about writing presentation, however, this novel might lack for you.
September 11, 2026
Holy shit. Now THAT is how historical gothic horror is done 🤯 This book was so atmospheric and I’m so happy that I chose to go into it blind. The writing style flowed so effortlessly and beautifully that I ended up actually buying the audiobook so I could hear these words while I read them. The narrates were phenomenal and I can’t believe this is Isabela’s debut 😍 I also wasn’t expecting such a wild twist in this one and I just know I pissed my husband off with all my yelping and hollerin 🤣 I seriously think this is one of my new favorite gothic horror novels to date. That being said, I cannot WAIT to see what Queen Livino has in store for us next 😍 I’m telling you all now, if you have had doubts about whether or not to get this one, take this as your sign for your ass to finally do it… or else 😡👊🏼
Last and certainly not least, thank you SO MUCH to the incredible Dutton Books for seeing who knows what in me, and sending a gifted copy 🥹 I’m so grateful 😚
Last and certainly not least, thank you SO MUCH to the incredible Dutton Books for seeing who knows what in me, and sending a gifted copy 🥹 I’m so grateful 😚
September 20, 2026
I loved this book so freaking much! It was just so so so good. This is probably one of my top reads of the year at this point, which considering it’s mid September – that’s high praise. I cannot believe that this is a debut. It is written with the care and grace of a seasoned novelist. This book is addictive and I did not want to put it down for anything. The supernatural vibes were quite interesting and added a fun layer to the book. The setting, an old decaying mansion, was just perfect. This is definitely one of those books that I highly encourage you to go into blind because you should experience it for yourself.
I really need people to know that when I say I love gothic reads – that this book is what I mean. Please do yourself a favor and read this book.
Thank you @penguinusa @duttonbooks and the author @isabelalivino for the gifted book. All thoughts are my own.
I really need people to know that when I say I love gothic reads – that this book is what I mean. Please do yourself a favor and read this book.
Thank you @penguinusa @duttonbooks and the author @isabelalivino for the gifted book. All thoughts are my own.
September 30, 2026
This was my most anticipated read of the year and it did NOT disappoint! Super trippy but so so fucking good
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
You know that feeling when every single person in a room is acting weird, but they're all so committed to pretending everything is normal that you start wondering if you're the problem? That's basically the first half of An Immaculate Deception.
Madalena wakes up after a carriage accident pregnant, injured, trapped in her boyfriend's creepy family estate, and surrounded by people giving answers that technically qualify as answers but somehow make less sense every time they open their mouths. Leandro, who was previously a charming poet, is suddenly acting like he got replaced by a Victorian body snatcher. The family doctor has the energy of a man who knows exactly what's going on and absolutely refuses to explain any of it. Every room in the house feels haunted by either ghosts or bad decisions.
And I spent a shocking amount of this book yelling, "WHAT IS HAPPENING?" at absolutely nobody. The thing that got me wasn't even the horror at first. It was the growing realization that Madalena has spent her whole life being told to distrust herself. Every instinct, every fear, every question gets filtered through religion, guilt, shame, or some authority figure telling her she doesn't understand her own reality. So when strange things start happening, she can't trust what she sees and neither can we. Which, it turns out, is an incredibly effective way to make me lose my mind as a reader.
The atmosphere is doing serious work here. This house is a disaster. Not in a fun haunted-house-tour kind of way. In a "something terrible happened here, everyone knows it, and nobody wants to discuss it" kind of way. Mirrors disappear. Rooms stay locked. Strange perfume drifts through hallways. Books seem determined to withhold information. Every time Madalena thinks she's getting close to understanding something, the house basically responds, "That's adorable."
And then there's Leandro. I need to talk about Leandro. Because one of the most unsettling things in this book is watching Madalena try to reconcile the man she loved with the man standing in front of her. The grief of realizing someone isn't who you thought they were hits almost as hard as the horror. Maybe harder in some places. The supernatural stuff is scary, sure, but disappointment has a way of sneaking up behind you with a chair.
What I loved is that every time I thought I'd figured out the book, it immediately made me look foolish. Haunted house? Maybe. Religious horror? Possibly. Family curse? Could be. I spent most of the novel confidently constructing theories and then watching them collapse five chapters later. By the midpoint I stopped trying to outsmart the story and just let it drag me into the madness.
Which was the correct choice. Because there is a moment where everything shifts. No spoilers, obviously, but there was a point where I physically put the book down and stared into the middle distance like I'd just received unexpected news from a lawyer. Suddenly conversations meant different things. Character motivations meant different things. Tiny details I'd barely registered started clicking into place. It's one of those twists that doesn't just reveal information. It changes the shape of the story around it.
I do think there were places where the pacing lagged a little. The mystery box stays closed for a long time, and occasionally I wanted the story to trust me with one more clue. But honestly, for a debut, the confidence on display here is impressive. Isabela Livino clearly knows exactly what kind of story she's telling, and she's in no hurry to explain herself.
Underneath all the gothic dread, what really stayed with me was the anger. Not loud anger. The slow, simmering kind. The kind that builds when women are expected to obey, endure, forgive, stay quiet, trust authority, and ignore their own instincts. Madalena's horror isn't just the things happening around her. It's the realization that the people who should have protected her were often the ones demanding her silence in the first place.
That lands. By the end, I was sitting at a very happy four stars. An Immaculate Deception is creepy, clever, atmospheric, occasionally infuriating, and full of the kind of dread that makes you suspicious of every smile and every explanation. More importantly, it's the kind of debut that makes you immediately wonder what the author is going to do next. And whatever Isabela Livino writes next, I'll be there.
Huge thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC. I came for the gothic horror, stayed for the increasingly alarming family secrets, and left with a deep distrust of isolated mansions, charismatic men, and anybody who says, "Don't worry about that room."
Madalena wakes up after a carriage accident pregnant, injured, trapped in her boyfriend's creepy family estate, and surrounded by people giving answers that technically qualify as answers but somehow make less sense every time they open their mouths. Leandro, who was previously a charming poet, is suddenly acting like he got replaced by a Victorian body snatcher. The family doctor has the energy of a man who knows exactly what's going on and absolutely refuses to explain any of it. Every room in the house feels haunted by either ghosts or bad decisions.
And I spent a shocking amount of this book yelling, "WHAT IS HAPPENING?" at absolutely nobody. The thing that got me wasn't even the horror at first. It was the growing realization that Madalena has spent her whole life being told to distrust herself. Every instinct, every fear, every question gets filtered through religion, guilt, shame, or some authority figure telling her she doesn't understand her own reality. So when strange things start happening, she can't trust what she sees and neither can we. Which, it turns out, is an incredibly effective way to make me lose my mind as a reader.
The atmosphere is doing serious work here. This house is a disaster. Not in a fun haunted-house-tour kind of way. In a "something terrible happened here, everyone knows it, and nobody wants to discuss it" kind of way. Mirrors disappear. Rooms stay locked. Strange perfume drifts through hallways. Books seem determined to withhold information. Every time Madalena thinks she's getting close to understanding something, the house basically responds, "That's adorable."
And then there's Leandro. I need to talk about Leandro. Because one of the most unsettling things in this book is watching Madalena try to reconcile the man she loved with the man standing in front of her. The grief of realizing someone isn't who you thought they were hits almost as hard as the horror. Maybe harder in some places. The supernatural stuff is scary, sure, but disappointment has a way of sneaking up behind you with a chair.
What I loved is that every time I thought I'd figured out the book, it immediately made me look foolish. Haunted house? Maybe. Religious horror? Possibly. Family curse? Could be. I spent most of the novel confidently constructing theories and then watching them collapse five chapters later. By the midpoint I stopped trying to outsmart the story and just let it drag me into the madness.
Which was the correct choice. Because there is a moment where everything shifts. No spoilers, obviously, but there was a point where I physically put the book down and stared into the middle distance like I'd just received unexpected news from a lawyer. Suddenly conversations meant different things. Character motivations meant different things. Tiny details I'd barely registered started clicking into place. It's one of those twists that doesn't just reveal information. It changes the shape of the story around it.
I do think there were places where the pacing lagged a little. The mystery box stays closed for a long time, and occasionally I wanted the story to trust me with one more clue. But honestly, for a debut, the confidence on display here is impressive. Isabela Livino clearly knows exactly what kind of story she's telling, and she's in no hurry to explain herself.
Underneath all the gothic dread, what really stayed with me was the anger. Not loud anger. The slow, simmering kind. The kind that builds when women are expected to obey, endure, forgive, stay quiet, trust authority, and ignore their own instincts. Madalena's horror isn't just the things happening around her. It's the realization that the people who should have protected her were often the ones demanding her silence in the first place.
That lands. By the end, I was sitting at a very happy four stars. An Immaculate Deception is creepy, clever, atmospheric, occasionally infuriating, and full of the kind of dread that makes you suspicious of every smile and every explanation. More importantly, it's the kind of debut that makes you immediately wonder what the author is going to do next. And whatever Isabela Livino writes next, I'll be there.
Huge thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC. I came for the gothic horror, stayed for the increasingly alarming family secrets, and left with a deep distrust of isolated mansions, charismatic men, and anybody who says, "Don't worry about that room."
September 19, 2026
This was okay, the writing was very simplistic like a YA novel. I wouldn’t call this gothic really because it’s not atmospheric, it’s definitely not horror. The first perspective was so childlike but it made sense in the end. The bit about the inferno was I guess to add some depth, it was pointless. I really enjoyed the setting and wish the writing had been stronger.
September 1, 2026
My head is REELING.
An Immaculate Deception is so thoughtfully plotted, the vibes are gothic and eerie, the pacing is PHENOMENAL, and that twist?? My neck! 😂 I loved everything about this reading experience. Savor every second, it’s such a special book!
It’s especially great for fans of The Only One Left by Riley Sager (for the atmosphere and pacing), with a dash of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s gothic horror.
100% will be one of my top books of 2026, if not of all time.
READ IT.
An Immaculate Deception is so thoughtfully plotted, the vibes are gothic and eerie, the pacing is PHENOMENAL, and that twist?? My neck! 😂 I loved everything about this reading experience. Savor every second, it’s such a special book!
It’s especially great for fans of The Only One Left by Riley Sager (for the atmosphere and pacing), with a dash of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s gothic horror.
100% will be one of my top books of 2026, if not of all time.
READ IT.
April 15, 2026
⭐⭐ 2 Stars (ARC via NetGalley)
Immaculate Deception didn’t quite deliver on what it promised.
Marketed as a horror novel, I was expecting something unsettling or atmospheric, but the story never really reached that level. There were elements that hinted at horror, but nothing that truly built tension or created a sense of fear.
The book is structured in two POVs—Madalena in the first half and Leandro in the second. While the second half does work to explain the first, the initial portion felt scattered and difficult to follow, which made it hard to stay engaged early on. By the time the narrative began to come together, I was already feeling disconnected.
It’s clear the author did extensive research, particularly with the influences of Dante’s Inferno and the historical setting, which added an interesting layer. However, the story lacked depth in character development and struggled with pacing, which ultimately impacted my investment in both the plot and the characters.
There is a twist around the midpoint, but it didn’t land as strongly as it could have, mainly because I wasn’t fully immersed by that point.
Overall, this one had an intriguing concept and strong research behind it, but the execution didn’t come together for me, especially as a horror read.
Tropes & Themes:
• Dual POV structure
• Religious / inferno-inspired themes
• Historical setting
• Psychological elements
• Midpoint twist
• Morality & sin
• Descent / transformation
Immaculate Deception didn’t quite deliver on what it promised.
Marketed as a horror novel, I was expecting something unsettling or atmospheric, but the story never really reached that level. There were elements that hinted at horror, but nothing that truly built tension or created a sense of fear.
The book is structured in two POVs—Madalena in the first half and Leandro in the second. While the second half does work to explain the first, the initial portion felt scattered and difficult to follow, which made it hard to stay engaged early on. By the time the narrative began to come together, I was already feeling disconnected.
It’s clear the author did extensive research, particularly with the influences of Dante’s Inferno and the historical setting, which added an interesting layer. However, the story lacked depth in character development and struggled with pacing, which ultimately impacted my investment in both the plot and the characters.
There is a twist around the midpoint, but it didn’t land as strongly as it could have, mainly because I wasn’t fully immersed by that point.
Overall, this one had an intriguing concept and strong research behind it, but the execution didn’t come together for me, especially as a horror read.
Tropes & Themes:
• Dual POV structure
• Religious / inferno-inspired themes
• Historical setting
• Psychological elements
• Midpoint twist
• Morality & sin
• Descent / transformation
April 13, 2026
Captivating from start to finish with a twist that knocks you on your feet. I enjoyed this so much! I couldn’t stop reading and wondering what might happen next. This is a story that keeps you guessing until the end with characters who take readers on a wild ride.
September 6, 2026
Thank you Dutton for my free ARC of An Immaculate Deception by Isabela Livino — out now!
» READ IF YOU «
🕯️ love Gothic horror steeped in religious guilt and dread
⚡ want a twisty plot that'll catch you off guard
👁️ don't mind a POV shift that might change things
» SYNOPSIS «
Raised in a religious household in 1870s Brazil, Madalena finds herself suddenly pregnant and unmarried (how'd that get in there?). Her strict mother tells her she must marry, or else will have to give up the baby. Madalena isn't worried that Leandro, the baby's father, will propose once she tells him, but a storm interrupts her confession. Recovering in Leandro's isolated home, he's no longer the man she once knew, and Madalena fears she's made a grave miscalculation...
» REVIEW «
The gothic atmosphere here is thick and immersive from the jump, which I love. A run-down and isolated home, religious guilt and familial obligation, dread that builds bit by bit instead of rushing at you. Livino clearly knows her gothic genre, and it shows in how confidently she builds her story in a fresh setting.
The plot's twistiness was the real draw for me, though. If you enjoy a mid-book POV shift, you will vibe with this story, because that's where everything you thought you knew starts getting questioned. I won't spoil how or why, obviously, but it's a well-executed pivot that really brings the story together. A confident, atmospheric debut with a hell of an ending—you'll enjoy this if you want something fast-paced and devourable.
» RATING «
⛪ I'm Deceived ⛪
» READ-A-LIKES «
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
• Crimson Peak (movie)
• Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
» READ IF YOU «
🕯️ love Gothic horror steeped in religious guilt and dread
⚡ want a twisty plot that'll catch you off guard
👁️ don't mind a POV shift that might change things
» SYNOPSIS «
Raised in a religious household in 1870s Brazil, Madalena finds herself suddenly pregnant and unmarried (how'd that get in there?). Her strict mother tells her she must marry, or else will have to give up the baby. Madalena isn't worried that Leandro, the baby's father, will propose once she tells him, but a storm interrupts her confession. Recovering in Leandro's isolated home, he's no longer the man she once knew, and Madalena fears she's made a grave miscalculation...
» REVIEW «
The gothic atmosphere here is thick and immersive from the jump, which I love. A run-down and isolated home, religious guilt and familial obligation, dread that builds bit by bit instead of rushing at you. Livino clearly knows her gothic genre, and it shows in how confidently she builds her story in a fresh setting.
The plot's twistiness was the real draw for me, though. If you enjoy a mid-book POV shift, you will vibe with this story, because that's where everything you thought you knew starts getting questioned. I won't spoil how or why, obviously, but it's a well-executed pivot that really brings the story together. A confident, atmospheric debut with a hell of an ending—you'll enjoy this if you want something fast-paced and devourable.
» RATING «
⛪ I'm Deceived ⛪
» READ-A-LIKES «
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
• Crimson Peak (movie)
• Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
August 30, 2026
💃 Immaculate Deception by Isabela Livino 💃
WHAT A DEBUT. A special thank you to @duttonbooks and @isabelalivino for the gifted copy of this amazing book.
This book will take you on a journey. We start out following Madalena, a young nineteen-year-old woman who finds she is with child. When her religious mother finds out, she must marry or give the child away. While breaking the news to Leandro, a horrible carriage accident occurs and she wakes up under the care of Leandro’s physician in Leandro’s manor. But the loving man Madalena has come to know begins acting strange. What is happening in this manor?
This book hits the nail on the head with the gothic setting and atmosphere. I was absolutely flabbergasted when I learned the shocking reveal. Things began making sense because honestly, I didn’t know what was going to happen.
This book releases September 1st! Be sure to snag it because you do not want to miss this!
WHAT A DEBUT. A special thank you to @duttonbooks and @isabelalivino for the gifted copy of this amazing book.
This book will take you on a journey. We start out following Madalena, a young nineteen-year-old woman who finds she is with child. When her religious mother finds out, she must marry or give the child away. While breaking the news to Leandro, a horrible carriage accident occurs and she wakes up under the care of Leandro’s physician in Leandro’s manor. But the loving man Madalena has come to know begins acting strange. What is happening in this manor?
This book hits the nail on the head with the gothic setting and atmosphere. I was absolutely flabbergasted when I learned the shocking reveal. Things began making sense because honestly, I didn’t know what was going to happen.
This book releases September 1st! Be sure to snag it because you do not want to miss this!
September 8, 2026
What the what?
May 14, 2026
My jaw is on the floor I had so many ideas as to what this was going to be and I have never been so wrong!
When Madalena finds herself with child she is hopeful her love Leandro will propose saving her from scandal but when their carriage crashes she finds herself locked in his home where he is distant and the new doctor strange. As she looks for answers she finds herself haunted by a figure lurking on the grounds and unsure of who to trust she finds herself in more trouble than she could have ever imagined.
What a wild ride!
This book is split into two parts and I had read Madalena’s side before bed and had all these ideas as to what this book would be as it felt very Crimson Peak and Rosemary’s Baby and then once I got to the second half all of that shattered so so quickly! The atmosphere is still the same with this strangeness and not knowing who is being truthful and what sort of elements are at play and I could not put it down!
Madalena is such a compelling character so full of hope that her life will be all she dreamed despite her mother’s warnings surrounding men and their responsibility when they father a child. When the crash happens and you see her struggle with this change in Leandro’s behavior you can’t help but feel for her as she tries to make sense of the coldness and other oddities in the home. Leandro too is haunted by his family and what he feels is sin based on his mother’s harsh teachings making him the perfect vessel to be taken advantage of and ask zero questions.
I love that there is this fun sort of is it real or is it trauma lingering in the background and just the isolation of being pregnant in a space where you are without anyone who believes you and how desperate you can become to find salvation.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
When Madalena finds herself with child she is hopeful her love Leandro will propose saving her from scandal but when their carriage crashes she finds herself locked in his home where he is distant and the new doctor strange. As she looks for answers she finds herself haunted by a figure lurking on the grounds and unsure of who to trust she finds herself in more trouble than she could have ever imagined.
What a wild ride!
This book is split into two parts and I had read Madalena’s side before bed and had all these ideas as to what this book would be as it felt very Crimson Peak and Rosemary’s Baby and then once I got to the second half all of that shattered so so quickly! The atmosphere is still the same with this strangeness and not knowing who is being truthful and what sort of elements are at play and I could not put it down!
Madalena is such a compelling character so full of hope that her life will be all she dreamed despite her mother’s warnings surrounding men and their responsibility when they father a child. When the crash happens and you see her struggle with this change in Leandro’s behavior you can’t help but feel for her as she tries to make sense of the coldness and other oddities in the home. Leandro too is haunted by his family and what he feels is sin based on his mother’s harsh teachings making him the perfect vessel to be taken advantage of and ask zero questions.
I love that there is this fun sort of is it real or is it trauma lingering in the background and just the isolation of being pregnant in a space where you are without anyone who believes you and how desperate you can become to find salvation.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
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