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cesca_natalia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
An amazing and beautifully written story about a young woman, Beatriz, whose lives about to change when she become the new pátron of Hacienda San Isidro.
I can't believe how brilliant & talented Isabel with The Hacienda. Truthfully, when I started to read this book, I expect nothing beside a knowledge that the content inside will be dark & twisted much like the cover art. But few chapters in, it taken me into a journey of suspense & horror I've never imagined (the scene where the skeleton crawled on the stairs almost make me launch my phone to the wall)
Character-wise, Beatriz had taken the whole space of my heart with her bravery, ambitious, toughness personality. Girl know how to put on a fight until her last (almost) dying breath, she knows what she wants & how to get it, her blind ambition & fixed mindset makes me think that she's a 100% Capricorn. Mixed with Andrès's compassion & gentle personality, together they create this edging yet fascinating chemistry.
Furthermore, with how detail and descriptive every scene & Isabel, as Mexican-American author put lots of Mexican reference from food, drinks, culture or words, kind of give this sense of grounded into the story & makes it more imaginable. The plot, eventhough it's easily guessed, doesn't mean it's carelessly written.
Despite all of this, in my opinion, the forbidden love story trope especially with religious figure involved, could become a dangerous topic to thread on. Though it creates a heart-breaking situation but I don't think it's fair especially for people whose in those said religion & actively practice it.
Anyway, I do recommend The Hacienda if you're looking a book that could make you jump and scream out of fear (I did it twice, each of it)
I can't believe how brilliant & talented Isabel with The Hacienda. Truthfully, when I started to read this book, I expect nothing beside a knowledge that the content inside will be dark & twisted much like the cover art. But few chapters in, it taken me into a journey of suspense & horror I've never imagined (the scene where the skeleton crawled on the stairs almost make me launch my phone to the wall)
Character-wise, Beatriz had taken the whole space of my heart with her bravery, ambitious, toughness personality. Girl know how to put on a fight until her last (almost) dying breath, she knows what she wants & how to get it, her blind ambition & fixed mindset makes me think that she's a 100% Capricorn. Mixed with Andrès's compassion & gentle personality, together they create this edging yet fascinating chemistry.
Furthermore, with how detail and descriptive every scene & Isabel, as Mexican-American author put lots of Mexican reference from food, drinks, culture or words, kind of give this sense of grounded into the story & makes it more imaginable. The plot, eventhough it's easily guessed, doesn't mean it's carelessly written.
Despite all of this, in my opinion, the forbidden love story trope especially with religious figure involved, could become a dangerous topic to thread on. Though it creates a heart-breaking situation but I don't think it's fair especially for people whose in those said religion & actively practice it.
Anyway, I do recommend The Hacienda if you're looking a book that could make you jump and scream out of fear (I did it twice, each of it)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Blood, and Murder
sad_eldritch's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Rape
amandaslittlelibrary's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I will DEVOUR whatever this author writes in the future.
This was perfect to me. It had the Crimson Peak/Haunting of Hill House vibes, but set in Mexico after the Mexican Revolution so there’s also elements of colonialism and racism being explored (and let me tell you, whoever is reading this, the colorism Beatriz had to face had me HEATED, like the audacity these bitches had to say this shit to her 🤬). And of course, because I am a romance lover to my core, there was a romance and it had me on the edge of my seat waiting for just a touch or a look between the two characters 🥹.
I just really love everything about this book, it feels like it was written specifically for me and I absolutely adore it. I love that Isabel took a ghost story and gave it so many layers and made everything so vivid so there were moments I felt I couldn’t catch my breath with the lead characters as they encountered what was haunting the hacienda. I recommend this 1000000%
This was perfect to me. It had the Crimson Peak/Haunting of Hill House vibes, but set in Mexico after the Mexican Revolution so there’s also elements of colonialism and racism being explored (and let me tell you, whoever is reading this, the colorism Beatriz had to face had me HEATED, like the audacity these bitches had to say this shit to her 🤬). And of course, because I am a romance lover to my core, there was a romance and it had me on the edge of my seat waiting for just a touch or a look between the two characters 🥹.
I just really love everything about this book, it feels like it was written specifically for me and I absolutely adore it. I love that Isabel took a ghost story and gave it so many layers and made everything so vivid so there were moments I felt I couldn’t catch my breath with the lead characters as they encountered what was haunting the hacienda. I recommend this 1000000%
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Colonisation, Death, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
lisa3315's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Death, Colonisation, Blood, Classism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abortion, Rape, Racism, Physical abuse, and War
bites_of_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this slow burn gothic horror story. I loved that the house was a proper character and that the ideas of hauntings are taken to a whole different level here.
We follow Beatriz as she arrives at her new home with her new husband in a hacienda in a rural area far from her hometown after the end of the Mexican Independence. Beatriz is ready to assume control of her household and claim her role as Señora de la Casa. However, when things literally start to go bump in the night, she doesn't know where to turn since she distrusts the clergy and the people around her don't seem to acknowledge that anything is wrong. Here is where we meet Andres, a young priest who grew up in the town and knows the hacienda quite well. Andres and Beatriz go through a lot in trying to figure out what has been happening in that house prior to Beatriz' arrival and they'll find more than they were ready for.
If you like gothic stories with atmospheric writing and a historical setting in Mexico then this is for you. Also, if you enjoyed Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia, you'll likely enjoy this one!
We follow Beatriz as she arrives at her new home with her new husband in a hacienda in a rural area far from her hometown after the end of the Mexican Independence. Beatriz is ready to assume control of her household and claim her role as Señora de la Casa. However, when things literally start to go bump in the night, she doesn't know where to turn since she distrusts the clergy and the people around her don't seem to acknowledge that anything is wrong. Here is where we meet Andres, a young priest who grew up in the town and knows the hacienda quite well. Andres and Beatriz go through a lot in trying to figure out what has been happening in that house prior to Beatriz' arrival and they'll find more than they were ready for.
If you like gothic stories with atmospheric writing and a historical setting in Mexico then this is for you. Also, if you enjoyed Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia, you'll likely enjoy this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Murder, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, Violence, and War
coyotecasket's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I love this author and I love this book! the ending is sad and not what i would have liked to have happened, but it was hopeful as well and I understand why it ended the way it did in the context of the story. It wouldn't have felt authentic to either Andrés' character or Beatriz's if they both gave up everything that makes them them just to be together. the story is so well written and the characters are all extremely dynamic and well written. Andrés was my favorite and his entire story was very interesting and I love the symbolism of him being both a witch and a priest, of him fulfilling his duties to his people while also doing so within the confines of the church in the wake of the Spanish inquisition.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Abortion
pilotwaifu's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent and Murder
Minor: Rape, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Abortion
snowhite197's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood
Moderate: Rape, Blood, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Racism
elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abortion
queerreaderchaos's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I love haunted houses. Houses that are characters in their own right, like the hacienda San Isidro.
The story reminded me a lot of Rebecca, but leaning more into the haunting and ghost Rebecca lacked. The gothic atmosphere, the Mexican backstory, and author’s style made it a book I would definitely recommend in spooky, gloomy weather.
The story reminded me a lot of Rebecca, but leaning more into the haunting and ghost Rebecca lacked. The gothic atmosphere, the Mexican backstory, and author’s style made it a book I would definitely recommend in spooky, gloomy weather.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, and Racism
Moderate: Colonisation, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Vomit, Abortion, Murder, Rape, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity