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talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Rape, Sexual content, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse, Grief, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Colorism.blakeandbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Pregnancy, and War
karmapen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Racism, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual assault, Torture, Pregnancy, and War
renpuspita's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
What make The Hacienda interesting is, how Isabel Canas also input her social critic/commentary about Mexico after the Independence war with its casta system. Set in 1823, pretty much after the war and also after Mexican Inquisition end, Canas presents the glaring problems that revolve around hacienda, hacendados (owner of hacienda) and people on the village whom lived around them. So, basically beside a gothic and horror filled with mystery, The Hacienda can be categorized into historical fiction as well, albeit not in a traditional way. This book also heavy on religious contents, with the male lead, Padre Andres Vilabollos, is a man of the Church. The religion content didn't bother me a little bit, I welcomed Canas's critique about it tho. For me, it's ring true, regarding the religion. Some of Andres's inner turmoil, about his double identity, as a priest but also a witch with power come from local folk magic, pretty much resonate with me. I liked Canas's presentation about religion, through Andres, and didn't fell that it's judging at all.
The Hacienda is told from both Beatriz and Andres's Pov, interchangeable. Usually, first PoV from multiple characters can drive me nuts, since all the voice feel the same. It's not the case with The Hacienda, I can differentiate both Beatriz and Andres. While at the first glance, Beatriz might be look like a high and mighty girl with her determination to be the Solorzano's Dona and claim Hacienda San Isidro as her domain, the reason was explained in a way that make me sympathize with her. I also like how in the end Canas make Beatriz amend her error way in the first. Of course after the haunting that happen to Beatriz in the first place, lol. The girl was pretty much tortured by the ghost! The haunting factor is pretty chilling, the effect of it give me a heebies jeebies. The description of the ghost and its apparition make me hold my breath. The idea of house with its own souls is not new, but Canas can execute it well and add her own twist on it.
While it's not romance per se, there's a romance in The Hacienda, although just a little. But, boyy...as a romance reader, the romance in this book is pretty much bittersweet. It's of course have forbidden romance in it, with Beatriz is a married woman, while Andres is a priest. Yet, the trust that come between them, the pining, the longing and the yearning, OMG, so chef's kiss! I can accept their ending because I know that this book is not a romance in the first place, but I will lying if I said I didn't enjoy the romance aspect, lol. It's suit the book tone, tbh. In the other side, the mystery that surround the Hacienda and also Rodolfo's first wife death is pretty much easy to guess. I liked how they executed and I liked how Canas write the characterization of the major characters in this book beside Beatriz and Andres. Sadly, for Rodolfo, I think his character is barely there since he's mostly spend his time away from Beatriz.
Even not 5 full stars, The Hacienda become one of my top read this year 2023. For a debut, this book captivating me and that's a compliment since sometimes I'm too chicken out to read a full horror book with ghost on it. I recommend The Hacienda if you want to read a horror book with gothic atmosphere, written by a diverse author also set outside America and with historical settings.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and War
hunkydory's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War
amris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Infidelity, Rape, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Racism, Sexual content, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, War, and Classism
cassie7e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Death, Rape, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
lorriss's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy
itsheyfay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Physical abuse, Torture, and War