Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

La Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

27 reviews

sophmcgraw's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Mental illness

Moderate: Rape, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, and Blood

Minor: Abortion and Alcohol

eyin1986's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

This book felt true to the horror/thriller genre and the author does a great job bringing the words to life to visualize. For the first time in a while, I didn’t want to put a book down. I don’t know if I will ever reread this book, but it will definitely stick with me and I will be recommending it to as many readers as I can. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Xenophobia, and Violence

caseythereader's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Thanks to PRH Audio for the free copy of this book.

 - If you read REBECCA and wished it was about a literal haunting instead of a psychological one, THE HACIENDA is the book for you.
- The audio version of this book is a tense, visceral experience, with narrators Lee Osorio and Victoria Villarreal infusing the words with urgency and painting vivid images of the terrifying scenes at San Isidro. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racism, Death, Alcohol, Gore, Blood, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Infidelity

Moderate: Abortion, Cursing, and Sexual violence

leahkarge's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Death, Racism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, Classism, Death of parent, and Violence

Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape

bootsmom3's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Colonisation, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Fatphobia, Cursing, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Gaslighting

Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

ishouldreadthat's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

A fantastic Gothic horror story set just after the Mexican War for Independence. Incredible characters, proper spooky plot, and a satisfying ending. Would highly recommend.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Classism, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: War and Sexual violence

tigger89's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I found this book to be the perfect type of spooky, the kind that gives you chills while you're reading but that doesn't linger once you've put the book down. I particularly loved the way the classic "catholic exorcism" trope was twisted by having the exorcist be not just a catholic priest, but also a witch. The atmosphere was also gorgeous, both outside and inside the hacienda. I felt that sunlight, and those chills!

Something I didn't like was that the female characters weren't as strong as I'd expected. They were all either very passive or they were under heavy aid from(or motivated by) male characters, particularly Padre Andres. It's not that I feel he was a bad character, but for a novel which contained themes centering around patriarchal control and violence, it was disappointing to see the female characters essentially led around by a male lead, even one who was respectful and good. This is especially jarring in comparison to Mexican Gothic, which I felt handled the partnership of the female lead with a male companion much better.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Colonisation, Abortion, Murder, Classism, and Racism

Minor: Alcoholism, War, Sexual violence, Rape, Confinement, and Death of parent

hayy6747's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Colonisation, and Violence

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, and Sexual violence

Minor: Death of parent

cassielaj's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

The Gothic and magical realism elements of this book were impressively immersive — I didn’t ever want to stop reading! I also appreciated the context of the Mexican War of Independence: the insurgents, the casta system, the religious Inquisition. Cañas’ author’s note was a great way to end the book; I enjoyed reading about her intentionality regarding those aspects. 
I wanted a bit more character development for the main character at times, but I really enjoyed the supporting characters. 
TLDR: definitely worth the read!! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Murder, Blood, Death, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Abortion, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, and Pregnancy

honeywine's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This book is definitely vibes, though I struggled to get into it until around the halfway mart. The historical part of the historical fiction was pretty neat and enjoyable. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Body horror, Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death of parent, Murder, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Abortion

Moderate: Rape, Abortion, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Grief, and Domestic abuse