Scan barcode
bandysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is no knock off. While I understand the comparisons, I don’t feel they really do It justice. This is gothic horror set in Post-Independence Mexico. Even though it’s about a long past time, it feels so fresh and in some ways relatable.
One of the biggest strengths is the way this book is so deeply anchored in the time and place. The mentions of cultural beliefs, foods, and traditions really help make this feel deeply set in Mexico. The mentions of the people living through colonialism, the colorism, sexism, misogyny, etc. are all things that were common to that era. There are just so many details that really bring the story to life.
The main two characters, Beatriz, the young, naïve wife of a Ascendado and Andrés, a local priest with unusual powers are both so interesting. Usually, for me, one POV is stronger, but in this case I found both of them enjoyable.
I did find myself wishing that the ending was slightly different. I was able to predict a few key parts of it, but not enough to ruin the story. I think it mostly made sense.
All in all, if you are into gothic horror, you’ll like this book. It has all of the elements for a good spooky read!
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Rape and Abortion
kellyofcali's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
kquixotic's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
As a lover of magical realism I found the story delightful. It gripped me easily and the writing was fine but not exceptional. Horror was definitely the right shelf for the story, but I’m usually reticent to read horror because I scare easily. Although gory for sure, I wasn’t scared or creeped out reading The Hacienda.
Whenever a book is written in English but set in a place where English is not the spoken language, I’m often a little frustrated by when and where to use the English word or the word in the language of the setting. For example, why not “La Hacienda” as the title?
Nonetheless, it’s a great read for when you just want some bubble gum for the brain.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Rape
blissofalife's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Animal death, Confinement, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and War
bootsmom3's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Body horror, Cursing, Fatphobia, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Alcohol
meredith_williams_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
garciaga's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Overall, I think it was a fine enough read.
Minor: Gore
volunteerpyromancer's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Racism, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Rape and War
miak2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
San Isidro was supposed to be my victory. My future. My home.
Now all I could do was hope that it wouldn't be my tomb. p.170
This was the perfect, spooky read for the start of fall. I'm a bit of a weenie when it comes to horror, but The Hacienda has me wanting to seek out more. The atmosphere was so eerie and tense, and I could picture the scenes playing out as if they were in a movie. In fact, the horror elements were some of my favorite parts of this book; Cañas was so imaginative and descriptive. It was truly unsettling at times, and it was even better that I knew that the dangers from the house were real, and not just in Beatriz's head.
I haven't read a ton of horror/thrillers because usually I find the main character frustrating to follow. They make stupid decisions. They don't trust the evidence that's in front of them. It's even more frustrating that it's usually women, as if a dumb male lead wouldn't be believable. But that's a rant for a different day. Beatriz was the exact opposite. She was smart and level-headed. She ran when she was in danger. She trusted her instincts. Hey, it turns out that a book like this can work with an intelligent lead. And that made it all the more compelling. I wanted Beatriz to be okay. I was rooting for her, and for Andrés. They were rational, capable individuals who weren't immune to fear, but who acted like I would in the same circumstances (or, at least, how I'd like to think I would act).
What bothered me, though, was that for all of Beatriz's intelligence, she was slow to come to conclusions. And it absolutely felt deliberately done by Cañas in order to keep the reader from putting the puzzle pieces together quicker. But I don't buy it, based on what I've said already about Beatriz being quite sharp. I don't necessarily know a way that this could've been done better, but it was a bit out of character, in my opinion.
The other thing that frustrated me was Cañas' tendency to explain relevant things more than once. For example, early on we get a flashback chapter explaining Beatriz' situation and how she came to end up at San Isidro. And then the next chapter, we hear the story in full again as she explains it to somebody else. The unnecessary repetitions made the book drag at times, especially when the action would be ramping up and we'd stop for more exposition.
That said, I did really enjoy the main plot of this book. I thought it was well thought-out and intriguing. I'm always guessing what the twists will be, and while there wasn't anything here that had me jumping out of my seat in shock, I couldn't accurately predict where the book would go at any given point. The climax of the book made sense with the information we'd already been given (a lot of thriller books/shows tend to hinge on 'gotcha's' that don't fit with the story narratively). I also loved the context of it being set after the Mexican War of Independence, and we got a harrowing glimpse of class dynamics in 1800s Mexico. Overall, a really well-done and thought-provoking horror book. And I'll for sure be reading whatever Cañas comes out with next!
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Vomit and War
fictionwitch'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Vomit and War
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual content