Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

54 reviews

leligavi's review against another edition

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? No

3.0

So this is what I thought Mexican Gothic was going to be. The two books get compared so often and now I really understand why. However, I think the fundamentals of the book are really, really different. Because of the location of the two books, this one feels more...Spanish? lol. I know that's kind of a whack adjective but it's true. I appreciate that about the book, but also understand why Mexican Gothic doesn't have that same feeling. My point being: if you aren't reading this book because everyone says it's so similar to Mexican Gothic, just read it. They aren't similar in the ways that matter. 
I liked our two main POVs.

And that forbidden romance boi? Fantasitc. Loved them and I appreciate that the author made sure not to include the cheating trope because I would have DNF'd this book SO FAST if they had. Yeah, like her husband sucked and there was no love, but she was still married, friend. No cheating, please. And definitely not with the PRIEST. So, I'm glad the author had some class about it.

I didn't love the way that God is portrayed in the book. However, I do have to keep in mind that the book is in a Catholic perspective. That does change things.

However, as a Christian, it is hard to stomach that the priest did have premarital sex while in the service of priesthood? But also, I know he's human and human's make mistakes. But you can't just kind of throw it under the rug because you root for them. At the same time though, all of what I just said is true. But also Andres was also the person who really made the perspective of the Lord more bearable because he had a more accurate view of the Lord. But also he was a witch. It's kind of...conflicting honestly. Lol.

I will say that the only thing that bugged me a little at the beginning was the CONSTANT mention of needing to marry Rodolfo to gain her security and power and how the house is hers, etc. As a Hispanic lady, it irked me and then I had to remind myself of the time period and to just let it go. BUT IT JUST KEPT COMING UP. I felt like that was all that was written about for the first 15% of the book. But I mean, valid, I understand. It was just constant. 
Uh, by the way, this book....is freaking scary. I didn't think that Mexican Gothic was scary but

BOI THIS ONE IS. WIFE #1 IS CRAZY AND SADISTIC AND THIS POLTERGIEST WILD.

I enjoyed it. I thought it was solid and I feel like I will definitely be reading other books by Cañas.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Grief, Pregnancy, Rape, War, Abortion, and Death of parent

Content Warnings: Hauntings, Exorcisms, Witchcraft

hyphae's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, and Death

Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Abortion, Rape, Murder, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Religious bigotry

th3bookthief's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, War, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, and Blood

aninoag's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

A good read! Slight thriller but nothing too intense.I wish there were an epilogue to expand the story a little more...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Rape

baearles's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief

Minor: Cursing, Racism, Vomit, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Murder, Abortion, War, Rape, Alcohol, and Death of parent

kelshenka's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Atmospheric and spooky. A classic haunted house take in a rich historical setting. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Gore, Sexual assault, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Violence, Body horror, Rape, Death, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

veeples's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

This is such a delightful read. Cañas quickly draws you in with Beatriz’s wit and charm and resilience. I couldn’t help but feel so much for Beatriz and her fear as she faces the horrors of the house. Her stubbornness to survive, to live, despite everything is what endears her most to me. Andrés’s internal struggle with himself, who he is, what he wants, and his conviction to help are also wonderfully charming and provoking.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood

Minor: Sexual harassment and Rape

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

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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!

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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

shahdirose's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Death

Moderate: Body horror, Murder, Toxic relationship, Blood, Classism, and Bullying

Minor: Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Rape