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rbash2391's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Classism, Death of parent, Alcohol, Death, Religious bigotry, Blood, Cursing, Colonisation, Grief, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Self harm, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Infidelity, Rape, and Abortion
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Confinement
bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
Review of The Hacienda
By; Isabel Canas
After her father, a general, is killed for being a traitor, Beatriz and her mother are left penniless and forced to rely on the goodwill of relatives who don’t want them, but will take them in begrudgingly. When she is old enough, Beatriz, decides to get married to a wealthy man, Rodolpho, she doesn’t love and who goes against her mother’s political views so they can be financially secure and not have to live with these hateful relatives. Rodolpho’s large estate seems to be haunted by his previous wife, who died mysteriously and Beatriz’s new sister in-law doesn’t want to share the house either.
Canas creates a spooky and tense atmosphere as she builds the tension and discomfort of Beatriz’s situation. She starts out subtle describing the house as drafty, but the chill has a habit of seeping into your bones. Doors are slamming and whenever Beatriz sees something unnatural it disappears when she tries to show it again. We get the sense that that the servants and Juana know something that Beatriz doesn’t adding to the tension and discomfort for me as the reader. Both Juana and Rodolpho have hot and cold personalities and there is a lack of trust as well unspoken truths between the siblings. Rodolpho comes off as the type to sweep things under the rug as he dismisses Beatriz’s concerns. At the same time, he will scold her like a child if he doesn’t approve and has quite a temper. This temper is something Juana also has inherited. She is a character that I pitied, but I also hated her the same time giving her a complexity that made me want to understand her better. Our main perspectives, Beatriz and Andres are likable and relatable. I admired Beatriz for her bravery and willingness do what it took, but also admired her willing to admit vulnerability and acknowledging her mistakes. She went through a lot she didn’t ask for and still stood tall and strong. Same with Andres, and especially since is told he’s going to hell. He still becomes a priest and helps people, and his battle within himself between his darkness and light. I still find it hard to believe his pure soul will be burned by fire and brimstone. No Way! I was riveted to the story and I kept wanting to turn the pages to find out what was going to happen with the characters.
By; Isabel Canas
After her father, a general, is killed for being a traitor, Beatriz and her mother are left penniless and forced to rely on the goodwill of relatives who don’t want them, but will take them in begrudgingly. When she is old enough, Beatriz, decides to get married to a wealthy man, Rodolpho, she doesn’t love and who goes against her mother’s political views so they can be financially secure and not have to live with these hateful relatives. Rodolpho’s large estate seems to be haunted by his previous wife, who died mysteriously and Beatriz’s new sister in-law doesn’t want to share the house either.
Canas creates a spooky and tense atmosphere as she builds the tension and discomfort of Beatriz’s situation. She starts out subtle describing the house as drafty, but the chill has a habit of seeping into your bones. Doors are slamming and whenever Beatriz sees something unnatural it disappears when she tries to show it again. We get the sense that that the servants and Juana know something that Beatriz doesn’t adding to the tension and discomfort for me as the reader. Both Juana and Rodolpho have hot and cold personalities and there is a lack of trust as well unspoken truths between the siblings. Rodolpho comes off as the type to sweep things under the rug as he dismisses Beatriz’s concerns. At the same time, he will scold her like a child if he doesn’t approve and has quite a temper. This temper is something Juana also has inherited. She is a character that I pitied, but I also hated her the same time giving her a complexity that made me want to understand her better. Our main perspectives, Beatriz and Andres are likable and relatable. I admired Beatriz for her bravery and willingness do what it took, but also admired her willing to admit vulnerability and acknowledging her mistakes. She went through a lot she didn’t ask for and still stood tall and strong. Same with Andres, and especially since is told he’s going to hell. He still becomes a priest and helps people, and his battle within himself between his darkness and light. I still find it hard to believe his pure soul will be burned by fire and brimstone. No Way! I was riveted to the story and I kept wanting to turn the pages to find out what was going to happen with the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Racism, Animal death, Blood, and Murder
maeverose's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
My favorite tropes/themes from this book:
-🦇 gothic atmosphere 🦇
-beautiful prose
-clashing religious beliefs
-hot priest
-forbidden romance
I loved this!!! This was my first real horror novel (besides Dracula), I usually avoid horror because I really dislike gore, but this one sounded like it was tame enough gore-wise so I took a risk and I’m so glad I did. This felt a bit like a classic gothic novel. I LOVE the writing style. I’m a sucker for beautiful writing. That first chapter. Yes. I was a little surprised how much focus the romance got, but I’m not complaining at all because that was actually my favorite part, unexpectedly. This felt like a pretty even mix of historical romance, gothic horror and fantasy, which apparently is my thing. I need to find more.
The only negatives I can think of are that after finishing the book I can see how some things might’ve been a bit predictable to more avid horror readers, but I actually didn’t predict anything while reading lol. And secondly, I was never actually all that scared while reading.. I only found a few scenes a bit scary, about two thirds into the book. I think because a lot of the horror elements are so fantastical it didn’t really phase me? I’m more scared by real life horror (and there is a bit of that in this book too). It also didn’t have a ton of suspense, it kind of just throws stuff at you pretty early on after Beatriz moves in.
Anyway I need to go buy a copy of this book now
-🦇 gothic atmosphere 🦇
-beautiful prose
-clashing religious beliefs
-hot priest
-forbidden romance
I loved this!!! This was my first real horror novel (besides Dracula), I usually avoid horror because I really dislike gore, but this one sounded like it was tame enough gore-wise so I took a risk and I’m so glad I did. This felt a bit like a classic gothic novel. I LOVE the writing style. I’m a sucker for beautiful writing. That first chapter. Yes. I was a little surprised how much focus the romance got, but I’m not complaining at all because that was actually my favorite part, unexpectedly. This felt like a pretty even mix of historical romance, gothic horror and fantasy, which apparently is my thing. I need to find more.
The only negatives I can think of are that after finishing the book I can see how some things might’ve been a bit predictable to more avid horror readers, but I actually didn’t predict anything while reading lol. And secondly, I was never actually all that scared while reading.. I only found a few scenes a bit scary, about two thirds into the book. I think because a lot of the horror elements are so fantastical it didn’t really phase me? I’m more scared by real life horror (and there is a bit of that in this book too). It also didn’t have a ton of suspense, it kind of just throws stuff at you pretty early on after Beatriz moves in.
Anyway I need to go buy a copy of this book now
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Racism, Vomit, Body horror, Murder, Physical abuse, War, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Rape
As someone who doesn’t like gore, I’d say it was pretty mild. Only really injury descriptions (some detailed), blood, and a description of a partially decomposed body. I was fine reading it, but if you’re especially sensitive I’d say be careful. Minor memory loss from a concussion, and to my fellow hyperhidrosis sufferers: there is a negative sweaty hands/face comment in here :/saintmaud's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
most anticipated book of the year for me and it… was just okay. knew i shouldn't have fallen for the "mexican gothic x rebecca" marketing but I'm a simple girl who loves gothic stories. mexican gothic works because it takes a normal story and makes it Weird™ this book unfortunately does not :/ Nothing about the setting, characters, plot was particularly intriguing it just felt bland to me. I think the fact that I read this on dark, rainy days helped the mood more than the writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Rape and Alcoholism
Minor: Abortion, Animal death, and Vomit
mdinkle1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Violence, Vomit, Sexual assault, Animal death, and War
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Cursing, Death, Alcoholism, Animal death, Rape, Abortion, Alcohol, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, War, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Addiction
uranaishi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Murder, Classism, Confinement, Blood, Colonisation, Death, Racism, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Animal death, War, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse
Minor: Rape and Pregnancy
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