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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
mandkips'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Racial slurs, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent, War, and Abortion
namielle's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
While there were some things I took minor issue with, this book was quite enjoyable, and I was eagerly turning pages to see what would happen next.
Beatriz moves to San Isidro, the hacienda owned by her new husband, Don Rodolfo Solórzano. She is his second wife, and she does her best to ignore the swirling rumors about the death of his first wife, Doña María Catalina. Soon after moving in, Beatriz begins to experience strange phenomena. With the help of Padre Andrés, Beatriz must unravel the secrets of the hacienda and fight of the evil presence within.
I really enjoyed Beatriz as the protagonist; she’s strong-willed and unafraid to ask for help with all of the spooky stuff she’s dealing with. Padre Andrés is also pretty likable, though I guess I didn’t get some of the angst over his abilities to fight against the evil. I mean, I guess part of it is that he didn’t want to be burned as a witch or whatever, but like, this was a life or death situation! I say bring on all the witch powers.
This wasn’t the scariest book that I’ve ever read, but things were very tense and caused me some anxiety. I was on the edge of my seat a couple of times because I was sure that surely really awful things were going to happen to the characters.
Beatriz moves to San Isidro, the hacienda owned by her new husband, Don Rodolfo Solórzano. She is his second wife, and she does her best to ignore the swirling rumors about the death of his first wife, Doña María Catalina. Soon after moving in, Beatriz begins to experience strange phenomena. With the help of Padre Andrés, Beatriz must unravel the secrets of the hacienda and fight of the evil presence within.
I really enjoyed Beatriz as the protagonist; she’s strong-willed and unafraid to ask for help with all of the spooky stuff she’s dealing with. Padre Andrés is also pretty likable, though I guess I didn’t get some of the angst over his abilities to fight against the evil. I mean, I guess part of it is that he didn’t want to be burned as a witch or whatever, but like, this was a life or death situation! I say bring on all the witch powers.
This wasn’t the scariest book that I’ve ever read, but things were very tense and caused me some anxiety. I was on the edge of my seat a couple of times because I was sure that surely really awful things were going to happen to the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Classism, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent and War
catapocalypse's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
I had a fun time reading this debut gothic horror! While it gets comped to <i>Mexican Gothic</i>, I'd say being gothic horror set in Mexico is all they really have in common. This is faster-paced and more surface-level, whereas Silvia Moreno-Garcia's book is more thoughtful on its deeper themes and builds it high suspense slowly.
Andrés, the priest with a dark secret, is my favorite part of the book overall. There are ways the plot could have played out that might have been even more compelling, but it's still satisfying. And I personally appreciate the realistic depiction of the effects of a concussion.
I am interested to see what Cañas writes next!
Andrés, the priest with a dark secret, is my favorite part of the book overall. There are ways the plot could have played out that might have been even more compelling, but it's still satisfying. And I personally appreciate the realistic depiction of the effects of a concussion.
I am interested to see what Cañas writes next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, and Racism
symabee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Classism, and War
rachelunabridged's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Alcohol, Blood, Gaslighting, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Racism
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Minor: Abortion, Rape, and Sexual content
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.
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
pages_with_panda's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
✅ Finished Nov 18, ‘22
After the Mexican War of Independence, Beatriz has lost her father and her home. Desperately trying to regain some stability, she marries Don Rodolfo Solórzano despite the rumors around his first wife’s death.
But Hacienda San Isidro is not the sanctuary she imagined.
After Rodolfo leaves for work at the capital, Beatriz finds herself alone in a house none of the servants want to enter and with no one willing to share why. She only knows two things for certain: Something is wrong with the hacienda. And no one there will help her.
I really loved this book. Can't say I've read any other Mexican Gothic books so I can't for sure how well this fit that genre; but the creepy story, the mystery, the characters were all amazing. Sad I couldn't read this before Halloween season ended! Not horror per se, but definitely a suspenseful, mysterious book with creepy scenes. The author did well to set up the scenes and give the house its personality.
Andres was amazing as well, and I liked how well he and Beatriz worked together. I actually liked the back and forth between the past and the present as well, it set up the mystery nicely.
I borrowed this from the library but will be getting my own copy; I enjoyed it so much!
Check content warnings!
After the Mexican War of Independence, Beatriz has lost her father and her home. Desperately trying to regain some stability, she marries Don Rodolfo Solórzano despite the rumors around his first wife’s death.
But Hacienda San Isidro is not the sanctuary she imagined.
After Rodolfo leaves for work at the capital, Beatriz finds herself alone in a house none of the servants want to enter and with no one willing to share why. She only knows two things for certain: Something is wrong with the hacienda. And no one there will help her.
I really loved this book. Can't say I've read any other Mexican Gothic books so I can't for sure how well this fit that genre; but the creepy story, the mystery, the characters were all amazing. Sad I couldn't read this before Halloween season ended! Not horror per se, but definitely a suspenseful, mysterious book with creepy scenes. The author did well to set up the scenes and give the house its personality.
Andres was amazing as well, and I liked how well he and Beatriz worked together. I actually liked the back and forth between the past and the present as well, it set up the mystery nicely.
I borrowed this from the library but will be getting my own copy; I enjoyed it so much!
Check content warnings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Racism
Minor: Abortion, War, and Death of parent
jackyinreadingland's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Racism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Abortion, War, 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