Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

48 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

heybrianagirl's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? No

5.0

This book was so good! My friend recommended it to me and I played in her face for a little bit because it took two long for me to pick up, but when I did we went from 0-60 quickly! This is my first gothic horror novel I've ever read, so I'm not familiar with the tradition, but it was written well. The author also was able to weave in Mexican history as well that didn't feel like an info-dump or a pause in the story to educate the reader about something. 

I will admit, this wasn't the first book I've read by Isabel Canas, as I've read Vampires of el Norte last month and enjoyed that as well. 

The characters were enjoyable, likable, and believable, the flashbacks were woven well to give backstory and propel the story forward without ruining the pacing, the plot-twist took me by surprise and what I thought I knew wasn't what was really happening, and the romance between the two MCs was sweet but took nothing away from the main plot. 

This book as well as Vampire of el Norte has cemented me as a big fan of this author!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Death, Body horror, and Addiction

Minor: Pregnancy, War, Rape, and Physical abuse

mention of using herbs for an abortion after a rape. It doesn't happen, but is discussed.

linzlee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Mental illness, Death of parent, War, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Animal death

daysireads's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A beautiful representation of gothic literature. This book will stay with me for a long time. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Animal death, Blood, Alcoholism, and Gaslighting

Minor: Misogyny, Colonisation, Rape, and Confinement

tahsintries's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Gaslighting

Minor: Rape

questionablereads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

This book did a wonderful job of being creepy and suspenseful, while maintaining beautiful story telling, it was so descriptive and heartbreaking at so many moments. While I enjoyed the characters, their background, their relationships with others, their growth, I also found myself never fully trusting anyone including the FMC Beatrice, which for me was intriguing but equally annoying as well. Gothic literature isn’t something I gravitate towards but my FOMO got the best of me, and I am walking away happy I read it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, War, and Gaslighting

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.0

this was a very good gothic thriller. very atmospheric and the characters and plot were great! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Blood, Violence, War, Alcohol, Death, Sexual content, Death of parent, Grief, and Murder

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

queerreaderchaos's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

I love haunted houses. Houses that are characters in their own right, like the hacienda San Isidro. 
The story reminded me a lot of Rebecca, but leaning more into the haunting and ghost Rebecca lacked. The gothic atmosphere, the Mexican backstory, and author’s style made it a book I would definitely recommend in spooky, gloomy weather.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, and Racism

Moderate: Colonisation, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Vomit, Abortion, Murder, Rape, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity

talonsontypewriters'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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, Sexism, Physical abuse, Grief, Racism, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Confinement, Animal death, and Death of parent

Minor: Alcohol, Child death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Vomit, Pregnancy, War, Rape, Alcoholism, Abortion, and Sexual content