Reviews tagging 'Gore'

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

42 reviews

jenn_k_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious 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? No

5.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

vaguely_pink's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

rachel_j's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional 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

4.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

caseythereader's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Thanks to PRH Audio for the free copy of this book.

 - If you read REBECCA and wished it was about a literal haunting instead of a psychological one, THE HACIENDA is the book for you.
- The audio version of this book is a tense, visceral experience, with narrators Lee Osorio and Victoria Villarreal infusing the words with urgency and painting vivid images of the terrifying scenes at San Isidro. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

juliana_reads's review

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-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? No

4.0

Phew! I don’t think I have read a horror novel before. Short stories yes, but this had slow burn intensity that only a novel could achieve. I really enjoyed it, particularly the strong sense of place and time. Two things impacted my rating:
1) The prose was clunky and repetitive at times! Everyone was “worrying” their lips. There were a few “I knew two things to be true…” lists. But, this is the author’s first novel and I would 100% read another. 
2) I could have done without one of the last chapters
when Beatriz and Andres slept together. I think their love and tenderness could have been expressed differently given the intense trauma they had both endured. It also seemed so contrary to Andres’ piety? Maybe they could have just kissed and embraced, I don’t know. But him receiving a letter six weeks after, and Beatriz mentioning her descendants using the house…seems suspicious.
 

But man, was it a creepy book. The visceral descriptions of the house really made it a page-turner. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bandysbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

This book first came to my attention when it was selected as a BOTM book. I kept hearing it compared to Mexican Gothic and Rebecca, which one one hand sounded intriguing, but on the other hand made it seem like it might not be all that original. I actually didn’t get it the month it was picked. I got it months later as an add-on after hearing a few good reviews. I’m so glad I did!

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!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kellyofcali's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • 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

So, I read this in two chunks (library issues), which may have affected my enjoyment a bit as I think given the horror genre you probably don't want to stop and break the tension...but overall a fun spooky read! I enjoyed the setting and the author does a great job with the horror aspects, I just sometimes felt like characters and their stories fell in and out quickly.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kquixotic's review against another edition

Go to review page

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
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

My new book club chose this as our first book. When I went to find it at the bookstore I was surprised that it was shelved in the horror section. 

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. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

blissofalife's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.5

The inspirations for this book
Rebecca, Shirley Jackson novels
are obvious throughout but told through a fresh lens and seamlessly combined. The build-up was superb, the climax felt a little too fast. Would still recommend it!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bootsmom3's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings