Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

30 reviews

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.

dawnvalentine's review against another edition

mysterious slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Blood, and Racism

Moderate: Abandonment and Abortion

Minor: Alcoholism, Pregnancy, War, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexism, Rape, Racism, Suicide, Violence, and Religious bigotry

noshakira's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I absolutely loved this book. It's equal parts spooky, empowering, and romantic. It perfectly captures the feelings, both good and bad, when you walk into a space that feels like it is living. Typically, I dislike period pieces, and would have avoided a book set in the 1800s like this one, but the storyline didn't feel as dated as many others and focused more on the timeless human and haunting aspects. Beautifully written and read like a movie in my mind. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Sexual assault, War, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Racism, Classism, Infidelity, Mental illness, Colonisation, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Violence, Murder, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

cwallace1005's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

 There was not a single page where I wasn't completely engrossed. It was creepy and interesting and unfolded in a perfect way. I can't write too much because I want people to just go in and read it and feel the vibes. The perfect spooky vibes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Blood

Moderate: Rape, Physical abuse, and Racism

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

ktv's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I’m so glad I keep coming back to this book and trying to finish it bc it was soooooo good. It kept me on my toes the entire time. I rly love a good gothic horror. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Classism, Body horror, Colonisation, Gore, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Cursing, Rape, Sexual violence, War, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Child abuse

talonsontypewriters's review

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

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Murder, Death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny

Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, and Physical abuse

Minor: Death of parent, Body shaming, Ableism, Medical content, Confinement, Classism, Sexual content, Abortion, Animal death, Religious bigotry, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Vomit, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Rape, and Colonisation

Colorism.

writingcaia's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

A typical atypical house haunting in Mexico after the inquisition and power upheaval of the 19th century.
It is indeed Rebecca meets Mexican Gothic, although not as good as either, still a pretty solid horror book that kept wanting more.
Beatriz lost her father to politics and power changes, relegated with her mother to be a “servant” in her aunts house she jumps at the chance of marrying, even though the groom is involved in the same group that got her father killed, still she knows she will have her hacienda to rule over and finally the financial independence she wishes for. However, the house has other plans, and as soon as she arrives she feel the hatred and the malice of it. 
Thankfully, the hacienda and farmlands are also the home base of the new padre Andrés, returned two years before Beatriz, he is now called again to his land to help the girl in need, and he is more than meets the eye, he has in him the heritage of the old witches.
This was such a great coming of age, romance, horror story, it kept glued to the pages to know what would happen next. It’s predictable from the start, at least it was for me, and struggles with very repetitive sentiments and sentences, still for a debut I found it quite good and entertaining.
No, I didn’t get scared, I never do, and no it’s not super gruesome although there’re a lot of grim, gory moments even, and a lot a lot of tense ones.
If the premises appeal to you I definitely recommend you to give it a try now that Spooky Season is coming 🎃👻🔪

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Racism

Moderate: Racial slurs, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Classism

Minor: Infidelity, War, Physical abuse, Violence, Colonisation, Rape, and Abortion

hunkydory'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Classism, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Physical abuse

Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, War, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Death of parent