Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

103 reviews

janey_bones's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I loved this book so much. The writing is beautiful and oftentimes poetic. The imagery is beautifully done but also the horror is incredible. This gives Haunting of Hill House vibes but with much more story and detail! 🕯️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Xenophobia, Body horror, Violence, Murder, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Abortion

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

baearles's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief

Minor: Cursing, Racism, Vomit, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Murder, Abortion, War, Rape, Alcohol, and Death of parent

alychee's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.75

almost perfect, it was such an amazing read, amazing horror house, the themes of colonialism, and i learn a lot about the history of mexico and i found that i'm actually very interested in it and the whole casta system they had at the time of the revolution

i LOVED beatriz, such a badass and cool woman with strong ideas and such a kind heart i was afraid

she would die a the end, seeing how the book started

but i'm glad it ended this way, the right way (padre andrés you'll be forever loved)

i strongly recommend it for people looking for "sentient" houses, strong characters that go through exceptionally hard times but still find the strength to survive, and for the forbidden romance lovers 👀 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Racism

Moderate: Death of parent, War, and Death

Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol

mel_lo77'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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Rape

kristenbynoe's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abortion, Rape, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and Racism

cesca_natalia's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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

4.75

An amazing and beautifully written story about a young woman, Beatriz, whose lives about to change when she become the new pátron of Hacienda San Isidro. 

I can't believe how brilliant & talented Isabel with The Hacienda. Truthfully, when I started to read this book, I expect nothing beside a knowledge that the content inside will be dark & twisted much like the cover art. But few chapters in, it taken me into a journey of suspense & horror I've never imagined (the scene where the skeleton crawled on the stairs almost make me launch my phone to the wall) 

Character-wise, Beatriz had taken the whole space of my heart with her bravery, ambitious, toughness personality. Girl know how to put on a fight until her last (almost) dying breath, she knows what she wants & how to get it, her blind ambition & fixed mindset makes me think that she's a 100% Capricorn. Mixed with Andrès's compassion & gentle personality, together they create this edging yet fascinating chemistry. 

Furthermore, with how detail and descriptive every scene & Isabel, as Mexican-American author put lots of Mexican reference from food, drinks, culture or words, kind of give this sense of grounded into the story & makes it more imaginable. The plot, eventhough it's easily guessed, doesn't mean it's carelessly written. 

Despite all of this, in my opinion, the forbidden love story trope especially with religious figure involved, could become a dangerous topic to thread on. Though it creates a heart-breaking situation but I don't think it's fair especially for people whose in those said religion & actively practice it. 

Anyway, I do recommend The Hacienda if you're looking a book that could make you jump and scream out of fear (I did it twice, each of it) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

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

sad_eldritch's review against another edition

dark informative 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Rape