Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

103 reviews

amandaslittlelibrary's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

I will DEVOUR whatever this author writes in the future.

This was perfect to me. It had the Crimson Peak/Haunting of Hill House vibes, but set in Mexico after the Mexican Revolution so there’s also elements of colonialism and racism being explored (and let me tell you, whoever is reading this, the colorism Beatriz had to face had me HEATED, like the audacity these bitches had to say this shit to her 🤬). And of course, because I am a romance lover to my core, there was a romance and it had me on the edge of my seat waiting for just a touch or a look between the two characters 🥹. 

I just really love everything about this book, it feels like it was written specifically for me and I absolutely adore it. I love that Isabel took a ghost story and gave it so many layers and made everything so vivid so there were moments I felt I couldn’t catch my breath with the lead characters as they encountered what was haunting the hacienda. I recommend this 1000000%

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Colonisation, Death, Blood, and Body horror

Moderate: Racial slurs 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

---

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

bites_of_books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this slow burn gothic horror story. I loved that the house was a proper character and that the ideas of hauntings are taken to a whole different level here. 

We follow Beatriz as she arrives at her new home with her new husband in a hacienda in a rural area far from her hometown after the end of the Mexican Independence. Beatriz is ready to assume control of her household and claim her role as Señora de la Casa. However, when things literally start to go bump in the night, she doesn't know where to turn since she distrusts the clergy and the people around her don't seem to acknowledge that anything is wrong. Here is where we meet Andres, a young priest who grew up in the town and knows the hacienda quite well. Andres and Beatriz go through a lot in trying to figure out what has been happening in that house prior to Beatriz' arrival and they'll find more than they were ready for. 

If you like gothic stories with atmospheric writing and a historical setting in Mexico then this is for you. Also, if you enjoyed Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia, you'll likely enjoy this one!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Murder, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, Violence, and War

coyotecasket'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? Yes

4.5

I love this author and I love this book!

the ending is sad and not what i would have liked to have happened, but it was hopeful as well and I understand why it ended the way it did in the context of the story. It wouldn't have felt authentic to either Andrés' character or Beatriz's if they both gave up everything that makes them them just to be together.

the story is so well written and the characters are all extremely dynamic and well written. Andrés was my favorite and his entire story was very interesting and I love the symbolism of him being both a witch and a priest, of him fulfilling his duties to his people while also doing so within the confines of the church in the wake of the Spanish inquisition. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Racism

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Abortion

pilotwaifu's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism and Racism

Moderate: Death of parent and Murder

Minor: Rape, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Abortion

snowhite197's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood

Moderate: Rape, Blood, Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Racism

elizabeth_lepore'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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Abortion

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.

---

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

matcha_pages's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I don't normally read horror yet I had an entertianing time reading, certain parts flew by because I had to know what happened next. I love me some slow burn, forbidden romance

and even better when it's not meant to be

. 

There wasn't anything that stood out to me, the plot was predictable and the ending felt flat compared to all the build up. It was still an easy, solid read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Murder

Moderate: Violence and Religious bigotry

Minor: Racism and Rape

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

---

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