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veeples's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is such a delightful read. Cañas quickly draws you in with Beatriz’s wit and charm and resilience. I couldn’t help but feel so much for Beatriz and her fear as she faces the horrors of the house. Her stubbornness to survive, to live, despite everything is what endears her most to me. Andrés’s internal struggle with himself, who he is, what he wants, and his conviction to help are also wonderfully charming and provoking.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Blood
Minor: Sexual harassment and Rape
kristasorocks's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abortion and Sexual assault
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)
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)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Blood, and Murder
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%
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
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Rape
Minor: 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.
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
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!
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
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
cover2covertx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual violence, Abortion, and Rape