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hendrixpants's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
salemander's review
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
carbs666's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
3.75
Ok before I get into I will say that I did genuinely enjoy this book! The way the vampires are positioned as tools of white colonizers is very effective, beasts of the land who have been enslaved for nefarious purposes. Loved that, along with Nena's character development throughout the book. The way she comes to understand that, despite her best efforts and intentions, she is still, to a great degree, spoiled and naive, and has to do a lot of work to understand why that is and how to change is excellent. The prose is also gorgeous, clearly written by someone in love with the land.
My chief complaint with this book was the love story (a shocker from me). There was SO much "will they or won't they" energy going on here it got a bit tired after a while. Additionally, the way that so much of the internal relied on these two just flatly refusing to talk and listen to each other became annoying. (Not to mention how hard it sometimes feels to root for Nena when she's, like, firmly in her 20s and still afraid to upset her parents - I know we've all felt that way but as a reader who wants to see the HEA happen it gets frustrating.)
My chief complaint with this book was the love story (a shocker from me). There was SO much "will they or won't they" energy going on here it got a bit tired after a while. Additionally, the way that so much of the internal relied on these two just flatly refusing to talk and listen to each other became annoying. (Not to mention how hard it sometimes feels to root for Nena when she's, like, firmly in her 20s and still afraid to upset her parents - I know we've all felt that way but as a reader who wants to see the HEA happen it gets frustrating.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
ginnydtaylor's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
bkwrm1317's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Absolutely loved the descriptions of the landscapes of what is now south Texas.
A unique take on the vampire as beast/creature, rather than human beings turned to vampires as the more common take. The vampires of this novel are used and abused by the Texas Rangers in their pursuit of what is today South Texas/Northern Mexico.
Some minor/general novel arc spoilers below, so read with that in mind:
Nena and Néstor's struggles to overcome their own fear and shame in order to let their love flourish felt extremely real and well-executed by the author. I loved reading their story, as well as Nena's arc of finding her voice, getting out from under the thumb of her emotionally abusive father and manipulative mother, who are more about appearances and keeping up with the Joneses than their eldest daughter's needs or happiness.
Néstor realizing Nena is stronger when he supports her/that with his support she can face down literal monsters and can match him for bravery in that way is such a powerful moment in their character arcs.
I just really loved this one - it's another of those novels that felt like it was written just for me.
A unique take on the vampire as beast/creature, rather than human beings turned to vampires as the more common take. The vampires of this novel are used and abused by the Texas Rangers in their pursuit of what is today South Texas/Northern Mexico.
Some minor/general novel arc spoilers below, so read with that in mind:
Nena and Néstor's struggles to overcome their own fear and shame in order to let their love flourish felt extremely real and well-executed by the author. I loved reading their story, as well as Nena's arc of finding her voice, getting out from under the thumb of her emotionally abusive father and manipulative mother, who are more about appearances and keeping up with the Joneses than their eldest daughter's needs or happiness.
Néstor realizing Nena is stronger when he supports her/that with his support she can face down literal monsters and can match him for bravery in that way is such a powerful moment in their character arcs.
I just really loved this one - it's another of those novels that felt like it was written just for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, and Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, and Gaslighting
caseythereader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content
kate_arts's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed the Hacienda, but this book fell a little flat for me. I don’t think it’s a horror book at all and if that’s you’re reasoning for picking this book up then I don’t think you will enjoy it. I really enjoyed the parallels Cañas drew between the vampires and the yanquis. I also enjoyed pro working class, the wealth should be held by the people who do the work vibe the story took. I wish both of these themes were a bit more developed, but the foundation was definitely there. Cañas is a great writer overall and can turn a beautiful phrase.
I really didn’t like how obsessed with Nena Néstor was and I really didn’t like how Nena was very hot and cold with Néstor. Overall I think their relationship is very toxic and lacks substance beyond “well they are the perfect person in the world for me” or being possessive of the other person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence, Abandonment, and Colonisation
nrogers_1030's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Really great spin on a vampire story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Classism
Moderate: War
maebemerissa's review
dark
emotional
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
Spice level: .5/3
Listen. I heard "vampires in Texas," and immediately added it to my TBR pile. It is heavy on the romance side, but the threat of vampires definitely added to the tension of the book. While there were times where I got frustrated with Nina, I had to remember that she's a Mexican women...in the 1840's. Not a lot of options for women at the time (get married to a rich guy, that was the ONLY option). By the end of the novel she grows into a badass vampire slayer Buffy herself would be proud of. AND she has a MAN who backs her up. I was eating up the tension between Néstor and Nina. Like, literally wondering how this love story was going to end until the very end.
Listen. I heard "vampires in Texas," and immediately added it to my TBR pile. It is heavy on the romance side, but the threat of vampires definitely added to the tension of the book. While there were times where I got frustrated with Nina, I had to remember that she's a Mexican women...in the 1840's. Not a lot of options for women at the time (get married to a rich guy, that was the ONLY option). By the end of the novel she grows into a badass vampire slayer Buffy herself would be proud of. AND she has a MAN who backs her up. I was eating up the tension between Néstor and Nina. Like, literally wondering how this love story was going to end until the very end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Minor: Sexism
americattt's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.25
“‘In case God forbid…’ He let the sentence trail off. God had nothing to do with it. Any belief in God that hid in Nestor’s breast was a fragile, translucent thing, a cloth so weak and worn that if you held it up to the sun, light would shine through it. The events of the day had all but shredded it.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: War and Injury/Injury detail