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simonlorden's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
A haunted house rich in history, where the house might not be the only danger around.
This book was wonderfully creepy. From the moment Beatriz arrives at her new husband's house, it is clear something is wrong, but nobody at the hacienda will talk to her or tell her what is going on. She desperately wants to make this place into a home so that she can take care of her mother, but the house seems to be against her.
I spent this whole book wondering what Juana's deal is, and I couldn't predict what the ghost wanted or what she was going to be like. Juana and Beatriz are both women in a men-dominated world, and they are both fighting for their own freedom and independence in different ways, and they are both fascinating characters.
And Andrés is simply the best. I loved the exploration of his abilities, and his conflict of trying to keep both his duties balanced, even as everyone seems to be against him.
Not gonna lie, the ending made me a cry a little. Overall, this was a pretty creepy read with loveable and interesting characters, and I recommend it if you like gothic horror or historical mysteries.
Graphic: Racism, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: War and Sexual assault
lucylou's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Rape, Murder, War, Colonisation, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
- 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
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.fanique87's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: War
Minor: Death of parent, Violence, Child abuse, and Rape
blakeandbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Sexual assault, War, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Rape
karmapen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Classism, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Blood, Colonisation, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Confinement, Torture, Animal death, Cursing, and War
hannah_and_her_stories's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Alcohol, Racism, Classism, Confinement, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Infidelity, Murder, Sexual assault, War, Colonisation, Cursing, Gore, Vomit, Gaslighting, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
Minor: Abortion
larareads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Death, Violence, and Gore
Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Racism, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abortion, Rape, War, and Sexual violence
renpuspita's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
What make The Hacienda interesting is, how Isabel Canas also input her social critic/commentary about Mexico after the Independence war with its casta system. Set in 1823, pretty much after the war and also after Mexican Inquisition end, Canas presents the glaring problems that revolve around hacienda, hacendados (owner of hacienda) and people on the village whom lived around them. So, basically beside a gothic and horror filled with mystery, The Hacienda can be categorized into historical fiction as well, albeit not in a traditional way. This book also heavy on religious contents, with the male lead, Padre Andres Vilabollos, is a man of the Church. The religion content didn't bother me a little bit, I welcomed Canas's critique about it tho. For me, it's ring true, regarding the religion. Some of Andres's inner turmoil, about his double identity, as a priest but also a witch with power come from local folk magic, pretty much resonate with me. I liked Canas's presentation about religion, through Andres, and didn't fell that it's judging at all.
The Hacienda is told from both Beatriz and Andres's Pov, interchangeable. Usually, first PoV from multiple characters can drive me nuts, since all the voice feel the same. It's not the case with The Hacienda, I can differentiate both Beatriz and Andres. While at the first glance, Beatriz might be look like a high and mighty girl with her determination to be the Solorzano's Dona and claim Hacienda San Isidro as her domain, the reason was explained in a way that make me sympathize with her. I also like how in the end Canas make Beatriz amend her error way in the first. Of course after the haunting that happen to Beatriz in the first place, lol. The girl was pretty much tortured by the ghost! The haunting factor is pretty chilling, the effect of it give me a heebies jeebies. The description of the ghost and its apparition make me hold my breath. The idea of house with its own souls is not new, but Canas can execute it well and add her own twist on it.
While it's not romance per se, there's a romance in The Hacienda, although just a little. But, boyy...as a romance reader, the romance in this book is pretty much bittersweet. It's of course have forbidden romance in it, with Beatriz is a married woman, while Andres is a priest. Yet, the trust that come between them, the pining, the longing and the yearning, OMG, so chef's kiss! I can accept their ending because I know that this book is not a romance in the first place, but I will lying if I said I didn't enjoy the romance aspect, lol. It's suit the book tone, tbh. In the other side, the mystery that surround the Hacienda and also Rodolfo's first wife death is pretty much easy to guess. I liked how they executed and I liked how Canas write the characterization of the major characters in this book beside Beatriz and Andres. Sadly, for Rodolfo, I think his character is barely there since he's mostly spend his time away from Beatriz.
Even not 5 full stars, The Hacienda become one of my top read this year 2023. For a debut, this book captivating me and that's a compliment since sometimes I'm too chicken out to read a full horror book with ghost on it. I recommend The Hacienda if you want to read a horror book with gothic atmosphere, written by a diverse author also set outside America and with historical settings.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Alcohol, Murder, Animal cruelty, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Confinement, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, Abortion, Rape, War, and Colonisation
emzhay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Murder, Rape, and Alcohol
Minor: War, Child abuse, and Animal death