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hayy6747's review
- 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: Death, Colonisation, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, and Sexual violence
Minor: Death of parent
cassielaj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I wanted a bit more character development for the main character at times, but I really enjoyed the supporting characters.
TLDR: definitely worth the read!!
Graphic: War, Violence, Murder, Blood, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Abortion, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, and Pregnancy
blackcatkai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this is a slow historical gothic horror with romance sprinkled within, dual perspective, and a few flashbacks. overall I really enjoyed it! slow historical isn't usually part of any genre I usually read, but im really glad I gave this one a try. gorgeous writing, creepy atmosphere, supernatural and spooky, I was hooked. can't wait to read more from cañas in the future!
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Violence, Death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: War, Classism, Racism, Ableism, and Colonisation
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
maya_reads_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Death, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent
ukponge'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
4.75
Graphic: Murder, Racism, Colonisation, and Violence
Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence
cpachet'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
4.0
Graphic: Violence and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Rape
suz_n_van's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Classism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Gaslighting and Violence
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
aromarrie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
the energy in this book was absolutely electric and haunted the hell out of me as i was reading it in the daylight, so slow-moving in the way the darkness teased at beatriz and then suddenly knocked her off her feet until she was left reeling. the main characters beatriz & padre andrés had such compelling voices that each brought forth the reverence and darkness that Hacienda San Isidro evoked, and their dynamic only further ignited my interest in this story as we saw how their individual personal journeys connected in this gothic horror.
the author’s themes reflecting the horror that the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence from Spain resulted in was very visceral as it struck on the classism that was at such dangerous levels, striking a wall between those of the lower class that were left with so much grief & little money after the war while the upper classes had their huge houses out on the country to lavish in with more money. the women, especially, being left to hold the forte as their men hovered around the capital or had been left for dead created this imbalance in power that ultimately shifted a large part of this story.
this is also what made beatriz’ role hit so hard because here she is in the beginning, entering herself into a loveless marriage simply for the sake of finding solid footing for herself & her mother after the loss of the patriarch. even though we didn’t see much of her mom in the present, the relationship beatriz shares with her was read with so much love and care as beatriz was so desperate to try and make things better for the both of them after this war took away any source of stability. seeing the way she took on San Isidro and relied on the guidance her father gave during his time as general added a strength to her character that near the end completely swept me away. even more so was seeing how even in all that power she collected for herself, she still was beaten down and left barely standing.
and padre andrés was left no good either, as his own powers as a witch leave him at an impasse as we see him struggle over what’s right and what’s not when handling his powers and the darkness he carried with it, when all he wants is to be able to protect his own family. the relationship he shared with his Titi was also something where her presence stuck firmly to the past and yet in the present, every bit of her guidance and nurture towards him followed andrés with each step he took forward.
seeing how he & beatriz navigated this darkness that faced them together made for a very tense but also thrilling reading journey because the stakes felt so high and yet there was no chaos that reigned but just simply silence—silence that was then suddenly interrupted by the furious knocking of doors and rushing footsteps that followed after the peering of bright red eyes glowing in the dark. the fear that both beatriz & andrés felt was as harrowing as it was personal, as it connected me even more to the story than i could’ve ever hoped for, and i loved every bit of it.
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Colonisation, Body horror, Violence, and Classism
shannananahey'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
4.5
Moderate: Murder, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Death, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Blood, Abortion, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Physical abuse
brichneyfloss'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
5.0
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Murder
Minor: Infidelity