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acrosstheskyinstars's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
2.5 stars for plot, 3.5 stars for characters, 3 stars average of the two
I really liked the premise of the book, but the plot was a lot different than the story I wanted. The Mexican-American war truly is only a backdrop. It barely matters to the plot in my opinion, which I found a bit disappointing. I liked the two main characters, but the Nena’s parents in particular were hard to understand frequently. Despite the wartime setting, the pacing also felt slow to me. Pick this one up if you really only want a light dose of the historical setting and don’t mind a slow-paced read.
I really liked the premise of the book, but the plot was a lot different than the story I wanted. The Mexican-American war truly is only a backdrop. It barely matters to the plot in my opinion, which I found a bit disappointing. I liked the two main characters, but the Nena’s parents in particular were hard to understand frequently. Despite the wartime setting, the pacing also felt slow to me. Pick this one up if you really only want a light dose of the historical setting and don’t mind a slow-paced read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Grief, Misogyny, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Abandonment, Classism, Gore, Blood, Animal death, and Violence
ashley_mrose530's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was beautifully written and decently paced. I liked the world building as well as the connection between the Yankees and the vampires as an allegory while also being a tangible connection in the story.
I really enjoyed the main characters and especially Nena. She was so quick, smart, and knew exactly what she wanted and how to work the system to get it. I liked that her only flaw was getting the courage to stand up to her parents. It's very realistic especially for the time period she was living in. And Nestor was so sweet and obviously loved her very much from the beginning.
I think the only real issue I had with this book is I thought it would be more high energy and fast-paced than it was. It definitely starts off kind of slow and even the first vampire attack when they were kids was followed up by slower plot points. But it did pick up when they finally went to war a little over half way through. I just wanted expecting a slower start I think, but it was needed to set up the romance plot line.
All in all a really great book and I'm glad I picked it up.
I really enjoyed the main characters and especially Nena. She was so quick, smart, and knew exactly what she wanted and how to work the system to get it. I liked that her only flaw was getting the courage to stand up to her parents. It's very realistic especially for the time period she was living in. And Nestor was so sweet and obviously loved her very much from the beginning.
I think the only real issue I had with this book is I thought it would be more high energy and fast-paced than it was. It definitely starts off kind of slow and even the first vampire attack when they were kids was followed up by slower plot points. But it did pick up when they finally went to war a little over half way through. I just wanted expecting a slower start I think, but it was needed to set up the romance plot line.
All in all a really great book and I'm glad I picked it up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Misogyny, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Colonisation
ktv's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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
Loved it!!!! Expected nothing less from Isabel Cañas. Really liked getting both Nena and Nestor’s perspectives. So action packed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Gore, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, War, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, and Colonisation
Minor: Cursing, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
dandydoodle's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Honestly wish some parts had been more fleshed out, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. The writing was good, the story pulls you forward easily. I wish some of the “horror” elements were more fleshed out and the comparison between the vampires and the Yanquis could’ve been pushed further, but the point was communicated. It’s all somewhat of a backdrop to the romance between Nena and Néstor anyways.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, War, Alcoholism, Blood, Colonisation, Death, Grief, and Gun violence
triple_m'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? No
4.5
This was book so deeply romantic. Definitely more of a romance than a thriller/horror but I still thought the vampire aspect was eerie and there was some gore.
Both of the main characters are so three-dimensional and I genuinely understand both of their perspectives, decisions, and actions.
My heart really ached for these characters but it made the emotional pay off so worth it.
Both of the main characters are so three-dimensional and I genuinely understand both of their perspectives, decisions, and actions.
My heart really ached for these characters but it made the emotional pay off so worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Misogyny, and Colonisation
Moderate: Gore, Blood, and Gun violence
salemander's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, War, Body horror, and Violence
kate_arts's review against another edition
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: War, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Classism, Death, and Blood
Moderate: Colonisation, Abandonment, and Gun violence
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: Colonisation, Classism, and Violence
Moderate: War and Injury/Injury detail
vicktoreaux's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Colonisation, War, Death, Gore, Grief, and Classism
danaaliyalevinson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? It's complicated
3.75
A fascinating take on the Vampire legend set against the backdrop of the Mexican American War. Like all good vampire novels in which the vampire is a metaphor, here they were a metaphor for the loss of a way of life and American expansionist violence.
I will say, I wanted to like this one more than I did. I definitely liked it but I wanted to love it. It suffered from my biggest pet peeve: when most of the conflict arises from two characters seemingly deliberately refusing to communicate.
And this frustration was compounded by the fact that the book switched POVs between the two main characters who were deliberately not communicating so we were constantly getting inner monologue about said miscommunication from both sides. And for me I also found myself frustrated by the constant switching of POV when it was most often switching between the POV of two characters in a scene together. So it felt a bit unnecessary. There was nothing being revealed plot wise for the most part that the reader needed to see a different POV to understand. It could’ve just been written from an omniscient 3rd person or third person multiple which it basically already is, without distinguishing between POVs.
And this frustration was compounded by the fact that the book switched POVs between the two main characters who were deliberately not communicating so we were constantly getting inner monologue about said miscommunication from both sides. And for me I also found myself frustrated by the constant switching of POV when it was most often switching between the POV of two characters in a scene together. So it felt a bit unnecessary. There was nothing being revealed plot wise for the most part that the reader needed to see a different POV to understand. It could’ve just been written from an omniscient 3rd person or third person multiple which it basically already is, without distinguishing between POVs.
These frustrations did ease by the second half, and I'll say that the final act really saved the book for me. It was exquisite. The very very end was a bit too 'easy’ in my opinion, but generally the climax was incredibly well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Animal death, Blood, Colonisation, Death, Violence, and War