Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

31 reviews

scorpi07's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.5

I really enjoyed this! I would have given 5 stars except that some of the foreshadowing and groundwork given in the earlier timeline narrative felt drawn out, redundant, and therefore unnecessary. Overall though, excellent storytelling, I loved the characters and the spooky imagery.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Rape, Abortion, and War

javafenn's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

5.0

I absolutely loved this book!! It as spooky enough that I didn’t like reading it late into the night but couldn’t stop and the main character was as perfect for the story. She is youthful and naive but learns very quickly how bad people can be. There were some good twists that you can see coming and others you can’t. It kind of reminded me of a much better version of Rebecca mixed with Mexican Gothic. All around fantastic book! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Rape, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Classism

hyphae's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Violence, Abortion, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Religious bigotry

noshakira's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I absolutely loved this book. It's equal parts spooky, empowering, and romantic. It perfectly captures the feelings, both good and bad, when you walk into a space that feels like it is living. Typically, I dislike period pieces, and would have avoided a book set in the 1800s like this one, but the storyline didn't feel as dated as many others and focused more on the timeless human and haunting aspects. Beautifully written and read like a movie in my mind. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism

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!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Racism, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

shahdirose's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Infidelity, Rape, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail

heather_harrison's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

Fantastically creepy gothic tale, set in post-independence war Mexico. Features strong heroine, creepy house, a mysteriously dead first wife, shunned priest, witchcraft and forbidden romance. Explores ideas of colonialism, racial castes, religion and power. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Murder, and Colonisation

Minor: Religious bigotry and War

queerreaderchaos's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

I love haunted houses. Houses that are characters in their own right, like the hacienda San Isidro. 
The story reminded me a lot of Rebecca, but leaning more into the haunting and ghost Rebecca lacked. The gothic atmosphere, the Mexican backstory, and author’s style made it a book I would definitely recommend in spooky, gloomy weather.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

Minor: Infidelity, Rape, Vomit, Abortion, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

blakeandbooks's review against another edition

mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit, Pregnancy, and War

hannah_and_her_stories's review against another edition

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Racism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Cursing, Gore, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual assault, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and War

Minor: Abortion