Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

49 reviews

teddie_valetine98's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence, Grief, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Death of parent

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!

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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

snowhite197's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Blood, and Religious bigotry

kate_arts's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.75

This really is similar to Hill House but in a more impactful way. I think the decent into madness is more relatable in this story and there’s a similar element of not knowing what is real or not. I enjoyed how this is historical fiction, but history of the time doesn’t overwhelm the story.

I loved the relationship between Beatriz and Andres. I loved Andres conflict with religion and how you can find “faith” in your own way and not necessarily in the way some catholic priest wants you to. Beatriz is also very relatable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Rape and Sexual harassment

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. 

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Religious bigotry and War

matcha_pages's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I don't normally read horror yet I had an entertianing time reading, certain parts flew by because I had to know what happened next. I love me some slow burn, forbidden romance

and even better when it's not meant to be

. 

There wasn't anything that stood out to me, the plot was predictable and the ending felt flat compared to all the build up. It was still an easy, solid read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Murder

Moderate: Violence and Religious bigotry

Minor: Racism and Rape

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

dark 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? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Colonisation

Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Rape, Sexual content, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Physical abuse, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Colorism.

quiteawful's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

The first chapter of this book made me concerned that all of it would be quite flowery and difficult to read. This faded after the first chapter - the characters made me smile and hope and feel their passionate emotions and they deal with everything. 

Rollercoaster of emotions. A little disappointed in the ending (

what’s in that letter!!!! Make them kiss more ;-;

), but a solid historical romantic gothic horror fantasy novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Abortion

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

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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