Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - The Hacienda

Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

50 reviews

a1exander's review against another edition

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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

4.0

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cashlyn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I started out LOVING this book, and was really interested in the characters and seeing how they would change and grow. However. The characters did not grow, and what plot growth they did have

being Andres “darkness” getting let out of his box

we didn’t even get to actually SEE. It was mainly just lightly referred to instead of us seeing any real difference in his character. I do still love Andres but I wish we had been allowed to get to know him better.
As for Beatriz…didn’t really like her in the end. She starts out as

what we hope will be a strong female character in a difficult position (ie being a woman with nothing to her name except a misogynistic husband and a house that hates her). She’s the daughter of a general, and despite her being “just a girl”, at first she feels strong and capable enough to change the house and make it her own. But, by the end she gives up and we actually see that she was just kinda weak and lame this whole time and she runs off with her tail tucked between her legs back to her mommy. The book started out with some great suspense and dread which I really loved, but by the end none of it seemed earned. Catalina, who was the big bad wolf the entire time, gets defeated within one page after all that??

Overall, I thought the romance was interesting (if underdeveloped and under explored) and would have liked to see that more in the book instead of the same old hauntings that just end up whipping itself into a frenzy for…nada. The plot was also a *vibe* and I would be interested in reading more like it bc I loved the setting and theme, just with some more actual stakes and consequences (also we got scared of the Inquisition and Padre Vicente for nothing…?)
Cañas has a really pretty writing style especially for settings and vibes which made it enjoyable to read and at first she set up the dread very nicely (couldn’t put the book down until about 3/4 of the way through).
Anyway, that all seemed scathing but I overall liked the book okay, it just needs many improvements.

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leligavi's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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? No

3.0

So this is what I thought Mexican Gothic was going to be. The two books get compared so often and now I really understand why. However, I think the fundamentals of the book are really, really different. Because of the location of the two books, this one feels more...Spanish? lol. I know that's kind of a whack adjective but it's true. I appreciate that about the book, but also understand why Mexican Gothic doesn't have that same feeling. My point being: if you aren't reading this book because everyone says it's so similar to Mexican Gothic, just read it. They aren't similar in the ways that matter.
I liked our two main POVs.

And that forbidden romance boi? Fantasitc. Loved them and I appreciate that the author made sure not to include the cheating trope because I would have DNF'd this book SO FAST if they had. Yeah, like her husband sucked and there was no love, but she was still married, friend. No cheating, please. And definitely not with the PRIEST. So, I'm glad the author had some class about it.

I didn't love the way that God is portrayed in the book. However, I do have to keep in mind that the book is in a Catholic perspective. That does change things.

However, as a Christian, it is hard to stomach that the priest did have premarital sex while in the service of priesthood? But also, I know he's human and human's make mistakes. But you can't just kind of throw it under the rug because you root for them. At the same time though, all of what I just said is true. But also Andres was also the person who really made the perspective of the Lord more bearable because he had a more accurate view of the Lord. But also he was a witch. It's kind of...conflicting honestly. Lol.

I will say that the only thing that bugged me a little at the beginning was the CONSTANT mention of needing to marry Rodolfo to gain her security and power and how the house is hers, etc. As a Hispanic lady, it irked me and then I had to remind myself of the time period and to just let it go. BUT IT JUST KEPT COMING UP. I felt like that was all that was written about for the first 15% of the book. But I mean, valid, I understand. It was just constant.
Uh, by the way, this book....is freaking scary. I didn't think that Mexican Gothic was scary but

BOI THIS ONE IS. WIFE #1 IS CRAZY AND SADISTIC AND THIS POLTERGIEST WILD.

I enjoyed it. I thought it was solid and I feel like I will definitely be reading other books by Cañas.

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heybrianagirl's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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? No

5.0

This book was so good! My friend recommended it to me and I played in her face for a little bit because it took two long for me to pick up, but when I did we went from 0-60 quickly! This is my first gothic horror novel I've ever read, so I'm not familiar with the tradition, but it was written well. The author also was able to weave in Mexican history as well that didn't feel like an info-dump or a pause in the story to educate the reader about something.

I will admit, this wasn't the first book I've read by Isabel Canas, as I've read Vampires of el Norte last month and enjoyed that as well.

The characters were enjoyable, likable, and believable, the flashbacks were woven well to give backstory and propel the story forward without ruining the pacing, the plot-twist took me by surprise and what I thought I knew wasn't what was really happening, and the romance between the two MCs was sweet but took nothing away from the main plot.

This book as well as Vampire of el Norte has cemented me as a big fan of this author!

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linzlee's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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daysireads's review against another edition

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dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A beautiful representation of gothic literature. This book will stay with me for a long time.

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tahsintries's review against another edition

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4.0

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questionablereads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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? Yes

4.5

This book did a wonderful job of being creepy and suspenseful, while maintaining beautiful story telling, it was so descriptive and heartbreaking at so many moments. While I enjoyed the characters, their background, their relationships with others, their growth, I also found myself never fully trusting anyone including the FMC Beatrice, which for me was intriguing but equally annoying as well. Gothic literature isn’t something I gravitate towards but my FOMO got the best of me, and I am walking away happy I read it.

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alexisgarcia's review against another edition

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dark 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? Yes

4.0

this was a very good gothic thriller. very atmospheric and the characters and plot were great!

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shahdirose's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.75

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