A review by jbpalumbo
The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes

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

2.75

I wanted to like this book and, I guess, got swept up in the publicity around it. I do appreciate its focus on finding your power where you are, but the language the author used to bring that to fruition felt uneven - like she was still tethered to the kids/YA world, trying to be mostly approachable and informal while weaving in some SAT vocabulary. Similarly, her treatment of the book’s themes felt too heavy-handed for an adult audience. The magical world building (or lack thereof) felt a bit sophomoric and the book-within-the-book trope a bit tired. I’m looking forward to moving onto the next thing.
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