Thank you NetGalley and Solaris for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I heard so many good things about this book, and unfortunately I was very disappointed. I got quite bored and the plot seemed to lag. I was expecting more suspense and tension. I thought the structure of the plot was hard to follow at times and I had no clue what was going on half the time. It was horror then turned to romance, and that whole genre kind of disappeared.

Would I recommend this? Maybe? Not sure.

The gothic vibes of this book really worked for me as did the forbidden romance element. The writing was engaging and atmospheric and I didn’t want the book to be over! I do think that the ending fell a bit short for me and I would have liked to have seen just a little bit more at the ending but I understand that this is primarily a me issue and I think that the ending does make sense for the story.

4.25*
A modern gothic ghost story. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the majority of this wonderful ghost story that was simply oozing with gothic tropes that I couldn't help but imagine the swish of long gowns and the throbbing heat from the walls within this book. It was magnificent but the reason I couldn't give it the full 5 stars is because I kind of found myself distracted away from the story towards the end, but maybe that was a me problem rather than the writing and plot??? Anyway, if you love the gothic side of horror books you have a treat right here!
*EDIT* I had previously read The Vampires of El Norte which was written after this one and I have to say this book completely pisses all over the 'vampires one. Far superior style in this

Atmospheric and creepy, this builds slowly on the vibes of a house steeped in traumatic history against the backdrop of a Mexico in turmoil. The pacing is very slow though, and you really need to commit to the process and story to see any of the payoff. I also wasn't that fond of the characters, who pale in comparison to the Hacienda, and I particularly didn't like André's perspective. It felt forced and unnecessary, as did the relationship dynamics between the two main characters. Knowing that this is heavily inspired by Rebecca, the plot itself also just doesn't feel all that unique or original. I like the representation but I don't think this will stay with me for very long.

This was a really beautifully written, got his ghost story about a haunted house. I'm not big on romance stories however the forbidden romance taking place didn't take over the story and was more of slow sizzle that burned brighter over time so that the gothic, horror element of the story was still central. There was honestly so much going on in this story and I just thought it was so well written and entirely engaging and captivating!

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

A solid debut that perfectly captures all the gothic horror vibes in both atmosphere and story.

The Hacienda follows Beatriz, a newly married young woman as she comes to live at her husband’s home and finds that it not only holds many secrets but also something in the shadows that doesn’t want her to stay. Thus she turns to the local church and a young priest who has secrets of his own to purge the house of its darkness.

Admittedly the overall plot of this book isn’t anything mind-blowingly new but Cañas’ immersive writing and the backdrop of life following the Mexican War of Independence and its accompanying commentary on colonialism, the class system and cultural practices gave the book a fresh feel.

Much of the beginning is about setting the scene, allowing us to get to known Beatriz and how she has ended up where she is, laying out the socio-political and economic issues of the time and bringing the ominous Hacienda San Isidro to life. I initially picked the book up towards the end of October and foolishly put it down at around 40% right before everything really got going. Returning to it I flew through the rest in about 2 days.

I don’t always read horror books but the few that I have picked up so far have made me realise that in written form the genre doesn’t always capture the full essence of the horror side of things as there are often moments which would have more impact in the visual form or with the aid of music such as in film and this book is no different. Rather than a scare-factor I feel like there is more of a thrill-factor with these kinds of stories when things get tense. Not that the horror elements in this book were bad, they were actually well written but definitely had more of a classic feel to them. What stood out the most was how the house was made into its own character.

Speaking of character work I loved both protagonists as well as the bond they formed over their shared experiences over the course of the story. However, I feel like on page the romance side didn’t fully come through for me or at least it didn’t feel equally stablished on both sides? I kind of wanted more from that side of the plot by the end..

Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable read and I will definitely be checking out Cañas’ other work!
Final Rating – 3.75/5 Stars

Isabel Cañas' The Hacienda is an extraordinary haunted house tale that completely consumed me. From start to finish, it was the only book I could focus on—everything else I picked up felt unworthy by comparison. It’s as if the story itself demanded my undivided attention. Highly recommended

Love this! The writing and atmosphere made the book for me, it felt so vivid and I was immersed into the setting and plot. The characters were great and I liked the hint of romance too. The historical setting also elevated it and added more conversations around colonialism, colourism etc. that I appreciated. Overall great October read!

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas. Mexican Gothic meets Rebecca is what I was sold and I LOVE Rebecca so had high hopes. Hopes were not met at height. This is literally the plot of Rebecca with a priest in. The house is its own character but when it comes to dead first wives I preferred Rebecca. My other issue with this is lack of closure but everyone else will love it because it is gothic and it is scary. My take away from this is learn from Daphne.

I ripped right through this brilliant read. It has great suspense throughout, an admirable flawed heroine and plenty of mystery to fuel the plot. It's hard to believe this book is a debut - the prose is beautiful and crisp and the characters are fully rounded and the somber atmosphere almost palpable. I can't wait to read more from this brilliant author.

I am a little late in my review but u really did enjoy this one! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book.

This book is so beautiful. It's my first by this author, and I've already purchased her second (and this one in hardback too!); I adore her narrative voice so much.

From descriptions of places to heartfelt feelings, The Hacienda is a journey. Following an isolated woman and a somewhat unorthodox priest, we find two clever individuals encountering strange circumstances that they still know to be true. It's not in the slightest bit contrived, with no forced romance or haunted house shenanigans - this is a deeply human tale of connection, history and learning what is true about oneself, in a world where the craziest attitudes are those displayed by the 'normal' folk.

This made me want to learn Spanish, to visit the world the author draws so beautifully with her words, and to feel those relationships. Yes, the undercurrent of darkness was a delightful shiver that kept me turning the pages, but it was added spice to what is a truly gorgeous and memorable book.

An author who is now firmly on my Must Buy list.

This is everything I want a haunted house story to be. I loved to get to know the characters, to learn more about the social classes and issues, the magic, … It’s spooky and beautifully written. The descriptions of what was going on were amazing and I could picture this brilliantly as a film or tv series. “The Hacienda” is everything I wanted “Mexican Gothic” to be. (I nevertheless liked “Mexican Gothic”, but I wanted something else and “The Hacienda” delivered.) Thank you for the eARC!

I really enjoyed this gothic novel , the Mexican gothic vibes were on point and the atmosphere was brilliant! I adored the forbidden romance in this one too! Fab read!

disclaimer: I received this free from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

rating: 3.5 stars

content warnings: blood, gore, violence, rape, murder

'When a man makes a promise, he makes it on his honour. When a witch makes a promise, they feel it in their bones.'

The Hacienda is described as Mexican Gothic meets Rebecca & takes place in a remote & sinister house after the Mexican war of independence. It is a gothic novel and while the tense atmosphere was done well - the feeling of dread could have been better & I would have loved more depth into the generational trauma, wickedness, & impact it can have on a home. Our two protagonists were likeable & easy to root for and I adored their 'forbidden romance' - a priest and a newlywed - and one thing Cañas does well is yearning. What I would have loved to have seen done better were the complex relationship between all these women & that it was really explored in more depth. A solid gothic horror read.

An interesting read! I started the audio to read alongside and hated it. So glad I stuck with the e-arc as it was an amazing story. One that will stay with me for a long time I’m sure!

The Hacienda was a book that I had been eagerly anticipating and it took me far too long to getting around to reading it. That said, my expectations for this book were exceeded. The Hacienda was easily one of my favourite reads of 2023. It brought to life the time period and location so vividly that I genuinely felt immersed in the setting. The characters were fully fleshed out and multi-faceted which was done very well. The romance was flawless and the horror elements were terrifying with the perfect level of scare for me. I really appreciated the build up of tension and escalation of the horror as well as the choices that Beatriz ultimately makes as a character who has grown throughout the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed every page and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

This 2022 debut novel has already garnered a lot of praise, with comparisons to Mexican Gothic and Rebecca. And, I have to agree, if you liked those books, you will probably love The Hacienda.

Set in 1800s Mexico, the book follows Beatriz as she enters a new marriage in a bid to save her family from poverty and humiliation after her father was executed by the government. She wants a home to call her own, and her new husband, Rudolfo, offers her that in the form of Hacienda San Isidro.

But as soon as she moves into the grand country estate, she realises she may have got more than she bargained for. Her husband’s sister, Juana, also resides there – someone who he hadn’t mentioned at all previously – and she’s an abrasive, prickly character. The villagers make vague references to Rudolfo’s first wife, who seems to have died under mysterious circumstances. And then there’s the house itself.

The novel’s namesake, the Hacienda, is its own character at the heart of this novel. Grand but dilapidated, the old manor does not accept its newcomer easily. The author’s prose is haunting and evocative, and there’s some truly scary moments as Beatriz tries to build a home there when that home itself is against her.

As Rudolfo leaves Beatriz alone for long periods away on business, she enlists the help of a young local priest, Andres, to help her cleanse the house of its evil. Andres has his own connections to the house, the land, and the powers which might just be enough to save Beatriz, and perhaps win a place in her heart too.

The haunted house and forbidden romance are hardly original, but in this debut they are brought to life in a vivid, compelling story. The writer skilfully brings to life the imposing old house with evocative prose, depicts a slice of Mexican history and throws in a little gore and horror along the way.

As far as horror books goes, I'd say this was quite basic. I liked the setting of the book but the mystery was quite easy to predict. Characters too were predictable in their actions and didn't have anything new to offer.

What works in favour of the book is its readability. It reads fast and is a real page turner. Considering this is a debut, I'd say, it wasn't bad but definitely not worth the hype this book has been getting.

Thanks to Netgalley and Solaris for a free e-arc, in exchange of an honest review!

I had high expectations of liking this and it certainly delivered!
I love a good haunted house story and this one was atmospheric from the get go
It had beautiful writing which was easy to visualise and follow.
Quick to get through when having a reading stint, as i didn't want to put it down unless i was just too tired to read
I liked the romantical element too which you don't often see in horror

I have already purchased the next book by Isabel and i am really looking forward to it!

4 stars