I loved this novel which allowed me to start my fall reading in the best conditions. Even if I can't say that this story scared me - I rarely experience this kind of feeling when reading - I let myself be carried away by the atmosphere created by the author which is heavy and uncomfortable to wish. As I said above, this story takes up many codes of the gothic genre, we cannot therefore qualify it as original, but it allows us to fill the horizon of expectations of a reader who is an amateur of this type of story. novel. I found what I liked there, especially since I liked the place given to witchcraft via the character of Andrès. The heroine, who may seem unsympathetic at first because she is only interested in her social advancement, ultimately turns out to be touching.

Thanks to the character of the priest who immediately allies himself with our heroine, we are not in a scenario which leaves doubt as to the madness of the young girl. Thus, we are certain that abnormal things are happening in this house and our questions will therefore focus on the origins of this phenomenon. It's a bias that I really appreciated because it highlights the relationship that develops between Beatriz and Andrès. This little romantic touch in the middle of stories of murder and ghosts is a glimmer of hope which allows certain aspects of the story to be softened.

I have heard so many good things about "The Hacienda" before picking it up that I went into it with pretty high expectations. This sounds like just my thing for dark autumn evenings: gothic vibes, a maybe haunted house, a story likened to 'Rebecca' and 'Mexican Gothic' which I both loved. Turns out I can barely go wrong with books like this, because "The Hacienda" was highly enjoyable.

It's a beautiful written gothic tale about a woman trying to find a way out of her difficult situation by marrying a rich, powerful man and moving to his gorgeous hacienda, only to find seemingly certain doom. I quite liked our protagonist, Beatriz. She's a complex character and her motivations are relatable, and I really enjoyed learning more about Mexican history through her story. In her new home, she also meets a mysterious and handsome young priest, Andres, who becomes her partner in trying to figure out what horrors lie within the hacienda. He added a bit of magic into the mix which was intriguing, and I didn't expect to actually be rooting for the romance between them. Guess Hot Priests have their special place in my heart after Fleabag.

The pacing is rather slow and Cañas definitely takes her sweet time to get to the reveals and bigger story beats, but I still got through the book rather quickly. I did feel like the last 25% or so were a bit of a letdown, with everything suddenly happening really fast, almost in a rushed way. As someone who loves good antagonists and villains, I was a bit disappointed because we really didn't learn that much about them, which is why certain reveals didn't quite work for me. I was more 'meh' than anything about them. I also didn't like how Beatriz' main motivation to marry her rich man even though she doesn't care much about him, even though he belongs to the faction that killed her father, was to save her mother and make sure she has a good life. A great motivation with actual stakes that are, let's say, rendered moot by the ending. It felt a bit of a cheap cop-out.

All in all, I had fun with this one. I really liked the vibes, I liked the focus on the characters, and the house was properly scary. It's not perfect, but it's an atmospheric read and easily worth 3,5 stars, rounding up.

Spooky gothic horror with a romantic added bonus layer. The Hacienda takes place in the countryside of a newly independent Mexico mending its wounds. The land the homes and the people are all haunted in their own ways. A gripping read!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'The Hacienda' by Isabel Cañas.

'The Hacienda' was such a beautifully written book and I flew through it rather quickly. The story was interesting and I was immersed and although this isn't a genre I usually go for, I loved this book. Isabel Cañas' writing is just an absolute delight and I recommend this book.

I had such a great time reading this one! It's the perfect read if you're looking for gothic, haunted house vibes and all the eerie, creepy feelings that come with it. Throughout the whole book you have this sense of uneasiness and dread as to what will happen next and I really loved being at the edge of my seat for it. I also really enjoyed the historical element to it, the setting and the atmosphere made for such an interesting and captivating read.

I highly recommend this one especially around the Autumn/Halloween time!

It clearly reminds me of 'Rebecca', which is a problem - 'The Hacienda' simply can't compete.
I did not enjoy the prose, it was too overwritten for me, full of meaningless metaphors just for the sake of a flowery prose.

I love a good haunted house and this book had an amazing haunting!

Beatriz's move into "The Hacienda", learning of its darkness and secrets was amazing to read. The first 1/3 of the book actually had me quite spooked and I'll always have a mental picture of San Idris when I think of a creepy house thanks to this book.

But other elements such as random insertions of supernatural beings without much explanation and the romance made the story drag out. I would have loved to learn about more the people who lived in the house, what happened there, and Beatriz herself.

Andres seemed like a two dimensional character who had nothing but a hero complex and a some likeness towards Edward Cullen, unfortunately, I didn't feel any emotion towards him but all the women were well written.

I'd like to read Isabel Cañas's next book "Vampires of El Norte" too.

3./5

Agh, gothic romance revival! This one combines all my favourite microtropes: anti-colonialism, identity crises, vague folk horror, and romancing the Catholic priest while facing unspeakable horrors. I had been looking forward to this read since long before its release, as I found not only the premise but the author herself during her (then) pursuit of a PhD very relatable.

I kept postponing the actual reading as a treat until after I handed in my own dissertation, and then was miraculously granted an eARC of the UK edition almost immediately. That's called fate. I'm glad to say that it was not only an extremely rewarding novel for me personally, but also the perfect spooky mood enhancer during my late October vacation!

Cañas occasionally writes some truly horrifying imagery into her otherwise not too scary book - the true horror, as always, are the people. I'm convinced this could have gone further into dark territory, and you can tell The Hacienda is a debut with tiny holes in the plot tapestry yet to be filled. But judging from the short fiction Cañas has previously published (and which I all compulsively read and saved into PDFs during a Sunday afternoon), there is much more quality writing to come.

The historical vibes were impeccable, and padre Andrés is worth all the stars. I'm not usually a fan of dual POV romance, but the yearning... yes. No, honestly, what a man. Makes me want to convert to catholicism.

This atmospheric novel transported me to the haunted halls of Beatriz’ unfortunate new home. It was more spooky than scary but no less engaging. The gothic tale was utterly compelling, in large part due to the author’s penchant for leaving the reader on a tantalising cliffhanger at the end of each chapter. Therefore, the novel became addictive to read.

I really liked both Beatriz and Andrés. Beatriz was such a strong, courageous and compassionate heroine. I sympathised with her plight, both before and during her stay at Hacienda San Isidro. I was relieved when her path crossed with Andrés. He himself was characterised by his kindness and bravery. They both deserved to have each other in their lives. Beatriz saw and valued the goodness in Andrés even when he doubted himself, while Andrés became Beatriz’ supporter and protector through all of the paranormal madness. Their chemistry was undeniable so I was deeply invested in their romance, as well as their fight to rid the Hacienda from its evil spirit.

Granted, I wasn’t always entirely sure what was going on but I was still interested in uncovering the truth behind the Hacienda’s resident demon. The ending was bittersweet but luckily managed to leave me on a hopeful note.

Overall, this gothic tale wove a thrilling mystery with shocks, surprises and a dash of romance. I was deeply invested in the characters’ courageous mission, making the story addictive to read.

This was a lovely slow paced horro/thriller it wasn’t exactly for me as I prefer faster paced books but the atmosphere was wonderful

Wow! Historical fiction meets a paranormal mystery.

The story is set in the time after the Mexican War of Independence. Beatriz is the daughter of a military general, who has been killed by the insurgents. Her mother and she lose everything, and have no choice except to go and live with some relatives, but they are treated no better than servants.

She decides that the only option she has to improve their lives is to marry a man called Don Rodolfo and be his second wife. Rumors are that his first wife died under suspicious circumstances, but she doesn't heed them. All she cares about is that she will be free from a life of drudgery, and she will be the mistress of her husband's hacienda, called San Isidro.

However, when she arrives there, she realizes that she will be living with her husband's weird sister Juana, hostile servants, and most importantly, the house itself, that seems to have a life of its own, that is dark and evil and some malicious entity permeates every wall of the house.

The only hope she has is the priest is Andreas, who is the only one who believes her, because he knows that there's something wrong with the house. This is because he has a big and dangerous secret of his own, but he knows he can help her to exorcise the house. The book is told from the alternating POVs of these two characters.

The author manages to create a foreboding, dark and heavy atmosphere for the house. One can almost feel the dread and claustrophobia that she must feel, walking through those dark and oppressive hallways and rooms. There are some pretty spooky scenes in it as well, and if you have a vivid imagination to convert the words into visions, these will definitely give you the chills!

It is evenly-paced, and there is no unnecessary use of language, lengthy descriptions or rambling of any kind. Eminently readable and interesting with well-etched characters, and a subtle touch of forbidden romance. Something about this book reminded me of one of my other favourite books, 'Like Water for Chocolate'.

Would definitely recommend.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Solaris for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest review.

I really enjoyed this but it was a little slow and also a little predictable as well. The writing was beautiful so I will read from this author again! 3.75

4/5

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc for an honest review

i never thought i'd like this book but i LOVED IT. the writing was well executed and the characters were written as well. i felt like some parts were very confusing and messy, and that ending was sick... i liked the ending but I must admit it made my heart HURT so bad it was a bit abrupt. overall, this book was amazing and spooky and i would highly recommend it for sure

I loved this book! A deeply engrossing story set in 19th century Mexico with a very unsettling, Gothic feel. There are some absolutely wonderful characters in this story, the malevolent haunted hacienda taking centre stage throughout. An absolutely fantastic ghost story filled with chilling dread and forbidden romance. A great read.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 REVIEW!!!!

The Hacienda - Isabel Cañas

I actually had this on 4 stars until I started writing this review and realised that I’m actually obsessed with it. This piece of gothic historical fiction is, at its centre, a story of a haunted house.

Looking deeper, it is packed with social commentary and tragedy that drew me into the horror of the expectations of being a woman in the 1800s. This is the story of a woman, scared to death of not having a safe space in the world she’s grown into; and a priest, scared to death of his dark secrets coming to light for a second time; yet giving his all to keep Beatriz safe from harm when her husband refuses.

As a lover of a happily ever after, I must admit the ending of this book made my heart HURT - but the ending was perfect, tying everything together in a way that felt like Cañas did right by the characters. Other writers may have tried to shape the ending in a way that would make shippers happy but I’m so happy Cañas didn’t do that - she stayed loyal to Beatriz and Andrés to the very last page.

(Also this is soooo rogue but if you like the ship in fleabag you’ll probably love this book because although it’s not comedy in the slightest - the morally grey priest and sexual tension is 10000000% there.)

Highlyyyyyy recommend reading this one - it’s a perfect scary-but-not-terrifying read ahead of Halloween!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this ARC 💫

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The Hacienda is a mix of historical fiction with a gothic house horror. Set after the Mexican War of Independence, Beatriz and her mother have no choice but to go live with the only family they have left.

"You must be strong," she said. "We must bear this with dignity."
With dignity.
With silence was what she meant.


So when the handsome Rodolfo proposes to Beatriz, she seizes the opportunity to marry him...despite the rumours of the suspicious death of his first wife. Now Beatriz is living at the Hacienda, and is suspecting that it may be haunted.

"If I were honest, if I were not trying to hold the house at arm's length out of fear it would somehow infect me with madness, I might admit that even in daylight, I could feel the house settling around me. As if I were a fly on the hide of a giant beast that twitched in sleep.
Now it was waking."


If you are a fan of a good atmospheric book, haunted houses and gothic horror, then this is for you.

And if you are a fan of a historical fiction, with a strong female main character and a handsome priest with a forbidden romance...this is also for you.

"Men do not trouble themselves with women's bodies, save when they can be of use to serve or to sate them."


It did take me a little bit to get into the story, and it would definitely be considered a slow burn, but once I truly got into it, I was HOOKED and couldn't wait to see how the story would unfold.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Isabel Cañas's debut novel delivers a perfect Historical and Gothic Horror story. The atmosphere in this novel is so intense, Cañas writes this house in such a haunting way and also the description of what Beatriz had to endure was delivered perfectly. I felt connected to Beatriz and often times feeling sorry for everything she's had to go through all in the hopes of seeking a new start for herself and her mam. She's strong and independent and knows that she has to make tough decisions in order to get through life. She's very resilient and this novel definitely portrays that element very well.

The Hacienda is set just after the War of Independence in Mexico and whilst I didn't know much about this war, I didn't think this was an issue when reading this novel. Descriptions and history is delivered where needed.

Cañas created a sense of unease throughout this novel and really pulls you into the story rooting for Beatriz and uncovering the secrets of her new husband's estate.

This is perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic, Rebecca, The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Las Lagrimas.

Isabel Cañas ghost story in “The Hacienda” was an interesting read in many ways. I, an European, lack so much knowledge about American (both North, Central and South) history and through reading book by authors from these continents and the many countries therein I feel like doors opening. There is so much to discover and think about. The book is set in just a few years after the Mexican War of Independence in 1823.

To begin with I had to google what a hacienda was – I mean, that is a big part of the story, and with the newfound knowledge that it’s a country estate I set off. In the story we follow the newly wedded Beatriz as she enters her new home at this big hacienda in the countryside. She is introduced to her husband’s sister and the limited staff that still works at the estate. The hacienda is haunted by the memory* of her husbands first wife who passed away some years before.

This book was good and I enjoyed it. I liked the spooky atmosphere of this kind of derelict old, big house and this young woman just trying to fit in to unspoken norms and rules. I will read more books by Cañas, her way of writing was very enjoyable toe me.

3.5 Stars.

Unfortunately I didn't initially vibe with the book and I found myself quite bored.

At the 70% mark something happened that I actually thought was fun and a bit creepy and after that point there were 2-3 creepy points and one plot twist that was a complete shock that I didn't see coming.

I definitely think it's an objectively good book but it just wasn't the perfect book for me.

Thankyou to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5, really.

As Isabel Cañas puts it in the author's note, "The Hacienda is a story about the terrible things people will do to cling to power. A story about resilience and resistance in the face of a world that would strip you of power." It's also about witchcraft, forbidden, slow-burn romance, and an incredibly active haunted house. Haunted not only by stuck souls and hatred but also, as the author says, "the ghosts of colonialism."

I loved this so much! This is my first Isabel Cañas book and it was amazing. The mystery of the haunted house, the nuanced characters, the underlying themes, the descriptive and atmospheric writing... It all makes for a very creepy and powerful read that I deeply enjoyed. I can't wait to read more from this author.