The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
Good morning, afternoon, or whenever it is that you read this.
Last October, I read three novels: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, The Spite House by Johnny Compton, and Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas. While I enjoyed all of them, I'm a sucker for romantic subplots, which received the most focus in Vampires of El Norte.
When planning out my reading for this month, I remembered that The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas was already on my to-read list. It instantly made my Halloween reading docket.
Setting and Premise
The Hacienda is set in Mexico following the dissolution of the first Empire of Mexico. The story follows Beatriz, the daughter of a general executed for his ties to the Emperor of Mexico. With few prospects, she marries Don Rodolfo, the patron of Hacienda San Isidro. This gives her social standing she thought she had lost, and economic security to boot. However, things soon sour when Beatriz discovers there is something evil at Hacienda San Isidro.
Our secondary point-of-view is Padre Andres. He is a young, handsome priest from the peasantry, torn between the ways of his tradition and the ways of Christianity. He becomes Beatriz's steadfast ally against the evil hellbent on killing our heroine.
Themes
Systemic oppression, power dynamics, taboo, forbidden romance, cultural erasure. colonialism
Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. It takes a lot of what I enjoyed about Vampires of El Norte and improves upon it. I think the social commentary is stronger. I think the two main characters are more likable. The romance and horror were both a slow burn that steadily and slowly increased the tension. Vampires' tension and romance, by contrast, happened abruptly. The narrative definitely benefits from some breathing space.
If you’re looking for gothic horror, definitely check this out.
As always, check the content warnings to see if this book is right for you.