Sometimes a book just works. Sometimes a book does exactly what it needs to and exactly what you want it to, and this was definitely one of those times for me.

Usually I like to be stingy with my five-star ratings and save them for truly special books that are unlike anything I've read before. The Hacienda doesn't really fall into that category, but at the same time I can't think of an argument against it. It had an interesting prompt and inciting incident, not one but two great protagonists, some good spooks, an interesting setting and time period I've never seen tackled in media before, and a variety of memorable moments. Every plot point can be worked back logically and explained in a context that makes sense; there's a good sense of cause-and-effect. And even the side characters were fleshed out enough that I could envision what they would do if placed in a given situation. As a whole, it felt like a very polished presentation of lots of little things I've seen in other books, but compiled into one satisfying work.

I especially liked the dynamic the main protagonist (Beatriz) experienced, which was basically, "yes, this house is haunted; yes, it's scaring the shit out of me; yes, I might die here, but goddamn it, I will tame this house if I have to because I literally have no other choice." Meanwhile the other protagonist (Andrés) is trying to walk the line of his job (a literal Catholic priest) while wrestling with the folklore/witch doctor remedies his grandmother taught him and that he knows will accomplish more than any rosary would.

It was just a refreshing take on the haunted house subgenre and a good example that even more obscure historical eras (at least I don't know of any books or movies taking place immediately after the Mexican War of Independence in 1822) can serve as viable settings for horror stories. I want more books like this.