an hacienda with a dark secret. chills that snake through the halls. candlelight, burning bright, then extinguished. smoke plumes. red eyes in the dark. crucifixes. a sugar-spun woman. threats whispered at night. voices in the dark. maguey. the sharp tang of alcohol. nightmares that break through dreams. darkness locked in a box. a witch priest. a woman seeking peace.

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the hacienda by is the perfect blend of gothic horror that binds two unlikely characters together. this book is proof that you need more horror romance in your life! i felt this way when i read vampires of el norte, and am even more sure of it now.

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beatriz is the new wife of rich rodolfo, who arrives in san isidro, a sprawling hacienda with a dark secret buried in its walls. as beatriz attempts to make the hacienda her home, shadowy rumors of what happened to her husband’s deceased wife turn into real threats that haunt her nights, causing her to seek the help of the only one who will listen: andrés, a priest with experience in supernatural matters.

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this story captivated me with its revelations and dark encounters. i loved the thread of romance that unfolds between beatriz and andrés as they find solace in each other while peeling back the layers of what is haunting san isidro — and figure out how to banish the dark core of familial, historical, and colonial horror that refuses to be silenced. beatriz must find the strength to fight for herself while andrés must make peace with the darkness within.

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one of my favorite quotes: “When a man makes a promise, he makes it on his honor. When a witch makes a promise, they feel it in their bones. Titi believed words are power: they may lay your destiny in stone or shatter a legacy altogether. Words can damn or bless in equal measure, and are never to be used lightly.”

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read this book if you want to transport yourself into a chilling ghost story with a historical twist — but be sure to light some candles to keep the ghosts away as you read 🕯️