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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
poisoned_icecream's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Horror books about haunted houses are one of my favorite kind of books, so I was eager to read this. It definitely lived up to what I expected of it. It is about a group of people who got tickets to explore the chateau of a wealthy man and the Tour Guide. Among the guests are a husband, wife and their teenage son, a man wearing a bow tie, a historian, and a man from Baltimore. They are all so well-written that it felt as I were reading about real people. As they are led through the rooms, the guests touch something despite the rule about not touching anything, and each time they do a specific memory of the grisly crime that occurred in that is revealed. The only time I felt bored while reading this was whenever Ned, a man who works at the chateau, thinks about the woman who left him alone at the altar. I really don't care so much about marriage stuff. Anyway this is a great gothic horror novel and I would recommend to readers who like Shirley Jackson's novel The Haunting of Hill House.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Misogyny, and Classism
Minor: Pregnancy
tlongtin's review
4.0
Short and fun ghost story. I will say most of the plot was pretty easy to guess but there was a very enjoyable twist at the end. Worth a quick read.
kate_rescueandreading's review
3.0
A hauntingly poetic and well written story. The imagery and descriptions were fantastic. The characters were interesting, although the “guide” and his motives puzzled me.
I wanted a bit more from the plot, but overall, this is well worth a read!
The author’s foreward about her grandmother was beautiful.
I wanted a bit more from the plot, but overall, this is well worth a read!
The author’s foreward about her grandmother was beautiful.
bluecanary's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
lubo_lovestoread's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I forced myself to get halfway through it but it was tough. The plot moves so slowly, and none of the characters are likeable, or even interesting. Everyone is either sad or just a terrible person. Plus, the book is way too over-descriptive for me. I get that Gemma is trying to set a mood, but it felt more boring than atmospheric. I just kept waiting for something to happen.
Once the past memories started to come up, I got a little intrigued—though only a little, because they’re really, really sad, and Charles is honestly the worst. But Gemma’s writing really pulls you into those scenes. It’s one of those moments where you can’t look away, even though the scene is horrific and his thoughts are disgusting. Around 60% in, things finally started moving a little faster, and I couldn’t put it down. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out why all this was happening, but I was still left clueless in the end.
Maybe I’m just missing something, but I don’t understand why the house was the way it was or why it took people like Ned, Barbara, and Mike. And Don? He sounded like the perfect victim for the house, but nope, total jerk.
Charles’s downfall though? Absolutely perfect.
And even though I didn’t fully get it, Ned and Alice’s little romance was sweet. Amid all the sadness, there’s some love, and that was nice.
It all felt a bit disconnected and unfinished, but maybe that’s the point. By the end I was surprised. I actually liked it more than I thought I would. I really did think it was going to be a DNF.
Once the past memories started to come up, I got a little intrigued—though only a little, because they’re really, really sad, and Charles is honestly the worst. But Gemma’s writing really pulls you into those scenes. It’s one of those moments where you can’t look away, even though the scene is horrific and his thoughts are disgusting. Around 60% in, things finally started moving a little faster, and I couldn’t put it down. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out why all this was happening, but I was still left clueless in the end.
It all felt a bit disconnected and unfinished, but maybe that’s the point. By the end I was surprised. I actually liked it more than I thought I would. I really did think it was going to be a DNF.
elliecooper8's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
angelonempire's review
5.0
I'm always surprised when someone can take a common horror theme, like ghosts, and get really creative with it. Amor did just that in Six Rooms.
It starts off rather hilariously with a group of people waiting to get a tour of a grand old house. The Tour Guide does not like to be trifled with and it shows immediately. I found his attitude perversely entertaining.
It's also obvious from the very beginning that something isn't right in this house. The author very artfully drops clues to let us in on the mystery. It's little things like the Tour Guide being late to open the doors even when he thinks he's early; the gardener just sort of showing up and disappearing without anyone really noticing how he arrived or where he went; the similarities between the Tour Guide and the man in the painting.
This last one was really tricky because it gets you thinking one way, but you're wrong. That's what I love about a good mystery is when I find out I'm wrong when I was so certain. A good writer knows to throw you a curve ball every once in a while just so they can twist everything around in the end. It keeps you guessing and it's fun.
This is a horror story but it mixes a good mystery in and a love story too. The mystery is what kept me reading until 2 a.m. when I knew I should go to sleep and finish the next night. I just couldn't stop. The more I read, the deeper the plot thickened and the more I thought, "Wait! What? WHAT?" And the more I realized I was wrong about my initial assumptions, the more I had to read. It's just that good.
It starts off rather hilariously with a group of people waiting to get a tour of a grand old house. The Tour Guide does not like to be trifled with and it shows immediately. I found his attitude perversely entertaining.
It's also obvious from the very beginning that something isn't right in this house. The author very artfully drops clues to let us in on the mystery. It's little things like the Tour Guide being late to open the doors even when he thinks he's early; the gardener just sort of showing up and disappearing without anyone really noticing how he arrived or where he went; the similarities between the Tour Guide and the man in the painting.
This last one was really tricky because it gets you thinking one way, but you're wrong. That's what I love about a good mystery is when I find out I'm wrong when I was so certain. A good writer knows to throw you a curve ball every once in a while just so they can twist everything around in the end. It keeps you guessing and it's fun.
This is a horror story but it mixes a good mystery in and a love story too. The mystery is what kept me reading until 2 a.m. when I knew I should go to sleep and finish the next night. I just couldn't stop. The more I read, the deeper the plot thickened and the more I thought, "Wait! What? WHAT?" And the more I realized I was wrong about my initial assumptions, the more I had to read. It's just that good.
ziaferu's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
gharris777's review
5.0
What a fun and creepy ghost story! 4.5/5 stars
I had a blast with this creative concept of a supernatural tale by Gemma Amor.
When Six Rooms starts, the reader is first introduced to a unfriendly Tour Guide and a mansion full of history that involves riches, opulence, and scandal.
The past owner of the house Charles Lester III was a wealthy and eccentric businessman, along with rumors of being a terrible person to his wife and servants.
As the group of tourists start on the tour, events in the house slowly go from informative and amazement to confusion and horror.
While on the tour, the reader is slowly introduced to the Sunshire Chateau and the horrifying events that happened in the past. Each room in the house has a tragic story attached to it and as the book moves along, we get a piece of the puzzle on why Sunshire Chateau is haunted and how the past owner was a tyrant.
Six Rooms has a fantastic blend of horror, tension and gothic elements coming nicely together to make a super entertaining book to read.
I’m excited to read more books by Amor due to great pacing, excellent atmosphere, and her unique plot ideas!
If you enjoy the gothic and supernatural plots, don't sleep on this one.
I had a blast with this creative concept of a supernatural tale by Gemma Amor.
When Six Rooms starts, the reader is first introduced to a unfriendly Tour Guide and a mansion full of history that involves riches, opulence, and scandal.
The past owner of the house Charles Lester III was a wealthy and eccentric businessman, along with rumors of being a terrible person to his wife and servants.
As the group of tourists start on the tour, events in the house slowly go from informative and amazement to confusion and horror.
While on the tour, the reader is slowly introduced to the Sunshire Chateau and the horrifying events that happened in the past. Each room in the house has a tragic story attached to it and as the book moves along, we get a piece of the puzzle on why Sunshire Chateau is haunted and how the past owner was a tyrant.
Six Rooms has a fantastic blend of horror, tension and gothic elements coming nicely together to make a super entertaining book to read.
I’m excited to read more books by Amor due to great pacing, excellent atmosphere, and her unique plot ideas!
If you enjoy the gothic and supernatural plots, don't sleep on this one.
mshaniak's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
After finishing this book I was surprised that it was t a debut! It definitely reads like one. It’s clanky in places and disjointed I think.
I don’t know how I like the idea of the “flashbacks” the characters are experiencing. I do realise that the story of the house and the occupants had to be told in one way or another, but to me the way it was done just seemed too simple and not very creative.
I didn’t really like the characters, except maybe the two old ladies that were kicked out of the house right at the beginning. I think having them in the story would be so fun!
This being a ghost story / haunted house, I expected a bit more dread and tension which this book absolutely lacks!
The best thing about this book is the cover 😅
I don’t know how I like the idea of the “flashbacks” the characters are experiencing. I do realise that the story of the house and the occupants had to be told in one way or another, but to me the way it was done just seemed too simple and not very creative.
I didn’t really like the characters, except maybe the two old ladies that were kicked out of the house right at the beginning. I think having them in the story would be so fun!
This being a ghost story / haunted house, I expected a bit more dread and tension which this book absolutely lacks!
The best thing about this book is the cover 😅