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casparquarius's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
thehorrormom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
kaneebli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Torture, Vomit, Grief, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Fire/Fire injury
cheye13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I very much appreciated that it didn't dance around the metaphor; the social issue was brought into the light and addressed directly in conjunction with the haunting and what it represented. And in general, I found it a very good horror story. I'm not a huge horror fan and can be a baby, but this is the type of horror that is scary for the characters rather than the reader, which is the style I prefer, I think. This didn't give me nightmares, which I'm grateful for. On the other hand, the language is so effective and visceral that I did gag or feel my skin crawl at times. It made for a fun and interesting reading experience without dipping into true unpleasantness for me.
I think my main gripe was
This is possibly one of the best, most accessible horror books I've found so far.
Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Vomit, Dementia, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Torture, Cannibalism, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
abuse: the nature of the spousal abuse is an alcoholic husband physically and emotionally abusing his wife; the physical abuse is never detailed, but the emotional abuse is very much so, often including misogynistic rhetoric. While the narrator excuses the abuse to herself, she is adamant it will not affect their child. There is, however, a single detailed scene in which the husband threatens their child.
Dementia: there is a long scene calling the narrator's mental health into question, including discussions of genetic mental illness, schizophrenia, self harm, murder, and symptoms of PTSD.
animal death: birds die often from impacting the exterior of the house; disposal of their corpses mentioned often, but not in great detail
cops: police officers are present and do wield guns
vomit/bugs: not often depicted, but includes some scenes of people vomiting flies (living and dead)
much upsetting content is part of the ghosts' pasts, witnessed and described in middling detail by the narrator, including: cannibalism, child abuse, child death, torture (of children), fire/fire injury, kidnapping, and violence
jeannelynne24's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Dementia, Cannibalism, Abandonment, and Alcohol
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
3.5
The novel doesn’t fit neatly into the horror genre, despite its unsettling scenes and characters. Margaret’s nonchalant attitude towards the house’s September transformations creates a curious detachment. For her, these events are just part of the routine, while for the reader, it’s a first encounter with the house’s terrifying anomalies.
The suspense ramps up with the arrival of Margaret’s daughter, Katherine, who comes to find her missing father. Katherine is troubled by her father’s disappearance and her mother’s seemingly indifferent response. As Katherine searches for Hal, the hauntings grow more intense, and Margaret becomes increasingly entangled with the malevolent forces in the house and the ghosts’ disturbing secrets.
The climax of September House includes some strikingly grotesque body horror, and the book is rich in detailed descriptions of the ghosts’ tragic fates. For readers sensitive to such content, checking trigger warnings before diving in is advisable.
While I found the novel entertaining, I felt somewhat underwhelmed. However, Orlando’s background as a psychologist specializing in children and adolescents shines through, adding depth to the characters and contributing to the book’s notable strengths. If you’re looking for a psychological twist on haunted house lore, September House offers a compelling, if unconventional, read.
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
coco78337's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
g_xandra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide, Violence, Vomit, and Murder
jillcosta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
fkshg8465's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail