Reviews

Rose/House by Arkady Martine

anna_hepworth's review against another edition

mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• 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

5.0

I found the beginning a little slow and hard to get going, but once I got used to the rhythm, I was hooked. I love a good locked room (locked house) mystery, and this was an incredible locked room mystery. 

I wasn't all that interested in either of the architect characters (the deceased Basit Derniau, and the disgruntled Selene Gisil), but I was fascinated by the main police character (Maritza Smith). Smith gets to play fast and loose with identity and humanity in order to investigate the case, and it is never quite clear how real this is to them. 

The worldbuilding - the AI, the despair of the architectural world when Derniau locks everything inside Rose House with only Gisil permitted (limited) access, the many ways that the existence of AI permeates the story, the way that Martine both brings the desert in and surrounds the story with it is delightful. 

Rose House was designed for illusion, and that is used to great effect in the story. There are dreamlike sequences where neither the character nor the reader has a sense of Truth, and I think that was important in making this a great book, rather than just a good book. 

tadasborne's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

breading_books's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

lorendia's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It was beautiful to listen to (my first audiobook in a while - if ever) but I didn’t totally get it. 

iaraya's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Body horror and Murder

teallb's review against another edition

challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.25

yathol's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

azimmer's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

lessa_riel's review against another edition

challenging mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

vortacist's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25