Scan barcode
tiernanhunter's review
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Self harm, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
liv_easton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
In either case, halfway through the story was a bit long to finally drop the curtain on what we needed to know about magic in the novel. Couple that with a POV that is often unappealing to read and also refuses to give the reader any information for a couple hundred pages (I'm looking mostly at you, Isaac, but occasionally at Bellatine), and I didn't think that this book would ever become a novel I was actually invested in. However, I'm happy to say that I was wrong on that count—once Bellatine's magic was revealed, the story and characters seemed to open up and get me invested in the story enough that I would have given the story a 3.5 stars (the last .25 coming from my affection for the type of ending the story ends up having).
The major highlight that kept me reading was every chapter the house told, as the house was by far and away the most compelling character and also the best storyteller of the lot by far. On the whole, I think this is a super worthwhile book to read, and if you need to skim some of the first 20 or so chapters to get through it, I get it.
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Moderate: Blood
amandadevoursbooks's review against another edition
5.0
We've got a sentient house with chicken legs, puppets, two not always likeable siblings with interesting powers, and a haunting of trauma chasing them across the world. Through this, Nethercott weaves themes of trauma, recovery, identity, memory, and community. It's beautifully written, and I will definitely do a reread to annotate say some point.
Reading it right now, as the world continues to witness genocide, is haunting and hopeful. If you're on the fence or concerned about it's size, if suggest giving it a good try.
Graphic: Genocide, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Violence and Fire/Fire injury
imds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
vagrantheather'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
4.0
The prose is really nice and the audiobook narrator (January LaVoy) did a lovely job. I liked the Yaga family characters, Winifred, Benji - but was not big on the adjacent bus crew. They lacked substance.
The main themes - the enduring legacy of cultures in the stories of descendents, the destructive power of fear, multigenerational trauma - were powerful.
Moderate: Child death, Hate crime, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism
Minor: Death and Fire/Fire injury
rorikae'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
Bellatine and Isaac Yaga have been forging their own lives. Bellatine finds comfort in creating things out of wood while Isaac uses his ability to slip into other people's mannerisms to busk. They are brought back together when a package arrives, an inheritance from one of their family members. The inheritance in question, a house with legs. As the house starts to bring them together, it also has an enemy who has followed it to America and wishes to see it destroyed. The Yaga siblings will have to band together, pull from their family's history, and believe in one another to take down this threat.
This book is absolutely fantastic. Nethercott has created a collection of complex characters that are both easy to care for and ones that are easily frustrating in ways that feel uniquely human. This is also a story stuffed to the brim with folklore. It is told not only through the eyes of Bellatine and Isaac but also from the point of view of the house, which I absolutely loved. At the heart of this story are so many important lessons. How violence creates a lasting memory. The power and resilience of community. How stories live on. Between beautiful prose, folklore and fantastical elements, and complex characters, this is a special story. I'll definitely be checking out what Nethercott writes next because they brought something unique and magical to this story.
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death and Abandonment
Minor: War
thehobbitbarbie'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? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Antisemitism, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Alcohol
julianh'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
3.75
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Antisemitism, and Fire/Fire injury
emfo5777's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Grief
kmesserl'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
I loved this book. Can’t recommend it enough.
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Child death, Death, Xenophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Addiction