Reviews tagging 'Death'

A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand

8 reviews

thatchickengirl23's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Death

Minor: Pedophilia

jan_coco_day's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Lots of atmosphere and gore, but a very low body count. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Gaslighting, Gore, and Blood

Moderate: Infidelity

themelaniewaite's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.5

The day I sat down to read this, I read through 70 pages. It’s so easy to get into, and while it felt like a slow start getting to know characters - the eerie factor of the story begins very early on. The atmosphere, the loss (and gain?) of time, the black hare that seems to be following the main character Holly.  

Throughout the story there are so many brilliant callbacks and subtle nods to the original novel woven within, it feels like you’re in on the secrets of the house in how it comes back to life again. It is absolutely clear that the author is a fan of the original novel. 

I read this so fast, I could not put this book down. While some of it felt a little slow, and the storytelling shifted through memories of how the characters were connected, to even switching between first (Holly’s perspective) person to third person (for the others’ scenes/perspectives), it all helped in the overall tone of the story. It all paid off with the climactic few chapters, really bringing the house to life and tying into the original story with a warning of what might happen if anyone else dared to underestimate Hill House. 

The moment I found out about this book, I had to have it and I am so, so glad I gave it a chance. It mirrors that eerie, impending horror that has been building under the surface that the original had, the execution and pay-off were totally worth it, and I have been recommending this book to anyone that enjoyed the original story or enjoy a haunted house plot. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book, eager to get back and read more; even now, after finishing it I can’t stop thinking about it. The hares, the shadows, the voices - that ending! It has definitely left an imprint on me like Shirley Jackson’s original novel, and I think that really says something about the love and dedication that went into creating this story. 

A sequel or continuation is never as good as the original - we know this for many examples - but this is a strong follow-up to the Hill House universe. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicide, Alcohol, Self harm, Blood, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Infidelity, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Car accident, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Blood, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Murder, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gore, Drug use, Death, and Confinement

Minor: Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide

The characters are pretty complex and have reasonably traumatic background - including grooming, accidental death, suicide of a friend.

ash_bees's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

This book was more frustrating than scary.  And I say this as a person who doesn't like scary stories.

The climatic scene was essentially a scene from "A Bug's Life":

"Don't go into the light."
"But it's so pretty."
*zap*

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Pregnancy, Addiction, Alcohol, Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Grief, Gore, Alcoholism, Blood, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Car accident, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, and Vomit

shay43geek's review

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Death

hannahpings's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Death, Blood, Cursing, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Confinement

Moderate: Pregnancy, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Minor: Child death, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug abuse, Rape, Pedophilia, Addiction, Car accident, Pandemic/Epidemic, Drug use, and Sexual assault

mary_stormageddon's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I won't sleep well for awhile after this one. But it was worth it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Drug use, and Infidelity

chezler24's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

It's a tough act to follow up on such an iconic tale as Shirley Jackson's Haunting of Hill House, but I think that Elizabeth Hand did a pretty great job. The story feels unique to itself while having the foreboding Hill House looming in the background. Hand captures the dread and foreboding elements Jackson produced yet plays to her own strengths in creating a new, modern chapter in the house's history. Holly, Nisa, Stevie, and Amanda have all made their way to this place to work on Holly's play as actors, sound designers, and singers. Against all warnings, they decide to stay here for a month to have the creepy essence of the house serve as a backdrop for workshopping their supernatural-themed play.  Hill House feeds on the anxieties and doubts of its guests as they slowly realize the house is more aware of their presence than they could ever have imagined. 

The only aspect that seemed strange to me was that of the hares running around and more "witchy" aspects. It ended up working out in the end but I suppose we did have some magic/seance action in the original novel so, in hindsight, I shouldn't have been that surprised by these supernatural elements. 

Please listen to Fern Maddie's "Hares on the Mountain"! Songs/singing are a key part of the plot and ambiance and the author noted that this version has the same essence as the character Nisa put into it. I listened to it after I finished the book and it felt very nice as an "end credits" song in a sense.   

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Pregnancy, Blood, Murder, Drug use, and Pandemic/Epidemic