lasafica_reads's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Injury/injury detail, War, Animal death, Body horror, and Murder
dreamowl24's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gore, Medical content, War, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Body horror, and Chronic illness
Minor: Suicide attempt and Suicide
bbygirl21's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I think this is a good book. It's not something I would usually read, but I'm really glad I decided to read this.
The fact that this is an Edgar Allan Poe retelling of the fall of the house of usher, is what had me wanting to read it. I haven't read much of poes work and didn't read the short story this is based on but I thought it would be an interesting read and this was definitely interesting.
It is very creepy and unsettling. Which was to be expected with the type of book this is. I do wish it would've been slightly longer so we could see if what they did in the end actually worked or not. But I'm glad the remainder of the characters in the end happened to be fine and weren't infected by what was surrounding the house and lake.
I would definitely recommend this book for sure.
The fact that this is an Edgar Allan Poe retelling of the fall of the house of usher, is what had me wanting to read it. I haven't read much of poes work and didn't read the short story this is based on but I thought it would be an interesting read and this was definitely interesting.
It is very creepy and unsettling. Which was to be expected with the type of book this is. I do wish it would've been slightly longer so we could see if what they did in the end actually worked or not. But I'm glad the remainder of the characters in the end happened to be fine and weren't infected by what was surrounding the house and lake.
I would definitely recommend this book for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Death
Minor: War and Suicide
hazeyjane_2's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.0
A very enjoyable, subtle horror book. Far too many horror stories have a narrator who is essentially just a camera (proxy for the viewer and there to record), and come to an abrupt stop with "And then the ghost/giant worm/eldritch horror erupted out of the ground and ate everyone. The end." Ruins the suspension of disbelief but also cheapens the whole story. I mean, I know you can sum up any genre in the same way; but in most quest-style fantasy, but there is at least an attempt at a reasonable explanation behind the McGuffin.
Kingfisher doesn't fall into this trap. She builds up the suspense by creating the fully fledged character of Alex Easton, who is an ex-soldier come to visit her childhood friend Madeline. Actual emotions, actual misconceptions, science (yay!) in the form of a female mycologist, and everything bubbling away just beneath the surface.
Side note: It was refreshing to see a military where sex characteristics truly don't matter, so, this definitely isn't a complaint. But the sentence about "people who did not want to *be* women" rubbed me a bit the wrong way. I felt that could've been worded differently. There is nothing wrong with being a woman. Changing your clothing and pronouns does not change your sex. It may change the way people perceive you, but it does not change your actual biology (unless I missed something, and this story has some magic that allows you to become truly androgynous).
I assume that Kingfisher was trying to have her cake and eat it too: both evoke the misogyny of the late 19th century and also find a way to evade it... which I highly appreciate, don't get me wrong. I liked the way she sidestepped it.
But this is fiction. Kingfisher could easily have ignored real-world history and written an alt history in which women as a class *hadn't ever* been subject to sex-based oppression. Not even a matriarchal society, just a society where no one would have blinked at a female scientist and where women had always been soldiers without question. The anecdote about how women came to join the army felt especially on the nose. We don't always have to centre the masculine experience. Or she could've made three sexes, with no further explanation needed (male, female and ka/kan), or no sexes at all.
As it stands, in a book where men and women exist, women *are* an oppressed class and sex roles are clearly similar to those of the late 19th century in our world, I would've liked a bit more information on how Galacia's sworn (and Gallacian society in general) managed to overcome the hardwired sex binary so fast, and whether this was in the military or everywhere else as well. I realise this wasn't that story, though.
Kingfisher doesn't fall into this trap. She builds up the suspense by creating the fully fledged character of Alex Easton, who is an ex-soldier come to visit her childhood friend Madeline. Actual emotions, actual misconceptions, science (yay!) in the form of a female mycologist, and everything bubbling away just beneath the surface.
Spoiler
The brilliant thing about this story is its sense of realism and plausibility. Kingfisher's tidbits are just subtle enough, and Easton's reactions to them just doubtful enough, to keep you on the edge of your seat wondering if this is truly a supernatural story or if there is some mundane solution to the dilemma. I actually googled the fungus to find out if it was real, because it reminded me so much of the zombie ant fungus.Side note: It was refreshing to see a military where sex characteristics truly don't matter, so, this definitely isn't a complaint. But the sentence about "people who did not want to *be* women" rubbed me a bit the wrong way. I felt that could've been worded differently. There is nothing wrong with being a woman. Changing your clothing and pronouns does not change your sex. It may change the way people perceive you, but it does not change your actual biology (unless I missed something, and this story has some magic that allows you to become truly androgynous).
I assume that Kingfisher was trying to have her cake and eat it too: both evoke the misogyny of the late 19th century and also find a way to evade it... which I highly appreciate, don't get me wrong. I liked the way she sidestepped it.
But this is fiction. Kingfisher could easily have ignored real-world history and written an alt history in which women as a class *hadn't ever* been subject to sex-based oppression. Not even a matriarchal society, just a society where no one would have blinked at a female scientist and where women had always been soldiers without question. The anecdote about how women came to join the army felt especially on the nose. We don't always have to centre the masculine experience. Or she could've made three sexes, with no further explanation needed (male, female and ka/kan), or no sexes at all.
As it stands, in a book where men and women exist, women *are* an oppressed class and sex roles are clearly similar to those of the late 19th century in our world, I would've liked a bit more information on how Galacia's sworn (and Gallacian society in general) managed to overcome the hardwired sex binary so fast, and whether this was in the military or everywhere else as well. I realise this wasn't that story, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Death
Minor: War and Vomit
wrestleacademic's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Body horror
Moderate: Terminal illness, Transphobia, and War
owlribbon's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Body horror
Minor: Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, and War
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
“House of Usher”, but with “The Last of Us” energy.
I read this in about 4 hours (audiobook at 1.5 speed). Highly recommend the audiobook. The trans rep and non-binary pronouns feel both clever and natural. And the supporting characters are so charming.
TW: brief transphobia (more ignorant than malicious, IMHO), horror elements including body horror, animal death
I read this in about 4 hours (audiobook at 1.5 speed). Highly recommend the audiobook. The trans rep and non-binary pronouns feel both clever and natural. And the supporting characters are so charming.
TW: brief transphobia (more ignorant than malicious, IMHO), horror elements including body horror, animal death
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Animal death
Minor: War and Transphobia
shadowspinner's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Animal death
Minor: Gun violence and War
hannahalexis's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I loved this book, so eerie and creepy. The imagery was phenomenal and I got the shivers repeatedly. Very impressed with how much story telling Kingfisher was able to do with so few pages!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, and Animal death
Moderate: War
superiour_medium's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Non-binary person with gun who tackles a mysterious illness maybe related to some nearby strange fungi? Yes please. Last of Us meets Fall of the House of Usher
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Medical content and Mental illness
Minor: Suicide and War