lavenderzoey's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Body horror
Moderate: Suicide, War, and Misogyny
Minor: Transphobia
leanne_miron's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Animal death, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, Grief, War, and Misogyny
nixieba25f's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Animal death, Cursing, Misogyny, Terminal illness, War, and Xenophobia
the_greywarren's review
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-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? No
4.0
This was just a well written, eerie read that I could barely put it down.
Essentially, the book is a retelling of Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, but I felt like it was so so much more than that. Just before reading this I listened to the audio book of the original story, and it definitely felt like it was lacking in so much substance. I get that it's an older short story, but much like T. Kingfisher, I felt myself wishing there was more to it than just "Guy visits creepy house, people die," and this did exactly that.
Easton was such a great narrator, having ka as the main character gave the reader more of a soldier's insight into what was going on, and getting the flashes of the horrors Easton experienced in the war really added to the gory factor of the story itself.
Also, just having a nonbinary character in a horror story set in the 1890's is such a rare occurrence, but having them be the main character? It felt revolutionary. It added so much in regards to gender roles, which Miss Potter's character did as well.
This was also way way funnier than I expected. Easton's sarcasm was so hilarious, I found myself openly laughing more than once.
If there was anything I would change, I would have wanted the book to be longer, but I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.
Essentially, the book is a retelling of Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, but I felt like it was so so much more than that. Just before reading this I listened to the audio book of the original story, and it definitely felt like it was lacking in so much substance. I get that it's an older short story, but much like T. Kingfisher, I felt myself wishing there was more to it than just "Guy visits creepy house, people die," and this did exactly that.
Easton was such a great narrator, having ka as the main character gave the reader more of a soldier's insight into what was going on, and getting the flashes of the horrors Easton experienced in the war really added to the gory factor of the story itself.
Also, just having a nonbinary character in a horror story set in the 1890's is such a rare occurrence, but having them be the main character? It felt revolutionary. It added so much in regards to gender roles, which Miss Potter's character did as well.
This was also way way funnier than I expected. Easton's sarcasm was so hilarious, I found myself openly laughing more than once.
If there was anything I would change, I would have wanted the book to be longer, but I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gore, Death, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Sexism, Violence, and Mental illness
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, War, and Suicide
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for an e-arc and alc of this one!
When Alex gets a message from kan childhood friend Madeline Usher that she is dying, kan heads to the decaying Usher estate to do what kan can. But there is a lot more going on at the estate than Alex realizes, and with the help of Denton--Roderick Usher's American Doctor friend--and a local mycologist, Alex is able to solve the secrets of Usher--but not without casualties.
This is a fantasy "Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe retelling. When I read that, and that the protagonist was nonbinary--I instantly knew I had to read this book. I was not disappointed! Alex is such an interesting character and I loved the descriptions of Gallacian pronouns and what it meant to be a sworn soldier as well as the work kan goes through to find out what is happening at the estate. I also really love that there wasn't any romance at all in this story!
I love the atmospheric and creepy gothic mode that Kingfisher was able to establish throughout this book and how well it matches with the source material, while at the same time bringing something entirely new to the story. The discussions of mushrooms and descriptions of unnatural hares and everything else that went along with it made this book delightfully creepy and everything I was looking for!
When Alex gets a message from kan childhood friend Madeline Usher that she is dying, kan heads to the decaying Usher estate to do what kan can. But there is a lot more going on at the estate than Alex realizes, and with the help of Denton--Roderick Usher's American Doctor friend--and a local mycologist, Alex is able to solve the secrets of Usher--but not without casualties.
This is a fantasy "Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe retelling. When I read that, and that the protagonist was nonbinary--I instantly knew I had to read this book. I was not disappointed! Alex is such an interesting character and I loved the descriptions of Gallacian pronouns and what it meant to be a sworn soldier as well as the work kan goes through to find out what is happening at the estate. I also really love that there wasn't any romance at all in this story!
I love the atmospheric and creepy gothic mode that Kingfisher was able to establish throughout this book and how well it matches with the source material, while at the same time bringing something entirely new to the story. The discussions of mushrooms and descriptions of unnatural hares and everything else that went along with it made this book delightfully creepy and everything I was looking for!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Terminal illness, and Death
Minor: Transphobia, Suicide, and Misogyny
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