megmro's review
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this short retelling of Usher! The subject matter is mysterious, and eventually gruesome, but the early narrative proceeds with easy, sometimes comic, lightheartedness. It makes the book really fun to read. The creepy parts really send a chill.
A few scenes that will stay with me:
~"The hares here are uncanny. They don't move like hares." *SHUDDER* The descriptions of the hares and how they move around--sort of an army crawl from side to side-- is so totally unsettling. Bravo.
~THE SCENE WHERE THE HARES ARE ALL WATCHING HIM. *Silent Scream.*
~A couple of words/phrases that will haunt me until I mercifully die: "white tendrils," "fuzzy tongue," "Eas...ton...."
Also, the narrator had an interesting backstory as a genderless "sworn soldier." Pronouns are an interesting and important part of the story.
I would HIGHLY recommend this.
A few scenes that will stay with me:
~"The hares here are uncanny. They don't move like hares." *SHUDDER* The descriptions of the hares and how they move around--sort of an army crawl from side to side-- is so totally unsettling. Bravo.
~THE SCENE WHERE THE HARES ARE ALL WATCHING HIM. *Silent Scream.*
~A couple of words/phrases that will haunt me until I mercifully die: "white tendrils," "fuzzy tongue," "Eas...ton...."
Also, the narrator had an interesting backstory as a genderless "sworn soldier." Pronouns are an interesting and important part of the story.
I would HIGHLY recommend this.
breeamf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.0
alexis_maturana's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
missusmrs's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
mordshunger's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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
A delight. A modern take of one of my favourite formats.
a1000things's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
squishies's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Another deliciously slow-burning, chilling book from Kingfisher.
I used to do horror, but then I lost my taste of it with all the unnecessary sex or sexual violence or sometimes just a touch too gruesome, even for me. There's scary and then there's just disgusting and needlessly awful. I think I keep coming back to Kingfisher's horror books because they evoke a deep seated sense of fear or at least being fairly unsettling without all that noise.
Also I love the way Kingfisher writes. So effortlessly casual and horrifying at the same time.
Spoiler
I for sure thought it was gonna be ghosts, but I think sentient fungi is actually more horrifying. I mean, all that "hair" Madeline was shedding was actually filaments?? *shudders* Yikes on bikes.I used to do horror, but then I lost my taste of it with all the unnecessary sex or sexual violence or sometimes just a touch too gruesome, even for me. There's scary and then there's just disgusting and needlessly awful. I think I keep coming back to Kingfisher's horror books because they evoke a deep seated sense of fear or at least being fairly unsettling without all that noise.
Also I love the way Kingfisher writes. So effortlessly casual and horrifying at the same time.
crownoflaurel'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/injury detail, Body horror, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Murder, Suicide, and Transphobia
nathanlurker's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0