Reviews

I'm having such a shit reading month because my emotions are in the gutter. This storyline just wasn't giving me anything. I feel so disconnected with this story. It barely feels haunting and feels mainly just annoyingly YA. I'm okay with YA but it just isn't working for me and I don't want to force myself.

allisonschoneschmetterling's review against another edition

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2.0

There is so much cool stuff going on in this book but it all feels a little … unfinished ? Like a great, multi-generational, tragic horror story that feels just a little hollow. I think maybe if it was a bit longer it might feel more fleshed out. I do love the intermittent Vietnamese phrases and words without direct translation. And every mention of food (even the creepy house needing food) is well-placed and obviously an intentional through-line between the ghosts and the living. I love the idea of the modern day descendant of a horribly-treated family coming back to avenge them in a way, but that whole thread sort of unravels between the jumpy and confusing dream/limbo sequences, bisexual panic, and half-hearted ‘eldest daughter’ trauma. All of these things could have been expanded on and brought together if this was longer (or not YA…)

I love an unreliable narrator but between Jade and the intermittent excerpts from the house’s POV and the ghost scenes, I was just left very confused.

Cool idea but a little disjointed to me.

*SPOILER AHEAD*

All in all the twist-ish ending came out of nowhere for me, like Jade had to defeat a real-life colonizer in order to defeat the dead one… It just seemed a little random because Alma hadn’t even been in the story for like a super long time (other than the mention of her car accident) then she comes back accusing Jade of dressing provocatively and wanting to seduce her husband??? I know it’s supposed to mirror the hatred between Marion and Cam but I don’t think it was really set up enough to make a strong impact.

priscilla's review against another edition

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dark 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

3.75

Loved the plot and the chapters written from the "house". In terms of pacing, there were some moments where I felt like the book was going a bit too fast, glancing over things that I wouldn't have minded if they'd been delved into more. But some of the descriptions, especially of the food and the house itself, were absolutely gorgeous, terrifying, and fantastic.

beccawithabook's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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