Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

The September House by Carissa Orlando

119 reviews

nerdydeathwitch's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

I loved this book and while I guessed some of the twists, it was really about the psychological journey of the main character who finds herself in a very haunted house, and in that regard, it really pays off. The book opens with a lot of dark humor, but gets more serious as it progresses and you learn more about the back story of the home owner and the ghostly inhabitants. Towards the end the pace picks up as does the level of body horror. The final quarter is pretty gruesome in a way that will be very satisfying for people who appreciate visceral horror. The writing itself is great, incredibly descriptive and on point for the reality of what it takes to survive abuse as an ongoing lived experience. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Body horror, Child death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Gore, Child abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Abandonment

This is a horror novel so there should be no surprise that it contains lots of blood and murdered ghosts. But FYI, the writing is very descriptive. You will be told about wounds and the experience of being murdered in graphic detail.

If you have a background with DV, CPTSD, or are a child of alcoholics, this book could be both validating and triggering so just know what you're getting into. The family dynamics are incredibly accurate and the MC's self identity and worldview is shaped by abuse.

rknitss's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

This was both one of the most difficult and one of the most enjoyable reads I've had this year.
Difficult because of how heavy this felt tone wise. Enjoyable because the book pulls it off so well. I took down lots of quotes from this one even as I found myself shutting it every few pages so I could get a break.

The story is about a married couple who buys a house. Every September the house gets like SUPER haunted. One day the husband leaves. The wife chooses to stay because there are rules to these things, everything is survivable. 

The story is also about So Much More. It's heavy in places, be emotionally prepared for difficult subject matters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Vomit, and Child death

Minor: Animal death

mrsbliss's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gore, Body horror, Child death, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicide

wlreed312's review against another edition

challenging dark 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

4.5

I really enjoyed this. There is a lot of humor at the beginning, but as the story went on and things became more serious, the tension ramped up and I was worried for everyone in the end. I think Orlando did a great job considering the characters aren't really likable, but as the book unfolds you start to understand why they are the way they are. I wish we had a short epilogue, maybe a few months after the final events, or maybe some more backstory on a couple of minor characters. But those are pretty minor nitpicks, overall I thought this was fantastic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Blood, Physical abuse, Body horror, Death, Alcoholism, Gore, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicide and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

jourdanicus's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

This book is great allegory for

domestic abuse

and the kind of family relationships that follow the pattern of suppressing/repressing emotions with a satisfying, gory horror ending. I did feel the language could have been cleaned up a bit - I'm not offended by  swearing but I think there was more than necessary to get the point across. There were also some details that felt a bit more repetitive than necessary to get the point across.

Otherwise, this was almost a perfect 5 star read for me. I love horror that mixes psychological thrill with physical horror, and an unreliable narrator is one of my favorite tropes. In fact, this book made clever use of a few recognizable horror tropes without them being too obvious or heavy handed. I heard elements of The Shining, and several horror movies of which I can't think of the names.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys psychological horror, mother/daughter relationship themes, stories with unreliable narrators, fans of classic horror, and Stephen King fans. Don't read while eating if you're sensitive or have a vivid visual imagination... Lol.

Mind the triggers, but everyone including the children get

justice and a happy ending

!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Child abuse, Death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gore, Dementia, Murder, Animal death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Torture

Minor: Vomit and Suicide

whimsicalreader's review against another edition

challenging dark funny tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Murder, and Domestic abuse

archaicrobin's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

The September House was absolutely gruesome in so many ways, I absolutely loved it. I am always on the search for the next great haunted house read and September House is now one of my top ten.  Margaret is living in a haunted house that acts up every September but she’s learned to live with it. According to Margaret everything is survivable, as long as you follow the rules….

Filled with real and supernatural terrors, this book was addictive and hard to out down. Highly recommend especially if you love haunted house horror. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Animal death, Child abuse, Gore, Murder, Violence, Body horror, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Child death, Blood, Dementia, Torture, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

brit0929's review against another edition

dark tense medium-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? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Child abuse, Mental illness, Addiction, Gore, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Torture, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Cannibalism, Child death, Death, and Physical abuse

shantuck13's review against another edition

dark funny tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Body horror, Alcoholism, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Murder, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Dementia, Confinement, Suicide, and Gaslighting

randilion28's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-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

4.25

I really enjoyed this audiobook - finished in less than a week. I loved the Haunted House and the Pranksters.... BUT I don't think I have EVER disliked a character more than I have Margarets daughter... If I didn't enjoy the story so much - I would have quite reading after she was introduced. She is a hard character to vibe with. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, and Physical abuse

Minor: Child abuse