Scan barcode
bcrowes11's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexism, and Racism
bebidocrimes's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The summary for this book, while not exactly misleading, is a lot flashier than what is presented in text. A murder happens in a full contact haunted escape room, but the real meat of the story is the characters' backgrounds, and what led each of them into this situation. It takes a look at the toxicity of sexism, racial fetishism, and entitlement. I really enjoyed the concept of the Quigley House as a whole, even if I'm too chicken to set foot in a place like that, and I'm imagining how vindicated the characters who condemned the attraction from the beginning must feel. Overall, a good read even if it wasn't quite what I was expecting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Gore, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Death, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Car accident, Death of parent, and Body horror
ladyinverse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
(audiobook)
i gave this book a try because it was labeled with the LGBTQIA tag, so i went for it for my June reads for pride month.
the only rep there was, was a young male who was stereotyping young black men to not be studious and this young male also was obsessed with his crush on his English teacher and stalked this male teacher across the globe to try and be with him. not a great rep for the book.
the horror aspect of the book was at least interesting of a concept: full contact horror house but a side secret plan makes everything go very very wrong on a tour where a character is murdered as a result.
none of the characters, aside the main girl Kendra, was even remotely likeable.
the book was.. not great overall. the writing was loquacious in the most boring way. anytime a character spoke, instead of using "he yelled" or "she spoke softly" or literally anything else, every time a character interaction happened the usage and verbage was "s/he said."
i would have died from alcohol poisoning if i was doing shots every time I heard the word said/says.
i gave this book a try because it was labeled with the LGBTQIA tag, so i went for it for my June reads for pride month.
the only rep there was, was a young male who was stereotyping young black men to not be studious and this young male also was obsessed with his crush on his English teacher and stalked this male teacher across the globe to try and be with him. not a great rep for the book.
the horror aspect of the book was at least interesting of a concept: full contact horror house but a side secret plan makes everything go very very wrong on a tour where a character is murdered as a result.
none of the characters, aside the main girl Kendra, was even remotely likeable.
the book was.. not great overall. the writing was loquacious in the most boring way. anytime a character spoke, instead of using "he yelled" or "she spoke softly" or literally anything else, every time a character interaction happened the usage and verbage was "s/he said."
i would have died from alcohol poisoning if i was doing shots every time I heard the word said/says.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Torture, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Hate crime and Murder
Minor: Sexism and Sexual content
pleasereadittome's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Gore, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content
mxajlikesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, Body horror, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Sexual content
Minor: Gore, Infidelity, and Alcohol
caspian's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
incredibly well-written and an interesting story . however i will never read it ever again. i don't think horror novels that center on the trauma + suffering of black ppl is creating the narrative the author might think it is
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Sexism
thecoolestmoe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia
unboxedjack's review
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Death, Violence, Sexism, Racism, and Blood
mangofandango's review
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
he blurb on the inside flap is...strangely intense, and the quote on the cover - a American classic to be? A story about a full contact haunted house that is actually an incisive exploration of race, capitalism, sexism etc in America? I sort of chuckled at those statements. I don't know about American classic to be, but ok, it really is a story about a full contact haunted house that explores race, capitalism, sexism/misogyny, and more. It's not a horror story, it's more of a cultural critique with Halloween makeup on. Some of it was so difficult to sit with, and it wasn't the parts in the house - Leonard's entire storyline and characterization was so cringe, chilling and scary all by itself that it would have felt horrific even without the rest of it.
I wasn't sure when I started, but by the second half of the book I was absorbed.
I wasn't sure when I started, but by the second half of the book I was absorbed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Blood, Misogyny, Sexism, and Murder