Reviews

I'm really not sure what to write about this book, except that it was NOT what I expected. I thought i was reading classic horror, but although the atmosphere was creepy and the narrator was truly wacko i felt the book took a long time to tell not very much. Not sure why this is a senior school study text?

Content Warnings

dreaminthepages's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars, enjoyed this better than Haunting of Hill House but still a very weird wacky story with weird wacky characters!

taraleighvanvliet's review against another edition

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dark

4.0

dvnngyn's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.5

Despite being a short book, it feels rambling at times? I had to force myself through it, quite disappointed since I loved the writing at some points. At its peak, the novel gives off creepy, weird, haunting vibe.

I knew the narrator was unreliable from the first paragraph and was able to sense who the culprit of the murder was 1/3 into the book, so the “climax” at the end is very anti-climatic to me. I expected so much more to happen since there were numerous questionable moments and uncanny characters’ behavior, but they were barely brought up after. Maybe that’s why it feels undone.

The protagonist’s child-like manner, though being a grown 18-year-old woman, is a turn-off. I know it’s common for people to experience age regression after a trauma, but the detailing description of her practice in witchcraft is long-winded.

Also the novel is literally plotless, if you want something plot-heavy, consider it passed.

lodge22's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-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? It's complicated

2.0

laideyofthelake's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Perhaps it’s because I listened to this as an audiobook, but this book didn’t get a hold on me like Hill House did, like it wanted it too. Merricat was an exhausting and disturbing mind to be inside, and perhaps the issue was that I felt no empathy or connection for either the vapid townspeople or her saccharine/venomous ramblings. But still an effective portrayal of a mind and a house equally corrupting each other, for an ominous and appropriate ending.

erinxx's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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