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shannonxo's review against another edition
4.0
Well, this is not the thriller with the stairs on the cover I intended to read, but I'm very glad I owned my mistake and finished this in three sittings.
I very much prefer my thrillers with paranormal vibes, and the creepy basement of the Octagon House delivered. Questionable doors that open and close at will, figures in the shadows of the basement, voices in your head, and that damn doll lying in wait on the stairs. I really liked what the author did to make this abandoned house truly unsettling. There were some Haunting of Hill House touches with the house having a hold on certain people, calling them back years later, and it was well done for the most part.
I really enjoyed the storytelling used for this book. It bounces back and forth between multiple POVs in past and present, unravelling the story across time. From the woman who was to be the first to live in the newly built Octagon House, to the people who died in the house in the 60's, to Claire in her present and the first time she entered the house in the 90's. It all melded together really well and helped build the tension as each piece of the house's sordid history came to light. The switches kept me reading far later into the night than I should have, so it was a great read!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: endings make or break thrillers. This was going to be a five star read for me until the last ten percent. It felt incredibly anti-climactic, after such incredible build-up. I'm still not entirely sure who the culprit is for all the deaths, what was in the basement, and whether it was real or paranormal--and that bothers me immensely. I feel somewhat robbed. Of what I don't know, but that's how I feel. I also didn't like that the last ten percent of the book was simply wrap-up for the characters. It was a let down for me and why I can't give it five stars.
I very much prefer my thrillers with paranormal vibes, and the creepy basement of the Octagon House delivered. Questionable doors that open and close at will, figures in the shadows of the basement, voices in your head, and that damn doll lying in wait on the stairs. I really liked what the author did to make this abandoned house truly unsettling. There were some Haunting of Hill House touches with the house having a hold on certain people, calling them back years later, and it was well done for the most part.
I really enjoyed the storytelling used for this book. It bounces back and forth between multiple POVs in past and present, unravelling the story across time. From the woman who was to be the first to live in the newly built Octagon House, to the people who died in the house in the 60's, to Claire in her present and the first time she entered the house in the 90's. It all melded together really well and helped build the tension as each piece of the house's sordid history came to light. The switches kept me reading far later into the night than I should have, so it was a great read!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: endings make or break thrillers. This was going to be a five star read for me until the last ten percent. It felt incredibly anti-climactic, after such incredible build-up. I'm still not entirely sure who the culprit is for all the deaths, what was in the basement, and whether it was real or paranormal--and that bothers me immensely. I feel somewhat robbed. Of what I don't know, but that's how I feel. I also didn't like that the last ten percent of the book was simply wrap-up for the characters. It was a let down for me and why I can't give it five stars.
wrenl's review against another edition
3.0
This book haunted me. It was a struggle to go through all of the suspenseful parts because I wasn’t sure which direction it’d go. But regardless I fell in love with Clare’s story. Although I’m not the biggest fan of the multiple storylines, I understand why they’re there. They add context to the backstory of the Octagon House. In the end, though, this book toes the line between reality and the supernatural, but it somehow does it in a way that doesn’t detract from either side of the story. A suspenseful, haunting story about trauma that follows the trope of trauma survivor comes back to trauma site after a long time being away.
Also, I’m team Clare and Mitchell all the way.
Also, I’m team Clare and Mitchell all the way.
heymagnolia's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
fantasmariana's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
Cuando Abby y Clare eran niñas entraron a una casa abandonada, Abby vio algo en el sótano que la transformó por completo. Años después, tras haber perdido el contacto, Clare recibe un correo de la mamá de Abby diciéndole que su hija se encuentra en coma tras haber tenido un accidente en el sótano de esa misma casa. Clare decide volver al pueblo en donde crecieron y enfrentar aquello que se esconde en ese sótano siniestro. La verdad es que este libro se me fue como agua, muy ligero y entretenido. La historia alterna entre el presente de Clare y Abby con saltos a su niñez y algunos cuantos capítulos sobre los dueños anteriores de la casa embrujada. El punto débil de la historia es que no explora el tema sobrenatural tanto como yo hubiera querido, la resolución es un poco decepcionante, pero dicho eso, tiene algunos momentos de tensión muy buenos; incluso me provocó una pesadilla en la que me veía encerrada en un sótano. Me gustó el chismecito, lo recomiendo como una lectura palomera.
Cuando Abby y Clare eran niñas entraron a una casa abandonada, Abby vio algo en el sótano que la transformó por completo. Años después, tras haber perdido el contacto, Clare recibe un correo de la mamá de Abby diciéndole que su hija se encuentra en coma tras haber tenido un accidente en el sótano de esa misma casa. Clare decide volver al pueblo en donde crecieron y enfrentar aquello que se esconde en ese sótano siniestro. La verdad es que este libro se me fue como agua, muy ligero y entretenido. La historia alterna entre el presente de Clare y Abby con saltos a su niñez y algunos cuantos capítulos sobre los dueños anteriores de la casa embrujada. El punto débil de la historia es que no explora el tema sobrenatural tanto como yo hubiera querido, la resolución es un poco decepcionante, pero dicho eso, tiene algunos momentos de tensión muy buenos; incluso me provocó una pesadilla en la que me veía encerrada en un sótano. Me gustó el chismecito, lo recomiendo como una lectura palomera.
cappog's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
shellysbookcorner's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you Atria Books for my advance review copy.
This story is really slow and didn’t start to get interesting until the last 40 pages.
This story is really slow and didn’t start to get interesting until the last 40 pages.
finalgirlkate's review against another edition
4.0
I read this as part of my Physical TBR challenge, and I was so excited when I unwrapped this book. I love haunted house stories, and I’ve owned this book for quite a while, so I was happy to finally get to it.
I was nervous when I heard other reviews of this book, it seemed that other readers were disappointed in the lack of horror. But maybe we didn’t read the same book, because I had a great time with this one! I loved the friendship between Clare and Abby. I loved the descriptions of the house, and how all of the different timelines were all adding onto the house's history.
My only complaint is that the ending seemed a bit rushed. It felt like we were building to this huge battle between the women and the house, but it was all over with pretty quickly. I think part of the reason so many others didn't like the book was that their expecting something other than a slow-burn horror, which is what this is.
I was nervous when I heard other reviews of this book, it seemed that other readers were disappointed in the lack of horror. But maybe we didn’t read the same book, because I had a great time with this one! I loved the friendship between Clare and Abby. I loved the descriptions of the house, and how all of the different timelines were all adding onto the house's history.
My only complaint is that the ending seemed a bit rushed. It felt like we were building to this huge battle between the women and the house, but it was all over with pretty quickly. I think part of the reason so many others didn't like the book was that their expecting something other than a slow-burn horror, which is what this is.
katsherms's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0