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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
Felix has a feeling that his next nonfiction book, Thirteen Nights at Rotter House, is going to be the one to launch him into financial success. He invites his friend, Thomas, to join an investigation of this haunted house so the resulting book will be balanced between his own skepticism and Thomas’s beliefs in the paranormal. But that’s not the only motive. A year ago, their friendship was broken, and Felix is desperate to repair the rift.
Since the title of the actual book is Twelve Nights at Rotter House, we know something is going to prevent Felix from reaching his final intended evening in the location, and that was the only thing that kept me reading the novel through to the end. Slow burns are one thing, but this book is more like watching a glacier melt, ending in a small calving. I don’t mind a slow burn approach to horror, but there needs to be a buildup of tension in the overall plot and insight into the characters. What disappointed me most was some of the passages, especially early on, were well written with unique perspectives and descriptions, however as the story continued there was a lot of repetition of phrases and actions.
Layered with terrific atmosphere, the first two nights in Rotter House (ending with chapter seven) introduces the characters, describes the supremely creepy setting, and details some of the bizarre and horrific deaths of the home’s past. It produced that wonderful feeling of settling in for an intense ride. However, after the initial set up the novel stagnates until around the ninth night (chapter twenty-three). That’s not to say nothing happens in the story. Events do occur, like the use of a Ouija board, porcelain dolls seeming to have moved on their own, and disembodied screams piercing the night. The problem is the approach to the actions. For example, several times Felix says something like “If I were writing a piece of fiction, I wouldn’t dream of using the overused concept of [Ouija board, unexplained noises, a character as a ghost, etc.], but since this is nonfiction I will.” Having him make fun of tired horror motifs once or twice would feel natural coming from his skeptical stance, but the story relies on this response too often. Also, when something does happen, the characters discuss the occurrences to death, dissolving the tension.
As for the character development, even though the story is told from Felix’s first-person perspective, very little is revealed about him. There’s ample room through the novel to dig deeper into his innermost thoughts and his past, to create a bond between the reader and character, and by not establishing this connection I was left in a state of apathy. This is one of those books where too much information is held back from the reader as an attempt to intensify the twist ending, but instead creates a void through the middle.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this work by the author in exchange for an honest review. *
**This review first appeared on http://kendallreviews.com/ **
Since the title of the actual book is Twelve Nights at Rotter House, we know something is going to prevent Felix from reaching his final intended evening in the location, and that was the only thing that kept me reading the novel through to the end. Slow burns are one thing, but this book is more like watching a glacier melt, ending in a small calving. I don’t mind a slow burn approach to horror, but there needs to be a buildup of tension in the overall plot and insight into the characters. What disappointed me most was some of the passages, especially early on, were well written with unique perspectives and descriptions, however as the story continued there was a lot of repetition of phrases and actions.
Layered with terrific atmosphere, the first two nights in Rotter House (ending with chapter seven) introduces the characters, describes the supremely creepy setting, and details some of the bizarre and horrific deaths of the home’s past. It produced that wonderful feeling of settling in for an intense ride. However, after the initial set up the novel stagnates until around the ninth night (chapter twenty-three). That’s not to say nothing happens in the story. Events do occur, like the use of a Ouija board, porcelain dolls seeming to have moved on their own, and disembodied screams piercing the night. The problem is the approach to the actions. For example, several times Felix says something like “If I were writing a piece of fiction, I wouldn’t dream of using the overused concept of [Ouija board, unexplained noises, a character as a ghost, etc.], but since this is nonfiction I will.” Having him make fun of tired horror motifs once or twice would feel natural coming from his skeptical stance, but the story relies on this response too often. Also, when something does happen, the characters discuss the occurrences to death, dissolving the tension.
As for the character development, even though the story is told from Felix’s first-person perspective, very little is revealed about him. There’s ample room through the novel to dig deeper into his innermost thoughts and his past, to create a bond between the reader and character, and by not establishing this connection I was left in a state of apathy. This is one of those books where too much information is held back from the reader as an attempt to intensify the twist ending, but instead creates a void through the middle.
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this work by the author in exchange for an honest review. *
**This review first appeared on http://kendallreviews.com/ **
more like 2.5 stars. It was...fine. I don't think it really brings anything new to the haunted house genre and all the pop-culture references started to grate on me after a while.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Thoroughly managed to spook myself by reading this one, especially on a stormy cold night :D
Would have given it a solid 5 stars but the climax kind of ruined the book for me. I am left with SO many questions.
Wanted to do a better reaction-review, this'l have to do for now
Would have given it a solid 5 stars but the climax kind of ruined the book for me. I am left with SO many questions.
Wanted to do a better reaction-review, this'l have to do for now
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't know what I just read and not in a good way.
This book had the opportunity to be a 5 star read, but there were so many elements that killed it for me.
All the spooky stuff that happened was awesome, but it was talked to death about it, and it no longer was spooky.
There were some very out of place comments/elements in the book that contributed to a less enjoyable reading experience.
I couldn't stand either of the main characters.
I just felt like this book kept shooting itself in the foot...
This book was good/just ok for me it sits at a 2.75 ⭐️s rounded up to 3 where applicable. I just think this book wasn't for me.
This book had the opportunity to be a 5 star read, but there were so many elements that killed it for me.
All the spooky stuff that happened was awesome, but it was talked to death about it, and it no longer was spooky.
There were some very out of place comments/elements in the book that contributed to a less enjoyable reading experience.
I couldn't stand either of the main characters.
I just felt like this book kept shooting itself in the foot...
This book was good/just ok for me it sits at a 2.75 ⭐️s rounded up to 3 where applicable. I just think this book wasn't for me.
Loved it. Would have been better if it was also queerer.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am so disappointed! This book started off so strong for me, with a fun premise (a travel writer deciding to spend 13 nights in a supposedly haunted house for his next book project) and a creepy setting. Unfortunately, by the end, it went off into my least favourite trope and left me feeling frustrated.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and for the first few chapters, I enjoyed it. I went for walks around our cottage in October, and was suitably spooked. But the story worsened as it went on and it got really gross in parts. Once, I actually yelled "EWWW" at the book, which isn't a great sign.
Also, I did not enjoy the audiobook narrator. The accents he chose for the two main characters were odd. I know you have to differentiate the two voices but they had completely different accents even though they had grown up together in the same town. I will probably avoid this narrator in the future, because his voice, accents, and affectations just weren't for me.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and for the first few chapters, I enjoyed it. I went for walks around our cottage in October, and was suitably spooked. But the story worsened as it went on and it got really gross in parts. Once, I actually yelled "EWWW" at the book, which isn't a great sign.
Also, I did not enjoy the audiobook narrator. The accents he chose for the two main characters were odd. I know you have to differentiate the two voices but they had completely different accents even though they had grown up together in the same town. I will probably avoid this narrator in the future, because his voice, accents, and affectations just weren't for me.
Not a bad book. I listened to the audiobook, and while the narrator wasn't horrible, he definitely wasn't my favorite. The book was pretty straightforward, starting out. It's pretty dialogue heavy, even outside of the first person POV, but it seemed to fit with the narrative.
There was a time or two when I thought I'd be seeing some bromance happening, but ended up going a completely different direction. Spoiler thoughts below.
1. I don't feel there was anything racist in this novel, like a lot of reviewers said. I don't think the author conveyed well that Thomas was, indeed, black, but I don't think it was done with racist intent... just another author unable to write a black individual.
2. It took way too long to get to the climax. I feel like it was a slow burn to get from the entrance of Rotterdam to the murder at the end. Having that sort of stuff happen within the last three chapters and then ending it like that felt like a cop out.
3. On the other hand, the imagery of Rotterdam's colors brightening, his vision clearing, the fog, the screaming, the foreshadowing was a really nice set up to what happened at the end. I had an inkling that either Thomas or the narrator were dead, but I didn't actually know for certain until it was revealed.
...
3/5 Stars because the ending was half-assed and the meat of the story literally happened in the last like three chapters. The rest felt like filler. Writing was good, imagery was good. Decent read, but wouldn't read again.
There was a time or two when I thought I'd be seeing some bromance happening, but ended up going a completely different direction. Spoiler thoughts below.
Spoiler
1. I don't feel there was anything racist in this novel, like a lot of reviewers said. I don't think the author conveyed well that Thomas was, indeed, black, but I don't think it was done with racist intent... just another author unable to write a black individual.
2. It took way too long to get to the climax. I feel like it was a slow burn to get from the entrance of Rotterdam to the murder at the end. Having that sort of stuff happen within the last three chapters and then ending it like that felt like a cop out.
3. On the other hand, the imagery of Rotterdam's colors brightening, his vision clearing, the fog, the screaming, the foreshadowing was a really nice set up to what happened at the end. I had an inkling that either Thomas or the narrator were dead, but I didn't actually know for certain until it was revealed.
...
3/5 Stars because the ending was half-assed and the meat of the story literally happened in the last like three chapters. The rest felt like filler. Writing was good, imagery was good. Decent read, but wouldn't read again.