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caitsidhe'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Hare House is a well-written and characterised Gothic set in the modern day. Our main character is a repressed, haunted woman escaping from a traumatic event. She moves to Hare House and become embroiled in the emotional difficulties of Grant and Cass, who live in the manor house.
I really liked this book. The prose fits the story well and the unnamed narrator is a great gothic protagonist - she resembles the main character in the Turn of The Screw, being an unreliable narrator with a history, repressed sexual desire, and notably a hatred of the blooming sexuality of young women.
The tension in Hare House builds slowly through careful use of atmosphere and horrific events. Cass is a fascinating character and very accurate for a traumatised 17 year old - in equal parts charming, annoying, and disturbing, all of those filtered through the faulty interpretation of the narrator.
The ending is creepy, and it doesn't leave everything nicely wrapped up and explained.
Recommended.
I really liked this book. The prose fits the story well and the unnamed narrator is a great gothic protagonist - she resembles the main character in the Turn of The Screw, being an unreliable narrator with a history, repressed sexual desire, and notably a hatred of the blooming sexuality of young women.
The tension in Hare House builds slowly through careful use of atmosphere and horrific events. Cass is a fascinating character and very accurate for a traumatised 17 year old - in equal parts charming, annoying, and disturbing, all of those filtered through the faulty interpretation of the narrator.
The ending is creepy, and it doesn't leave everything nicely wrapped up and explained.
Recommended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Animal death, Car accident, and Mental illness
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Confinement, Bullying, and Misogyny
Minor: Classism, Cursing, Infertility, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Death, and Emotional abuse
panikos's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
This was a strange read, and I can understand why the overall ratings are not that high, but I enjoyed it a lot. I was roped in right from the start by the book's irresistable atmosphere - Hinchcliffe's description of the countryside is so palphable, and she's brilliant at sowing unease and tension into her prose. Even though the characters are difficult to pin down, and nor are they particularly nice people, I was entranced by them. The protagonist is very carefully drawn. When I first started the story, I wondered if I could fully trust what she was saying, but grew very sympathetic towards her the more I read. Her loneliness was convincing and infectious, and I longed for her to find the companionship she so desperately craved.
Yet towards the end of the book, I started to question her again. Was she really telling us the whole truth? Why was she behaving in such a strange way, without fully explaining why? How much could we trust what she'd said about her past? Once I started mistrusting one thing she'd said, I began to rethink everything that had happened before, and that made for a really intersting reading experience. I'll be turning this book over in my mind for a long time. For instance, I've only just now realised that we never learnt the narrator's name - that detail was witheld without me even noticing.
I can see why the ambiguity would bother a lot of readers. If you're looking for a clear cut horror story with answers and a neat ending, this isn't the read for you. I usually find open endings a bit hit-or-miss, but in this particular case, it was a hit for me. I like that it's hard to tell exactly what happened, and it feels very much in keeping with the themes of the novel - the way that rumours and suspicion can run away with people, making you assume the worst of them. I read the book hoping for answers, but I wasn't angry to be denied them; it was the bolder narrative choice, and I personally think it paid off. The unreliable narration is part and parcel of the story.
So if you don't mind ambiguous endings, and if you love spooky old houses, unpredictable characters, and wintry landscapes, give this one a try.
Yet towards the end of the book, I started to question her again. Was she really telling us the whole truth? Why was she behaving in such a strange way, without fully explaining why? How much could we trust what she'd said about her past? Once I started mistrusting one thing she'd said, I began to rethink everything that had happened before, and that made for a really intersting reading experience. I'll be turning this book over in my mind for a long time. For instance, I've only just now realised that we never learnt the narrator's name - that detail was witheld without me even noticing.
I can see why the ambiguity would bother a lot of readers. If you're looking for a clear cut horror story with answers and a neat ending, this isn't the read for you. I usually find open endings a bit hit-or-miss, but in this particular case, it was a hit for me. I like that it's hard to tell exactly what happened, and it feels very much in keeping with the themes of the novel - the way that rumours and suspicion can run away with people, making you assume the worst of them. I read the book hoping for answers, but I wasn't angry to be denied them; it was the bolder narrative choice, and I personally think it paid off. The unreliable narration is part and parcel of the story.
So if you don't mind ambiguous endings, and if you love spooky old houses, unpredictable characters, and wintry landscapes, give this one a try.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Car accident, and Mental illness
rcsreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This was one of those books where when I put it down I didn't really care enough to pick it up again. I was basically just reading it at bedtime so that it would end.
The pace is too slow and if you're going to be an unreliable narrator at least try to trick me into liking you or caring at all about what happens to you.
Also, the ending was too ambiguous and left to many questions that didn't make a lot of sense.
It was alright, I guess. Meh!
The pace is too slow and if you're going to be an unreliable narrator at least try to trick me into liking you or caring at all about what happens to you.
Also, the ending was too ambiguous and left to many questions that didn't make a lot of sense.
It was alright, I guess. Meh!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Mental illness, and Car accident
Minor: Death of parent and Death
hayleygray's review
adventurous
dark
informative
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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Scottish gothic folklore 🤝 witchcraft
This was an interesting, dark and mysterious story that keeps you guessing at what is happening/has happened with the answers leaving you asking even more questions. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as I’m Scottish and love Scottish/Gaelic folklore and also it’s witch season, so it was the perfect read for the start of October. Hinchcliffe has a way of bringing the setting to life as you’re reading with such attention to detail but written in a way that keeps you engaged and building that world in your head.
This was an interesting, dark and mysterious story that keeps you guessing at what is happening/has happened with the answers leaving you asking even more questions. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as I’m Scottish and love Scottish/Gaelic folklore and also it’s witch season, so it was the perfect read for the start of October. Hinchcliffe has a way of bringing the setting to life as you’re reading with such attention to detail but written in a way that keeps you engaged and building that world in your head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Animal death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse
arabellaruby's review
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Car accident
saralouisemarsbar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Car accident, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Grief, and Mental illness
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