Reviews

Rose/House by Arkady Martine

gwenswoons's review against another edition

dark tense 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? Yes

3.5

This was way outside my comfort zone - I’ve ended up reading many of those this year because of the StoryGraph Genre Challenge, which has been really fun! The writing is certainly excellent - I find books in the sci-fi/thriller/horror spectrum not often super poetic and flowery in their language, but this really was. I listened on audio, and after a while, despite  well-done narration, I ended up finding the constant florid language and the cadence of it over the course of the novella a little bit repetitive and exhausting - I had to take sizable breaks from listening, even in such a short book. I would not likely listen to this or similar works again; but I do think that it was very atmospheric and tense in a way that felt unusual and sometimes quite captivating, so if you are a sci-fi or horror reader, I think you might really enjoy it if you’re up for something a little outside the box.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Classism, Confinement, Murder, Death, Gore, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Gaslighting

zeebookdragon's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

farrington's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

mcipswitch's review against another edition

It doesn't grab me at all. Shame.

barnitka's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

lesbiantoad's review against another edition

challenging mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

sallanvaara's review against another edition

challenging dark tense

4.0

spindleweed's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

jeichael's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

riley_rose's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0