Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

The September House by Carissa Orlando

72 reviews

hauntedantiqueshop's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

They almost had me with that fake out at the end but I’m so glad it ended how it did. I can’t fathom how the justice system will handle the latest events of the house but that ain’t my business, I suppose. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Child abuse, Death, Blood, Body horror, Murder, Violence, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Grief

Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Alcoholism, Animal death, and Domestic abuse

mirandalikesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Fun twist on a haunted house story for sure. I walked into the book expecting a good cozy horror mystery. I walked out of it feeling like I got my fill of a good haunted house tale AND a thoughtful exploration into how our lives and the people in them can shape the decisions we make. 

Margaret was a character that you couldn't help but root for. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, and Death

Moderate: Violence, Torture, and Vomit

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This was a great read with a satisfying ending. So many scary moments and I loved the author’s delivery of those scenes, totally matter of fact, which combined funny with freaky. What a fantastic debut from Carissa Orlando, I’ll definitely be reading more of her books in the future.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Alcoholism, Gore, Body horror, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, Blood, Physical abuse, and Murder

purstiltski's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Murder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Death of parent, Self harm, Cursing, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcoholism

Minor: Cannibalism, Child abuse, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, and Mental illness

izypup's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I love when women 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Blood, Gore, Murder, Child death, Body horror, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Addiction, Confinement, Death of parent, Cannibalism, Animal death, Torture, Vomit, and Alcohol

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

adrilynn21's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Vomit, Child death, Gore, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism and Animal death

raven_nivhaar's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this book! The ending felt a little too picturesque and neat for my tastes, with certain revelations not getting the spotlight they deserved, but it didn't take away too much for me. 
And I ADORE Fredericka!

TW: mentions of abuse, animal death, child death, gore, blood, suicide, and death. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Child death, Animal death, and Suicide

rachelunabridged's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Gore, Alcoholism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Death, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Violence, Body horror, and Death of parent

Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Suicide

tarfishy's review

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Vomit, Animal death, Blood, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Torture, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Gore, Physical abuse, Child death, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Death

antiopelle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

 Ow, what a wild ride this was !

First it started with a tone that I didn't expect: dark humor bordering on the absurd. It was very well done, I chuckled a few times but it didn't scratch my ghost story itch and I almost stopped reading. Not only because it was so far off my expectations of the traditional haunted house, but also one of the characters - daughter Katherine - is so obnoxious that it was really putting me off. But as it was strongly recommended by people that I trust, I continued. And I must say that I was intrigued and the story became very original and enticing, going one way and then again the complete other; a swiveling narrative that also gave depth to the characters (and I absolutely loved Fredericka - I want her in my house). The ghost story then became entangled with domestic violence - a subject that I usually avoid, but the writer was absolutely spot on with processing this trope within the storyline.

I didn't really enjoy the big bang ending, I think the book would have been better without all the maxed out gore, which I think was unnecessary here. It certainly isn't your classic haunted house trope, but all in all I was intrigued, entertained and surprised all the way, so a well deserved 4 stars ! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Child death

Moderate: Animal death