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Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
The pacing was the most glaring problem. It felt way off. By the second page, we’re told the house is creepy. There’s no build up, unsettled feelings, or feeling of dread that I think makes a great horror book. It reads fast in some places and incredibly slow in others. The ending (which I actually loved) felt rushed
I also felt like Thorne wrote like, “and this thing was super creepy” rather than just letting the reader feel creeped out. Like, don’t TELL me it’s creepy, SHOW me it’s creepy through ~*fEeLiNgS*~. It reads like she isn’t confident in her ability to set the tone…or maybe she is just bad at that, I haven’t read anything else by her to compare
I don’t have this much family drama (even though I am for sure the black sheep) so maybe I’m just lucky that I don’t get it, but the animosity Anna’s family felt towards her felt very unrealistic. Like, they unnecessarily blamed things on her that anyone with a clear head could see were in no way her fault…?
This is just a stylistic preference, not a fault of Thorne’s writing, but I don’t think I like books written in third person
Overall, it wasn’t BAD—I don’t regret reading it, but I had very high hopes for this and I am left disappointed
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Moderate: Self harm, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Pregnancy
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infertility, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, Murder, Alcohol
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
“Keep Cursed and Carry On”
It’s hard to even explain to you how much I love this book. I will be the first to admit that I don’t think this book will be for everyone. This book is about toxic family relationships with a touch of the supernatural.
It is also largely a character study of our main character Anna as she navigates the relationships in her life and the perceptions her loved ones place on her (even when faced with increasingly spooky situations). If you don’t like Anna early on in your reading I would say put down the book.
This book is the ideal read when faced with stressful family interactions and for many could be a good way to process their frustrations. We see Anna process what’s happening to her with humor, with tact, and with a growing sense of her own worth. The real horror in this book is these family dynamics and the supernatural simply amps them up and feeds on what is already present which may not be what everyone is expecting from a haunted house book 🏚️
I feel like the horror worked very well as it gave you a chance as the reader to see the story from all angles and to see what it means to step away from these family dynamics and in a way that amped up the sense of dread.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Abortion, Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
Unexpected, just the right amount of horror and mystery that keeps you guessing.
I liked the ending especially.
Graphic: Death, Blood, Vomit, Gaslighting
Moderate: Animal death, Self harm, Suicide, Abortion, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Car accident
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity
Minor: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Rape
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Abortion, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Suicide, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting