Reviews tagging 'Death'

A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

48 reviews

cadence99's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

I really really enjoyed this book- creepy and familiar all at once. First of all my heart was so full having a fat main character. I also felt as if the author did a fantastic job of capturing the way in which anxieties manifest themselves in these kind of family dynamics. My one complaint is that I wish the ending twist had been more clearly tied into the underlying themes of the book, it was still deeply creepy, but felt a bit detached from the spirit of the rest of the story. But despite that minor grievance, this book is still one of the best I’ve read this year. I’d definitely recommend it. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse, Dementia, and Alcohol

skeuomorphism's review against another edition

funny mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

love the humor! plot's a little slow on the build-up but trust that it's worth the read. and the suspense.....entomologist's kiss....i cannot express the sheer joy that i felt as a insect lover reading about sam's thoughts on bugs
+ the hardcover edition of this book is so pretty??????? 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Animal death and Racism

hannanni41's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

It's no Hollow Places or What Moves The Dead, but it's still pretty good. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Blood

Moderate: Death, Racism, and Death of parent

Minor: Dementia and Gaslighting

marsh_mall0w's review against another edition

emotional funny 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? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Blood, Cannibalism, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, and Racism

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, and Stalking

naomidanae's review

dark medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Violence, and Blood

ohhthehorrors's review

funny hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Blood, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury

lipstickitotheman's review

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Blood, Cannibalism, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Grief, and Death of parent

archaicrobin's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

This is probably one of my favorite Kingfisher books so far! She has a way of mixing humor and terror so well, you’re chuckling one minute and cringing the next. 

Sam is staying at home with her mother in their childhood home after her archaeology dig was postponed. Unfortunately, the house seems to have changed and the dead are not at rest. 

This novel is fast paced, humorous, and filled with magical realism giving it a cozy feel. I don’t usually like humor
mixed with horror, but the way Kingfisher writes, I find myself greatly enjoying her stories. This novel is part haunted house, part ancient magic, and part comedy with the overarching theme of familial trauma underneath all the roses. 

I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for something a little lighthearted but that still packs a punch with horror. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Racism, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

sarahmiller98's review

dark funny tense

4.0

It's funny that I read this book so close to How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix, because the two books share a number of themes: family, trauma, inheritance, child abandonment. This book though is pure T. Kingfisher, which means a very specific type of comfort read for me. When I read this author, I know I'm getting warmth, humour, practicality, and kindness. Sometimes that comes with a side of romance, or fantasy, or - in this case - horror. Often it contains a mix of all three. It takes a special writer to balance those elements - to make you smile one minute and genuinely creep you out the next - while still leaving you with an overall feeling of steady hope and goodwill.

In other words, I've read and loved the author's other horror novels, and this book is no exception to the trend. The protagonist is typically smart, level-headed, funny and relatable. Her relationship with her mother, which is central to the story, is likewise funny and endearing. As with all T. Kingfisher books, I cared instantly about the characters, which made me deeply invested in their situation as the horror gradually unfolded. Although the plot is a slow burn compared to some of the author's books, it never feels like the pacing drags. Structurally, it's a very well-balanced, well-crafted story that comes to a satisfying conclusion without sacrificing any of the little details of character and setting that make the author's books such a pleasure to read. Highly recommend, as usual.       

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Violence

nrogers_1030's review

dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

T.K. always entertains me. This book is creepy and funny.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Classism