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jessereadsthings's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.0
Interesting concept, but was unfortunately just not that interesting in execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Racism
blewballoon's review
dark
funny
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
A fun yet spooky horror story with a small cast of interesting and lovable characters. I enjoyed the relationship between the main character, Sam, and her mother and brother. I think the small neighborhood type setting fit the type of horror going on very well. I also had a good time learning so much about bugs and plants! T. Kingfisher always works for me, it felt like a breath of fresh air to be reading one of their books again. I was amused by the Chekov's Doily. I did have a few questions that went unanswered, like what changed in the last year that caused the grandmother to get more dramatic with her haunting? It's possible the info is there but I missed it and didn't put it together.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Racism, Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse, Grief, and Death of parent
booksthatburn's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
In A HOUSE WITH GOOD BONES, Sam is visiting her mother in the home they once shared with her now-deceased grandmother. However, most of the ways Sam's mother had decorated to make the place her own have been undone, and she doesn’t seem to understand or acknowledge why this would be disturbing. Little things start to add up, eventually going beyond what’s merely bizarre - transforming into something downright creepy.
Because as a reader this is my introduction to Sam’s mother, it’s harder to immediately know how she ought to be acting, but Sam’s thoughts provide that context in a way that feels natural. It feels like Sam working through it in her own mind, and not just for the benefit of me as a spectator. This is one of those cases where the things that I like best about the book are the ways that my understanding of of what's going on suddenly shifted as new information became available. It's short enough that to discuss most of what I loved in the latter half of the book would spoil many of the best parts of the experience. In general, I like the way that this played with my expectations of what a horror novel could or should be. There were several layers of revelations that didn't really feel like plot twists, as much as they involved realizing the meaning of information that had been said previously, but was transformed by new events.
I love the ending, that ramps up the pace and the stakes to be suddenly exciting just as everything looked like it was going to wrap up more calmly.
Because as a reader this is my introduction to Sam’s mother, it’s harder to immediately know how she ought to be acting, but Sam’s thoughts provide that context in a way that feels natural. It feels like Sam working through it in her own mind, and not just for the benefit of me as a spectator. This is one of those cases where the things that I like best about the book are the ways that my understanding of of what's going on suddenly shifted as new information became available. It's short enough that to discuss most of what I loved in the latter half of the book would spoil many of the best parts of the experience. In general, I like the way that this played with my expectations of what a horror novel could or should be. There were several layers of revelations that didn't really feel like plot twists, as much as they involved realizing the meaning of information that had been said previously, but was transformed by new events.
I love the ending, that ramps up the pace and the stakes to be suddenly exciting just as everything looked like it was going to wrap up more calmly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Vomit, Dementia, and Alcohol
netthauser's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
Great POV and characters who are down to earth despite the weird happenings. The stakes were appropriate and the ending was satisfying with just enough left unresolved.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Minor: Racism and Injury/Injury detail
alienor's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Fatphobia, and Blood
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Racism
itsalina's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Fatphobia, Violence, Blood, and Cannibalism
Minor: Body horror, Death, Racism, and Murder
blacksphinx's review
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I got this book because I've seen a lot of people talk about T. Kingfisher's work but hadn't read any myself yet, and this was her latest release. As someone who tried going to school for forensic anthropology and has a strong interest in ceremonial magick , it felt like it was written just for me? It is a deeply WEIRD book that didn't go in the direction I originally expected, and I loved it. I wish there was more of it, or that it was longer, perhaps the pacing being a little different? Maybe a touch more explanation to really take it to the 5-star finish line.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Racism, Cannibalism, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Terminal illness, Dementia, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
ellarroz's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Racism, and Blood
Moderate: Cannibalism
bandysbooks's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had not previously read a T. Kingfisher book, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this up. I'm glad I did though. This book was just the right mix of Southern gothic horror vibes with a splash of humor. There were so many great elements that came together to create a quirky, fun, and mildly creepy read.
First of all, I loved the characterization in this. Our MC is so relatable and I loved her ability to laugh at herself. I also really appreciated how logical she was in regard to the majority of the horror. She didn't panic or immediately jump to a haunting and that felt so much more realistic. And all of the supporting characters felt like real people as well. Even characters that only appeared briefly felt thoroughly fleshed out.
I also really enjoyed the quirky elements like the pet vultures and the bug factoids. It made the book feel a bit more unique and less cookie cutter.
The humor in this was a surprise for me, but a welcome one. I loved that this book didn't take itself too seriously. It made the book feel light even with some of the darker subject matter.
All in all, this was a good first experience with Kingfisher and I will definitely read more of their books in the future.
I did receive an egalley of the audiobook on netgalley and I really enjoyed the narration of this. It was smooth and I felt that the narrator's voice really fit with the story,
*Receipt of an egalley in no way influences the content of my review.
First of all, I loved the characterization in this. Our MC is so relatable and I loved her ability to laugh at herself. I also really appreciated how logical she was in regard to the majority of the horror. She didn't panic or immediately jump to a haunting and that felt so much more realistic. And all of the supporting characters felt like real people as well. Even characters that only appeared briefly felt thoroughly fleshed out.
I also really enjoyed the quirky elements like the pet vultures and the bug factoids. It made the book feel a bit more unique and less cookie cutter.
The humor in this was a surprise for me, but a welcome one. I loved that this book didn't take itself too seriously. It made the book feel light even with some of the darker subject matter.
All in all, this was a good first experience with Kingfisher and I will definitely read more of their books in the future.
I did receive an egalley of the audiobook on netgalley and I really enjoyed the narration of this. It was smooth and I felt that the narrator's voice really fit with the story,
*Receipt of an egalley in no way influences the content of my review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
caidyn's review
dark
mysterious
tense
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? No
4.5
How fucking creepy. This book really did a good job of making the horror creep up until the last few chapters, all while balancing a genuinely funny main character. I could so relate with Sam and found her delightful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Fatphobia
Moderate: Racism and Sexism