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horrorandscience's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Samantha Montgomery has to briefly move in with her mother while her archeological dig is postponed because of human remains. Instantly, she can tell something is wrong with her mom. She’s not as bright and cheerful as she used to be, and she’s embracing ideals that are very unlike her. Sam starts digging into what’s going on, and as a scientist, she finds stuff that she just does not believe.
I love a good story about familial trauma and breaking generational trauma. This definitely falls into that category. It also directly tackles fat phobia, which is rare in horror stories. It was also just… creepy. Sam is an archeoentomologist, meaning she deals with old bugs. So warning, there’s bugs. I also loved the vultures in this story. The book also takes place in North Carolina and tackles stuff like systemic and generational racism.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. My only real issue, hence the .5 star reduction, is a bit of a spoiler but it had to do with the ending. It was just kind of too easy. Otherwise, T. Kingfisher blows me away yet again.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the chance to read this advanced review copy. A House with Good Bones is available now.
CW for fat phobia, body shaming, racism, medical trauma, entemophobia, child abuse, emotional abuse, fire, injury description, blood, gore, and death
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Racism, Blood, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
maryellen's review
- 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
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
- A HOUSE WITH GOOD BONES is pitched as a modern Southern gothic, and it's exactly that, mixed with Kingfisher's signature offbeat humor and deeply unsettling imagery.
- I feel like I was primed to love and/or be extra affected by this book, given that I grew up with grandparents who kept an immaculately tended rose garden, just like Sam's family. Even if that's not your history, though, there's still plenty to be horrified by here.
- The book takes awhile to wind up. But even with some off kilter pacing, I'm still happy to be inside T. Kingfisher's mind.
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Dementia
acwhite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Racism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
boglord's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Racism, and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail