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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.
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
rachelunabridged's review
dark
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, and Racism
orizenda's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-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? No
4.0
so ended up actually rly liking it even tho i didn’t like the narrator that much sometimes. maybe i just don’t like that it felt like she was talking to me does she use second person? I don’t remember but it feels like it does to me anyway. also it was actually creepy to me. like idk bugs r one thing but the children 😳 i was dying. also I kind of like… thought it felt weird that there’s like talk abt diversity in the book like sam feels very black lives matter to me but like are any of the characters not white? like maria but does she even really appear in the story? idk it just felt performative ig in that aspect. but i liked it overall
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Child death
lots of bugs mentioned which might not be great for anyone who doesn’t do well with bugssarahmiller98'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.
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
harpoonholly's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I'm hopelessly addicted to T. Kingfisher's horror and she gets more and more refined. Kingfisher focuses on the complexity of people; the flaws of the good ones and especially the complexity of the hateful ones without justifying their cruelty. The book conjurs fascinating dread and interesting tidbits about insect and roses.
The voice acting was overall good, especially Gail's and Gran May's.
The voice acting was overall good, especially Gail's and Gran May's.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Gore
wrestleacademic's review
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child death, Fatphobia, Blood, and Murder
Bugs, like so many bugsgr3yfoxhound's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Slow-ish start, getting faster as it goes along
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Blood
Minor: Gore and Violence
dazzle_spider_reader_1212's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Absolutely the kind of book I've been looking for! I'm also an entomology lover and have been looking for books that are in the SF/F and speculative genres that have bugs in, that aren't viewed negatively.
I also love the vultures and how they tie in.
The story and the plot twists aswell are so creative, and T Kingfishers writing is so comical and made the characters really relatable.
Overall, one of my all time favourite books I think, and I'm excited to read more of her work!
I also love the vultures and how they tie in.
The story and the plot twists aswell are so creative, and T Kingfishers writing is so comical and made the characters really relatable.
Overall, one of my all time favourite books I think, and I'm excited to read more of her work!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
curlyqueen's review
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
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