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glitterdeww's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
Emily Carroll's talents are on vivid display in this full length graphic novel. Fantastic and bloody imagery overlaps the mundane life of Abby, a quiet woman in a small town, as she becomes enveloped in the mystery of her husband's late wife. There is a depth of suspense and quiet throughout this novel that builds slowly and powerfully. Abby's imagination and suspicion collide within the gloriously illustrated pages, and like Carroll's short stories, the reader is brought to a climactic and abrupt ending.
PLOT: 4.5
PLOT: 4.5
CHAR: 4
CRAFT: 5
ENGMT: 4
SPARK: 4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Suicide
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A thoroughly haunting and captivating story, that delivered peak eery atmosphere through the entity of the tale. I was genuinely frightened multiple times and had to stop reading, especially at night time.
The story was much more complex than I expected, but for the most part I think it carrier through it's themes and general plot exploration really well. Where it falls down for me was the ending; the plot twist was shocking and left me with so many questions, but then the ending just confused me. I didn't really understand what had happened. I feel like this is how I felt back in the day when I had read Carroll's Through the woods short story collection, but generally speaking, A guest in the house had a more satisfying layout.
Abby was a very non-assuming protagonist but her inner world was rich and whimsical. I loved the scenes of her imaginary knight and how she wanted to be in spirit, but it was interwoven with this dark and sinister entity and environment that I began to wonder if that was coming from Abby herself.
Carroll really had me second guessing characters and although I'm left perplexed by those last few pages, I enjoyed the beauty of the details of the art and the story overall.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Violence, Death, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Suicide, Body horror, Blood, Murder, and Grief
jill_holly's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a creepy graphic novel with a jarring twist. I haven't read a graphic novel in a while and this one didn't disappoint. The use of black and white vs. colour and the way the colour intruded on the black and white as what was real and not real blurred was perfect. I took away themes of loneliness and isolation and the way our fears and fantasies can quite literally colour reality, for better or worse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Suicide
broughtbybrokenminds's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
No one draws drippy gooey body horror quite like Emily Carroll! The use of pops of color throughout the book as the fantastical seeps into Abby’s everyday life has a mesmerizing effect that draws the reader deep into the story. I loved the suburban gothic vibes that embraced depicting the horror of a mundane existence in equal part with the supernatural horror. Experiencing life through Abby’s perspective as a woman who feels uncomfortable in her own body and like a guest in her own home, fuels the creeping dread that unfolds as her obsession with the ghost of her husband’s first wife grows. This was a fascinating mystery that will leave you questioning what was real and what was imaginary, with gorgeous artwork that will stick with you long after you close the last page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Gaslighting and Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicide and Cancer
lurieta's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, Body horror, and Murder
jessereadsthings's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
2.0
Beautiful art, but the story didn’t quite work for me. It felt incomplete in its story telling and overall I think it need just a bit more time to explore the characters and to truly pull off the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Gore
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide
emilyatthelibrary's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Suicide and Cancer
galaxsea's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What if you told a modern version of Bluebeard about a deeply closeted woman in a haunted lakehouse? Or didn't? A Guest in the House is a masterpiece in its own right. Beautiful, compelling art. Masterful control of tension. Horror and fantasy and the mundane all swirled together until they can't be untangled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide
violerwolf's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Gorgeous art style, gorgeous writing, absolutely do not understand the ending and I don’t think I ever will. And I think I have to be okay with that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Suicide, Sexual content, Murder, Gaslighting, and Death
maryellen's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pregnancy, Blood, Suicide, Body horror, Gore, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death of parent