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sabrinalefebvre's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I don’t understand the low rating this book has. I know that weirder or horror books usually get a lower rating but this was so good.
I loved all the characters. Stacy was such an interesting perspective, I loved seeing the perspective if a protective father and Dess felt like a real person.
And this is a debut novel! Can’t wait to read more of his work.
I do wish it was a bit longer, so we could have had more scenes in the house, both past and present.
Graphic: Death and Child death
rorikae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Spite House is true to its name, built out of the spite held by one man. Eric Ross and his two daughters are running away from mysterious circumstances and looking for a way to make money without bringing too much attention to themselves. The offer of staying in the Spite House feels like the perfect opportunity. But when the Ross' move in, the house makes it clear that they are not welcome and embroils them in circumstances that spill out beyond the house's walls.
I am fascinated by the work that Compton has done concocting the lore and character motivations at the heart of 'The Spite House.' He has created a set of complicated characters, where it is easy to understand both protagonists and antagonists. As we slowly begin to understand more about what drove Eric and his daughters away from their normal lives, we come to better understand how they are easily embroiled in the Spite House. I was really hoping for a bit more atmosphere. A great deal of this story is about the house while only a choice few moments are spent within the actual house itself. I would have loved to see more dread built up through moments in the house. I am intrigued to see what Compton writes next as the thought put into the story is clear and he's juggling a number of fascinating concepts.
Moderate: Kidnapping, Violence, Child death, Death, and Murder
shadowspinner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death and Child death
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Death of parent
doomluz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Grief, and Racism
Moderate: War
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"The Spite House" follows a plethora of characters, but the story centralizes around Eric Ross. Eric is on the run from something haunting him in his past. He left his wife and has his two daughters along for the ride. He is desperately trying to make money as they run from town to town. He thinks his luck is finally turning around when he sees an advertisement to reside in this house and document any strange occurrences. But this house harbors decades old secrets and Eric quickly discovers that this may be a larger undertaking than he thought.
I was initially intrigued by this story because there are multiple mysteries going on. First, we do not know what Eric and his daughters are running from or why they are running. Second, we do not know what is going on at Spite House. It ended up taking me a LONG time to get into this story because it is so densely written. It may be closer to a novella in length, but it felt like I was reading a 500-page story. I also struggled because there are so many different characters and POVs to read from. I felt like just when I was becoming invested in one character's story, I was given a new character. This constant changing really took me out of the story. For a book this short in length, I wished we got less POVs. I think the story could have been just as strong with solely Eric's POV.
Once it was finally revealed what was going on, I was interested in the story once again. I really enjoyed the mystery that Eric was trying to hide about why they were running, and I ultimately enjoyed the resolution they reached as a family about how to handle it. The Spite House's mystery was a bit more traumatic I felt, but it was definitely engaging. My heart went out to everyone affected.
I had a very okay time reading this, and I am intrigued by Johnny Compton as an author.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Child abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, Torture, and Confinement
Moderate: Medical content
blacksphinx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Grief, Racism, and Child death
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: War and Fire/Fire injury
carissa230's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
As soon as they arrive at the house it's clear that something otherworldly is going on there. The house itself seems to want to keep them forever. There are also children and an old man stuck there that are very mean and will do anything to capture the people that come along.
Eunice the owner of the house will do anything it takes to learn the secrets of the house. She believes that there is something in there that will help her survive longer than any other member of her family. If only she can figure out how the house works.
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Child death, and Death
itsalina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Moderate: Child death, Grief, Gaslighting, and Death
Minor: Gun violence
limina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Racism
thereadedit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Unsettling: 😬😬/5
SCARY: 👻👻/5
DEATH: 💀💀/5
INTRIGUE: 🧠🧠🧠🧠/5
The Spite House was nothing like I expected. With such poignant writing to take you through so many cycles of terror that were being held within the four walls of the Spite House. The tenants withheld in those four walls have every intention to make your life hell while you are there. Would you believe me that two children run the house? Oh yeah. Those children will scare and torture you till you finally just give up.
With a family on the run after a miraculous happening, the chance to make 6 figures is always a plus. Especially when you are hiding who you are and why. But is the money worth it when you know that you could lose the two people you love the most? The ones you went on the run for??
Eric is a father that is determined to do everything for his girls that he can. Even after his daughter comes back to life after dying, he knows something within their family gives them that blessing of life after death. Just as it did for his grandfather. But he is determined to make a life for his girls and figure out more about the gift they have been given.
With so much paranormal activity, lies, deception and money there is always room for mayhem. Enter the Spite House. Welcome to the chaos!
I also want to include that this book is a great representation of POC by a POC. Which I absolutely love and appreciate. In what bit of horror I have read there isn't a whole ton of POC representation. But also the representation showing how different the stereotypes that so many authors stick to aren't the same in this book.
Moderate: Death and Child death
Minor: Bullying, Mental illness, War, Violence, and Murder