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marieintheraw's review against another edition
2.0
I love books that are uniquely formatted. This was creepy, but I feel like the blurb wasn't clear.
Spoiler
it should have mentioned "mental illness" because the book heavily focused on it instead of slightly mentioning it.ambeesbookishpages's review against another edition
5.0
The full review can be found at The Book Bratz
No book has given me goose bumps, or freaked me out as much as The Dead House did. This book is a complete mind trip, making you second guess every single thing you read. Dawn writes in a way that left me as a reader dying to know more about the Johnson Incident.
The story is told through diary entries, interviews, and video tapes that are organized as a police file with footnotes to guide you through it. The Johnson Incident took place in 2004/2005 and the case is reopened twenty years later for investigation. Each reader is presented with documents that describe the events leading up to the incident and after, and ultimately in the end it is the matter of perception on what is wrong with Carly. Was she possessed? Or was she mentally ill? I see the argument from both ends and it is hard for me to actually choose, but I believe it was a bit of both things that ended up causing the fire.
The book has a diverse set of characters that grow on you through out the story. I loved seeing how Nadia and Kaitlyn's friendship developed through out the second half of the book. When the book started Kaitlyn felt like Nadia was taking Carly away from her, she was on the defense and constantly rude to Nadia until Carly suddenly goes missing. In The Dead House no one is who they say they are, Kaitlyn eventually learns that one of her friends is out to get her, with a form of vodoo magic.
As much as I loved The Dead House I do wish the magic was clarified a little more. There were moments I was completely lost in what was going on at certain moments. But in the format of the story it makes sense that not all the pieces are their for you to put together in the first place. It is a matter of making them fit. Overall I really enjoyed this one and will be looking out for my of Dawn's work in the future.
Thank you so much to The NOVL for sending me and ARC of The Dead House!
No book has given me goose bumps, or freaked me out as much as The Dead House did. This book is a complete mind trip, making you second guess every single thing you read. Dawn writes in a way that left me as a reader dying to know more about the Johnson Incident.
The story is told through diary entries, interviews, and video tapes that are organized as a police file with footnotes to guide you through it. The Johnson Incident took place in 2004/2005 and the case is reopened twenty years later for investigation. Each reader is presented with documents that describe the events leading up to the incident and after, and ultimately in the end it is the matter of perception on what is wrong with Carly. Was she possessed? Or was she mentally ill? I see the argument from both ends and it is hard for me to actually choose, but I believe it was a bit of both things that ended up causing the fire.
The book has a diverse set of characters that grow on you through out the story. I loved seeing how Nadia and Kaitlyn's friendship developed through out the second half of the book. When the book started Kaitlyn felt like Nadia was taking Carly away from her, she was on the defense and constantly rude to Nadia until Carly suddenly goes missing. In The Dead House no one is who they say they are, Kaitlyn eventually learns that one of her friends is out to get her, with a form of vodoo magic.
As much as I loved The Dead House I do wish the magic was clarified a little more. There were moments I was completely lost in what was going on at certain moments. But in the format of the story it makes sense that not all the pieces are their for you to put together in the first place. It is a matter of making them fit. Overall I really enjoyed this one and will be looking out for my of Dawn's work in the future.
Thank you so much to The NOVL for sending me and ARC of The Dead House!
julie_reads15's review
4.0
When Kaitlyn loses her alter ego, Carly, she and her friends must delve into the depths of The Dead House (Kaitlyn's mind).
Who will make it out alive? And who won't make it out at all?
The characters were well crafted, proving we all hold a little insanity in ourselves.
I love how it was an epistolary psychological thriller because it made the story move quickly.
Who will make it out alive? And who won't make it out at all?
The characters were well crafted, proving we all hold a little insanity in ourselves.
I love how it was an epistolary psychological thriller because it made the story move quickly.
songwind's review against another edition
4.0
This novel is a creepy, atmospheric slow burn horror.
The author does a great job depicting the deterioration of the main character's mental state, and the gradual absorption of her friends into her trouble.
Readers who have low tolerance for loose ends and uncertainty will find the ending unsatisfying. Though the basic facts of events are mostly revealed, the full nature of things is not. I enjoyed the ambiguity, myself.
The author does a great job depicting the deterioration of the main character's mental state, and the gradual absorption of her friends into her trouble.
Readers who have low tolerance for loose ends and uncertainty will find the ending unsatisfying. Though the basic facts of events are mostly revealed, the full nature of things is not. I enjoyed the ambiguity, myself.
lauhunya's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
laurenkara's review
4.0
trigger warnings: mental illness, suicide, self harm, sexual abuse, anorexia
dawn kurtagich is absolutely incredible at writing an unsettling narrative. her writing style makes everything so vivid. i'm so happy someone like her exists and is writing YA horror because that is my favourite genre and it's often overlooked so i'm just rly happy that someone with such a strong voice is out here giving me content that i desperately need. as much as i love YA horror a lot of it can be super underwhelming, but both of dawn's books have seriously delivered. this held my attention so much and i could not put it down. even though i think i had everything sorted there's such an underlying sensation of constantly second guessing yourself. i love how it was told in reports and transcripts. mixed media stories are my favouriteeee. if you don't read a lot of horror then this is definitely going to creep you out.
one thing i will say is that it's always a grey area when fantasy/paranormal/magic elements are mirrors or "cures" for illnesses and disabilities. this book is very open as to what is actually happening, but i definitely understand and see how it might hurt some people. this also doesn't portray mental health workers or institutions or medication in a positive light. while i understand that this is a popular trope especially in horror - even i'm guilty of loving a good creepy asylum story - again i think it's important to note because it can hurt people.
there's also a line where a character says something like "i'd be gay if i wasn't so straight" because of certain fashion choices they made and i thought that was a bit ???? like ok
dawn kurtagich is absolutely incredible at writing an unsettling narrative. her writing style makes everything so vivid. i'm so happy someone like her exists and is writing YA horror because that is my favourite genre and it's often overlooked so i'm just rly happy that someone with such a strong voice is out here giving me content that i desperately need. as much as i love YA horror a lot of it can be super underwhelming, but both of dawn's books have seriously delivered. this held my attention so much and i could not put it down. even though i think i had everything sorted there's such an underlying sensation of constantly second guessing yourself. i love how it was told in reports and transcripts. mixed media stories are my favouriteeee. if you don't read a lot of horror then this is definitely going to creep you out.
one thing i will say is that it's always a grey area when fantasy/paranormal/magic elements are mirrors or "cures" for illnesses and disabilities. this book is very open as to what is actually happening, but i definitely understand and see how it might hurt some people. this also doesn't portray mental health workers or institutions or medication in a positive light. while i understand that this is a popular trope especially in horror - even i'm guilty of loving a good creepy asylum story - again i think it's important to note because it can hurt people.
there's also a line where a character says something like "i'd be gay if i wasn't so straight" because of certain fashion choices they made and i thought that was a bit ???? like ok
trafmarzzz's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
terrifying and spectacular. i was worried for a second about the portrayal of DID in this book, but everything was executed beautifully. minus half a star for them being british
fyreprincess's review
4.0
I just want to start off by saying that this book actually scared the crap out of me. I hate horror movies and such, but the blurb on this book sounded so interesting that I had to read it. According to the description, The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich is a psychological thriller, and I couldn’t resist indulging. I very much enjoyed the psychological part of the novel and I also enjoyed learning what I could from that part of the book.
Although I know nothing of Dissociative Identity Disorder and what comes with it, I think that the research was very well done and the world within the novel was very believable and very well written to the point where it actually scared me and I thought I was going to have nightmares of a dead girl staring at me. Also, character development was very well done throughout the story, kudos to you Kurtagich.
So storyline wise, I thought it was great. I didn’t think the story would go in the direction that it did, and it was a surprise to me. I liked the fact that the novel was set in the form of a police investigation, but while this was happening, it was also a story. Although the book was a horror one, I still couldn’t help but root for the guy and the girl to get together, and they did, but then he ended up being to bad guy and pretty much everyone died so it didn’t really matter anyway.
Usually I’d go into the traits and personalities and such of the book, however, this book is so very different from the rest and honestly, I can’t even really review it. It’s one of those books where you really need to just read it to understand it.
I feel kinda disappointed that this is only a short review compared to my other ones, but this book is different to the others and it can’t be helped. Overall, I’d recommend this book to those who enjoy horror (unlike me) and/or are interested in the psychological part of this and how the human mind works.
Although I know nothing of Dissociative Identity Disorder and what comes with it, I think that the research was very well done and the world within the novel was very believable and very well written to the point where it actually scared me and I thought I was going to have nightmares of a dead girl staring at me. Also, character development was very well done throughout the story, kudos to you Kurtagich.
So storyline wise, I thought it was great. I didn’t think the story would go in the direction that it did, and it was a surprise to me. I liked the fact that the novel was set in the form of a police investigation, but while this was happening, it was also a story. Although the book was a horror one, I still couldn’t help but root for the guy and the girl to get together, and they did, but then he ended up being to bad guy and pretty much everyone died so it didn’t really matter anyway.
Usually I’d go into the traits and personalities and such of the book, however, this book is so very different from the rest and honestly, I can’t even really review it. It’s one of those books where you really need to just read it to understand it.
I feel kinda disappointed that this is only a short review compared to my other ones, but this book is different to the others and it can’t be helped. Overall, I’d recommend this book to those who enjoy horror (unlike me) and/or are interested in the psychological part of this and how the human mind works.
raelew's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tmckey's review
5.0
This book?! Intense. Suspenseful. Intriguing. Maddening. Brilliant. This book is unlike anything I have ever read and I loved every minute of it. Seriously, I am an avid reader. I read about two or three books a week and this book blew my mind. I cannot wait to read more from this author.