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samsearle's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Gaslighting
Minor: Animal death and Suicide
ohlisaline's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A mysterious read that kept me guessing until the end. Very nicely written and immersive. Still has be thinking about what had actually happened.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Mental illness
carolined's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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
2.0
The author had a good idea and didn't really take it anywhere. Beautifully written but dull and pointless.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Eating disorder, Suicide, and Classism
livlostinstereo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I found this book in my local library and the premise piqued my interest. Hinchcliffe’s writing is beautiful. Honestly, this woman can turn a phrase with the best of them. Her descriptions of the Scottish countryside and her metaphoric style are all lovely. She creates tension like a pro.
However, the reason I’m giving this a 3 star rating: the resolution of the supernatural/mysterious causes of all the strangeness going on is lacking. The characters aren’t particularly lovable(though I must admit, we all know a Janet), which isn’t an issue, but the resolution doesn’t quite answer any of the questions. I have my theories but I would have loved a more thorough answer to some of the questions presented.
However, the reason I’m giving this a 3 star rating: the resolution of the supernatural/mysterious causes of all the strangeness going on is lacking. The characters aren’t particularly lovable(though I must admit, we all know a Janet), which isn’t an issue, but the resolution doesn’t quite answer any of the questions. I have my theories but I would have loved a more thorough answer to some of the questions presented.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Car accident
Moderate: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
madamelacy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
The story isn’t resolved at the end so it’s up to the reader to decide what really happened.caitsidhe's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Hare House is a well-written and characterised Gothic set in the modern day. Our main character is a repressed, haunted woman escaping from a traumatic event. She moves to Hare House and become embroiled in the emotional difficulties of Grant and Cass, who live in the manor house.
I really liked this book. The prose fits the story well and the unnamed narrator is a great gothic protagonist - she resembles the main character in the Turn of The Screw, being an unreliable narrator with a history, repressed sexual desire, and notably a hatred of the blooming sexuality of young women.
The tension in Hare House builds slowly through careful use of atmosphere and horrific events. Cass is a fascinating character and very accurate for a traumatised 17 year old - in equal parts charming, annoying, and disturbing, all of those filtered through the faulty interpretation of the narrator.
The ending is creepy, and it doesn't leave everything nicely wrapped up and explained.
Recommended.
I really liked this book. The prose fits the story well and the unnamed narrator is a great gothic protagonist - she resembles the main character in the Turn of The Screw, being an unreliable narrator with a history, repressed sexual desire, and notably a hatred of the blooming sexuality of young women.
The tension in Hare House builds slowly through careful use of atmosphere and horrific events. Cass is a fascinating character and very accurate for a traumatised 17 year old - in equal parts charming, annoying, and disturbing, all of those filtered through the faulty interpretation of the narrator.
The ending is creepy, and it doesn't leave everything nicely wrapped up and explained.
Recommended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Car accident
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Classism
ruthjenkins's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
panikos's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.5
This was a strange read, and I can understand why the overall ratings are not that high, but I enjoyed it a lot. I was roped in right from the start by the book's irresistable atmosphere - Hinchcliffe's description of the countryside is so palphable, and she's brilliant at sowing unease and tension into her prose. Even though the characters are difficult to pin down, and nor are they particularly nice people, I was entranced by them. The protagonist is very carefully drawn. When I first started the story, I wondered if I could fully trust what she was saying, but grew very sympathetic towards her the more I read. Her loneliness was convincing and infectious, and I longed for her to find the companionship she so desperately craved.
Yet towards the end of the book, I started to question her again. Was she really telling us the whole truth? Why was she behaving in such a strange way, without fully explaining why? How much could we trust what she'd said about her past? Once I started mistrusting one thing she'd said, I began to rethink everything that had happened before, and that made for a really intersting reading experience. I'll be turning this book over in my mind for a long time. For instance, I've only just now realised that we never learnt the narrator's name - that detail was witheld without me even noticing.
I can see why the ambiguity would bother a lot of readers. If you're looking for a clear cut horror story with answers and a neat ending, this isn't the read for you. I usually find open endings a bit hit-or-miss, but in this particular case, it was a hit for me. I like that it's hard to tell exactly what happened, and it feels very much in keeping with the themes of the novel - the way that rumours and suspicion can run away with people, making you assume the worst of them. I read the book hoping for answers, but I wasn't angry to be denied them; it was the bolder narrative choice, and I personally think it paid off. The unreliable narration is part and parcel of the story.
So if you don't mind ambiguous endings, and if you love spooky old houses, unpredictable characters, and wintry landscapes, give this one a try.
Yet towards the end of the book, I started to question her again. Was she really telling us the whole truth? Why was she behaving in such a strange way, without fully explaining why? How much could we trust what she'd said about her past? Once I started mistrusting one thing she'd said, I began to rethink everything that had happened before, and that made for a really intersting reading experience. I'll be turning this book over in my mind for a long time. For instance, I've only just now realised that we never learnt the narrator's name - that detail was witheld without me even noticing.
I can see why the ambiguity would bother a lot of readers. If you're looking for a clear cut horror story with answers and a neat ending, this isn't the read for you. I usually find open endings a bit hit-or-miss, but in this particular case, it was a hit for me. I like that it's hard to tell exactly what happened, and it feels very much in keeping with the themes of the novel - the way that rumours and suspicion can run away with people, making you assume the worst of them. I read the book hoping for answers, but I wasn't angry to be denied them; it was the bolder narrative choice, and I personally think it paid off. The unreliable narration is part and parcel of the story.
So if you don't mind ambiguous endings, and if you love spooky old houses, unpredictable characters, and wintry landscapes, give this one a try.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Mental illness, and Car accident
rach22's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
3.5
It was fine. I enjoyed it in the beginning and I liked the mystery, however I feel as if I never found out what happened and the mystery was never solved. I have been left rather confused with many questions. Good setting and it had a mysterious, gothic air to it. Quite slow moving. Creepy vibes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Mental illness
rcsreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This was one of those books where when I put it down I didn't really care enough to pick it up again. I was basically just reading it at bedtime so that it would end.
The pace is too slow and if you're going to be an unreliable narrator at least try to trick me into liking you or caring at all about what happens to you.
Also, the ending was too ambiguous and left to many questions that didn't make a lot of sense.
It was alright, I guess. Meh!
The pace is too slow and if you're going to be an unreliable narrator at least try to trick me into liking you or caring at all about what happens to you.
Also, the ending was too ambiguous and left to many questions that didn't make a lot of sense.
It was alright, I guess. Meh!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Mental illness, Car accident, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death and Death of parent