Scan barcode
the_vegan_bookworm's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book was recommended to me as an exploration of abusive relationships through the metaphor of the haunted house. I would definitely agree with this explanation and think that this is emotional horror at its finest with a great exploration of abuse, trauma and family dynamics.
Though it's solid horror and the stakes felt very clear throughout, the ending felt a little lackluster for me. I can't figure out what I'd have wanted to see differently, but it did feel a bit anticlimactic. Maybe it was that some things felt unresolved, like why the house was so attached to Margaret in particular, what her childhood was like outside of the instability that gets referenced in passing, etc.
I'd still recommend this book really highly and look forward to other works from this author.
Though it's solid horror and the stakes felt very clear throughout, the ending felt a little lackluster for me. I can't figure out what I'd have wanted to see differently, but it did feel a bit anticlimactic. Maybe it was that some things felt unresolved, like why the house was so attached to Margaret in particular, what her childhood was like outside of the instability that gets referenced in passing, etc.
I'd still recommend this book really highly and look forward to other works from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore and Fire/Fire injury
lucylou's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Interesting addition on a haunted house genre. Definitely check the content warnings before reading (domestic violence, child death, and gore being very graphic).
Minor gripe about this book: the author almost only describes characters’ eyes as “wide,” so often that it was actually distracting.
I read 3/4ths and listened to the last 1/4th, and I would recommend listening to the audiobook- Kimberly Farr does a fantastic job.
Minor gripe about this book: the author almost only describes characters’ eyes as “wide,” so often that it was actually distracting.
I read 3/4ths and listened to the last 1/4th, and I would recommend listening to the audiobook- Kimberly Farr does a fantastic job.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Vomit
Minor: Ableism, Mental illness, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
throwback682's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
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
3.5
This would’ve been a 5 star for me except for the stigmatizing of mental illness/painting mentally ill people as violent. There’s even a passing remark that mentally ill people aren’t typically violent but it rings hollow given the context. I find it really upsetting and tired. So, minus 1.5 stars for that oppressive nonsense.
As someone said on Reddit, “I think that it’s an entertaining ghost story that is better as a deconstruction of abusive relationships.” and I couldn’t put it better myself. If you’re not reading this book as allegory then you’re fucking up. Part of me thinks the comparisons were laid on a bit thick, but given the amount of people who didn’t seem to read it this way, maybe not. I also thought it was very funny, especially the early chapters, but again many folks don’t seem to see the humor.
Yes I guessed a twist way ahead of time but it was also sort of not the point - a slight red herring for a bigger twist.
In short: it was a funny, spooky book, that dealt with very heavy and potentially triggering subject matter in a novel way.
I think everything people complained about in other reviews (the annoying, infuriating daughter; the repetitiveness) all served a purpose. I think it worked really well.
I just wish it hadn’t relied on ableist stereotypes/stigmas against mentally ill folks, is truly my only real complaint.
Read with caution if you’ve been a victim of intimate partner violence.
As someone said on Reddit, “I think that it’s an entertaining ghost story that is better as a deconstruction of abusive relationships.” and I couldn’t put it better myself. If you’re not reading this book as allegory then you’re fucking up. Part of me thinks the comparisons were laid on a bit thick, but given the amount of people who didn’t seem to read it this way, maybe not. I also thought it was very funny, especially the early chapters, but again many folks don’t seem to see the humor.
Yes I guessed a twist way ahead of time but it was also sort of not the point - a slight red herring for a bigger twist.
In short: it was a funny, spooky book, that dealt with very heavy and potentially triggering subject matter in a novel way.
I think everything people complained about in other reviews (the annoying, infuriating daughter; the repetitiveness) all served a purpose. I think it worked really well.
I just wish it hadn’t relied on ableist stereotypes/stigmas against mentally ill folks, is truly my only real complaint.
Read with caution if you’ve been a victim of intimate partner violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse and Confinement
Minor: Forced institutionalization
Tons of body horror and blood throughout, including involving children. The entire book is an allegory for an abusive relationship involving alcoholism. Mentally ill people are stigmatized as violent.