Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The September House by Carissa Orlando

3 reviews

fkshg8465's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was better than I expected it to be. Until the last few chapters, I kept questioning reality and wondered how I could suspend reality at the same time. It was the same feeling I had watching Everything Everywhere All at Once. I loved the relationships Margaret cultivated. And I appreciated the mother-daughter dynamic too. That was probably the most real thing about the book and also the best part for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

01melon's review

dark funny lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 I give Carissa Orlando's "The September House" a perfect five stars since it was an amazing book to read. I was astounded by how masterfully written it was and how much the haunted home horror subgenre was developed. Though they were all fantastic, Margaret, our main character, was my favourite. Her understated sense of humour made me laugh out loud multiple times as she handled every circumstance in this eerie mansion. I particularly appreciated reading the history of why this mansion is the way it is, since it helps to fill in the spaces. Everything made perfect sense and seemed very real. The story is incredible.It made me think of the horror movie "The Conjuring." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Domestic abuse, and Violence

Minor: Drug use, Sexism, and Death of parent

saltycoffee'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Dementia, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail