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caidyn'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
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism and Kidnapping
jessreadreceipts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Murder, Child death, Grief, Racism, Violence, and Death
Minor: War, Racism, and Hate crime
sylvestra's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: War and Murder
ruthlessreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's a horror novel, yes, but it's also about how far a father will go to protect his children, about grief, and about how the acts of the past ripple through time to affect us all still today. Powerful, deeply moving, and incredibly creepy.
Graphic: Death, Grief, Racism, Violence, and Child death
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Body horror
rachelunabridged'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
3.25
This book had an amazing start. The author did a fantastic job setting up the story and characters + getting the reader invested in the Ross family. He drops all of these delicious breadcrumbs that really pulled me in and had me asking all kinds of questions + getting excited about learning the answers.
I also really loved what he did with the sisters in this story. Adore seeing positive sisterly relationships in my reads~
While the book started out strong, it didn't take very long for it to start to drag for me. I felt like there were too many exposition dumps that I wished were more organically woven into the narrative rather than dropped on the reader all at once. I was also surprised about how little time was spent in the titular house + felt my attention wavering in the sections spent away. Additionally, there were a lot of side character POV switches, and I felt like it really brought down the mood and the pacing.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read, but not something that I would revisit. And while this read wasn't a new favorite for me, I'm still looking forward to seeing what this author has in store for us in the future.
Would recommend this to readers who enjoy stories about haunted houses, generational trauma, and family bonds.
Graphic: Child death, Classism, Mental illness, and Death
Minor: War
reading_beyond_the_book_cover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
If you are like me and don't know what a spite house is, you'll know after reading this horror novel.
Aside from introducing readers to something they may have never considered the existence of; The Spite House is an embodiment of a horror novel with suspense woven in from all angles. The author crafts a sinister horror story with entanglements of questionable characters with even more questionable motives. I applaud it for its ability to sit with me and change my overall rating of enjoyment. Thus, I've concurrently and affectionately nicknamed it a "fester book." Trust me, that's a good thing. ;-)
With the spirit of undiluted desperation, Eric Ross upends his family from Maryland, travels to Texas, and accepts a questionable caretaking job at a spite house. This job opportunity might be the best he can do for his family, as he's seeking financial stability without the requirement of usual formalities, like reference and background checks. Despite persistent warnings from the townspeople and the spite house owner's evasive behavior, Eric views the job as an answer to all of his and his family’s problems. The promise of an egregious payment motivates him to ignore the risks he may be taking in accepting this job. At face value, this is an offer he sensibly cannot refuse. Short-lived, as the story unfurls, and the past and present merge, all hell breaks loose before Eric's once positive outlook of being a recipient of such an "advantageous" opportunity, quickly becomes inauspicious in more ways than Eric and his family could ever imagine.
4.0 Stars, I recommend this book for its ability to arouse thoughts and fears of residing in houses with haunting histories, affecting its inhabitants beyond literal return.
Many thanks to Tor Nightfire, Johnny Compton, and NetGalley for an Advanced Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Graphic: Child death and Death
Minor: War
starrysteph's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Grief, Gore, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Body horror, Confinement, Death, and War
elliotvanz'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? No
3.5
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child death, Murder, Gore, Death, and War