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A review by ms_3llaneous
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
This book was a recommendation to me that I found highly disappointing; however, I can see a particular audience enjoying it.
To save readers who are like me the trouble, and keep this book for its intended readership, here are some things to know off the bat:
1. Even though it features adults, drinking, and a bit of cursing, this feels like a book intended for a younger readership. It's not listed as YA, but it definitely reads like YA (which is a style I personally don't have patience for). It's all very literal, easy to digest writing, no nuance, etc.
2. I saw someone describe it as "cozy gothic," but "detective with gothic elements" is more like it. It has the "aesthetics" of gothic literature (castle, decay, generally squeamish things), but lacks the character "actions" I associate with traditional gothic. And anything gothic or scary this book attempted was incredibly tempered by the MC's frankness, logic, and light-humoured monologues (which isn't helped by the tone the narrator, Avi Roque, takes -- although the audiobook is otherwise good).
The original story 19th century story is oddly a lot scarier for me, even without the body horror. This book just kind of produces an "ick, gross" feeling.
And here's my more personal gripe, which won't matter to most readers, but really reuined things for me:
This book didn't have to be a Poe retelling. I would've liked it much better if it was it's own original story, because then I wouldn't have certain expectations for it that were quashed. Yes, they use the names and plot beats; and yet, this felt unrelated to Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. Which isn't a crime, but why bother then? The Fall of the House of Usher is already a great, even quicker story in its own right, and if you're only going to mimic its plot and not interact with/add to its themes (and build up a larger cast of characters while undeveloping, of all people, the Ushers), what's the point of using the story except as a crutch for outlining and pitch for marketing? It just made me want to always put this story down and read the original. With a few changes, and without being restricted to the Poe story's plot beats, it could've easily been a better, more enjoyable book. (I suspect this is exactly the direction the author goes in with the sequel.)
But! I can also imagine a retelling of the House of Usher that really leans into it's thenes of class and sickness and decay and gender that feel meaningful to a modern audience -- and yet this book never chooses to do that, either avoiding these themes altogether or reaching outside the story for them. It's frustrating, but evidently wasn't a driving force in the creation of this story.
The commentary on gender we do get in this story is also either superficial without subtlety or so tied up within itself that too much of a close reading gives messages that I imagine are unintended by the author. Madeline was done so dirty. (Though I did enjoy the MC being non-cis.)
In short: People less familiar with the original story would probably enjoy it more, which is not what I want from a "retelling". At most, it's just an House of Usher-inspired story.
To save readers who are like me the trouble, and keep this book for its intended readership, here are some things to know off the bat:
1. Even though it features adults, drinking, and a bit of cursing, this feels like a book intended for a younger readership. It's not listed as YA, but it definitely reads like YA (which is a style I personally don't have patience for). It's all very literal, easy to digest writing, no nuance, etc.
2. I saw someone describe it as "cozy gothic," but "detective with gothic elements" is more like it. It has the "aesthetics" of gothic literature (castle, decay, generally squeamish things), but lacks the character "actions" I associate with traditional gothic. And anything gothic or scary this book attempted was incredibly tempered by the MC's frankness, logic, and light-humoured monologues (which isn't helped by the tone the narrator, Avi Roque, takes -- although the audiobook is otherwise good).
The original story 19th century story is oddly a lot scarier for me, even without the body horror. This book just kind of produces an "ick, gross" feeling.
And here's my more personal gripe, which won't matter to most readers, but really reuined things for me:
This book didn't have to be a Poe retelling. I would've liked it much better if it was it's own original story, because then I wouldn't have certain expectations for it that were quashed. Yes, they use the names and plot beats; and yet, this felt unrelated to Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. Which isn't a crime, but why bother then? The Fall of the House of Usher is already a great, even quicker story in its own right, and if you're only going to mimic its plot and not interact with/add to its themes (and build up a larger cast of characters while undeveloping, of all people, the Ushers), what's the point of using the story except as a crutch for outlining and pitch for marketing? It just made me want to always put this story down and read the original. With a few changes, and without being restricted to the Poe story's plot beats, it could've easily been a better, more enjoyable book. (I suspect this is exactly the direction the author goes in with the sequel.)
But! I can also imagine a retelling of the House of Usher that really leans into it's thenes of class and sickness and decay and gender that feel meaningful to a modern audience -- and yet this book never chooses to do that, either avoiding these themes altogether or reaching outside the story for them. It's frustrating, but evidently wasn't a driving force in the creation of this story.
The commentary on gender we do get in this story is also either superficial without subtlety or so tied up within itself that too much of a close reading gives messages that I imagine are unintended by the author. Madeline was done so dirty. (Though I did enjoy the MC being non-cis.)
In short: People less familiar with the original story would probably enjoy it more, which is not what I want from a "retelling". At most, it's just an House of Usher-inspired story.