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A review by catsy2022
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Rating: B+
When she stood against the sun, I half expected to see light stream through her like a stained-glass window, with a frame of bones instead of lead.
What Moves the Dead is a rewrite of the Edgar Allen Poe story, The Fall of the House of Usher, about a mansion and its occupants who are going through a health crisis as the house around them seems to be haunted by a strange being.
I liked the unfolding of the story and especially appreciated the world-building with explanation of the protagonist's foreign language, culture and personal pronouns, interspersed with inter-personal relationships developed through the protagonist's thoughts and reflections. I found the supporting characters to be truly interesting and a delight to read and enjoyed the dark and eerie storyline appealed to me strongly.
Mist clung to the surface of the dark lake and gathered in hollows on the ground, but Hob cantered through them and broke them up like the shreds of bad dreams.
I did like the author's writing style and use of language, it really attributed to a believable 1800s lifestyle and communication style to make the story and characters more real. There were moments of body horror and a few creepy, gory scenes, but overall it was not that wild and frightening. I think what pulled me down for this book was just that I wasn't really surprised by it. It's still a good book.
And then we parted and went to bed, and that was the last remotely normal day in the house of Usher.
When she stood against the sun, I half expected to see light stream through her like a stained-glass window, with a frame of bones instead of lead.
What Moves the Dead is a rewrite of the Edgar Allen Poe story, The Fall of the House of Usher, about a mansion and its occupants who are going through a health crisis as the house around them seems to be haunted by a strange being.
I liked the unfolding of the story and especially appreciated the world-building with explanation of the protagonist's foreign language, culture and personal pronouns, interspersed with inter-personal relationships developed through the protagonist's thoughts and reflections. I found the supporting characters to be truly interesting and a delight to read and enjoyed the dark and eerie storyline appealed to me strongly.
Mist clung to the surface of the dark lake and gathered in hollows on the ground, but Hob cantered through them and broke them up like the shreds of bad dreams.
I did like the author's writing style and use of language, it really attributed to a believable 1800s lifestyle and communication style to make the story and characters more real. There were moments of body horror and a few creepy, gory scenes, but overall it was not that wild and frightening. I think what pulled me down for this book was just that I wasn't really surprised by it. It's still a good book.
And then we parted and went to bed, and that was the last remotely normal day in the house of Usher.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Alcoholism and Gore