A review by booksthrilljessica
House of Thorns by Isabel Strychacz

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Avery went missing five years ago. What happened that terrifying night the Peartree family fled their ancestral home, Brier Hall? When three sisters entered the house only two escaped. 

Now Ali is convinced that she needs to return to Brier Hall to find her sister. However, Lia is not ready to return to the house of nightmares. She has suppressed as many memories of their time in their previous home and is not ready to return and remember what she wants to forget. Lia is convinced that Brier Hall is alive, somehow searching and calling them back home. But when Ali goes missing Lia must find out if she is another drug bender or if she truly went back to Brier Hall. Can she find her sister before it is too late? Or will the same thing that happened to Avery take Ali too? 

Overall rating 4/5 

Reminiscent of Poe, this gothic story is well developed and successfully spooky. The only issue I had with this book is that it is almost exact rendition of The Haunting of Hill House at least with the same key points in the plot. I wish we got to see more from the mother and her experience at Brier Hall. I think this would have added to the storyline to help us understand why she is so detached from life. The eerie atmosphere and world building created a sense of dread, not knowing what would happen to the characters. Especially seeing this develop through the intense anxiety in Lia. After reading this book I couldn’t help but feel as if I shouldn't look in a mirror at night. 

 

*Thank you to Isabel Strychacz, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.