A review by perrywolfecastle
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

 Arguably the first Gothic horror novel. The Castle of Otranto doesn’t have all the hallmarks of what we could consider a Gothic novel today, but oddly, the beginning part especially, feels rather modern compared to books which came after it — but not modern by today's standards. A rather good read, (as long as you approach it as a classic/piece of history and as a product of its time. If you come at it with a modern perspective, you’re going to have a bad time), but not without flaws, which propelled its genre forward. The Castle of Otranto deserves much more praise and public knowledge than it currently gets.

(3.5 rounded to 4)