Take a photo of a barcode or cover
swallow_stars 's review for:
Strange Houses
by Uketsu
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Reads like a story told by kids around a campfire. I see what the translator was saying about Uketsu’s all approach aiming to be accessible—the diagrams are handy and the language is straightforward. You can breeze through this book with few issues. It only took a couple of hours for me to read.
Plot wise, it felt far fetched and the relationships between all the characters was convoluted, which was a let down after the excitement that was built around these mysterious floor plans. The suspense fell flat around the middle of the book; it never feels like the characters are ever in harm. The fact that the characters’ speculations (based on VERY little evidence) seem to be nearly right every time added to The lack of suspense.
As a mystery/horror fan, I would have liked it if it had been more challenging to read. Overall, it’s a fine read. I wouldn’t spend money on another of Uketsu’s books. I’ll support my local library instead.
Plot wise, it felt far fetched and the relationships between all the characters was convoluted, which was a let down after the excitement that was built around these mysterious floor plans. The suspense fell flat around the middle of the book; it never feels like the characters are ever in harm. The fact that the characters’ speculations (based on VERY little evidence) seem to be nearly right every time added to The lack of suspense.
As a mystery/horror fan, I would have liked it if it had been more challenging to read. Overall, it’s a fine read. I wouldn’t spend money on another of Uketsu’s books. I’ll support my local library instead.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Incest, Self harm, Murder
Brief mentions of incest, self-harm, and family abuse. Most of these things are named but not describe is graphic detail. However, the entire plot is based on child abuse, with children being locked away and forced to commit murders to assuage the family’s fears about a curse.