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A review by bri4484
House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
We have the sheltered, hidden away MC who automatically latches onto the character she's meant to paint. Of course with all good books we expect growth from the MC, don't expect that here.
The story is about a sister who sees ghosts but the plot is loosely based around this premise. It causes the character to question her judgement most of the time and she's usually wrong.
Without giving anything away, a struggle ensues, injuries are had death occurs. And our MC questions none of the weird things that happen after that battle and takes everything at face value like she's learned nothing from this experience.
There's a hopeful epilogue but who knows if this will be a trilogy and what can be done now?!
It's cool that we learn a bit about the Victorian flower language, that I was down for.
I'd like to know what was actually happening with the "peacocks", that we never actually see in the daylight I might add. And for some other things like the moans from the other home to be cleared up? What did her sisters actually respond to her letters with?
And girl Verity I'm glad you weren't in the movie signs bc they hit you in the face and you still asked for water and had no idea what hit you.
Due to some of the topics discussed I'm not sure I'd recommend this as YA, at least not the younger spectrum when talking about the true young adult demographic. There are a couple of graphic sexual things discussed in this book.
I'd give it 3.75 ⭐⭐⭐ the plot wasn't awful but didn't stick to the trueness of the character as I was expecting. The sisters were very minimally involved which was sad. And Verity didn't grow in any way.
The story is about a sister who sees ghosts but the plot is loosely based around this premise. It causes the character to question her judgement most of the time and she's usually wrong.
Without giving anything away, a struggle ensues, injuries are had death occurs. And our MC questions none of the weird things that happen after that battle and takes everything at face value like she's learned nothing from this experience.
There's a hopeful epilogue but who knows if this will be a trilogy and what can be done now?!
It's cool that we learn a bit about the Victorian flower language, that I was down for.
I'd like to know what was actually happening with the "peacocks", that we never actually see in the daylight I might add. And for some other things like the moans from the other home to be cleared up? What did her sisters actually respond to her letters with?
And girl Verity I'm glad you weren't in the movie signs bc they hit you in the face and you still asked for water and had no idea what hit you.
Due to some of the topics discussed I'm not sure I'd recommend this as YA, at least not the younger spectrum when talking about the true young adult demographic. There are a couple of graphic sexual things discussed in this book.
I'd give it 3.75 ⭐⭐⭐ the plot wasn't awful but didn't stick to the trueness of the character as I was expecting. The sisters were very minimally involved which was sad. And Verity didn't grow in any way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Drug use, and Infertility
Minor: Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
I wouldn't recommend this for the younger spectrum of YA