A review by dufremde
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

immaculately sketched portrait of how a house becomes haunted (a description cribbed from someone else)—intimate, evocative, chilling, with a proper buildup, climax, and aftermath. the themes of isolation (both forced and voluntary), ritual, persecution, and devotion are woven together in a beautifully unassuming way. the reveals are almost inconspicuous, but so impactful to the narrative; the moment i realized

uncle julian and mary katherine never directly spoke to each other

i felt my blood run cold. speaking of merrikat, she is intriguing, sympathetic, and terrifying all at once, but the writing never holds you at arm's length, and the immersive quality of her POV is what makes it so damn good. just an astonishing psychological journey, one of the best examples of modern gothic literature in existence.