A review by bookwyrmknits
Rose/House by Arkady Martine

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

This is an odd book. It's a locked room mystery inside a haunted house, yes, but there is a very heavy science fiction element since the "locked room" which is also a "haunted house" is actually an AI house that thinks for itself. There's a lot of answers provided at the end of the book, even though vanishingly few of them are explicit. Most of the answers are right there for you to pick up—but you have to pick them up, they will not be handed to you.

If you like unreliable narrators, you might greatly enjoy this novella, since there is unreliable EVERYTHING in it. I liked the book, but I'm honestly still a bit bemused by it.

Early on, I wasn't sure which of the characters would end up becoming my favorite, but I certainly did not expect it to be Oliver. My opinion of him turned completely around about halfway through the book. I did enjoy the creepy AI aspect of Rose House, it's a similar feeling to me as GladOS from the Portal video games—down to hints of the same snark at times.

I have my opinions on what the resolution of the big mystery at the end is, though I'll let you try the book and see for yourself. While this is not a new favorite it is a solid story and one that will likely lurk in my memory for a long time to come. (Which, if you've read the book, is very appropriate given the ending.)
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