WOW, this was so good! I did not expect to love it so much, since I've never really read horror. But wow, it was spooky, and shocking, and it touched on so many beautiful themes, and that ending... I'm just blown away and humbled actually. I 100% need to read more of this author and I think that many people would enjoy this. It takes all the common tropes of horror—or what I assume to be the common tropes—and totally flips them on their heads, which is one of my favorite things. Such a pleasant surprise.

beeeenerys's review

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dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Get Out meets The Boy

Really enjoyed this one, I was so invested in the audio i ended up working on auto-pilot through my shifts so i could pay attention, Marcella Cox did an amazing job as the narrator.

Mari's anxiety spirals felt very realistic, as well as her issues with Piper, Mari felt and acted like her age. It's also nice to read a YA that didn't feature any romance (I feel like it happens all the time in YA of any genre especially with an FMC). the time was instead spent working resolving Mari's issues and exploring the environment.

This was a great read and I'll be keeping my eye out for a physical copy to add to my haunted house collection.

Content Warnings

swath's review against another edition

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3.0

I was so excited for this book, but… it was a let down. Piper is not a redeemable character, the parents are terrible, and Mari focuses way too much on weed. Cliche upon cliche with the younger sister being creepy, a bad stepparent, ghost in the basement, etc. Based on the description and other reviews, I was looking for a thriller/horror book with nuances of culture, history, race, etc. but the book drags imo, and it’s not satisfying for me at the end.