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brewsa25sloane's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
madsthemads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
danasbookshelves's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
alicroz34's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Attacking the haunted house genre from the perspective of an overly agreeable mom who just puts up with most of it is kind of hilarious.
I devoured this in two days.
I did notice 100% of adult men who died in the house did not get to come back as ghosts and did not get to have their injuries reversed at the end. I find that very interesting, but I did want an acknowledgement of that somewhere? Like we're literally watching all the children & adult women who died in the house heal & leave (if they want to) and then they just sit on the porch like... so Hal is dead. I'm down with it but I was like... is no one else seeing a pattern here hi hello.
I devoured this in two days.
I did notice 100% of adult men who died in the house did not get to come back as ghosts and did not get to have their injuries reversed at the end. I find that very interesting, but I did want an acknowledgement of that somewhere? Like we're literally watching all the children & adult women who died in the house heal & leave (if they want to) and then they just sit on the porch like... so Hal is dead. I'm down with it but I was like... is no one else seeing a pattern here hi hello.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Cannibalism, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Toxic relationship, Torture, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, and Vomit
Moderate: Dementia, Gaslighting, and Fire/Fire injury
heathi13's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This kind of slumped in the middle for me but the end redeemed it. I think maybe having been a DV survivor who found herself at the wrong end of her partner’s alcoholic, rage powered fists more than once made this a little tougher to get through. It did make the end a little sweeter, though.
Pros:
The humor. The sarcasm. The ghosts. Master Vale was terrifying. And the author did not shy away from the gore.
Cons:
Katherine. Good God was she insufferable.
Domestic Violence - I feel like there isn’t enough talk about how much of it there is in this book. Everyone is all “oh haunted house story” when really I think it’s more of a “battered woman learns to have boundaries” story that just happens to take place in a haunted house.
Overall I thought it was fun, I think the concept was fresh and original and I LOVED the dark humor.
This kind of slumped in the middle for me but the end redeemed it. I think maybe having been a DV survivor who found herself at the wrong end of her partner’s alcoholic, rage powered fists more than once made this a little tougher to get through. It did make the end a little sweeter, though.
Pros:
The humor. The sarcasm. The ghosts. Master Vale was terrifying. And the author did not shy away from the gore.
Cons:
Katherine. Good God was she insufferable.
Domestic Violence - I feel like there isn’t enough talk about how much of it there is in this book. Everyone is all “oh haunted house story” when really I think it’s more of a “battered woman learns to have boundaries” story that just happens to take place in a haunted house.
Overall I thought it was fun, I think the concept was fresh and original and I LOVED the dark humor.
_rhea_'s review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, and Gore
Moderate: Violence and Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Vomit
pslili1998's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was a surprisingly nice read which I really enjoyed. The first chapter I was really apprehensive because it throws itself in de paranormal without any mysterious buildup. But after two chapters I got the vibe the writer was going for.
I find it very cleverly chosen how the writer put the ghost in and how eventually makes you doubt as the reader about everything you were previously reading and most likely agreeing with.
The daughter was very annoying but I think meant to be like that as it shows how the fmc has dealt with her relationships and why her environment reacts in some ways.
Very nice book which I really enjoyed as it has a horror element but made me want to read it in almost one go because I was curious how it would end.
I find it very cleverly chosen how the writer put the ghost in and how eventually makes you doubt as the reader about everything you were previously reading and most likely agreeing with.
The daughter was very annoying but I think meant to be like that as it shows how the fmc has dealt with her relationships and why her environment reacts in some ways.
Very nice book which I really enjoyed as it has a horror element but made me want to read it in almost one go because I was curious how it would end.
eri_kelley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0