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3martini's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jazzlovestoread's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
cindyc's review against another edition
4.0
Sarah Pinborough’s books have always been able to captivate me and I’m slowly working my way through all her books. I enjoy her writing style and the amazing twists and concepts she puts in her books. The next one on my list was The Death House. I didn’t know too much about it when going in, which is the way I prefer it when I know the author is good. The Death House is not your usual kind of book. It centers on quite an emotionally heavy storyline, has practically only one location where the story plays out and it involves kids and adolescents in a very dark and somber setting.
Kids’ blood is being tested and when they are found to have a certain genetic defect, they are sent away. Our main character is one of those kids who arrives at a big house on an island after his blood test came back positive. This is not a voluntary decision though, kids are literally taken from their parents, whether they want to come with or not. They also don’t know where they are being brought, only that kids who are taken never return.
It is kept very vague what the genetic defect actually does. It is only hinted at throughout the book, but it seems to be linked to events in the past and this kidnapping thing is a sort of prevention to stop it from happening again. The house has several kids, all divided over dorms. Whenever one of them gets ill they know that person will be taken to the elevator and brought to the top floor very soon. They don’t know what happens there, kids who get ill just get taken during the night, wheeled in the elevator and never come back. The symptoms are never the same, so people are never sure when they are actually ill from their genetic defect or if they’ve just caught a bug. This brings a lot of uncertainty and fear, but also denial and hope.
These are kids we’re talking about and even in their circumstances they will try to shift everything into a simpler situation. That’s why a sort of rivalry between the different dorms happens. Toby’s dorm is the only dorm that hasn’t had anyone taken yet and he wears it as a badge of honour. He frequently clashes with the leader of another dorm, especially when another batch of kids arrive and this time a beautiful girl is among them. Far away from home and faced with an uncertain future, these kids live through jealousy, fear, elation and love.
A very remarkable part of the book is when the kids see snow for the very first time. This is another hint at the fact that this might be a post-apocalyptic world where snow is not common at all. It’s like a light has finally been turned on in this glum part of the world where they have been brought. The kids can be young again, without thinking about their future or getting ill.
There are some truly heart breaking parts in the book. It’s easy to get attached to the different characters, they’re kids and they’ve abruptly been taken from their home knowing they will never return and will probably die. That is also a thing all the kids have in common and though there is a fierce rivalry going on in the house, it still connects them on some level. So when one of my favourites got ill, the storyline that followed literally broke my heart.
The ending is surprising and heart-wrenching, showing how the kids through their ordeal have become very mature and are capable of making choices that are beyond their years. This book has shown me a different side of Pinborough’s work. Where here “Dr. Thomas Bond” books used a historical mystery to create an amazing story full of real historical facts but with a supernatural twists; and 13 minutes is a dark coming-of-age tale with a surprising twist; The Death House is a dark and gloomy book packed full with emotions. I’m very excited to read more of her books and find out what else she is capable of!
Kids’ blood is being tested and when they are found to have a certain genetic defect, they are sent away. Our main character is one of those kids who arrives at a big house on an island after his blood test came back positive. This is not a voluntary decision though, kids are literally taken from their parents, whether they want to come with or not. They also don’t know where they are being brought, only that kids who are taken never return.
It is kept very vague what the genetic defect actually does. It is only hinted at throughout the book, but it seems to be linked to events in the past and this kidnapping thing is a sort of prevention to stop it from happening again. The house has several kids, all divided over dorms. Whenever one of them gets ill they know that person will be taken to the elevator and brought to the top floor very soon. They don’t know what happens there, kids who get ill just get taken during the night, wheeled in the elevator and never come back. The symptoms are never the same, so people are never sure when they are actually ill from their genetic defect or if they’ve just caught a bug. This brings a lot of uncertainty and fear, but also denial and hope.
These are kids we’re talking about and even in their circumstances they will try to shift everything into a simpler situation. That’s why a sort of rivalry between the different dorms happens. Toby’s dorm is the only dorm that hasn’t had anyone taken yet and he wears it as a badge of honour. He frequently clashes with the leader of another dorm, especially when another batch of kids arrive and this time a beautiful girl is among them. Far away from home and faced with an uncertain future, these kids live through jealousy, fear, elation and love.
A very remarkable part of the book is when the kids see snow for the very first time. This is another hint at the fact that this might be a post-apocalyptic world where snow is not common at all. It’s like a light has finally been turned on in this glum part of the world where they have been brought. The kids can be young again, without thinking about their future or getting ill.
There are some truly heart breaking parts in the book. It’s easy to get attached to the different characters, they’re kids and they’ve abruptly been taken from their home knowing they will never return and will probably die. That is also a thing all the kids have in common and though there is a fierce rivalry going on in the house, it still connects them on some level. So when one of my favourites got ill, the storyline that followed literally broke my heart.
The ending is surprising and heart-wrenching, showing how the kids through their ordeal have become very mature and are capable of making choices that are beyond their years. This book has shown me a different side of Pinborough’s work. Where here “Dr. Thomas Bond” books used a historical mystery to create an amazing story full of real historical facts but with a supernatural twists; and 13 minutes is a dark coming-of-age tale with a surprising twist; The Death House is a dark and gloomy book packed full with emotions. I’m very excited to read more of her books and find out what else she is capable of!
lja207's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicide, and Terminal illness
vthurgood's review against another edition
2.0
It wasn't obvious to me looking at the cover that this was a YA book, albeit with a dystopian plot reminiscent of Ninni Holmqvist's The Unit. The references in the book to William Golding's Lord of the Flies are an acknowledgment of another tale of a group of teenagers trapped on an island.
Here we are a century in the future (or possibly an alternative present) but in an oddly timeless and deliberately obsolete house where those carrying a particular Defective gene which only manifests itself before the carrier is eighteen are quarantined in dorms until they die. It isn't made clear exactly why the state needs to do this -it's not clear that anyone else is at risk- but we read that the kids are carted off in vans from their happy homes and drugged to allow them to be managed by a group of largely uncaring nurses and pseudo-teachers. The house is a prison where everyone is on death row, the 'sanatorium' the place from which no one returns.
Aside from being a coming of age drama, the book manages to raise the question of the role of religious faith as a consolation in such circumstances, the nature of being kind to those suffering, the 'good death', the dynamics of groups and gallows humour, though some readers may find the treatment slight.
The couple who are the main characters have realized that the vitamins that they are being dosed with are tranquilizers and have stopped taking them, which effectively allows them free range of the house at night. They hatch an escape plot and the last third of the book turns on whether it will be discovered. The ending feels a bit rushed and is probably not the greatest twist ever, but it's a fairly quick read.
Here we are a century in the future (or possibly an alternative present) but in an oddly timeless and deliberately obsolete house where those carrying a particular Defective gene which only manifests itself before the carrier is eighteen are quarantined in dorms until they die. It isn't made clear exactly why the state needs to do this -it's not clear that anyone else is at risk- but we read that the kids are carted off in vans from their happy homes and drugged to allow them to be managed by a group of largely uncaring nurses and pseudo-teachers. The house is a prison where everyone is on death row, the 'sanatorium' the place from which no one returns.
Aside from being a coming of age drama, the book manages to raise the question of the role of religious faith as a consolation in such circumstances, the nature of being kind to those suffering, the 'good death', the dynamics of groups and gallows humour, though some readers may find the treatment slight.
The couple who are the main characters have realized that the vitamins that they are being dosed with are tranquilizers and have stopped taking them, which effectively allows them free range of the house at night. They hatch an escape plot and the last third of the book turns on whether it will be discovered. The ending feels a bit rushed and is probably not the greatest twist ever, but it's a fairly quick read.
lemwood's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked this book right up to the end when it just completely fell apart for me. I didn't enjoy the MC's final decision, and feel like it took away from some of the main themes of the book. Also, there were too many questions left too unanswered. I'm all for open ended thought provoking stories, but I just felt like there was just too much left unsaid here.
sienna727's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dnietoperafan's review against another edition
5.0
DUDE!! This book is amazing!! From start to finish you’re hooked. The way Pinborough writes and describes everything is easy to read but also so easy to picture! I loved it! This book has an amazing suspense plot line mixed up with romance, which to be honest, merges perfectly together. The characters are likable and lovable, some of them might even be relatable depending on your personality, but there’s definitely a character for everyone. Now, why do I gave it a 5-star rating? Easy, after I finished it I cried SO MUCH. I literally had to stop, breathe, and think the ending through. To me, that’s what art is all about: being able to portray your feelings and making someone else feel them as well. This book is just great. Amazing plot line, plot twists, characters, descriptions. Just an incredible read. It is safe to say that this is my favourite novel of all time. Would I recommend it? ABSOLUTELY!!! You must read this book or at least any of Pinborough’s novels. She’s a great author and The Death House is an awesome story.
healinglola's review against another edition
3.0
I’m a very quick reader and this book was easy to read and get through. I really did enjoy the journey of the characters and events in this book, but I was annoyed at the ending.