maimy_santiago99's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Child death, Body horror, Blood, Death of parent, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/injury detail, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Child death, Medical content, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Car accident, Blood, Body horror, Mental illness, and Death
Content warning, puppets and dollskshertz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, Child death, Gaslighting, Body horror, Cannibalism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Vomit, Injury/injury detail, Violence, and Medical trauma
nrogers_1030's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.25
I usually love G.H.’s books, but not this one. Slow, mostly unlikeable characters, not scary… I could keep going, but it would be a moot point. I did have a soft spot for the great aunt. She reminded me of Roz from Monsters, Inc. His sense of humor helped the rating. I wouldn’t recommend this one, but I’ve enjoyed several of his others & have every intention of reading his next.
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Injury/injury detail, Toxic friendship, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Car accident, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Gore
Minor: Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Animal death
thiskelsey's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Gore, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, Self harm, Injury/injury detail, Gun violence, and Grief
Minor: Animal death
gillianrob's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Death
Minor: Child death
emeraldelephant's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Body horror, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Grief
cinn48's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Child death, Car accident, Death of parent, and Grief
There is some really ugly sibling fights over the estate of their parents - this could be quite challenging for people.toofondofbooks_'s review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, Animal cruelty, Murder, Body horror, Blood, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Child death, Excrement, Grief, Child abuse, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Pregnancy
brandilovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Death, and Emotional abuse
Do not read if you have a fear of clowns, puppets, or dolls.stephshelves's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Nancy has tragically died along side her husband in a car accident. Completely throwing everyone for a loop. Her daughter, Louise, has to fly home to help her brother, Mark, handle everything. Including cleaning out the house to sell.
Shes greatly unsettled by the house, weird shadows and noises making her uneasy. The dolls aren't where they were last time she came in...maybe Mark moved them? Something is definitely moving around in the attic. Surely a squirrel problem. Nobody is actually after Louise. Except maybe Mark? She's just being paranoid.
It's been a while since I've read a book that kept me up at night. This one did. Grady crafted the perfect atmosphere for this book - something definitely going on, but you are only getting bits and pieces for a while. The discomfort of the main characters is your discomfort as well. It just feels off putting the whole time you're reading.
On top of the creepy atmosphere, there is emotional turmoil in the form of loss, parenting, trauma, and self doubt. I cried twice during my read and got misty eyed more than once. As a parent, some of what Louise was dealing with hit a little too close and I just wanted to hug her and her daughter.
The horror aspects were beautiful too. I love a terrifying tale with emotional ties. It's not just scary to be scary - there's a reason the house is the way that it is. Insert more Steph tears.
Grady has done no wrong in my opinion and this book blew me away. If you're uneasy in regards to dolls, hauntings, and over all discomfort maybe this isn't it for you. But also maybe it is. I can't think of a single reason not to read this book. It's definitely going to be a contender for top 2023 reads!
TW/CW: death, child death
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Child death