mars_bars27's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I won an ARC of Diavola and then binge read it in one day. The protagonist, Anna Pace, is vacationing in an Italian rental house with her parents and her siblings and their families. Anna is the odd one out in her dysfunctional family, and they seem to blame her for everything that goes wrong. The story follows Anna as her family acts more and more toxic and as odd things happen at the rental house. Gaslighting is a Pace family trait, and they had me forming my own theories about what might be causing the haunting throughout the novel. The spooky atmospheric vibes are perfect for a summer read when you’re craving horror. It sucked me in effortlessly and the writing was humorous and compelling. I found the ending wrapped up the storylines in a very satisfying way, almost a “happy” ending.
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