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irenemarie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and War
Minor: Gun violence and Death of parent
archaicrobin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Spite House is not your usual haunted house story and that’s one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much. Eric is on the run with his teenage daughter Dess and his youngest daughter Stacy for reasons we do not know until much later. Struggling to make ends meet from motel to motel Eric sees a very generous offer in the paper to stay in a haunted house and prove that spirits are real. Thinking it’s too good to be true he interviews and is immediately given the job. However, upon entering the Spite House it becomes clear that this house is not only haunted, but that the haunting is not your typical bumps in the night type of phenomenon. The houses rich and dark history makes the slow unraveling of what’s really going on an intriguing mystery.
In addition to the unique plot, what also really struck me about this book was the strong family dynamic that propels this story. I loved the characters, especially the eldest daughter Dess and could relate to the connection she had with her dad and sister. Every decision made in this book stems from personal choices to protect each other, giving it another element entirely. This story is a southern gothic with an interesting twist on the haunted house narrative and also a look at the strength of love and what we’re willing to do for those we care about.
While I did enjoy this book, I do recognize it is not for everyone. The writing can be repetitive at times and it is the definition of a slow burn horror. I also didn’t find this novel
scary, so if you’re looking for a terrifying read this one will fall flat for you.
If you love haunted house stories, especially those that differ from the norm, and enjoy strong characters, The Spite House is one I would reccomend!
In addition to the unique plot, what also really struck me about this book was the strong family dynamic that propels this story. I loved the characters, especially the eldest daughter Dess and could relate to the connection she had with her dad and sister. Every decision made in this book stems from personal choices to protect each other, giving it another element entirely. This story is a southern gothic with an interesting twist on the haunted house narrative and also a look at the strength of love and what we’re willing to do for those we care about.
While I did enjoy this book, I do recognize it is not for everyone. The writing can be repetitive at times and it is the definition of a slow burn horror. I also didn’t find this novel
scary, so if you’re looking for a terrifying read this one will fall flat for you.
If you love haunted house stories, especially those that differ from the norm, and enjoy strong characters, The Spite House is one I would reccomend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, War, and Classism
rachelunabridged's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
[ Thanks so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC! ]
This book had an amazing start. The author did a fantastic job setting up the story and characters + getting the reader invested in the Ross family. He drops all of these delicious breadcrumbs that really pulled me in and had me asking all kinds of questions + getting excited about learning the answers.
I also really loved what he did with the sisters in this story. Adore seeing positive sisterly relationships in my reads~
While the book started out strong, it didn't take very long for it to start to drag for me. I felt like there were too many exposition dumps that I wished were more organically woven into the narrative rather than dropped on the reader all at once. I was also surprised about how little time was spent in the titular house + felt my attention wavering in the sections spent away. Additionally, there were a lot of side character POV switches, and I felt like it really brought down the mood and the pacing.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read, but not something that I would revisit. And while this read wasn't a new favorite for me, I'm still looking forward to seeing what this author has in store for us in the future.
Would recommend this to readers who enjoy stories about haunted houses, generational trauma, and family bonds.
This book had an amazing start. The author did a fantastic job setting up the story and characters + getting the reader invested in the Ross family. He drops all of these delicious breadcrumbs that really pulled me in and had me asking all kinds of questions + getting excited about learning the answers.
I also really loved what he did with the sisters in this story. Adore seeing positive sisterly relationships in my reads~
While the book started out strong, it didn't take very long for it to start to drag for me. I felt like there were too many exposition dumps that I wished were more organically woven into the narrative rather than dropped on the reader all at once. I was also surprised about how little time was spent in the titular house + felt my attention wavering in the sections spent away. Additionally, there were a lot of side character POV switches, and I felt like it really brought down the mood and the pacing.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read, but not something that I would revisit. And while this read wasn't a new favorite for me, I'm still looking forward to seeing what this author has in store for us in the future.
Would recommend this to readers who enjoy stories about haunted houses, generational trauma, and family bonds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, and Classism
Minor: War