lttlfl's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Gore
Moderate: Murder
bethboo's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
2.5
I went into this book wanted a haunted house story. I wanted ghosts and scary bits and maybe for the main character to loose their mind a little. I only really got that last bit.
The story takes place over the 12 nights that the MC is spending in a very old, decrepit house that's rumored as haunted. He wants to write a nonfiction account of a haunted house from a non-believer's POV. His best friend comes to stay with him, although a rocky patch is referenced in their relationship. Some weird stuff happens, as all hauntings do, as Felix and Thomas stay two weeks in the house.
The narrative felt funny and charming and relatable, when it wasn't irritating, unnecessary, or problematic. Prominent sexist and racist vibes. I was very interested in the tension between the friends, but I was very off when trying to guess what it was. I wish it had been more spooky. It had a good twist, that I would have probably seen coming if I was more observant, but I'm a dummy when it comes to guessing plots.
But, it's not a recommend from me unless (like me) you're desperate for haunted house content in an audio format, free from your library. Good narrator!
The story takes place over the 12 nights that the MC is spending in a very old, decrepit house that's rumored as haunted. He wants to write a nonfiction account of a haunted house from a non-believer's POV. His best friend comes to stay with him, although a rocky patch is referenced in their relationship. Some weird stuff happens, as all hauntings do, as Felix and Thomas stay two weeks in the house.
The narrative felt funny and charming and relatable, when it wasn't irritating, unnecessary, or problematic. Prominent sexist and racist vibes. I was very interested in the tension between the friends, but I was very off when trying to guess what it was. I wish it had been more spooky. It had a good twist, that I would have probably seen coming if I was more observant, but I'm a dummy when it comes to guessing plots.
But, it's not a recommend from me unless (like me) you're desperate for haunted house content in an audio format, free from your library. Good narrator!
Spoiler
The ending wasn't the worst in the world but I just really wanted a supernatural, paranormal, haunted house! I also don't like that Felix was so victimy and kinda likeable until the literal second he was revealed to be capable of such barbarism. But what can I say? Also, I just have to make fun of myself because I literally thought that the tension between Felix and Thomas was because they slept together and hid it from their wives. Like it felt like they were flirting a lot of the times or like jealous of each other's wives. Like they wanted to be each other's special person... It turns out that I'm just gay and I can't read Hetero plot~ BUT there was not even subtle sexist and racist vibes through out the whole thing, and I did NOT appreciate the weird sexual bits where Felix jerked it to a doll and mentioning that the ghost "had a flat stomach so tight that it made me what to come on it" YUCK and where he was hard at the end reliving the murder. Yeah no
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
that_cow_girl's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I LOVED all of the horror movie references in this, especially
I do wish it would’ve been more scary,
But the plot twist did make my jaw drop a bit.
Spoiler
Thomas comparing him to Jack from the shiningI do wish it would’ve been more scary,
But the plot twist did make my jaw drop a bit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Child death, Gaslighting, Cursing, and Fire/Fire injury
chris_reads's review
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Infidelity
Moderate: Murder, Alcohol, Blood, and Gaslighting
Minor: Drug use
ghouligan's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Don’t waste your time.
It was like the author remembered in the last third of the book that he actually needed the plot to go somewhere. The “twist” was predictable and the final twist is cheap. The author even said, in the story, it’s hard to end a haunted house novel. and the author was clearly only looking for diversity points. Lots of forced, awkward conversations about race that are not at all necessary - even more so knowing how it ends.
It was like the author remembered in the last third of the book that he actually needed the plot to go somewhere. The “twist” was predictable and the final twist is cheap. The author even said, in the story, it’s hard to end a haunted house novel.
Spoiler
There’s also one Black character in the book and he gets m*rdered
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Gore, Death, Body horror, and Alcohol
kenzies's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, Gore, and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity
melitta's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Gore, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity
madarauchiha's review
0.25
✨🌠 my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 🌠✨
Like others mentioned, the twist was pretty up front and blatant. I kept reading becaue I thought it would turn out differently.
Unfortunately no, it's a standard, deeply antiblackstory. Yes there's a Black man character and yes he does
There were more media name drops than 'Ready play one' which made the book drag on even more. Which makes all the 4 and 5 star ratings make sense. I guess if you have brain damage or fandom brain rot or only like the bottom of the barrel shit, this will seem like mindblowing stuff to you.
Despite being only, eh, 1 hour read, it felt like it dragged on to three hours.
I don't rec this book. If you're Black or PoC, skip this. You're not missing much.
Also someone else mentioned and I agree If you make your characters be racist and have the only Black character or Character of Color call them out on it for being racist, that's still racism. What the fuck is the point of that? Stupid garbage. It's not cute, it's just bad writing.
Major alcohol, amputation, asphyxiation, blood, body horror, gore, injuries, suicide, violence,
medium amputation, animal death, antiblack racism, fire, fire injury, infidelity, racism, religion christianity, self harm, sex worker murder, torture, whorephobia
minor alcohol, antisemitism swastika mention, child death, death, infidelity, murder, serophobia, sexual content, suicide, ted bundy
Like others mentioned, the twist was pretty up front and blatant. I kept reading becaue I thought it would turn out differently.
Unfortunately no, it's a standard, deeply antiblack
Spoiler
cuckold revengeSpoiler
die a horrible gruesome death. Twice even! Once off screen and then again at the end of the book!!There were more media name drops than 'Ready play one' which made the book drag on even more. Which makes all the 4 and 5 star ratings make sense. I guess if you have brain damage or fandom brain rot or only like the bottom of the barrel shit, this will seem like mindblowing stuff to you.
Despite being only, eh, 1 hour read, it felt like it dragged on to three hours.
I don't rec this book. If you're Black or PoC, skip this. You're not missing much.
Also someone else mentioned and I agree If you make your characters be racist and have the only Black character or Character of Color call them out on it for being racist, that's still racism. What the fuck is the point of that? Stupid garbage. It's not cute, it's just bad writing.
Major alcohol, amputation, asphyxiation, blood, body horror, gore, injuries, suicide, violence,
medium amputation, animal death, antiblack racism, fire, fire injury, infidelity, racism, religion christianity, self harm, sex worker murder, torture, whorephobia
minor alcohol, antisemitism swastika mention, child death, death, infidelity, murder, serophobia, sexual content, suicide, ted bundy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Racism, Blood, Body horror, and Infidelity
Moderate: Racism, Infidelity, Torture, Self harm, Animal death, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol, Antisemitism, Death, Infidelity, Murder, Sexual content, Suicide, and Child death
ghulsona's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
WOW THAT ENDING FUCKED ME UP . . . really cool meta explorations and discussions of haunted house tropes, fantastic character dynamics, funny and smart dialogue, good handling of twists and turns . . . this was just a fantastic scary thriller read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Gore, and Body horror
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Drug use and Sexual content
jaymagnus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Death, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail