saltedsnail's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Interesting concept done horrifically poorly. I was turned off originally by the fact that it felt “written for tv” but found myself enjoying the twists and turns one comes to expect in a haunted house book … until the strangely racist cuckold fantasy of the main character was revealed. I feel there was a way to tell this story, plot beat by plot beat, well - a way to make this story more critical of the main characters self-important, racist, manipulative bullshit. The author tried to do this and absolutely did not manage it. I’d have loved to read this book if it were written by a Black author with a lot more intention towards developing out the strange horror of violent white masculinity rather than wasting time trying to make us sympathize or relate to a truly pathetic man child. The twist falls completely flat and plays into the racist tropes that it could just as well be trying to critique. Please save yourself from disappointment - massive weird incel vibes from this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Racism, and Sexual violence
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
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