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
mackenzi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Torture, Suicide, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Blood
Minor: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual violence
The two main characters stay in a haunted house that has many, possibly dozens of different stories in its history. Many of the stories are referenced through the book, all involving death in some way. As one of the characters says in the book, it ranges from "murder, murder-suicide, suicide-suicide, and murder-murder." Several of these stories are discussed in detail, most are mentioned briefly and not brought up again. The main plot involving the two protagonists involvesSpoiler
murder, dismemberment, infidelity, mental illness, anxiety/panic attacks, blood, and awkward comments about race.
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