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
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
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
julesloyola's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Self harm, and Murder
archaicrobin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
When it comes to horror, haunted house stories are my absolute favorite, and 12 Nights at Rotter House is now high up on my all time favorite haunted house book list. I finished this book in two days because I just could NOT put it down!
Felix is a struggling author looking for his big break onto the bestseller list. With a long history of writing spooky non-fiction he has his few readers but is looking for the perfect location to finally launch his career. Here comes Rotter House. Felix persuades the owner to let him stay in Rotter House for 13 nights, completely sequestered from the world. No electricity, no social media, no contact with the outside. Joining Felix on this project is his best friend Thomas whom he hasn’t spoken to in a year due to a falling out. As the two continue their stay, stranger and stranger things start to happen and soon Rotter House starts to pick at the secret that pulled these two friends apart.
This one had a fun twist at the end and the journey there is a blast. If you love haunted house novels as much as me definitely try this one out! Loved it!!
Felix is a struggling author looking for his big break onto the bestseller list. With a long history of writing spooky non-fiction he has his few readers but is looking for the perfect location to finally launch his career. Here comes Rotter House. Felix persuades the owner to let him stay in Rotter House for 13 nights, completely sequestered from the world. No electricity, no social media, no contact with the outside. Joining Felix on this project is his best friend Thomas whom he hasn’t spoken to in a year due to a falling out. As the two continue their stay, stranger and stranger things start to happen and soon Rotter House starts to pick at the secret that pulled these two friends apart.
This one had a fun twist at the end and the journey there is a blast. If you love haunted house novels as much as me definitely try this one out! Loved it!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Infidelity, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, and Violence
carekipland's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Violence