natecons's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Perfectly fine, I was just unimpressed. Was a plain armchair read. Nothing really scary, just sort of spooky. The quirkiness of the main character's perspective took away from any moment where I could have gotten scared. Overall a very straight forward read, but I don't think it recommend it
raemazing's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
carlysgrowingtbr's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first T. Kingfisher book, and it won't be my last. I know without question that this will be a book I will think about for years to come.
We follow Sam, a ancient bug expert who's next job is unexpectedly cancelled prompting a visit to her childhood home. Noticing some weird changes in her mother, Sam initially thinks her mother is sick. But after further investigation, and some unexplained new symptoms for Sam herself, Sam uncovers far more sinister and other-worldly explanations for the newfound quirks within her mother and the house she lives in.
This book was very reminiscent of Mexican Gothic, by Sylvia Moreno Garcia. I found the vibe to be very similar and yet somehow also very different. I found myself extremely interested in the story early on, and it absolutely held my attention throughout. I would say it was a medium pacing and things were happening just often enough to keep me engaged.
We follow Sam, a ancient bug expert who's next job is unexpectedly cancelled prompting a visit to her childhood home. Noticing some weird changes in her mother, Sam initially thinks her mother is sick. But after further investigation, and some unexplained new symptoms for Sam herself, Sam uncovers far more sinister and other-worldly explanations for the newfound quirks within her mother and the house she lives in.
This book was very reminiscent of Mexican Gothic, by Sylvia Moreno Garcia. I found the vibe to be very similar and yet somehow also very different. I found myself extremely interested in the story early on, and it absolutely held my attention throughout. I would say it was a medium pacing and things were happening just often enough to keep me engaged.
looloolibby's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
ashtree11's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rach_eb's review against another edition
4.0
This one is a slow burn, creeping horror that leaves you hanging until the end, but I loved the twist. Not gory or really horrifying, but a good spooky story that I sped my way through. Also gave me a new appreciation of vultures
night_owl9's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
maddiefisherreads's review against another edition
4.0
This book is far outside my comfort zone, as I don't enjoy horror. However, I was so attracted to this cover, and have been so intrigued by this author, that I picked it up. I will definitely be reading more of T. Kingfisher, although I will be looking for something less creepy, for my taste, next time.
Kingfisher's writing is the big draw for me. She was able to take very normal-feeling characters in a suburban setting, and somehow make them both extremely relatable and familiar, while also quirky and creepy. Sam, is a 30-something bug-expert-archeologist, who has to live with her mom for a few months when her archeological dig is delayed. Her mother lives in grandma's old house in suburbia, North Carolina. Seems normal enough. Except that there are no bugs in the yard. And the neighbor down the street raises vultures. And Mom painted all the walls white randomly. Oh, and there's a jar of teeth buried in the garden. The pragmatic story-telling feels so not creepy, but the oddness progresses to weirdness, and the weirdness gets creepier, and it's done so well, that you can almost gaslight yourself into believing you're not reading a horror...until you definitely are. Really impressive stylistically.
I would recommend to readers who enjoy horror, or litfic readers who like family dynamics and intergenerational studies, done in a stylistic way.
Kingfisher's writing is the big draw for me. She was able to take very normal-feeling characters in a suburban setting, and somehow make them both extremely relatable and familiar, while also quirky and creepy. Sam, is a 30-something bug-expert-archeologist, who has to live with her mom for a few months when her archeological dig is delayed. Her mother lives in grandma's old house in suburbia, North Carolina. Seems normal enough. Except that there are no bugs in the yard. And the neighbor down the street raises vultures. And Mom painted all the walls white randomly. Oh, and there's a jar of teeth buried in the garden. The pragmatic story-telling feels so not creepy, but the oddness progresses to weirdness, and the weirdness gets creepier, and it's done so well, that you can almost gaslight yourself into believing you're not reading a horror...until you definitely are. Really impressive stylistically.
I would recommend to readers who enjoy horror, or litfic readers who like family dynamics and intergenerational studies, done in a stylistic way.
rachaelanneg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Emotional abuse
gillianc695a's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75