diura's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The first act of this book was perfect. I was scared, intrigued, paranoid, sad, and excited to read more.
Then things just got ridiculous. I don't quite understand "the rules" for the paranormal in this book. The info dumping got pretty ridiculous. Characters made questionable choices.
It got really dark. And that's not a bad thing, necessarily. But the author made one thing happen that really pushed me over the edge and made me super uncomfortable (which I'll include in the content warnings). It isn't a splatterpunk book so while some gruesome shit goes down, it's not all in excruciating detail.
The end wasn't satisfying or particularly scary either. It just made me feel worse than I did before I read it. If you want me to ruin the ending for you, I'll tell you what happens in the content warning section.
Then things just got ridiculous. I don't quite understand "the rules" for the paranormal in this book. The info dumping got pretty ridiculous. Characters made questionable choices.
It got really dark. And that's not a bad thing, necessarily. But the author made one thing happen that really pushed me over the edge and made me super uncomfortable (which I'll include in the content warnings). It isn't a splatterpunk book so while some gruesome shit goes down, it's not all in excruciating detail.
The end wasn't satisfying or particularly scary either. It just made me feel worse than I did before I read it. If you want me to ruin the ending for you, I'll tell you what happens in the content warning section.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Blood, Body horror, Torture, Incest, Sexual content, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual violence
Spoiler
Obviously Naomi dies but we don't see it. We know her body is mutilated and it's sad. The thing that bothered my most was at the end when our main character gets basically possessed, slaughters his young niece, chains up his wife and sister and rapes them both for awhile before killing them too. It's all pretty icky but the incest was a huge NO from me. It just made everything worse. If you want to know more spoilers, the house was already haunted by a man who was a deranged doctor. He tortured and murdered his wife and two daughters in a secret room in the attic. They all haunt the house in present day. He possesses another guy to kill Naomi first before possessing the dad after awhile. The story ends with the dad moving out of the house and a new doctor moving in with his family, who will inevitably repeat the cycle again. Sad stuff. Not fun.the_evergrowing_library's review against another edition
3.0
The tension and unease are the most important parts of any good ghost story. You have to feel the discomfort right alongside the starring cast, feel that chill down your spine.
It’s no secret that I don’t love ghost books. For the most part I find them underwhelming and without punch; I don’t often feel the sense of dread that i’m supposed to.
Naomi’s Room on the other hand delivered that brilliantly. It didn’t reinvent the wheel, but it did build a solid story and provide plenty to get unsettled by.
I thought the first 3/4 of this book were genuinely fantastic. The writing was great in its delivery, our lead recounting the story like he’s sharing it with an old friend. The plot delivered much more than just ‘you move into a house, there’s ghosts’ and it had multiple layers to work with.
The book sadly starts to stumble around the final 1/4 though. The tone of the book completely switches up, a LOT gets packed into the finale and the whole spooky vibe becomes straight up horror. I didn’t hate the ending but it did feel sort of tacked on.
Worth a read if you want something with ghosts that’s beyond the ethereal chain rattler.
Little girl ghosts are the scariest ghosts.
It’s no secret that I don’t love ghost books. For the most part I find them underwhelming and without punch; I don’t often feel the sense of dread that i’m supposed to.
Naomi’s Room on the other hand delivered that brilliantly. It didn’t reinvent the wheel, but it did build a solid story and provide plenty to get unsettled by.
I thought the first 3/4 of this book were genuinely fantastic. The writing was great in its delivery, our lead recounting the story like he’s sharing it with an old friend. The plot delivered much more than just ‘you move into a house, there’s ghosts’ and it had multiple layers to work with.
The book sadly starts to stumble around the final 1/4 though. The tone of the book completely switches up, a LOT gets packed into the finale and the whole spooky vibe becomes straight up horror. I didn’t hate the ending but it did feel sort of tacked on.
Worth a read if you want something with ghosts that’s beyond the ethereal chain rattler.
Little girl ghosts are the scariest ghosts.
pandasbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
Naomi's Room by Jonathan Ayvliffe is a chilling and haunting horror novel. The story is told from Charles's POV and we see his grief, and struggles following the death of their young daughter. The novel blends psychological horror and supernatural elements together to create an atmosphere of dread and unease. I read a few reviews before reading and was excited to discover the shocking ending that other reviewers had mentioned. Personally, I didn't find it that shocking and while it was a fitting ending to an unsettling book, overall because of the hype I had expected a little bit more. I enjoyed Jonathan Aycliffe's writing style and will read more by this author.
leyla_maleyla's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eeasthope123's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book in one day. I have a full-time job & have to eat, wash, clean, socialise & I still read this book in one day. That’s how good it is. Need I say more?
fastasashark's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
radtj's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
did make me a little tense when I read it home alone 👻
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Rape, and Child death
mike_brough's review against another edition
3.0
Great atmosphere, good pacing. A number of people mentioned the weak ending but I didn't think it was. It was the right ending for the story. The ending was perhaps a little rushed but I still found it a satisfying read.