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bookiesncreme's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Suicide, and Gun violence
cozy_gh0st's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Gun violence
hazelgirl21's review
dark
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Death of parent and Gun violence
desmatamlu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Murder
magellen's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The Invited is straightforward, plainly written, and a reliable addition to the theme of generational fate in horror.
It is an easy, horror-lite read with a slow pace and clear character trajectories.
It is enjoyable but unexceptional. I do want to see if one of the author's other novels leans more horror than cozy mystery.
Olive is a sturdy, well built character. Most well rounded and human. Hattie and the generational trauma is well built.
But good god the book is slow. There are no scares to it, no heart pounding moments, because every moment drags on with interiority that tips the scales of a person's patience. I think developing characters and slow pacing to build dread are both underutilized in a lot of horror. But there's no dread. Just pages filled up with words that neither titillate nor advance the plot. Watch this out of towner drag a bunch of haunted stuff in her house on purpose! Keeeep watching! Something will happen eventually!
The dual pov with interspersed informing povs is a method I love in books and is well utilized as the mystery unfolds. If you enjoy dual POV I think it's a great example of how to do so successfully. Books succeeds there well.
If you're a fan of the author, maybe you'll love it? But the voice is too plain for me so it won't be in my reread pile.
It is an easy, horror-lite read with a slow pace and clear character trajectories.
It is enjoyable but unexceptional. I do want to see if one of the author's other novels leans more horror than cozy mystery.
Olive is a sturdy, well built character. Most well rounded and human. Hattie and the generational trauma is well built.
But good god the book is slow. There are no scares to it, no heart pounding moments, because every moment drags on with interiority that tips the scales of a person's patience. I think developing characters and slow pacing to build dread are both underutilized in a lot of horror. But there's no dread. Just pages filled up with words that neither titillate nor advance the plot. Watch this out of towner drag a bunch of haunted stuff in her house on purpose! Keeeep watching! Something will happen eventually!
The dual pov with interspersed informing povs is a method I love in books and is well utilized as the mystery unfolds. If you enjoy dual POV I think it's a great example of how to do so successfully. Books succeeds there well.
If you're a fan of the author, maybe you'll love it? But the voice is too plain for me so it won't be in my reread pile.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Murder
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