Reviews with content warning for Fire/Fire injury - We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Still honestly not too sure what this book is meant to be about. To me, it seems like it's a rather depressing book about a rather unlucky autistic child. It's not explicitly about autism, but goddamn if it's not perfectly (mostly) accurate I don't know what is.

There isn't really a plot, it's just about Merricat and Constance and a series of very unfortunate events that take their quiet and sheltered life alone into disarray and ruin - shattering any sense of security and hope they might have once had.

I did quite like Merricat as a character, mostly because I could relate to how she views the world a lot. Her special interests being a place of comfort and what she uses to calm herself, her love of animals, etc. I loved her and the cat Jonas' relationship especially!

The writing did confuse me though. It was very loopy and "bouncy" kinda like a poem in a way? I can see why some might like it but for me it wasn't until like halfway through where my brain could actually process what it was reading properly aha..

I think if you're wanting horror, a plot and a mystery you'll be very disappointed. If you (for some reason) want a depressing story of an autistic girl just trying to survive then this'd be for you.

If you're concerned about the fate of the cat, check the content warnings for what's there/what's not there.

Content Warnings

yolanda_h's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

takarakei's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I'm not much of a classics or horror reader (even tho it wasn't scary horror imo), so this wasn't really for me. But I think I can definitely see the influences of this book into modern horror media.

Content Warnings

bambicat234's review

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

mijtje's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“Oh, silly Merricat.”

This is one of those books that I read and enjoyed but makes me feel like I should read it a hundred times more to get it. Which is a good thing.

The story is narrated by Mary Catherine (Merricat) Blackwood, who lives with her sister, her uncle, and her cat in their big mansion. They have been ostracised by the community they belonged to after a dark tragedy that played out in the mansion years before.

Merricat quickly drew me in with her childish, magical way of thinking. It’s crazy how fast this book managed to make me think “Yeah, these thoughts are logical. I get this”. However, Merricat isn’t a child. She’s 18. And pretty messed up in the head. Which was a delicacy to read.

Content Warnings