Scan barcode
mindoflex's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.75
If you’re feeling nostalgic for campy horror, this novel is a great pick. It follows two adult siblings with a strained relationship as they cope with the sudden death of their parents and decide to sell the family home. Unfortunately, the house is haunted.
Cue generational trauma manifesting as haunted puppets and dolls. While I found the book more silly than scary, it still managed to inspire some pretty weird and creepy dreams.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Gore
naosprout's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
shedevls's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
though mark pissed me off enough in the beginning that i almost decided to dnf this, i'm really glad i stuck it out it out. i ended up having a lot of fun with this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Animal death, Self harm, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
max666's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I will never look at a puppet the same way ever again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
ajsbookss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Hendrix's masterful use of the uncanny, tempered by his wit, create a wonderfully balanced book that gives appropriate attention to the heavy topics the novel covers without suffocating you with them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
bookishnerdgirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Grief
lampbee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-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
5.0
Very good book :) Really enjoyed it , a lot of books like these can tend to have a very information / backstory heavy first half which this did not. The siblings , Louise and Mark , are both very complex and unlikeable in their own ways and between them and the extended family there’s a lot of wanting to hate one side or the other and being unable to which I enjoyed. I don’t normally reach for haunted stories but this one was fantastic and made sense all the way through , nothing felt like an aside or written in without intention so everything was a clue which was very satisfying. A very satisfying ending too, one that didn’t feel overly dramatic or out of line with the rest of the haunting. Probably my favourite haunted book :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
pastlifetragedy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
glkilbert's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
3.5
Be prepared to read the word “puppet” several hundred times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
itskatashley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
So the only other Grady Hendrix book I’ve read was The Southern Bookclub’s Guide to Slaying Vampires and that was already a few years ago, but I remember really liking it.
I was excited to pick this one up and read another Grady Hendrix book! I LOVED this book!
I was entertained, I was fully immersed into the story, I loved the character development, I liked our characters! And the ending was a chefs kiss! I truly didn’t think Horror could be THIS GOOD.
Grady Hendrix, I now want to read ALL of your other fiction books, and possibly reread The Southern Bookclub’s Guide to Slaying Vampires! lol.
I’ll be the first to admit that I HATED Mark at the beginning of this book! I wasn’t sure I’d ever like him lol, but I loved getting to know his character more throughout the book and I loved seeing his character grow and develop from wanting nothing to do with his sister, to being able to bond with her and do the right thing by her and her daughter! (Trying to avoid spoilers, so don’t want to say too much) If I think about it, he was actually probably my favorite character because I just loved his development and how it all came together in the end.
The dolls and puppets in this book are thoroughly FRIGHTENING. Well done, Grady Hendrix. I mean, I was already afraid of dolls before reading this, but now I’m equally afraid of puppets. 😂
This book had me shocked, scared, and laughing all within a few pages. I absolutely loved the way it was written! I was so entertained and just wanted to keep reading. I was honestly sad when it was ending because I was enjoying the book so much.
Ughhhh I just LOVED this book!! I loved the way the story was weaved together and I was pleasantly surprised with the ending.
JUST GO READ IT. 🤍
I was excited to pick this one up and read another Grady Hendrix book! I LOVED this book!
I was entertained, I was fully immersed into the story, I loved the character development, I liked our characters! And the ending was a chefs kiss! I truly didn’t think Horror could be THIS GOOD.
Grady Hendrix, I now want to read ALL of your other fiction books, and possibly reread The Southern Bookclub’s Guide to Slaying Vampires! lol.
I’ll be the first to admit that I HATED Mark at the beginning of this book! I wasn’t sure I’d ever like him lol, but I loved getting to know his character more throughout the book and I loved seeing his character grow and develop from wanting nothing to do with his sister, to being able to bond with her and do the right thing by her and her daughter! (Trying to avoid spoilers, so don’t want to say too much) If I think about it, he was actually probably my favorite character because I just loved his development and how it all came together in the end.
The dolls and puppets in this book are thoroughly FRIGHTENING. Well done, Grady Hendrix. I mean, I was already afraid of dolls before reading this, but now I’m equally afraid of puppets. 😂
This book had me shocked, scared, and laughing all within a few pages. I absolutely loved the way it was written! I was so entertained and just wanted to keep reading. I was honestly sad when it was ending because I was enjoying the book so much.
Ughhhh I just LOVED this book!! I loved the way the story was weaved together and I was pleasantly surprised with the ending.
JUST GO READ IT. 🤍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent