Scan barcode
wyabook234's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.5
Sharpson can be applauded for Knock Knock Open Wide, in which he managed to infuse Irish folklore involving the myth of the Puca and the biology of changelings into the meat of his story. It's too bad that the meat had to be distorted to give Ashling a deus ex machina so that she could come alive at the end. It can be argued that the logic of the plot completely collapses on itself by the end, with how Ashling gets away with murder and then comes completely unscathed as a reward.
There are a lot of eerie moments within the timelines of the Larkin family, and it manages to hook you within the mystery of members involved in the problem. The font change can be interesting regarding the presence of Fitts and how it interacts with the mortals. Even when there are still questions that feel unanswered, if you choose to ignore the small details, like the identity of the hit-and-run victim or what happened to Feidhlim by the end, whether he was dead or not. The romance between Ashling and Betty is sweet but not gripping when feeling their turmoil through the second half. This transfusion of ancient Celtic horror within a story of the plaguing curse is good but not great in execution.
One of the most distressing moments of this story involves the appearance of an undead Gerry Land, who is making breakfast in the kitchen. This ghoul increases the dread for the end of the story and foreshadows a dark answer for Ashling's missing sister. This scene is tied with the one of the Changeling giving birth to Ashling at the end of the book in being the most unnerving within Knock Knock Open Wide, if still unsatisfying, for readers like myself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
dreadspawn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia
chellyfishing's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual assault
ourladyjack's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
The author makes a quip about the Rwandan genocide in the middle of an exchange about changing a coffee shop name.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Gore, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Drug abuse and Homophobia
alliluh's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
this book was spooky, tense, and had me intrigued the entire time. at some times, it was even wholesome. at the same time, i felt like the way everything resolved felt a little too good to be true and it didn't quite land for me. i loved the beginning and the premise, so it left me a little disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
meowlo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Sexual assault
sarahweyand's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thanks to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me a physical ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feedback are my own.
When I finished reading this book, I remember my resounding thoughts being "damn, that was really good". And I'm devastated to say that now, a week and a half later, I've totally lost the plot. This book slipped out of my memory so fast. So I'm docking a few fractions of a star for staying power, but I did really enjoy this while reading, so I'll do my best to recap.
This book has a hell of a plot. So many seemingly unrelated points come together at the end to form a cohesive timeline and structure, which I was very impressed with. I really did have no idea where Sharpson was taking us half the time, and I always enjoy that in a good horror. Some of the imagery, especially the children's TV show, the night on the farm, and what happens during the climax, were especially unsettling and vivid and well-written. Slow burn folklore horror is perhaps one of my favorite horror subgenres, and I loved the Celtic/Irish influence here.
If I'm remembering correctly, there are a couple of questions that I had that were left unanswered in a rather unsatisfying manner (specifically about what happened to Etain that night), but I don't have many complaints. Definitely a good addition to any horror-lover's TBR.
When I finished reading this book, I remember my resounding thoughts being "damn, that was really good". And I'm devastated to say that now, a week and a half later, I've totally lost the plot. This book slipped out of my memory so fast. So I'm docking a few fractions of a star for staying power, but I did really enjoy this while reading, so I'll do my best to recap.
This book has a hell of a plot. So many seemingly unrelated points come together at the end to form a cohesive timeline and structure, which I was very impressed with. I really did have no idea where Sharpson was taking us half the time, and I always enjoy that in a good horror. Some of the imagery, especially the children's TV show, the night on the farm, and what happens during the climax, were especially unsettling and vivid and well-written. Slow burn folklore horror is perhaps one of my favorite horror subgenres, and I loved the Celtic/Irish influence here.
If I'm remembering correctly, there are a couple of questions that I had that were left unanswered in a rather unsatisfying manner (specifically about what happened to Etain that night), but I don't have many complaints. Definitely a good addition to any horror-lover's TBR.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia
ouijabroad's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
I read this book in less than a day because I couldn’t put it down! It deals a lot with Irish folklore which prior to my reading I wasn’t familiar with at all. Some things I struggled to understand due to this and had to reread a few things multiple times. No big deal, it didn’t take me out of the immersive story. This was truly unlike anything I have ever read before. I don’t want to say much about this novel as I feel like the synopsis from Nightfire is all you need and if that peaks your interested then I say dive right in!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Sexual assault
More...