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figsofpeach's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Xenophobia and War
cluelessavian's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and War
mikathereviewer's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Summary of my review
Re-telling from Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of The House of Usher. It's about mushrooms and worm disease, but as horror, so the symptoms aren't realistic. Some intensitve moments made the story less scary and more funny (but they didn't happen that often). Sleepwalking was done here improperly (instead of leading the person back to bed without waking them up they are awoken, which one shouldn't do due it might causing severe panic and other symptoms in a sleepwalker). Some weird thoughts from the protagonist (only 1 scene). Some words (including one swear word) gets repeated quite often which can be off putting. Lastly, the book is medium-paced, scary moments start at 40% in the book.
I didn't know that this story was a re-telling from an infamous author, namely Edgar Allan Poe and I did actually knew the work title so every time the story said Usher I was like: I heard this somewhere before, but where?? Well, after some research I found it out again.
Anyway, coming to my review; The story was interesting even though I'm not a mushroom fan, or any other plants to be honest so I was a bit worried when the first sentence of this book started with 'The mushroom'. But it was a story I usually don't read. It felt a bit absurd sometimes with all the symptoms one can develop from a worm disease, but it was supposed to be scary so I get that. But if you want a realistic scary story, this one wouldn't be for you.
A lot of times I found the story more funny than scary. Probably a me thing as I also laugh at scary films at the most inappropriate times. But let me explain anyways why I thought it was funny; First of all the symptoms that aren't really real symptoms of what one gets when they have a worm disease. Like the childish talking and long stretching of words. But also the insensitive moments (I don't think the author makes any sensitive ones to be honest) where one just abruptly said something even though it was a shocking information. Like how one of the characters completely at random talks about incidents that happened a few months prior the arrival of Easton. Or also the cow moment. Maybe some found this story spooky but it was rather funny to me with all these aspects. (The ending by the way had a mix of being bad and funny)
Now we come to the points I didn't like.
First of all we start with scenes but due to me wanting to keep this review spoiler free I only include the exact thing that bothered me, which might confuses some that haven't read the book.
Scene 1: Easton seems to either be stupid or disconnected from his emotions as he wondered why something hit him hard, even though it was for the reader quite obvious why. I also hate when authors try to make a scene more dramatic by letting the protagonist disconnect from his emotions instead of just admitting what they feel (I think that's even more sad!)
Scene 2: A character was sleepwalking and Easton knew (thankfully) that one shouldn't wake a sleepwalker, but he did anyway and used the excuse that the house is shappy and that the sleepwalker could fall out of the window. Makes sense, kinda, but my problem is how he didn't use the solution of re-directing the sleepwalker without awakening them. Yes, one can and also SHOULD take the arm for example from a sleepwalker and slowly and might with talking get them to walk in a different direction. You can even bring them back to bed without them needing to wake up.
Scene 2.2: Same scene but just a weird thought of Easton. Instead of just bringing the character back to bed he was thinking about the arm hair of them. That was weird and we readers didn't even need this info. Like why was that there?
4. Reason; Is that (at least what I catched up on) that 2 certain things repeated itself very very often. First of all a swear word which made me at some point wonder if the author knows any others. And this one: ‘The dead don’t walk.’ It actually only appears later in the book, but as soon as it gets mentioned once it seems to not stop. And about 2-3 times we also get this phrase after each other, so written down twice, as if once isn't enough.
5. And last reason: The book was more medium-paced as it takes 40% of the book till it gets anywhere exciting. The introduction lasts a bit long and the horror only starts almost halfway through the book (40%). That's kinda disappointing as I expected it to come sooner.
Re-telling from Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of The House of Usher. It's about mushrooms and worm disease, but as horror, so the symptoms aren't realistic. Some intensitve moments made the story less scary and more funny (but they didn't happen that often). Sleepwalking was done here improperly (instead of leading the person back to bed without waking them up they are awoken, which one shouldn't do due it might causing severe panic and other symptoms in a sleepwalker). Some weird thoughts from the protagonist (only 1 scene). Some words (including one swear word) gets repeated quite often which can be off putting. Lastly, the book is medium-paced, scary moments start at 40% in the book.
I didn't know that this story was a re-telling from an infamous author, namely Edgar Allan Poe and I did actually knew the work title so every time the story said Usher I was like: I heard this somewhere before, but where?? Well, after some research I found it out again.
Anyway, coming to my review; The story was interesting even though I'm not a mushroom fan, or any other plants to be honest so I was a bit worried when the first sentence of this book started with 'The mushroom'. But it was a story I usually don't read. It felt a bit absurd sometimes with all the symptoms one can develop from a worm disease, but it was supposed to be scary so I get that. But if you want a realistic scary story, this one wouldn't be for you.
A lot of times I found the story more funny than scary. Probably a me thing as I also laugh at scary films at the most inappropriate times. But let me explain anyways why I thought it was funny; First of all the symptoms that aren't really real symptoms of what one gets when they have a worm disease. Like the childish talking and long stretching of words. But also the insensitive moments (I don't think the author makes any sensitive ones to be honest) where one just abruptly said something even though it was a shocking information. Like how one of the characters completely at random talks about incidents that happened a few months prior the arrival of Easton. Or also the cow moment. Maybe some found this story spooky but it was rather funny to me with all these aspects. (The ending by the way had a mix of being bad and funny)
Now we come to the points I didn't like.
First of all we start with scenes but due to me wanting to keep this review spoiler free I only include the exact thing that bothered me, which might confuses some that haven't read the book.
Scene 1: Easton seems to either be stupid or disconnected from his emotions as he wondered why something hit him hard, even though it was for the reader quite obvious why. I also hate when authors try to make a scene more dramatic by letting the protagonist disconnect from his emotions instead of just admitting what they feel (I think that's even more sad!)
Scene 2: A character was sleepwalking and Easton knew (thankfully) that one shouldn't wake a sleepwalker, but he did anyway and used the excuse that the house is shappy and that the sleepwalker could fall out of the window. Makes sense, kinda, but my problem is how he didn't use the solution of re-directing the sleepwalker without awakening them. Yes, one can and also SHOULD take the arm for example from a sleepwalker and slowly and might with talking get them to walk in a different direction. You can even bring them back to bed without them needing to wake up.
Scene 2.2: Same scene but just a weird thought of Easton. Instead of just bringing the character back to bed he was thinking about the arm hair of them. That was weird and we readers didn't even need this info. Like why was that there?
4. Reason; Is that (at least what I catched up on) that 2 certain things repeated itself very very often. First of all a swear word which made me at some point wonder if the author knows any others. And this one: ‘The dead don’t walk.’ It actually only appears later in the book, but as soon as it gets mentioned once it seems to not stop. And about 2-3 times we also get this phrase after each other, so written down twice, as if once isn't enough.
5. And last reason: The book was more medium-paced as it takes 40% of the book till it gets anywhere exciting. The introduction lasts a bit long and the horror only starts almost halfway through the book (40%). That's kinda disappointing as I expected it to come sooner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, and War
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
clovetra's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
okkkk work! this is my first retelling ive read (that isn’t greek mythology mind you) and ngl i had a good time!
this review will be short as this was literally like 150 pages. short & sweet
i really liked the main character! i think creating a bunch of new pronouns & having the mc not only be nonbinary but use xenopronouns was super interesting.
the story at times felt like it was stagnant and at other times (mainly the end) it was moving too fast, but it’s such a short story idk how this could have been “worked around”.
the ending was intriguing yet lowkey kinda cool? this was a very interesting book in terms of body horror. i’m always drawn to book that include nature in their horror themes, but tbh i think this book is the first ive read to actually “succeed” at this goal.
what else can i say? madeline was really cool esp in the end. miss potter is also a bad bitch and i love her.
idk what else to say except im excited to see where this goes in the next instalment!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Murder, and War
Minor: Sexism
frawst_disasta_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I should start by saying creepy books are not usually my jam. But since I have been gravitating more towards creepy and dark fantasy, I figured I’d give a shorter book a try.
Oh my! I came for the creepy grotesque and stayed for the dark humour. The book is full of beautiful detail and the characters are rich and complex. I had to put down the book a few times to breathe through the creepiness, but this is exactly what I wanted and needed.
Oh my! I came for the creepy grotesque and stayed for the dark humour. The book is full of beautiful detail and the characters are rich and complex. I had to put down the book a few times to breathe through the creepiness, but this is exactly what I wanted and needed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Suicide, Violence, and War
sardinita's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
3.75
Love a new take on the fall of the house of Usher. I really liked the narrator. The most disturbing parts are painted in such a clear way that you’ll create a full picture that will stick with you for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and War
Moderate: Gore, Terminal illness, Medical content, and War
Minor: Suicide
skillyillian's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I thought it was pretty good and I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook! I got the second one bc I liked the main character very much, although I feel like the whole book has kind of a low-key vibe. The mystery feels more like there's secrets behind sheer curtains, rather than locked doors, if that makes sense. Even the urgent parts didn't feel wildly urgent, although kingfisher has an absolutely excellent way of describing things that gave me the heebie-jeebies a few times. Even if it didn't get my heart pounding, I still got the "eugh that's so gross I love it" and that for me was one of the best parts. It's very visceral and I think that makes up for the pacing. A good book if you like something slow and spooky that creeps up on you as you read, instead of jump scaring you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
cardaisy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, and War
alychee's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
SO GOOD. KIND OF DISGUSTING BUT A HORROR SO GOOD AND MYSTERIOUS AND THE TITLE AND AAAHJSKEKD ALSO EASTON IS THE BEST MC EVER A MIX OF FUN, SMART, DIGNIFIED, CHILL, VAN ARE EVERYTHING
you really should read this book if you want something not that scary but unsettling, a bit disgusting but still fun with great characters
you really should read this book if you want something not that scary but unsettling, a bit disgusting but still fun with great characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, and War
Minor: Suicide
ishymuu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is overall a solid horror novel! The pacing is steady with an incline to the climax of the story! The elements are genuinely creepy that linger with you are it paints disturbing imagery of each terrifying scene. It feels so much like a classic Victorian gothic horror (probably because it is a reimagining of “The House of Usher”) while also bringing in gender diverse representation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to other horror lovers, especially if you like works of Edgar Allan Poe and other gothic horror stories!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Murder
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Suicide, Transphobia, and War