anniup's review against another edition
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism, Car accident, Sexual content, and Drug use
geen_22's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Death of parent
Moderate: Murder
dazzle_spider_reader_1212's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
Easily one of the best thriller/ghost whatever books I've read!!! The writing alone would have made this a 3 stars, but the character development, the background research that was so perfectly done, the plot points and twists, the way that coincidence isn't used the way that most other thrillers rely on it!!! All perfection!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Death of parent, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Death
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
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
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.
Spoiler
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
ohhthehorrors's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
kathkas's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent
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