toriestories06's review against another edition
dark
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
4.75
claudiaslibrarycard's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
A House With Good Bones is every bit as good as we've come to expect from T. Kingfisher. In short this book is about Sam Montgomery, an archeological entomologist who returns to the Southern home of her late grandmother to check on the health of her mother. Sam's mom is not doing well, and the first challenge she faces is trying to figure out what kind of situation her mother is in- is this dementia, garden variety eccentricity, or a different condition altogether?
As Sam is exploring this conundrum and sorting out her life with her contracted archeological dig on hold, strange things begin to happen. This book is horror, but it's horror light for scaredy cats like me. There is a beautiful but also creepy focus on Gran Mae's old rose garden and lots of ladybugs. And in T. Kingfisher fashion, there are lots of laughs.
I loved every bit of this book, from the Southern Gothic bones of the story to the rich details about entomology and roses. T. Kingfisher is quick with the subtle humor, lots of anti-fat bias, and takedowns of stereotypical Southern racism and toxic communication styles. As usual, I cannot believe what she accomplishes in a short book and I can't fit it all into a concise review. If you love a dark Southern story, a little bit of humor, a dash of romance, poignant symbolism, and can suspend your disbelief for the horror aspects- this book is truly, truly special.
As Sam is exploring this conundrum and sorting out her life with her contracted archeological dig on hold, strange things begin to happen. This book is horror, but it's horror light for scaredy cats like me. There is a beautiful but also creepy focus on Gran Mae's old rose garden and lots of ladybugs. And in T. Kingfisher fashion, there are lots of laughs.
I loved every bit of this book, from the Southern Gothic bones of the story to the rich details about entomology and roses. T. Kingfisher is quick with the subtle humor, lots of anti-fat bias, and takedowns of stereotypical Southern racism and toxic communication styles. As usual, I cannot believe what she accomplishes in a short book and I can't fit it all into a concise review. If you love a dark Southern story, a little bit of humor, a dash of romance, poignant symbolism, and can suspend your disbelief for the horror aspects- this book is truly, truly special.
acouplereadss's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sam Montgomery returns to the idyllic quiet suburbs of her family home to check in on her mother after her brother calls and tells her that “Mom seems off”. Sam is excited to see her mom and spend some time with her watching murder mysteries and drinking boxed wine together. But as soon as she arrives she notices vultures perch on mailboxes and roofs and the house has a cold feeling to it. Her mother has painted the colourful walls a stark white and jumps at the smallest noises. What’s her mother so afraid of?
This is my second T. Kingfisher and I’m so excited to say that I LOVED this book by them. The strange atmosphere is felt immediately and the presence of the vultures added an element I haven’t experienced in books yet - this offbeat, strange sensation.
I enjoyed the buildup, it was well paced and delivered a wickedly fun ending. But most of all I loved the main character. A quirky scientist who was quite loveable. I appreciate all the research the author put into this book about bugs and entomology, similar to the way they researched mycology in What Moves The Dead. Truly impressive is their writing process and investigation of topics.
Thank you @torbooks for this advanced copy, I loved this book, 5✨! I think this would make an awesome movie if directed by the right person.
#50States50HorrorBooks - North Carolina
connormatthew's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
aj_igoe's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
4.75
I actually really enjoyed this book. It was my first southern Gothic style, and it was a bit suspenseful, I will check trigger warnings , - death, mentions of racism and such but it wasn’t heavily involved. I did not find a scary, but some stuff might be to others. It was also hilarious! I loved every character they just came off the page. I am surprised about how much I really enjoyed the fuck it was a change for me I usually read contemporary romance and fantasy books but this was refreshing and super fun. I really enjoyed it and will be seeking out more books by this author.
righter_of_words's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
abishop23's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
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
mellarkbakery10's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
Such a page-turning spooky book! I really loved all of the vultures, especially Hermes!
amobrien's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
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
4.0
I really enjoyed this southern gothic horror, especially with how well it combined its eerie and unsettling elements with humor and heart. It's a rather quick read but it packs a lot of action into its pages, especially near the end. If you love things that are atmospheric and creepy, this is definitely a book for you!
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.