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A review by stabilesero
The House of Whispers by Anna Mazzola
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I loved this. Mazzola has produced a historical fiction with a gothic edge.
I didn't know a lot about Italy's part in the second world war, but this has given me some topics to look further into for non-fiction which I always love with a historical fiction; giving the reader something less known to research (if that's they're thing, which it is for me!)
Eva's story is one of discovering who she is, what part she plays in the world and what she really wants in life. At times in the beginning, I really thought she was going to be a 'woe-is-me' kind of character, but the more I read, the more it resonated to me that she was human. She took the easy route, the safe route in the beginning, and discovered slowly what she needed to do to be true to herself and I LOVED that. Sometimes you don't need characters to be taking the hard, exciting path to create a good story.
I loved the twist at the end that it wasn't a ghost or a spirit, it was a different play on the paranormal that I've not seen before and I thought it very clever. It definitely helped with the gothic vibes of the house, which I equally loved.
I didn't know a lot about Italy's part in the second world war, but this has given me some topics to look further into for non-fiction which I always love with a historical fiction; giving the reader something less known to research (if that's they're thing, which it is for me!)
Eva's story is one of discovering who she is, what part she plays in the world and what she really wants in life. At times in the beginning, I really thought she was going to be a 'woe-is-me' kind of character, but the more I read, the more it resonated to me that she was human. She took the easy route, the safe route in the beginning, and discovered slowly what she needed to do to be true to herself and I LOVED that. Sometimes you don't need characters to be taking the hard, exciting path to create a good story.
I loved the twist at the end
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism and Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail