A review by otherworlds
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow. This book is disorienting and haunting in the best kind of way. It re-envisions the concept of horror itself, subverting expectations of the genre in a terrifying way reminiscent of half-remembered nightmares. It puts words to that wordless instinctual fear of the dark, the impossible, the unknown and unknowable. At the heart of this story, though, is intertwining narratives of trauma, grief, and love.

I highly recommend it! That being said, please heed the trigger warnings and take care of yourself while reading this book. It's very graphic and upsetting at times, especially if you're already prone to derealization or paranoia.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Suicide and Blood

Minor: Animal death

Unreality and paranoia. May be triggering for psychotic/dissociative readers.