A review by mistressviolet
A Place for Vanishing by Ann Fraistat

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 

 Rich, dark, and hauntingly atmospheric. I loved this book from the very start. The writing was top-notch—a perfect blend of action and descriptive detail. It somehow managed to be fast-paced, while still being filled with the lushness and description present in slower novels. 

 Great world-building. Fraistat gives us more than just a haunted house, she plays on a common lizard-brain phobia amongst humans—insects. This book is haunting and creepy, thought provoking and spine chilling; and, at the same time, it is seductively opulent. 

 Full and rich character development (and very diverse characters). These are real people with real interests, fears, hope and dreams, and real problems. They are perfectly imperfect. And I was thoroughly invested the main character's journey through life in this new house, while having to be constantly mindful of her cyclothymic disorder (bipolar III). 

 Great writing. Great plot. Great characters. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time.