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A review by shereadytoread
This Cursed House by Del Sandeen
dark
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
On surface this is a domestic horror about a cursed family trapped by death. Underneath it is an exploration of racial identity, self-loathing, and internalized anti-blackness. It combines the history and legacy of slavery, passing, and intergenerational trauma. It looks at the ideas of family and legacy with our own identities.
This book is light on the scares but high in the dread. It really delves into the psyche of the main character and the family she is working for. I think in some pieces the author could have trusted the reader a bit more to understand what was happening. It felt like everything and even some internal characterization pieces were being stated out loud for the point of explaining to the reader and I think that the writing was strong enough to understand those pieces without them being spelled out.
This was a fantastic debut and I cannot wait to see what this author does next.
Disclosure: I received a gifted ARC and finished copy. No review was required and all opinions are my own.
This book is light on the scares but high in the dread. It really delves into the psyche of the main character and the family she is working for. I think in some pieces the author could have trusted the reader a bit more to understand what was happening. It felt like everything and even some internal characterization pieces were being stated out loud for the point of explaining to the reader and I think that the writing was strong enough to understand those pieces without them being spelled out.
This was a fantastic debut and I cannot wait to see what this author does next.
Disclosure: I received a gifted ARC and finished copy. No review was required and all opinions are my own.