Book Review Genre: Horror

Disclaimer: Reading is all about exploring new worlds, but this Book Review does not shy away from spoiling specific scenes as this is more of a look inside the good and bad of a book.

The Analysis:

I will say that I’m not a horror reader, normally. I don’t mind the genre, though, and this is my effort to include more. So, let’s book review my first horror. But first, follow me on Goodreads.

Here’s The Blurb:

When Adrienne arrives on the gothic house’s doorstep, all she has is a suitcase, twenty dollars, and her pet cat. She doesn’t know why her estranged Aunt Edith bequeathed Ashburn to her, but it’s a lifeline she can’t afford to refuse.

Adrienne doesn’t believe in ghosts, but it’s hard to rationalize what she sees. Strange messages have been etched into the wallpaper. Furniture moves when she leaves the room. And a grave hidden in the forest hints at a terrible, unforgivable secret.

Something twisted and evil lives in her house, and Adrienne must race to unravel the decades-old mystery… before she becomes Ashburn’s latest victim.

Cover Critique:

I don’t have an opinion on this one. By descriptions of the house, this is not what I pictured. However, it is a horror and it hits those notes perfectly.

Now The Story:

Book Info:
Pages: 344
Author: Darcy Coates
Available: Amazon

This story starts as a typical horror movie with the heroine driving up to a Haunted House. One that sounds very Victorian in its construction. My favorite description of it just might be, the wood was old and liked to complain. True to the genre, she inherited this house and has no money to move out once things go south. She also has no friends and all her family members have passed away. Just for background: this story is void of a boyfriend, significant other, or kids.

It should be boring as she takes center stage, but the house itself is the second character. Still, it had its moments. The story at times moved slowly, whilst being a quick read that left me in a conundrum as to what I wasn’t connecting with, so I took a point off. Only because I wanted more.

For this beginner, this story did a good job of filling me with foreboding. Especially after the friend’s car accident that ended up with her looking catatonic in a graveyard. Also, the repeated mentions of Friday got me shrieking, when is it going to be Friday. I just wanted to hurry up and be freaked out and get it over with lol. It probably helped that I read a quarter of this book at night before bed.

The sweetest scene goes to the heroine finding out there was a room already made for the heroine to use at the house. It was left behind for her by her grandmother. Preparation for this room showed forethought and care. The granny also left behind a sweet note. This note includes a warning letter that was lost in the shuffle and doesn’t reappear to close to the end of the novel.

The oddest scene had nothing to do with the horror scenes in the book. It was her “friend” a girl she just met giving her a nickname out of nothing. I kept thinking where this come from lol. When did we start calling her this? Why? Didn’t u just meet her? lmao, I know.

Cultural differences: She goes to the grocery store for the first time, and the cashier is being a nosy busy body. Starved of any kind of social life I can see why she might let this go and enjoy the conversation. But my experience as a minority cannot fathom a woman ignoring the other hangers-on, who are following them around the store in other aisles pretending to be busy. Instead of being polite enough to join the conversation. Only for her to come out of the store and continue to be treated like a zoo animal. But her only thought is it’s okay because the town is welcoming her. Whatever. *eye roll.

Ultimately, I took another point off for the ending. It was action-packed and definitely what I needed. But it also came off cheaply. What I mean is she should’ve set that house on fire, set the paintings on fire, broke the mirrors, or at the very least lit every candle in the house. None of those things happened and then she wants to go, oh, I’m helpless. You helpless alright and that’s from lack of trying. Marion showing up and her being too weak to fight. How convenient for you sis, but not good enough for me. She does set the ghost on fire which I loved, but it wasn’t enough. One point off for the typical dumb blond ending found in most horror movies.

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Book Review At A Glance:

Recommendation:  3 out of 5

Book Cover Appeal:

🍓🍓🍓🍓

Story & Narration:

🍓🍓🍓

Romance:

N/A

Character/(s) Personality:

🍓🍓🍓🍓