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geekymomontheprairie's review against another edition
3.0
DIY home improvement and horror are two of my favorite things so I found the idea of this book very appealing. The book does have a good creepy vibe, but I found myself annoyed by the main character more than empathizing with him. I also was pretty incredulous once I heard that Kevin (the protagonist) planned on flipping a house that had stood vacant in one of the worst parts of Detroit for over 30 years in just one month's time. And he plans on doing this by himself while filming and editing videos every single night. Perhaps the author was just not familiar with the amount of work that actually amounts to, but I had trouble not laughing continuously when I first read about the plan.
Unfortunately, the prose was repetitive when it involved construction or haunting. Most of the book felt quite slow, and I found myself annoyed with Kevin and his decisions more than anything else. What saves The House of Long Shadows is the final quarter of the book. We find out the reason for the haunting and the backstory of the original owners, and frankly, its way more interesting than anything about Kevin. This part of the story is what I was hoping for when I first picked up the book.
The idea behind The House of Long Shadows is solid and unique, but the execution just didn't do it justice.
Unfortunately, the prose was repetitive when it involved construction or haunting. Most of the book felt quite slow, and I found myself annoyed with Kevin and his decisions more than anything else. What saves The House of Long Shadows is the final quarter of the book. We find out the reason for the haunting and the backstory of the original owners, and frankly, its way more interesting than anything about Kevin. This part of the story is what I was hoping for when I first picked up the book.
The idea behind The House of Long Shadows is solid and unique, but the execution just didn't do it justice.
eusteph's review
2.0
I was introduced to this book by a friend who loves horror. I hadn't read a true horror book in quite sometime so I was rather excited. I think the plot had a lot of potential but the delivery was not to my liking. I found myself skipping a lot of the protagonist's inner monologue. I also felt like some elements of his life were randomly thrown into the story without a real purpose. It felt like watching a b list horror movie but one of those that I'd put in the background while I did things around the house. I'm disappointed because I REALLY wanted to like this.
thatweirdbookgirlie's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It was nice to read a haunted house story in which the house was truly haunted. There were bits of the story that could have used some work, such as the author introducing seemingly important characters never for them to be brought up again. The pacing is also a bit off in the beginning, but it really picks up in the last 3/4 of the book. Overall, I enjoyed the story and can't wait to read the next in the series.
ruminations_reverie's review
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. A standard tale of haunting with "good bones".
This book would make for a perfect "Netflix Adaption". It is a standard ghost/haunting tale centered around a house and malevolent spirits. Nothing new or original other than the location and the names. I did enjoy the book, but it was good not great.
The characters were great, and the setting was perfect for the story. I am familiar with the area so that was fun. The main protagonist was well written for the part he played. In fact, all of the characters fall into this description. I was rather disappointed in the inclusion of a minor character who looked significantly older than her reported age. I feel the author had a desire to elaborate or elude to something here, but it was never brought to fruition. This story is #1 in a series of 2 (at the time of this writing) and the second book involves a new family in the same home, so I am hoping to hear a little more about this character. Here's to hoping!
As for the story, I have said a few times it was nothing special. That doesn't mean there aren't aspects of this book that were great. It is well written, the story is complete and I really enjoyed the ending. I am looking forward to the sequel and furthering this story of 889 Morgan Rd.
This book would make for a perfect "Netflix Adaption". It is a standard ghost/haunting tale centered around a house and malevolent spirits. Nothing new or original other than the location and the names. I did enjoy the book, but it was good not great.
The characters were great, and the setting was perfect for the story. I am familiar with the area so that was fun. The main protagonist was well written for the part he played. In fact, all of the characters fall into this description. I was rather disappointed in the inclusion of a minor character who looked significantly older than her reported age. I feel the author had a desire to elaborate or elude to something here, but it was never brought to fruition. This story is #1 in a series of 2 (at the time of this writing) and the second book involves a new family in the same home, so I am hoping to hear a little more about this character. Here's to hoping!
As for the story, I have said a few times it was nothing special. That doesn't mean there aren't aspects of this book that were great. It is well written, the story is complete and I really enjoyed the ending. I am looking forward to the sequel and furthering this story of 889 Morgan Rd.
ruminations_reverie's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. A standard tale of haunting with "good bones".
This book would make for a perfect "Netflix Adaption". It is a standard ghost/haunting tale centered around a house and malevolent spirits. Nothing new or original other than the location and the names. I did enjoy the book, but it was good not great.
The characters were great, and the setting was perfect for the story. I am familiar with the area so that was fun. The main protagonist was well written for the part he played. In fact, all of the characters fall into this description. I was rather disappointed in the inclusion of a minor character who looked significantly older than her reported age. I feel the author had a desire to elaborate or elude to something here, but it was never brought to fruition. This story is #1 in a series of 2 (at the time of this writing) and the second book involves a new family in the same home, so I am hoping to hear a little more about this character. Here's to hoping!
As for the story, I have said a few times it was nothing special. That doesn't mean there aren't aspects of this book that were great. It is well written, the story is complete and I really enjoyed the ending. I am looking forward to the sequel and furthering this story of 889 Morgan Rd.
This book would make for a perfect "Netflix Adaption". It is a standard ghost/haunting tale centered around a house and malevolent spirits. Nothing new or original other than the location and the names. I did enjoy the book, but it was good not great.
The characters were great, and the setting was perfect for the story. I am familiar with the area so that was fun. The main protagonist was well written for the part he played. In fact, all of the characters fall into this description. I was rather disappointed in the inclusion of a minor character who looked significantly older than her reported age. I feel the author had a desire to elaborate or elude to something here, but it was never brought to fruition. This story is #1 in a series of 2 (at the time of this writing) and the second book involves a new family in the same home, so I am hoping to hear a little more about this character. Here's to hoping!
As for the story, I have said a few times it was nothing special. That doesn't mean there aren't aspects of this book that were great. It is well written, the story is complete and I really enjoyed the ending. I am looking forward to the sequel and furthering this story of 889 Morgan Rd.
tanacef's review against another edition
2.0
I'm left scratching my head at the abrupt ending. I know what I'm supposed to assume is next, but I have more questions. What kind of ghost is Kevin? Is there any part of him left now that he's dead, or has he been entirely consumed by the voices? Are we to assume that he's going to terrorize this poor new family the same way that Fiona terrorized him, or will he haunt the house obliquely and quietly because of who he was in life compared to Fiona, or maybe even because of the cotton?
I wanted to give this book a better rating because I did enjoy the concept, the author's imagery, and I became enthralled by the horror at times (though I didn't feel the story get truly creepy until about 35% of the way in). Other aspects, especially the dialogue, felt so stilted at times that it pulled me out of the story occasionally. Mainly, the last scene with Weiss was predictable though acceptable, but he went on a villainous monologue that really annoyed me and made the scene feel less poignant and dramatic.
I also felt several characters/topics were made to seem more significant than they really were, then they never came up again, e.g. the hardware store clerk (Kevin's father's doppleganger), Fiona's body after the police removed it from the wall, Father Kaspar, the porch woman Kevin interviewed (how he seemed to emphasize that he thought she was lying about her age, like maybe the same advanced aging thing had happened to her that had happened to him and Fiona after they were possessed), all the hospital scenes. What even was the point of Kevin getting mugged right before Will kills him?
It was an interesting read, about three stars for me ("liked it"), but I give it two stars for the sadly unsatisfying ending.
I wanted to give this book a better rating because I did enjoy the concept, the author's imagery, and I became enthralled by the horror at times (though I didn't feel the story get truly creepy until about 35% of the way in). Other aspects, especially the dialogue, felt so stilted at times that it pulled me out of the story occasionally. Mainly, the last scene with Weiss was predictable though acceptable, but he went on a villainous monologue that really annoyed me and made the scene feel less poignant and dramatic.
I also felt several characters/topics were made to seem more significant than they really were, then they never came up again, e.g. the hardware store clerk (Kevin's father's doppleganger), Fiona's body after the police removed it from the wall, Father Kaspar, the porch woman Kevin interviewed (how he seemed to emphasize that he thought she was lying about her age, like maybe the same advanced aging thing had happened to her that had happened to him and Fiona after they were possessed), all the hospital scenes. What even was the point of Kevin getting mugged right before Will kills him?
It was an interesting read, about three stars for me ("liked it"), but I give it two stars for the sadly unsatisfying ending.
chmccann's review
2.0
One star above "did not like it" for a pretty creepy monster/ghost and suitably nihilistic ending.
Minus all other stars for constant dangling participles and other offenses against writing, plus a boringly recursive character arc - "This house is creepy - I'm going to leave . . . but fame awaits!"x1000
Minus all other stars for constant dangling participles and other offenses against writing, plus a boringly recursive character arc - "This house is creepy - I'm going to leave . . . but fame awaits!"x1000