Reviews

Gothic by Philip Fracassi

nltripp126's review

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challenging dark tense

4.0

bucher_freund's review

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

3.5

Horror writer Tyson Parks is on the downward slope of his career. For his 59th birthday, his long-time girlfriend Sarah gifts him an enormous, elaborately carved antique desk, in hopes that it will cheer him up and inspire his writing. Inspire him it does, and suddenly he's writing a new, dark novel in a frenzy. Does it have something to do with the fact that the desk was once a sacrificial altar, carries with it the haunting of a blind old Satanist, and possesses a supernatural sentience? Could be, could be.

Y'all, I'm going to need a palate cleanser after this one. Very black and gory. Bad things happen. Check TWs if that's your thing. Fracassi's writing is excellent, and the story is effectively disturbing. I've seen reviews saying it felt like a throwback to 80s/90s paperback horror, and I agree. I'm still processing how I feel. I'm not sure I actually enjoyed this book. But if you're looking for nasty,  well-written horror that doesn't pull punches, this might be for you.

amybrooklyn's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

keishoncaffeine's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad medium-paced

5.0

jmalatia's review

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dark medium-paced

3.75

colorfulleo92's review

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

maartabarrales's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

perfectsham's review

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1.0

As well as being hilariously concise, caeliniscreepy's review nailed it. Our intro to the main character is him perving on a secretary and then we get to hear his endlessly whiny, self-pitying internal monologue until he gets possessed by an evil desk and becomes a rapist. This is our protagonist who I guess we're supposed to care about? If this author is trying to rewrite The Shining, he has to do better than this. The Shining actually made you care about the wife and kid and took you along on Jack's slow burn decent into madness. The main character in this book is IMMEDIATELY possessed while his wife and college aged kids are like "weird...oh well". This book has you praying the evil desk will eat them all. As someone in my 40s, I'm as nostalgic as the next person for 80s horror, but honestly, there's a reason we've moved on from it. 

manowarfan1's review

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dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

countessofthemoon's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0