richtate's reviews
797 reviews

Sick Houses: Haunted Homes and the Architecture of Dread by Leila Taylor

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informative lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

I had a great time with this. It’s a unique mixture of architecture, horror across many mediums, folklore, and the human condition. While it may sound like a bit of a hodgepodge, the author does an excellent job weaving an interesting narrative together. It is the grandest of horror home tours.
Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne

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dark emotional funny mysterious 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

5.0

I Really enjoyed this one. It’s a unique mix of dysfunctional family horror meets haunted villa. The final act takes a series of unexpected twists. Excellent foreshadowing. A plot that sews just enough doubt.  It is a beautiful descent into chaos. The madness just keeps coming.
The Atropine Tree by Sarah Read

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

3.0

It was well plotted with an utterly insane, drug addled medium. It unfortunately bit off more than it could chew in 300ish pages. 
A Delusion of Satan: The Full Story of the Salem Witch Trials by Frances Hill

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challenging dark informative sad slow-paced

5.0

Everyone should read this book. It’s a modern essay on the threads of the modern condition. It is the story of men manipulating the system in order to play god. It’s an outline of what happens when no one is willing to punch a motherfucker in the mouth. They hung innocent women. Never forget that.
The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister

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

5.0

If you would like to understand the vacuous, introverted lifestyle of some of the people that live on the Appalachian Mountains, this is the book for you. It exists  mostly in the liminal space of the bogs and woods while making society feel strange and alien. It reminds me of BLACKWATER. 
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

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dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I think this is his best work yet. This book is heartwarming, empowering, and all sorts of fucked up. As always, the lore is meticulously researched and woven effortlessly into the story. Once the plot gets going, it is an unrelenting force. It’s both enthralling and repulsive in the same breath. 
The Queen by Nick Cutter

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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

If Jurassic Park was about creating people with a little extra Moreau tossed in, I imagine you’d get this novel. The plot is both intricate and elegant. By the time you’ve put all the pieces together, it is far too late. The ending cuts A LOT of things to ribbons, including your feelings. 🐝 🩸 
Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The first half of this book is absolutely incredible. The plotting is masterful. It will hook you by nose and bludgeon you to death in sorrow. I have not cried from an ending in a very long time. This one broke me. 
The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste

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dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

What a unique ghost story! 
Model Home by Rivers Solomon

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

An actual fucking nightmare.