Rating: 10/10
It takes a lot for me to give a book 10/10; I’m very stingy with my 10/10 scores (I think this is only the 3rd 10/10 for all of 2020). I’m more free handing out 5 star reviews (as that can be anywhere from a 9-10 as I round up). It takes a special combination of things for me to just absolutely love a book. Let me tell you, this is my favorite haunted house book that I’ve read, probably ever. If I had to describe this book, I would describe it as Rosemary’s Baby meets the Haunting of Hill House (the TV show, because this is more similar to the Netflix show, than the actual book). I’m getting ahead of myself, let’s just get on to the summary.
Summary from Amazon:
“They say there's a door in Wakefield that never opens... Sam Wakefield's ancestral home, a decaying mansion built on the edge of a swamp, isn't a place for children. Its labyrinthine halls, built by her mad ancestors, are filled with echoes of the past: ghosts and memories knotted together as one. In the presence of phantoms, it's all Sam can do to disentangle past from present in her daily life. But when her pregnant sister Elizabeth moves in after a fight with her husband, something in the house shifts. Already navigating her tumultuous relationship with Elizabeth, Sam is even more unsettled by the appearance of a new ghost: a faceless boy who commits disturbing acts--threatening animals, terrorizing other children, and following Sam into the depths of the house wielding a knife. When it becomes clear the boy is connected to a locked, forgotten room, one which is never entered, Sam realizes this ghost is not like the others. This boy brings doom... As Elizabeth's due date approaches, Sam must unravel the mysteries of Wakefield before her sister brings new life into a house marked by death. But as the faceless boy grows stronger, Sam will learn that some doors should stay closed--and some secrets are safer locked away forever.”
This book has all my favorite horror things tied up all into one neat, spellbinding package. There is a creepy kid, a haunted house, ghosts just living their past lives, and flashbacks to the past (the ghosts doing their things plays into this). It all just came together so well that I fell in love. It’s so very well-written. The way that Kaplan would describe things was incredibly gritty and raw, but also kind of beautiful in the way that it flowed. I was continually impressed with the eloquence of the writing. The way that things were described was done so in such a way that you felt truly brought into the story. I felt as if I could smell the swamp and the musty house. The whole ambiance of the story was gothic and dark, there are some very dark things that are addressed by the book. Yet, they are done in such a way that it stresses just how evil they really are. It is incredible how much evil can exist in and around such an old house.
Speaking of the creepy ambiance, I was continually aware of the presence of the child with the blank face, in such a way that I was anxious anytime the protagonist was alone (obviously in a good way). The way that the sadistic nature of the boy was coupled with the inane innocence of youth was chilling to say the least. Anytime the boy made his presence known, you just wanted to sink back into yourself, so that he wouldn’t see you. Many elements of the story very much revolve around things that have happened in the past, and things that could happen in the future. The protagonist is faced with the inevitability of fate, and all the while still trying her best to try to ward off an impending doom. I can’t go into more detail than that, I don’t want to tell you how it goes. This book is another work of literature wherein the protagonist is faced with the challenge of changing destiny.
I don’t have very many negative things to say about the book. Of course, there were some bits where it dragged a little. But, that really happens in most books. There can’t be action 24/7 in every book. Also, I’m not sure how much I really understand the purpose of the creepy room. Like, I understand the significance of it based off of everything that has occurred in there. I guess I just don’t necessarily understand why the room itself was so weird, even prior to the things that occurred. Honestly, it’s probably a me thing. I think that perhaps the book could have been a bit longer so that maybe we could have gotten more on the room. That’s really just personal though, I don’t think that it really takes away from the story at all really.
In conclusion, if you’re a horror fan then I think you should read this book. I think this especially holds true if you love haunted house books and/or books with creepy, evil children. This book has such a truly creepy atmosphere that is maintained through fantastic visceral storytelling with the perfect amount of description. There are just so many creepy/evil things packed into such a small book. It isn’t a long read at all (the last 20% read so fast, I was so hooked by then that I couldn’t put it down). This is one of my favorite books of 2020, I just have to say a big fat “Great Job” to Jo Kaplan for writing this. I look forward to seeing what she comes out with next! I’m going to have to get my hands on a physical copy, because I really need to add this one to my physical collection. Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced ebook! I was given the ebook in return for an honest review!