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seashanthis's review against another edition
3.5
didnt really understand some of the horrory stuff but i liked the book and its prose and storytelling
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death
ashtheaudiomancer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A tense, disturbing, lyrical haunted house story, in which the ghosts, angels, and saints are constant residents, invited there by their own rage and sorrow. I'm still not entirely sure what happened in the end. The dual narrators, both of whom are to some degree unreliable, is part of it, but that seems intentional. The impression I get is of two people with wildly different perspectives pleading for the readers' understanding and sympathy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Rape, Murder, and Classism
FYI, I'm choosing "moderate" for the content warnings here because the book is written in this heavily poetic style that makes all the events feel a bit distant, but they are heavy, unavoidable themes throughout.quabbityash's review
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A feminist, multi-generational twist on The Cask of Amontillado.
In the end I was a little confused by how many generations there were and how many different POVs we had gotten, but it didn't really matter for the climax of the story. Very creepy and a jarring ending.
In the end I was a little confused by how many generations there were and how many different POVs we had gotten, but it didn't really matter for the climax of the story. Very creepy and a jarring ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence and Murder
Minor: Child death, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
kathrynw12's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a weird and wonderful novella. I wouldn’t categorize this as horror, but it is spooky and unsettling. Several moments gave me chills, and I look forward to seeing what else Layla Martínez has up her sleeve!
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
momototato's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
4.5
Deliciously creepy, full of rage.
Featuring a grandmother and granddaughter duo and an ongoing generational conflict with their wealthy neighbors that culminates in a missing child, blamed on the granddaughter. But really, the true root lies in the violent oppressive history that the women in their family has faced and continues to haunt them. The grandmother and granddaughter are unapologetically vicious and mean, reflecting the state of the house or maybe the other way around.
The book is wonderfully menacing and the house is such a central character in the story. One can practically feel the hatred dripping off the pages.
Featuring a grandmother and granddaughter duo and an ongoing generational conflict with their wealthy neighbors that culminates in a missing child, blamed on the granddaughter. But really, the true root lies in the violent oppressive history that the women in their family has faced and continues to haunt them. The grandmother and granddaughter are unapologetically vicious and mean, reflecting the state of the house or maybe the other way around.
The book is wonderfully menacing and the house is such a central character in the story. One can practically feel the hatred dripping off the pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Murder
amandadevoursbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Revenge and rage drip from this book. A grandmother and granddaughter know one thing: they can never leave their family home. Haunted by the past, the house is hungry for vengence and the women can only comply.
Written from two points of view, the unnamed characters reveal the house's story and their family's story one chapter at a time. I found this book haunting, uncomfortable and emotional. I could feel the creepiness of the house, I could hear the gnawing of the spirits, and I could feel the rage of the place.
If you like books about feminine rage and revenge, you might like this book.
Written from two points of view, the unnamed characters reveal the house's story and their family's story one chapter at a time. I found this book haunting, uncomfortable and emotional. I could feel the creepiness of the house, I could hear the gnawing of the spirits, and I could feel the rage of the place.
If you like books about feminine rage and revenge, you might like this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gore, and Murder
bugs...arxchiell's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Child death, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Car accident, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and War
jill_holly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Oof that was a chilling one. If you like folk horror and unhinged MFCs mixed with a lot of WTF, this is the book for you. The multiple POVs offered a deeper reflection on the lives of women in the family and the house of horrors they live in. Filled with stark layers of generational trauma and legacy, classism, misogyny and violence, it packs a lot into a short novel. Lower on plot and more on character and vibes, a haunted house revenge story that I'll be unraveling for days to come.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
rorikae's review
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Woodworm by Layla Martínez is a haunted house book that revolves around different generations of women within one family.
The story shifts between the perspective of the grandmother and granddaughter in present day as well as reflections from the great grandmother and mother. Through these shifting narratives, they tell the history of the house and those who live in it, including how the town views the women. The story touches on classism and family through the lens of a haunted house. Shadows appear to rattle the house and ghosts knock on the doors. The revolving story centers around the granddaughter getting out of jail because she has been blamed for the disappearance of a boy and what really happened.
Martínez utilizes a haunted house story to discuss how the family members haunt those currently residing in the house. The shifting narrative was sometimes a little bit confusing to pin down but not enough that I wasn't able to figure out who was speaking after reading a little way into each chapter. I like how the story unfolds and falls back on itself, disorienting just like the house is to those who live within it. Martínez's prose is lush and evocative, really making the reality of the haunted house and the family's tale stand out. I'll be interested to see what the author writes next and I hope it also gets translated into English.
The story shifts between the perspective of the grandmother and granddaughter in present day as well as reflections from the great grandmother and mother. Through these shifting narratives, they tell the history of the house and those who live in it, including how the town views the women. The story touches on classism and family through the lens of a haunted house. Shadows appear to rattle the house and ghosts knock on the doors. The revolving story centers around the granddaughter getting out of jail because she has been blamed for the disappearance of a boy and what really happened.
Martínez utilizes a haunted house story to discuss how the family members haunt those currently residing in the house. The shifting narrative was sometimes a little bit confusing to pin down but not enough that I wasn't able to figure out who was speaking after reading a little way into each chapter. I like how the story unfolds and falls back on itself, disorienting just like the house is to those who live within it. Martínez's prose is lush and evocative, really making the reality of the haunted house and the family's tale stand out. I'll be interested to see what the author writes next and I hope it also gets translated into English.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Classism
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
aliteracja's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Classism
Moderate: Child death and Death