The first time I laid eyes on the book cover of Horrid by Katrina Leno, I was in love. There are just certain book covers that are so beautiful and breathtaking, that I can’t help but buy them, no matter what the book is about. Is that just me? Maybe it’s because of my bookstagram, which you can see here, but I have definitely bought books before I have even read the summary because I like the cover so much. My list of cover buys is long, but a few include Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust, and Cantique by Joanna Marsh. In conclusion, I have a thing for books with flowers on the cover.
Anyway, I was thrilled when a copy of Horrid by Katrina Leno was finally in my hands. All I knew about it was that it was spooky, and it had a beautiful cover, but I didn’t need any more information, I was hooked. So I waited all year to read it during the spooky season, and I overall, ended up enjoying it. Was it spectacular and showstopping? No. But it was a sufficient spooky story for October.
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Basic Information
Title: Horrid
Author: Katrina Leno
Publisher:
Release Date:
Goodreads Page
Review
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Horrid by Katrina Leno is about Jane, who moves with her mother to Bells Hallow, a small town in Maine, after her father’s death. When they finally arrive, Jane keeps hearing weird noises and seeing strange lights, but puts it down to the old, creepy house. However, the longer Jane stays in this town, the more secrets get unveiled, and the more she is starting to suspect that ghosts might be more than a character in a scary movie.
This book starts out really strong with a dark, dreary atmosphere. The first line had me hooked.
“She couldn’t remember the first book she had eaten.”
Katrina Leno
From the beginning, that opening line drew me in, and sets the tone for the entire book. Leno is very successful in creating a really creepy atmosphere throughout this story. Jane and her mom move into a classic haunted house, with creaking floors, unexplained sounds, and out of season florals in the garden. Well.., that last one might not be a classic trope in the genre but it should be. The imagery of roses was intertwined throughout the story, bringing the entire atmosphere together.
The first half of this book was super well-paced. I flew through the first couple sections, I had trouble putting it down. The small spooky moments were a perfect addition to the creepy tone that the author was creating. However, As I moved into the second half of the book, it started to drag a little for me. In addition, there was a lot of repetition in the structure of the scary moments. Jane’s thought processes also had a lot of repetition and I became bored quickly.It felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again.
Another reason that this story dragged a little bit for me was the lack of characterization. Although the reader spends a lot of time with Jane, I never felt like I actually got to know anything about her other than she eats books. And all the other characters in the book were cardboard cut outs, there sole purpose being to talk and interact with Jane. Reading boring characters is boring to me. It’s hard to connect to the story if I don’t care about the characters.
Overall, this story did exactly what it sought out to do. I enjoyed reading Horrid by Katrina Leno. The ending was super powerful and unsettling, I was not expecting it. This book is a great stepping stone into the horror genre, especially for young readers. With a little spook and a lot of creep, it is perfect for the Halloween season. I just wish the author dove a little more into the story and characters.
For my first finished book in October, I was happy. The creepy atmosphere lent well with the chilly weather outside my actual window. Next on my list from my October TBR is Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I am super excited to dive into this atmospheric and gothic read. I also have Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado, which I have started, and I already love it. It is my first short story collection, and I am thorghouly enjoying it.
Let me know in the comments below what else you have to read this month!
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