by Marcus Kliewer

A Horror, 2026 by Atria Books, 295 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• After the opening chapter, the story seems to slow down and stay slow for a good while. This is typical for horror, while they’re setting the scene to really scare you, but it’s still worth noting that it felt like it was dragging. 
• The “rules” are more like a roadmap for everything the main character will do wrong. Every single thing she’s told not to do, she does. You just witness the consequences.
• Little to no details about the world this house inhabits or why. Horror often uses scapegoat explanations (portal to hell, alternate universe, etc) and those can feel overused. This one opts not to explain anything instead.

What I Did Like:

• Starting with the opening chapter was a brilliant choice. If you imagine skipping that and opening on the second chapter, you’d be calling the book cliche and boring. That opening chapter sets the scene brilliantly and gets you completely on board with whatever is coming next. 
• The concept is easy enough to grasp. Could you follow the rules and keep evil contained? It’s dark but it makes sense in the established world. 
• Probably a controversial take but I LOVE this ending. Leave us with lingering thoughts of this story, let us think about it. Brilliant. Dark, but brilliant.

Who Should Read This One:

• Readers who like short horror that bring up great ideas you can work with or imagine beyond.

My Rating: 3 Stars

• This is a solid concept but it felt underexamined.