Review Detail

I’m just going to go ahead and say it. I LOVED THIS BOOK. I absolutely devoured it from start to finish. This story was so unique and pulled me in instantly. The scenario was dark, creepy and suspenseful. As the story progressed so did my interest. I needed to know what was going to happen next. There was so much mystery surrounding these two characters and I wanted to solve it as much as they did. The pace was fast and intense. Everything was time sensitive and you could feel the pressure through the pages. I found myself tense reading certain parts because I just wanted them to hurry and make a move! Cook’s description of the dreary town is easily pictured. The town fit perfectly in with the scene she had created. Another aspect of the book I enjoyed were the illustrations. It brought extra content to the story making it seem more real.

I immediately attached myself to Curtis and Mila. Curtis is so devoted to his family while trying to keep his own head together. I truly felt for him and wanted him to figure this out so he could get his thoughts straight. Typically I have trouble connecting with outlandish characters but Cook described him in a way that really made you relate to him. He tries his hardest not to become “crazy” like his dad while protecting his little sister. The more he dives into the mystery, the more you want him to finally have a win. Mila’s devotion is exactly the same. She would do anything for her little sister Wynn. However, she has to protect herself also. Mila has a lot of challenges to face to keep her own life from the hands of her evil stepfather. She fights hard to try to figure out the secrets of the sinister house before she gets devoured by it and loses everything. Both of these characters are fighters in the best way. They fight for what they believe in and their family. It is hard to not root for them to win in the end.

Final Thoughts

Overall, House of Ash by Hope Cook is a must read! I immediately got caught up in the story and the characters. With such a unique approach to the story, I was easily brought in to the mystery surrounding Gravenhearst. The characters were very easy to get attached to. Through the whole story I needed them to win. I highly recommend this story for anyone who enjoys dark suspenseful mysteries.