Daisy is relieved when her mum inherits a mansion. But she quickly realises that their new home isn't the escape she had been hoping for.
Ten years later, Brittany is leading the 3rd season of her documentary series, Haunted. When she and her team attempt to solve the mystery of all the murders that took place in Daisy & Grace's house, they unravel the tragedies that befell those who lived in the mansion.
Read if you like: YA paranormal fiction, books with POC, haunted house stories, parallel storylines, books about dysfunctional and toxic families, themes of race, healing from trauma & being a medium
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Delicious Monsters, but I had high hopes.
For one, it has great reviews and ratings on Goodreads. Secondly, it is listed as a horror novel reminiscent of The Haunting of Hill House. That is one of my all-time favourite novels! I love what Shirley Jackson has created with Hill House, so I was immediately drawn to this one.
I quickly realised that going into this book with expectations of finding a spine-chilling horror would just get in the way of me being able to enjoy Liselle Sambury's storytelling.
She writes with clarity about her characters and what motivates them. There's a gradually building tempo to her writing style that makes you more and more invested in the story as the plot progresses.
Copyright © 2023 Meera Nair
I liked Brittany's character voice and Daisy's storyline the best. There's a barely suppressed anger in Brittany's thoughts and speech. Her childhood trauma lurks in her mind, tainting the lens through which she views the world.
Daisy's storyline is the one where you'll find the eerie scenes. She too doesn't have the best bond with her parents. Her ability to see ghosts is pivotal and moves the plot forward.
I wasn't scared out of my wits while reading this, but I can see how the mere presence (and significance) of the mansion adds to the dark and spooky ambience of the book.
The author ties these two women's fates together as they come to terms with the challenges of building a life they want.
The chapters alternate between the two storylines, weaving the plot points into each and keeping your curiosity piqued.
I liked that the Miracle Mansion has this reputation of being a haunted house. What transpires inside it is horrifying indeed. So the irony of the name is not lost on the reader.
With Daisy being forbidden from going inside it and her still entering the house repeatedly with Ivy, the book nods to the quintessential trope in children's horror stories (of kids daring each other to go inside a supposedly haunted house).
"It's subconscious. It's natural for people to forget or ignore Black girls. Effortless. And when they do pay attention, they don't often have nice things to say."
While I was sceptical as to whether I'd enjoy reading this novel or not, I became so immersed in Daisy & Brittany's stories that the ending moved me to tears.
What they both have gone through and how far they have come is something that tugs at your heartstrings.
Some of you may need trigger warnings so check out the author's own review on Goodreads before you pick up this novel.
I am more than satisfied with the way the ending is wrapped up and how both storylines merge into one.
Delicious Monsters, although a YA fantasy with themes of horror, reminds us that often the scariest beings in the world are humans.
On the whole, I recommend Delicious Monsters to everyone who enjoys fantasy novels. Don't go into it with any expectations. Let Liselle Sambury's writing take over and carry you through the story.
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