I deeply wish I had DNF'd this one. It started out really great in the first few chapters, then devolved into relying on the reader being incredibly obtuse to land so many things. The amount of times I felt that I was hit in the back of the head by a sudden info-dump or unnecessary recap was almost insulting. The logic of so much seemed so flimsy that I rolled my eyes more than perked up whenever something new was discovered. This was my first time reading this author but I don't think I will continue with his backlist.

The cover is so incredible and sinister that I had high expectations for this. Sadly, it dragged on so much with the pacing that I just got bored.

This was a really well-done Young Adult horror novel! Sometimes Young Adult horror is cheesy or not even horrific, but this one did a good job.

House of Ash and Bone by Joel Sutherland is a captivating YA horror that skillfully balances suspense and storyline. Sutherland crafts a chilling atmosphere that grips readers from start to finish, blending just the right amount of horror with a compelling plot. While some of the twists may be predictable, they don't detract from the overall experience. This book is an excellent choice for those looking to get into the spooky spirit of the season, delivering an engaging and eerie read that will keep you enthralled.

It kind of felt… Disney thriller ?
I couldn’t get into it enough to define it as a thriller alone. It has a great storyline. I loved the twists and visuals.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this eARC! I enjoyed this suspenseful story of Josephine and her special abilities! At times I almost felt like I could understand how she felt while hearing voices in her head. I'm a sucker for stories with houses that take on character traits and work at pulling characters from their reality. I've been recommending this book to young adult readers interested in the horror genre.

House of Ash and Bone was a creepy read. While I enjoyed setting, I felt like the plot dragged on quite a bit. Overall it was an okay story but it wasn't everything I had hoped.

This was a creepy read. I enjoyed the setting and it worked well with enhancing the story. I felt like the plot dragged a bit and was oddly paced. The twists were kind of obvious which also felt like it threw off the pacing more. I did like the characters and it was interesting how the house suited itself to each family member. Overall this was an okay book.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

Can we talk about this super creepy cover! I had to read it as soon as I saw it. This book was wild. You are not really sure who to trust. Things are not always what they seem. I loved not knowing the things. I would have a theory one minute then it was disproved the next. That ending sure got me! I did not see it coming. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for an eARC via netgalley.

DNFed at 26%

I started this book about a week ago, and I haven’t touched it in two days. The last two times I picked it up I read for maybe 5 mins and then put it down and didn’t think about it again. I haven’t thought about it for days, and I think it just isn’t for me.
The reason I’m DNFing is because the book hasn’t captured my attention enough to make me want to read it. I haven’t given it any thought, I’m not reaching for it, and I actually can’t even remember what was happening. Maybe it’s a case of wrong time, but I don’t think I’ll try again.

Seventeen-year-old Josephine Jagger has always had to find methods to cope with the voices she can hear in her head. She wears headphones to block out the thoughts of her parents and sisters. When her father suddenly inherits a mansion in Vermont, the family goes there for a weeklong vacation after Christmas. The house is filled with everything her family needs and loves. However, Josephine catches sight of a shadow woman with a creepy smile and hollow pits for eyes. No one else can see the woman and her family keeps forgetting the strange things that happen in the house. The woman needs to trap Josephine’s family in the house to feed herself, unless Josephine can defeat her first.

It’s been years since I read a book that was so scary I couldn’t read it before sleeping at night, but this was one of those books. It was creepy and disturbing. Sometimes a good horror book can fizzle out at the end and not have a complete ending. This story had a satisfying ending that also left the possibility for a sequel.

House of Ash and Bone is a creepy YA horror!

Thank you Tundra Books and Penguin Teen Canada for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: body horror, death

If something seems too good to be true, it is!

This book had me invested from the first page! Thank you #NetGalley for letting me read an ARC of this! This is the best (non-smutty) book I have read in a LONG time!

House of Ash and Bone is a horror novel written towards a young adult audience. Sixteen year Josephine has the ability to hear thoughts. When her family inherits a house from her great aunt, Josephine is the only one to recognize something is very wrong with the place. The house is haunted by a 300 year old ghost of a witch who has sinister plans to destroy the family and rise again.

For a young adult horror book, it is very well written. Sutherland does an amazing job of creating atmosphere and winding the story. While at times the pacing can be slow, but it all builds to a gripping conclusion. I liked the darker elements, the twists and also the inclusion of the family secrets and the witch trials. Aside from the pacing, I found that the story line occasionally pushed into the middle school age group with the characters acting much younger than their actual age. Overall, I feel it's a pretty solid young adult horror book. The story and setting is just scary and creepy enough to be engaging and unnerving without pushing into the grotesque and violence that you would find in adult horror.

When Josephine’s financially strapped family inherit a house in Vermont, they believe it’s the opportunity for a fresh start. But all isn’t right within the house, and she soon learns they share it with the ghost of a three hundred year old witch. A witch who can return to the land of the living if she consumes Josephine’s family within seven days. If that’s not bad enough, Josephine is the only person who can see the witch. Everyone else believes they’re living in paradise.

The eerie cover and comp titles immediately caught my attention. Although this author has written several adult titles, this is his YA debut.

Pacing moves along pretty quickly as strange happenings occur from the moment the family arrive at the house. Each bedroom seems tailor-made for Josephine and her sisters when they’re filled with items related to their hobbies and likes. The home is beautiful, and even the food tastes better than any they’ve ever eaten. Unknown to her family, Josephine has the ability to hear other people’s thoughts and influence their emotions. When she begins hearing voices in her head from someone (not her family) inside the house, she knows something’s not right.

If not for a little language and gore, I feel like this could be classified as a middle grade book. Josephine is seventeen, but some of her dialogue and actions are closer to a much younger teen. I’d love to know if there’s a reason the characters have the same or similar names to Little Women characters (Josephine, Elizabeth, Louisa, Laurie – even Mary and Allison start with the same initials as Meg and Amy).

The climax near the end is a nail-biter, and some of the imagery will send chills down your spine. As a warning, you may never eat stew again after reading this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was the first book I have read of Joel Sutherland. Very suspenseful, tense, and chilling. There was some twists and turns I predicted and some I didn't. I think this was a great YA horror book. You will get sucked in from the beginning until the end. I also really loved the cover of this book. If you want a good YA horror read then I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

A tense, creepy, and spooky book that kept me on the edge and reading. Well plotted, excellent storytelling and character building.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Fantastic YA horror novel, the perfect book to read to get you in the mood for spooky season. Or to tide you over between November and next October, I don't mind swearing but it felt a little forced at times. Otherwise I have no complaints about the book itself and the only issues are ways in which it was not a great match for me but that aren't negative qualities for this book. 4.5 stars out 5

I liked this book. Very suspenseful, tense, and chilling. There was some twists and turns I predicted and some I didn't. Little on the YA side but still gruesome at times. An interesting storyline and ending.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.