This Cursed House is a fantastic debut and perfect for lovers of spooky historical fiction. If you loved The Reformatory by Tananarive Due, then definitely check this one out. This Cursed House is full of New Orleans history, creepy family drama, and racial and social justice commentary. Oh, and there are plenty of ghosts and a family curse to keep your hairs raised. Set in 1962-1963, the historical aspect recounts an era of modern history that is slowly fading away with time but must not be forgotten. The female MC, Jemma, is a force to be reckoned with. Bent but not broken by life's trials, she finds herself enmeshed in a family full of secrets that make her question her own identity and who her people really are. She is brave and opinionated and full of heartache...all the things that make her a character you can get behind.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I have been waiting to get this novel in my hands ever since I saw the cover. I’m talking since way in April. But I was never good enough for Berkley lol So I was just begging on social media. And this time, it paid off.

Ok so I ended up getting an ARC of this from a friend of mine. And I can’t say how happy that made me. I LOVED this book. More than I thought it was since it was a gothic horror book. But I think it being gothic horror, combined with being set in the South, AND about people of color, made this book entirely everything what I wanted it to be.

Ok so the main character is Jemma. She takes a job in New Orleans after finding out some terrible news. Once she arrives she quickly realizes that something isn’t quite right. What she doesn’t realize is just how bad it’s about to get. The people who gave her the “job” are her family, but they don’t act like it. They brought her there to break a curse that’s been placed on the family. And they think Jemma can undo it.

I’m not usually a fan of gothic horror, but this was actually really enjoyable. It’s a slow burn scare, so don’t go in expecting jump scares or anything. But the hauntings, the ghosts, the seances, the curses, the house, and everything give you all the horror vibes. The actual curse has trapped the family in the house where they can’t go anywhere, even if they tried. It’s because of this that some of those content warnings appear. If you need some more info on that, email me and I’ll tell you what it is.

The characters are terrible. I mean literally all of them besides Jemma. Because Lordt let me tell you the way these people were is atrocious. As someone who is on the lighter side, I HATED reading this. I’m not as bright as they seem to have been, but my sister is. So basically we’ve heard all the jokes and we have seen the way people treat people with more melanin than them. But for them to act like they weren’t also Black was just weird. They deserved all that was coming to them.

Historical fiction isn’t usually my favorite genre because I hate what comes with seeing people of color in these situations. So this was even worse, because it came from our own people. The historical aspect was also very accurate. Even if it was hurtful, it was accurate. Even her train ride to New Orleans and back.

The ending was cool and it has a open like ending. I hope this means there might be more in the future? Even if its through someone else. It was so full of secrets and scares, so I hope at the very least you pick this up to find out what I’m talking about!

I'm a sucker for a southern gothic and this was no exception, atmospheric and dripping with dread Sandeen has delivered a spooky historical fiction where the haunting power of the past resurfaces, far from just a supernatural foray this tackles heavy topics such as racism, colorism and slavery head on. The story slowly unravels as
secrets, lies and spirits are revealed, this was the definition of a page turner and I couldn't look away, despite the uncomfortable uneasy feeling that settled on my shoulders as soon as Jemma arrived in New Orleans.
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Similiar books: The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Blackwood House, Burnt Offerings, Mexican Gothic
TV: AHS Murder House, Roanoke, Get Out, The Haunting of Bly Manor

(3.5⭐️) This book hit the southern gothic horror vibes perfectly. The setting was a good mix of grand and eerie, and I could easily picture the Duchon family estate; what could be better for a horror story than a big, old, creepy mansion?

I felt really conflicted about the characters in this story. I overall liked the MC Jemma, but there were also times where I wanted to shake some sense into her. However, given her life up until this point, I can see why she was the way she was. The Duchon family is a whooole other issue, and while it was very hard to like them, I could also see the complicated history behind their ways.

This book definitely felt like a slow burn. This helped build some tension and added to the spookiness of the setting, but there were times where things felt a little too slow, or got a little repetitive. However, I overall liked this book and was interested in seeing how the story unfolded, and how the characters evolved. I didn’t see some of the twists coming, and there were a few points where I was genuinely freaked out.

If you’re looking for a slower, vibes-heavy horror story, check this one out!

It’s 1962 and Jemma, a young Black woman with the ability to see ghosts, is watching her life fall apart. She assaulted her cheating boyfriend and lost her teaching job. Out of desperation, she accepts what she thinks is a tutoring position for a family in New Orleans. She didn’t ask questions about the position and, soon after arriving, realizes she misunderstood; she’s not tutoring, she’s working for a cursed family that needs her abilities to help free them.

This southern gothic novel is so beautifully written! I loved the character of Jemma, and enjoyed the twists and turns of her time with the Duchon family. This is also the first book I’ve read that deals with a generational curse, and I was glued to the pages as all the secrets unfolded.

I have a feeling there will be much buzz about this one! Thanks so much for the chance to read in advance!

A southern gothic novel blended with historical fiction that is chilling and haunting.
This story grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t loosen its hold until the very end. There are heavy topics, curses, ghosts, ancestral secrets and many unlikeable characters in the Duchon Family.
A perfect book for spooky season.

I like a southern gothic read. This was a slow burn but I enjoyed the story development and the action of the main character was very believable. It was a good book to start off spooky season.

A Southern Gothic historical horror. Need I say more? It gave me all the Mexican Gothic Vibes in fact it starts very similarly. It takes place in the 1960’s and a young black woman from Chicago receives a mysterious letter that she is wanted down south where a family resides in this big mansion and they need help and they think she can fix a problem there having. Spooky ghosts galore, a curse that needs breaking, it was really fun!

2.5 stars. I love a good Gothic horror. This wasn't heavy on the horror but the gothic elements were enjoyable. Jemma's motivation was difficult to understand an follow for wanting to be with this family. Too much repetition and too much racial content--very alienating. Still, a good book for the spooky season. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

Huge thank you @prhaudio @berkleypub and @netgalley for an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

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This one definitely put me in the spooky mood! Jemma is desperate to leave Chicago and finds her an escape when she is offered a job in New Orleans but nothing is as it seems! What a great gothic drama especially as October is here!
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In This Cursed House, Del Sandeen creates a claustrophobic gothic family tale. Jemma is called from Chicago to Metairie, LA, to work for a family; she later learns the true reason for her employment. There are a lot of characters and plot points to keep organized, and at times the story is a bit frustrating. However, the themes (forgiveness, reckoning with our ancestors' decisions, colorism) are clear and Jemma is a great lead character. 3.5 stars rounded up.

This book is absolutely fantastic. The characters are great, the setting is excellent, and the story doesn't let up from start to finish. A wonderful addition to the horror genre, this book deserves to be read and enjoyed. Come for the ghost story, stay for the lessons in family and forgiveness. I absolutely loved this book.

4.25 stars rounded down.

Incredibly tense, atmospheric and sad all at the same time!

Jemma leaves Chicago to escape, yet runs to something so much worse. However, after uncovering the layers of the Duchon past, she begins to grow stronger and more capable.

The literal ghosts in the Duchon’s past propel Jemma and her story forward, while forcing her to grow and forgive. The story is eerie and haunting, but Jemma’s character is inspiring!

Advance reader copy provided by Berkeley and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

I received a gifted galley of THIS CURSED HOUSE by Del Sandeen for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, PRH Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

THIS CURSED HOUSE follows Jemma, a young Black woman in 1962. After a big shake up in her life, Jemma leaves her life in Chicago to take a new job in New Orleans. When she arrives, the locals act very strange about the family she’s going to work for, and it turns out both the family and the job aren’t exactly what she expected. The house is cursed and the family is counting on her to find a way to release them from its boundaries. There are a lot of heavy topics in this novel including racism and colorism. The family Jemma is with prides themselves on their light complexion and look down on her for her dark skin.

It took me a bit to get sucked into this story and I think that is because it starts off very much feeling like a historical fiction novel. Once we start getting into more of the horror elements with the curse and the spirits that Jemma can see, I was much more invested.

I liked Jemma as our main character and the way she tried to make the best of a tough situation. She’s quickly picking up on some very odd things about the people she is working for and I appreciated being able to read through her POV. I also really enjoyed the gothic atmosphere that the author delivered!

This was a great debut and I will look forward to finding out what this author brings us next!

This Cursed House
by Del Sandeen

Thank you so much partner @berkleypub for the gifted eARC.

Blurb👇🏽

In this Southern gothic horror debut, a young Black woman abandons her life in 1960s Chicago for a position with a mysterious family in New Orleans, only to discover the dark truth: They’re under a curse, and they think she can break it.


🍂🐊My thoughts:

Completely atmospheric, this book is a whole mood!! It’s dark, haunting, and the people are horrifyingly wicked. With so many secrets, you’ll be engaged with this one and will need to know what the heck is happening… because I sure did! But what really got me was that Sandeen delivers this sinister and sense of foreboding in the writing that crept into my skin and sat with me until I finished. This was a different kind of atmospheric read in a way that’s hard to describe but my goodness was it good. There’s a lot to enjoy and unpack in what I’d say is a slow burn that is perfect for autumn and I will definitely be getting myself a finished copy to keep on my forever shelves. Here you’ll find a layered story full of mystery, secrets, and history. This Cursed House is out 10/9/24!

Happy reading 📖🍂🕯️🐊

Thank you #partner Berkley Pub for my #gifted copies of one of my most anticipated fall reads! It did not disappoint!

This Cursed House is a Southern gothic blend of historical fiction and supernatural horror set in New Orleans in the 1960s. It follows a twenty-seven-year-old Black women named Jemma Barker, who relocates from Chicago to New Orleans upon receiving a job offer from the mysterious Duchon family. But upon arriving, Jemma soon realizes there's something up with the Duchon family, and their secrets may hit closer to home than she can ever imagine.

The Vanishing Half meets The Haunting of Hill House in this spectacular debut novel from Del Sandeen! This Cursed House is a haunting, atmospheric, richly layered novel that blends the supernatural with themes of family, colorism, and long-held secrets. It's beautifully paced, so engaging, and the perfect read to get readers in the mood for the upcoming scary season (especially me, since I'm headed to New Orleans in October)! I can't say too much without giving everything away, but if you're reading this review wondering if you should give this one a shot: DO IT!!!

This Cursed House by Del Sandeen is a gripping horror tale that intertwines family secrets with supernatural elements. The narrative follows a woman who inherits a mysterious old house, only to discover that it harbors dark forces and unsettling truths about her lineage. Sandeen’s atmospheric writing and well-crafted suspense draw readers into a chilling world where the past refuses to stay buried. With its compelling characters and eerie plot twists, this novel is a haunting exploration of how history can shape our present.

Rating: 2.5

I was interested in the story, but hardly anything happened in this book. The main character could see ghosts, but I feel like that wasn't utilized enough. The writing was slow and boring.

THIS CURSED HOUSE had all the right pieces to put together a story that would captivate and emotionally wreck me. Unfortunately, the story’s execution and the writing style didn’t quite work for me. We have a perfect setup for immersive gothic horror, but we never quite got there.

The writing is lots of telling, not much showing. And the telling is repetitive. I wanted to feel the emotions and be immersed in the atmosphere, rather than simply being told about them.

I didn’t understand Gemma’s motivations for wanting any sort of relationship with this family. Yes, we were told a reason, over and over, but given the circumstances, it made no sense whatsoever.

Some heavy themes are explored throughout, which I thought were handled well.

This book opens with Jemma, a young down on her luck Black woman ignoring a ghostly figure in the corner of her eye while on a train from Chicago to New Orleans in 1962 to accept a job in a mysterious family’s house. These strangers and their home hold ancestral secrets and ghosts that will change Jemma’s life forever. This story is dark, creepy, disturbing, and unsettling. The only thing holding me back from giving this one a five star rating is that the beginning was a little slow paced. However, I wouldn’t say it was dragging because I was excited to get back to reading it every night. It just took a while to fully set the southern gothic mood as well as Jenna’s wavering feelings toward the family.