Unfortunately this one didn't hit with me - I found the characters to be unrealistic and unrelatable. The ending left me ultimately unsatisfied. Others may enjoy this if they are fans of a more supernatural approach

For me, Jeremy Bates is a hit and miss author and unfortunately this book was a miss. I had no connection to anything, I didn't feel any tension or anxiety for the story, the plot kept getting convoluted, and the dialogue was laughable. It felt like I was reading something a middle schooler wrote at times.

I love this author and this book was fantastic! Super awesome world building, great detail, great character development, and a really cool story that hooked me form the very beginning. I was riveted throughout the whole book and the ending did not disappoint. Such fast pacing and lots of twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat!

Would 10/10 recommend to others!

I couldn’t finish this; I really tried. I got about 30% into it, about 100 pages, but I had to call it quits. The premise was good. I was super excited and intrigued by the synopsis but at 30% absolutely nothing had happened. The rooms I did get to in the house weren’t scary. Nothing horrific happened. The banter between the main characters was irritating. I just couldn’t finish it.

The No-End House by Jeremy Bates
This ARC is my top read for the month of January!
I absolutely loved the plot and the way he made you feel like you were right there in the story.
Ok so what is it about?!
Joe recently lost his wife, in a very tragic way, and not being able to cope with it he makes the decision to walk around the world. Hoping to do some healing in the process.
Three years into his journey, outside of the hostel he is staying at in Spain, he meets Helen.
Helen is beautiful and adventurous, although a bit reckless.
While having coffee, Joe tells Helen about a conversation he overheard talking about a haunted house that will pay you if you can complete it.
Of course Helen jumps at the idea and they set off to locate this house but once arriving Joe takes a lot of convincing to enter and take on this challenge.
What they assumed would be the typical run of the mill haunted house turns out to be a battle for survival. Nine doors, nine tests and you relinquish your souls if you fail.
When reviews compare The No-End House to Saw and Hostel they aren’t kidding, add in some evil supernatural elements and you get a better idea what you’ll be experiencing.
Definitely a must read if morbid and macabre fascinates you.

DNF @ 48% .. I cannot go on. This is disappointing because the premise of this book is enticing. However, its execution is lackluster, confusing and sometimes even enraging. I felt no connection to our main characters which made it hard to even care what was happening to them in the House. Not to mention the House itself … no spoilers but it wasn’t what I expected, in the worst way. The motivations are off, the plot is scattered and the dialogue came off immature at times. I just couldn’t make myself see the rest of it through.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC.

⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2

You can’t win ‘em all. I’ve had a good run recently, and then I read this book. It seemed to be going alright, but then dinosaurs and Jason Voorhies showed up, and then it went less alright. I typically have the ability to suspend disbelief to enjoy a fantastical story, but the absurdity in this book overwhelmed, and there weren’t enough other redeeming qualities to compensate.

Themes…
Despite my best attempt to parse through this book and pinpoint thematically relevant ideas, I really don’t think there were any to be gleaned. It was thin.

Character Work…
Oh boy, I couldn’t with these two. Joe and Helen were two-dimensional, hollow cutouts. Their relationship felt unbelievable, and their chemistry felt forced.

Prose…
It was fine. Nothing to remark upon in either direction.

Pace…
I mean this novel definitely moved. It was a non-stop barrage of action, with a few strategically placed flashbacks for character depth. It was well-paced.

4 stars
Bates always delivers a fantastic reading experience! This did not disappoint. A bit of a fever dream, and kept me guessing throughout!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington publishing for the arc of The no End House by Jeremy Bates.
There is one thing I must say when it comes to Jeremy Bates books. You will always learn something new. You can tell he puts a lot of research and work into his books.
Of course with all books there are likes and dislikes. Let’s start with the dislikes. I really didn’t like how the MMC goes to the No End House with a woman he just met less than 24 hours (He seemed to be still hung up on his wife’s death.) A complete stranger and he just decides to go with her. I wish there had been a little bit more of a connection between the two characters before they decide to “ go on this haunted house adventure”. Another thing that I didn’t like was after they made it through to room 5 the rooms took like a 180 approach to theme. It went from haunted murder house to Jumanji. Room 6 was just a complete bust it was weird.
Now to the likes. The merchant I got a resident evil 8 vibe. I don’t know if that was what Jeremy Bates was going for but if he did 10/10 lol. Also I loved how there were I guess you could call it Easter eggs of other books Jeremy Bates has written mentioned in The No End House. Also the reference to Alice in Wonderland was a nice touch.
The ending omg that ending I didn’t see it coming at all. Great ending if I do say so myself.

3.5 stars rounded up. As a fan of the show Channel Zero, the name of this book piqued my interest. It definitely reminded me of aspects of the No-End House and Hidden Door seasons of that show. This book kind of reads like a fever dream (or more accurately fever nightmare) and was fast-paced. It felt vaguely like reading a video game and getting to the next level for most of the story. While it had an interesting premise, I felt that a lot of the things moving the plot forward were too easy for characters and that combined with the physical injuries seeming to be almost forgotten instead of having a real impact on later rooms made it more difficult to care about the stakes. The ending was much better than I expected though and bumped my rating up. It was an interesting twist and while I’d suspected part of it, I was still surprised by other pieces.

This was an easy 229 page read! It was interesting. The MMC is 44 and the FMC is 40, so it was nice to have older characters. This story is also set in Barcelona.. However, this wasn't as "scary" as I was hoping it would be, especially from the cover of the book. BUT! It is still a thriller and an interesting psychological one at that, where reality and dreams are hard to distinguish between and it really gets you thinking.

Overall, The No-End House is a good read and keeps you guessing. It has a psychological horror feel to it, but goes of the rails in the final chapter of the story. I was disappointed by the ending, which felt like a cop out and left me scratching my head.

If not for the ending, this would be a sold 4 star- B+ read.

This was definitely a case of mistaken identity for me. I was anticipating a Saw-esque escape room style horror, but thats not really what this story is. Instead, it’s a mind-bending fever dream about grief and losing your grip on reality. And while there was plenty of unsettling terror, I couldn’t get immersed in it due to the dialog that often felt too silly and out of place. This was a very creative and intriguing storyline, but unfortunately my dislike for the two main characters kept me from fully enjoying this nightmare carnival ride.

1.5 stars.

Joe Hadfield, 44 is walking around the world, trying to heal from the death of his wife. While at a hostel in Barcelona he hears about a haunted house challenge near the Picasso museum where those who make it through win $5000. He also meets Helen, a woman in her 40s who works for UNICEF. She convinces him to seek out the house and to enter the challenge DESPITE THE FACT THEY DON’T NEED THE MONEY AND THEY HAVE TO AGREE TO FORFEIT THEIR SOULS IF THEY LOSE AND THE FACT THAT THE CONTRACT IS CLEAR THEY MIGHT NOT MAKE IT OUT.

Good Lord. These are meant to be sober adults in the middle of the day? There was some OK challenges in the house, but, also, Joe would be dead, so…..The whole thing was just silly.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this in advance of publication. This entire book felt like a fever dream and I loved every minute of it.

Joe, who is mourning the tragic loss of his wife, is walking across the world in an effort to move past her death. While in Barcelona, he meets Helen, another American who just moved there for work. Joe overhears some of his hostel-mates talking about a nearby mansion where you can win money for completing a challenge. Upon mentioning this to Helen, she becomes infatuated with the idea and ultimately manipulates Joe into going to "The No End House" and signing up for the challenge. From there, they embark on a journey through an underground labyrinth, making their way through 9 rooms, each of which are more terrifying than the last. Each room seems to play on their biggest fears and losing may cost them their life.

The best way to describe this book is a fever dream. It's a psychological thriller with elements of horror and the supernatural. The events that occur in each room make you question whether or not Joe and Helen are actually experiencing this or if it's something their imagination conjured. This is the first book I've read by Jeremy Bates but certainly won't be the last.

In this riveting tale, the tragic and haunted Joe Hadfield finds himself ensnared by the enigmatic No-End House - a Gothic mansion in Barcelona that challenges entrants to survive nine chambers of terror for a tempting cash prize. The house, seemingly alive with malevolence, exploits the deepest fears and secrets of its victims, including Joe and his mysterious companion Helen.

As Joe faces the nightmarish chambers, he is forced to confront not only the darkness within the house but also the darkness within himself. His journey is a profound exploration of grief, trauma, and the human psyche under extreme duress. Meanwhile, Helen's character develops as her motivations and past come to light, revealing layers of depth and intrigue. Together, they grapple with the house's sinister manipulations, which not only test their bond but also their ability to confront their inner demons.

The narrative takes a haunting turn as the characters' realities and identities are shattered by the psychological and physical tortures they endure. The house, an ever-present malevolent entity, twists their memories and emotions to reveal their deepest desires in the most grotesque of ways. As a result, characters are compelled to acknowledge the hidden aspects of themselves, leading to profound transformations by the story's conclusion.

"The No-End House" is a gripping exploration of human nature under the most extreme circumstances. Joe's odyssey lays bare the complexities of grief and the human mind pushed to its limits, as themes of trauma, fear, and survival intertwine with complex and flawed characters.

The author's lucid prose paints a chilling portrait of a haunted realm that feels disturbingly real. While some might argue that the novel relies too heavily on familiar horror tropes, the skillful execution makes for a refreshingly terrifying read. The author's talent for generating tension and suspense is undeniable, making "The No-End House" an irresistible page-turner for horror enthusiasts.

In essence, "The No-End House" is a compelling horror story that will captivate readers with its haunting narrative and deep exploration of the human psyche. Bates crafts a must-read tale for fans of the genre, offering a journey into the darkest corners of human experience.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for gifting me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Firstly, I would like to note that I devoured this book in a day. It’s fast paced, wildly unpredictable, and mind-bendingly horrific. I requested this ARC because it was marketed as being along the lines of Saw/ Hostel, which I love. However, I do feel that it has much more of the supernatural element- similar to Annihilation. If you’re worried about the gore factor (like Saw), this is not anywhere close to as graphic.

The No-End House follows Joe and Helen, two strangers who meet in Barcelona, as they venture to find an escape room challenge that could lead to winning money. Once they find No-End House, and sign the contract to participate, they realize all might not be as it seems. They have to make their way through 9 rooms of challenges, to either earn the money they seek- or lose everything.

I really enjoyed the unreliable narrator and was constantly questioning what was real or a dream. The horror element was less “in your face” scary, and more of the slowly dawning inevitability of the awful things to come. Every time I thought I knew what was happening, the next room would prove me COMPLETELY wrong. I had such a fun time reading this, and was fully disoriented by the ending.

The No-End House releases June 24, 2025.

Creepy and suspenseful! Not going to lie, I thought I was going to tap out once I hit room 6 (I think that was the room? I don't want to spoil it by saying what was there) because it felt kind of silly and out of place, but the creepy factor amped up again after that and led to a twisty ending!

The No-End House by Jeremy Bates
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a freaky and wild thriller/horror story!
Can Joe and Helen make it through the 9 crazy room challenge in this haunted house?
This book is intense and very suspenseful! Is The No End House real or is it just a nightmare? This house feeds on your fears! I love the storyline and it kept me on my toes the whole way through!

This is the 2nd book I’ve read from this author and I think he’s fantastic! I really enjoy the twists and intensity in this book. I thought I had things figured out a few times and was always wrong!

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this awesome book!!
*It comes out January 24th! Make sure to get your copy!! *

I wanted to love this book. While I didn't love it, I also didn't hate it. I was really hoping that it was going to be one of those "need to turn the lights on" kind of book. There were some chilling parts but I didn't feel the scary factor. But I will say, it is hard for a thriller/horror to truly creep me out, I have a high threshold for horror. I do still recommend it for anyone who likes thrillers and things that go bump in the night!