I didn't enjoy this book, but the ending itself deserved a star added on. Perhaps I'm used to the way horror is done nowadays, but even then I can't really stand it when a character spends a lot time telling me how much something affected them and how horrible it was.

The story itself wasn't particularly scary or even creepy and I didn't like the beginning - it felt out of place - but at the end when everything came together, even if the dilemma wasn't solved, I at least felt like I didn't waste my time on the book.

I would've preferred it had it been longer and delved into everything deeper, but from my familiarity with classic books I know that it just isn't done that way. It would've been good had there been better foreshadowing throughout - and if the beginning of the story didn't tell us that everything was going to end up mostly okay for the protagonist.

I didn't like how names were thrown about - it should've been Esme as someone's something instead of just saying the name without context as the author did. I got confused and wondered who some of these characters were in relation to the protagonist, and I got minor characters confused quickly.

The horror aspect wasn't pleasing either, and not in a good horror way. Even if we don't compare it to horror now, and just appreciate it as Gothic, the only part that fit well was the ending - everything else fell flat. More rumours about the house and its inhabitants would've been better, instead of complete silence, and it didn't make sense that the townsfolk would even let Arthur in the house considering the outcome they all knew too well.

I am disappointed with this story as I expected more from it, but at least I can look forward to watching the movie and not worrying about it not doing the story justice since it will instead improve on it. Were there less of the protagonist telling me how terrified and devastated he was, and more of actually seeing him suffer, perhaps it would've been different, but otherwise I don't think I'd reread this again for pleasure even if the end made it somewhat worthwhile.