A Guest in the House: ‘Vividly drawn and masterfully plotted.’ Observer, GRAPHIC NOVEL OF THE MONTH
£13.80£18.00 (-23%)
‘Her voice is unique and powerful and I, for one, am addicted to it.’
GUILLERMO DEL TORO
‘Mind-bending . . . a taut, toothy drama and a chillingly muted psychological horror.’
Irish Times, ‘Best Graphic Novels of 2023’
‘Carroll’s talent is immense.’
Observer, Graphic Novel of the Month
‘Emily is the master, I die for her books’
KATE BEATON
‘Carroll knows when to shock on the turn of a page and when to leave her horrors lurking’
Independent
A contemporary gothic horror and comics classic, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill, Stranger Things and The Haunting of Hill House
I used to dream of Dragons. . .
Abby is settling into married life: making coffee, cooking for David and her stepdaughter Crystal, spending evenings curled up together in front of the TV. For a quiet woman without many friends, she’s proud of the life she has built, and desperately wants to believe they will all be happy.
But what really happened to Crystal’s mother, the artist who no-one speaks of? What secrets does their strange house by the water harbour, and what of Abby’s old dreams and fears, of Lady Grey, the Knight and the Dragons?
In her chilling return – a story of grief, ghosts, and the struggle to be true to oneself – Emily Carroll casts another unforgettable spell.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Faber & Faber, Main edition (17 Aug. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 256 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0571355455 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0571355457 |
| Dimensions | 17.5 x 2.4 x 24.7 cm |
by Brida
Warning – review may contain spoilers!
Okay, so first of all, I am glad that I’m not on my own when it comes to the ending with this one. What just happened??
I first came across Emily Carroll’s work when I read her collection of short, illustrated stories, Through the Woods. I loved it. And, I think it pretty much messed me up a bit, as I read it in bed, late at night, and woke up having fallen out of bed. Can’t remember what I dreamt of that night, but it may have been something a little scary. Since this, any time that I have found work by her, I will eagerly soak it up.
A Guest in the House was a real treat. A good sized graphic novel, with fantastic illustrations to bring so many more layers to the tale. Even the title can be open to interpretation – who is the guest, are they known, and are they welcome? The whole tale can be open to interpretation, in part because of that ending. Does Abby really see the ghost of her husband’s previous wife, or is the ghost some creation of her own mind? And if she has created it, why?
This is definitely one that I will keep and come back to. I have a feeling that re-reads will bring new perspectives on this story, and that is partly why I love it.
by Moran
This was glorious, oh my god. I mean it’s to be expected, it’s Emily Carroll, but oh my god!
I don’t want to give too much away but this has everything I love about horror. It’s got ghosts, creepy ghouls, tension, drama, twists. An amazing story, I was so gripped the whole way through.
Then obviously there’s the art. I’ve read nearly everything from Carroll at this point and I have to say this is by far my favourite. The use of colour on monochrome and the gorgeous colour palette, really adds to the mood, and the scarier moments are very reminiscent of Junji Ito who I also adore.
If you’re going to pick up anything from Carroll please let it be this. Fantastic.