Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Protagonist archetypes
Synopsis
The House of Souls is a collection of supernatural, horror stories that will capture the reader's attention from the first paragraph. Machen, a major influence on later weird fiction writers such as Lovecraft and Ashton-Smith, creates eerie, atmospheric stories that imply rather than show. This literary conceit works well for the type of existential horror Machen posits lives behind, beside and next to us. Almost always out of direct sight, the creature and powers are subtle, old and dangerous but passive until disturbed by the hubris of man. In some ways, his characters celebrate and warn against progress and research for fear of what such inquiries might yield. All in all, an essential read for word fiction enthusiasts. (Amazon)
Is The house of souls appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
Classic supernatural horror stories featuring implied rather than graphic violence, with existential dread and body horror themes. Atmospheric and psychologically unsettling rather than overtly violent or sexual.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include death, body horror, and existential horror (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens who enjoy atmospheric, literary horror with creeping dread and cosmic implications will find these subtle, psychologically unsettling tales compelling.