Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods—until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the curiosity and hostility of the villagers. Their days pass in happy isolation until cousin Charles appears. Only Merricat can see the danger, and she must act swiftly to keep Constance from his grasp. (back cover)
Is We Have Always Lived in the Castle appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This psychological gothic novel centers on past family murders by poisoning and features themes of mental illness, social ostracism, and disturbing behavior. The violence is mostly off-page but psychologically intense, with characters displaying concerning obsessive and potentially dangerous tendencies.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include murder, death of parent, and death (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens who love atmospheric, creepy stories about strange families and unreliable narrators will find this deeply unsettling and compelling.