Six Rooms: Book Review
Hello dearest reader!
As I mentioned in my last post, I’ll be doing two reviews a week for a bit until I catch up on all the books I’ve read/movies I’ve watched.
Today’s book, I actually read ages ago! I met Gemma Amor at the Stoker pre-party event at the Stanley Hotel and we actually traded books there! I read Six Rooms right when I got home, before heading out to Stoker, and just neglected to write a review!
So here we are!
The Author
Gemma Amor is a UK horror writer whose works include Cruel Works of Nature, Dear Laura, White Pines, Girl on Fire, Six Rooms, Grief is a False God, and These Wounds We Make. Besides novels and shorts, she also writes regularly for the NoSleep Podcast, including a production that aired live at the Stanley event I was at!
Gemma also paints book covers, and is the co-creator, writer and voice actor for horror-comedy podcast Calling Darkness, starring Kate Siegel. Her stories feature in a number of horror anthologies in print and have been adapted many times over by the NoSleep Podcast, Shadows at the Door, Creepy, The Hidden Frequencies and the Grey Rooms podcast. — Amor’s website
Visit her website or find her on Twitter.
The Book
Welcome, all, to the Sunshire Chateau: Lestershire’s premier tourist attraction. It sits high on a hill overlooking town, shrouded by tall trees and rumors of murder, scandal and intrigue. Tickets are hard to come by, so hold yours close, else the Tour Guide may not let you in. And that would be a pity, for there are so many things to see within these walls–history, glamor, and riches beyond your wildest imagination. Just remember the following rules: don’t wander off alone, don’t be rude to the Guide, and don’t, whatever you do, touch the valuables.
Because the ghosts don’t like it when you touch their things. — Six Rooms Amazon description
Published in August 2021 and with a stunning cover by Chad Wehrle, Six Rooms is a story about a group of people hoping to tour a famous haunted house. Some of the guests are there because they are actually interested in the house’s sordid past, others are there because of rumours of treasure. Whatever their reasons, all the guests get more than they bargain for.
The Review
I love a good haunted house story and Six Rooms was no exception.
Immediately, I was drawn in: a house that only opens for tours occasionally, a strange Guide who is very strict. The reader is drawn along with the characters, learning about the history of the house one room at a time. Right away the tour goes off the rails when secret passageways are discovers and people start to go missing. Then the conclusion of the book is deliciously grim.
Rich in Gothic suspense and rich atmosphere, the events of Six Rooms are chilling. While learning about the house, you also learn about the guests, and even about the Guide himself. Six Rooms is a buffet of secrets and it’s all you can eat. And I was there for it.
My favourite part of Six Rooms is how I, as the reader, was carried on the tour along with the characters. I loved learning about the history of the house while also seeing the horror of the present unfold. Then, without spoilers, Amor caught me by surprise with the ending. Almost a year later and Amor’s haunted house tale is still vivid in my mind — I think that says a lot toward Amor’s strength of writing an powerful prose.
I would definitely recommend this to fans of haunted house tales and those who enjoy a beautifully decadent Gothic story.
10/10
x PLM
p.s. James from the Just James Horror Review Podcast dedicated his 13th episode to reviewing my debut collection, What Remains When The Stars Burn Out! Fair warning: he deep dives a handful of the stories, including discussing the endings.
Definitely check the episode out and support the podcast, it’s really fun!
