In the House of Root and Rot - Echoes of cosmic dread & alternate histories

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ 

I’m not usually a horror reader. I tend to steer clear of stories heavy on gore for gore’s sake, but In the House of Root and Rot by Sam Weiss won me over. This book is horror in the truest sense of the word: eerie, unsettling, and relentlessly atmospheric. While there are moments of violence and blood, the story leans much more into psychological suspense, twisting reality until you’re never quite sure what’s lurking behind the next page.

 

About the Book: In the House of Root and Rot 

The premise is as compelling as it is chilling. Will Deadmarsh doesn’t buy into his family’s supposed curse until a shady sleep study coincides with his grandfather’s disappearance and the reappearance of his long-dead sister, along with other unsettling, zombie-like figures that blur the line between the living and the dead. From there, the story spirals into a mind-bending exploration of interdimensional forces, ancient secrets, and a hunger that has been feeding on his bloodline for generations.

 

BookHookup Review: In the House of Root and Rot 

What I appreciated most is that this isn’t just horror for shock value. The book reads like The Twilight Zone filtered through a modern lens, with echoes of speculative fiction that touch on parallel universes and alternate histories. It’s less “slasher flick” and more “existential nightmare.” Readers who enjoy layered, reality-bending narratives will find plenty to sink into here.

Ultimately, In the House of Root and Rot blends the uncanny with the intimate, forcing its characters and its readers to confront questions of trust, family legacy, and the thin veil separating our world from something far older and darker. The story builds steadily, and just when you think you’ve reached some answers, it ends on a cliffhanger that leaves you both unsettled and eager for what comes next.

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As BookHookup, I am a longtime book reviewer. I received a free review copy of this book from Black Tide Book Tours and have not received compensation for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

About the author: Sam Weiss

Sam was named after a dog, a fact her mother disputes to this day.

While she’s terrible at writing “About Me”s about her, she’s been told she’s great at writing about what fictional people do. The more miserable she can make them, the better.

Her love of horror films from the 80s, sci-fi shows from the 90s, and alternative music from the 00s have inspired her to write what she’s calling “Weird Sci-fi Horror” although she’s kind of making that up as she goes along.

When she’s not ready to pull her hair out after discovering another plot hole she’s created, she goes camping with her husband as far away from society as possible. So far, this tactic has been mostly successful and she’s only had to physically converse with a grand total of nine people this year. Next year, she hopes to get that number down to six.