★★★★☆ (3.7/5)

Trigger warnings are listed at the end for anyone who needs them!

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Joint Review & Overall Opinions

1.- What We Enjoyed

When The Rotting Room finally leans into its horror premise, it delivers some genuinely unsettling and atmospheric moments. The last quarter of the book is where author Viggy Parr Hampton really shows what this story could’ve been all along — eerie, tense, and deeply claustrophobic.

The dual perspective structure worked well for us. Experiencing the events through two distinct viewpoints helped ground the horror, confirming that the unease wasn’t just one person’s imagination. The convent setting itself felt like a living, breathing character — oppressive in the best way possible.

We also loved the ambiguity surrounding Berta. The book balances psychological and supernatural horror in a way that sparks debate. My dad leaned toward a more demonic interpretation, while I saw it as a haunting blend of paranoia and faith gone wrong.

2.- Where We Disagreed

The pacing was our biggest sticking point. I found it painfully slow — so slow I actually restarted it after losing momentum. Dad, meanwhile, thought the gradual revelations kept him intrigued enough to keep going. He said the book would “wake him up from somnolencia” (sleepiness) just often enough to stay engaged, while I was checking the page count every ten minutes.

We also had different tolerance levels for the main character’s decisions. I got frustrated at moments when she didn’t act more decisively, but Dad was more sympathetic, seeing her behavior as rooted in deep religious conviction and fear of damnation.

3.- What Didn’t Work for Us

Let’s be honest: this book is too slow for too long. Roughly three-quarters of it lingers in a fog of uncertainty — which can work in horror, but here it overstays its welcome. Even my dad (who enjoys horror like Hell House) started to get restless. He felt the real paranormal action should’ve begun around the halfway mark.

The ending, too, left us both wanting more. Without spoiling anything, it ends abruptly and without much payoff. The buildup deserved a more powerful or cathartic resolution — something that made the journey feel worth it.

4.- Final Thoughts

The Rotting Room has an undeniably strong atmosphere and moments of brilliant, skin-crawling horror. We finished it in two days (buddy reading definitely helped), and while it tested our patience, we’re glad we stuck with it.

Dad rated it 3.7–4.2/5, and I landed at 3.7/5.

For context: according to my dad, this was slower than My Heart Is a Chainsaw (which he hated at 1.8/5) but ultimately more rewarding. If you enjoy slow-burn religious horror with heavy atmosphere and ambiguity, you’ll probably appreciate this one. Just be ready to wait for the payoff.

Recommended for: 1.- Fans of slow-burn religious horror 2.- Readers who enjoy Gothic, claustrophobic settings 3.- Those who appreciate ambiguous supernatural narratives 4.- Buddy readers — it’s easier to get through when discussed together

Not recommended for: 1.- Readers who need fast pacing or action 2.- Those who want satisfying or clearly explained endings 3.- Anyone who dislikes passive protagonists

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Dad’s Ongoing Ratings Log

1.- Hell House — ★★★★★ (4.5/5) 2.- How To Sell A Haunted House — ★★★★☆ (4.2/5) 3.- A Head Full of Ghosts — ★★★☆☆ (2.7/5) 4.- Mi esposa y yo compramos un rancho — ★★☆☆☆ (2.4/5) 5.- Hidden Pictures — ★★☆☆☆ (2/5) 6.- My Heart Is a Chainsaw — ★★☆☆☆ (1.8/5) 7.- The Rotting Room — ★★★★☆ (3.7–4.2/5)

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Trigger Warnings

This book contains graphic depictions and themes of:

1.- Blood and graphic violence 2.- Body horror, including decomposition and fluids 3.- Claustrophobic and confinement scenarios 4.- Demonic possession and supernatural torment 5.- Death, decay, and desecration of corpses 6.- Forced ingestion of disturbing substances 7.- Gaslighting, psychological manipulation, and religious coercion 8.- Loss of bodily autonomy 9.- Mental instability, hallucinations, and self-destructive behavior 10.- Religious trauma, persecution, and crisis of faith 11.- Self-harm and suicidal ideation 12.- Violence directed toward clergy and other individuals

The series is so much better than the book. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

May edit this later: I know this was published in 1977, but that doesn't mean I don't get uncomfortable with Mr. King's writing and depiction of minorities. ):