Every horror reader knows the basics: “Don’t go into the basement (or attic)”, “Don’t stare at your reflection in the lake for too long”, “Don’t play some creepy old game you found in a trunk (unless it’s Jumanji),” etc. Pansy Finster lives her life by these rules, and they have served her well as she resides on a continent called Horror. In Horror, approximately every six months, the residents encounter a Haunting. A Haunting is any horrifying, supernatural occurrence from werewolves to ghosts to murderous dolls. Pansy’s brother has written the book on how to survive in Horror, and Pansy knows the text by heart. As such, she’s a survivor.
But Pansy has experienced too many Hauntings in her young life and lost her fiancé to a Haunting. When she has the opportunity to move to another continent, she takes it. Pansy becomes a transfer student to the continent of Romance, where love is always en vogue. Now she must adopt new ways. Talking to handsome strangers is encouraged, dressing in heels is normal because nobody runs in fright, and people wear masks to dances but not to slaughter each other.
Don’t Date the Haunted by C. Rae D’Arc is a dark comedy big on both the laughs and thrills. The author uses the fish out of water theme of Pansy in Romance-land to her advantage for the early part of the novel. Several passages will evoke a chortle if not a belly laugh. The comedy builds out of the setup, but the characterization contributes to much of the humor. Enjoyable characters in a unique setting drives the novel forward to its conclusion. But make no mistake—this book isn’t a one-trick pony. It takes an interesting turn midway through that builds to a creative climatic scene.
I was impressed with the world-building in this novel. More than two continents, Horror and Romance, belong to the world of Novel. Mystery, Fantasy, Science Fiction, and others exist here too. I love the concept that the different continents represent literary genres. The world-building is such a unique concept that when I read the blurb for this book, I knew I had to buy it. The description of Pansy’s airport layover in Mystery in order to get to Romance had me in stitches.
Often light-hearted but also with surprising depth, Don’t Date the Haunted lives up to its promise of a dark comedy. The humor is earned, the darkness is delicious, and the payoff is legitimate. Clearly, no one should date the haunted, but everyone ought to read about those who do.