House of Shadows
From the USA Today bestselling author and rising queen of atmospheric horror Darcy Coates comes the haunting story of a sinister house full of ghosts and shadows.
She'll never escape this shadow...
- For readers who love gothic horror novels and gothic romance
- Perfect for fans of V.C Andrews and M.C. Webb
Sophie's world is shattered when disaster bankrupts her family. She's still reeling when she's offered an unexpected solution: Mr. Argenton, a wealthy stranger, has asked for her hand in marriage. Marrying Mr. Argenton will save her family, but it condemns Sophie to a life in Northwood, a vast and unnaturally dark mansion situated hours from civilization.
Still, she has no choice but accept the offer and hope the darkness won't swallow her whole.
It's a struggle to adjust to her new position as mistress over the desolate house. Mr. Argenton's relatives are cold, and Mr. Argenton himself is keeping secrets. Even worse, the house is more than it seems. Doors slam. Inhuman figures slink through the surrounding forest. A piano plays itself in the middle of the night. Blood drips a macabre warning down the walls. Day by day, Sophie is inevitably pulled towards the terrifying truth at the heart of this gothic mystery: Northwood's ancient halls are haunted, and the man she married--the man she's coming to love--is hiding an unforgiveable truth about his ancestral home...and the spirits that now haunt them both.
Also By Darcy Coates:
The Haunting of Ashburn House
The Haunting of Blackwood House
Craven Manor
The House Next Door
Voices in the Snow
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Community Reviews
This was my first Darcy Coates book, and it both did and didn't meet my expectations. I am not the biggest fan of gothic period romances, and going in this felt exactly like that. A 'forced' marriage due to crumbling circumstances, a strange rich man with a dark demeanor and mysterious home, willing to save her family from destitution. I was eye-rolling with the best of them. This book surprised me, not only did the home and budding relationship meet my expectations, but in the paranormal aspects, it quite exceeded them in what turned out to be a very entertaining and chilling read. So hey in the long run, mayhap I won't judge a book based on others that burnt me, perhaps, just perhaps, I'll give more a chance because of this one.
The book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hmm, I think this is my least favorite Darcy Coates book so far. I will say that her writing is always fairly straightforward, and maybe a little cliche, but the simplistic writing style hadn't bothered me before. It feels lower quality here, maybe being in a historical setting makes the writing seem weaker because it sounds too modern? The story is a combo of Rebecca and Crimson Peak, but more rushed and with less nuance than either. It did shock me at one point though when the completely evil aunt just point blank shoots the friendly maid and kills her. The romance didn't work for me, either. I'm going to read the sequel anyway, because I have it and I didn't hate this, but if you asked me for a Darcy Coates recommendation, it would be another book for sure.
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