Title: House of Shadows (Ghosts and Shadows #1)

Author: Darcy Coates

Publisher: Black Owl Books 2015

Genre: Horror

Pages: 294

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: 

Sophie’s world is shattered when disaster bankrupts her family. She’s still reeling from the news when she’s offered an unexpected solution: Mr Argenton, a wealthy stranger, asks for her hand in marriage.

Marrying Mr Argenton will restore her family’s fortunes and save them from scandal, but condemns Sophie to a life in Northwood, a vast and unnaturally dark mansion situated hours from civilisation.

Sophie struggles 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.

The piano plays in the middle of the night. Blood drips from the ceiling. Sophie is pulled towards the terrifying truth: Northwood’s ancient halls are haunted. The malevolent spirits—produced by grisly deaths—resent her intrusion into their home.

Trapped in Northwood and desperate for an escape, Sophie’s fate is further complicated as she finds herself drawn to the tall, dark-eyed man she married. She suspects her feelings are returned, but Mr Argenton is hiding something... and his secrets are so dangerous that they might just be unforgivable.

Now this is the haunted house story that I wanted to read (especially after the disappointing book from yesterday)! Right away we now that there’s something creepy going on with Mr. Argenton. I knew where the story was going to go next, but I was there for every page. This gave me Crimson Peak vibes, perfect for this month. Once Sophie arrives at Northwood, the terrors begin to surface and do not let up until the very end. I was thoroughly creeped out by the odd doings that occur. That was exactly the feeling I was hoping to manifest. So incredibly good! I loved Sophie and Joseph and their budding relationship. We get a very Jane Eyre style romance perfect for this mystery. This book ends with a conclusion, but there is a sequel and I had to pick it up next!

Ghosts and Shadows

• #1 House of Shadows

• #2 House of Secrets

Next up on the TBR pile: