Luvtoread's Reviews > House of Shadows

Wonderful and fun Gothic,Horror And Romance Story!

The book centers around Sophie, a young, innocent beauty who meets the very wealthy, eccentric and brooding Joseph Argenton the night she went to the opera with her uncle. The next day Joseph asks her father for her hand in marriage and since her family has fallen into devastating debt, Joseph made an offer to solve all their financial worries and make them whole again so Sophie feels she must do the right thing and she accepts the marriage proposal. Fifteen days later she is who she is whisked off to her new home called Northwood a four hundred year old monstrosity of a mansion deep within the woods and hours away by carriage from the nearest neighbor or town. Upon arriving, Sophie feels very unwelcome by the three relatives who also reside in Northwood and realizes too late that she may have made a grave mistake. There are shadows everywhere, she hears whispers from the woods and then coming from behind locked doors is it her imagination of us there something sinister and very wrong with Northwood and why does she feel that everyone is lying to her about what she is seeing and hearing. Is there a sinister reason that Sophie has been brought to Northwood?

This was a very enjoyable gothic/romance for me. Darcy Coates is a very clever and stylized writer who completely captured the ambiance and atmosphere of what a gothic story should be. The detailed descriptions of Northwood ( think the old movie and book "Drangonwyck" ) such a gloomy, cold and foreboding fortress. There are noises and shadows everywhere and the feeling of a inhuman presence wandering the halls and rooms. Plenty of shivers and chills to keep my complete attention and subtle romance as well. This is a great book for anyone who enjoys gothic style books or just a wonderful dark, creepy and atmospheric story.

I want to thank the publisher "Poisoned Pen Press" and Netgalley for this advance reading copy and any opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!I

I highly recommend this terrific book and have given a rating of 4 Foreboding 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!