What Happened at Hawthorne House

by Hadassah Shiradski

Set in 1926, nine-year-old Rosalyn invents a new game to play with the girls she shares a dormitory with in the Hawthorne House Orphanage. Revolving around a Royal Court, their make-believe game quickly becomes a way to gain some measure of control in their unhappy lives. But when the rules start changing and the stakes start rising, nothing is safe, and Rosalyn finds that she’s willing to get her hands dirty in order to be the Queen.

Rosalyn will do whatever it takes to wear the crown.

All that’s left is to take it.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Gothic, Ghosts, Adult

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2023

About the author

Hadassah Shiradski is a gothic and horror writer from the UK, and recently completed a Masters in Creative Writing. Since 2017, she's been spending her time falling down the rabbit hole of gothic and historical horror, where she's been making her home. She much prefers to write shorter stories over novels, with her longest ambition being multiple novellas. She is currently writing a short story collection.

She had a gothic-horror novella published by Brigids Gate Press in August 2023, titled 'What Happened at Hawthorne House'.

She is published by Kandisha Press, with a short story (Piano Keys And Sugar) in 'The One That Got Away: Women Of Horror Volume 3'.
Crow & Cross Keys published her flash fiction (One For Sorrow, But Sorrow Sleeps) in May 2021.
Link: https://crowcrosskeys.com/2021/05/05/...
Night Terror Novels published her short story (Marrow For Mallow) in their Theatre Phantasmagoria series.
Link: https://nightterrornovels.wordpress.c...
Stone Of Madness Press published a microfiction (Penny) in Issue 9.
Link: https://stoneofmadnesspress.com/hadas...
Wretched Creations published a microfiction of hers (Want And Curiosity) in their inaugural issue.
Link: https://wretchedcreationsm.wixsite.co...

Hadassah can be found as 'DassaWrites' on Bluesky, Twitter, Tumblr, ChillSubs, and Instagram.

Reviews

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! WHAT HAPPENED AT HAWTHORNE HOUSE just stunned me, rendered me speechless; and I 'm still pondering. This was my first encounter with author of the short-form Gothic, Hadassah Shiradski; surely it will not be the last. Now I've read some Weird Boarding School/Orphanage riffs [most recently Philip Fracassi's newest, BOYS IN THE VALLEY]; but Ms. Shiradski has managed a particular historical English Gothic rendering quite exquisitely. This is a take-no-prisoners variation which settles into one's imagination, burrows in. I recommend, do read the content warnings before commencing. Matron is awful, but the girls! Way worse! And of course, there's not going to be sweetness and light and an afternoon stroll in an English garden! This is Horror Gothic! And persistence beyond the veil! So beware!

[Barbara Behring · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very atmospheric, Gothic novella about a group of orphans in the 1920s and the horrible thing that happened to them. I really enjoyed this story.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers - RDS Publishing – for giving me access to this book as an E-ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

A short little ghost story about a children’s game gone too far. Children are a staple in horror, and it still works, very creepy. This was a very short book/novella, but the story was interesting, and I could tell that the author had a clear vision about the world and the setting. That shined through.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great! I loved how creepy and disturbing it is. The characters were well developed and the setting was great. This is now one of my favorite ghost stories. I HIGHlY recommend this to anyone who enjoys ghost stories and horror books. Special Thank You to Hadassah Shiradski,RDS Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for this novella.

Firstly i just want to say i love the cover and at first i thought it was a little middle grade to me HOWEVER as i kept reading it got darker and darker and it had one of my favorite concept in novels that make me uncomfortable lots of insects. 🕷️ I love that this novel basically had 2 stories in 1 but still the same story if that makes sense. Past and present novels are one of my favorite kind of reads. This book follows a manor and a game they play for someone to become queen and to wear a certain type of grown it was dark IMO also this was also ghostly as well it had so many different elements and i loved it. Usually for me alot of the manor based books i dont like and the concept always misses but i loved this one. Strong characters GREAT writing and dark moments this novel was great!

[Lori Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Brigids Gate Press, LLC, NetGalley, and Hadassah Shiradski for the chance to review an ARC of What Happened at Hawthorne House. This is the story of a group of girls in 1926 at Hawthorne House Orphanage that are desperately searching for something to fill their time. One of the, Roslyn, comes up with a game based on a court that you had to work your way through to become Queen. She will do ANYTHING to become Queen. This was a very entertaining book and a quick read. Definitely would consider it a horror/ mystery novel.

[dessie*₊⊹ · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s something cathartic about reading these 9 year old girls being so desperate for control that it literally makes them evil. Like, I kinda get it.
A uniquely disturbing story but I did find it a little hard to follow at times, mostly in the beginning. 4 star concept with a 3 star execution. The cover really drew me in as well.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an eARC of What Happened at Hawthorn House by Hadassah Shiradski. Thank you, NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press, LLC.

This book gave me serious, Court of Rose feels. It’s the creepy orphanage setting where the older girls create a court with a queen, princesses, and duchess, and then they act out horrible acts on each other because they’re copying how the adults in their lives treat them. That is what play is for after all.

In the first half of the story, we follow Rosalyn, the young girl in 1926 who creates the game and then the “crown” that the queen is to wear. Even as she makes it, she knows she’s not the current queen. But she still takes a moment to put the crown on her head and be the queen just for a moment and be in charge. The little girls in the orphanage are not part of the game, but the three oldest are. To begin with, Sophie is the one who is the queen. Marie challenges this, and when Sophie answers that Marie has to tell her something she didn’t know, Marie gets the crown with a cruel prank.

Because that’s how you become queen. You “show you’re better” or “get one over” on the queen, and even the other princess’s and duchess’s. While the rules are not completely clear to someone on the outside, the girls all act with the knowledge of the young of how you pull a prank, how you can respond to a takedown or prank, that will keep or lose your place in the hierarchy.

When two sisters join the orphanage, we watch them both get pulled into the game.

The story is set up in two parts. The story leading up to the “event” and then the follow up to the “event”.

I loved every moment of this creepy story, and definitely think it’s worth reading!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hadassa Shiradski provides all the ingredients for horror in "What Happened at Hawthorn House": wicked children, dilapidated orphanage, and a Neganesque hammer. The result is definitely cringe-worthy. But Shiradski goes beyond mere blood and gore delving into the psychological toil of abandonment, degradation, and isolation. What makes this even more harrowing is that those abused are no more than children. Left to their own devices these children become vindictive, maliciously cunning, and manipulative. Their tragic end only leads to further encroachment between themselves and those who stay at Hawthorne House. Although we have sympathy for the girls, we are still left with a bad taste in our mouth as the childish games become more and more macabre. In the end the girls are left in a perpetual state of survival and fighting against being left "unwanted and collecting dust."

[Brooke, · Rating 3 out of 5]

#WhatHappenedAtHawthorneHouse by #HadassahShiradski is tricky to review. It is both satisfying and disappointing at the same time. There are two timelines in this novella and while they're both engaging in their own way, I feel as though working on one of them to bring it closer to full length would have been beneficial. As separate stories, there is a lot of potentials, together, some of the impact is lost.

The writing is powerful, and well done. A few moments of telling rather than showing were present but overall, it was fine.

I would come back to read more from this author.

Thanks to @booksirens for the free e-arc in return for an honest review.

[Kirsty Carson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still don’t really know what this book was solely meant to be about. For me it felt rather disjointed. I loved the concept and I liked the characters (although I didn’t find them developed or individual enough so I often confused myself between who was who). I think this would have been such a better book with a bit more editing and extension.

[Laura Hundley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Happened at Hawthorne House
Written By Hadassah Shiradski
Release Date August 25, 2023
Publisher Brigids Gate Press
Genre Horror


Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Horror: 10/10….REALLY
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5

It is not often that a horror novel really scares the crap out of me but this one, by an author I had never heard of, packed a serious punch and then to be a short novella proved to be one to reckon with. All I can say is this author has the ability to tell a scary as hell story that packs a serious punch and puts other great horrors to shame. When I started reading this book, it was late in the evening, when I finished……every little creak or noise I heard had me jumping and shaking. I honestly did not sleep that night at all. If you love horror stories, than this is definitely one you HAVE to read.

The story takes place in the Hawthorne House orphanage in 1926. Little Rosalyn has created a game of sorts to play with three other girls who she shares a dormitory with. This however is not just any game, it is one where the outcome makes the winner the Queen and to hopefully have rein over the territory and make their lives happier. Rosalyn becomes more and more anxious to wear the crown. As Rosalyn makes the crown, she knows she is not currently the Queen but she wants to see just once what it feels like to wear it. It is once again time to play the game. The Queen, Sophie, tells Marie that she must tell her something that would not be known to her. Yet through a prank, Marie now has the crown on her head. But….that is about to change. right along with the rules. The premise of the game is being better or able to pull the best prank on the others and to have the best royal court ever. Or at least what they think a royal court should be. There seems to be a hierarchy in that the other girls also have titles such as duchesses and princesses. The game quickly becomes something more sinister. Can Rosalyn become the Queen and what is she willing to do to be able to place the crown upon her head?

This is told in two parts. The first has an immediate build up that controls how the game is played and what information the reader is given. It is a very fast paced read. The second half really takes the story to a new horrific tale that honestly scared the hell out of me. The build up to the creepy orphanage and haunted children running around. It is brilliantly told with characters that are at first very sad, glum and dejected. The reader is drawn in to that and becomes empathetic but soon the tide changes and so do the characters. Overall this book is a very fast paced read that will take you on a roller coaster with twists and turns and just when you think it is going to let you off….it goes faster and faster… All I can say is hold on tightly because this is one hell of a ride…..

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

girls will be girls xoxo

a fun and fast paced gothic horror read. i wish this was longer!! i would have loved to spend more time with the girls and their clover court. they were evil little freaks (affectionate). the author has such a fun way with worldbuilding and setting, so i'm looking forward to more of her work.

[andi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

i’m quite conflicted on how to rate this book, as it wasn’t bad by any means, but i expected more. the book is told in two timelines and i was ready for more horror and, unfortunately, it didn’t deliver. the first half was more enjoyable to me because the setting and the kids were very creepy. the atmosphere was eerie, and the orphanage worked perfectly as a setting. the second half was okay, but i can’t help but wish we would’ve seen the ghosts cause more chaos.

the writing was exceptional – the characters were skillfully crafted to be just the right amount of creepy and, even at the start of the story, you can sense something just isn’t right with them. the main character, rosalyn, had quite an interesting point of view. i do wish we would’ve seen the other girls’ POVs, but it’s not really something to complain about. however, i think seeing marie’s and sophie’s backstories would’ve made the girls more distinct, as their personalities were quite similar – they’re cruel for no apparent reason.

now, i think the first part should’ve either been shorter or creepier, as it doesn’t really add much to the story and felt a bit too long. i also understand that the two parts of the story work together, but at the end of the book, i didn’t really feel like there was a point to all of it. perhaps the story would’ve worked better if the second half was at the beginning, and we’d figure out the story alongside the main character from that part.

in the end, the story itself was interesting and i don’t regret reading it at all, but i wish it was a bit more polished. granted, this is subjective and i can see other readers loving the story as it is. i will read the author’s next works as i can see the potential within this novella.

→ arc received via netgalley in exchange for an honest review;
→ https://ohnobooks.carrd.co/

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley, Brigids Gate Press and Hadassah Shiradski for a copy of this book.

Utterly shocked!

What Happened at Hawthorne House is a gothic horror novella about a group of young girls living in an orphanage in 1926. Rosalyn and her friends make up a game called the Clover Court, and each girl has their role to play, the Queen, a Princess, or a Duchess. The game is one of one-uppance of beating each other in pranks, really mean pranks. The girl who plays the most pranks ultimately gets to be the Queen of the Clover Court. Rosalyn takes it a bit too far and changes them all forever.

This story really took me by surprise. I was innocently reading along, liking where the story was taking me and then all of a sudden, a fire was lit. I was so stunned, especially for the twist to happen so early in the book. It was magnificent! The characters were great, and I liked that each girl had their own quirk. The author’s introduction of Andrew, the next caretaker of Hawthorne House, was very well done. I absolutely locked into this story as soon as I read the prologue. Highly recommend for readers who love horror and thrillers.

[Whitney Weinberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this thinking it was Middle Grade Horror.
No it’s very adult.
Creepy af.

The girls of the Hawthorne House Orphanage play a game called the Clover Court basically they do wicked things to be become queen.

Short little novella that packs quite a punch. I will be thinking about that for a long time. And will continue to have a health fear of run down/burnt houses.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gates Press for an eARC.

[Kaila · Rating 2 out of 5]

What Happened At Hawthorne House is an interesting novella about what happens when girls seek power (?) It is broken up into two parts, which I thought was great, and I appreciate the author a little more for being bold enough to take that leap when writing such a short story. Unfortunately, too much time was spent on the first half and not enough development was put into it. It felt long and as if it just dragged on. Overall, I'm not sure of the point of the story (hence the question mark in the first sentence). Maybe if she would have focused on the latter timeline with small flashbacks, or the first timeline with current day details.. maybe then it would have worked better. I felt like I was listening to a friend tell me a long, drawn-out story. The concept was great, though.  I can get down with multiple girls in an orphanage, doing whatever it takes to be "queen." I just don't think this novella was for me.
Thank you NetGalley, Brigids Gate Press, and Hadassah Shiradski for this read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short read that started off with lots of promise but ended kind of flat for me. A group of orphans develop a game based around a Royal Court and one-upping each other by doing horrible pranks that ends up quite deadly. It's told in two parts and the first part where we learn about the orphans and the game was much more interesting. The second part is set about ten years after a major event which has left Hawthorne House haunted by the orphans and it's Andrew's role as a communicator with the dead to play ambassador to the court whilst renovations are happening. The ending left me a bit confused and it kind of ended abruptly which left me feeling a bit short changed.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to Booksirens and the author.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Thank you to Netgalley for this Novella. In the beginning of the book, you read about young orphans and how they live their days in Hawthorn, Roslyn makes up a game about court. Whoever is the Queen is in charge. They will do anything to become queen, and I mean anything. It was a slow start for me in the beginning , but then it turned dark and boy, did it turn dark, this ended up being a great read for me as well as a quick read! I love my horror books and this was a perfect gothic horror for me.

[Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

This was a very short read, but a lot was packed in. It was a slow build up, not much happened until just over half way through and then when it did my eyes widened. I hadn't expected some of the things written about and was a little shocked by some of the more violent scenes.

I'd definitely read another gothic horror by this author.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me this book as an E-ARC.

A deliciously creepy tale set in an orphanage where little girls are playing a dark game.

Great setting and enough tension to make for a gripping story. I appreciated how it was split in 2 parts and I enjoyed them both equally.

All in all it was a great novella. Can't wait to see more from this author!

[Liz Seasalt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalyn and her peers live at Hawthorne House. Bored and growing up with the constant punishments of their matrons, the girls devise a game to keep them occupied: The Clover Court. They're ranked as Queen and Princesses, and each girl strives to win the crown in a series of ever crueller pranks, until things truly escalate.
This was such a fun horror read. Of course, it's "only" a novella so a shorter story is to be expected, I just had wished that it wasn't split into two parts - I was much more interested in what the girls got up to and how they came up with the game. Nonetheless the writing was sharp and easy to read, even though the themes sometimes weren't. I would definitely pick up another story by this author, but I'd be very excited to see what they do with a longer format since this felt like there could have been much more to tell.

[Malin Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalind and a few other kids at her orphanage play a game where they play pretend to be a part of royal court, where one of the girls gets to be Queen. It doesn’t take long before this game gets sinister, and even deadly.

I’m a big fan av short story horror, and often prefer it to full length novels, so I was very excited to read this novel. Despite this I was initially a little bored in the first part of the story, but once I really got into it, I just flew through the pages wanting to see what happened next.
The atmosphere is superb and eerie. The story itself is highly entertaining, and while the story is fairly short, it did not feel like it was rushed or missing anything.

I really like the way the story was written and would love to read more from this author in the future.

This novella is perfect if you’re looking for something short and creepy, I highly recommend giving it a shot!

Big thanks to Netgalley, Brigids Gate Press, and the author Hadassah Shiradski for allowing me to read an E-ARC of this novella.

[April 🥀🦇✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A children’s game created to absolve boredom in an orphanage, a group of young girls play in hopes of besting their peers in achieving higher ranks within their hierarchy. What begins as meaningless pranks quickly escalates into a disturbing game that ends with everyone’s demise.

This story is told in two different timelines. The first part tells the events that take place while the girls are residing in the orphanage. The second half takes place 13 years later after the tragic events. The girls still reside within the home. Their spirits continue to roam the property, scheming and plotting the same cruel pranks, and even in the afterlife, the dangerous game continues.

This book was creepy and had the bones of a great gothic horror novel. However I do feel I would’ve enjoyed this story much more had there been deeper character development with the girls, as well as their caretaker the Matron.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Denise Rolph · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is divided into two parts, the first telling the story of a group of bored girls in an orphanage and a game they create to pass the time away. Some of the characters are not particularly likeable which isn't a criticism it actually makes them interesting and really adds a sense of menace to the story. The second part is set some years later and focuses on Hawthorn house.

It's an interesting story which kept my attention all the way through to the end.The author conveyed the relationships between the girls well and managed to create the right atmosphere for the events that took place .

[mo • lesmotsdemo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable novella for Halloween. The setting is very interesting and atmospheric, and the characters are well-developed despite the novella format of the story. The second half of the story adds some depth to the plot and I really appreciated it. Even if the characters are very young, it is not a middle grade story and has some graphic and quite gory scenes.

Thank you to BookSirens for an e-copy in exchange for a honest review.

[Jaimy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1926 a girls orphanage where they are neglected and abused by their caregiver and the other girls. What could go wrong right? Just an innocent imaginary game The Clover Court played to entertain them between chores, lies and abuse. How these girls treated each other and what happened to them I’m still shook! This was a fast pace novella that was read in one sitting.

[Shaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hadassah Shiradski for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for What Happened at Hawthorne House. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In 1926, nine-year-old Rosalyn invents a new game to play with the girls she shares a dormitory with in the Hawthorne House Orphanage. Revolving around a Royal Court, their make-believe game quickly becomes a way to gain some measure of control in their unhappy lives. But when the rules start changing and the stakes start rising, nothing is safe, and Rosalyn finds that she’s willing to get her hands dirty in order to be the Queen.

Rosalyn will do whatever it takes to wear the crown.

All that's left is to take it.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. It was shorter than I thought it would be, but I thought this was a really interesting novella. I love gothic historical fiction. I thought the characters were good and well-rounded given how short the story was. I definitely wanted more. I would definitely read more books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys gothic stories!

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for providing me with a digital copy of this title for review.

“What Happened at Hawthorne House” is a short, atmospheric gothic novella set in an orphanage for girls.

Let me start by saying that I absolutely loved the writing style. It was so easy to picture events as they happened, and the way the acts of violence were written out were drawn out just enough to make me squirm in my seat without feeling like it dragged. The author does a fantastic job utilizing the creepy kids trope, simultaneously creating a cast of children that are both easy to feel sorry for and shudder at the thought of.

Personally, the only reason I rated it 3 stars despite the 5 star writing style is mainly due to the structure. While I can see the intent the author had by meshing both the events of the past and events of the present, for me the jump from before to now was jarring and threw me out of the story. Had the story just been the first part with the orphanage burning and ended with maybe a mock news article or brief epilogue, I would have walked away satisfied. Instead, with the way it ended, I found myself wanting more from the story, and not in a “man I wish it didn’t have to end” and more in a “wait, that’s it?” kind of way.

I really had fun with this read and am definitely going to keep my eye out for more by this author. If anyone is looking for a quick, creepy read to cozy up with during those cold autumn nights, this novella is sure to delight.

[Leo Otherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC copy they provided.

What Happened at Hawthorne House was a surprisingly hard book to read. I went in expecting a typical ghost story, in essence, a tragedy, but this isn’t exactly what I found. What Happened at Hawthorne House is a tragedy, yes, but it is also a book dealing with a lot of intentional, senseless cruelty and mutual abuse. Reading this material was difficult and stomach turning at times.

That said, the fact I felt sick at heart for the characters and the actions portrayed on the page means this book is well written. Hadassah Shiradski created an emotion-packed work that will leave you feeling as any ghost story should, haunted. And with the subtle dread of a place you’ve never been and never want to go. If you are looking for a book to read in the dark and leave you with a little pit of despair and disgust in your gut, What Happened at Hawthorne House is the right book for you.