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Eleven Houses
Midnight Mass meets The Vampire Diaries in this epic romantic tale of a mysterious island and the houses who have stood for centuries to guard against the dreaded nightmare of beings waiting to strike from the ocean’s depths.
On a forgotten part of Nova Scotia, there lies an island.
On that island are Eleven Houses.
In those houses sit eleven ancient families.
And they are waiting…
Mabel is one of the last surviving members of House Beuvry, one of the eleven houses on the haunted island of Weymouth. Her days, like all the other teens on the island, are spent readying her house for The a once-a-decade event that pummels the island with hurricane-level wind, water, and waves. But that’s not all the Storm brings with it—because Weymouth Island is a gate between the world of the living and the dead.
When Miles Cabot arrives on Weymouth Island after the death of his mother, he realizes quickly it isn’t like other places—and Mabel Beuvry isn’t like other teenagers. There’s an intense chemistry between Miles and Mabel that both feel, yet neither understand—nor the deadly consequences that will come with it.
With the suspicious death of an island elder, a strained dynamic with her younger sister Hali, and the greatest Storm in years edging ever closer, Mabel’s life is becoming as chaotic as the weather. One thing becomes if the fortified houses of Weymouth Island can’t stand against the dead, then she—and everyone she loves—will pay the price.
Fares Well the House That’s Ready.
On a forgotten part of Nova Scotia, there lies an island.
On that island are Eleven Houses.
In those houses sit eleven ancient families.
And they are waiting…
Mabel is one of the last surviving members of House Beuvry, one of the eleven houses on the haunted island of Weymouth. Her days, like all the other teens on the island, are spent readying her house for The a once-a-decade event that pummels the island with hurricane-level wind, water, and waves. But that’s not all the Storm brings with it—because Weymouth Island is a gate between the world of the living and the dead.
When Miles Cabot arrives on Weymouth Island after the death of his mother, he realizes quickly it isn’t like other places—and Mabel Beuvry isn’t like other teenagers. There’s an intense chemistry between Miles and Mabel that both feel, yet neither understand—nor the deadly consequences that will come with it.
With the suspicious death of an island elder, a strained dynamic with her younger sister Hali, and the greatest Storm in years edging ever closer, Mabel’s life is becoming as chaotic as the weather. One thing becomes if the fortified houses of Weymouth Island can’t stand against the dead, then she—and everyone she loves—will pay the price.
Fares Well the House That’s Ready.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2024
44 people are currently reading
9262 people want to read
About the author
Colleen Oakes
18 books1,455 followersColleen Oakes is the bestselling author of books for both teens and adults, including the Queen of Hearts Series, the Wendy Darling Saga, The Black Coats, Sister of the Chosen One and Eleven Houses.
She recently moved to New England with her husband and son. When not writing or plotting new books, Colleen can be found swimming, forest strolling, traveling or immersing herself in nerdy pop culture. She is also a public librarian with a Master's Degree in Library Science and is currently working on an adult thriller.
You can visit her webpage at: www.colleenoakes.org, find her on Facebook under Author Colleen Oakes or follow her on Instagram.
She recently moved to New England with her husband and son. When not writing or plotting new books, Colleen can be found swimming, forest strolling, traveling or immersing herself in nerdy pop culture. She is also a public librarian with a Master's Degree in Library Science and is currently working on an adult thriller.
You can visit her webpage at: www.colleenoakes.org, find her on Facebook under Author Colleen Oakes or follow her on Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
April 16, 2025
This audiobook was okay, a bit slow for my liking. Good humor. Love at first sight. Story takes place in Nova Scotia! First crush.
Mabel lives on an island. There are 11 houses. No one leaves and no one moves in. One day a new boy moves in. His mom died and he came to stay at his uncle's house. Somehow his mom left the island years ago. The island is the gateway between the dead and the living. Every 10 years, a storm happened and it's when the dead appeared.. every month, 11 houses and its resident perform this routine to make sure their home is strong enough to withstand the storm. The storm is when the dead appeared...
Mabel has a sister with agoraphobia. Her mom's a drunk. Her dad passed from the previous storm. The story talks a lot about Mabel and her everyday feelings of home, love, and life. I don't feel much for Mabel. She seems so bland.
Thank you Simonteen for the opportunity to read and review. I listened to an audiobook via SimonAudio and Libby App.
Mabel lives on an island. There are 11 houses. No one leaves and no one moves in. One day a new boy moves in. His mom died and he came to stay at his uncle's house. Somehow his mom left the island years ago. The island is the gateway between the dead and the living. Every 10 years, a storm happened and it's when the dead appeared.. every month, 11 houses and its resident perform this routine to make sure their home is strong enough to withstand the storm. The storm is when the dead appeared...
Mabel has a sister with agoraphobia. Her mom's a drunk. Her dad passed from the previous storm. The story talks a lot about Mabel and her everyday feelings of home, love, and life. I don't feel much for Mabel. She seems so bland.
Thank you Simonteen for the opportunity to read and review. I listened to an audiobook via SimonAudio and Libby App.
August 1, 2024
This was difficult to get through. Not much happened until the very end, which was, itself, rushed. Despite a cool concept, the book was poorly executed. I couldn’t envision anything — characters, setting, monsters, etc. and the characters didn’t have much attraction to each other emotionally, which did not make me too invested in the plot.
Thank you Simon Teen for the early copy.
Thank you Simon Teen for the early copy.
October 20, 2024
This book had a great concept, but very poor execution. Whoever decided to describe it as Midnight Mass meets Vampire Diaries has clearly never seen either show. I can’t even say at least there were vampires because there’s not…
The first 3/4 of the book is so slow and only provides vague answers of what is going on. I’m not sure how I was suppose to know that The Storm the book was building to was worse than any other one when I had almost no idea what a normal Storm was.
The romance between Mabel and Miles seems to be a major plot point that we don’t really see much of. I wish there were more scenes between them showing their bond strengthen, without it the book just falls flat.
The first 3/4 of the book is so slow and only provides vague answers of what is going on. I’m not sure how I was suppose to know that The Storm the book was building to was worse than any other one when I had almost no idea what a normal Storm was.
The romance between Mabel and Miles seems to be a major plot point that we don’t really see much of. I wish there were more scenes between them showing their bond strengthen, without it the book just falls flat.
August 31, 2025
This is a YA novel about a small, close-knit town on a Nova Scotia Island that deals with horrifying, deadly storms. Very atmospheric and an intriguing story with plenty of secrets to be uncovered. Twilight and The Mist are both poorly chosen comps; the book has zero vampires and has few similarities to The Mist.
While the premise was intriguing, the overall delivery fell short. The pacing is excruciatingly slow at times and I felt that we didn't get enough background information about the Storms and families.
The town is in a remote location, and in some ways the atmosphere and closeness of the community was well demonstrated. Still, there were aspects that didn't quite make sense for such a small community.
There is an insta-love romance with a touch-her-and-die kinda boy, really cute. However, I was disappointed by the failure to deliver on the significance of this relationship. There was buildup that never culminated into anything meaningful, at least not in this book. Is there a plan for a sequel?
This felt heavier on grief and loss than on romance or fantasy, as Mabel deals with the loss of her father, her alcoholic mother, and a strained relationship with her sister. The arc with Mabel's sister did this story a disservice and I wish it had been handled differently.
While the premise was intriguing, the overall delivery fell short. The pacing is excruciatingly slow at times and I felt that we didn't get enough background information about the Storms and families.
The town is in a remote location, and in some ways the atmosphere and closeness of the community was well demonstrated. Still, there were aspects that didn't quite make sense for such a small community.
There is an insta-love romance with a touch-her-and-die kinda boy, really cute. However, I was disappointed by the failure to deliver on the significance of this relationship. There was buildup that never culminated into anything meaningful, at least not in this book. Is there a plan for a sequel?
This felt heavier on grief and loss than on romance or fantasy, as Mabel deals with the loss of her father, her alcoholic mother, and a strained relationship with her sister. The arc with Mabel's sister did this story a disservice and I wish it had been handled differently.
August 7, 2025
I really enjoyed this; I loved the twist, which I wasn’t expecting… also full of gothic goodness
December 11, 2024
dropped after the twist- i’m sorry i just can’t :/ if feels too out of nowhere and i just can’t suspend my belief enough to keep reading :/ like i was so confused what was happening and then the twist got dropped like a bomb and i immediately couldn’t continue.
maybe if i liked the main character more i could finish it, but she just isn’t for me. wish i could’ve finished it😢
maybe if i liked the main character more i could finish it, but she just isn’t for me. wish i could’ve finished it😢
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
September 16, 2024"The story follows Mabel Beuvry, a teen who lives on a remote island in Nova Scotia. She is one of 11 ancient families who maintain a house on the island solely for the purpose of trapping the dead that come up from the sea in a brutal storm once a decade. When the mysterious Miles Cabot arrives, he upends everything Mabel knows about the island—and herself."
May 16, 2025
Blech...no.
TL; DR: A romantic-ish, family drama-ish, paranormality-ish with some elements of each and not enough to drag this story anywhere near an actual genre.
Words cannot express my disappointment; I love the Wendy Darling trilogy, but I've had experience with the author before with her Wonderland series. When I was younger, more naive, and less inclined to finish a book I hated, I had a go at Barnes and Noble's and attempted to start that series. I lasted all of about three pages before I set it down. I had higher hopes for this, as it's relatively recent but blech, it was a whole mess of nothing.
Characters: You'll sense a theme here, but there was potential, it's just that none of this came to fruition. The main two characters were sloppy and bipolar in their attitudes. I can't count how many times I rolled my eyes because some character or other just changed moods on a dime. Literally everyone is unstable and I get that it's sort of a theme here, but there's no break in it. Plus, I just wasn't compelled by anyone at all. There were seeds of romance that felt half-hearted. There was a collection of side characters that felt flat and uninteresting. Plus there were main characters I actively, strongly disliked and that's really hard for me to get past.
Setting: It's compelling on the island, but I still felt like I didn't see or understand anything on it. I never got a handle on the goings-on or the organization of anything. It just felt sloppy and disorganized, and honestly the map only made it worse.
Story: Again, had potential, but it's bogged down by poor execution. It felt like the whole first two-thirds of the book was exposition and none of the payoff ever happened. Even the "tense" moments were waylaid by the awkwardness...and not a cute *teehee* awkwardness, but just weird writing. With nothing panning out, weird plotlines that half-resolve out of nowhere, and nothing satisfying at the end, this was just a major disappointment.
Writing: Childish and unfulfilling Nothing written here had any sort of impact because nothing had depth; even "the twist" wasn't twisty. It was just a really strange book that felt like the author fought to write instead of anything natural or comfortable.
This book wasn't good and the honest truth is I had to lower my stars after thinking through it again. I was just raising it to two because I love Wendy Darling so much. Unfortunately, this book doesn't hold the same appeal, not the charm, the wonder, nor the heart was found between these pages. It's just not worth it, and that's a real bummer.
1.2 🌟
TL; DR: A romantic-ish, family drama-ish, paranormality-ish with some elements of each and not enough to drag this story anywhere near an actual genre.
Words cannot express my disappointment; I love the Wendy Darling trilogy, but I've had experience with the author before with her Wonderland series. When I was younger, more naive, and less inclined to finish a book I hated, I had a go at Barnes and Noble's and attempted to start that series. I lasted all of about three pages before I set it down. I had higher hopes for this, as it's relatively recent but blech, it was a whole mess of nothing.
Characters: You'll sense a theme here, but there was potential, it's just that none of this came to fruition. The main two characters were sloppy and bipolar in their attitudes. I can't count how many times I rolled my eyes because some character or other just changed moods on a dime. Literally everyone is unstable and I get that it's sort of a theme here, but there's no break in it. Plus, I just wasn't compelled by anyone at all. There were seeds of romance that felt half-hearted. There was a collection of side characters that felt flat and uninteresting. Plus there were main characters I actively, strongly disliked and that's really hard for me to get past.
Setting: It's compelling on the island, but I still felt like I didn't see or understand anything on it. I never got a handle on the goings-on or the organization of anything. It just felt sloppy and disorganized, and honestly the map only made it worse.
Story: Again, had potential, but it's bogged down by poor execution. It felt like the whole first two-thirds of the book was exposition and none of the payoff ever happened. Even the "tense" moments were waylaid by the awkwardness...and not a cute *teehee* awkwardness, but just weird writing. With nothing panning out, weird plotlines that half-resolve out of nowhere, and nothing satisfying at the end, this was just a major disappointment.
Writing: Childish and unfulfilling Nothing written here had any sort of impact because nothing had depth; even "the twist" wasn't twisty. It was just a really strange book that felt like the author fought to write instead of anything natural or comfortable.
This book wasn't good and the honest truth is I had to lower my stars after thinking through it again. I was just raising it to two because I love Wendy Darling so much. Unfortunately, this book doesn't hold the same appeal, not the charm, the wonder, nor the heart was found between these pages. It's just not worth it, and that's a real bummer.
1.2 🌟
September 2, 2024
ARC copy provided by Simon and Schuster Canada.
This book is set in Nova Scotia Canada, I have a special place in my heart for books that show case Canada.
The writing in this is ya, which makes sense as it’s a ya fantasy. Sometimes ya books read a little bit more adult, that wasn’t the case here.
But it was a quick and easy read for me. While the idea of it was really interesting, I just wish the author had gone a little deeper with the monsters / magic system. But as someone who reads a lot of adult fantasy maybe that is a me problem. That being said I did think the pacing was off. It was a bit slow at times.
Over all I think this book will be good for younger readers who want to get into fantasy.
This book is set in Nova Scotia Canada, I have a special place in my heart for books that show case Canada.
The writing in this is ya, which makes sense as it’s a ya fantasy. Sometimes ya books read a little bit more adult, that wasn’t the case here.
But it was a quick and easy read for me. While the idea of it was really interesting, I just wish the author had gone a little deeper with the monsters / magic system. But as someone who reads a lot of adult fantasy maybe that is a me problem. That being said I did think the pacing was off. It was a bit slow at times.
Over all I think this book will be good for younger readers who want to get into fantasy.
September 22, 2025
This book had such a cool premise… a haunted island, eleven houses and a once a decade storm that’s way more than just bad weather. The worldbuilding was definitely my favorite part, Weymouth Island felt eerie and alive almost like it had its own personality. I loved the spooky and atmospheric vibe. Mabel was a strong main character and I did enjoy her messy dynamic with her sister however I struggled to fully connect at times. I wanted a bit more depth and emotion from the characters and while the romance had sparks it felt a little rushed for me.
That being said, the tension around the storm kept me hooked and the mystery elements added a nice layer of suspense. It didn’t completely blow me away, but it was still an engaging read. If you love atmospheric YA fantasy with a spooky twist this one’s worth checking out.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster / NetGalley for this ARC.
That being said, the tension around the storm kept me hooked and the mystery elements added a nice layer of suspense. It didn’t completely blow me away, but it was still an engaging read. If you love atmospheric YA fantasy with a spooky twist this one’s worth checking out.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster / NetGalley for this ARC.
November 30, 2025
Lol the tag line is "Twilight meets The Mist.' Which doesn't really feel like either of these things? Eleven families on an island are in charge of keeping the dead at bay when they come up yearly in magical storms. A new boy (nephew of house one) comes to live at the island and falls from the girl from house eleven. Which for some reason makes the storm even worse.
Read by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. #booksin25
Read by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. #booksin25
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October 19, 2024DNF page 22
December 18, 2025
A frustratingly poorly written book overall. The writing is so juvenile and young to the point where I was cringing- it reads like it was written by a 12 year old. The romance was non-existent except when the book is shoving it down your throat, and the only personality the love interest has is that he's from seattle and hes Asian (country unknown). It also was trying to be woke in the way a liberal white 2006 suburban mom would be woke which is funny and also strange as hell. I'm only adding a half star because of the interesting (but poorly executed) concept.
1.5 Stars
1.5 Stars
May 4, 2025
The concept behind this book is really amazing, I just wish the ending was a little stronger.
October 25, 2024
Copy via NetGalley.
THIS is what I mean when I say it's all about the vibes. Eleven Houses is set on Weymouth Island in Nova Scotia, steeped in rain, history, and creeping dread. The eleven families on the island never leave, always preparing for the Storm, when the dead try to cross Weymouth to get to the rest of the world. Mabel Beuvry is one such descendant, but when a "new" boy shows up on the island, a member of the family whose parent tried to leave, it becomes delightfully absurd and spooky.
How does Mabel explain to Miles the truth about Weymouth without sounding crazy? She doesn't. But the chemistry between them is real, it means something, and it will change everything for how the two of them handle what's ahead.
When the twist hit, I was so shocked I felt a jolt in my chest. Of course it coincides with the arrival of the Storm and all the dead come...
Seriously though, this felt familiar and new all at once. The concept was new, but the atmosphere and feelings felt familiar in a good way. I want to live in this world, dead or no. The mysteriousness of it all is catnip to me.
THIS is what I mean when I say it's all about the vibes. Eleven Houses is set on Weymouth Island in Nova Scotia, steeped in rain, history, and creeping dread. The eleven families on the island never leave, always preparing for the Storm, when the dead try to cross Weymouth to get to the rest of the world. Mabel Beuvry is one such descendant, but when a "new" boy shows up on the island, a member of the family whose parent tried to leave, it becomes delightfully absurd and spooky.
How does Mabel explain to Miles the truth about Weymouth without sounding crazy? She doesn't. But the chemistry between them is real, it means something, and it will change everything for how the two of them handle what's ahead.
When the twist hit, I was so shocked I felt a jolt in my chest. Of course it coincides with the arrival of the Storm and all the dead come...
Seriously though, this felt familiar and new all at once. The concept was new, but the atmosphere and feelings felt familiar in a good way. I want to live in this world, dead or no. The mysteriousness of it all is catnip to me.
November 25, 2024
“Fares well the house that’s ready.”
Eleven Houses is a creative gothic fantasy story featuring ghosts, a soft romance, and an island anchored by its past. This atmospheric novel builds slowly as it explores the protagonist’s grief after the last Storm ripped her family apart.
Mabel’s family is one of eleven houses, trapped on Weymouth Island, and working tirelessly as guardians against the Dehset Sea. As the island’s chosen people, they have spent two hundred years coping with the cyclical loss of their homes and family members. Their houses are the last line of defense against a scourge of ghosts that storm the land like a hurricane every few years. And it’s their duty to protect the mainland from this ever-encroaching threat.
It’s nearly impossible to think of a future beyond the next round of suffering and fear—not with the dead constantly moaning at their shores. But, as the next Storm promises to be one of the worst yet, Mabel must confront the loss she suffered during the last disaster. All while opening her heart to a skeptical newcomer; someone who might be exactly what she needs, even if it scares her.
The story setting is loosely reminiscent of “The Fog” (2005, film) with its eerie ocean-side town and ghosts haunting the waters. Eleven Houses will keep you immersed in the anguished dynamics of a grieving community as they prepare to fight, once again, until dawn. As their ancestors did, and they before them.
Eleven Houses is a creative gothic fantasy story featuring ghosts, a soft romance, and an island anchored by its past. This atmospheric novel builds slowly as it explores the protagonist’s grief after the last Storm ripped her family apart.
Mabel’s family is one of eleven houses, trapped on Weymouth Island, and working tirelessly as guardians against the Dehset Sea. As the island’s chosen people, they have spent two hundred years coping with the cyclical loss of their homes and family members. Their houses are the last line of defense against a scourge of ghosts that storm the land like a hurricane every few years. And it’s their duty to protect the mainland from this ever-encroaching threat.
It’s nearly impossible to think of a future beyond the next round of suffering and fear—not with the dead constantly moaning at their shores. But, as the next Storm promises to be one of the worst yet, Mabel must confront the loss she suffered during the last disaster. All while opening her heart to a skeptical newcomer; someone who might be exactly what she needs, even if it scares her.
The story setting is loosely reminiscent of “The Fog” (2005, film) with its eerie ocean-side town and ghosts haunting the waters. Eleven Houses will keep you immersed in the anguished dynamics of a grieving community as they prepare to fight, once again, until dawn. As their ancestors did, and they before them.
October 19, 2024
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I've not read any books by this author previously but when I was sent the blurb to see if it was something I'd be interested in, I was sucked right in. The fantasy aspect with it's lore and promise of ghosts was really interesting to me.
The cover of the book is gorgeous. And yes, I will judge a book by it's cover. Whoever did the art really captured the essence of the story that unfolds in the pages of the book.
This book is 100% YA and reads as such. Usually I don't mind YA, but the characters in this book seemed particularly immature. I have a 17 year old child and that child is not as naive as these kids were. That being said, when you grow up on a secluded island being schooled in a one room school house, I suppose you may not be as mature as one might expect you to be. I had a hard time connecting or having empathy for any of the characters. And the romance was more of an insta-love, there was no build up or real chemistry between Mabel the FMC and Miles the MMC.
If you've ever seen M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, then you get the vibe this book gives off. The people of Weymouth island definitely separate themselves from the rest of society and live by their own rules. And people just don't try and leave the island to pursue other lives.
All this being said, I just did not find the book flowed all that well. It was extremely slow with not much happening at all until the last few chapters, where all the action took place. I did enjoy the lore, but I felt it wasn't explored enough. The reader is told the lore rather than it being shown. I had a hard time picturing things or understanding just what the people of this island were truly trying to do for the world at large. I needed more world building to understand the magic and be able to have a suspension of belief that only 11 families would guard the world from a potential invasion of the dead. And I needed the author to drop hints as to what was really happening rather than have it all come to a head at the end.
One of my biggest complaints for this book would be the amount of characters that are introduced. I started writing down all the names and where they fit in and it was so many. Some that made just a periphery appearance and never again returned, leaving me trying to understand what their purpose was in the first place.
The writing could have used some tightening for me. I felt like the author never really tried to show what was happening as much as she just told the reader what was happening. It took me out of the story. I wanted to really understand what these storms were bringing to the world. Why did they start? How did the original families know they were the last line of defense for the beings that were trying to break through? It was just not executed well enough for me to understand the world.
I've read a lot of YA and enjoyed it despite being older. I can definitely see how this book might appeal to young readers as its target audience who are wanting to delve into fantasy. It's very young YA and would be easy for a younger age group to understand.
I would not compare this book to Twilight at all, as is listed in the blurb. But it is dark and mysterious and has some good bones as a story.
I've not read any books by this author previously but when I was sent the blurb to see if it was something I'd be interested in, I was sucked right in. The fantasy aspect with it's lore and promise of ghosts was really interesting to me.
The cover of the book is gorgeous. And yes, I will judge a book by it's cover. Whoever did the art really captured the essence of the story that unfolds in the pages of the book.
This book is 100% YA and reads as such. Usually I don't mind YA, but the characters in this book seemed particularly immature. I have a 17 year old child and that child is not as naive as these kids were. That being said, when you grow up on a secluded island being schooled in a one room school house, I suppose you may not be as mature as one might expect you to be. I had a hard time connecting or having empathy for any of the characters. And the romance was more of an insta-love, there was no build up or real chemistry between Mabel the FMC and Miles the MMC.
If you've ever seen M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, then you get the vibe this book gives off. The people of Weymouth island definitely separate themselves from the rest of society and live by their own rules. And people just don't try and leave the island to pursue other lives.
All this being said, I just did not find the book flowed all that well. It was extremely slow with not much happening at all until the last few chapters, where all the action took place. I did enjoy the lore, but I felt it wasn't explored enough. The reader is told the lore rather than it being shown. I had a hard time picturing things or understanding just what the people of this island were truly trying to do for the world at large. I needed more world building to understand the magic and be able to have a suspension of belief that only 11 families would guard the world from a potential invasion of the dead. And I needed the author to drop hints as to what was really happening rather than have it all come to a head at the end.
One of my biggest complaints for this book would be the amount of characters that are introduced. I started writing down all the names and where they fit in and it was so many. Some that made just a periphery appearance and never again returned, leaving me trying to understand what their purpose was in the first place.
The writing could have used some tightening for me. I felt like the author never really tried to show what was happening as much as she just told the reader what was happening. It took me out of the story. I wanted to really understand what these storms were bringing to the world. Why did they start? How did the original families know they were the last line of defense for the beings that were trying to break through? It was just not executed well enough for me to understand the world.
I've read a lot of YA and enjoyed it despite being older. I can definitely see how this book might appeal to young readers as its target audience who are wanting to delve into fantasy. It's very young YA and would be easy for a younger age group to understand.
I would not compare this book to Twilight at all, as is listed in the blurb. But it is dark and mysterious and has some good bones as a story.
October 5, 2024
Coming of age surrounded by generational expectations, trauma, and grief are hard things to explain and share. This story provides a glimpse into the life this could create and the multitude of ways that one has to cope, thrive, and grow. The unfolding of this story provides the reader with an opportunity to question, understand, and criticize the world that is unfolding before them. However, it also provides a surprisingly deep understanding of who Mabel is, who she wants to be, and the potential she contains.
October 26, 2024
I received this book at SDCC in exchange for an honest review.
File this one under books that needed more editing.
The setting wasn't entirely believable - the mood was on point, but I had trouble picturing the size and scale of the island. We're told it's walkable, that most of the kids use their bikes to get around, and that a few of the adults have cars that are meant more for trips to the mainland.
The cast of characters also shows some confusing gaps - you're either a kid or an adult, there feels like an absence of real generational living, especially since there's the main houses and that's it. This could be attributed to the human cost of the Storms, but is it really only eleven houses, the school house, and the lighthouse? The population being skewed also contributes to not being able to picture the size of the island well.
The main issue I had with the novel is that it tried to be too books at once, and I really wish the editor had told Colleen Oakes to cut one and commit fully to the other. As soon as we learned that Mabel is an unreliable narrator, it became very clear that the author was trying to do too many things. Either give me the ghost story, or give me the love story. They worked against each other. If going the ghost story route, give us Mabel prepping and having no time for the strangely outdated gender roles. If going for the love story, lean into the aspect of failure to adequately prepare for the Storm and the tragic love stories over the generations.
Elements were half-baked - Miles and Mabel take his car to the lighthouse and leave it there, how do the adults fail to notice it? When Mabel steals the car, how does she know how to drive it well enough to get as far away from the island as she does? Miles himself tells her not to damage the car and then a sentence later lets Mabel behind the wheel despite the fact she's never driven before.
This book is not an epic romance, and I wish its good bones had been developed further to really strengthen the story.
File this one under books that needed more editing.
The setting wasn't entirely believable - the mood was on point, but I had trouble picturing the size and scale of the island. We're told it's walkable, that most of the kids use their bikes to get around, and that a few of the adults have cars that are meant more for trips to the mainland.
The cast of characters also shows some confusing gaps - you're either a kid or an adult, there feels like an absence of real generational living, especially since there's the main houses and that's it. This could be attributed to the human cost of the Storms, but is it really only eleven houses, the school house, and the lighthouse? The population being skewed also contributes to not being able to picture the size of the island well.
The main issue I had with the novel is that it tried to be too books at once, and I really wish the editor had told Colleen Oakes to cut one and commit fully to the other. As soon as we learned that Mabel is an unreliable narrator, it became very clear that the author was trying to do too many things. Either give me the ghost story, or give me the love story. They worked against each other. If going the ghost story route, give us Mabel prepping and having no time for the strangely outdated gender roles. If going for the love story, lean into the aspect of failure to adequately prepare for the Storm and the tragic love stories over the generations.
Elements were half-baked - Miles and Mabel take his car to the lighthouse and leave it there, how do the adults fail to notice it? When Mabel steals the car, how does she know how to drive it well enough to get as far away from the island as she does? Miles himself tells her not to damage the car and then a sentence later lets Mabel behind the wheel despite the fact she's never driven before.
This book is not an epic romance, and I wish its good bones had been developed further to really strengthen the story.
April 16, 2025
I loved the idea of this book buuuut…
1. don’t know how I feel about this being compared to twilight???
2. chill on the cult vibes
3. to much cringy dialogue w Miles and Mabel - I want more history / descriptions/ world building idk
4. im glad therapy was how this ended cause they needed it
1. don’t know how I feel about this being compared to twilight???
2. chill on the cult vibes
3. to much cringy dialogue w Miles and Mabel - I want more history / descriptions/ world building idk
4. im glad therapy was how this ended cause they needed it
December 14, 2024
1.25/5
Don’t get me wrong, the concept of this book was really unique and I enjoyed the characters in this book, but I had the hardest time getting through it because of the pacing, and as someone who likes horror, I didn’t feel like there was much until the end. I had a really hard time getting through the 300 pages, only to finally get excited about where the plot was going with not even a 100 pages left.
Don’t get me wrong, the concept of this book was really unique and I enjoyed the characters in this book, but I had the hardest time getting through it because of the pacing, and as someone who likes horror, I didn’t feel like there was much until the end. I had a really hard time getting through the 300 pages, only to finally get excited about where the plot was going with not even a 100 pages left.
March 17, 2025
It was hard to follow, and low stakes, and I ended up skimming the end
November 14, 2024
I needed more world building. How did the storms come to be?
November 19, 2024
mabel really was not like other girls.
December 5, 2024
Eh? It took forever to get to the storm and wasn’t that interesting. The romance was sweet but a little over the top. Yes, I realize it’s YA
March 25, 2025
Like other people have mentioned in reviews, the overall concept of this book is solid. There were moments of genuine significance when it comes to this book's discussion of grief and the ways that people process it. But then the weird insta-love "romance" comes back into play and it just kind of ruins the vibe for me, honestly.
I don't really understand why there needed to be the insta-love at all. I think the message of the houses standing together and Mable and Miles being the ones to usher that cooperation in would've been more impactful if they were just normal teenagers about their attraction instead of all this weird shit they have going on. Like, if Mable's dad and Alistair were friends, and that's what caused the last Storm to be so bad...why couldn't Mable and Miles have developed an authentic crush/relationship with each other? It just felt kind of wack for teenagers, idk. And ultimately I think that's what really dragged this book down for me.
The pacing also kind of sucked, a little bit. Barely anything happens for 230 pages, and then the last 80 is like, constant life or death. Also, like, at multiple points in the story, we're supposed to be on a time crunch: we need to get to the meeting to spy on it, we need to get to the school house before the Guardians. So, *why* are we wasting all this time chit chatting and staring longingly into each others eyes? Can we get a move on?
We build up the tension of Miles diving for the whip, how he *literally might die out there* and then kill the tension part way through with an anecdote about how the tradition itself is rooted in misogyny. Okay? Can't we save that for later? Like, maybe the end of the chapter?
And maybe due to the weird insta-love, I didn't particularly care about any of the characters. The "chemistry" between Miles and Mable is basically nonexistent--as far as I can tell, the only thing they feel for each other is this weird physical sort of magnetism which seems to be influenced by the island for some reason. There were multiple conversations between them where I got frustrated by the utter corniness of the shit coming out of Miles' mouth. There was one point near the end of the book with a very important revelation for Mable on her journey with grief, and then literally two pages later the emotional significance of that is ruined by the crap Miles has to say. I shouldn't be rolling my eyes every time he opens his mouth.
Jeff was the only character I actually liked, and I spent the Storm chapters really worried he was going to end up dead. Thankfully he survived. Small mercies.
I'll admit that no, I'm not exactly in the target demographic for this book, but even if I was a 15 year old, I think these things still would've bothered me.
Anyway, the central concepts of this book are solid, but the execution left a lot to be desired. The cover? Slaps.
I don't really understand why there needed to be the insta-love at all. I think the message of the houses standing together and Mable and Miles being the ones to usher that cooperation in would've been more impactful if they were just normal teenagers about their attraction instead of all this weird shit they have going on. Like, if Mable's dad and Alistair were friends, and that's what caused the last Storm to be so bad...why couldn't Mable and Miles have developed an authentic crush/relationship with each other? It just felt kind of wack for teenagers, idk. And ultimately I think that's what really dragged this book down for me.
The pacing also kind of sucked, a little bit. Barely anything happens for 230 pages, and then the last 80 is like, constant life or death. Also, like, at multiple points in the story, we're supposed to be on a time crunch: we need to get to the meeting to spy on it, we need to get to the school house before the Guardians. So, *why* are we wasting all this time chit chatting and staring longingly into each others eyes? Can we get a move on?
We build up the tension of Miles diving for the whip, how he *literally might die out there* and then kill the tension part way through with an anecdote about how the tradition itself is rooted in misogyny. Okay? Can't we save that for later? Like, maybe the end of the chapter?
And maybe due to the weird insta-love, I didn't particularly care about any of the characters. The "chemistry" between Miles and Mable is basically nonexistent--as far as I can tell, the only thing they feel for each other is this weird physical sort of magnetism which seems to be influenced by the island for some reason. There were multiple conversations between them where I got frustrated by the utter corniness of the shit coming out of Miles' mouth. There was one point near the end of the book with a very important revelation for Mable on her journey with grief, and then literally two pages later the emotional significance of that is ruined by the crap Miles has to say. I shouldn't be rolling my eyes every time he opens his mouth.
Jeff was the only character I actually liked, and I spent the Storm chapters really worried he was going to end up dead. Thankfully he survived. Small mercies.
I'll admit that no, I'm not exactly in the target demographic for this book, but even if I was a 15 year old, I think these things still would've bothered me.
Anyway, the central concepts of this book are solid, but the execution left a lot to be desired. The cover? Slaps.
November 7, 2024
Content Warning: violence, grief, death, alcoholism
I thought the synopsis of this book was really intriguing. Here are my thoughts:
Likes:
+ There is some history about Nova Scotia which I like because I don’t know much about that place. There are only 11 families on this island and these families have to stand up to storms that kill people because in those storms are the dead – like zombies! I like the different families and the history we get from diary entries from storms in the past. I like the mysterious vibe of the story and that kept me reading so I could find out more. There is also a lot of action in the second half of the book.
+ Mabel is the main character and she is from the last house. She has a best friend Norah and I love their relationship. A new boy Miles comes to the island and learns what goes on there and a romance between him and Mabel grows. I also like her growth as a character.
+ There is a twist in the story that I didn’t expect but I did like how the story dealt with the theme of grief.
Dislikes:
~ I had to suspend reality for this one a bit because only 11 families on one island to protect…who? The world? I’m not sure…but there is a big deal about the storms and the dead and protecting the island from the dead. But I didn’t quite believe all of it and just needed a lot more world-building. By the middle of the story I was questioning everything but I shifted focus to the romance story.
~ The romance between Mabel and Miles is insta-love but I still don’t understand why the two of them getting together made the storm more volatile. Again, I think that’s due to lack of world-building and explanation about the magic system.
~ The synopsis boasts “Midnight Mass meets The Vampire Diaries” and I don’t know what Midnight Mass is but I was an original fan of the original The Vampire Diaries by. L.J. Smith. And I actually didn’t see how The Vampires fit into this story at all so it’s not a good comparison. I’d say The Circle by. L.J. Smith fits more because that was about different families fighting evil.
Final Thoughts:
This was an interesting read and good for spooky season if you want to read about a mysterious island and dead rising in these storms. The romance was a bit insta-love and I needed a lot more world-building to be invested in the story but I did like the main character’s journey through grief. This one would appeal to teen readers.
I thought the synopsis of this book was really intriguing. Here are my thoughts:
Likes:
+ There is some history about Nova Scotia which I like because I don’t know much about that place. There are only 11 families on this island and these families have to stand up to storms that kill people because in those storms are the dead – like zombies! I like the different families and the history we get from diary entries from storms in the past. I like the mysterious vibe of the story and that kept me reading so I could find out more. There is also a lot of action in the second half of the book.
+ Mabel is the main character and she is from the last house. She has a best friend Norah and I love their relationship. A new boy Miles comes to the island and learns what goes on there and a romance between him and Mabel grows. I also like her growth as a character.
+ There is a twist in the story that I didn’t expect but I did like how the story dealt with the theme of grief.
Dislikes:
~ I had to suspend reality for this one a bit because only 11 families on one island to protect…who? The world? I’m not sure…but there is a big deal about the storms and the dead and protecting the island from the dead. But I didn’t quite believe all of it and just needed a lot more world-building. By the middle of the story I was questioning everything but I shifted focus to the romance story.
~ The romance between Mabel and Miles is insta-love but I still don’t understand why the two of them getting together made the storm more volatile. Again, I think that’s due to lack of world-building and explanation about the magic system.
~ The synopsis boasts “Midnight Mass meets The Vampire Diaries” and I don’t know what Midnight Mass is but I was an original fan of the original The Vampire Diaries by. L.J. Smith. And I actually didn’t see how The Vampires fit into this story at all so it’s not a good comparison. I’d say The Circle by. L.J. Smith fits more because that was about different families fighting evil.
Final Thoughts:
This was an interesting read and good for spooky season if you want to read about a mysterious island and dead rising in these storms. The romance was a bit insta-love and I needed a lot more world-building to be invested in the story but I did like the main character’s journey through grief. This one would appeal to teen readers.
January 3, 2025
I agree with people that the blurb in the description seriously misrepresents this book. There are no vampires, so the comparison to Twilight makes no sense, except that there is a romance between a pair of teenagers. But no one is an immortal in this (quite the opposite really). In truth, instead of describing it as Stephen King's The Mist meets Twilight, it should be described as We Have Always Lived in the Castle meets John Carpenter's The Fog. That's a much more apt description.
While I was not 100% sold on the instalove between two of the main characters, I understood immediately why Oakes went that route with this couple. And it does work for the story, even if I don't like the idea of "destined" loves. I have always thought of lovers that choose each other, despite all odds and fate, to be the much more compelling love story. But in the end, this story is kinda both? And that did work really well for me.
Also, this book is really much more about grief. Oakes was struggling with a real life loss at the time she penned this book, and you can see her working through those emotions in various ways throughout this novel. And it also means that this novel will continue to speak to people long after publishing has moved on to the next supernatural teen romance fad.
But the descriptions on this are great, the world building is just ambiguous enough that it makes sense that this island stays off the main maps but is still concrete enough that you can ground it in modern day Canada. It feels gothic but grounded in reality. You can see the story inspirations that went into each part of the story, but it still feels like its own original idea. You can understand these characters and why they act the way they do. You can feel their pain and the drive for survival and their need for secrecy.
This was a great read to start the year off with, and one I heartily recommend if you're into supernatural based stories with a gothic edge to them.
While I was not 100% sold on the instalove between two of the main characters, I understood immediately why Oakes went that route with this couple. And it does work for the story, even if I don't like the idea of "destined" loves. I have always thought of lovers that choose each other, despite all odds and fate, to be the much more compelling love story. But in the end, this story is kinda both? And that did work really well for me.
Also, this book is really much more about grief. Oakes was struggling with a real life loss at the time she penned this book, and you can see her working through those emotions in various ways throughout this novel. And it also means that this novel will continue to speak to people long after publishing has moved on to the next supernatural teen romance fad.
But the descriptions on this are great, the world building is just ambiguous enough that it makes sense that this island stays off the main maps but is still concrete enough that you can ground it in modern day Canada. It feels gothic but grounded in reality. You can see the story inspirations that went into each part of the story, but it still feels like its own original idea. You can understand these characters and why they act the way they do. You can feel their pain and the drive for survival and their need for secrecy.
This was a great read to start the year off with, and one I heartily recommend if you're into supernatural based stories with a gothic edge to them.
April 14, 2025
A YA/Romance/Horror about an island off the coast of Nova Scotia with 11 houses & their assigned families who guard the realms of life from the dead who lurk beneath the surface of the Sea. Every 10 years or so a storm of epic proportions arrives on the banks of Weymouth island, and each family must fight to protect their homes, their families and the rest of the world, from the dead who accompany the storm. This time however, a union between two of the families has aroused a storm of such violence that it will take all the rules of the island to be broken in order to win their war with the dead.
I want more! I enjoyed this story so much. I loved Mable and her grief. I love the twist about her sister Hali. I enjoyed the amount of ‘storm’ that was in it. Oftentimes we get a huge lead up to the big event and then it's rushed through. That is not the case here. So many details throughout the book, I didn't have a hard time picturing the scene one bit. With that said, my ARC didn't have a map of the island and I couldn't find one online. Hopefully the published edition has one because that would have been awesome to reference, especially with all the details of the families. I would have liked to see more history on the families and the storm, especially where Miles and Mabel are concerned. Maybe a bit more info on why those two specifically are the ones being drawn together. I also felt like their romance was rushed into and we didn't get a whole lot of history of them/their families.
All in all I really enjoyed the book. The courage of these kids trying desperately to save the world & themselves against something they really don't understand is truly admirable. I would recommend this to all young adult readers ages 13 and up. There is no spicy romance, although some heavy kissing post life saving events.
An enormous Thank You to Colleen Oakes, Simon & Schuster, and Goodreads for allowing me the opportunity to read this title in exchange for my honest review.
I want more! I enjoyed this story so much. I loved Mable and her grief. I love the twist about her sister Hali. I enjoyed the amount of ‘storm’ that was in it. Oftentimes we get a huge lead up to the big event and then it's rushed through. That is not the case here. So many details throughout the book, I didn't have a hard time picturing the scene one bit. With that said, my ARC didn't have a map of the island and I couldn't find one online. Hopefully the published edition has one because that would have been awesome to reference, especially with all the details of the families. I would have liked to see more history on the families and the storm, especially where Miles and Mabel are concerned. Maybe a bit more info on why those two specifically are the ones being drawn together. I also felt like their romance was rushed into and we didn't get a whole lot of history of them/their families.
All in all I really enjoyed the book. The courage of these kids trying desperately to save the world & themselves against something they really don't understand is truly admirable. I would recommend this to all young adult readers ages 13 and up. There is no spicy romance, although some heavy kissing post life saving events.
An enormous Thank You to Colleen Oakes, Simon & Schuster, and Goodreads for allowing me the opportunity to read this title in exchange for my honest review.
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