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The Arnaud Legacy #1
Haunted
Moving to my stepfather’s English country mansion sounded so promising. But the Arnaud Manor is neglected and unwelcoming, and I get the feeling it isn’t exactly uninhabited. Something wants to hurt us—especially my litter sister, Tabby.
Okay, so I might be a little sensitive lately. My parents act oblivious to me, my old life is far away in San Francisco, and the gorgeous guy I just met tells me terrible stories about the infamous Madame Arnaud who lived here long ago, and about missing children and vengeful spirits. The kind of stories that are impossible to believe—until you’re living in one of them, fighting to protect everyone you love…
Okay, so I might be a little sensitive lately. My parents act oblivious to me, my old life is far away in San Francisco, and the gorgeous guy I just met tells me terrible stories about the infamous Madame Arnaud who lived here long ago, and about missing children and vengeful spirits. The kind of stories that are impossible to believe—until you’re living in one of them, fighting to protect everyone you love…
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 24, 2015
6 people are currently reading
981 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Carthage
4 books38 followersI'm the author of the ARNAUD LEGACY TRILOGY from Kensington Books, which follows three teens through three books, each narrating their own volume: Phoebe, an American struggling to understand her family's legacy; Miles, a British teen grappling with the past; and Eleanor, also English, trying to forgive herself, all against the backdrop of the rich history of England and France, with a strong, sinister air of neo-Gothic danger.
*Note: although I recommend reading from the beginning with HAUNTED, it is also possible to join the trilogy with the second book, BETRAYED. It is not ideal to start with the third book AVENGED.
Here's the story behind HAUNTED:
Sixteen-year-old Phoebe Irving has traded life in San Francisco for her stepfather’s ancestral mansion in rural England. It’s supposed to be the new start her family needs. But from the moment she crosses the threshold into the ancient estate, Phoebe senses something ominous. Then again, she's a little sensitive lately—not surprising when her parents are oblivious to her, her old life is six thousand miles away, and the only guy around is completely gorgeous but giving her mixed messages.
But at least Miles doesn’t laugh at Phoebe’s growing fears. And she can trust him…maybe. The locals whisper about the manor’s infamous original owner, Madame Arnaud, and tell grim stories of missing children and vengeful spirits. Phoebe is determined to protect her loved ones—especially her little sister, Tabby. But even amidst the manor’s dark shadows, the deepest mysteries may involve Phoebe herself…
*Note: although I recommend reading from the beginning with HAUNTED, it is also possible to join the trilogy with the second book, BETRAYED. It is not ideal to start with the third book AVENGED.
Here's the story behind HAUNTED:
Sixteen-year-old Phoebe Irving has traded life in San Francisco for her stepfather’s ancestral mansion in rural England. It’s supposed to be the new start her family needs. But from the moment she crosses the threshold into the ancient estate, Phoebe senses something ominous. Then again, she's a little sensitive lately—not surprising when her parents are oblivious to her, her old life is six thousand miles away, and the only guy around is completely gorgeous but giving her mixed messages.
But at least Miles doesn’t laugh at Phoebe’s growing fears. And she can trust him…maybe. The locals whisper about the manor’s infamous original owner, Madame Arnaud, and tell grim stories of missing children and vengeful spirits. Phoebe is determined to protect her loved ones—especially her little sister, Tabby. But even amidst the manor’s dark shadows, the deepest mysteries may involve Phoebe herself…
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
January 27, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley.)
“Her right index finger had decomposed so much that just one long bone stuck out at the end. That bone was still resting on the organ key she had played about an hour ago.”
This was an okay ghost story, but I found it a bit predictable.
I did feel sorry for Phoebe at first. Having to leave her home and friends to move to England must have been really hard, and her parents seemed to ignore her a lot. Not to mention that she was living in a haunted house!
“My family doesn’t seem to listen to me anymore.”
A big silence fell.
“They’re punishing me for something that happened back in California, before we moved,” I said.
“Punishing you by ignoring you?”
The storyline in this was okay, and it was easy to imagine what the big haunted mansion looked like, and what the creepy ghost looked like!
My main problem with this book was that I guessed what was going on really early on in the book, by the 22% mark I had figured out what wouldn’t actually be revealed in the book until the 57% mark, which ruined the book for me really. Whether this was why I then found the pace to be slow I don’t know, but I felt like I was waiting for the revelation that I had already guessed.
“My parents do it, too,” he said.
I looked bleakly into his beautiful sapphire eyes, the same colour as a ring I’d begged Mom for (unsuccessfully) when I turned sixteen.
“What the hell?” I protested weakly. “How could you do that to your own kid?”
There was some romance in this book, and Miles and Phoebe did come across as made for each other.
“He pulled me to him and kissed me. It felt incredible – the best thing I’d felt in seemingly years.”
The ending to this was the best part for me, but I was also left with some unanswered questions, over what would happen to Phoebe in the future.
Overall; okay ghost story, but a little predictable for me,
6 out of 10
I'd tried to push Madame Arnaud away, and my hands were made of air.
"Please... leave her alone," I'd pleaded.
Madame Arnaud had simply laughed. "I think not," She'd said.
“Her right index finger had decomposed so much that just one long bone stuck out at the end. That bone was still resting on the organ key she had played about an hour ago.”
This was an okay ghost story, but I found it a bit predictable.
I did feel sorry for Phoebe at first. Having to leave her home and friends to move to England must have been really hard, and her parents seemed to ignore her a lot. Not to mention that she was living in a haunted house!
“My family doesn’t seem to listen to me anymore.”
A big silence fell.
“They’re punishing me for something that happened back in California, before we moved,” I said.
“Punishing you by ignoring you?”
The storyline in this was okay, and it was easy to imagine what the big haunted mansion looked like, and what the creepy ghost looked like!
My main problem with this book was that I guessed what was going on really early on in the book, by the 22% mark I had figured out what wouldn’t actually be revealed in the book until the 57% mark, which ruined the book for me really. Whether this was why I then found the pace to be slow I don’t know, but I felt like I was waiting for the revelation that I had already guessed.
“My parents do it, too,” he said.
I looked bleakly into his beautiful sapphire eyes, the same colour as a ring I’d begged Mom for (unsuccessfully) when I turned sixteen.
“What the hell?” I protested weakly. “How could you do that to your own kid?”
There was some romance in this book, and Miles and Phoebe did come across as made for each other.
“He pulled me to him and kissed me. It felt incredible – the best thing I’d felt in seemingly years.”
The ending to this was the best part for me, but I was also left with some unanswered questions, over what would happen to Phoebe in the future.
Overall; okay ghost story, but a little predictable for me,
6 out of 10
I'd tried to push Madame Arnaud away, and my hands were made of air.
"Please... leave her alone," I'd pleaded.
Madame Arnaud had simply laughed. "I think not," She'd said.
October 15, 2015
3,5
Phoebe is moving with her stepfather,mother and little sister from california to england to live at her stepfathers ancestral home. Its all because Phoebe did something horrible...
But what? She cant remember exactly.
Then there is her little sister who she loves deeply but she cant help but be resentful of how all her stepfather and mothers attention has shifted to revolve completely aroundTabby.
Phoebe is being ignored and feel hurt even if she tries to be mature about it.
And now they are in this rundown house to make a fresh start but Phoebe feels something is waiting for them.
A presence.
She gets some clarity from Miles ,a boy she meet while swimming that the locals believe the mansion was inhabited by Madame Arnaud a 18th century noblewoman who feeds on the blood of infants. And she still lives in the house centuries later.
After an unsettling encounter in the unused part of the house she cant help but start to believe in the stories. But that doesnt explain other things that are happening to her.
What is happening? Is she going crazy?
Even if she is...she wont allow her little sister to be harmed by the dark force in the house.
Is it one thing I love its a good gothic. Sinister old houses and the heroines who step over their tresholds thats what I am into. So I was very happy when I was approved to view the ARC of "Haunted" by Lynn Carthage
I liked Phoebes character she had her strong and weak sides with enough sass to make her interesting without being annoying. Not being a sporty person myself I did wonder if I would be able to relate to the fact that she was on the swim team. But it was mellowed out with the fact that she was also aspiring writer.
I fully approved of her dream of becoming a literary mermaid lol
I started to suspect what was going on with Phoebe about p 88 .But I was not sure. Maybe it WAS all in her mind?
This book had some beautiful phrasing and writing but stopping just before it became too flowery.It makes sense that Phoebe would describe things in that way because she was a writer.
One thing that I did have a problem with was that I felt Phoebe trusted Miles too easily after only meeting him once she tells him everything that has happened .Mind you it was only the second time they met.
Truth be told ,and I say this like someone who appreciates a bit of romance in my read I think the book wouldnt have suffered much if his character were to have been cut out of the story completely
He was not a bad guy but he didnt have a very exciting personality.
I just couldnt get over thinking about him as the token hot love interest and and a way for the author to enable that Phobe have someone to confide in and give her a nudge in the right direction when she hesitated.
Some of the chapters just ended abruptly . I dont know if this was editing gone wrong or a way for the author to transfer the feeling of disorientation Phoebe was feeling to the author.
If that was the case... it worked. I felt as confused as our heroine.
I also noticed a slight spelling mistake (leathern instead of leathery)
The small snippets of newspaper notices at the start of every chapter helped build the atmosphere of the book and added some backstory to the Arnauds and their house.
I have to admit there were some anacronishms like a servant from the Victorian era knowing who Elizabeth Bathory was but I decided I could overlook that.
The ending was very emotional. I felt my eyes get moist...must have gotten something in them.
The villain was the epitome evil and while I would have liked to have known something about her origins -at the same I think it made her more mysterious and unpredictable not to know. I knew enough about her to Think that She did deserve what she got in the end.
But this book actually has two antagonists.The second is less obvious and maybe even more malevolent but I hope and expect it will be explored more in the sequel.
To conclude this is a solid addition to the gothic genre and a good starting point for the reader be who is curious about it.
If you like this you might also like :
The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall
Phoebe is moving with her stepfather,mother and little sister from california to england to live at her stepfathers ancestral home. Its all because Phoebe did something horrible...
But what? She cant remember exactly.
Then there is her little sister who she loves deeply but she cant help but be resentful of how all her stepfather and mothers attention has shifted to revolve completely aroundTabby.
Phoebe is being ignored and feel hurt even if she tries to be mature about it.
And now they are in this rundown house to make a fresh start but Phoebe feels something is waiting for them.
A presence.
She gets some clarity from Miles ,a boy she meet while swimming that the locals believe the mansion was inhabited by Madame Arnaud a 18th century noblewoman who feeds on the blood of infants. And she still lives in the house centuries later.
After an unsettling encounter in the unused part of the house she cant help but start to believe in the stories. But that doesnt explain other things that are happening to her.
What is happening? Is she going crazy?
Even if she is...she wont allow her little sister to be harmed by the dark force in the house.
Is it one thing I love its a good gothic. Sinister old houses and the heroines who step over their tresholds thats what I am into. So I was very happy when I was approved to view the ARC of "Haunted" by Lynn Carthage
I liked Phoebes character she had her strong and weak sides with enough sass to make her interesting without being annoying. Not being a sporty person myself I did wonder if I would be able to relate to the fact that she was on the swim team. But it was mellowed out with the fact that she was also aspiring writer.
I fully approved of her dream of becoming a literary mermaid lol
I started to suspect what was going on with Phoebe about p 88 .But I was not sure. Maybe it WAS all in her mind?
This book had some beautiful phrasing and writing but stopping just before it became too flowery.It makes sense that Phoebe would describe things in that way because she was a writer.
One thing that I did have a problem with was that I felt Phoebe trusted Miles too easily after only meeting him once she tells him everything that has happened .Mind you it was only the second time they met.
Truth be told ,and I say this like someone who appreciates a bit of romance in my read I think the book wouldnt have suffered much if his character were to have been cut out of the story completely
He was not a bad guy but he didnt have a very exciting personality.
I just couldnt get over thinking about him as the token hot love interest and and a way for the author to enable that Phobe have someone to confide in and give her a nudge in the right direction when she hesitated.
Some of the chapters just ended abruptly . I dont know if this was editing gone wrong or a way for the author to transfer the feeling of disorientation Phoebe was feeling to the author.
If that was the case... it worked. I felt as confused as our heroine.
I also noticed a slight spelling mistake (leathern instead of leathery)
The small snippets of newspaper notices at the start of every chapter helped build the atmosphere of the book and added some backstory to the Arnauds and their house.
I have to admit there were some anacronishms like a servant from the Victorian era knowing who Elizabeth Bathory was but I decided I could overlook that.
The ending was very emotional. I felt my eyes get moist...must have gotten something in them.
The villain was the epitome evil and while I would have liked to have known something about her origins -at the same I think it made her more mysterious and unpredictable not to know. I knew enough about her to Think that She did deserve what she got in the end.
But this book actually has two antagonists.The second is less obvious and maybe even more malevolent but I hope and expect it will be explored more in the sequel.
To conclude this is a solid addition to the gothic genre and a good starting point for the reader be who is curious about it.
If you like this you might also like :
The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall
January 29, 2016
Haunted made me laugh, gave me the chills, and more importantly, made me question my own sanity, haha. I managed to fall into the story so easily that I forgot I was even reading! Haunted is a quick read, if you’re looking for something fun to read. Maybe you can read it on the train? Or between books?
Within the first 30 pages of reading, I had laughed quite a few times. After that though, Haunted had taken a serious tone. And then a while after that, it seemed like Phoebe’s thoughts were so scattered. The plot was thickening so quickly, yet there were so many questions to be asked. The type of questions you have but you don’t ask, you know? The type of questions where you want to ask them, but you already know the answer to.
Haunted managed to surprise me; which doesn’t happen often. Even if I did know the big ‘surprise’, it was still shocking to read it. And slightly heartbreaking as well. I didn’t think I would be as affected as I was by hearing the news. Nonetheless though, Phoebe seems to take this news in stride, and becomes a stronger person right then and there. Which is honestly genuinely weird. I’d expect Phoebe to freak the hell out, but she didn’t. And maybe she knew all along. We the readers though, are given little hints at what had happened to Phoebe.
This book. This freaking book. Mystery novels always do this to me. Haunted made me question my sanity, people. With almost every revelation that either Phoebe or myself had, I questioned whether or not it had actually happened. Mystery novels!! I’m surprised that I didn’t just rage quit this one as I usually do with other mystery books that I’ve read.
Overall the story is pretty well written. I like the detail that Carthage wrote in Haunted. Sometimes the detail was even spooky and creeped me out! Everything fits really nicely. I also liked those little passages at the beginning of every chapter. They just made the story seem more real, and in that sense, I guess that was Carthage’s way of giving the reader a little of the stories history. I had hoped that Haunted would be a standalone. Even though it isn’t, you can treat Haunted very easily as a standalone!
Within the first 30 pages of reading, I had laughed quite a few times. After that though, Haunted had taken a serious tone. And then a while after that, it seemed like Phoebe’s thoughts were so scattered. The plot was thickening so quickly, yet there were so many questions to be asked. The type of questions you have but you don’t ask, you know? The type of questions where you want to ask them, but you already know the answer to.
Haunted managed to surprise me; which doesn’t happen often. Even if I did know the big ‘surprise’, it was still shocking to read it. And slightly heartbreaking as well. I didn’t think I would be as affected as I was by hearing the news. Nonetheless though, Phoebe seems to take this news in stride, and becomes a stronger person right then and there. Which is honestly genuinely weird. I’d expect Phoebe to freak the hell out, but she didn’t. And maybe she knew all along. We the readers though, are given little hints at what had happened to Phoebe.
This book. This freaking book. Mystery novels always do this to me. Haunted made me question my sanity, people. With almost every revelation that either Phoebe or myself had, I questioned whether or not it had actually happened. Mystery novels!! I’m surprised that I didn’t just rage quit this one as I usually do with other mystery books that I’ve read.
Overall the story is pretty well written. I like the detail that Carthage wrote in Haunted. Sometimes the detail was even spooky and creeped me out! Everything fits really nicely. I also liked those little passages at the beginning of every chapter. They just made the story seem more real, and in that sense, I guess that was Carthage’s way of giving the reader a little of the stories history. I had hoped that Haunted would be a standalone. Even though it isn’t, you can treat Haunted very easily as a standalone!
August 30, 2017
writing 'you'll never guess the twist' and 'if you like american horror story, you'll love haunted' right there on the cover made me immediately guess the twist. at least in ahs, they made violet's death subtle so the reveal would be unexpected.
also!! the romance between miles and phoebe was so..... cringe. his only quality was that he was pretty tbh, like i found his character to be really bland. actually, overall the description of people and places was so meh. we barely found out what the ghosts actually looked like and all i really remember about madame arnaud was that she was rotting??? but still alive, honestly idk what this book was going for there. don't ask me what the castle looked like though, because all i read was that there was a forest and it was big, which, y'know, is pretty standard fare for castles.
all in all, i wanted so much more creep factor out of this and it wasn't scary at all. dead teenagers and cannibalism just isn't shocking enough people!!
also!! the romance between miles and phoebe was so..... cringe. his only quality was that he was pretty tbh, like i found his character to be really bland. actually, overall the description of people and places was so meh. we barely found out what the ghosts actually looked like and all i really remember about madame arnaud was that she was rotting??? but still alive, honestly idk what this book was going for there. don't ask me what the castle looked like though, because all i read was that there was a forest and it was big, which, y'know, is pretty standard fare for castles.
all in all, i wanted so much more creep factor out of this and it wasn't scary at all. dead teenagers and cannibalism just isn't shocking enough people!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2015
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
How can I even begin to describe just how bizarre and poorly thought-out this book is? Now, I love me a good ghost story when it's well done, but this book is so full of random bizarreness, I just can't even (as the young kids say).
We start out with Phoebe, a teenager whose mom, baby sister, and stepdad have moved to England. At first Phoebe speaks in dire and oddly guilt-stricken tones about the horrible thing she did but cannot remember, the thing that was so awful that it caused her parents to move to another country, uprooting their two daughters. (It seems odd that anyone could forget doing something that awful, but...) Conveniently, the stepfather just so happens to be the heir to a huge manor house with 30,000 acres of land (thirty THOUSAND ACRES OF LAND) that he has neglected to mention before. Apparently he has managed to hide this inheritance from his family -- as well as the Inland Revenue, because the taxes on 30,000 acres of land must be a real drag.
The first plot twist was one I saw coming around page 40: (SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!) It turns out that Phoebe is actually dead. The horrible thing she did that made her parents move to her stepfather's stealth mansion? She died.
Now this doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the nonsensical plot of this book. In short order, we meet another ghost who happens to be a sexy teenager with the hots for Phoebe; a terrifying dowager who may be immortal or who may be a vampire or who may be a ghost, but in any case, she drinks blood from the veins of children with a silver straw; the ghost of a housemaid who tried to kill the dowager-vampire but failed and then committed suicide; the ghosts of dead babies; and the ghosts of dead servants who feel really bad that they didn't try to stop the dowager-vampire. Phoebe and her bae can travel through time just by thinking about it, and they flit back and forth (spending an awful lot of time in a swimming pool). For no apparent reason, each chapter begins with a "quote" about the mansion from a fake source, while we watch as Phoebe is simultaneously trying to kill the dowager-vampire; release the other ghosts from being tethered to the mansion by their guilt; help her parents figure out a way to pay the upkeep on the manor (which has never been an issue before, although it has been emphasized that the mansion has been for sale for years but no one will buy it. Um, hello, subdivision?); resolve her own ambivalence and guilt about being dead; assuage her mother's heartbreak and guilt at having lost her daughter; save her baby sister from being a midnight snack for the dowager-vampire until she figures out how to kill the latter; get her ghost-boyfriend to break up with his still-alive girlfriend; help the ghostly housemaid to move on to the next life; and suck face with the ghost-boyfriend. Did I mention that Phoebe died of an obscure medical condition that caused her to faint uncontrollably but her mother refused to take her to the doctor until Phoebe passed out during a swim meet and drowned?
I hate to be cynical, but this book feels like someone wanted to cash in on the craze for YA books, wrote down a bunch of ideas (girl who doesn't know she's dead! boyfriend who also died tragically! vampires! huge manor houses in the British countryside!) and then instead of taking a couple of weeks to think about what fit and what didn't, what made sense and created a cohesive plot, just threw them all into the blender and spewed out this book.
So, yeah, I hated it.
How can I even begin to describe just how bizarre and poorly thought-out this book is? Now, I love me a good ghost story when it's well done, but this book is so full of random bizarreness, I just can't even (as the young kids say).
We start out with Phoebe, a teenager whose mom, baby sister, and stepdad have moved to England. At first Phoebe speaks in dire and oddly guilt-stricken tones about the horrible thing she did but cannot remember, the thing that was so awful that it caused her parents to move to another country, uprooting their two daughters. (It seems odd that anyone could forget doing something that awful, but...) Conveniently, the stepfather just so happens to be the heir to a huge manor house with 30,000 acres of land (thirty THOUSAND ACRES OF LAND) that he has neglected to mention before. Apparently he has managed to hide this inheritance from his family -- as well as the Inland Revenue, because the taxes on 30,000 acres of land must be a real drag.
The first plot twist was one I saw coming around page 40: (SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!) It turns out that Phoebe is actually dead. The horrible thing she did that made her parents move to her stepfather's stealth mansion? She died.
Now this doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the nonsensical plot of this book. In short order, we meet another ghost who happens to be a sexy teenager with the hots for Phoebe; a terrifying dowager who may be immortal or who may be a vampire or who may be a ghost, but in any case, she drinks blood from the veins of children with a silver straw; the ghost of a housemaid who tried to kill the dowager-vampire but failed and then committed suicide; the ghosts of dead babies; and the ghosts of dead servants who feel really bad that they didn't try to stop the dowager-vampire. Phoebe and her bae can travel through time just by thinking about it, and they flit back and forth (spending an awful lot of time in a swimming pool). For no apparent reason, each chapter begins with a "quote" about the mansion from a fake source, while we watch as Phoebe is simultaneously trying to kill the dowager-vampire; release the other ghosts from being tethered to the mansion by their guilt; help her parents figure out a way to pay the upkeep on the manor (which has never been an issue before, although it has been emphasized that the mansion has been for sale for years but no one will buy it. Um, hello, subdivision?); resolve her own ambivalence and guilt about being dead; assuage her mother's heartbreak and guilt at having lost her daughter; save her baby sister from being a midnight snack for the dowager-vampire until she figures out how to kill the latter; get her ghost-boyfriend to break up with his still-alive girlfriend; help the ghostly housemaid to move on to the next life; and suck face with the ghost-boyfriend. Did I mention that Phoebe died of an obscure medical condition that caused her to faint uncontrollably but her mother refused to take her to the doctor until Phoebe passed out during a swim meet and drowned?
I hate to be cynical, but this book feels like someone wanted to cash in on the craze for YA books, wrote down a bunch of ideas (girl who doesn't know she's dead! boyfriend who also died tragically! vampires! huge manor houses in the British countryside!) and then instead of taking a couple of weeks to think about what fit and what didn't, what made sense and created a cohesive plot, just threw them all into the blender and spewed out this book.
So, yeah, I hated it.
March 25, 2015
Haunted is a well-paced, tense, emotionally satisfying read with a finely detailed gothic atmosphere. In addition to perfectly wrought supernatural flourishes and a surprising twist, Lynn Carthage gives us a warm and relatable heroine (Phoebe), a formidable villain, a charming romantic interest, and an adorably complex baby sister. The evolving relationships between Phoebe and the members of her family are genuinely moving, particularly the interplay between Phoebe and little Tabby. I look forward to the rest of the series!
May 6, 2023
I picked up this book expecting the normal haunting book but i was wrong. This tale was completely different than anything I have read before. Any book that starts with the opening line as "You know you've done something pretty awful when your family moves because of it." I did figure out part of the story line about 25% in but there were other parts which kept me second guessing myself. I found this was an easy read and had a good smooth flow which made it easy to finish in under a day. I'm not really convinced this would be an YA genre but for the most part it can be.
This is actually a 3 1/2 star rating.
This is actually a 3 1/2 star rating.
December 7, 2018
It's hard to write about this story without spoilers since there's an imaginative surprise in the middle, but I can tell you this: baby eating bad guys are scary bad guys, and Lynn Carthage is one dark, gruesome writer. I love it when you get to a big –twist revelation that changes everything so thoroughly it makes you want to start the full book over. This is a stunning, thrilling, and emotional novel. I blubbered my way through the final, heartfelt pages of this teen-dream ghost story. As usual, Carthage uplifts undervalued people. Central themes showcase her regard for the older step daughters and lowly maids of the world and her devotion to the value of writing and curiosity.
January 26, 2015
Haunted is the first book in a new young adult paranormal mystery series by the author Lynn Carthage. I requested it at Netgalley as I liked the premise – a gothic mystery with some haunting going on. A huge dark mansion in England, and a young girl’s search for the truth.
An American family is moving from San Francisco to the husband’s family mansion in England, all because of something Phoebe, the older girl did not long ago.
Even now that they’re settling in their new home, the parents (mother and step dad) are not quite their usual normal selves with the girl. Sometimes it seems they even completely ignore her. She must have done something really terrible back at home, but for the life of her, she can’t remember what…
One thing Phoebe can’t get over is the fact that she seems to black out at random times and always end up someplace else with no recollection of how she got there.
Soon after arriving to her new home, Phoebe meets a young British guy Miles and they both feel quite attracted to each other. They both realize something is wrong, so together they try to figure out what is going on.
Boy I didn’t see the major twist coming – although now that I think of it, the signs were all there, and I’m sure there will be readers who will have figured it all out way before I did.
Once I understood the gist of the story, it all became more enjoyable again and I was looking forward to see how Phoebe and Miles would deal with the evil that lurks in the house and how to protect her little sister from that evil taking her.
Full book review at http://mysterysequels.com/haunted-by-...
An American family is moving from San Francisco to the husband’s family mansion in England, all because of something Phoebe, the older girl did not long ago.
Even now that they’re settling in their new home, the parents (mother and step dad) are not quite their usual normal selves with the girl. Sometimes it seems they even completely ignore her. She must have done something really terrible back at home, but for the life of her, she can’t remember what…
One thing Phoebe can’t get over is the fact that she seems to black out at random times and always end up someplace else with no recollection of how she got there.
Soon after arriving to her new home, Phoebe meets a young British guy Miles and they both feel quite attracted to each other. They both realize something is wrong, so together they try to figure out what is going on.
Boy I didn’t see the major twist coming – although now that I think of it, the signs were all there, and I’m sure there will be readers who will have figured it all out way before I did.
Once I understood the gist of the story, it all became more enjoyable again and I was looking forward to see how Phoebe and Miles would deal with the evil that lurks in the house and how to protect her little sister from that evil taking her.
Full book review at http://mysterysequels.com/haunted-by-...
March 29, 2015
This was an incredible book with a wonderful flowing story line that will keep you hooked from page one to the very end. The book is left open for a possible book two which I can't wait to see. If you like American Horror Story and remember the very first season you will be able to relate this book to that somewhat. They both have a similar storyline but this is G Rated or a more tame version to American Horror Stories Season One.
Phoebe and her family have relocated to England to her step dad's family seat because of something that happened back in California that Phoebe can't quite remember. The property they move to is a very old English Manor Home set to resemble some of the homes from the 1700's of France. The original owners had the house built to remind them of their beloved France and each and every aspect of the house from furniture to paintings to atmosphere are reminders of what was left in France.
The one thing that Phoebe and her family did not expect was that the house is haunted and there is a horror there that will surly cost them their sanity if things go the way they start out.
The book does lag just for a bit in the middle until our characters figure out what is truly going on but then it picks up nicely and go at a good clip to the very end. I honestly didn't expect a few of the things that jumped out at me. It's not a gory story but one more of just horror and ghosts and things that go bump in the night. You might want to watch out for what lies behind the next door you open.
Phoebe and her family have relocated to England to her step dad's family seat because of something that happened back in California that Phoebe can't quite remember. The property they move to is a very old English Manor Home set to resemble some of the homes from the 1700's of France. The original owners had the house built to remind them of their beloved France and each and every aspect of the house from furniture to paintings to atmosphere are reminders of what was left in France.
The one thing that Phoebe and her family did not expect was that the house is haunted and there is a horror there that will surly cost them their sanity if things go the way they start out.
The book does lag just for a bit in the middle until our characters figure out what is truly going on but then it picks up nicely and go at a good clip to the very end. I honestly didn't expect a few of the things that jumped out at me. It's not a gory story but one more of just horror and ghosts and things that go bump in the night. You might want to watch out for what lies behind the next door you open.
January 31, 2015
Note: I was kindly sent a digital review copy of this book by the publisher.
For fans of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Haunted is an epic YA paranormal thriller set in contemporary times, but with a twist that might just leave you up at night. This book introduces a new genre of YA all by itself, bringing mystery, romance, action, and lots of paranormal elements to the table. Meanwhile, earning itself a four-star review. It plays with your head. It messes with your emotions.
But be warned. You're left with false hope when you go into Haunted thinking that you'll come out the same.
For fans of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Haunted is an epic YA paranormal thriller set in contemporary times, but with a twist that might just leave you up at night. This book introduces a new genre of YA all by itself, bringing mystery, romance, action, and lots of paranormal elements to the table. Meanwhile, earning itself a four-star review. It plays with your head. It messes with your emotions.
But be warned. You're left with false hope when you go into Haunted thinking that you'll come out the same.
January 28, 2015
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
I felt sorry for Phoebe. Moving to another country would obviously be hard, without all the haunted house stuff and everything else!
The main problem I had with this was how predictable it was. I could see the "twist" coming fairly early on, as it was made very, very obvious. If it hadn't been so obvious and predictable, I probably would have enjoyed the book more.
The ending was alright, But I still didn't love it.
Overall, Okay read, Just way too predictable.
I felt sorry for Phoebe. Moving to another country would obviously be hard, without all the haunted house stuff and everything else!
The main problem I had with this was how predictable it was. I could see the "twist" coming fairly early on, as it was made very, very obvious. If it hadn't been so obvious and predictable, I probably would have enjoyed the book more.
The ending was alright, But I still didn't love it.
Overall, Okay read, Just way too predictable.
February 12, 2015
Haunted is not your average ghost story. Lynn Carthage takes the reader on an emotional and action packed roller coaster as we follow Phoebe in her explorations of the Arnaud Manor. There is terror and romance in plenty as Phoebe discovers that her families move from California to the quiet English countryside is anything but. Lynn Carthage keeps you guessing and is sure to pleasantly surprise mystery lovers.
September 17, 2015
Have you ever read a book where you could just skim through it and only read the conversations but by the end you know exactly what happened without having to read the rest? Well Haunted isn't a book you can do that with. Sometimes I find myself skimming ahead in books if they are slow or sometimes I just do it out of reflex. I found myself doing it out of reflex for this book but after five pages I realized I needed to go back and actually read everything. If I hadn't gone back I would have missed out on the moldering library scene and the beautiful the beautiful simile with the queen bee. So I restarted the book. As a reviewer/blogger, sometimes you feel like you don't have enough time to fully read a book word for word. But, I promise you, that this book is worth the read. Cover to cover, word for word.
I think the part the really pulled me into the book was what could this girl have possibly done to warrant moving from California to the English countryside. Did she kill someone? Burn a house down? It has to be something horrendous because even she can't remember. And who is she, you might be asking? Well, I DON'T KNOW. She doesn't use her name for a while and that makes it all the more mysterious, to me at least. But she tells us her sisters, mothers and stepfathers name. And we even learn the name of the hottest guy in her old school. But who is she? Hmmm. I think I will leave that out. So you now have to figure that out for yourself.
Haha, just kidding. Her name is Phoebe. I seriously haven't heard that name since Hey, Arnold. But Phoebe likes to swim and seems very eccentric when you first meet her. She goes through a few stages of mentality. First she thinks she is crazy because she hears things. Then she thinks she has schizophrenia because she has been seeing things. If I was Phoebe when all of this started happening I probably would have crawled into bed and stayed there. But, unlike how I would be, Phoebe wants answers. As any good protagonist/heroin would. I give her points for bravery.
This book has a strong family aspect to it. Phoebe would do anything to protect her little sister, Tabby. But at the same time there is a lot of resentment and jealousy going on. I can understand that. Phoebe was an only child for almost all of her adolescent life and then all of a sudden her mom is having a baby. That can definitely be something that would hit any child hard. But I don't think Phoebe's resentment is towards her sister. I think it is towards her mother and Steven. She feels like her mother is ignoring her and she feels like she is no longer Steven's child even though he has never treated her as anything less than his daughter.
Something felt off with this book. Not meaning the writing or anything. But when Phoebe talked to her parents they didn't really seem to notice her. Steven did, but he also seemed to be trying to ignore her. So this kind of made me wonder what was going on. Later on I obviously found out what was going on but the whole Phoebe being ignored thing kind of tipped me off. I didn't completely guess what was going on but the idea I had went down the same path. But Haunted lives up to its title. It is a very haunting and it had me questioning my mental health one point.
So, as a whole, the book is about ghosts, secrets, creepy family history, love, loss, and so much more. I try to keep my reviews as spoiler free as possible so I think I will end the review here. If I was to go on it would probably get into the plot twist and other things and I think the reader should find all that out on their own. But, with that being said, I still feel like my review has not done this book justice. If you are a fan of We Were Liars and you enjoyed how the book ended then I think you would like this. The book itself isn't ANYTHING like We Were Liars but they have somewhat of a similar plot twist.
Haunted was a fun read and I think everyone should give it a try. The authors writing was very beautiful and full of similes. She used such amazing imagery when describing scenes, sounds, and places.
Overall, I gave the book 5/5 stars.
I think the part the really pulled me into the book was what could this girl have possibly done to warrant moving from California to the English countryside. Did she kill someone? Burn a house down? It has to be something horrendous because even she can't remember. And who is she, you might be asking? Well, I DON'T KNOW. She doesn't use her name for a while and that makes it all the more mysterious, to me at least. But she tells us her sisters, mothers and stepfathers name. And we even learn the name of the hottest guy in her old school. But who is she? Hmmm. I think I will leave that out. So you now have to figure that out for yourself.
Haha, just kidding. Her name is Phoebe. I seriously haven't heard that name since Hey, Arnold. But Phoebe likes to swim and seems very eccentric when you first meet her. She goes through a few stages of mentality. First she thinks she is crazy because she hears things. Then she thinks she has schizophrenia because she has been seeing things. If I was Phoebe when all of this started happening I probably would have crawled into bed and stayed there. But, unlike how I would be, Phoebe wants answers. As any good protagonist/heroin would. I give her points for bravery.
This book has a strong family aspect to it. Phoebe would do anything to protect her little sister, Tabby. But at the same time there is a lot of resentment and jealousy going on. I can understand that. Phoebe was an only child for almost all of her adolescent life and then all of a sudden her mom is having a baby. That can definitely be something that would hit any child hard. But I don't think Phoebe's resentment is towards her sister. I think it is towards her mother and Steven. She feels like her mother is ignoring her and she feels like she is no longer Steven's child even though he has never treated her as anything less than his daughter.
Something felt off with this book. Not meaning the writing or anything. But when Phoebe talked to her parents they didn't really seem to notice her. Steven did, but he also seemed to be trying to ignore her. So this kind of made me wonder what was going on. Later on I obviously found out what was going on but the whole Phoebe being ignored thing kind of tipped me off. I didn't completely guess what was going on but the idea I had went down the same path. But Haunted lives up to its title. It is a very haunting and it had me questioning my mental health one point.
So, as a whole, the book is about ghosts, secrets, creepy family history, love, loss, and so much more. I try to keep my reviews as spoiler free as possible so I think I will end the review here. If I was to go on it would probably get into the plot twist and other things and I think the reader should find all that out on their own. But, with that being said, I still feel like my review has not done this book justice. If you are a fan of We Were Liars and you enjoyed how the book ended then I think you would like this. The book itself isn't ANYTHING like We Were Liars but they have somewhat of a similar plot twist.
Haunted was a fun read and I think everyone should give it a try. The authors writing was very beautiful and full of similes. She used such amazing imagery when describing scenes, sounds, and places.
Overall, I gave the book 5/5 stars.
March 8, 2015
'Haunted' is the first book in a new young adult paranormal series. It follows our heroine, Phoebe, as she and her family move from her home in California to her stepfather's dilapidated family manor in England. Phoebe knows that they had to move because of her - due to something awful that she did - she just can't remember what it is. Phoebe immediately gets a creepy vibe from the house when they arrive, almost as if someone or something is watching her. She hears the local stories about the mansion being haunted by the original owner, Madame Arnaud, who abducts and kills children. Phoebe isn't sure what to believe, especially when she begins to experience really strange things in the manor that she can't logically explain. Nobody in her family will listen to her concerns, so she turns to Miles - the hot guy who has been giving her mixed signals - for information and help. What she finds goes deeper than she ever thought possible, and might just include her too.
This was an intriguing and atmospheric novel that sets the tone and scene for the rest of the series. The setting was my favorite part of the book - the 18th-century mansion that has been left to deteriorate over the decades. The manor is the epitome of Gothic architecture, with detailed descriptions of the various rooms - the ballroom, the library, the main entryway - as well as intricate details - the stained glass windows and the pictures they show, the hundreds of small sculptures on the outside walls of the house, along with all the smells and sounds. The manor is a huge part of the story and is definitely the centerpiece of the book - all of the events and occurrences come back to it. The characters are well written, with each having their own distinct personalities, strengths, weaknesses, and problems. Phoebe - our main character - is also the narrator of the story, so we get to know her on a deeply personal level. We learn everything about her - her quirks, fears, the things she loves and hates, her emotions, and all the inner dialogue throughout the story. Seeing things from her point of view allows the reader to feel more connected to the characters as well as the mystery and paranormal events that occur throughout the book. The plot wasn't anything wholly original, but the author gave it a few twists and turns that made it fresh and unique in it's own way. No spoilers here, so I'll just say that the twists are big and alter the reader's perceptions in several ways. The writing was well done with a natural flow and conversational tone. There was just something about it that didn't grab my attention fully enough to pull me into the author's world. Don't get me wrong - there's nothing at all wrong with the story, the writing, or anything concerning the book. The issue is all on my end. I can't pinpoint the reason that I couldn't immerse myself inside of the story - even with the first person narrator. Because of this, I found my mind wandering at times and I wasn't very focused on the story or what was going on. I have to admit that I did grow a bit bored with the story - again, I don't have any specific reasons why this happened, it just did. I felt like it was going too slow and dragging things out, along with some stereotypical elements and boring aspects. All of these things diminished my interest and my overall experience with the book. Overall though, I would recommend this to fans of young adult fiction, especially those who enjoy fantasy, paranormal, ghost stories, and Gothic fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This was an intriguing and atmospheric novel that sets the tone and scene for the rest of the series. The setting was my favorite part of the book - the 18th-century mansion that has been left to deteriorate over the decades. The manor is the epitome of Gothic architecture, with detailed descriptions of the various rooms - the ballroom, the library, the main entryway - as well as intricate details - the stained glass windows and the pictures they show, the hundreds of small sculptures on the outside walls of the house, along with all the smells and sounds. The manor is a huge part of the story and is definitely the centerpiece of the book - all of the events and occurrences come back to it. The characters are well written, with each having their own distinct personalities, strengths, weaknesses, and problems. Phoebe - our main character - is also the narrator of the story, so we get to know her on a deeply personal level. We learn everything about her - her quirks, fears, the things she loves and hates, her emotions, and all the inner dialogue throughout the story. Seeing things from her point of view allows the reader to feel more connected to the characters as well as the mystery and paranormal events that occur throughout the book. The plot wasn't anything wholly original, but the author gave it a few twists and turns that made it fresh and unique in it's own way. No spoilers here, so I'll just say that the twists are big and alter the reader's perceptions in several ways. The writing was well done with a natural flow and conversational tone. There was just something about it that didn't grab my attention fully enough to pull me into the author's world. Don't get me wrong - there's nothing at all wrong with the story, the writing, or anything concerning the book. The issue is all on my end. I can't pinpoint the reason that I couldn't immerse myself inside of the story - even with the first person narrator. Because of this, I found my mind wandering at times and I wasn't very focused on the story or what was going on. I have to admit that I did grow a bit bored with the story - again, I don't have any specific reasons why this happened, it just did. I felt like it was going too slow and dragging things out, along with some stereotypical elements and boring aspects. All of these things diminished my interest and my overall experience with the book. Overall though, I would recommend this to fans of young adult fiction, especially those who enjoy fantasy, paranormal, ghost stories, and Gothic fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2016
Review originally published on Bibliophilia, Please.
Haunted by Lynn Carthage is just the kind of young adult novel that I like to read. My only experience with YA as a young person was reading R.L. Stine, Lois Duncan, and Christopher Pike, and Haunted is definitely in their league. It was a very nostalgic read.
Because I read so many paranormal, slightly horror YA novels back in the 90s, Haunted was very predictable. I called Phoebe's secret almost immediately, but that took nothing away from the novel. The point and fun of it is the creepy/chilly ghosts and other characters and trying to figure out what is really going on in that old house. (Phoebe's secret is given away at 55% in your Kindle copy if you're like me and want to peak, though I didn't this time. I mean, I didn't have to.)
Another awesome thing going for the book is that I never wanted to skip ahead. I'm really back about doing that with any sort of mystery. I don't like a lot of tension, and Haunted was at my happy medium. There were twists and turns (some that I even missed), but the tension was never palpable enough that I had to find out what was going on. I couldn't put the book down, and I was happy to read it in order. That is quite rare.
Even though I had Phoebe figured out, I liked her a lot as a character. I'm obviously not a teen since I was reading these books in the 90s, but she really brought out my motherly instincts. I think that's part of why I was able to figure her out so quickly, but my heart absolutely broke for her. She loves her family so much and felt so ostracized for what she did back home in California prior to the events of the novel, that I just wanted to hug her. I think a lot of teen readers will be able to relate to her because who doesn't feel like their parents are blowing them off if they have younger siblings? I also really dug her relationship with Tabby. I guess there was enough of an age difference between the sisters that she felt so protective of her. I think it may have been the best part of the book.
If you like stories about hauntings and a good, mild mystery, Haunted is well worth reading. Though it lacked some surprises for me, I'll definitely still continue the series. It's a fantastic debut.
- 3.5/5 Stars -
To satisfy FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received a copy of the novel from the publisher through Book Junkie Promotions in exchange for an unbiased review. It has in no way affected the outcome. All expressed opinions are awesome, honest, and courtesy of me.
Haunted by Lynn Carthage is just the kind of young adult novel that I like to read. My only experience with YA as a young person was reading R.L. Stine, Lois Duncan, and Christopher Pike, and Haunted is definitely in their league. It was a very nostalgic read.
Because I read so many paranormal, slightly horror YA novels back in the 90s, Haunted was very predictable. I called Phoebe's secret almost immediately, but that took nothing away from the novel. The point and fun of it is the creepy/chilly ghosts and other characters and trying to figure out what is really going on in that old house. (Phoebe's secret is given away at 55% in your Kindle copy if you're like me and want to peak, though I didn't this time. I mean, I didn't have to.)
Another awesome thing going for the book is that I never wanted to skip ahead. I'm really back about doing that with any sort of mystery. I don't like a lot of tension, and Haunted was at my happy medium. There were twists and turns (some that I even missed), but the tension was never palpable enough that I had to find out what was going on. I couldn't put the book down, and I was happy to read it in order. That is quite rare.
Even though I had Phoebe figured out, I liked her a lot as a character. I'm obviously not a teen since I was reading these books in the 90s, but she really brought out my motherly instincts. I think that's part of why I was able to figure her out so quickly, but my heart absolutely broke for her. She loves her family so much and felt so ostracized for what she did back home in California prior to the events of the novel, that I just wanted to hug her. I think a lot of teen readers will be able to relate to her because who doesn't feel like their parents are blowing them off if they have younger siblings? I also really dug her relationship with Tabby. I guess there was enough of an age difference between the sisters that she felt so protective of her. I think it may have been the best part of the book.
If you like stories about hauntings and a good, mild mystery, Haunted is well worth reading. Though it lacked some surprises for me, I'll definitely still continue the series. It's a fantastic debut.
- 3.5/5 Stars -
To satisfy FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received a copy of the novel from the publisher through Book Junkie Promotions in exchange for an unbiased review. It has in no way affected the outcome. All expressed opinions are awesome, honest, and courtesy of me.
February 3, 2015
*I was provided a free digital copy in exchange for a review. Thanks NetGalley.*
Review also posted on my blog, Can't Stop Won't Stop Books.
Synopsis:
Moving to my stepfather's English country mansion sounded so promising. But the Arnaud Manor is neglected and unwelcoming, and I get the feeling it isn't exactly uninhabited. Something wants to hurt us--especially my little sister, Tabby.
Okay, so I might be a little sensitive lately. My parents act oblivious to me, my old life is far away in San Francisco, and the gorgeous guy I just met tells me terrible stories about the infamous Madame Arnaud who lived here long ago, and about missing children and vengeful spirits. The kind of stories that are impossible to believe--until you're living in one of them, fighting to protect everyone you love...
My Thoughts:
This was great read, not to mention a quick read. I sat down to read Haunted on a snowy morning and finished it by the late afternoon. The dark, creepy English mansion provided the perfect atmosphere for my escape from my (freezing cold) reality. The harrowing tale of Madame Arnaud and her...peculiar tastes was captivating.
But, (yes, there's a 'but') Phoebe's "secret" was EXTREMELY predictable. That's the main reason that I didn't give this a full five stars. I knew what was going on roughly 20% into the story, with the reveal being around the halfway point. Despite her secret being obvious, Phoebe's character was likeable, and fiercely protective of her family, even if she was feeling a little jilted by them at the time.
The romance wasn't overwhelming. There was a bit of insta-love, but it wasn't anything terrible, especially since Miles and Phoebe's relationship was a very minor sub-plot. The main focus was on the house and it's more undesirable occupants. I felt like the main storyline was very strong. I personally haven't read much like it, though I did find myself attempting to compare Haunted to Ghost House by Alexandra Adornetto.
All in all, Haunted by Lynn Carthage was a creepy, quick read, with a slightly predictable storyline that doesn't hinder the reader's enjoyment. I give it four out of five stars.
Review also posted on my blog, Can't Stop Won't Stop Books.
Synopsis:
Moving to my stepfather's English country mansion sounded so promising. But the Arnaud Manor is neglected and unwelcoming, and I get the feeling it isn't exactly uninhabited. Something wants to hurt us--especially my little sister, Tabby.
Okay, so I might be a little sensitive lately. My parents act oblivious to me, my old life is far away in San Francisco, and the gorgeous guy I just met tells me terrible stories about the infamous Madame Arnaud who lived here long ago, and about missing children and vengeful spirits. The kind of stories that are impossible to believe--until you're living in one of them, fighting to protect everyone you love...
My Thoughts:
This was great read, not to mention a quick read. I sat down to read Haunted on a snowy morning and finished it by the late afternoon. The dark, creepy English mansion provided the perfect atmosphere for my escape from my (freezing cold) reality. The harrowing tale of Madame Arnaud and her...peculiar tastes was captivating.
But, (yes, there's a 'but') Phoebe's "secret" was EXTREMELY predictable. That's the main reason that I didn't give this a full five stars. I knew what was going on roughly 20% into the story, with the reveal being around the halfway point. Despite her secret being obvious, Phoebe's character was likeable, and fiercely protective of her family, even if she was feeling a little jilted by them at the time.
The romance wasn't overwhelming. There was a bit of insta-love, but it wasn't anything terrible, especially since Miles and Phoebe's relationship was a very minor sub-plot. The main focus was on the house and it's more undesirable occupants. I felt like the main storyline was very strong. I personally haven't read much like it, though I did find myself attempting to compare Haunted to Ghost House by Alexandra Adornetto.
All in all, Haunted by Lynn Carthage was a creepy, quick read, with a slightly predictable storyline that doesn't hinder the reader's enjoyment. I give it four out of five stars.
January 19, 2015
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The book starts when the family arrives to the Arnaund mansion in England after the main character Phoebe did something that made the entire family have to move not to another city or state but to a different country. We see from the begining that her parents are tip toing around her, paying more attention to her little sister than her, sighing when she gives the slightest indication that she is a moody teenager so she tries her best to behave because, after all she screwed up.
I liked the main character, Phoebe. She loves her family and even though her newborn sister gets more attention than her she knows it's not anyone's fault and doesn't resent her for it, it's just something she has to deal with. I could understand her reasoning, she made smart choices and tried her best to figure out what is going on and keep her family safe when they themselves won't listen.
That author does a very good job with the descriptions, I could picture the place perfectly and get lost in the story with Phoebe. I was scared when she was, I felt her frustration, anger, confusion. Perhaps what happens is that everything is perfectly fine until something happens. Things don't make sense and I found myself looking back on my phone to see if I had missed a few pages, this goes on for some time until it makes sense and I liked the way the author chose to do it but it can be confusing and off putting at first.
The twist was predictable and at the same time it wasn't. The descriptions created the atmosphere so well I can call it beautiful but there were a few times when I wondered "Do I really need to know this?" Or, at the moments of most suspense the character fell off, I was disconnected from the plot and what was happening. Though beautifully done sometimes the descriptions were a little too much.
The ending was a little rushed for my taste, I wished the author had expanded things a little more in certain aspects but overall it was a good book and a nice read. It says that there will be another book and if that's the case I'll definetely read it.
The book starts when the family arrives to the Arnaund mansion in England after the main character Phoebe did something that made the entire family have to move not to another city or state but to a different country. We see from the begining that her parents are tip toing around her, paying more attention to her little sister than her, sighing when she gives the slightest indication that she is a moody teenager so she tries her best to behave because, after all she screwed up.
I liked the main character, Phoebe. She loves her family and even though her newborn sister gets more attention than her she knows it's not anyone's fault and doesn't resent her for it, it's just something she has to deal with. I could understand her reasoning, she made smart choices and tried her best to figure out what is going on and keep her family safe when they themselves won't listen.
That author does a very good job with the descriptions, I could picture the place perfectly and get lost in the story with Phoebe. I was scared when she was, I felt her frustration, anger, confusion. Perhaps what happens is that everything is perfectly fine until something happens. Things don't make sense and I found myself looking back on my phone to see if I had missed a few pages, this goes on for some time until it makes sense and I liked the way the author chose to do it but it can be confusing and off putting at first.
The twist was predictable and at the same time it wasn't. The descriptions created the atmosphere so well I can call it beautiful but there were a few times when I wondered "Do I really need to know this?" Or, at the moments of most suspense the character fell off, I was disconnected from the plot and what was happening. Though beautifully done sometimes the descriptions were a little too much.
The ending was a little rushed for my taste, I wished the author had expanded things a little more in certain aspects but overall it was a good book and a nice read. It says that there will be another book and if that's the case I'll definetely read it.
March 19, 2015
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
Haunted (The Arnaud Legacy #1) tries to give an original twist to probably the most well-known ghost story plot in the world (protagonist moves into large home that turns out to be haunted) and up to some degree, it succeeds.
Phoebe Irving is sixteen years old when her parents decide to move from San Francisco all the way to rural England. She knows it must be because she did something bad, something she can’t remember. But she tries to adapt to her new surroundings as well as she can. They live in a smaller appartment next door a collossal mansion that is the family house of her stepfather. But soon enough, Phoebe discovers the mansion is haunted by an organ-playing ghost – and not just some ghost. Madame Arnaud, who used to drink blood of children to stay alive forever. And now this evil presence has set her eyes on Tabby, Phoebe’s kid sister. It’s up to Phoebe, and her new friend Miles, to save her.
The descriptions are atmospheric and haunting, and they set a good mood for the book. The book offers gothic horror, with some graphic descriptions of Madame Arnaud, but apart from that, the horror is more of the spine-chilling kind than the gorey type. It’s a solid read in the genre, and our heroine, Phoebe, is a strong and intriguing character. She doesn’t back down from a challenge, but instead faces it head on – a rare quality.
Unfortunately, while the plot had some original elements (which I will not spoil here), it was also fairly predictable. I knew how it would end by the time I hit the halfway mark. Still entertaining, just less intriguing. On top of that, the ending left some things unanswered, and I would’ve preferred everything to wrap up nicely. I don’t mind sequels, but you need to tie up loose ends.
All in all, it’s an enjoyable read, and the author holds a lot of promise – she writes descriptions well, and knows how to create a tense atmosphere.
Haunted (The Arnaud Legacy #1) tries to give an original twist to probably the most well-known ghost story plot in the world (protagonist moves into large home that turns out to be haunted) and up to some degree, it succeeds.
Phoebe Irving is sixteen years old when her parents decide to move from San Francisco all the way to rural England. She knows it must be because she did something bad, something she can’t remember. But she tries to adapt to her new surroundings as well as she can. They live in a smaller appartment next door a collossal mansion that is the family house of her stepfather. But soon enough, Phoebe discovers the mansion is haunted by an organ-playing ghost – and not just some ghost. Madame Arnaud, who used to drink blood of children to stay alive forever. And now this evil presence has set her eyes on Tabby, Phoebe’s kid sister. It’s up to Phoebe, and her new friend Miles, to save her.
The descriptions are atmospheric and haunting, and they set a good mood for the book. The book offers gothic horror, with some graphic descriptions of Madame Arnaud, but apart from that, the horror is more of the spine-chilling kind than the gorey type. It’s a solid read in the genre, and our heroine, Phoebe, is a strong and intriguing character. She doesn’t back down from a challenge, but instead faces it head on – a rare quality.
Unfortunately, while the plot had some original elements (which I will not spoil here), it was also fairly predictable. I knew how it would end by the time I hit the halfway mark. Still entertaining, just less intriguing. On top of that, the ending left some things unanswered, and I would’ve preferred everything to wrap up nicely. I don’t mind sequels, but you need to tie up loose ends.
All in all, it’s an enjoyable read, and the author holds a lot of promise – she writes descriptions well, and knows how to create a tense atmosphere.
September 13, 2015
I love all books set in a old castle in England, It’s true love. Haunted has that back drop of an old abandon castle with ghosts lingering in the hall ways.
The main character Phoebe is a teenage girl who can’t remember what she did to make her parents move from sunny California to gloomy England. All she really knows it must of been pretty bad for them to move thousands of miles. I liked phoebe right from the beginning, she’s a swimmer and loves to read and i want to be a “Literary Mermaid” with her.
I had a hard time rating this book, I went from 3.5 to 4 and then down to 3 but family I settle on 4 because of the ending. I feel this is a great start to a series and it was as scary as I was hoping for. I truly felt sorry for phoebe and how she yearned for her parents attention. And when she knew she needed to protect her little sister Tabby, I felt her anger and sadness. The only part that made me a little crazy was her and Miles relationship. I felt like he wasn’t developed enough for me and she just liked him way too fast. The ending really broke my heart and made me cry (which really isn’t that hard to do). I will definitely be continuing on with this series and can’t wait to see what happens next.
February 7, 2015
An interesting, exciting, and scary read! This was a really good book, perfect for reading on a rainy day with a cup of tea. If you're into scary stories, then this is for you! I'm actually scared pretty easily, so maybe that's just me, but I was a little scared to go to sleep at night after reading about Madame Arnaud. One of the amazing things about this story was the vivid description that the author used, I could literally picture, in my mind, the Arnaud Manor. Even the character development was phenomenal, and oh my word, the plot twists came out of nowhere. This definitely qualifies as one of the best ghost stories I've read, alongside forevermore, make sure to check that out too! Another thing I want to cover in this review is the way that the author managed to capture death and the loss of a loved one was utterly beautiful and heartbreaking. I really felt for the characters in this novel. The last thing I want to talk about is the ending, it was probably among the best of endings I have ever read. A 3.5/5 rating, I would most definitely recommend this book to you, so go check it out!
January 30, 2015
3.5 stars: I thought Haunted was an enjoyable read. The story is about Phoebe and her family as the move to England to start over. Phoebe did something so horrible that they had to move to start over in a new life. The problem is that she can't remember what she did. Her parents are distant and don't seem to pay attention to her. She is also seeing ghosts. There is a mysterious boy in the neighborhood who may hold some answers.
I was pleasantly surprised by this debut novel. I thought it was well written and definitely a spooky read. I won't give away too much of the plot, but I liked the twist in the end. Phoebe was a likable character. She wants to make amends for what she did. She also wants to do whatever she can to protect her baby sister from the evil in the house.
This is a great debut and I recommend it for any lover of YA ghost stories! I look forward to the next book in the series.
I was pleasantly surprised by this debut novel. I thought it was well written and definitely a spooky read. I won't give away too much of the plot, but I liked the twist in the end. Phoebe was a likable character. She wants to make amends for what she did. She also wants to do whatever she can to protect her baby sister from the evil in the house.
This is a great debut and I recommend it for any lover of YA ghost stories! I look forward to the next book in the series.
February 11, 2015
I received this eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I just started it this morning and I couldn't put it down. From the moment Phoebe and her family arrived at the Arnaud Manor, you get the feeling that there is something wrong with the mansion. The author does a great job of describing Phoebe's first impressions and that sense that something is watching her. This book can get pretty creepy at times. Madame Arnaud is a terrifying character and when you find out the truth about her.... Whoa. Not to mention the plot twist regarding Phoebe and Miles. I would recommend this book to people looking for a good paranormal novel with interesting plot twists.
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I really enjoyed reading this book. I just started it this morning and I couldn't put it down. From the moment Phoebe and her family arrived at the Arnaud Manor, you get the feeling that there is something wrong with the mansion. The author does a great job of describing Phoebe's first impressions and that sense that something is watching her. This book can get pretty creepy at times. Madame Arnaud is a terrifying character and when you find out the truth about her.... Whoa. Not to mention the plot twist regarding Phoebe and Miles. I would recommend this book to people looking for a good paranormal novel with interesting plot twists.
https://thewornbookmark.wordpress.com...
March 2, 2016
I really enjoyed this one - no, it wasn't groundbreaking or perfect, but it was pretty fun and creepy. I liked it so much that I was able to suspend belief and allow some plotholes to let myself enjoy the story. I liked Phoebe, I guessed her twist early on, but it didn't take away from the book for me. I suspect this is targeted toward young YA - middle school readers - and so I weight how good the book is based on that. It's a pet peeve of mine when people rate these books low because they're not scary or complex enough. It's written for a younger audience and taken from that perspective, I really liked it and will continue with the series.
February 3, 2015
I felt for Phoebe moving to another country and understood it might be hard. Though I have never done it myself I can image it would take some getting used to. The main problem I had with this was I could guess the ending ahead of time. I probably would have enjoyed the book more if it had a twist ending to it. The ending was alright but I guess for me I knew it was coming. * I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
February 3, 2015
Pretty good. I sort of expected some of the twists but overall, it was a suspenseful, engaging read, and I plan on reading the second installment. I love the incorporation of history, Madame Arnaud herself was probably my favorite thing about the book.
March 4, 2015
This book was really good. It was creepy, suspenseful, occasionally dark and with just a hint of romance. And who doesn't like books that take place in dark, creepy and ancient castle? A great read. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
February 22, 2015
I receive a free to review copy from Netgalley.com, and put the review on my blog: http://booklifecrisis.blogspot.com/20...
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March 10, 2015Giveaway @ Let Them Read Books!
April 22, 2015
An interesting read with some twists and turns that will surprise you. You can see my full review at AAR
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