The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion

by Ivy Grimes

Ruby is almost happy with her secluded life deep in the forest with her mother and sister Opal. But when her mother gets sick, Ruby decides to provide for her family the only way she knows by marrying the enigmatic owner of a bizarre mansion, and dutifully serving as hostess to his strange parties. There's just one what happened to all his previous wives? The answer is stranger than Ruby could have imagined...

"If you ever wished Kurt Vonnegut and Karen Russell had written a quirky gothic ghost story about complicated histories, family secrets, maze-like mansions, alchemy, and talking possums, then this is the book for you! A fun romp all the way through!”


—Corey Farrenkopf, author of
Living in Cemeteries


“The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion expertly blends a fairytale atmosphere with contemporary dread and philosophy to create an unforgettable tale. With whimsical anachronisms alongside dashes of magic, humor, and of course glass, this is much more than a reimagining of Bluebeard, but a thought-provoking dissection of identity, loyalty, and love.”

–Emma E. Murray,
author of Crushing Snails

Genres: Horror

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2025

About the author

Recent author of The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion (Cemetery Gates) and Glass Stories (Grimscribe Press).

Published in The Baffler, ergot., Maudlin House, hex, and by other nice people.

Reviews

[Adam McPhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great, blending the gothic novel and fairy tales to create a very vivid world brilliantly rendered with a great deadpan.

I think Phew/Didymus was my favourite. We've seen plenty of Southern bible obsessives, but Phew felt special.

Obviously I got the allusion to Bluebeard, but somehow it only just hit me as I finished the book that 'Blaubart' is a corruption of Bluebeard. lol

Step aside Claire Boucher––there's a new grimes in town!

[Jamedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion is an interesting Southern Gothic novel, which marks the debut of Ivy Grimes, published by Cemetery Gates Media. A mysterious husband that marries a new wife, our main character, Ruby, and takes her to the scary Blaubart Mansion, a storyline that Grimes uses as the excuse to take us to a new and weird level while she develops the plot itself.

Ruby's life was weird even before marrying Glaucon Blaubart and moving to his Mansion; she lived with her sister and her mother in a cabin in the woods, afraid of strangers, and with a fair share of strange things, such as Phew, a prophetic kid, a talking raccoon and a French man. But it is a new level when she has to take the role hosting the Blaubart's traditions, including a room she cannot access; with the pass of time and the role of her sister Opal, we will see how all will unravel in many ways.

Grimes takes a bold approach to this novel, letting the place to take over the narrative, with the ghosts being the conductor thread over the story of the Mansion; it is quite interesting to see how all the stories are woven together and how it relates to the tradition of sacrificing the wives to keep the place running.
The pacing suffers a bit as a consequence of the approach, feeling irregular at moments, but overall, it is an enjoyable read, especially if you favour vibes over everything.

The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion is a great novel, a perfect choice if you are looking for a Southern Gothic horror approach to a story which could have been inspired by Bluebeard; a great debut by Ivy Grimes!

[Albert Marsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really truly enjoyed this debut novel from Ivy Grimes. There's a really fantastic world here, unlike anything I've encountered in a while, a sort of Gormenghastian mansion populated by the King of the Hillesque characters. Wonderful.

Loved the Nephew of God especially.

Can't wait to see what Grimes does next.

[Kyle Nowak · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE GHOSTS OF BLAUBART MANSION is a precious gem with a unique sort of Southern charm. Ivy Grimes is a master when it comes to dreamy fairytale absurdism, and her particular brand of 'weird' is on full display with this fantastic debut novel.

From start to finish, the story blossoms in such a satisfying way. I had a lot of fun exploring the mansion and its surrounding grounds, and spending time with a host of memorable/whimsical characters. The world Grimes created here is very light and airy, but also somewhat 'off' - with many dark secrets waiting to be uncovered, along with an omnipresent dread.

There was a haunting grayness to this story that I really enjoyed; a grayness that will linger long after reading, and is sure to induce moments of self-reflection. Also, pay close attention to the author's witty and clever prose; there are plenty of subtle situations or phrases to reward the attentive reader. Additionally, the author's precision and use of humor really shines - with random bits of quirkiness reminiscent of Napoleon Dynamite or Clarissa Explains It All. Grimes' ability to weave such opposing themes was a lot of fun, and really impressive!

I am glad to own a physical copy. This book is truly special in its uniqueness and originality, and I am excited to visit the mansion again in the future!

[Vivian Givhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of retooled fairy tales (think Angela Carter but millenial), I recommend Ivy's The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion. A talking opossum, a prophet (or self purported), the bonds of sisterhood, ghosts, and family trauma all get woven into the framework of Bluebeard. I enjoyed it immensely.

[Taura Wildes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ

"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒐𝒎? 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒕, 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚'𝒅 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒕."

Ruby grew up living deep in the forest with her mother and sister Opal. When her mother becomes ill, Ruby decides to take the opportunity to marry an eccentric man named Glaucon Blaubart in order to take care of her family.

Glaucon descends from a long line of Blaubart men who have each upheld a twisted family tradition. After moving into his mansion, Ruby learns more about the many previous wives of Glaucon and his ancestors and the nature of their untimely ends.

Would Ruby face the same fate as her predecessors? Or should this disturbing tradition end with her once and for all?


This was such a cosy, intriguing and unique read. I loved the old-timey feel of the story despite it being set in a more modern era.

The story is told from multiple points of views and the imperfect characters make their scenarios more relatable and allows room for many heart-warming moments.

The pacing of the plot is perfect and I found it easy to be completely engrossed and eager to find out how the predicaments presented would be resolved.

Ivy Grimes is proving to be an imaginative writer and I always enjoy reading her work.

I highly recommend this read.

[Abby Draper · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise is a very unique take on a haunted mansion with family secrets. There are some wild and wonderful characters, including Phew (The Nephew of God), a talking possum, and an old woman named Emma who spends her days in the dark building glass statues. I truly loved these characters and their stories will stick with me for a long time.

Then, there is the character of Donny who just fell very flat for me. His dialogue was unrealistic and his presence and motives were very confusing. There were also some minor plot holes and things that just weren’t explained as in-depth as they could have been.

I did really enjoy the story, especially the last fourth of the book. The ending was a beautiful amalgamation of the main characters and their family and friend’s stories.

This book is an intriguing combination of spooky, magical realism, family drama, and interesting takes on Christianity. The magical realism was especially surprising and welcome.

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

[Erik McHatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blaubart Mansion is a fantastic debut for Ivy Grimes, a book that at once encapsulates her unique style of writing, while expanding upon it at the same time; a psuedo-fairy tale that has the capability to break your heart, tickle your funny bone, and tease your sense of wonder, sometimes all at once. I fell in love with the world of this novel, which is meticulously crafted in front of you with such deftness that you'll feel as if a spell is being cast upon you. Grimes' matter-of-fact style is disarming to the point of absurdity, yet you never feel as if any detail she reveals about her world is out of place. It all just seems to make sense, even when it shouldn't. This quality is perhaps the strongest piece of the Blaubart puzzle. I highly recommend picking this one up and losing yourself in the world of Ruby, Opal, and Phew (the principle characters) and following each of them into the depths of Blaubart Mansion. I assure you, you won't regret it.

[Michael Hicks]

DNF @ 10%
Sadly, I’m bouncing pretty hard off of this one, and almost immediately at that. Ivy Grimes got some rave reviews from others that I trust with her debut short story collection from Grimscribe Press, so maybe that’s a better place for me to begin with her work. I requested an ARC of this title from Ms. Grimes, but unfortunately this isn’t looking like a good match for my mood and taste at the moment.

[Matthew Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE GHOSTS OF BLAUBART MANSION takes you into its fold of rural castles, child-prophets, and ornery spirits with the graceful weirdness of modern folklore. Disarming, fully-realized, and without compromise, Ivy Grimes continues to bludgeon genre contraints and expectations in this barn-burning debut novel.

[Chris Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this odd, funny, slightly disturbing southern gothic spin on Bluebeard. Grimes does a great job of off-kilter world-building that is bizarre and always engaging. Super unique.

[jellybean · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

Reading this book felt like remembering a dream I had a long time ago; there was a romantic quality about the story and the writing was whimsical but also a bit hard to follow at times. There were parts of the story that didn't feel quite like it was where it should be in character development and some of the relationships felt very awkward and mechanical. I wish there was more lore about the world or an explanation of “laws” of the world because I did find it fascinating. The most interesting part of the book is the house and I wish there was more time to explore it.

I enjoyed the book but it did leave me feeling a little unsettled.

[Makayla Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Using the CAWPILE method, this book averaged at a 6.29/10 rating which classifies it as a three star read.

CHARACTERS: 6/10. I had a hard time feeling like I could connect to any of the characters, let alone like them. They were written in such a way that they felt disjointed and empty.

ATMOSPHERE: 6/10. The atmosphere mostly felt a bit flat to me, but there were a couple places that I could picture clearly and really got a spooky vibe. I wouldn’t really call this gothic.

WRITING STYLE: 4/10. For me the writing style really aged this book back. It’s supposed to be set pretty close to present day but it felt like it was way back in the Middle Ages, which was jarring when something like a cell phone was brought up. As close as I can tell, it has to do with the way it was written and how everyone talked. It just seemed like it didn’t flow correctly.

PLOT: 8/10. The plot is really pretty good, and I imagine if it was written differently I would’ve rated this much higher. There were only a few points that irked me, but it’s stuff I can live with.

INTRIGUE: 8/10. The intrigue in the book is solid, and I did want to know what happened, it was just the journey that fell a little flat for me.

LOGIC/REASONING: 6/10. The disjointed speech/setting and the way there were ghosts and a ‘prophet’ but the idea of magic was ridiculous? Plus some things felt thrown in just to shake it up a bit.

ENJOYMENT: 6/10. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve had so many five star reads lately or what, but I felt like reading this was like walking through mud that was up to my thighs. The pacing was really off for me, as were the characters, and I feel like the good things didn’t exactly make up for it. If this kind of book is your vibe, I do not fault you for it, but this book isn’t for me based on the parts of a story I value the most.

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

[Zak Cowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion feels equal parts a Lynchian Grimm’s Fairy Tale and a literary southern gothic story. A mix of Dunsany’s Why the Milkman Shudders When He Perceives the Dawn, The Ghosts from Crimson Peak, and a precocious child’s daydream. The story feels like when you mix all of the paints together at once; instead of an off-putting brown color, Grimes has created a wonderfully weird Aubergine. In this book, it feels as if Grimes is shedding any preconceived notion of what a story should or shouldn’t be. It draws from those primordial wellsprings we call Fable and Dream. You will read about a family and community which has attempted to sublimate and dress up its horrible past and its terrible traditions, and though it is a reimagining of Bluebeard, one will recognize the familiarity of the parallels between this and Southern/Aristocratic reality. A reinvention of the horrors of history, a facade of progress as the innards rot and collapse in on themselves. You will somnambulate through the experiences of two sisters, each of which is in her own way, called forth to her duty of destroying the oppressive systems which keep us all, living and alive, trapped. You will re-read certain sentences twice, or even three times. Sometimes because what you read is so peculiar you have to make sure you read it correctly, and sometimes because it was so literary and true that you have to take it in again. And at the end you will be left with the wonderfully lonely feeling of having woken up from a dream that you know you won’t quite have again.

[Skrekkbibliotekaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruby trives med sitt tilbaketrukne liv i skogen, sammen med sin mor og søster. Men når mammaen til Ruby blir dårlig, og jentene ikke finner noen løsning på hvordan de skal betale regningene, bestemmer hun seg for å gifte seg inn i den beryktede Blaubart-familien, og flytter til familiens store, flotte herskapshus. Men Ruby legger raskt merke til at huset er merkelig, og oppholdet hennes der blir bare rarere og rarere…

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 er en gjenfortelling av det klassiske eventyret Ridder Blåskjegg. Interessant nok er dette den andre gjenfortellingen jeg leser av eventyret i år. Tidligere i år leste jeg Det blodige rommet av Angela Carter, som jeg likte veldig godt. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 er derimot mye mer utfyllende, har bedre karakterer og en mer underholdende handling.

I tillegg er boken utrolig godt skrevet, og er stappfull av humor! Så å si på hver eneste side skjer det noe morsomt. Dette var en skrekkroman som fikk meg til å le mer enn den skremte meg! Det betyr derimot ikke at boka er helt uten skrekk, for det er et par skremmende scener her også, og definitivt et par skremmende karakterer, men det er humoren som gjorde mest inntrykk på meg. Den bisarre blandingen av skrekk, humor og magisk realisme fungere rett og slett bare utrolig godt.

Dette er en bok som absolutt ikke vil fungere for alle, men som et knippe mennesker kommer til å sette pris på. Jeg tror jeg selv ligger litt imellom disse to gruppene, for selv om jeg stort sett koste meg med boka, ble den til tider også litt for treg for meg. Mellom morsomme utsagn, og underholdende scener var det også flere ganger jeg satt og, ja… kjeda meg litt. Men det varte heldigvis aldri lenge nok til at jeg ikke gadd å lese mer, og jeg hadde en god helhetlig leseopplevelse!

Liker du bisarre og morsomme skrekkbøker, kan jeg anbefale denne. Og jeg gleder meg allerede til å lese mer skrekk fra Grimes i fremtiden, for jeg digger denne stilen!

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion slips between the weird and the grounded until we exist only to follow its currents. Ruby once lived in the woods with her mother, her sister Opal, and a boy named Phew claiming to be God’s nephew. After Ruby marries a man with too many dead wives, she lives like a luxurious pet under the direction of his steely housekeeper. Until the day that her sister, Opal, comes looking for her.

The book moves between the past and the present, simmering with a delicate menace. It weaves together elements of Bluebeard and Rebecca with Southern Gothic vibes and possums, but it never goes where you expect. The prose is crisp and the story feels deftly woven, from the isolated setting, the creepy mansion, and of course, quite the assortment of ghosts.

It’s the kind of book that doesn’t provide simple explanations, but lets you decide for yourself. For me, it explores the legacy of family, the bonds and trauma that hold us together, and how we can believe we’re doing the right thing but never really be certain. Definitely recommended if you enjoy books that are eccentric, fantastical and creepy.

[Dionne Muller · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion, author Ivy Grimes weaves a darkly imaginative Southern gothic tale that both enthrals and unsettles.

The novel follows Ruby, a young woman living an isolated existence deep in the forest with her mother and sister Opal. When their mother falls ill, Ruby takes the drastic step of marrying the mysterious owner of a strange mansion to provide for her family, agreeing to act as hostess for his bizarre gatherings. But as Ruby settles into her new role, she begins to uncover the disturbing truth behind her husband's former wives and their untimely fates.

Grimes' boundless creativity shines through in vivid, sometimes jarring details, from children crafted out of baby toes to a friendship struck with the nephew of God himself.

While billed as gothic horror, the book's references to modern elements like television and air travel can occasionally disorient the reader, making the fictional world challenging to fully visualize.

Nevertheless, The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion delivers a compellingly unconventional read for those seeking something well off the beaten path of typical horror fare.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion, Ivy Grimes weaves a modern fairy tale with warm humor and delightful weirdness alike. The Blaubart mansion feels as though it's frozen in time. Isolated, with its eerie secret rooms, deep history, and antiquated customs, which makes it all the more fantastic and bizarre each time the reader is reminded we are living in modern times by an airplane flying by or a mention of the internet. All of it is steeped with magic, alchemy, and ghosts being ever present. Magic that is prevalent but doesn't lift the curtain too high, keeping a firm grip on the mystique. Speaking of magic, among the genre fun, Grimes has vividly and fantastically painted living, breathing imperfect and full characters and relationships, the pressures of class disparity and society, and a feeling of helplessness when that inevitable grinding wheel of history repeats itself.

[Nadia King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Less than 30 pages into the ARC, I just knew I had to pre-order. This novel is one of those stories where you didn't know you needed, where it's unexpected and quirky, yet everything fits in all the best ways. I thought the 5-star ratings here were mostly fueled by pre-release hype. Little did I know, it's well-deserved.

I'm 50% of the way through my digital ARC, and intend to save the rest of the story for when I receive my purchased physical copy. A more substantiated review will follow.

If you enjoy quirky, gothic, and fantastical and are accepting of unconventional prose, this novel is a must read. Highly enjoyable and well worth the time!

[LM Zaerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel romps with the Bluebeard story with all the delighted energy of a puppy. Every page is filled with unexpected perspectives or plot twists, and the quirky details resonate with reality: destructive traditions persist even after their structures have been burned down and the ghosts of their victims released.

The story is accessible and clear, but it also invites complex reflection. The use of language is satisfyingly multivalent, and the characters are complex and thoroughly engaging. At the core is a fundamental sanity, an awareness of what makes for healthy relationships and what perspectives keep one healthy.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy Grimes was able to create a strong Gothic horror novel and enjoyed the idea of the use of Bluebeard. The concept worked well with the ghost elements and was enjoying the blend of fairy tale and supernatural elements. The characters worked well in this universe and was invested in what was happening with the characters. It had that suspenseful atmosphere that I was looking for and enjoyed the way Ivy Grimes wrote this.

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

[Christi Nogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging debut novel from the author of short story collections GLASS STORIES and GRIME TIME. As in the shorter works, Grimes does a magnificent job here spinning together threads from various influences such as gothic novels, Southern gothic fiction, fairytale and legend, and TV shows. While her play with genres is comparable to that of to Angela Carter and Kelly Link in some ways, Grimes has her own distinct voice and is carving out her own niche in literature. I enjoyed this novel and look forward to her next!

[Shinyfluff · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very cool gothic ghost story, re-telling of Bluebeard. Loved the modern southern setting and the way the dialogue flowed. the antagonism of another female character was an interesting dynamic. I felt the absence of Black ghosts & the issues of race and oppression not only gender and oppression, despite it being briefly explained away, especially in a southern setting that was obviously once a plantation of some kind. I really loved the character of Phew and the forest scenes and the symbolism and lore of the possum. the prose felt very fairy-tale like which i enjoyed

[Renée Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is much more than a modernized take on Bluebeard! I loved how the author used the folk tale as a starting point for a fun yet touching story about sisterhood, violence, and the complex issue of dealing with our heritage. I went through so many emotions reading it: fear, laughter, anger, sadness, love… A must-read. Plus you NEED to meet Phew, nephew of God and prophet, brave Ruby, thoughtful Opal, and maybe even that burning possum…

[Kate | Date With A Thriller · Rating 3 out of 5]

What did I just read?!? 😅

Nephew of God, talking possums, a girl created from a toe, revolving door of new wives who meet mysterious ends…it was a wild ride to say the least! 🫠

Definitely a slow burn though, which doesn’t always work for me. Still going to recommend it because as always, not every book is for every person! That cover though is 🔥🔥🔥!

Thank you to Cemetery Gates Media for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is a timeless one which could very well have happened in the 1800s or present day. There are elements found in fairy tales of old yet could very easily be modern times. The storyline was unique and held my interest to find out what was going to happen next and how it was all going to end.

Definitely keeping and eye out for more from this author.

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

[Alex Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a book you can’t fit into a single category. The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion blends fantasy, gothic horror, magical realism, folk tales, and not to mention comedy. In every other chapter, you’ll completely forget the time period. Or maybe you never really knew it to begin with.

I had a lot of fun reading this one. It’s now a new favorite ghost story of mine. I highly recommend it.

Although I’m quite nervous about ever playing beer pong again, yet I don’t know why.

[T.J. Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illuminated by fantastical and surreal imagery, with bizarre (and often surprising) turns of event, The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion is a beautiful chimera of fiction, both familiar and somehow entirely unique. Ivy Grimes' work cannot be categorized, and furthermore, shouldn't be—it is its own radiant, hybrid thing, free from constraints of genre or expectation, and is all the more radiant for it.

[Austin Shirey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve loved everything Ivy Grimes has put out, and The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion is no exception! In fact, it’s my favorite thing she’s done to date—it’s funny, creepy, and unabashedly weird, a perfect distillation of Grimes’ one-of-a-kind mix of the surreal and the absurd, all wrapped up in the guise of a modern Southern fairy tale. I can’t wait to revisit it!

[Emma E. Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ghosts of Blaubart Mansion expertly blends a fairytale atmosphere with contemporary dread and philosophy to create an unforgettable tale. With whimsical anachronisms alongside dashes of magic, humor, and of course glass, this is much more than a reimagining of Bluebeard, but a thought-provoking dissection of identity, loyalty, and love. I've been recommending this to everyone!