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What Walks These Halls: What Walks These Halls, Book 1
A prickling sensation grew on the back of her neck, spreading up her scalp. It was the feeling of being watched. She whirled to face the doorway but it was empty.
Raven O'Sullivan doesn't remember what happened in Hyacinth House five years ago. When her father died during a paranormal investigation there, everyone said it was an accident, but she's pretty certain it's her fault.
Her brother, Archer, wasn't there that night. When asked to investigate the supposed ghost of Hyacinth House, he can't resist saying yes. Even if his sister wants nothing to do with it.
Éabha McLoughlin has grown up seeing and hearing things no one else does. Now that she's starting college, she finally has the freedom to find out why. The daring Archer and his eclectic team seem like a good place to start.
But everyone has their secrets, and they all lead back to Hyacinth House …
2023, An Post Irish Book Awards Teen and Young Adult Book of the Year, Short-listed
2023, Great Reads Awards, Short-listed
2023, The Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing Outstanding book written in English for children and young people, Nominated
Raven O'Sullivan doesn't remember what happened in Hyacinth House five years ago. When her father died during a paranormal investigation there, everyone said it was an accident, but she's pretty certain it's her fault.
Her brother, Archer, wasn't there that night. When asked to investigate the supposed ghost of Hyacinth House, he can't resist saying yes. Even if his sister wants nothing to do with it.
Éabha McLoughlin has grown up seeing and hearing things no one else does. Now that she's starting college, she finally has the freedom to find out why. The daring Archer and his eclectic team seem like a good place to start.
But everyone has their secrets, and they all lead back to Hyacinth House …
2023, An Post Irish Book Awards Teen and Young Adult Book of the Year, Short-listed
2023, Great Reads Awards, Short-listed
2023, The Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing Outstanding book written in English for children and young people, Nominated
Audible Audio
First published April 10, 2023
13 people are currently reading
673 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
January 20, 2023
Raven and Archer O'Sullivan lost their father five-years-ago, during a paranormal investigation. Raven's memories of this time are fleeting and her brother was not there to recall what exactly occurred, and so their family have become distanced, all harbouring their secrets and mourning privately. However, when Archer starts his own investigations and can't resist returning to the site that stole their father's life, it brings Raven back into his orbit, along with other entities; some human and desirable and some quite the opposite.
Whilst I did find this an enjoyable and entertaining read, I found it infrequently to be a scary one. This book resides within the YA age range and so, ostensibly, I didn't anticipate it to truly terrify as other books, aimed towards adult readers, have previously done. I did anticipate a few more chilling or creepy moments to appear and was a little disappointed to find the majority of the focus to remain on the interpersonal dynamics between the primary cast of characters. I did like how mysterious the entire novel felt, as well as exploring who each of these characters truly were, but I came to this novel to feel unnerved and, sadly, found this desire not to be fulfilled.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Amy Clarkin, and the publisher, O'brien Press, for this opportunity.
Whilst I did find this an enjoyable and entertaining read, I found it infrequently to be a scary one. This book resides within the YA age range and so, ostensibly, I didn't anticipate it to truly terrify as other books, aimed towards adult readers, have previously done. I did anticipate a few more chilling or creepy moments to appear and was a little disappointed to find the majority of the focus to remain on the interpersonal dynamics between the primary cast of characters. I did like how mysterious the entire novel felt, as well as exploring who each of these characters truly were, but I came to this novel to feel unnerved and, sadly, found this desire not to be fulfilled.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Amy Clarkin, and the publisher, O'brien Press, for this opportunity.
April 14, 2024
This book was excellent! I listened to the audiobook version and it couldn’t have been better. The accents were spot on and I felt like I was right there with the characters in Ireland. The audio absolutely added to the ambiance. YA is not my typical genre, but I must say the dialogue and representation in this book were excellent. The more LGBT+ representation we can get out there, the better! The plot was strong and the story had great pacing. I highly recommend this book! A huge thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased honest opinion.
July 31, 2023
Raven O’Sullivan doesn’t remember what happened in Hyacinth House five years ago. When her father died during a paranormal investigation there, everyone said it was an accident, but she’s pretty certain it’s her fault.
Her brother, Archer, wasn’t there that night. When asked to investigate the supposed ghost of Hyacinth House, he can’t resist saying yes. Even if his sister wants nothing to do with it.
Éabha McLoughlin has grown up seeing and hearing things no one else does. Now that she’s starting college, she finally has the freedom to find out why. The daring Archer and his eclectic team seem like a good place to start.
But everyone has their secrets, and they all lead back to Hyacinth House …
This was an atmospheric slow burner that I absolutely adored. A perfect example of a speculative fiction YA novel that partners coming of age tropes with the paranormal.
For me however, it was Clarkin’s characterisation that won the day as she has written a band of unlikely comrades whom I was rooting for, crying with and literally on the edge of my seat worrying for.
Filled with atmosphere, emotion and spooks and thrills, Clarkin’s book is a must read for any ghost/paranormal horror reader fans.
Her brother, Archer, wasn’t there that night. When asked to investigate the supposed ghost of Hyacinth House, he can’t resist saying yes. Even if his sister wants nothing to do with it.
Éabha McLoughlin has grown up seeing and hearing things no one else does. Now that she’s starting college, she finally has the freedom to find out why. The daring Archer and his eclectic team seem like a good place to start.
But everyone has their secrets, and they all lead back to Hyacinth House …
This was an atmospheric slow burner that I absolutely adored. A perfect example of a speculative fiction YA novel that partners coming of age tropes with the paranormal.
For me however, it was Clarkin’s characterisation that won the day as she has written a band of unlikely comrades whom I was rooting for, crying with and literally on the edge of my seat worrying for.
Filled with atmosphere, emotion and spooks and thrills, Clarkin’s book is a must read for any ghost/paranormal horror reader fans.
December 1, 2025
ugh guys I loved this, it was so comforting and so homely (which is how you know found family is written correctly.)
we’ve got a group of young people (friends, family and something more….) who take over a paranormal investigation business that their parents were involved in before an untimely death that led them all to walk away. years later the new generation of investigators go back to the building that ended the business the first time around.
this had a diverse cast of characters (sapphic, bisexual, deaf, BIPOC) that were all so sweet and protective of each other, just a gang of young people who would do anything to protect each other.
it also had such a great atmosphere, I grew up on horror films and my favs were the conjuring for a v long time and this has a similar vibe. such eerie history and spooky ghosts, I’m so intrigued to see how the rest of the trilogy will go and I can’t wait to dive back into this ragtag group of friends <3
we’ve got a group of young people (friends, family and something more….) who take over a paranormal investigation business that their parents were involved in before an untimely death that led them all to walk away. years later the new generation of investigators go back to the building that ended the business the first time around.
this had a diverse cast of characters (sapphic, bisexual, deaf, BIPOC) that were all so sweet and protective of each other, just a gang of young people who would do anything to protect each other.
it also had such a great atmosphere, I grew up on horror films and my favs were the conjuring for a v long time and this has a similar vibe. such eerie history and spooky ghosts, I’m so intrigued to see how the rest of the trilogy will go and I can’t wait to dive back into this ragtag group of friends <3
May 11, 2023
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't know much about this book before starting it except "haunted house" and "gays" so that's all you're getting as a summary. I loved jumping into this book not knowing much about it.
I absolutely loved this book. It read so amazingly well, I loved the structure, the different points of view, the characters. The characters were very layered and so captivating. I got into the story from the very first sentence to the last one. I did not want to stop reading ever. I also loved the setting. And I don't usually do horror cause I'm a coward but this was perfect, truly an amazing balance of great characters, great plot, the right amount of spooks and romance.
I honestly couldn't recommend this more. Amy Clarkin was a true revelation for me, I might actually like horror now! And I cannot wait for the sequel, I just want so much more from this great group of characters.
I didn't know much about this book before starting it except "haunted house" and "gays" so that's all you're getting as a summary. I loved jumping into this book not knowing much about it.
I absolutely loved this book. It read so amazingly well, I loved the structure, the different points of view, the characters. The characters were very layered and so captivating. I got into the story from the very first sentence to the last one. I did not want to stop reading ever. I also loved the setting. And I don't usually do horror cause I'm a coward but this was perfect, truly an amazing balance of great characters, great plot, the right amount of spooks and romance.
I honestly couldn't recommend this more. Amy Clarkin was a true revelation for me, I might actually like horror now! And I cannot wait for the sequel, I just want so much more from this great group of characters.
August 5, 2025
This is a paranormal YA novel with strong themes of found family, family conflicts and a good old ghost haunting. There was some romance in the background but it wasn't the main focal point, the haunting of Hyacinth House and the impact it has had on several of the main characters was the central point.
Although YA I thoroughly enjoyed this, it's very spooky and dark with plenty of creepiness. I enjoyed learning about all the characters and their history and how it all came together to the present day to deal with the ghost of "The Lady".
I didn't realise this was a start of a series as went in blind but I would happily pick up the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and the author.
Although YA I thoroughly enjoyed this, it's very spooky and dark with plenty of creepiness. I enjoyed learning about all the characters and their history and how it all came together to the present day to deal with the ghost of "The Lady".
I didn't realise this was a start of a series as went in blind but I would happily pick up the next book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and the author.
April 20, 2024
*****I received this audiobook free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
A fun audiobook about a creepy historical house with a ghost who doesn’t want to leave. A group of paranormal investigators who have been following in their parents’ footsteps take on the task of clearing this house in order to help a new realtor get it ready to sell.
I enjoyed this book. I liked how they tied it in to the past. The story was well put together. The narrator of the audiobook was easy to listen to.
A fun audiobook about a creepy historical house with a ghost who doesn’t want to leave. A group of paranormal investigators who have been following in their parents’ footsteps take on the task of clearing this house in order to help a new realtor get it ready to sell.
I enjoyed this book. I liked how they tied it in to the past. The story was well put together. The narrator of the audiobook was easy to listen to.
February 8, 2023
In this book we follow a small cast of characters aiming to reboot a family paranormal research business. The story focuses on a case that has haunted them for years (pun intended), but will ultimately force them to confront events that shaped their lives in quite a fundamental way.
All of the characters we follow are in their late teens / early 20s and there is representation of LGBTQIA+ and disability.
However, the characters themselves are not well developed. They come across very surface-level, and their actions do not make sense given what we are told about their histories. How they respond to various events during the story is not believable and is at odds with how the book describes their experiences. There are also some significant psychological and emotional issues that some of the characters face during the story, and whilst they seem to hugely impact the relevant characters for about a page or so, they quickly return to acting as if nothing has happened and that trauma is swept under the rug. The characters seemed to quickly flit between moments of childishness and surprising emotional eloquence in a way that was unrealistic.
Another aspect of the characters that pulled me out of the story is how readily some of these characters trust each other, instantly upon meeting each other, despite the reader being told how said character has never opened up to others, has kept emotions bottled up their whole life, etc. Romantic feelings and tensions seem to develop at the drop of a hat, regardless of whatever events are unfolding at the time. The romantic angst really served no purpose to the narrative and detracted from the actual plot, and felt forced.
The plot itself, which focuses on a haunting of a particular house, does not resolve in a very satisfying way - the ending and resolution felt rushed.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
All of the characters we follow are in their late teens / early 20s and there is representation of LGBTQIA+ and disability.
However, the characters themselves are not well developed. They come across very surface-level, and their actions do not make sense given what we are told about their histories. How they respond to various events during the story is not believable and is at odds with how the book describes their experiences. There are also some significant psychological and emotional issues that some of the characters face during the story, and whilst they seem to hugely impact the relevant characters for about a page or so, they quickly return to acting as if nothing has happened and that trauma is swept under the rug. The characters seemed to quickly flit between moments of childishness and surprising emotional eloquence in a way that was unrealistic.
Another aspect of the characters that pulled me out of the story is how readily some of these characters trust each other, instantly upon meeting each other, despite the reader being told how said character has never opened up to others, has kept emotions bottled up their whole life, etc. Romantic feelings and tensions seem to develop at the drop of a hat, regardless of whatever events are unfolding at the time. The romantic angst really served no purpose to the narrative and detracted from the actual plot, and felt forced.
The plot itself, which focuses on a haunting of a particular house, does not resolve in a very satisfying way - the ending and resolution felt rushed.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2024
♡ Audiobook Review ♡
♤ Release April 1st ♤
-Horror
-Ya
-SciFi (Paranormal)
-4 stars
The audiobook is good. The narrator did a great job telling the story.
What Walks These Halls is a YA horror debut for Amy Clarkin. It's a good start for a debut. This story is set in Ireland following a group of people who all have history with the haunted house, The Hyacinth House.
We get 3 different POV's.
Raven and Archer O'Sullivan father died in the mysterious haunted house (Hyacinth House) during a paranormal investigation. Everyone says it was an accident, but Raven is pretty sure she's at fault for their father passing.
Archer doesn't believe it was Raven's fault. Their father passed away, and he has been asked to investigate the Hyacinth House, and he can't pass up this opportunity.
-Éabha McLoughlin has grown up seeing and hearing things no one else does. With her family not believing, she has this ability, and with her wanting to find out answers about this ability. She turns to Archer and his team.
This story has a good storyline, plot, and the horror is good!
-
♡ Thank you, Netgalley, and Bolinda Audio for the ALC for my honest opinion. ♡
♤ Release April 1st ♤
-Horror
-Ya
-SciFi (Paranormal)
-4 stars
The audiobook is good. The narrator did a great job telling the story.
What Walks These Halls is a YA horror debut for Amy Clarkin. It's a good start for a debut. This story is set in Ireland following a group of people who all have history with the haunted house, The Hyacinth House.
We get 3 different POV's.
Raven and Archer O'Sullivan father died in the mysterious haunted house (Hyacinth House) during a paranormal investigation. Everyone says it was an accident, but Raven is pretty sure she's at fault for their father passing.
Archer doesn't believe it was Raven's fault. Their father passed away, and he has been asked to investigate the Hyacinth House, and he can't pass up this opportunity.
-Éabha McLoughlin has grown up seeing and hearing things no one else does. With her family not believing, she has this ability, and with her wanting to find out answers about this ability. She turns to Archer and his team.
This story has a good storyline, plot, and the horror is good!
-
♡ Thank you, Netgalley, and Bolinda Audio for the ALC for my honest opinion. ♡
January 31, 2023
What Walks These Halls by Amy Clarkin
🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 stars!
What a debut from Amy Clarkin! This spooky YA book was such a delight to read. This book, set in Ireland, follows several young adults who have their own paranormal investigation company, following in the footsteps of many of their relatives. There’s one 👻 haunted 👻 house in particular that it seems none of these characters can escape from - The Hyacinth House.
This read was really layered in ways that I did not expect- it felt like the perfect blend of coming of age all wrapped up in a spooky, ghostly package. Family dynamics, queer characters, disabled characters, humor, crystals — this book really had it all.
I think this would be an absolutely delightful read around Halloween, but if you’re itching to get your hands on it sooner - it comes out in April 🕷️🔮
Thank you NetGalley, Amy Clarkin, and The O'Brien Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own
🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 stars!
What a debut from Amy Clarkin! This spooky YA book was such a delight to read. This book, set in Ireland, follows several young adults who have their own paranormal investigation company, following in the footsteps of many of their relatives. There’s one 👻 haunted 👻 house in particular that it seems none of these characters can escape from - The Hyacinth House.
This read was really layered in ways that I did not expect- it felt like the perfect blend of coming of age all wrapped up in a spooky, ghostly package. Family dynamics, queer characters, disabled characters, humor, crystals — this book really had it all.
I think this would be an absolutely delightful read around Halloween, but if you’re itching to get your hands on it sooner - it comes out in April 🕷️🔮
Thank you NetGalley, Amy Clarkin, and The O'Brien Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own
April 12, 2024
What a great Paranormal horror! I love books that feature a creepy haunted house and add a paranormal investigator element on top of it and you basically have my perfect book. Every single character in this book were so extremely lovable. The plot was easy to follow and full of creepy situations that had me huddled under my blanket wishing I had read this during daylight. I really loved Eabha's story line, I loved watching her grow and stand up for herself and set strong boundaries.
Such a great atmospheric read with LGBTQIA vibes set in Ireland that would be perfect for Halloween!
The narrator did such a fantastic job bringing the characters and the story to life!
thank you Netgalley for giving me access to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Such a great atmospheric read with LGBTQIA vibes set in Ireland that would be perfect for Halloween!
The narrator did such a fantastic job bringing the characters and the story to life!
thank you Netgalley for giving me access to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
April 11, 2024
I was craving a classic horror story featuring a group of misfits coming together to investigate a haunted place, and the stars must have aligned to put this within my radar. While I am more skeptical of this genre in the YA space, I had to give it a go especially when it is also queer.
I loved this; I loved the characters and how they individually matured, I loved their relationships as estranged siblings relearned trust, as strangers become friends and more through the harrowing experiences they face together. The care and kindness put into these characters while exploring very real conflicts and troubles faced by teenagers are so cool to see in YA.
While I hoped for more creepiness and scares than were delivered, I still really enjoyed this story and will be keen to keep up with more of their paranormal adventures.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bolinda Audio and the author for this advance reader copy. I leave this review voluntarily.
I loved this; I loved the characters and how they individually matured, I loved their relationships as estranged siblings relearned trust, as strangers become friends and more through the harrowing experiences they face together. The care and kindness put into these characters while exploring very real conflicts and troubles faced by teenagers are so cool to see in YA.
While I hoped for more creepiness and scares than were delivered, I still really enjoyed this story and will be keen to keep up with more of their paranormal adventures.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bolinda Audio and the author for this advance reader copy. I leave this review voluntarily.
April 1, 2024
A group of paranormal investigators decide to take up the case of Hyacinth House and while most of them believe in a scientific approach, many of them have a past connection to this house and secrets they do not wish to confront. But the lady of the house has other plans for them all.
The story is definitely spooky with a great narrator cast who engulfs you in the stories. The presence of the spirit, the writing style of the author to communicate with ghosts and the overall voice modulations used in the audiobook worked pretty well together. On a scale of horrors, it wasn't something you would lose your sleepover, but good enough to enjoy an eerie sensation and have a few goosebumps on your arm.
Overall, an enjoyable story and even better in an ALC.
Thank you @netgalley @bolindaaudio @amyclarkin for the Audiobook.
Genre: #horror #ya
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
The story is definitely spooky with a great narrator cast who engulfs you in the stories. The presence of the spirit, the writing style of the author to communicate with ghosts and the overall voice modulations used in the audiobook worked pretty well together. On a scale of horrors, it wasn't something you would lose your sleepover, but good enough to enjoy an eerie sensation and have a few goosebumps on your arm.
Overall, an enjoyable story and even better in an ALC.
Thank you @netgalley @bolindaaudio @amyclarkin for the Audiobook.
Genre: #horror #ya
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
April 8, 2024
I wanted to like this but it fell flat. The writing was very plain, and character development was one-sided. The story's pacing felt stagnant but the idea did have potential.
Thank you to NetGalley for offering this title in their catalog.
Thank you to NetGalley for offering this title in their catalog.
February 3, 2023
(ARC from NetGalley)
Lots of fun! Loved the creepiness and the ghosts. A good ole fashioned haunted house story with some fun characters.
Lots of fun! Loved the creepiness and the ghosts. A good ole fashioned haunted house story with some fun characters.
April 9, 2023
If you haven’t picked this up already, do it NOW. This is the perfect book if you’re looking for a story that represents the spooky side of Ireland’s myths and lore. A group friendship much like the one from Maggie Stiefvaters “The Raven Boys” mixed with vibes from Ghostbusters. Keeps you on your toes but also deals with many issues in the background. We learn about the sense of belonging, acceptance and family bonds. There’s also a small bit of romance in it but I don’t think it really belonged in the story- it felt like it was thrown in because it was a requirement rather than a natural development.
But still, I read this book like it was my lifeline.
5 stars!
But still, I read this book like it was my lifeline.
5 stars!
January 12, 2024
Cordelia is the best I wanted more of her. Also Cordelia and Raven are Éabha’s moms.
February 4, 2023
I have so many thoughts.
This book starts off brilliantly, the supernatural aspect is SCARY! Much more than I would expect from YA horror so I thought this would be a 5-star read from the get-go.
The first thing that bothered me was the dialogue, especially between Archer and Raven. I felt like it was a bit cringy, but hey, I don't have any siblings so maybe that is how siblings talk to each other and I just don't know.
The characters were all brilliant and very distinctive, the author does an amazing job at developing them without overwritten paragraphs about their traits. I truly believe that this author will achieve great things, the writing has room for improvement but it's already of high quality.
Now, unfortunately, I was very much disappointed with this story and didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. What I thought would be a horror book eventually became a romance. The supernatural aspect was still there, but I feel like at some point it switched to the back seat. I did enjoy the couples, it was not unexpected at all - but I didn't expect or want it to be the main plot. When the book was reaching the end and we still hadn't gotten to the meat of the horror, I panicked. 'how will you have time to wrap the horror plot up?' ran through my head at every page turn, and the answer was 'you won't have time'. It was RUSHED, and the ending was not an ending per se - unless there's a second book. If there is, I hope we get more horror.
In summary, too much love, and not enough ghosts.
In this situation, I would usually settle for 3 stars, but the writing deserves much more credit than that so I settled for 4.
*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC*
This book starts off brilliantly, the supernatural aspect is SCARY! Much more than I would expect from YA horror so I thought this would be a 5-star read from the get-go.
The first thing that bothered me was the dialogue, especially between Archer and Raven. I felt like it was a bit cringy, but hey, I don't have any siblings so maybe that is how siblings talk to each other and I just don't know.
The characters were all brilliant and very distinctive, the author does an amazing job at developing them without overwritten paragraphs about their traits. I truly believe that this author will achieve great things, the writing has room for improvement but it's already of high quality.
Now, unfortunately, I was very much disappointed with this story and didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. What I thought would be a horror book eventually became a romance. The supernatural aspect was still there, but I feel like at some point it switched to the back seat. I did enjoy the couples, it was not unexpected at all - but I didn't expect or want it to be the main plot. When the book was reaching the end and we still hadn't gotten to the meat of the horror, I panicked. 'how will you have time to wrap the horror plot up?' ran through my head at every page turn, and the answer was 'you won't have time'. It was RUSHED, and the ending was not an ending per se - unless there's a second book. If there is, I hope we get more horror.
In summary, too much love, and not enough ghosts.
In this situation, I would usually settle for 3 stars, but the writing deserves much more credit than that so I settled for 4.
*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC*
April 10, 2023
A ghost story set in contemporary Ireland, What Walks These Halls follows a newly reformed paranormal investigative agency tasked with proving the existence of a malevolent spirit in Hyacinth House, an estate who some members of the group have a dark history with…
Part coming of age, part found family, this is a creepy read that I often had to put down at night. One of the characters I was most drawn to was Éabha, a clairvoyant who’s grown up believing her parents that she suffers from ‘episodes’ of mental illness. Her character arc mirrors those of accepting a chronic illness or being queer, and her strained relationship with her controlling parents was often difficult to read.
While the text doesn’t shy away from the dark nature of the supernatural storyline, it’s offset by plenty of light, funnier moments. (Archer is never on time.) Lots of the characters are queer, too!
Part coming of age, part found family, this is a creepy read that I often had to put down at night. One of the characters I was most drawn to was Éabha, a clairvoyant who’s grown up believing her parents that she suffers from ‘episodes’ of mental illness. Her character arc mirrors those of accepting a chronic illness or being queer, and her strained relationship with her controlling parents was often difficult to read.
While the text doesn’t shy away from the dark nature of the supernatural storyline, it’s offset by plenty of light, funnier moments. (Archer is never on time.) Lots of the characters are queer, too!
June 8, 2023
What Walks These Halls was not a bad ghost story. I found it a bit slow moving because there was a lot of family back story behind the main plot of the haunted house. It was a good read though, I enjoyed the little bit of romance and the camaraderie of the friends trying to start up their own paranormal investigation services.
Thank you Amy Clarkin, NetGalley and OBrien Press for the ARC in exchange for a review.
Thank you Amy Clarkin, NetGalley and OBrien Press for the ARC in exchange for a review.
April 7, 2024
I got to review the audiobook for What walks these halls:
* The narrator is very nice to listen to & speaks in a captivating manner which really drags you into the story
* The only minor thing that bothered me was that the pause between the end of the chapter and the beginning of a new one was a bit too long or maybe I was just being impatient to continue listening
About the story itself;
There are three POV’s: Raven’s, Éabha’s & Archer’s.
Raven & Archer O’ Sullivan are sister and brother that lost their dad when he was conduction a paranormal investigation at the mysterious Hyacinth House. Raven is convinced that she is to blame for his death and distances herself from her family out of guilt.
Archer wants to pick back up their family’s business and wants to find out what exactly happened with his dad but neither his mom nor Raven want to talk about it. When a real estate agent, Cordelia, contacts him about having to sell the house his dad died at, he immediately grabs the opportunity to start his own investigation and find out the truth after all.
Éabha McLoughlin has been hearing and feeling things no one should be able to. Her family doesn’t understand and shames her for her ability so she decides to try to get answers and ends up with Archer’s team where her abilities are welcomed instead of shunned away.
Overall:
* I really enjoyed this story, I couldn’t stop listening to it.
* I loved the spooky setting, it wasn’t too scary but just enough to keep you on the edge of your seat
* +1 for the queer characters
* The found family vibes I got from them were also heart warming and I can’t wait to read the sequel!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for an honest review
* The narrator is very nice to listen to & speaks in a captivating manner which really drags you into the story
* The only minor thing that bothered me was that the pause between the end of the chapter and the beginning of a new one was a bit too long or maybe I was just being impatient to continue listening
About the story itself;
There are three POV’s: Raven’s, Éabha’s & Archer’s.
Raven & Archer O’ Sullivan are sister and brother that lost their dad when he was conduction a paranormal investigation at the mysterious Hyacinth House. Raven is convinced that she is to blame for his death and distances herself from her family out of guilt.
Archer wants to pick back up their family’s business and wants to find out what exactly happened with his dad but neither his mom nor Raven want to talk about it. When a real estate agent, Cordelia, contacts him about having to sell the house his dad died at, he immediately grabs the opportunity to start his own investigation and find out the truth after all.
Éabha McLoughlin has been hearing and feeling things no one should be able to. Her family doesn’t understand and shames her for her ability so she decides to try to get answers and ends up with Archer’s team where her abilities are welcomed instead of shunned away.
Overall:
* I really enjoyed this story, I couldn’t stop listening to it.
* I loved the spooky setting, it wasn’t too scary but just enough to keep you on the edge of your seat
* +1 for the queer characters
* The found family vibes I got from them were also heart warming and I can’t wait to read the sequel!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2023
*Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)
In need of recs for your spooky season TBR? Well, allow me to suggest you add What walks these halls to it and enjoy a heartfelt and creepy time.
This book starts off pretty strong on the paranormal aspect. We have an evil entity called The Lady, a group of young paranormal investigators and a haunted house with a cruel past.
What surprised me the most was the fact the author went with a mix of character and plot driven story. Through different perspectives, we witness what the main characters go through, how strongly they feel, which makes their growth really enjoyable to watch. That being said, I do believe there came a certain point in which the characters took relevance over the plot and the story started moving at a slower pace.
The climax was tense enough but the conflict was easily and very conveniently resolved. It makes for a satisfying ending, but not a completely heart pounding one.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely enjoyed my time reading this book and I’m glad I read it this close to Halloween. The characters are pretty much all likable, the romance is very sweet and I finished the book wanting to read the sequel. Which I’m very glad is happening because I want to see how much darker the author can go.
In need of recs for your spooky season TBR? Well, allow me to suggest you add What walks these halls to it and enjoy a heartfelt and creepy time.
This book starts off pretty strong on the paranormal aspect. We have an evil entity called The Lady, a group of young paranormal investigators and a haunted house with a cruel past.
What surprised me the most was the fact the author went with a mix of character and plot driven story. Through different perspectives, we witness what the main characters go through, how strongly they feel, which makes their growth really enjoyable to watch. That being said, I do believe there came a certain point in which the characters took relevance over the plot and the story started moving at a slower pace.
The climax was tense enough but the conflict was easily and very conveniently resolved. It makes for a satisfying ending, but not a completely heart pounding one.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely enjoyed my time reading this book and I’m glad I read it this close to Halloween. The characters are pretty much all likable, the romance is very sweet and I finished the book wanting to read the sequel. Which I’m very glad is happening because I want to see how much darker the author can go.
September 2, 2025
Loved it!
Anyone who knows me knows I love a good ghost story. The front cover design caught my attention immediately, as well as the title. On reading the blurb, I knew it was going to be right up my street... and I wasn't wrong!
I was surprised to find this was Amy Clarkin's debut, as I was super impressed by the writing style, the flow, and the characters. It can't have been easy to have so many 'main-ish' characters POVs to write from, but I can say it all worked so well and didn't feel disjointed in any way. The transition between characters and chapters was effortless, and I felt like I got to know the characters well.
As a budding writer at the start of my journey (albeit later in life), I can honestly say that I have been inspired by Amy's storytelling.
I did have a moment of sheer panic, though, as Im developing a narrative at the minute for a Creative Writing assignment with The Open University and there is a teeny moment where our stories are very similar. I can't tell you how happy I was to find that it was a fleeting moment and the story didn't develop in the same direction that I have planned for mine! 😂 panic over!
I have to mention Róisin Rankin's narration also. It can be imported to connect with a story via audio if you aren't comfortable with the narrator. Róisin's tempo and tone was lovely. I'm definitely going to add her to my 'narrators list'.
Overall, I'd give this YA a solid 4-4.5 / 5, and the narration the same score!
Anyone who knows me knows I love a good ghost story. The front cover design caught my attention immediately, as well as the title. On reading the blurb, I knew it was going to be right up my street... and I wasn't wrong!
I was surprised to find this was Amy Clarkin's debut, as I was super impressed by the writing style, the flow, and the characters. It can't have been easy to have so many 'main-ish' characters POVs to write from, but I can say it all worked so well and didn't feel disjointed in any way. The transition between characters and chapters was effortless, and I felt like I got to know the characters well.
As a budding writer at the start of my journey (albeit later in life), I can honestly say that I have been inspired by Amy's storytelling.
I did have a moment of sheer panic, though, as Im developing a narrative at the minute for a Creative Writing assignment with The Open University and there is a teeny moment where our stories are very similar. I can't tell you how happy I was to find that it was a fleeting moment and the story didn't develop in the same direction that I have planned for mine! 😂 panic over!
I have to mention Róisin Rankin's narration also. It can be imported to connect with a story via audio if you aren't comfortable with the narrator. Róisin's tempo and tone was lovely. I'm definitely going to add her to my 'narrators list'.
Overall, I'd give this YA a solid 4-4.5 / 5, and the narration the same score!
January 27, 2024
Well, I'm hoping I can sleep tonight!!!
I've read this spooky, eerie book over the last couple of days and it's certainly made me feel uneasy when I go to bed at night!
This book follows Raven and the PSI gang who, 5 years after her and her brother Archer's dad's death, are asked to go back and investigate it again.
I thought this was a great paranormal fiction book. I loved the shorter chapters. It kept the book snappy and tense. All of the characters in this book seemed to all have a secret to hide which usually were linked to Hyacinth house and this added to the mystery of the house aswell.
Apart from alot of scary visits from 'The Lady' there was also a little bit of romance sprinkled in and I particularly loved Archer and Éabha's growing connection. I first thought it was going to be a bit of a love triangle situation but I'm so happy it was a duo thing?!
There were some scenes , like the lady crawling on all fours towards Cordelia in bed, which was particularly terrifying!! It takes a lot of effort I feel to make your words into a story that is so haunting and it was done so well.
If you are into paranormal haunted houses or are looking for a good spooky read this book is definitely for you!
I've read this spooky, eerie book over the last couple of days and it's certainly made me feel uneasy when I go to bed at night!
This book follows Raven and the PSI gang who, 5 years after her and her brother Archer's dad's death, are asked to go back and investigate it again.
I thought this was a great paranormal fiction book. I loved the shorter chapters. It kept the book snappy and tense. All of the characters in this book seemed to all have a secret to hide which usually were linked to Hyacinth house and this added to the mystery of the house aswell.
Apart from alot of scary visits from 'The Lady' there was also a little bit of romance sprinkled in and I particularly loved Archer and Éabha's growing connection. I first thought it was going to be a bit of a love triangle situation but I'm so happy it was a duo thing?!
There were some scenes , like the lady crawling on all fours towards Cordelia in bed, which was particularly terrifying!! It takes a lot of effort I feel to make your words into a story that is so haunting and it was done so well.
If you are into paranormal haunted houses or are looking for a good spooky read this book is definitely for you!
June 22, 2024
A ghost hunting novel that is solidly plotted but disappointingly short on atmosphere. Essentially, it’s a good premise for a story, but there’s just nothing truly scary about it.
I think it’s hard for a ghost-driven horror/suspense novel to be truly good if it doesn’t spook you at all, and though the idea behind this could have achieved that, it has so little atmosphere that it loses most of its potency.
While the characters are likable enough, they’re not especially unusual or nuanced, and all the dialogue and relationship-driven content comes at the expense of the sense of place that this book needed to be successful.
It’s a fine read if you aren’t super picky or if you scare easily, and the pacing is well-executed. But it’s definitely not the gothic horror it professes to be, and it would be a stretch to call it truly suspenseful.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I think it’s hard for a ghost-driven horror/suspense novel to be truly good if it doesn’t spook you at all, and though the idea behind this could have achieved that, it has so little atmosphere that it loses most of its potency.
While the characters are likable enough, they’re not especially unusual or nuanced, and all the dialogue and relationship-driven content comes at the expense of the sense of place that this book needed to be successful.
It’s a fine read if you aren’t super picky or if you scare easily, and the pacing is well-executed. But it’s definitely not the gothic horror it professes to be, and it would be a stretch to call it truly suspenseful.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
August 17, 2023
I enjoyed this creepy lgbtq ghost hunters of the future adventure. I am not often koves by the horror books I read because they seem to typical and predictable spooky. This time that was not the case. I loved that the main characters became a family in non traditional ways with their mistakes, emotions and sometimes poor decisions caused family issues. It the spooky haunted house portion of it were taken out it is a story of a family with very relatable real life problems they need to figure out. It has just enough teen romance and ghost hunting in it to make it almost believable. I was a tiny bit spooked at the beginning when the initial encounter occurs at the house so the extra star rating was for actually being properly categorized as a horror book.
December 30, 2022
I lost so much sleep reading this - not because it was scary (though it is) but because I was so invested in these characters I couldn’t put it down A sweet, genuinely creepy ghost story full of horror AND heart, with:
- disability rep
- loads of queer characters
- amazing sibling bond
- found family to die for!
- TWO swoony romances
- a twisty mystery that will keep you turning the pages
Think “Haunting of Hill House” meets “All Our Hidden gifts” - Mike Flanagan would have a field day adapting this one! I need a movie, mini-series, graphic novel and absolutely a sequels please! I miss the PSI family already ♥️♥️♥️
- disability rep
- loads of queer characters
- amazing sibling bond
- found family to die for!
- TWO swoony romances
- a twisty mystery that will keep you turning the pages
Think “Haunting of Hill House” meets “All Our Hidden gifts” - Mike Flanagan would have a field day adapting this one! I need a movie, mini-series, graphic novel and absolutely a sequels please! I miss the PSI family already ♥️♥️♥️
February 2, 2023
Thank you NetGalley & publisher for this eARC.
Woah, it has been awhile since I read a supernatural, paranormal book and I love it. I love the pacing, the characters, and the setting. Although it's not as scarier or creepy as I hoped to be, but that's okay. Every chapters has main character's POV- which I love but wished that author should mentioned which pov belong to whom because it can get confusing. And if there were a sequel to this, I will definitely read it.
Overall, recommended to people who are looking for YA Supernatural/Paranormal books.
Woah, it has been awhile since I read a supernatural, paranormal book and I love it. I love the pacing, the characters, and the setting. Although it's not as scarier or creepy as I hoped to be, but that's okay. Every chapters has main character's POV- which I love but wished that author should mentioned which pov belong to whom because it can get confusing. And if there were a sequel to this, I will definitely read it.
Overall, recommended to people who are looking for YA Supernatural/Paranormal books.
April 30, 2024
I don't have much to say, because there was nothing happening in this book. Conversations, feelings, insecurities. That's it. At the 95% of the book there was a little of action and it lasted for 10 min.
May 10, 2024
3.5
It started off great and creepy but slowed towards the middle and I got a bit bored. I listened to this one and the narrator is great I just wished some of the creepiness from the beginning stayed throughout the book
It started off great and creepy but slowed towards the middle and I got a bit bored. I listened to this one and the narrator is great I just wished some of the creepiness from the beginning stayed throughout the book
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