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She Waits Where Shadows Gather
Parents should pass down stories, not spirits…
Avery and Carlos Tam have built their lives on logic, not legends. Carlos, the host of a hit reality show that exposes paranormal hoaxes, has made a name disproving the supernatural.
But when they travel to his ancestral home in the Philippines, darkness clings to every corner. The mirrors are shrouded. The housekeeper won't stay in the house alone. And no one will speak of the tragedies the family has seen.
Then a brutal car crash leaves Carlos trapped in his own body—silent, helpless, and utterly vulnerable. As Avery tends to him, the house begins to stir. It watches. It listens. And it speaks—in a voice only Carlos can hear—offering a twisted kind of comfort.
And as the lies buried by Carlos and his family begin to surface, Avery must confront the if the past won't rest, their future may never begin.
Some inherit memories. Others inherit monsters.
Avery and Carlos Tam have built their lives on logic, not legends. Carlos, the host of a hit reality show that exposes paranormal hoaxes, has made a name disproving the supernatural.
But when they travel to his ancestral home in the Philippines, darkness clings to every corner. The mirrors are shrouded. The housekeeper won't stay in the house alone. And no one will speak of the tragedies the family has seen.
Then a brutal car crash leaves Carlos trapped in his own body—silent, helpless, and utterly vulnerable. As Avery tends to him, the house begins to stir. It watches. It listens. And it speaks—in a voice only Carlos can hear—offering a twisted kind of comfort.
And as the lies buried by Carlos and his family begin to surface, Avery must confront the if the past won't rest, their future may never begin.
Some inherit memories. Others inherit monsters.
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2026
27 people are currently reading
15721 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars!
Filipino folklore mixed in with a haunted house and a resonant immigrant story, I think this book will really surprise me.
THE HOUSE IS ALIVE AND ITS HUNGRY!
Full review to follow! :)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author, Michelle Tang for the early eARC!
Publication date: May 5, 2026
Filipino folklore mixed in with a haunted house and a resonant immigrant story, I think this book will really surprise me.
THE HOUSE IS ALIVE AND ITS HUNGRY!
Full review to follow! :)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and the author, Michelle Tang for the early eARC!
Publication date: May 5, 2026
January 2, 2026
Carlos returns home when his relatives request his help with haunting in their family home. He decides to bring his wife with him in hopes of also repairing their relationship.
This story focuses mostly on their toxic marriage. Avery’s desire for a baby and Carlos’s contempt for her feelings which ends up exposing how incompatible they truly are.
Shortly after moving to the house, Carlos is injured in an accident and left to sulk in his bitterness. While Avery is forced to deal with the haunting presence alone.
While the premise is strong, the ghost lore feels very underdeveloped, turning the story into more of a strange marital drama with paranormal elements. With a larger focus on the family history, it could have been a truly effective gothic horror but as it stands, the result is just okay.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This story focuses mostly on their toxic marriage. Avery’s desire for a baby and Carlos’s contempt for her feelings which ends up exposing how incompatible they truly are.
Shortly after moving to the house, Carlos is injured in an accident and left to sulk in his bitterness. While Avery is forced to deal with the haunting presence alone.
While the premise is strong, the ghost lore feels very underdeveloped, turning the story into more of a strange marital drama with paranormal elements. With a larger focus on the family history, it could have been a truly effective gothic horror but as it stands, the result is just okay.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2025
I really love it when I read a book that has very little fanfare, and it blows me away. This was definitely the case with Michelle Tang’s debut novel, She Waits Where Shadows Gather.
Avery and Carlos’s marriage is on the rocks. Avery badly wants a child, whereas narcissistic Carlos cannot deal with having to share his wife’s affections with anyone else. The couple moves to Carlos’s childhood home in the Philippines. Carlos, a TV paranormal investigator, has some dark secrets he wants to investigate in his family home.
Understandably, Avery isn’t too keen on the house. The house staff won’t go there alone, and several mirrors are dramatically covered. But things get infinitely worse when Carlos is involved in a life-changing accident.
One of my favorite tropes is “paranormal investigator gets more than they bargained for”, and this book checked that box. But that was just a minor part of my enjoyment of this novel. Avery is an incredibly relatable character; desperate for happiness, incredibly isolated, but strong. On the opposite side, Carlos is so repulsive, he is strangely engaging.
There are some genuinely scary moments in this novel. The house at the center of the novel has shadows lurking in every corner, but when Avery ventures up to the attic, I had to switch a few lights on. I also enjoyed learning a little about Philippine mythology and folklore.
A great combo of a compelling human narrative and supernatural tension.
Avery and Carlos’s marriage is on the rocks. Avery badly wants a child, whereas narcissistic Carlos cannot deal with having to share his wife’s affections with anyone else. The couple moves to Carlos’s childhood home in the Philippines. Carlos, a TV paranormal investigator, has some dark secrets he wants to investigate in his family home.
Understandably, Avery isn’t too keen on the house. The house staff won’t go there alone, and several mirrors are dramatically covered. But things get infinitely worse when Carlos is involved in a life-changing accident.
One of my favorite tropes is “paranormal investigator gets more than they bargained for”, and this book checked that box. But that was just a minor part of my enjoyment of this novel. Avery is an incredibly relatable character; desperate for happiness, incredibly isolated, but strong. On the opposite side, Carlos is so repulsive, he is strangely engaging.
There are some genuinely scary moments in this novel. The house at the center of the novel has shadows lurking in every corner, but when Avery ventures up to the attic, I had to switch a few lights on. I also enjoyed learning a little about Philippine mythology and folklore.
A great combo of a compelling human narrative and supernatural tension.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review in the April 2026 issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe This Book: Spotlight on International horror lore, intense unease, dual points of view
Also-- troubled marriage, family secrets, haunted house, souls
Draft Review: Canadian spouses Avery and Carlos, both of Chinese-Filipino descent, arrive in Manila for an indefinite stay. Carlos is moving his popular show, disproving the supernatural, back to his family’s haunted manor house. Told from both Carlos and Avery’s perspectives, readers are aware from the start that there is unease about the move and the status of their relationship, but the house– its covered mirrors, phantom knockings in the night, and history of restless souls– makes itself heard immediately. After a home cleansing ceremony, Carlos is left bedridden by a car accident, triggering the release of generations of secrets, ghosts, and mortal danger forcing Carlos and Avery to fight for both their relationship and their lives. Filled with terrifying Filipino horror folklore, readers will enjoy uncovering a different culture of chills while being consumed by the drama unfolding in front of their eyes.
Verdict: A twisty and immersive haunted house story featuring sinister ghosts, who will use whatever fractures they can find in human relationships to gain a foothold in the mortal world like in The Villa, Once Beloved by Victor Manibo** and We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough.
This is a solid haunted house story where the danger is real, the ghosts are active, and the problems they bring to the humans are tangible.
The story focuses on the Canadian Chinese-Filipino couple Avery and Carlos as they are arriving in Manila. It is intensely uneasy from the start. Avery is on the POV and is talking about souls separating from their bodies when they travel long distances. Clearly she is nervous about moving to the Philippines. She has never lived there and her and her husband are also having some issues-- readers can tell but don't know.
Carlos has moved his popular internet show where he disproves supernatural happening back to his home where he hasn't lived for decades. His family is uneasy about the two of them living in the haunted family home.
The POV moves between the two as family secrets are slowly revealed. As Carlos is seriously injured (it's in the publisher description) and Avery must live in the house and work against the ghosts and Carlos' injuries.
The fact that Avery and Carlos love each other but there is something in their relationship that is causing problems. Readers think at first that it is Avery's struggles with infertility, but they both know it is deeper than that. When the very real world truth is revealed-- that allows for the horror aspects to also be fully exposed.
Readers will learn about some very cool monsters and ghosts from Filipino folklore. Also learn about the Chinese-Filipino community. And like all good haunted house stories set in a family villa-- watch the secrets and ghosts reveal themselves. And there are many restless souls in this house.
This is a great example of a satisfying horror story that shines a light on new (to western readers) horror traditions. It adds an extra layer of originality and enjoyment. Allowing the novel to be both familiar and new.
This is also a story where the 2 points of view telling are KEY. It is not just a narrative device, it adds to the story in key ways, ways that keep the readers as unsteady as the characters.
For fans of the growing body of Filipino Horror for fans of The Villa, Once Beloved by Manibo more so than The House of Monstrous Women by Fama (which is excellent but not a readalike beyond being Filipino-- do not fall for that but the way, not all white horror is the same so why would all Filipino horror be the same).
Also a haunted house story very much for fans of We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough. Like the Manibo-- all three of these haunted house stories have a troubled relationship at their core and very sinister, patient, long waiting ghosts trying to use the fractures in their relationships to get themselves a foothold in the real world.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Spotlight on International horror lore, intense unease, dual points of view
Also-- troubled marriage, family secrets, haunted house, souls
Draft Review: Canadian spouses Avery and Carlos, both of Chinese-Filipino descent, arrive in Manila for an indefinite stay. Carlos is moving his popular show, disproving the supernatural, back to his family’s haunted manor house. Told from both Carlos and Avery’s perspectives, readers are aware from the start that there is unease about the move and the status of their relationship, but the house– its covered mirrors, phantom knockings in the night, and history of restless souls– makes itself heard immediately. After a home cleansing ceremony, Carlos is left bedridden by a car accident, triggering the release of generations of secrets, ghosts, and mortal danger forcing Carlos and Avery to fight for both their relationship and their lives. Filled with terrifying Filipino horror folklore, readers will enjoy uncovering a different culture of chills while being consumed by the drama unfolding in front of their eyes.
Verdict: A twisty and immersive haunted house story featuring sinister ghosts, who will use whatever fractures they can find in human relationships to gain a foothold in the mortal world like in The Villa, Once Beloved by Victor Manibo** and We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough.
This is a solid haunted house story where the danger is real, the ghosts are active, and the problems they bring to the humans are tangible.
The story focuses on the Canadian Chinese-Filipino couple Avery and Carlos as they are arriving in Manila. It is intensely uneasy from the start. Avery is on the POV and is talking about souls separating from their bodies when they travel long distances. Clearly she is nervous about moving to the Philippines. She has never lived there and her and her husband are also having some issues-- readers can tell but don't know.
Carlos has moved his popular internet show where he disproves supernatural happening back to his home where he hasn't lived for decades. His family is uneasy about the two of them living in the haunted family home.
The POV moves between the two as family secrets are slowly revealed. As Carlos is seriously injured (it's in the publisher description) and Avery must live in the house and work against the ghosts and Carlos' injuries.
The fact that Avery and Carlos love each other but there is something in their relationship that is causing problems. Readers think at first that it is Avery's struggles with infertility, but they both know it is deeper than that. When the very real world truth is revealed-- that allows for the horror aspects to also be fully exposed.
Readers will learn about some very cool monsters and ghosts from Filipino folklore. Also learn about the Chinese-Filipino community. And like all good haunted house stories set in a family villa-- watch the secrets and ghosts reveal themselves. And there are many restless souls in this house.
This is a great example of a satisfying horror story that shines a light on new (to western readers) horror traditions. It adds an extra layer of originality and enjoyment. Allowing the novel to be both familiar and new.
This is also a story where the 2 points of view telling are KEY. It is not just a narrative device, it adds to the story in key ways, ways that keep the readers as unsteady as the characters.
For fans of the growing body of Filipino Horror for fans of The Villa, Once Beloved by Manibo more so than The House of Monstrous Women by Fama (which is excellent but not a readalike beyond being Filipino-- do not fall for that but the way, not all white horror is the same so why would all Filipino horror be the same).
Also a haunted house story very much for fans of We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough. Like the Manibo-- all three of these haunted house stories have a troubled relationship at their core and very sinister, patient, long waiting ghosts trying to use the fractures in their relationships to get themselves a foothold in the real world.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
She Waits Where Shadows Gather
Michelle Tang
Publication Date: May 5th
4.5 / 5
Ok, so....
I'd been in a bit of a reading slump over the past two weeks.
This book got me together, with quickness.
I love eerie horror. Something that makes me feel uneasy and (safely) nervous. Not many horror novels do this for me anymore, due to my desensitization.
(The few that easily come to mind are We Used To Live Here by Marcus Kliewer, Incidents Around The House by Josh Malerman, Mean-Spirited by Nick Roberts, The Deep by Nick Cutter, A Child Alone with Strangers by Philip Fracassi and House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski)
This book had me feeling uneasy from the end of chapter one. By the end of chapter three, I was nervous, jumpy and loving it. "She who creeps between" really unnerved me.
4.5
(Full Review to come)
Highly Recommend
If horror is your jam, and you love scaring yourself senseless, give this one a try. May it rattle you the same way it did me.
Michelle Tang
Publication Date: May 5th
4.5 / 5
Ok, so....
I'd been in a bit of a reading slump over the past two weeks.
This book got me together, with quickness.
I love eerie horror. Something that makes me feel uneasy and (safely) nervous. Not many horror novels do this for me anymore, due to my desensitization.
(The few that easily come to mind are We Used To Live Here by Marcus Kliewer, Incidents Around The House by Josh Malerman, Mean-Spirited by Nick Roberts, The Deep by Nick Cutter, A Child Alone with Strangers by Philip Fracassi and House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski)
This book had me feeling uneasy from the end of chapter one. By the end of chapter three, I was nervous, jumpy and loving it. "She who creeps between" really unnerved me.
4.5
(Full Review to come)
Highly Recommend
If horror is your jam, and you love scaring yourself senseless, give this one a try. May it rattle you the same way it did me.
January 12, 2026
One of my absolute favourite book plots is paranormal investigators. I genuinely find it more exciting / suspenseful to read about than when on tv 😅
In this book Carlos is the paranormal investigator, he moves himself and Avery to his creepy family home. You know things are suss when all of the locals act weird around the house.
Carlos himself is a very dislikable character, so when he is injured in an accident it’s easy not to feel a lot of empathy for him. Except now they’re stuck in this house and things kick up a notch and get very unsettling very fast.
I enjoy a potentially haunted / possessed home.. safe to say I enjoyed this book!
In this book Carlos is the paranormal investigator, he moves himself and Avery to his creepy family home. You know things are suss when all of the locals act weird around the house.
Carlos himself is a very dislikable character, so when he is injured in an accident it’s easy not to feel a lot of empathy for him. Except now they’re stuck in this house and things kick up a notch and get very unsettling very fast.
I enjoy a potentially haunted / possessed home.. safe to say I enjoyed this book!
January 16, 2026
5/5
First of all, thanks to netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this e-ARC!
This book is scary. Take it seriously. But as much as it is about ghosts, it touches so many topics. It shows humanity, masculinity specifically, religion, culture and entire belief systems. It also shows love and grief. I loved every second of it, so if you like horror, ghosts stories and familial trauma, this one is for you!
First of all, thanks to netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this e-ARC!
This book is scary. Take it seriously. But as much as it is about ghosts, it touches so many topics. It shows humanity, masculinity specifically, religion, culture and entire belief systems. It also shows love and grief. I loved every second of it, so if you like horror, ghosts stories and familial trauma, this one is for you!
Read
November 26, 2025A big thank you to the publisher for an ARC of the book!!
SHE WAITS WHERE SHADOWS GATHER is a gothic novel reminiscent of Stephen King’s THE SHINING. Tang creates a haunted house lingering with generational ghosts in every corner, lies and unspoken secrets hidden in its threadbare walls, toxic and fragile bonds that rattle the floorboards, regret and revenge ravaging each room, with characters who desire to return to the past and who must learn how to grab hold of the courage to move forward.
SHE WAITS WHERE SHADOWS GATHER is a gothic novel reminiscent of Stephen King’s THE SHINING. Tang creates a haunted house lingering with generational ghosts in every corner, lies and unspoken secrets hidden in its threadbare walls, toxic and fragile bonds that rattle the floorboards, regret and revenge ravaging each room, with characters who desire to return to the past and who must learn how to grab hold of the courage to move forward.
May 1, 2026
This was a beautiful, tragic, and at times terrifying ghost story. I specifically took my time with this one to relish in the atmosphere. Manila was a fantastic setting and I loved learning about some Filipino folklore. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2025
I was lucky enough to read this prior to release & it has stuck with me in a big way. Tang’s prose is so beautiful and concise- she is such a master of wordplay. The story she weaves is truly heart-wrenching while simultaneously coiling around you with a creeping dread. Far from home and trying to exist within a space where she is both too foreign and not-foreign-enough with her only slice of home locked into his own hidden torment, Avery must rely on the part of herself she always pushed back in favor of logic and reason. Despite Michelle expertly laying the pieces out before you, this incredible take on the haunted house story will leave you guessing until the bitter end. Absolutely a must-read.
January 21, 2026
You know when you judge a book by its cover?
Yeah I know, we’re not supposed to do that.. but I did, I was intrigued after reading the description, then even more so after the first chapter.. then I struggled to put it down.
It gave me the spooky ghost story I crave with an added element of sorrow and shock, especially close to the end.
It definitely didn’t go the way I thought it would, and that’s a good thing..
Highly recommend.
I thank the author, their publisher and NetGalley for this ARC..
Yeah I know, we’re not supposed to do that.. but I did, I was intrigued after reading the description, then even more so after the first chapter.. then I struggled to put it down.
It gave me the spooky ghost story I crave with an added element of sorrow and shock, especially close to the end.
It definitely didn’t go the way I thought it would, and that’s a good thing..
Highly recommend.
I thank the author, their publisher and NetGalley for this ARC..
April 12, 2026
ARC via NetGalley. Thank you to Posion Pen Press for this copy.
She Waits Where Shadows Gather draws echoes of a dark past as Avery and her reality TV star husband, Carlos, travel back to Carlos’s ancestral home in the Philippines. The consequences of these secrets intensify the couple’s relationship after Carlos’s “accident” leaves him trapped inside his own body, along with some that are kept hidden in the present. As they dig into the secrets buried within Carlos’s family lineage, the rot beneath his bloodline begins to surface.
Told through dual perspectives, we gain a more intimate look into Avery and Carlos’s interpretations of their suffering and how they resent the other as the “selfish one.” Avery’s suffering is based on her infertility and her need for more of a family beyond just her husband, while Carlos’s suffering is based on his belief that his wife isn’t sacrificing enough for their marriage. These complicated, antagonistic feelings simmer and threaten to boil over once Carlos is bedridden after his accident. This makes the superstitions he tried to disprove in his show, too hard to ignore. Hidden in the darkness of the old home, these superstitions create a clear unease in the eerie atmosphere crafted by Michelle Tang’s writing style.
There’s an interesting weaving of Filipino spirituality, primarily the effects of witchcraft and the presence of spirits, which ties directly to the grief Carlos and Avery feel as they face severe tension that culminates in a twist you could never see coming. Other characters, such as Tessa and Dolores, also bring different perspectives on the past beyond the couple’s marital troubles. Nevertheless, I did find the squabbling at the opening grating, even though their motivations and grief were fleshed out to serve the essential stakes after Carlos is hospitalized, and I definitely sympathized more with Avery than with her husband.
It’s an interesting, haunted psychological thriller whose depiction of marital strain refuses to be overshadowed.
She Waits Where Shadows Gather draws echoes of a dark past as Avery and her reality TV star husband, Carlos, travel back to Carlos’s ancestral home in the Philippines. The consequences of these secrets intensify the couple’s relationship after Carlos’s “accident” leaves him trapped inside his own body, along with some that are kept hidden in the present. As they dig into the secrets buried within Carlos’s family lineage, the rot beneath his bloodline begins to surface.
Told through dual perspectives, we gain a more intimate look into Avery and Carlos’s interpretations of their suffering and how they resent the other as the “selfish one.” Avery’s suffering is based on her infertility and her need for more of a family beyond just her husband, while Carlos’s suffering is based on his belief that his wife isn’t sacrificing enough for their marriage. These complicated, antagonistic feelings simmer and threaten to boil over once Carlos is bedridden after his accident. This makes the superstitions he tried to disprove in his show, too hard to ignore. Hidden in the darkness of the old home, these superstitions create a clear unease in the eerie atmosphere crafted by Michelle Tang’s writing style.
There’s an interesting weaving of Filipino spirituality, primarily the effects of witchcraft and the presence of spirits, which ties directly to the grief Carlos and Avery feel as they face severe tension that culminates in a twist you could never see coming. Other characters, such as Tessa and Dolores, also bring different perspectives on the past beyond the couple’s marital troubles. Nevertheless, I did find the squabbling at the opening grating, even though their motivations and grief were fleshed out to serve the essential stakes after Carlos is hospitalized, and I definitely sympathized more with Avery than with her husband.
It’s an interesting, haunted psychological thriller whose depiction of marital strain refuses to be overshadowed.
January 1, 2026
This book crept up on me, in the best way.
She Waits Where Shadows Gather is the kind of horror that doesn’t rely on cheap shocks but instead seeps under your skin and settles there. The haunted house isn’t just a setting; it’s a presence. From the covered mirrors to the silence around family tragedies, the atmosphere is thick with unease long before the supernatural fully reveals itself.
What really worked for me was the balance between human tension and horror. Avery and Carlos’s fractured marriage adds emotional weight, especially after Carlos’s devastating accident, which becomes a chilling turning point rather than a plot gimmick. Watching the power dynamics shift, while the house quite literally begins to speak, I was unsettling in a way that felt earned. The Filipino cultural elements and folklore elevate the story even further, grounding the terror in history, inheritance, and unspoken truths.
This is slow-burn, culturally rich horror that rewards patience. Creepy, emotionally layered, and quietly haunting,especially for readers who love when paranormal stories are about more than just ghosts.
She Waits Where Shadows Gather is the kind of horror that doesn’t rely on cheap shocks but instead seeps under your skin and settles there. The haunted house isn’t just a setting; it’s a presence. From the covered mirrors to the silence around family tragedies, the atmosphere is thick with unease long before the supernatural fully reveals itself.
What really worked for me was the balance between human tension and horror. Avery and Carlos’s fractured marriage adds emotional weight, especially after Carlos’s devastating accident, which becomes a chilling turning point rather than a plot gimmick. Watching the power dynamics shift, while the house quite literally begins to speak, I was unsettling in a way that felt earned. The Filipino cultural elements and folklore elevate the story even further, grounding the terror in history, inheritance, and unspoken truths.
This is slow-burn, culturally rich horror that rewards patience. Creepy, emotionally layered, and quietly haunting,especially for readers who love when paranormal stories are about more than just ghosts.
April 29, 2026
ARC review
Such a wonderful way to learn about Filipino lore and superstition! This story delves deep into society superstition and a haunted house in Manila. We have Carlos, a paranormal investigator, who grew up in a house that had spirits both good and evil occupying it. He gets called home to investigate why his dead grandfather’s spirit is showing itself again in the house.
What Carlos doesn’t do is tell his wife that’s why they are moving to Manila.
Once the doors to Salcedo Drive open for Carlos and Avery strange and unusual things begin. From creaking floors and ceilings to covered haunted mirrors the suspense of what might be lurking around the dark corners is everywhere.
Once an accident occurs, our hauntings amp up to a degree that pulls the reader in, exposes decades old trapped spirits, tests family faith and the strength it takes to fully love and forgive someone and brings you in a spiritual as well as paranormal journey that leaves you believing maybe just a bit more than you did before, in all this things unseen
Reading this book you are never comfortable. It keeps you on edge, while also teaching you fascinating lore you may never have heard of. So well done I’m honored to be reading an advanced copy.
Such a wonderful way to learn about Filipino lore and superstition! This story delves deep into society superstition and a haunted house in Manila. We have Carlos, a paranormal investigator, who grew up in a house that had spirits both good and evil occupying it. He gets called home to investigate why his dead grandfather’s spirit is showing itself again in the house.
What Carlos doesn’t do is tell his wife that’s why they are moving to Manila.
Once the doors to Salcedo Drive open for Carlos and Avery strange and unusual things begin. From creaking floors and ceilings to covered haunted mirrors the suspense of what might be lurking around the dark corners is everywhere.
Once an accident occurs, our hauntings amp up to a degree that pulls the reader in, exposes decades old trapped spirits, tests family faith and the strength it takes to fully love and forgive someone and brings you in a spiritual as well as paranormal journey that leaves you believing maybe just a bit more than you did before, in all this things unseen
Reading this book you are never comfortable. It keeps you on edge, while also teaching you fascinating lore you may never have heard of. So well done I’m honored to be reading an advanced copy.
December 3, 2025
I love when a story infuses culture into the narrative, to both provide context and to inform the reader. She Waits Where Shadows Gather was absolutely full of Filipino cultural influence. Spanning from food and family dynamics, to views on the supernatural and faith.
The horror aspect of this story comes from a family home that is infested with spirits. Avery and her husband, Carlos, move to Manila to help his family with their ghost problem. But it’s not your typical haunted house: there is a fraught history attached to these spirits.
I struggled with the pacing of this story, mainly because I felt like the emphasis was placed on marital and infertility issues for a significant portion of the book. The horror/ suspense aspect came into play as the book progressed, and I really enjoyed how the author executed the events towards the end. Overall, I enjoyed how everything played out!
She Waits Where Shadows Gather releases on May 5, 2026.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press (via Netgalley), for gifting me with an eARC. All thoughts expressed are my own.
The horror aspect of this story comes from a family home that is infested with spirits. Avery and her husband, Carlos, move to Manila to help his family with their ghost problem. But it’s not your typical haunted house: there is a fraught history attached to these spirits.
I struggled with the pacing of this story, mainly because I felt like the emphasis was placed on marital and infertility issues for a significant portion of the book. The horror/ suspense aspect came into play as the book progressed, and I really enjoyed how the author executed the events towards the end. Overall, I enjoyed how everything played out!
She Waits Where Shadows Gather releases on May 5, 2026.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press (via Netgalley), for gifting me with an eARC. All thoughts expressed are my own.
May 3, 2026
3.5 ⭐️s rounded to 4 ⭐️s
I was super excited to dive into this one as I’m a sucker for a good haunted house story!! 🙌
As I got into this though, there is much more toxic marital drama than there is a creepy haunted house. The MMC is utterly unlikable in my opinion, especially once I learned his secret. I did love the Filipino folklore and the times when there were creepy vibes - I just wish there was more of that! I do still recommend checking this one out, as it wasn’t a bad read - I just wanted more horror out of it! 🤓
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
I was super excited to dive into this one as I’m a sucker for a good haunted house story!! 🙌
As I got into this though, there is much more toxic marital drama than there is a creepy haunted house. The MMC is utterly unlikable in my opinion, especially once I learned his secret. I did love the Filipino folklore and the times when there were creepy vibes - I just wish there was more of that! I do still recommend checking this one out, as it wasn’t a bad read - I just wanted more horror out of it! 🤓
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
Did Not Finish
March 14, 2026DNF @ 46%
I don’t think this is for me, or it’s the right time for me to read it. The pace is too slow, I’m bored and it feels like a chore to read this.
I don’t think this is for me, or it’s the right time for me to read it. The pace is too slow, I’m bored and it feels like a chore to read this.
May 6, 2026
*4.5
I really enjoyed this! Excellent haunted house horror with a bit of witchy elements.
I really enjoyed this! Excellent haunted house horror with a bit of witchy elements.
December 9, 2025
Such a great combination of descriptions that make your skin crawl and emotional connections that made me tear up 😭 The family dynamic is so strong in this one, and that's always a surefire way to tug on my heartstrings (e.g. Flanagan's Hill House adaptation or Tananarive Due's African Immortals series.)
March 19, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!
It'd been a while since I'd read some horror and the synopsis for She Waits Where Shadows Gather really intrigued me. The book blends psychological horror, a haunted house setting, and Filipino culture into a story about grief, resentment, and the consequences of what happens when emotions are left to fester.
We follow Avery and Carlos Tam from Canada to the Philippines. The Tams are a Chinese Filipino married couple whose relationship has been strained by infertility and unresolved tension. Both of them are total skeptics when it comes to anything supernatural. Carlos even hosts a paranormal investigation show called Convince Carlos. But their convictions are tested when they move into his childhood home in Manila, where unexplainable and increasingly unsettling events start to occur.
The atmosphere is one of the strongest aspects of the book. Michelle Tang's prose makes the house feel alive in a suffocating, oppressive way- you can feel the walls narrowing in, the shadows shifting, the buzzing of unseen insects, and the constant sense that something, or someone, is watching you just out of sight. The house is absolutely an active force within the story, and I'd consider it a character of its own.
I also really enjoy how the novel weaves in Filipino cultural perspectives on spirits and the afterlife, which added depth and meaning that made the haunting feel more intentional. At its core, this is a story about relationships, and how resentment, guilt, and unspoken pain can grow over time. The emotional tension between Avery and Carlos is central to the narrative, and much of the horror stems from the breakdown of their communication and trust that fuel the fire of the supernatural elements.
At times, I did struggle with the characters, particularly Carlos, who was often difficult to like. While his behavior can be made sense of through the lens of the story, it sometimes made parts of the book frustrating for me to read. There were a few conversations between Avery and Carlos that didn't really feel natural, though this may have been intentional to reflect the strain in their relationship. I wasn't really sure where it was going in the beginning, but the pacing picks up as the story progresses, and I appreciated how things began to come together toward the end in a way that recontextualized earlier moments.
Overall, this was an engaging and atmospheric read that I finished quickly. (Though, I did make myself stop reading last night and consume some lighter material before bed so I wouldn't have nightmares about She Who Creeps Between!) While I didn't fully connect with the main characters, I appreciated the side characters, the themes, and cultural elements-- and the way the house itself and even the resentment felt like their own characters pushing the story along.
I'd recommend She Waits Where Shadows Gather to readers who enjoy psychological horror, haunted house stories, family secrets, and culturally grounded supernatural elements. I'm giving this one 3.5 stars.
It'd been a while since I'd read some horror and the synopsis for She Waits Where Shadows Gather really intrigued me. The book blends psychological horror, a haunted house setting, and Filipino culture into a story about grief, resentment, and the consequences of what happens when emotions are left to fester.
We follow Avery and Carlos Tam from Canada to the Philippines. The Tams are a Chinese Filipino married couple whose relationship has been strained by infertility and unresolved tension. Both of them are total skeptics when it comes to anything supernatural. Carlos even hosts a paranormal investigation show called Convince Carlos. But their convictions are tested when they move into his childhood home in Manila, where unexplainable and increasingly unsettling events start to occur.
The atmosphere is one of the strongest aspects of the book. Michelle Tang's prose makes the house feel alive in a suffocating, oppressive way- you can feel the walls narrowing in, the shadows shifting, the buzzing of unseen insects, and the constant sense that something, or someone, is watching you just out of sight. The house is absolutely an active force within the story, and I'd consider it a character of its own.
I also really enjoy how the novel weaves in Filipino cultural perspectives on spirits and the afterlife, which added depth and meaning that made the haunting feel more intentional. At its core, this is a story about relationships, and how resentment, guilt, and unspoken pain can grow over time. The emotional tension between Avery and Carlos is central to the narrative, and much of the horror stems from the breakdown of their communication and trust that fuel the fire of the supernatural elements.
At times, I did struggle with the characters, particularly Carlos, who was often difficult to like. While his behavior can be made sense of through the lens of the story, it sometimes made parts of the book frustrating for me to read. There were a few conversations between Avery and Carlos that didn't really feel natural, though this may have been intentional to reflect the strain in their relationship. I wasn't really sure where it was going in the beginning, but the pacing picks up as the story progresses, and I appreciated how things began to come together toward the end in a way that recontextualized earlier moments.
Overall, this was an engaging and atmospheric read that I finished quickly. (Though, I did make myself stop reading last night and consume some lighter material before bed so I wouldn't have nightmares about She Who Creeps Between!) While I didn't fully connect with the main characters, I appreciated the side characters, the themes, and cultural elements-- and the way the house itself and even the resentment felt like their own characters pushing the story along.
I'd recommend She Waits Where Shadows Gather to readers who enjoy psychological horror, haunted house stories, family secrets, and culturally grounded supernatural elements. I'm giving this one 3.5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 Stars
She Waits Where Shadows Gather was a ride. I went expecting a haunted house story that included some Filipino elements and mythology from the Manila setting, and the book certainly delivered on that front. There were some additional elements to this book, however, that are responsible for shaping my opinions on it.
The book follows married couple Carlos and Avery as they move into Carlos’s childhood home in Manila from Canada, where he, a professional paranormal debunker, plans to prove that the house is not haunted, so that it can be sold. After Carlos becomes bed bound from a car accident, the standard horror novel paranormal madness ensues.
The book had a bit of a slow start before I was able to get into it, something that was not helped by me finding both Avery and Carlos somewhat insufferable as characters and especially pov characters. Avery did manage to grow on me even it was just me feeling kinda sorry that she got stuck in a bad situation for no real fault of her own (other than her unwillingness to leave her god awful husband).
One of the best parts of this book was the actual haunted house itself. The description was very well done and the claustrophobic and shadowy nature of the place was captured in the writing. Delores, the maid, also added nicely to the atmosphere of the story and was far more enjoyable than the other side characters. Though I was able to predict the “reveal” with her character so quickly I questioned the decision to even make it a reveal in the first place.
The body horror at the end of the book was also written very well and actually provided stakes to the book, that I wish it was integrated more.
There were some issues with the story. One was the discussions on classism, which is to say the lack of discussions on classism. The book set up these ideas of Carlos’s family being wealthy and the lack of consequences they face because of it, especially when juxtaposed with the poverty surrounding them. However, nothing ever came of it, and it’s just stated that Carlos is a selfish person just because he is and his social status having nothing to do with it.
Also, Avery develops this attachment to Manila almost out of nowhere, like we’re told that she’s developed an attachment to the place but we never see her interact with it in a positive way.
The twist at the end with Carlos was interesting but I feel like it should have been revealed earlier. The book was 90% of the way finished, and then there’s a massive reveal that has a lot of significance to the development of the characters and the plot, which is then rushed because there’s not that much book left. Additionally, the reveal kinda felt like it was a bit of a cop out to Carlos’s character development.
Overall, She Waits Where Shadows Gather is a decent ghost story that fills the itch of generational haunting, even if there are some flaws within the story. Because sometimes a haunted house and being replaced by your own ghost can save a crumbling marriage.
Thanks to Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy.
She Waits Where Shadows Gather was a ride. I went expecting a haunted house story that included some Filipino elements and mythology from the Manila setting, and the book certainly delivered on that front. There were some additional elements to this book, however, that are responsible for shaping my opinions on it.
The book follows married couple Carlos and Avery as they move into Carlos’s childhood home in Manila from Canada, where he, a professional paranormal debunker, plans to prove that the house is not haunted, so that it can be sold. After Carlos becomes bed bound from a car accident, the standard horror novel paranormal madness ensues.
The book had a bit of a slow start before I was able to get into it, something that was not helped by me finding both Avery and Carlos somewhat insufferable as characters and especially pov characters. Avery did manage to grow on me even it was just me feeling kinda sorry that she got stuck in a bad situation for no real fault of her own (other than her unwillingness to leave her god awful husband).
One of the best parts of this book was the actual haunted house itself. The description was very well done and the claustrophobic and shadowy nature of the place was captured in the writing. Delores, the maid, also added nicely to the atmosphere of the story and was far more enjoyable than the other side characters. Though I was able to predict the “reveal” with her character so quickly I questioned the decision to even make it a reveal in the first place.
The body horror at the end of the book was also written very well and actually provided stakes to the book, that I wish it was integrated more.
There were some issues with the story. One was the discussions on classism, which is to say the lack of discussions on classism. The book set up these ideas of Carlos’s family being wealthy and the lack of consequences they face because of it, especially when juxtaposed with the poverty surrounding them. However, nothing ever came of it, and it’s just stated that Carlos is a selfish person just because he is and his social status having nothing to do with it.
Also, Avery develops this attachment to Manila almost out of nowhere, like we’re told that she’s developed an attachment to the place but we never see her interact with it in a positive way.
The twist at the end with Carlos was interesting but I feel like it should have been revealed earlier. The book was 90% of the way finished, and then there’s a massive reveal that has a lot of significance to the development of the characters and the plot, which is then rushed because there’s not that much book left. Additionally, the reveal kinda felt like it was a bit of a cop out to Carlos’s character development.
Overall, She Waits Where Shadows Gather is a decent ghost story that fills the itch of generational haunting, even if there are some flaws within the story. Because sometimes a haunted house and being replaced by your own ghost can save a crumbling marriage.
Thanks to Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Release date: May 5th, 2026!
Thank you to Netgalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC
She Waits Where Shadows Gather promises a story about a couple who move from Canada to the Philippines, where they can work on their struggling marriage, while Avery (our leading lady) can try some homeopathic fertility treatments to hopefully conceive after two long years of trying everything western medicine has to offer. Meanwhile, Carlos, her partner, can film his paranormal show ‘Convince Carlos.’ The trying couple moves into Carlos’ childhood home, where apparently hostile ghosts have resided his entire life and are dead set on tormenting Avery after Carlos ends up in a horrific accident that leaves him bedridden for who knows how long! Avery is trying her best to keep her sanity and help her beloved husband recover and defeat these spirits with little to no help from Carlos’ secretive family. That sounds promising, doesn’t it?
Well!! Instead, we get Carlos, who sucks. He doesn’t have a single redeeming quality. He is unlikable from the jump. There is a difference between a couple struggling because of the stress of not being able to conceive vs. a man who is just a narcissist ass hole. Even when he is bedridden and relying on Avery for care, he is just an awful human being. And what I suppose was supposed to be his redeeming moment in the end, you’ve already spent 80% of the book hating him that you’re like “yeah, it's literally the least you could do, dick.”
Sadly, I didn’t like Avery as a character either. I can’t imagine the amount of distress all of the events she is experiencing is causing but oh my goodness. She’s so confusing to me. Her reactions to ANYTHING never made sense to me. Like, you’re STILL a skeptic?? You STILL love him?? You STILL crave his approval? YOU FORGIVE HIM IN THE END??? Gag me. I just really couldn’t get on board.
I feel like I can safely say, this book is more about a failing marriage than ghosts/a haunting. 40% I was so tempted to DNF. I just truly did not care. We’d go pages on pages on pages hearing about this toxic, awful marriage, then be rewarded with a page or two about something ‘spooky’ happening, only for, of course, Avery to be a skeptic and the family to keep their secrets, so let’s move on to 10 more pages of toxicity.
Around 60% in they bring in an Oujia board and it got good! Perfect pacing, spooky vibes – ya know, what this whole book should have been. Only for at about 75% in we go right back to Carlos being narcissistic and whiny. By the time we get everyone on board to clear out the ‘evil’ ghost, I had one thought going through my head: ‘We could have done this WEEKS AGO if everyone wasn’t so secretive??? It doesn’t even explain WHY everyone was so secretive, we just get “we don’t talk about it.’ Annoying.
Thank you to Netgalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC
She Waits Where Shadows Gather promises a story about a couple who move from Canada to the Philippines, where they can work on their struggling marriage, while Avery (our leading lady) can try some homeopathic fertility treatments to hopefully conceive after two long years of trying everything western medicine has to offer. Meanwhile, Carlos, her partner, can film his paranormal show ‘Convince Carlos.’ The trying couple moves into Carlos’ childhood home, where apparently hostile ghosts have resided his entire life and are dead set on tormenting Avery after Carlos ends up in a horrific accident that leaves him bedridden for who knows how long! Avery is trying her best to keep her sanity and help her beloved husband recover and defeat these spirits with little to no help from Carlos’ secretive family. That sounds promising, doesn’t it?
Well!! Instead, we get Carlos, who sucks. He doesn’t have a single redeeming quality. He is unlikable from the jump. There is a difference between a couple struggling because of the stress of not being able to conceive vs. a man who is just a narcissist ass hole. Even when he is bedridden and relying on Avery for care, he is just an awful human being. And what I suppose was supposed to be his redeeming moment in the end, you’ve already spent 80% of the book hating him that you’re like “yeah, it's literally the least you could do, dick.”
Sadly, I didn’t like Avery as a character either. I can’t imagine the amount of distress all of the events she is experiencing is causing but oh my goodness. She’s so confusing to me. Her reactions to ANYTHING never made sense to me. Like, you’re STILL a skeptic?? You STILL love him?? You STILL crave his approval? YOU FORGIVE HIM IN THE END??? Gag me. I just really couldn’t get on board.
I feel like I can safely say, this book is more about a failing marriage than ghosts/a haunting. 40% I was so tempted to DNF. I just truly did not care. We’d go pages on pages on pages hearing about this toxic, awful marriage, then be rewarded with a page or two about something ‘spooky’ happening, only for, of course, Avery to be a skeptic and the family to keep their secrets, so let’s move on to 10 more pages of toxicity.
Around 60% in they bring in an Oujia board and it got good! Perfect pacing, spooky vibes – ya know, what this whole book should have been. Only for at about 75% in we go right back to Carlos being narcissistic and whiny. By the time we get everyone on board to clear out the ‘evil’ ghost, I had one thought going through my head: ‘We could have done this WEEKS AGO if everyone wasn’t so secretive??? It doesn’t even explain WHY everyone was so secretive, we just get “we don’t talk about it.’ Annoying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m sorry, how is this labeled as a horror book? It’s one of the most uneventful, dare I say boring, horror books I’ve ever read. I did not care about any of the things that were happening in this book, I wasn’t interested and I certainly wasn’t scared. It wasn’t badly written, but nothing in me wanted to keep going. I didn’t DNF it because it honestly read very quickly, that’s one of the pros, but I would’ve been fine not knowing how it ended. I just wasn’t into it and at the same time I expected so much more.
First of all, the plot. It’s pretty straightforward. Avery and Carlos are a married couple and together they visit their home back in the Philippines. Strange things begin to happen, then Carlos is involved in a car crash, and that’s when things really start to get weird because they’re in this weird house as she’s taking care of him.
I wish this book had focused more on the horror elements. I liked the potential this book had. Because there’s a haunted house, paranormal elements, ghostly happenings. You tell me all of that, and then the book is a boring soap opera? We’re only focusing on Avery and Carlos’s marriage problems, how they’re going through stuff at the moment, their struggles with infertility/not being able to conceive, and I can’t bring myself to care.
As for the pros, I really liked the representation in this book, they’re in the Philippines and obviously there are Filipinos over there. So, different cultural practices and food and folklore, like witches and such. If done well, it can seriously creep you out. In this book, not so much, but I appreciated the effort. And all the information (however little) we got. It was interesting to read about all the ideas on the presence of spirits and how this was connected to the book itself, which again features a sinister, creepy crawly haunted house with ghosts.
But at the end of the day, if after all of that we go back to issues with getting pregnant, and a marriage counseling needing couple, I just don’t care. Overall, this had some potential, but failed in its execution and ultimately read as a literary fiction with (slight) horror elements to it. Which I would’ve been fine with if I was informed it was going to be like this prior to reading the book.
Would I recommend reading it? It’s up to the person interested, because if you’re looking for a horror book, then no, you’d be disappointed like I was. But if what I described sounds appealing then why not! And as I mentioned it’s also pretty short and reads insanely quickly. To me, it’s somewhere around a 3.25/5⭐️ maybe even a three and a half, but that’s the highest I’m willing to go unfortunately.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, the plot. It’s pretty straightforward. Avery and Carlos are a married couple and together they visit their home back in the Philippines. Strange things begin to happen, then Carlos is involved in a car crash, and that’s when things really start to get weird because they’re in this weird house as she’s taking care of him.
I wish this book had focused more on the horror elements. I liked the potential this book had. Because there’s a haunted house, paranormal elements, ghostly happenings. You tell me all of that, and then the book is a boring soap opera? We’re only focusing on Avery and Carlos’s marriage problems, how they’re going through stuff at the moment, their struggles with infertility/not being able to conceive, and I can’t bring myself to care.
As for the pros, I really liked the representation in this book, they’re in the Philippines and obviously there are Filipinos over there. So, different cultural practices and food and folklore, like witches and such. If done well, it can seriously creep you out. In this book, not so much, but I appreciated the effort. And all the information (however little) we got. It was interesting to read about all the ideas on the presence of spirits and how this was connected to the book itself, which again features a sinister, creepy crawly haunted house with ghosts.
But at the end of the day, if after all of that we go back to issues with getting pregnant, and a marriage counseling needing couple, I just don’t care. Overall, this had some potential, but failed in its execution and ultimately read as a literary fiction with (slight) horror elements to it. Which I would’ve been fine with if I was informed it was going to be like this prior to reading the book.
Would I recommend reading it? It’s up to the person interested, because if you’re looking for a horror book, then no, you’d be disappointed like I was. But if what I described sounds appealing then why not! And as I mentioned it’s also pretty short and reads insanely quickly. To me, it’s somewhere around a 3.25/5⭐️ maybe even a three and a half, but that’s the highest I’m willing to go unfortunately.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Read for pending Booklist review. Notes below.
Told in chapters with alternating viewpoints between married couple Avery and Carlos Tam. Carlos is the star of a reality TV show that seeks to debunk supernatural phenomenon. Avery's attention is focused on her struggle to become pregnant.
Questions about truth, faith, and loyalty permeate the book. The exploration of the power of faith in our lives. Pervasive fear of bad luck and bad omens, fortunes, ghosts of the past, folk magic. Do we have a fate that determines our future? The family home demonstrates the connections between the theoretical, physical and spiritual worlds.
Midsommer like opening. Tension and claustrophobia build slowly. What seems to be the result of poor communication and a bad relationship becomes something else.
Strong sense of unease. Reality show is Convince Carlos and much of the book is about whether or not Avery and Carlos will be convinced of the reality of the haunting or if they will continue to place the blame on Chinese Filipino superstition. The longer Carlos stays in the Philippines, the more he is convinced of the supernatural. His sister, Tessa, strongly believes in the supernatural, even providing Avery with a handmade charm that protects their bedroom.
Opens with a foreshadowing of the haunting of the family and of the house. Avery feels as if she's being watched, even from the beginning of their residence in the family home. The family's long time maid saw Carlos's grandfather and the family suspects that there is a reason that he came back. The mystery about why Carlos feels so negatively towards his Lolo or grandfather is slowly revealed as the story proceeds.
Avery is even more skeptical than Carlos who has begun to change since they arrived in Manila. Manila is painted both as home in the truest sense as well as an other worldly place where things not possible in Canada can occur. Both Avery and Carlos get a sense that everything about their lives and their relationship is changing the longer they are in Manila. Living in the house seems to be changing Avery.
Read alike - The Ancestor by Danielle Trusoni, The Villa Once Beloved, The Hacienda,
After Carlos is injured in a terrible car crash, Avery sets out to do what Carlos really came to Manila to do - clear the family home of ghosts so it can be sold. Both Carlos from his bed and Avery are fighting ghosts at the same time. Because of his injuries, they both trapped in a kind of limbo, his physical, hers emotional.
There are family secrets never discussed but the ghosts will. Danger of confessions and of telling the truth.
The destructive power of lies and the desire for revenge that can transcend generations.
Told in chapters with alternating viewpoints between married couple Avery and Carlos Tam. Carlos is the star of a reality TV show that seeks to debunk supernatural phenomenon. Avery's attention is focused on her struggle to become pregnant.
Questions about truth, faith, and loyalty permeate the book. The exploration of the power of faith in our lives. Pervasive fear of bad luck and bad omens, fortunes, ghosts of the past, folk magic. Do we have a fate that determines our future? The family home demonstrates the connections between the theoretical, physical and spiritual worlds.
Midsommer like opening. Tension and claustrophobia build slowly. What seems to be the result of poor communication and a bad relationship becomes something else.
Strong sense of unease. Reality show is Convince Carlos and much of the book is about whether or not Avery and Carlos will be convinced of the reality of the haunting or if they will continue to place the blame on Chinese Filipino superstition. The longer Carlos stays in the Philippines, the more he is convinced of the supernatural. His sister, Tessa, strongly believes in the supernatural, even providing Avery with a handmade charm that protects their bedroom.
Opens with a foreshadowing of the haunting of the family and of the house. Avery feels as if she's being watched, even from the beginning of their residence in the family home. The family's long time maid saw Carlos's grandfather and the family suspects that there is a reason that he came back. The mystery about why Carlos feels so negatively towards his Lolo or grandfather is slowly revealed as the story proceeds.
Avery is even more skeptical than Carlos who has begun to change since they arrived in Manila. Manila is painted both as home in the truest sense as well as an other worldly place where things not possible in Canada can occur. Both Avery and Carlos get a sense that everything about their lives and their relationship is changing the longer they are in Manila. Living in the house seems to be changing Avery.
Read alike - The Ancestor by Danielle Trusoni, The Villa Once Beloved, The Hacienda,
After Carlos is injured in a terrible car crash, Avery sets out to do what Carlos really came to Manila to do - clear the family home of ghosts so it can be sold. Both Carlos from his bed and Avery are fighting ghosts at the same time. Because of his injuries, they both trapped in a kind of limbo, his physical, hers emotional.
There are family secrets never discussed but the ghosts will. Danger of confessions and of telling the truth.
The destructive power of lies and the desire for revenge that can transcend generations.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5/5 ✩
Thank you NetGalley and Poisened Pen Press for providing this ARC.
It's so unfortunate that I couldn't really get into She Waits Where Shadows Gather, because the premise was so enticing. For me, this novel was a strong example of excellent concept with lackluster execution.
To first touch on the characters, I found our two leads, Avery and Carlos, to be really underbaked. I feel as if I never really got to know them, that there wasn't enough dimension to their identities. Each of the two were simply personified by base qualities - a yearning for one another's attention. Though decent in theory, it just felt like we were going in circles regarding their selfishness. I never really bought into their relationship; they didn't feel like a couple that had grown distant and was now struggling to reconnect.
Similarly, I think the haunting elements present in the Tam home were really underwhelming, too. I think the narrative would have been more unsettling, engaging, and suspenseful with more oomph earlier in the story. The only moment of this book that I found vaguely chilling was And even then, it wasn't particularly scary.
The one true praise I have for this book is the twist near the end, as it was wonderfully unexpected.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisened Pen Press for providing this ARC.
It's so unfortunate that I couldn't really get into She Waits Where Shadows Gather, because the premise was so enticing. For me, this novel was a strong example of excellent concept with lackluster execution.
To first touch on the characters, I found our two leads, Avery and Carlos, to be really underbaked. I feel as if I never really got to know them, that there wasn't enough dimension to their identities. Each of the two were simply personified by base qualities - a yearning for one another's attention. Though decent in theory, it just felt like we were going in circles regarding their selfishness. I never really bought into their relationship; they didn't feel like a couple that had grown distant and was now struggling to reconnect.
Similarly, I think the haunting elements present in the Tam home were really underwhelming, too. I think the narrative would have been more unsettling, engaging, and suspenseful with more oomph earlier in the story. The only moment of this book that I found vaguely chilling was And even then, it wasn't particularly scary.
The one true praise I have for this book is the twist near the end, as it was wonderfully unexpected.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
She Waits Where Shadows Gather is an atmospheric horror story. The book takes place in Manila after Carlos and his wife Avery travel to his childhood home upon learning that his grandfather's ghost has been discovered in the house. Carlos has been living in Canada with his wife Avery who has never been to the Philippines before. He is the star and producer of a television show called "Convince Carlos" in which he travels to haunted houses to debunk the supernatural. What better plot line for his show than to disprove the supernatural claims being made by his own family?
The narrative moves back and forth between the main protagonist, Avery and her husband Carlos after he suffers a serious car accident that leaves him unable to care for himself. As the story unfolds Avery encounters persistent inexplicable occurrences in the house. She tries to find rational explanations for what she sees and hears, unable to believe the claims by Carlos' family that the home is filled with restless spirits. The portions of the book that focus on these eerie and menacing presences were very well done.
On the other hand, a large amount of the book is also devoted to Avery's unresolved anger and resentment because of she and Carlos' conflict over the importance of having children. This part of the book helps to highlight Carlos' selfish nature, but could have been woven more successfully into the narrative. At times, it often felt like the author was trying to include too many disparate narratives which made the reading drag.
Another criticism is that many of the characters are so shrouded in secrecy about the past that they come across as annoying. Perhaps the intention was to create a mystery that will be revealed gradually over the course of the book, but instead the reader only learns the full story near the end of the book when it is brought to light all at once.
The final few chapters of the book are emotionally gripping and compelling, however, the actual conclusion seemed too conveniently resolved. After building up to a grand confrontation, the book ends not with an all out struggle, but rather with a whimper.
Those who are drawn to stories about haunted houses and stories that incorporate cultural exploration will want to check out this book.
3 Stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
The narrative moves back and forth between the main protagonist, Avery and her husband Carlos after he suffers a serious car accident that leaves him unable to care for himself. As the story unfolds Avery encounters persistent inexplicable occurrences in the house. She tries to find rational explanations for what she sees and hears, unable to believe the claims by Carlos' family that the home is filled with restless spirits. The portions of the book that focus on these eerie and menacing presences were very well done.
On the other hand, a large amount of the book is also devoted to Avery's unresolved anger and resentment because of she and Carlos' conflict over the importance of having children. This part of the book helps to highlight Carlos' selfish nature, but could have been woven more successfully into the narrative. At times, it often felt like the author was trying to include too many disparate narratives which made the reading drag.
Another criticism is that many of the characters are so shrouded in secrecy about the past that they come across as annoying. Perhaps the intention was to create a mystery that will be revealed gradually over the course of the book, but instead the reader only learns the full story near the end of the book when it is brought to light all at once.
The final few chapters of the book are emotionally gripping and compelling, however, the actual conclusion seemed too conveniently resolved. After building up to a grand confrontation, the book ends not with an all out struggle, but rather with a whimper.
Those who are drawn to stories about haunted houses and stories that incorporate cultural exploration will want to check out this book.
3 Stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2026
“You can call me…the last thing you’ll ever see.”
At its core, this is a story about inheritance: especially of pain — and my goodness, does it deliver a good time while dragging you through the haunted house of your nightmares 👻
🥀 The dual pov novel follows Avery and Carlos Tam, a couple already fractured by unspoken tensions and loss, who return to Carlos’s ancestral home in the Philippines for…an unusual reason. What begins as a temporary stay quickly becomes something far worse than anyone (especially I) could have imagined 👁️👄👁️
🥀After a devastating accident, in which Carlos is pronounced clinically dead before being brought back by doctors, he regains consciousness to find himself trapped by pain within his own body; struggling to recover. This is where the real horror begins, rooted as much in emotional paralysis as in the supernatural forces surrounding this once skeptical couple.
🥀 @michelletangwrites has a marvellous ability to weave Filipino folklore and spiritual belief systems into the fabric of the narrative. Through a supporting cast of deeply spiritual/superstitious family members (and one hot priest 🥵)we learn about ‘Mangkukulam’ (witches), ‘Mambabarang’ (evil, insect-controlling sorcerers), the ‘Manananggal’ (vampire-like creatures able to separate their upper torso from the lower part of their body.) and so much more!
🥀All of this creates a compelling tension between Carlos’s Westernised skepticism and the reality of what unfolds around him. The novel suggests, powerfully, that cultural disconnection can leave one vulnerable—that what we refuse to acknowledge can still harm us.
🥀Themes of generational trauma, silence, and emotional repression run throughout, with the central relationship between Avery and Carlos serving as both anchor and fault line. Their marriage is marked by unspoken resentment, miscommunication, and unresolved grief, particularly surrounding infertility. This magnifies the horror, as the supernatural elements often mirror the couple’s internal collapse.
✨Great for readers who love:
The Haunting of Hill House–style emotional horror; folklore-driven narratives and slow, creeping dread.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#SheWaitsWhereShadowsGather comes out May 5th!
Thank you to #netgalley for this amazing arc
At its core, this is a story about inheritance: especially of pain — and my goodness, does it deliver a good time while dragging you through the haunted house of your nightmares 👻
🥀 The dual pov novel follows Avery and Carlos Tam, a couple already fractured by unspoken tensions and loss, who return to Carlos’s ancestral home in the Philippines for…an unusual reason. What begins as a temporary stay quickly becomes something far worse than anyone (especially I) could have imagined 👁️👄👁️
🥀After a devastating accident, in which Carlos is pronounced clinically dead before being brought back by doctors, he regains consciousness to find himself trapped by pain within his own body; struggling to recover. This is where the real horror begins, rooted as much in emotional paralysis as in the supernatural forces surrounding this once skeptical couple.
🥀 @michelletangwrites has a marvellous ability to weave Filipino folklore and spiritual belief systems into the fabric of the narrative. Through a supporting cast of deeply spiritual/superstitious family members (and one hot priest 🥵)we learn about ‘Mangkukulam’ (witches), ‘Mambabarang’ (evil, insect-controlling sorcerers), the ‘Manananggal’ (vampire-like creatures able to separate their upper torso from the lower part of their body.) and so much more!
🥀All of this creates a compelling tension between Carlos’s Westernised skepticism and the reality of what unfolds around him. The novel suggests, powerfully, that cultural disconnection can leave one vulnerable—that what we refuse to acknowledge can still harm us.
🥀Themes of generational trauma, silence, and emotional repression run throughout, with the central relationship between Avery and Carlos serving as both anchor and fault line. Their marriage is marked by unspoken resentment, miscommunication, and unresolved grief, particularly surrounding infertility. This magnifies the horror, as the supernatural elements often mirror the couple’s internal collapse.
✨Great for readers who love:
The Haunting of Hill House–style emotional horror; folklore-driven narratives and slow, creeping dread.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#SheWaitsWhereShadowsGather comes out May 5th!
Thank you to #netgalley for this amazing arc
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
She Waits Where Shadows Gather by Michelle Tang is a horror novel about a young married couple who return to the Philippines, and a haunted house.
I’d like to thank Edelweiss, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press (and particular Lauren Klouda from Sourcebooks who sent me a widget) , and the author Michelle Tang, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
First, I think the writing was really good, and the chapters were divided into different perspectives, keeping everything very smooth.
Unfortunately I really disliked Carlos and his selfish and narcissistic attitude from the very beginning, and thought that Avery was a very naive woman, who may have been selfish in her own way. These thoughts did not change even when the characters did. So, while the author tried to alter their temperaments from time to time, and particularly at the end, I could not move forward. I continued to think they were in a very unhealthy and incompatible marriage. I also think that their marriage took more of a center stage than the haunting of the house (which is why I wanted to read the book). This is unfortunate, because the house was a great character!
I did like the addition of Philippine folklore. That was really interesting.
So, overall, I did not like the characters (although Tessa was good). The ghost story was excellent, but was over-shadowed by the marriage of two idiots. The actual plot showed so much promise if not for those characters. Sometimes the pacing and the dialog was a little off. As well, the ending seemed "rushed", trying to explain so much.
Perhaps this just wasn't for me...I have this feeling I may be in the minority on this one, but that just shows that we all have different tastes, and that is as it should be.
Anyway, until next time ....
For a more thorough review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, and its author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
I’d like to thank Edelweiss, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press (and particular Lauren Klouda from Sourcebooks who sent me a widget) , and the author Michelle Tang, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
First, I think the writing was really good, and the chapters were divided into different perspectives, keeping everything very smooth.
Unfortunately I really disliked Carlos and his selfish and narcissistic attitude from the very beginning, and thought that Avery was a very naive woman, who may have been selfish in her own way. These thoughts did not change even when the characters did. So, while the author tried to alter their temperaments from time to time, and particularly at the end, I could not move forward. I continued to think they were in a very unhealthy and incompatible marriage. I also think that their marriage took more of a center stage than the haunting of the house (which is why I wanted to read the book). This is unfortunate, because the house was a great character!
I did like the addition of Philippine folklore. That was really interesting.
So, overall, I did not like the characters (although Tessa was good). The ghost story was excellent, but was over-shadowed by the marriage of two idiots. The actual plot showed so much promise if not for those characters. Sometimes the pacing and the dialog was a little off. As well, the ending seemed "rushed", trying to explain so much.
Perhaps this just wasn't for me...I have this feeling I may be in the minority on this one, but that just shows that we all have different tastes, and that is as it should be.
Anyway, until next time ....
For a more thorough review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, and its author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
December 10, 2025
Avery and Carlos are a Canadian married couple spending time in the Philippines. Carlos is the star of a ghost-hunting show, and is visiting his childhood home in an effort to prove that there are no ghosts within its walls so it can be sold. Avery is frustrated with her infertility, and hopes that some natural Filipino remedies can help her out. When Carlos is incapacitated by a car accident, the house feels more like a prison than a sanctuary, and Avery alone must face its hauntings.
'She Waits Where Shadows Gather' has a great title and an interesting premise, but focuses more on an intimate marital drama than the horrors that reside in Carlos's childhood home. Avery wants kids so badly that she has lost her savings on fertility treatments, and Carlos is so against kids that the idea of having them makes him sick. This aspect of their relationship was not at all discussed before they tied the knot. Lack of communication can be an interesting plot point, but in this story, it's more frustrating than compelling. Carlos and Avery are both unsympathetic characters, and I simply don't understand why the two are married to one another. Carlos seems drawn to anyone who will give him attention, but why does Avery love him? I was rooting for them to get a divorce, because it seemed like the best option for them.
To risk some spoilers, while I agree that Carlos was the more selfish of the two for lying, I don't like how it concludes with 'not wanting kids is also selfish'. Again, I just think a divorce was the better option for this couple. Avery's desire for children seemed more 'babies are cute' than 'I want to care for a human I make' (especially with how reluctant she is to care for her bed-bound husband). I don't feel like these are people who would be good parents, and Carlos seems more responsible for actively not wanting a child (even if his reasons are a bit suspect).
Overall, the horror is not enough for me to enjoy this book about people who should not be married in the first place. The ideal ending would have been them realizing it was sunk cost fallacy keeping them together.
'She Waits Where Shadows Gather' has a great title and an interesting premise, but focuses more on an intimate marital drama than the horrors that reside in Carlos's childhood home. Avery wants kids so badly that she has lost her savings on fertility treatments, and Carlos is so against kids that the idea of having them makes him sick. This aspect of their relationship was not at all discussed before they tied the knot. Lack of communication can be an interesting plot point, but in this story, it's more frustrating than compelling. Carlos and Avery are both unsympathetic characters, and I simply don't understand why the two are married to one another. Carlos seems drawn to anyone who will give him attention, but why does Avery love him? I was rooting for them to get a divorce, because it seemed like the best option for them.
To risk some spoilers, while I agree that Carlos was the more selfish of the two for lying, I don't like how it concludes with 'not wanting kids is also selfish'. Again, I just think a divorce was the better option for this couple. Avery's desire for children seemed more 'babies are cute' than 'I want to care for a human I make' (especially with how reluctant she is to care for her bed-bound husband). I don't feel like these are people who would be good parents, and Carlos seems more responsible for actively not wanting a child (even if his reasons are a bit suspect).
Overall, the horror is not enough for me to enjoy this book about people who should not be married in the first place. The ideal ending would have been them realizing it was sunk cost fallacy keeping them together.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Carlos and Avery are a married couple who move to the Philippines, back to Carlos’ childhood home. Carlos is drawn back to investigate a sighting of his grandfathers ghost in the house, and has convinced Avery to come along with the promise of finding treatment for her infertility. In the childhood home, the eerie, supernatural occurrences that scared Carlos as a child begin again and both become determined to discover the truth.
I enjoyed the look into Filipino, and specifically Chinese-Filipino, culture and experience as well as the descriptions of Manila. This felt true and authentic in the writing. I also really enjoyed the twist at the end, it was done in a way that had me rethinking what i had read previously and I applaud Tang for that intricacy and her creativity.
However, I do think there were a few misses in the story telling. This novel tries to be both a horror story, as well as one about familial relationship. But with the short page count I don’t think fans of either category will be fully satisfied. We don’t have room for the experience to identify with the individual characters, understand their motivation for action, or feel or root for their success. We also don’t have enough room to create the atmospheric vibe of unease and sheer horror that we want to see of the house.
The last bit is a personal preference on the style of the writing. I found that it was clear this was a debut, there were more than a few times where we were exploring an abstract concept or idea where I thought it would be much more effective if she had stopped one or two sentences earlier.
I wanted to be immersed in horror vibes, learn about Chinese-Filipino families living in Manila, and maybe get a few thoughtful or ambiguous or impactful emotional moments. Overall this is an enjoyable read and if you are looking for sort of a familial mystery with a splash of horror this is a fun one.
Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Michelle Tang for the advanced ebook copy
I enjoyed the look into Filipino, and specifically Chinese-Filipino, culture and experience as well as the descriptions of Manila. This felt true and authentic in the writing. I also really enjoyed the twist at the end, it was done in a way that had me rethinking what i had read previously and I applaud Tang for that intricacy and her creativity.
However, I do think there were a few misses in the story telling. This novel tries to be both a horror story, as well as one about familial relationship. But with the short page count I don’t think fans of either category will be fully satisfied. We don’t have room for the experience to identify with the individual characters, understand their motivation for action, or feel or root for their success. We also don’t have enough room to create the atmospheric vibe of unease and sheer horror that we want to see of the house.
The last bit is a personal preference on the style of the writing. I found that it was clear this was a debut, there were more than a few times where we were exploring an abstract concept or idea where I thought it would be much more effective if she had stopped one or two sentences earlier.
I wanted to be immersed in horror vibes, learn about Chinese-Filipino families living in Manila, and maybe get a few thoughtful or ambiguous or impactful emotional moments. Overall this is an enjoyable read and if you are looking for sort of a familial mystery with a splash of horror this is a fun one.
Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Michelle Tang for the advanced ebook copy
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