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And the Sea Gave Up the Dead: A Novel
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27 days and 17:20:59
20 copies available
U.S. only
For fans of Jennifer Thorne's Diavola and We Have Always Lived in the Castle comes William Friend's latest stunning novel following a young woman's return to her family's crumbling chateau to stay with her aging aunt - but grief, mystery, and something undead haunts her family, and soon, a dark history will repeat itself.
"In the woods... between the trees..."
Morwenna knows she needs to visit Bethan. Her aunt is wasting away in the family's crumbling chateau by the French seaside, where she's lived alone since the mysterious disappearance of her husband. The locals claim Bethan is responsible, though Morwenna knows her aunt is simply declining and in desperate need of company.
Grief lives in that house, and Morwenna has avoided it for years. Until a disturbing phone call from Bethan finally pushes her to act. So she packs up her children and new partner to stay for a week.
But the chateau changes people. Old magic has seeped into the ground. The village remembers what happened at the grand old house, centuries ago. They remember who died, and what came back. Soon, this place will leave its mark on Morwenna's family. And she cannot escape the feeling that, unless she learns the truth about what happened to her uncle, something ancient and evil will rise, and a dark history will repeat itself at the chateau.
"In the woods... between the trees..."
Morwenna knows she needs to visit Bethan. Her aunt is wasting away in the family's crumbling chateau by the French seaside, where she's lived alone since the mysterious disappearance of her husband. The locals claim Bethan is responsible, though Morwenna knows her aunt is simply declining and in desperate need of company.
Grief lives in that house, and Morwenna has avoided it for years. Until a disturbing phone call from Bethan finally pushes her to act. So she packs up her children and new partner to stay for a week.
But the chateau changes people. Old magic has seeped into the ground. The village remembers what happened at the grand old house, centuries ago. They remember who died, and what came back. Soon, this place will leave its mark on Morwenna's family. And she cannot escape the feeling that, unless she learns the truth about what happened to her uncle, something ancient and evil will rise, and a dark history will repeat itself at the chateau.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 18, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 6, 2026
thank you to netgalley for this arc!!!
this was a solid gothic horror with a really strong atmosphere. the chateau, family secrets, and constant sense of dread/confusion made it super easy to get immersed in the story.
my main ‘criticism’ is that the pacing occasionally felt too slow, and some of the reveals didn't quite have the impact i was expecting after so much buildup. it was a bit more of a meandering plot, especially for the first half, so i wouldn’t go into this expecting action from the get go. the main reveal at the end did very much get me though!!
overall, it's a well-written, unsettling read with a great sense of creepy and disturbing atmosphere. definitely worth picking up if you enjoy gothic fiction and family-centred horror with a good helping of weirdness!!
this was a solid gothic horror with a really strong atmosphere. the chateau, family secrets, and constant sense of dread/confusion made it super easy to get immersed in the story.
my main ‘criticism’ is that the pacing occasionally felt too slow, and some of the reveals didn't quite have the impact i was expecting after so much buildup. it was a bit more of a meandering plot, especially for the first half, so i wouldn’t go into this expecting action from the get go. the main reveal at the end did very much get me though!!
overall, it's a well-written, unsettling read with a great sense of creepy and disturbing atmosphere. definitely worth picking up if you enjoy gothic fiction and family-centred horror with a good helping of weirdness!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5⭐️
Morwenna is traveling with her partner Christian and her children to visit her Aunt Bethan in the Var region of France, a mountainous area located on the southern coast. In telephone and mail communications, Aunt Bethan, who was widowed the previous year when her husband disappeared at sea, is giving Morwenna cause for concern as she seems to be having memory slips. Morwenna's own mother suffers from dementia, and she herself is a widow, having lost the father of her two boys nine years prior. Upon arrival at the grand but dusty chateau, Morwenna's anxiety for her aunt is at first validated, as Bethan has forgotten their visit and claims to still see her dead husband Jim. But as Bethan seems to grow healthier and stronger with each passing day, Morwenna finds her own grip on reality, and her relations with her family, slipping into the fog.
At first sustained by the gothic atmosphere, I found that And the Sea Gave Up the Dead squadered the buildup of the first 30% or so and became a tedious mess. There were way too many dangling threads as the story moved from atmosphere to action, and it read to me like the author wrote the novel with no clear story or objective in mind. I am a reader who generally likes ambiguity and I don't mind a minimal plot, but I ultimately found this book to have about as much substance as the creeping fog that surrounds the house. I also found some of the reveals at the end at once predictable and silly.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the digital arc. And the Sea Gave Up the Dead will be published August 18, 2026.
Morwenna is traveling with her partner Christian and her children to visit her Aunt Bethan in the Var region of France, a mountainous area located on the southern coast. In telephone and mail communications, Aunt Bethan, who was widowed the previous year when her husband disappeared at sea, is giving Morwenna cause for concern as she seems to be having memory slips. Morwenna's own mother suffers from dementia, and she herself is a widow, having lost the father of her two boys nine years prior. Upon arrival at the grand but dusty chateau, Morwenna's anxiety for her aunt is at first validated, as Bethan has forgotten their visit and claims to still see her dead husband Jim. But as Bethan seems to grow healthier and stronger with each passing day, Morwenna finds her own grip on reality, and her relations with her family, slipping into the fog.
At first sustained by the gothic atmosphere, I found that And the Sea Gave Up the Dead squadered the buildup of the first 30% or so and became a tedious mess. There were way too many dangling threads as the story moved from atmosphere to action, and it read to me like the author wrote the novel with no clear story or objective in mind. I am a reader who generally likes ambiguity and I don't mind a minimal plot, but I ultimately found this book to have about as much substance as the creeping fog that surrounds the house. I also found some of the reveals at the end at once predictable and silly.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the digital arc. And the Sea Gave Up the Dead will be published August 18, 2026.
June 12, 2026
comparing this book to “diavola” is such a disservice bc this book was TONS better than that one.
thanks to netgalley for the arc!!
thanks to netgalley for the arc!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Deliciously twisted, sensuously morbid - And the Sea Gave Up the Dead is the gothic portrait of a family splintered. When Morwenna, her partner, and her sons pay a visit to her ailing aunt’s chateau on the French seaside, unsettling things begin fomenting in the shadows. Mysteries surrounding the chateau deepen and grief overwhelms the spaces in between, appertaining the reality of loss, and the loss of reality.
Written with sonorous prose, the novel unfolds at a languid pace and seamlessly shifts between character perspectives. Bits of each family member’s personality and latent memories are dispensed at just the right intervals to capture attention, as well as further the narrative, which elapses over the span of about a week. The French setting is moody and rich, from the beach to the thicket of woods surrounding the chateau, to the chateau itself. The novel employs a wide array of horror, both psychological and supernatural. Eerie, disquieting, and foreboding; I found the creepiness delectable.
It's a novel that you can tell is carefully composed - stories within stories that parallel the film and folklore motif throughout. Everything culminates adroitly by the end. While the conclusion itself is not a novel concept, it is rendered with enough idiosyncrasy that I didn't mind the nature of the twist. Everything clicks into place satisfyingly. It might be a slow burn, but a worthwhile one.
Ultimately, I think And the Sea Gave Up the Dead is a splendid, spooky read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Recommended to those looking for a haunted family drama with complicated dynamics and dread steeped into every page.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this book.
Written with sonorous prose, the novel unfolds at a languid pace and seamlessly shifts between character perspectives. Bits of each family member’s personality and latent memories are dispensed at just the right intervals to capture attention, as well as further the narrative, which elapses over the span of about a week. The French setting is moody and rich, from the beach to the thicket of woods surrounding the chateau, to the chateau itself. The novel employs a wide array of horror, both psychological and supernatural. Eerie, disquieting, and foreboding; I found the creepiness delectable.
It's a novel that you can tell is carefully composed - stories within stories that parallel the film and folklore motif throughout. Everything culminates adroitly by the end. While the conclusion itself is not a novel concept, it is rendered with enough idiosyncrasy that I didn't mind the nature of the twist. Everything clicks into place satisfyingly. It might be a slow burn, but a worthwhile one.
Ultimately, I think And the Sea Gave Up the Dead is a splendid, spooky read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Recommended to those looking for a haunted family drama with complicated dynamics and dread steeped into every page.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
Morwenna has avoided her Aunt Bethan for too long, partially due to Bethan's behavior since her husband Jim was lost at sea, and also due to the death of her own husband. But when she gets a phone call alerting her that something is afoul, Marwenna packs up her two sons and partner to go visit Bethan in her chateau in France. While their week-long holiday seems fine at first, soon strange things begin happening - night sweats inducing dreams, changes in moods for her children, and then there are all the creepy local legends about dead souls returning after Halloween and evil revenants coming back. The longer they stay, the darker their moods and atmosphere get, as November 1 looms in their future.
Early on in the book, the story is often disorienting and seeming only to paint some of the picture before moving on, leaving a bit of a feeling of confusion. This was likely on purpose, as that's often how the characters feel and react. In the second half of the novel, the narrative has more clarity, and all the whispers of plot elements from before start to get fleshed out and answered. However, while this wasn't a particularly long book, the longer the story went on, the more it started feeling a mixture of repetitiveness and that the plot was being too slowly dragged out. I though the overall writing was well done, but the story, especially once it was fully explained at the end, just didn't have enough substance for the length of the book. I think a novella about half to maybe two-thirds the length would have made for a stronger read.
Morwenna has avoided her Aunt Bethan for too long, partially due to Bethan's behavior since her husband Jim was lost at sea, and also due to the death of her own husband. But when she gets a phone call alerting her that something is afoul, Marwenna packs up her two sons and partner to go visit Bethan in her chateau in France. While their week-long holiday seems fine at first, soon strange things begin happening - night sweats inducing dreams, changes in moods for her children, and then there are all the creepy local legends about dead souls returning after Halloween and evil revenants coming back. The longer they stay, the darker their moods and atmosphere get, as November 1 looms in their future.
Early on in the book, the story is often disorienting and seeming only to paint some of the picture before moving on, leaving a bit of a feeling of confusion. This was likely on purpose, as that's often how the characters feel and react. In the second half of the novel, the narrative has more clarity, and all the whispers of plot elements from before start to get fleshed out and answered. However, while this wasn't a particularly long book, the longer the story went on, the more it started feeling a mixture of repetitiveness and that the plot was being too slowly dragged out. I though the overall writing was well done, but the story, especially once it was fully explained at the end, just didn't have enough substance for the length of the book. I think a novella about half to maybe two-thirds the length would have made for a stronger read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After finishing this book, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. It was difficult to track precisely what was happening at the beginning of the book, as the perspective often bounced between the four members of the family and left me with a few pieces of what was happening at a time. While the atmosphere was suitably gothic and eerie, the first section of the book was quite slow. It took a while for it to start to become clear exactly what was happening in the chateau.
I didn't like Morwenna very much as a character, and I think I might have enjoyed the book more if it had been primarily centered around her sons as characters rather than so much from her. While some characters are often not meant to be liked by the reader in the way they are written, it seemed that Morwenna is meant to be liked or sympathized with by the reader, and I just never connected with her or enjoyed when the book was in her perspective.
There were certain points in the book where I wasn't sure whether it would come to a satisfying ending or not, and the ending was not quite what I had anticipated. The ending didn't come entirely out of nowhere, but in a way the ending left me feeling as though many of the events from the book were a bit pointless, and diminished the stakes from the earlier plot. There were definitely aspects of the book that I enjoyed, but overall my feelings at the end of the book were complicated.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
I didn't like Morwenna very much as a character, and I think I might have enjoyed the book more if it had been primarily centered around her sons as characters rather than so much from her. While some characters are often not meant to be liked by the reader in the way they are written, it seemed that Morwenna is meant to be liked or sympathized with by the reader, and I just never connected with her or enjoyed when the book was in her perspective.
There were certain points in the book where I wasn't sure whether it would come to a satisfying ending or not, and the ending was not quite what I had anticipated. The ending didn't come entirely out of nowhere, but in a way the ending left me feeling as though many of the events from the book were a bit pointless, and diminished the stakes from the earlier plot. There were definitely aspects of the book that I enjoyed, but overall my feelings at the end of the book were complicated.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve finished this book and feeling things I did not expect to feel.
Reading from a third person perspective with really jarring character shifts was disorienting to me initially but the further I got with the story, I think this actually made it more enjoyable and relate better to how the characters must have been feeling/experiencing - because the whole story was incredibly disorientating and disturbing and heartbreaking.
With so many life changing human experiences such as grief in its many forms, motherhood, coming of age, self discovery and a plethora more, it was challenging not to feel an attachment or relatability to the characters in some way.
There was a gentle descent into madness throughout the book- something that I haven’t experienced before and I will actively seek out again !
There were times I was struggling to read because of the horror and paranormal aspects and other times because of the welling in my eyes.
I very much felt this to be psychological gothic horror based on the setting, the atmosphere, the characters moods and visions and the overall storyline/vibe.
So if you enjoy unreliable narrators and not know who to trust or what’s real then you will absolutely enjoy this.
I am curious to know if it was “the fates” spinning wheel that was featured throughout the story. Did anyone else consider this?
Reading from a third person perspective with really jarring character shifts was disorienting to me initially but the further I got with the story, I think this actually made it more enjoyable and relate better to how the characters must have been feeling/experiencing - because the whole story was incredibly disorientating and disturbing and heartbreaking.
With so many life changing human experiences such as grief in its many forms, motherhood, coming of age, self discovery and a plethora more, it was challenging not to feel an attachment or relatability to the characters in some way.
There was a gentle descent into madness throughout the book- something that I haven’t experienced before and I will actively seek out again !
There were times I was struggling to read because of the horror and paranormal aspects and other times because of the welling in my eyes.
I very much felt this to be psychological gothic horror based on the setting, the atmosphere, the characters moods and visions and the overall storyline/vibe.
So if you enjoy unreliable narrators and not know who to trust or what’s real then you will absolutely enjoy this.
I am curious to know if it was “the fates” spinning wheel that was featured throughout the story. Did anyone else consider this?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What this novel does well is creating a sense of creeping dread and unease with the feeling of being unmoored, unsteady on your feet, almost a little seasick and dizzy. It's hard to get your bearings at times, both in the metaphorical sense (what is going on) and literal sense (wait, actually what is going on). While I enjoyed it at first, the disquiet, it did become a bit tedious as the novel progressed and I still struggled to connect with the characters and setting. I really liked the introduction to the chateau, it's changing nature and slanted floors, but I had a difficult time conceptualizing and connecting to the broader community. The pacing was strong in the begining - Aunt Bethan's letters work fantastically to build the anxiety as we move toward visiting the chateau - but it is not consistent through the middle until we have a nice resolution at the end. This is a slow burn novel. Overall, I'd recommend to readers who enjoy relishing the unease, questionable/unreliable characters, a gothic chateau and something-is-wrong-with-her host. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and give my honest feedback!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A subtle horror novel that gives you hints in each chapter. This one had me intrigued from the first chapter, as this family is driving to see an aunt whose husband has disappeared. Rumors say she may have killed him, and Morwenna deep down feels there is more to the story. Morwenna and her two boys start to experience nightmares and question the haunting of the chateau on the French seaside. I felt as if I were there on vacation in this beautiful chateau, walking on the beach with the family. As the nightmares persist and Morwenna watches Bethan, she questions if she isn't suffering from dementia like her mother did. The deeper Morwenna searches for the truth, the more she questions her own sanity. As secrets are eventually brought to light with Morwenna's boyfriend, Christian, the truth about what is happening to her and her children is also revealed. The subtle events and clues kept me guessing. This was a fun novel and a nice encounter with the spirit world.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and Poisoned Pen Press.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and Poisoned Pen Press.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The story was well-written and unsettling, but I felt there was something missing, and I couldn’t connect to the characters while reading, and I didn’t connect to them till the last chapter. There was a good level of creepiness to the story which I appreciated and it did feel very gothic and horror like for the most part, but it wasn’t enough for me.
No way at all was the an ending something that I was expecting, but it also makes sense with other parts of the book so it does not feel like an ending that came out of nowhere which is a testament to the good quality of the writing.
However, there were aspects I did not like, such as the fact that the pacing was slow and that did not help the story, I felt there was nothing really happening up until maybe the last 15-20% and if felt like I was forcing myself to finish it. This further meant that I could not connect with the characters in a way that I would have hoped.
Thank you to net galley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
No way at all was the an ending something that I was expecting, but it also makes sense with other parts of the book so it does not feel like an ending that came out of nowhere which is a testament to the good quality of the writing.
However, there were aspects I did not like, such as the fact that the pacing was slow and that did not help the story, I felt there was nothing really happening up until maybe the last 15-20% and if felt like I was forcing myself to finish it. This further meant that I could not connect with the characters in a way that I would have hoped.
Thank you to net galley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A gothic mystery set in a gloomy, seaside chateau, a family falling apart at the seams, and where nothing is ever as it seems, And the Sea Gave Up the Dead is an incredibly oppressive, heavy novel filled with dread and terror. That is, I really loved it!
All the characters begin as one thing, and end as another, as the novel unravels them bit by bit, peeling away their masks until only the truth remains.
Definitely a book I couldn’t put down cause I was so eager to see what exactly was behind all the going-ons of the chateau!
Thank you to William Friend, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
All the characters begin as one thing, and end as another, as the novel unravels them bit by bit, peeling away their masks until only the truth remains.
Definitely a book I couldn’t put down cause I was so eager to see what exactly was behind all the going-ons of the chateau!
Thank you to William Friend, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 27, 2026
A lucid dream incarnate. That's what this felt like. So confusing—hazy—with other points that stood out so much.
Until the end when the twist was presented, I was just so confused about what was happening that I wasn't enjoying reading as much. However, it was definitely worth powering through that blip because the conclusion brought it all together into a complete, creative, and enjoyable read.
Sometimes it just jumps between perspectives with an omniscient tone and then suddenly it's in the mind of another person. It was hard to follow and confusing.
I also had a hard time understanding the characters relationships to each other at first.
There were quite a few sexual references that just felt so unnecessary. It was honestly just annoying when they would pop up, and it just detracted from the story.
Otherwise I thought the story was pretty engaging and enjoyable. Definitely an easy, unique horror read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC copy!
Until the end when the twist was presented, I was just so confused about what was happening that I wasn't enjoying reading as much. However, it was definitely worth powering through that blip because the conclusion brought it all together into a complete, creative, and enjoyable read.
Sometimes it just jumps between perspectives with an omniscient tone and then suddenly it's in the mind of another person. It was hard to follow and confusing.
I also had a hard time understanding the characters relationships to each other at first.
There were quite a few sexual references that just felt so unnecessary. It was honestly just annoying when they would pop up, and it just detracted from the story.
Otherwise I thought the story was pretty engaging and enjoyable. Definitely an easy, unique horror read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC copy!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received this book as an ARC through the giveaway and was excited to read a chilling gothic horror. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. While it is not a long book, and I have read much longer books in less than a day. The story was painfully slow. It took until the halfway mark to finally discover that something sinister was actually happening, rather than just a standard family reunion. The plot is very heavy on dialogue, which can be fine if there is action driving the story forward, but there simply wasn't enough going on here to justify it. I really wanted to like this book, but the pacing made it a struggle, and it took me almost three weeks to finish. This was my first time reading this author. While this particular story missed the mark for me, I am hoping their other works are better.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Is something wrong or isn't it? You know something is....but what? Is it all in your head?
This book was bonkers. I love an unreliable narrator and this was unreliable with a side of LSD. The characters were relatable and I connected emotionally with Morwenna quite easily. There was just enough dread hinted at to make me feel unsteady but nothing truly overt until the end ran up and knocked me down. I had a fantastic time reading this. I'm a huge fan of psychological horror so the slower pace didn't bother me in the least. I enjoy getting to know the characters and their relationships and history. The final scene was a quick gutting and my heart can still feel it the next day.
Is something wrong or isn't it? You know something is....but what? Is it all in your head?
This book was bonkers. I love an unreliable narrator and this was unreliable with a side of LSD. The characters were relatable and I connected emotionally with Morwenna quite easily. There was just enough dread hinted at to make me feel unsteady but nothing truly overt until the end ran up and knocked me down. I had a fantastic time reading this. I'm a huge fan of psychological horror so the slower pace didn't bother me in the least. I enjoy getting to know the characters and their relationships and history. The final scene was a quick gutting and my heart can still feel it the next day.
June 24, 2026
NETGALLEY ARC, publishing August 18,2026
Friend writes atmosphere superbly. I will always come back for that!
I found parts of this story confusing but even while I did, I was utterly engrossed.
I think this story is about grief, regret, change, evil and what can live on after the body is dead.
I don’t think I suspected the ending. Or if I did, it was just a tiny pinprick early on of a thought.
If you’re intrigued by the sea, seaside homes, ghosts, parenting boys and unsolved disappearances with gothic overtones in a house that’s as slippery as treacle, give this a read.
QUOTE: “Time, as she knows from personal experience, always heals, whether you want it to or not. Your life changes around you, without your consent…”
June 7, 2026
I requested this book having loved the author’s Let Him In. Early on, I found didn’t gel with the French setting nor the characters. It didn’t feel natural to me so I read on unconvinced, which is often the nail in the coffin when reading horror. The authors last book was beautifully ‘normal’ and had a Hill House (the show, not the book) feel with the emotional undertones of the characters and the grief. The horror was incredibly well done in the background of this very human and emotional element. This instead felt like a tall tale and I didn’t get swept away with it sadly. DNF.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved Let Him In - Friend takes a similar concept but flips the perspective. A slow build, pressure cooking plot and ending with so many revelations
I loved the challenge of surviving life - you don't recover from some losses, like partner who has been by your side by decades. The stickiness of dating his best friend a few years later, forming a bond turned into romance.
Aging family members - struggles with their bodies and mental health. The castle is just perfection. Bethan - always a little off kilter.
And of course - children who experience everything on a different level.
I loved the challenge of surviving life - you don't recover from some losses, like partner who has been by your side by decades. The stickiness of dating his best friend a few years later, forming a bond turned into romance.
Aging family members - struggles with their bodies and mental health. The castle is just perfection. Bethan - always a little off kilter.
And of course - children who experience everything on a different level.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Full to the brim with atmosphere, in this creepy chateau, where nobody goes, and Bethany lives alone.
The arrival of her family on holiday sets off all sorts of things, and I was never sure what was real, what was imagined (when awake) and what was a dream.
It's got some excellent moments that are creepy, but the whole book had me wondering what was going on.
It's not particularly fast paced, but I liked it all the more for the slow burn.
A tad sentimental at times, but aren't we all?
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
The arrival of her family on holiday sets off all sorts of things, and I was never sure what was real, what was imagined (when awake) and what was a dream.
It's got some excellent moments that are creepy, but the whole book had me wondering what was going on.
It's not particularly fast paced, but I liked it all the more for the slow burn.
A tad sentimental at times, but aren't we all?
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
June 19, 2026
This story presents us with an intriguing mystery (or maybe MANY intriguing mysteries), and I had a blast trying to put all the pieces together. I loved the tense and complex family dynamics—they truly made the characters here feel like real, complicated people. What I most disliked were all the dream sequences…there were quite a few of them and they all blurred into long, tedious walls of text for me. I think those could be shortened drastically and we still wouldn’t lose much from the story. All in all, I would recommend, especially for fans of Shirley Jackson.
July 2, 2026
I was with this book until about the last 30 or so pages and then it just kinda fell flat for me. There was a nice slow burn, gothic/folk horror vibe going on with the family visiting the creepy old house of the creepy old aunt whose husband disappeared. I could forgive all the “dream”
Sequences, and other odd choices, if it had gone to someplace satisfying but a lot of the reveals and character motivations just felt a little Silly to me in the end. Without spoiling it , it gave me vibes of other stories or films that were just executed a bit stronger. There’s a lot of good here and I found it very readable, but taken as a whole it just was ok for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
Sequences, and other odd choices, if it had gone to someplace satisfying but a lot of the reveals and character motivations just felt a little Silly to me in the end. Without spoiling it , it gave me vibes of other stories or films that were just executed a bit stronger. There’s a lot of good here and I found it very readable, but taken as a whole it just was ok for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
After avoiding visiting her Aunt Bethan since the death of Morwenna’s husband, and on the heals of her uncle’s mysterious disappearance, Morwenna, her sons, and her new partner travel to her aunt’s secluded French chateau. Upon arriving they find Bethan confused and not like her former self, lingering in her chateau that seems to be hiding secrets of its own. This gothic horror is atmospheric, foreboding, and is told from multiple perspectives which all add to this haunting story about grief and family.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC for this book from NetGalley for free.
This had a really creepy atmosphere that I enjoyed a lot. I thought the writing was good but at times so overly descriptive that it distracted from the plot progression. The climatic ending events were really effective and I will probably find myself thinking about them a lot in the future.
Overall a really worthwhile read, even though this isn’t anything mindblowing plot wise.
This had a really creepy atmosphere that I enjoyed a lot. I thought the writing was good but at times so overly descriptive that it distracted from the plot progression. The climatic ending events were really effective and I will probably find myself thinking about them a lot in the future.
Overall a really worthwhile read, even though this isn’t anything mindblowing plot wise.
July 2, 2026
This was such a good read with gothic horror vibes. I loved the atmospheric setting and the writing style. It took a minute to get into the story, but once I did I really enjoyed it. It felt like I was reading a timeless classic and it was definitely worth the read.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy of the
book.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy of the
book.
Review of advance copy
I received this book as an ARC and was so excited to read a good gothic horror. This was not it. I just read on and waited for something to happen; for three quarters Then the big reveal; which makes no sense. Disappointing at best.
Did Not Finish
June 11, 2026Didn't even get to 10 percent on this one before deciding the writing style most definitely wasn't for me. Because of this, I do not feel qualified to review or rate the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⤷ arc rtc
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A grief stricken family travels to a remote French estate to check on an elderly aunt. It has been many years since Morwenna has been to the chateau and that was before her first husband's and uncle's deaths. What she finds now is ruin and superstition especially with All Hallows Eve approaching. Her family may be in more danger than just a simple ghost story when the truth comes to light. This is a classic gothic ghost story that blurs the edges of reality, perception and myth in the minds of the reader. Guaranteed to deliver chills in the night for readers of DIAVOLA, HOUSE OF LAST RESORT and SANCTUARY. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was a three star for because the first half of the book felt a bit fague. The story felt unclear and I had trouble following it. Although now that I finished the book that may have been the intention of it.
The characters were unlikable in my opinion and I don’t know it that was intended as such. I do think comparing this to we have always lived in the castle is not a right fit. It is an original story of a theme that isn’t done much. But I do think something’s should be a bit more edited so you are immediately drawn to it.
The characters were unlikable in my opinion and I don’t know it that was intended as such. I do think comparing this to we have always lived in the castle is not a right fit. It is an original story of a theme that isn’t done much. But I do think something’s should be a bit more edited so you are immediately drawn to it.
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