Consuming Shadows

by Hanga E. Pavel

After months of despair, eighteen-year-old Elodie Smith’s life changes overnight. She finds herself at her grandmother’s gloomy estate, hidden behind overgrown gardens and misty woods. Thornhill is nothing like the sort she has seen before. It’s captivating, yet inked with a creeping sense of dread.

Elodie’s arrival quickly arouses Thornhill’s mysteries, and they drive her to seek answers about her family’s buried past. However, the route she’s on is more dangerous than she expected, and when she suddenly finds herself on the threshold of death, to her surprise, it’s none other than the dreadful ward of her grandmother who comes to her rescue. The beautiful yet cold-hearted Preston Davenport—who seems to dislike her on sight—now has an offer Elodie might just have to accept.

As the two form an alliance to uncover the dark and sinister forces haunting the manor, they are promptly doomed to face their own secrets of the past…

And what they find there might just be the ruin of them both.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Gothic

484 pages, Paperback

Published September 19, 2025

About the author

Hi! Thank you for stopping by. I'm mostly active on Instagram where you can find me under @authorhangaepavel. Feel free to dm me. I love crushing on morally grey characters with my fellow readers and share sneak peeks from my upcoming novels.

Hanga E. Pavel is a self-published author from a small country in the middle of Europe. She started writing stories for her younger cousins when she was around seven years old. She always dreamt of getting her stories out into the big world. Her debut novel, Our Darkest Summer, is a new adult, mystery-romance set in a small town in Maine. In the future, you can expect to read mysteries, fantasies, and romance novels from her.

When she isn’t working on her next story, she spends quality time with her partner, wanders in nature, plays chess or board games with her mom, or hangs out with her bunnies.

Reviews

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 solid stars.

[chenaey ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

my rating: ★★★★.5

aesthetic: 🌚🕯️🕸️🍂📖🪞☕️🌲🦉🕰️🔦

Consuming Shadows is the perfect start to the Tales of Thornhill series—darkly atmospheric, richly gothic, and brimming with secrets that creep into every page. From the moment Elodie arrives at her grandmother’s estate, Thornhill becomes more than just a setting; it feels alive, a character of its own, steeped in overgrown beauty and chilling dread.

The story balances mystery and fantasy seamlessly, pulling the reader deeper into the tangled history of Elodie’s family while introducing forces that are as sinister as they are intriguing. The gothic tension is heightened by the alliance she’s forced to form with Preston, the cold and aloof ward of Thornhill. Their dynamic was one of my favorite elements—an uneasy partnership charged with tension, distrust, and undeniable chemistry, the kind that promises both sparks and heartbreak.

What makes this book stand out is its tone and atmosphere. It feels like stepping into a classic gothic tale but with a modern edge, weaving grief, identity, and haunting family secrets into a narrative that’s both enchanting and unsettling. The prose is elegant yet accessible, making it easy to lose yourself in the fog-laced gardens, shadowed halls, and whispers of Thornhill’s past.

Overall, Consuming Shadows felt tailor-made for readers who love stories that sit at the crossroads of gothic fantasy, slow-burn alliances, and mysteries that demand unearthing. It’s beautifully haunting, emotionally layered, and leaves you desperate to continue the series.

[Roos · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

Thank you so much Hanga E. Pavel for sending me a review copy of your book🫶🏼 I feel truly honored✨

I want to start by saying that this book is just so so beautiful!! And by that I ofcourse mean the cover art, but also the inside. There are pages from several different books in there and they are all so pretty. The attention to detail that went into that is amazing and it made the reading experience even better!!

I had a great time reading this book! I loved the gothic dark atmosphere, the characters, the secrets and the hint of romance.

This story takes place in a haunted mansion filled with family secrets. Our FMC Elodie is trying her best to get by after the loss of her mother when she suddenly gets invited to stay at her grandmother’s mansion for a year in exchange for an inheritance. This sounds great and all, but Elodie didn’t know this grandmother even existed and doesn’t know if accepting her offer is a good idea. She doesn’t have much choice though, so off she goes!
In this mansion she’s determined to get some answers about who her mother truly was and why she left this place. But somehow every time she’s sneaking around she stumbles into a handsome guy who happens to live there too, Preston Davenport. Together, although reluctantly, they go on to discover a whole lot of secrets and mysteries.

I loved the dynamic between Elodie and Preston! But what I loved the most is that the possible romance wasn’t the main focus. They had great banter, but the focus was on the secrets and discoveries!

There are also a few chapters from the past and slowly those stories click into place with the events that are happening now which is just so satisfying!

The last few chapters were crazy and I need book 2 now!! I still have so many questions that were left unanswered and I cannot wait to find out what’s going on there.

And lastly, don’t be a dumdum like me and try to google sentences in a language that looks like Latin but isn’t actually Latin so google can’t help you much, when there’s literally a dictionary in the back to tell you exactly what all the sentences mean….

[Nelly]

NEED this book ASAP !!!

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️
🦢♟️🪾
I was allowed to read "Consuming Shadows" as an eARC, which made me incredibly happy, as I had had my eye on it since i first saw it.

Oh this Story is full of lies, betrayals secrets, and dark premonitions.
There are whispers in the corridors of the mansion, ghosts and shadows haunt the walls, and outside, fog envelops the mysterious garden.

We accompany Elodie (the morally grey FMC) as she tries to solve the mysteries of her family and her heritage. And this despite the fact that everyone (and everything?) seems to be trying to keep the family secrets hidden. At the same time, there is this annoying boy (Preston- unfortunately very handsome) whom she would prefer to avoid, if he didn't always show up in the same places she happens to be. ( and he is calling her poison??? 🤭😏)

I really liked Elodie & Preston together. The focus was more on the larger plot than on the love story, but that made the slow burn really burn and the tension between the two even more palpable!

While I enjoyed the overall storyline, constantly finding myself trying to uncover all the secrets, my biggest highlight was definitely Hanga E. Pavel's writing style. (It gets a solid 10/10.) She really has an extraordinary talent with words, and I thoroughly enjoyed every sentence.

The Setting is so beautiful yet eerie and creepy, the old property gives of dark academia and goth horror vibes and really rounds the whole story off. It's the perfect book for rainy days, putting you in the mood to light a candle and sneak through the dark corridors of a haunted mansion.

🕯️Final thoughts: Consuming Shadows leaves you with many questions. There seems to be an impenetrable wall of secrets that we can't see through any more than Elodie can. But especially towards the end, the story picks up speed enormously and promises a very promising second book, which I will definitely read.
The whole book is so beautiful, the notes in it, the illustrations, so much love for the details!
I really had a great time reading this overall a perfect spooky, horror book for fall!!!!

U can expect:
🕯️forced proximity
🗝️haunted manor
♟️ rivals to…?
🦢gothic folktales
🍂fall setting
🗡️dagger to throat

[Kushbo Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok what omg!! i have never devoured a book this quickly before 😭 i was hooked from the first chapter and i couldn’t stop once i started it!
the characters,the aesthetic and the plot? everything was perfect in this book, i loved it all 😍

Elodie was such a curious character and that’s what i loved about her, and Preston? please i need to see more of them together! the tension between them was so good but i wish there was more of their story especially after that ending 😭
the way i gasped at that plot twist 😱 i did lowkey see it coming because of the way Preston acted around Elodie but still wow!

thank you to the author for the arc, she writes the best mysteries and i cannot wait for the second part of this book 💗🥹 if you love a good mystery, with a dark setting and rivals to lovers? 🫢 then do give this a try 🤩

[Madeline]

This book is unfortunately a DNF for me. I read about a third of it and just didn’t get captured by the story, so I decided it would be best to stop reading.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this book, but rather it just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t really connect to the characters, and there wasn’t anything that kept me hooked or really drew me in to the story.

The idea is super cool, and the art for this book is absolutely gorgeous. It just wasn’t for me.

Thank you very much to the author for the gifted ARC of this book.

[ana rita ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow, just wow. i don't even know where to start. yes, this book isn't what i usually read, but it was catchy and mysterious enough to have me hooked fairly easily. I might need someone to explain to me what that ending meant, this is why i don't read elaborate books, i don't understand the implicit stuff... i'm grieving with elodie regardless right now.

[Ellebug_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the type of book that reminds me why I love reading.
Hanga E. Pavel is so talented and deserves way more love.

The writing style was so good. My eyes weren't skipping ahead at all. It's neat and sophisticated while also being super smooth and easy to read, all while having depth.

The pacing was also great. It was easy to read, and I never got bored. However, we let things be and simmer for a while. There didn’t always need something big to be happening right in that moment, which was so refreshing.

The tension between all our characters was great, but I especially loved the tension between Preston and Elodie. Preston was actually rude to her instead of being flirty and "annoying" like all the other enemies to lovers men are doing. Why there was tension between them actually made sense, and the slow burn was delicious because she actually felt uneasy around him at first. Loved his nickname for her, too.

The amount of romance we got was perfect. The plot was super strong, and we got just enough romance to love them, but not too much to where it was boring and took over the book but left you wanting more.

Elodie was such an amazing main character. She didn't have main character syndrome like most MC girlies I read about to where the entire world revolves around her all the time. She is a badass, but it's not forced.

Now for the ending . . .

Hanga E. Pavel, we need to talk . . . . you sneaky little bitch.
That ending was baffling. Preston better be redeemed in the next one because I love them too much.

[bookishfox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holi!🌙Hoy os traigo la reseña de Consuming Shadows, la última colaboración que he hecho con la maravillosa Hanga E. Pavel, y no os podéis imaginar lo muchísimo que he disfrutado esta lectura 🖤

Por contexto, en esta historia seguimos a Elodie, quien tras perder a su madre descubre que forma parte de la familia Thornhill. Poco después, la invitan a vivir a su mansión con la promesa de una gran suma de dinero si aguanta un año allí (algo a lo que no puede resistirse) además de la oportunidad de descubrir más sobre el pasado de su madre, del que ha estado huyendo durante tanto tiempo 👀

La ambientación del libro me ha encantado. Tiene ese aire gótico con toques paranormales, mientras se desarrolla el misterio sobre los orígenes de Elodie, la mansión llena de pasadizos y los fantasmas que parecen tener mucho que contar. Todo se mezcla con la leyenda del pueblo, “El Gran Monstruo”, que parece haber regresado única y exclusivamente por ella 🕯️

La protagonista transmite muy bien ese carácter frío y calculador que la define. Siendo un personaje de moral gris (algo que me ha parecido muy original de leer), Hanga consigue mostrar a la perfección ese conflicto interno de Elodie entre hacer lo que sea para lograr sus objetivos y escuchar lo que le dicta el instinto ⚖️

Preston ha sido un personajazo. Tiene picardía, es inteligente y se nota a la legua que esconde más de lo que muestra. Nunca llegas a saber del todo cuáles son sus verdaderas intenciones, lo que lo hace muy enigmático y real ✨

En cuanto a su relación con Elodie, creo que está bien construida, aunque me habría encantado ver más momentos de tira y afloja entre ellos. Se me quedaron un poco en segundo plano por la trama principal, pero me queda la esperanza de ver mucho más de los dos en la segunda parte (sobre todo después de ese final 😮‍💨)

Sí que hubo algunos personajes secundarios cuyo papel no llegué a entender del todo. Aparecen en momentos clave para crear tensión o misterio, pero luego desaparecen sin mucha explicación. Imagino que se desarrollará más en la siguiente entrega.

Y por supuesto, El Gran Monstruo es uno de los elementos más fascinantes. Lo que se va revelando sobre él a lo largo de la historia me pareció superinteresante, y los detalles que Hanga añadió le dieron aún más fuerza a la historia 👻

El final me dejó con la boca abierta. Hay una revelación que llevaba tiempo cocinándose y no la vi venir para nada 😳. Te deja con una necesidad tremenda de saber qué pasará con Elodie ahora.

En general, Consuming Shadows ha sido una lectura muy entretenida y perfecta para esta época del año 🍂. Es oscura, inquietante y con ese toque siniestro que me encanta ver en este tipo de libros.

Muchísimas gracias de nuevo a Hanga por confiar en mi y permitirme leer este tremendo libro, sin duda ha sido toda una experiencia y tengo unas ganas increibles por su segunda parte.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was not a single point during reading this book that I knew what was going on and I loved it! The ending left me with more questions than answers and I desperately need a sequel. My favourite book I’ve read this year!

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

Thanks to the author for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[English review below]

Cuando vi el blurb me llamó la atención inmediatamente, sobre todo porque esta vez es la protagonista femenina quien es la que es morally grey y no la protagonista, como lo es normalmente.

Elodie es alguien que creció con la mamá, por lo que todo lo que sabe sobre la vida lo aprendió de ella y ella siempre le decía que no confiara en nadie, ni en su sombra. Así que, después de la muerte de su mamá, cuando recibe la carta de la abuela y se da cuenta que viene de una de las familias más influyentes, decide aceptar para poder recibir la herencia, sin embargo, cuando se muda a la mansión Thornhill, se da cuenta que ahí hay muchos secretos escondidos y que su propia madre también los tenía 👀

Predators hunted those they thought weak. People like me. People no one would miss. But I wasn't weak.

Debo de decir que al principio estaba igual que Elodie, es decir, no sabía que estaba pasando 😅 y conforme pasaba la historia ya me había resignado a dejar que el libro me sorprendiese. La verdad es que la historia si tiene muchas vibras góticas y con algunos toques de terror, pero siento que eso le agregó encanto a la ambientación. A Elodie la encontré como alguien bien curiosa y por eso mismo llegó a descubrir tantas cosas en la mansión. En cuanto a Preston, si tengo ganas de conocerlo más, ya que se pasó la mitad del libro tratando mal a Elodie y la otra mitad bien misterioso, además, esa tensión que se sentía entre ellos 🙀🤩

I wanted answers. But answers were for the weak. For people who didn't understand what they could cost.

En fin, aunque lo disfruté bastante por sus toques góticos y de terror, sentí que el libro fue bastante introductorio y nos dieron pocas respuestas ya para el final. A pesar de eso, estaré esperando con ansias el segundo y también espero, que, para ese entonces, nos den más respuestas que dudas 🤩

[ENG]

When I saw the blurb, it immediately caught my attention, especially because this time it is the female protagonist who is morally gray and not the male protagonist, as is usually the case.

Elodie grew up with her mother, so everything she knows about life she learned from her, and her mother always told her not to trust anyone, not even her own shadows. So, after her mother's death, when she receives a letter from her grandmother and realizes that she comes from one of the most influential families, she decides to accept in order to receive her inheritance. However, when she moves into Thornhill Manor, she realizes that there are many hidden secrets there and that her own mother also had them 👀

Predators hunted those they thought weak. People like me. People no one would miss. But I wasn't weak.

I must say that at first I was just like Elodie, that is, I didn't know what was going on 😅, but as the story progressed, I resigned myself to letting the book surprise me. The truth is that the story does have a lot of gothic vibes and some touches of horror, but I feel that this added to the charm of the setting. I found Elodie to be very curious, which is why she discovered so many things in the mansion. As for Preston, I want to get to know him better, since he spent half the book treating Elodie badly and the other half being very mysterious. Plus, that tension between them! 🙀🤩

I wanted answers. But answers were for the weak. For people who didn't understand what they could cost.

In short, although I enjoyed it quite a bit because of its gothic and horror elements, I felt that the book was quite introductory and gave us few answers by the end. Despite that, I will be eagerly waiting for the second one, and I also hope that by then, we will be given more answers than questions. 🤩

[Ohhheyimmandy📚🌿 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunted estate, buried family secrets, and a dangerous alliance…sometimes the shadows you run from are the ones that consume you 🕯️

Consuming Shadows- by Hanga E. Pavel

🩶Blurb🩶

After months of despair, eighteen-year-old Elodie Smith's life changes overnight. She finds herself at her grandmother's gloomy estate, hidden behind overgrown gardens and misty woods. Thornhill is nothing like the sort she has seen before. It's captivating, yet inked with a creeping sense of dread. Elodie's arrival quickly arouses Thornhill's mysteries, and they drive her to seek answers about her family's buried past. However, the route she's on is more dangerous than she expected, and when she suddenly finds herself on the threshold of death, to her surprise, it's none other than the dreadful ward of her grandmother who comes to her rescue. The beautiful yet cold-hearted Preston Davenport-who seems to dislike her on sight-now has an offer Elodie might just have to accept. As the two form an alliance to uncover the dark and sinister forces haunting the manor, they are promptly doomed to face their own secrets of the past... And what they find there might just be the ruin of them both.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️

A mysterious manor, a cold-hearted savior, and secrets that could devour them both.

Eighteen year old Elodie has lived a life with more despair than most people her age. When her life changes seemingly overnight she finds herself at her grandmothers gloomy, gothic estate hidden behind overgrown gardens and misty woods. It’s nothing like Elodie has ever seen before. Thornhill Manor is cloaked in mystery, and secrets and Elodie is determined to discover the dark truths hidden surrounding her families buried past. When Elodie finds herself on a dangerous path, hurling towards death, it’s Preston, the cold-hearted, aloof, but charmingly handsome ward of her grandmothers estate that comes to her rescue. Reluctantly she agrees to form an alliance with Preston, and together they work to discover the dark, sinister secrets surrounding Thornhill Manor, and face their own dark secrets head on.

In Thornhill Manor, secrets are deadly, shadows are seductive, and the only thing more dangerous than the past… is the desire that binds them.

Reading Consuming Shadows is like stepping into Thornhill Manor itself. Mist curling around overgrown gardens, shadows stretching through dimly lit halls, and the air thick with secrets you can almost touch. Every creak, every whisper, every hidden corner sends a chill down your spine, while the tension between Elodie and Preston flickers like candlelight in the darkness. By the last page, you’re not just witnessing their story….you’re walking its haunted corridors, feeling its fear, desire, and the lingering pull of its unearthly mysteries.

Consuming Shadows is darkly atmospheric, richly gothic, and brimming with secrets that creep into every page.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the Author for allowing me to ARC read this hauntingly beautiful story.

[Lama ❦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

𑣲 “Do you still hate me?” Preston asked, pulling me closer. 𑁤

The way i have been on my nerves the whole time is surreal!

𑣲 His sleeve shifted, and I caught a glint of my bracelet fastened around his wrist. 𑁤

𓂃˖˳·˖ ִֶָ ⋆🌷͙⋆ ִֶָ˖·˳˖𓂃 ִֶָ

𑣲 4.5/5 𑁤

I refuse to be left with that ending! It's so insane i had to stare at my wall for a whole damn minute. Like are you kidding me?
Not only he's blond, sassy and protective but also keeps her bracelets around his wrist???? Count me SOLD because WOAH that is the standard right there.

First of all i want to thank the author for this amazing arc, i truly fell in love with the writing style from the debut novel "our darkest summer" and my love continues to grow.

The pace of the book was PERFECT and so so so enjoyable, i truly couldn't not think about the book whenever i close it.
the vibes and the aesthetics are to die forrrrrrr.
And the minute Preston jumped to help Elodie with her little detective play i always wept because i have been wanting this moment to happen the minute i met the both of them.

However as much as the ending shocked me i would still like to believe that it's a whole misunderstanding and that he is a good person.

i need the second book like yesterday I SWEAR. i cannot wait.
The author had metioned that she put so much effort in this specific book and I'm delighted to say that it shows! It's a crime for this book not to be known worldwide.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

Also this book gave me the vibe of my most beloved duology: the shepherd king duology — one dark window & two twisted crowns.
However definitely make it spookier and moreee intense. I was later screaming at Elodie for wandering in the hallways alone and her actions gave me the creeepp. Because GIRL GET BACK TO YOUR ROOM. (I mean the room isn't safe either but still.)

AND OH PLEASE DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THAT ENDING AND THE QUESTIONS I HAVE LEFT UNANSWERED.

CECILY?
VARDEN????????
THE GHOST???
HER MOTHER????
AND HUDSON?? COME ON NOT SOOO SOON HE BETTER COME BACK IDCCCC.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

for the author:
𑣲 if you read this please never stop writing stories because your writing is majestic 𑁤

[nika.ex.libris · Rating 4 out of 5]

･ﾟ 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ·˚˖‧
𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂 𝑬. 𝑷𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪!

❝ But people had layers, masks. Wounds. A person can have a lot of faces, bug. Don't let them fool you.❞

╰𝚂𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝙵𝚛𝚎𝚎╮

✦ Pub Date: September 19, 2025
✦ Rating: 4/5
✦ Genre: YA gothic fantasy
✦ POV: 1, and from the past
✦ Spice: 0/5
✦ Age: 16+
✦ CW: lost parent, grief, blo*d, de*th, deceased animal

࣪ ִֶָ 𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘 ·˚˖

In the moments of trying to survive on her own after her mother’s death, a grandmother suddenly appears, with an inheritance she can’t refuse. But something feels off. Why did her mother never mention her? Why did she run away? And what are those screams echoing in the night?

·˚˖ 𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 ˖˚·

I love that the book has a playlist and a trigger list at the beginning!

The cover + vibe totally gave me One Dark Window feels, which is why I picked it up!🙌🏻 And yep, it has that same dark, gothic atmosphere. At the same time, it reminded me of House of Salt and Sorrows, all the mysticism, spirits, creepy little details, aka perfect autumn read 🍂 And on top of that, it had shades of The Inheritance Games (which I love), so major win!

Even though there were moments that felt a bit boring for me, the ending picked up with a burst of tension and left me shocked in the best way. Definitely picking up the next book!

The writing is smooth and pleasant, sometimes fast-paced, sometimes slower, but overall well balanced. I want to try another one of her books🫢

·˚˖ 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 ˖˚·

The heroine didn’t annoy me at all; she managed to be both scared and fearless at the same time, still pushing forward and digging into the mysteries.

The romance? Absolute slow burn heaven. Super subtle, barely there, but I loved it. And the focus stayed on the secrets and mysteries, which is exactly my thing.

[Ana's Books And Furr · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I read the blurb and saw the tropes, I was already invested — and let me tell you: my spider senses were spot on.

There’s nothing I love more than an immersive read, and this author delivered! I truly felt like I was walking through the mansion’s haunted corridors — feeling the cold, hearing the rain, and seeing the frost gather on the windows.

It’s the perfect book for winter’s cold, rainy days, putting you in the mood to light a candle... or, you know, for Halloween season.

But what really left me in awe? The author’s writing, for sure. She writes everything so beautifully, so poetically, and with such softness that it feels like magic. The way she described feelings, sensations, and even ordinary things like dust was so unique that I was constantly highlighting passages.

This is a story full of lies, betrayals, secrets, and dark premonitions.
The gothic atmosphere — from the descriptions of the doors and house keys to the world itself — was perfection. It felt like Hanga entered my head and knew exactly what I liked.

The focus leaned more toward the larger plot than the love story, but that only made the slow burn and the tension even better. Their chemistry was really cool. I'm truly a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers/allies dynamic, where they don't know if they want to kiss or kill each other. And don’t even get me started on the sharp canines!!! 🤤

The whole book is so beautiful — the cover, the notes, the illustrations — I live for these details!

I still have so many unanswered questions, and I can’t wait to find out what’s going on next. So yes, I’ll definitely be reading the next book!

From now on, I will read anything written by Hanga. 💸💸

[Madleen Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 / 4 ⭐️

First off, a huge thank you to Hanga E. Pavel for the review copy—I’m genuinely grateful for the chance to dive into this hauntingly beautiful story!!!

And now, let’s start with my review!
Some books feel like they were made to be read on a rainy evening with a candle flickering in the corner—and Consuming Shadows is exactly that kind of book.

Right from the moment I saw the book, I knew this was going to be special. Yes, the cover is gorgeous—but the inside? Even better. The layout, the design, the little “books within the book” moments? Totally unexpected and completely mesmerizing. I kept going back just to admire the details again and again! Soooo beautiful.

As for the story: think haunted mansion, buried family secrets, an inheritance with strings attached, and a heroine who’s not afraid to go digging. Elodie, still grieving her mother’s death, suddenly finds herself invited to live in her estranged grandmother’s sprawling (and very creepy) estate. Sounds like the setup for a horror movie—but she doesn’t exactly have a lot of options.

Once inside the mansion, Elodie starts to unravel not just the mystery of her mother’s past, but also keeps bumping into a very sarcastic, very brooding guy named Preston who may or may not be telling her everything. I loved their energy—snarky, a little awkward, and just the right amount of tension!!

Consuming Shadows is layered, gothic, and just a little romantic—but never cheesy. Every chapter feels like wandering deeper into the dark, unsure what you’ll find next. I didn’t want to leave the house… even if I wasn’t sure I’d make it out. 🤭

[theravenreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review includes some spoilers :)

Rating: 4/5

In this twisted world of dark secrets, flirty banter, and family secrets, Pavel creates a story that keeps the reader wanting more. And I’ll tell you right now, I’m eagerly awaiting the next book.

To start, I really liked this book. I had seen character art on Instagram and was quickly convinced to pick it up. This gothic fantasy was filled with beautiful and captivating descriptions, really keeping the dark alive inside the pages. The world of the Thornhills kept me intrigued and flipping pages (on my screen) all night long. With information slowly dropping at the start, it was a quick change in pace when every chapter started ending with little cliff hangers to keep me wanting more. Within each chapter was a secret, a new mystery.

On top of the flirty banter, Elodie is put in a situation where most girls would probably swoon immediately. Props to her for withholding feelings for Preston for THAT long. Something I enjoyed in this book is that it wasn’t labeled as “enemies to lovers” and then it was instalove. This was a genuine enemies to lovers that made me genuinely not like the the love interest at first. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that wasn’t instalove.

Overall, I’m very excited for the next book to come out in the series. At this point in time, there hasn’t been an announcement for the second book, but with the ending of Consuming Shadows, it’s easy to believe that another one is in the works.

[teather.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🚫🌶️
Format: e-arc
Vibes: 🖤🏰🪞🦋🕯️🪾👻🥀🌙🪻🗝️

What to Expect: 📖
-A Haunted Manor
-Gothic Vibes
-Enemies to Allies
-Lies & Betrayals
-English Countryside
-Young Adult
-Slow Burn
-Dark Family Secrets
-Unknown Magic

When I first saw the character art of Elodie and Preston I was instantly enamored. I immediately ran to the authors page and applied for the arc. A YA gothic fantasy set in a haunted mansion?! Yes please!

Loved: ♥️
The author included a music playsit!!! If you know me, you know I love making book playlists so when they’re already included I get super excited!

Setting/Plot: 🏰
I really enjoyed the setting and tone the author created. It was eerie, mysterious and alluring… however the book didn’t live up to anticipation I had going into it. The more I read it the less I liked it. The potential was definitely there but the writing wasn’t executing it.

The characters: 👩🏻🧑🏼
I loved the dynamic between the FMC and MMC but I wanted more tension and romance from them. The author set the mood up perfectly for the enemies to lovers to develop but the yearning was lacking and I was left with wanting more out of the couple. However, there could be hope for more to develop in book 2?

Thoughts: 💭
Even though this was just okay for me. I could see the potential of others really enjoying it and definitely think it it’s one of those books that may not be for me but may be for you!

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elodie Smith's unexpected journey into her grandmother's estate —Thornhill, felt like stepping into a world where every shadow holds a secret. The atmosphere was so vivid with misty woods, overgrown gardens and a mansion that seemed alive with its own history. I could imagine all the chill of the stone walls and hear the whispers of the past.

Preston Davenport, the enigmatic ward of Thornhill — was a character I couldn't quite figure out. His aloof demeanor and the tension between him and Elodie kept me on edge. But as their alliance deepened, so did my investment in their story. The slow-burn dynamic between them was so much appreciable, filled with moments of forced proximity and unspoken understanding.

One scene where Elodie found herself on the threshold of death, only to be saved by Preston... Ughhhhh😩❤️
The raw emotions they had was a turning point in their relationship, and I couldn't help but root for them.

The pacing of the book was well-balanced, with moments of suspense and introspection. The writing was smooth and engaging, drawing me into the world of Thornhill and its mysteries🖤

And that ending? I won't spoil it, but let's just say I need the next book 𝙣𝙤𝙬😭

[vanshikha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

Thank you to Hange E. Pavel for providing the ARC.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬 is about eighteen-year-old Elodie Smith’s whose life changed overnight. She finds herself at her grandmother’s gloomy estate, hidden behind overgrown gardens and misty woods. Thornhill is nothing like the sort she has seen before. It’s captivating, yet inked with a creeping sense of dread.

I had a fun time reading this book. The prose was something that pulled me into the book and immersed me into the world and made it easy for me to read with the flow of the narrative.

The gothic and eerie atmosphere of the book. The haunted manor, the dark family secrets and English countryside setting had me immersed into an atmospheric setting that was eerie from the unknown magic we were yet to learn about.

I loved the dynamic between Preston and Elodie. They had the perfect banter and tension. Their romantic aspect wasn't the main focus and wasn't a lot on page but I hope to see more of their dynamic and romance in the next book.

I enjoyed reading this book but I do have some general criticism — I really wished the ARC would not have been sent to readers on release day. It would have really helped if it was sent at least a few days before. I also felt like there were too many filler scenes where it didn't contribute much to the plot. Most of the characters felt one-dimensional and it felt like their purpose wasn't nuanced enough.

Overall, I do think that this is a good book but I don't think it's just for me. I am definitely intrigued by the plot twist and I may continue reading the series.

[Mini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consuming Shadows gave me everything I wanted in a dark fantasy with secrets, stakes, and a heroine who refuses to be small.

I was completely drawn into the world from the start — the gloomy estate, the haunting past, the feeling that every corner of the manor held a whisper of danger. Elodie’s journey from despair to determination had me rooting for her, and Preston’s cold exterior slowly thawing was satisfying in a slow-burn kind of way.

The plot kept me invested, the atmosphere was lush and moody, and I loved the blend of gothic romance + hidden power. My only tiny critique is that a few scenes felt like they raced by just when I wanted to pause, breathe, and soak in the world a little longer.

Still, this book hooked me, and I’m excited to continue this series. If you like dark romance with layered characters and a constant undercurrent of “what’s really going on here,” don’t sleep on this one.

[demi ☁️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
Consuming Shadows
My rating: 4⭐️

This is a perfect start to a new series! It was atmospheric, dark and gothic and was perfect for this time of year.

This book follows Elodie whose mother dies and following this, she is invited to stay at her Grandmother’s estate. If she stays for one year, she will be paid a big inheritance.
This book was perfectly autumnal and was full of secrets and plot twists. The ending of this book really took me by surprise!

Consuming Shadows had the perfect mixture of gothic fantasy, mystery and a romance subplot. The writing style was descriptive and beautiful, the characters were likeable, especially Elodie.

This book left me with so many questions and I can’t wait to read book two in this series.

Read Consuming Shadows if you love:
🕯️ enemies to lovers
🕯️ paranormal
🕯️ betrayal
🕯️ slow burn
🕯️ young adult
🕯️ dark family secrets

[Lake B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

After losing her mom, Elodie is struggling emotionally and financially, but an offer comes along to change that. As it turns out, she has a relative, a grandmother, that she didn’t know about (seeing as her mom took her to a funeral once for her supposed grandma). If she stays at Thornhill, the family estate, for a year, she will have a stable footing. When she arrives there, Elodie finds out everything is not as it seems, especially when she sees her mom’s ghost. Despite warnings to leave, Elodie stays and is determined to uncover the hidden estate secrets and ties to her family. She does have help in Preston, much to his chagrin; her grandma adopted him and his sisters. What if even he is hiding secrets from her? This fall read does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, as Elodie’s story is starting to ramp up. I hope to see more of what happened with her mom’s past.

ARC Review 🩵

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very unique book! I liked it but didn’t love it and it was not was I expected at all. There were points where I was confused, where I was excited to find out what happened next and couldn’t read fast enough, and points where I was feeling like Scooby Doo trying to figure out what was going on!

I enjoyed all of the characters as well as the vibe, although I couldn’t get a good grasp on when the book was supposed to take place (and that was probably on purpose as well as part of the vibe). The relationship between Elodie and Preston was SO GOOD! The tension and dialogue were great.

Some of the characters and events seemed like they would come back and be more significant than they were, so I’m assuming they will come back in book 2. I’m looking forward to reading the next book and seeing what happens next!

Thank you to the author for the ARC!

[Mura ³² · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my god! I went into this completely blind and I absolutely loved this are you kidding me?

The vibes? The characters? The world building? The plot twists and mysteries???? STUNNING. It genuinely felt like I was watching a movie the whole time I was reading it was so good and fun. The amount of foreshadowing in this without revealing too much is crazy. Hanga, you are a genius.

The final 10% of this book had my jaw on the floor literally what the hell happened can we go back a moment to the dance practice? To the confessions and stolen glances? CAN WE GO BACK TO PRESTON AND ELODIE because OUCH???

He wears her bracelet 😭 he got her a pendant 😭 he PROTECTED HER AND WENT AGAINST EVERYTHING FOR HER everyone literally shut up I can’t get over Preston’s role in this story I’m just— wow. I don’t think I’ll ever move on. I need book 2 like yesterday PLEASE.

[eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’ve been so excited for Consuming Shadows ever since @authorhangaepavel first began posting about it. this story had so many mysterious twist and turns all featured in a setting i’m now desperate to visit!

i savored the atmosphere and all the gothic elements this book had. the intricately designed keys and doors were an especially interesting detail that i’m still thinking about.
i loved how this tale balanced both past and presence and how they were intertwined.

the main character, Elodie, has so much determination throughout this story despite her grief. i loved her tenacity as she tried to uncover the many mysteries surrounding her mother and her ancestry. i found myself so curious about the other characters as well and what their motivations and intentions were. Preston especially.😏

the animosity Preston and Elodie had for each other was VERY apparent but so was the intriguing pull they had towards one another. i loved their tumultuous interactions and accidental bonding as they explored the haunting ancient halls of Thornhill together.

the ending absolutely blew me away. i thought i knew what the twist would be as the story neared the end but then it twisted into something much deeper and complex than my original suspicions and now i am DESPERATE for book 2.

thank you so much @authorhangaepavel for giving me this arc!!🖤

[Beany · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I would like thank the author for the eARC! I really liked the eerie, mysterious tone—the author nailed the atmosphere. The added pages from Elodie’s mom’s book, with unique fonts and snippets of poems or “evidence,” were such a creative touch that made reading more immersive.

However, the pacing was slow burn—sometimes too slow—and I think parts of the story could’ve been shortened without losing the tension. Still, the suspense was strong enough to keep me curious till the end.

✨ Overall Thoughts
A haunting and detailed read with strong atmosphere and creative presentation. It’s not the most fast-paced mystery, but if you like slow unraveling secrets and eerie aesthetics, this book is worth checking out.

[Jaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consuming Shadows is DEFINITELY one of my top 10 reads this year! The gothic atmosphere, grumpy MC’s, ghosts, and overall creepy mysterious vibes are EVERYTHING!

I love that Elodie isn’t a damsel in distress but did need saving a couple of times. I feel like I could relate to that because yes she is a strong woman but also everyone needs saving at some point.
Preston was so broody and also a subtle flirt I really enjoyed how much he teased Elodie.

I can’t wait to see what happens next and where the story takes us! I have so many questions!! Loved this book and will definitely be recommending it to my friends!

[I N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. It kept me hooked for two days. It tells the story of a girl named Elodie and her adventure through a Gothic castle filled with secrets, magic and old folk tales.

For someone who has never read Gothic horror story before I'm amazed by the author's storyline. It gave me goosebumps while reading few chapters where she was roaming around the secret passages with secrets to unravel.

And let's not talk about the plot twist. It literally blew my mind. It broke all the assumptions.

I already can't wait for the next book of this series.