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She Haunts Me Still
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26
These violent delights have violent ends.
After surviving a shadowed childhood, Mallory Webb is ready to start fresh as a theater major at her mother’s alma mater, a sanitarium turned liberal arts university in Rhode Island. Landing the lead role in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet feels like a dream—until the blood-soaked wraith that caused her mother’s death resurfaces after years of quiet. With nothing to go on but cryptic symbols in an old college notebook, Mallory hopes the reason behind her mother’s haunting lies somewhere on campus, and resolves to find answers before she meets the same fate.
She’s surprised to make an unexpected ally in Ezra Pierce, the magnetic fourth year directing the play, and takes solace in their undeniable chemistry. But Ezra is a master secret keeper, and it’s clear he knows more than he’s letting on about Saskia Garin, Mallory’s elusive understudy whose past eerily mirrors her own.
When an ancient, bloodthirsty evil calls to collect a bargain that dates back to the New England vampire panic, Mallory, Ezra, and Saskia will have to untangle the tragic ways in which their histories are linked—and face the devastating consequences of their own star-crossed love story.
After surviving a shadowed childhood, Mallory Webb is ready to start fresh as a theater major at her mother’s alma mater, a sanitarium turned liberal arts university in Rhode Island. Landing the lead role in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet feels like a dream—until the blood-soaked wraith that caused her mother’s death resurfaces after years of quiet. With nothing to go on but cryptic symbols in an old college notebook, Mallory hopes the reason behind her mother’s haunting lies somewhere on campus, and resolves to find answers before she meets the same fate.
She’s surprised to make an unexpected ally in Ezra Pierce, the magnetic fourth year directing the play, and takes solace in their undeniable chemistry. But Ezra is a master secret keeper, and it’s clear he knows more than he’s letting on about Saskia Garin, Mallory’s elusive understudy whose past eerily mirrors her own.
When an ancient, bloodthirsty evil calls to collect a bargain that dates back to the New England vampire panic, Mallory, Ezra, and Saskia will have to untangle the tragic ways in which their histories are linked—and face the devastating consequences of their own star-crossed love story.
432 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 11, 2026
About the author
De Elizabeth
4 books319 followersDe Elizabeth is a dark fantasy and horror author, writing both YA and adult. She is passionate about creating emotionally resonant stories featuring bisexual representation, genre blends, unhinged villains, chaotic third acts, and characters with big feelings. Her debut YA novel, This Raging Sea, was published in 2025. Her upcoming books include an adult romantic horror novel titled She Haunts Me Still, and a forthcoming YA dark fantasy, A Death Kissed Song. You can follow her on Instagram @WordsByDe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Current rating: 4.5 stars
I didn't expect to be able to finish She Haunts Me Still as quickly as I did?? This book kept me up all night, and since it was already so late, I figured it would be fitting to finish this book at 3:33 AM.
SHMS was packed with complex characters, twists + reveals, horror, and deliciously dark theatre vibes, all of which kept me turning the pages, excited to see how my notes app theories held up. Somehow, I managed to figure almost everything out, but I still wouldn't say this book was predictable! While sleep-deprived, I started drawing fun parallels to different pieces of media: horror films, plays, musicals, etc. The Point of No Return from The Phantom of the Opera was playing in my head at one point, iykyk!!
Loved the characters, starting with our main character Mallory! I was rooting for her throughout and really felt for her and her situation.
I'll admit that I did want to dive in to stop her from trusting some ppl so quickly, but she learned and grew from it. And to be fair, Ezra and Saskia were both very intriguing. I won't say much about those two because it's definitely more fun to go in blind and discover these characters and all the mysteries for yourself. I will say that I was very satisfied with the ending!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I didn't expect to be able to finish She Haunts Me Still as quickly as I did?? This book kept me up all night, and since it was already so late, I figured it would be fitting to finish this book at 3:33 AM.
SHMS was packed with complex characters, twists + reveals, horror, and deliciously dark theatre vibes, all of which kept me turning the pages, excited to see how my notes app theories held up. Somehow, I managed to figure almost everything out, but I still wouldn't say this book was predictable! While sleep-deprived, I started drawing fun parallels to different pieces of media: horror films, plays, musicals, etc. The Point of No Return from The Phantom of the Opera was playing in my head at one point, iykyk!!
Loved the characters, starting with our main character Mallory! I was rooting for her throughout and really felt for her and her situation.
I'll admit that I did want to dive in to stop her from trusting some ppl so quickly, but she learned and grew from it. And to be fair, Ezra and Saskia were both very intriguing. I won't say much about those two because it's definitely more fun to go in blind and discover these characters and all the mysteries for yourself. I will say that I was very satisfied with the ending!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 26, 2026
Before going in, all I knew was: theatre setting, possible vampires… curses? ghosts? and dreamy love interests. That alone sold me because I already trust De’s writing — and yep, I was absolutely right. This book wasn’t just iconic, it was incredibly addictive.
Every chapter ends with something insane that makes you go wtf… okay fine, one more chapter, and somehow the stakes keep escalating until you reach the end completely speechless. I was so hooked and immersed in the storytelling that putting the book down felt impossible. If I hadn’t been on holiday, I genuinely would’ve locked myself in my room and finished this in one sitting.
The atmosphere is one of this book’s biggest strengths, its eerie, theatrical, and layered with supernatural tension. De’s prose is achingly beautiful, the kind that makes you understand every character’s motivations even when you know they’re walking straight red flags. I found myself agreeing with decisions I normally wouldn’t, simply because the writing pulls you so deeply into the characters’ emotional worlds.
Ezra is easily one of the most compelling characters here; complex, secretive, and frustratingly magnetic. It’s established early on that he’s hiding things (not a spoiler), yet every time he deflects or dodges questions, you still want to believe him. He leaves you with more questions than answers, and that ambiguity only makes him more fascinating. Saskia is another standout; pretty, badass, and wrapped in mystery. The blurb reveals very little about them, and discovering their character organically was one of the most rewarding parts of the story. And then there’s Mallory, our main character, who truly goes through an emotional whirlwind. She may trust and fall a little quickly, but honestly, I understood her. The tension, the vulnerability, and the emotional circumstances surrounding her choices made them feel believable. Plus, if you witnessed the charm and intensity of these love interests firsthand, you’d probably fold too. I kept telling myself nah, couldn’t be me, only to immediately go okay wait… that was smooth.
The horror elements create vivid, cinematic imagery that feels almost tangible. With my horror media brain, I kept paralleling moments to The Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Lights Out, Black Swan, and Abigail; haunting, psychological, and beautifully unsettling. Emotionally, the story takes you through Mallory’s desperation, the slow unraveling of her situation, and the overwhelming mysteries she faces while trying to hold onto her sanity.
I buddy-read this, and we were constantly spiraling - forming theories, second-guessing everything, and still being surprised by how the story unfolded. The plot feels fresh and intriguing, encouraging you to surrender to the narrative rather than overthinking it. Between Ezra’s charm, the ominous atmosphere surrounding Mallory, and the secrets lurking within Shore College, there’s always something pulling your attention forward. So pick a thematic playlist, sit back, and let the book consume you ;)
I would absolutely love to see this adapted into a movie, it would translate so well with the visuals, atmosphere and the dialoguessss ahhhh!!! i’ve been completely obsessed with this book, and honestly, I don’t think that feeling is leaving anytime soon.
Thank you so much to Dutton Books and De Elizabeth's team for the e-arc Netgalley copy! <3
Every chapter ends with something insane that makes you go wtf… okay fine, one more chapter, and somehow the stakes keep escalating until you reach the end completely speechless. I was so hooked and immersed in the storytelling that putting the book down felt impossible. If I hadn’t been on holiday, I genuinely would’ve locked myself in my room and finished this in one sitting.
The atmosphere is one of this book’s biggest strengths, its eerie, theatrical, and layered with supernatural tension. De’s prose is achingly beautiful, the kind that makes you understand every character’s motivations even when you know they’re walking straight red flags. I found myself agreeing with decisions I normally wouldn’t, simply because the writing pulls you so deeply into the characters’ emotional worlds.
Ezra is easily one of the most compelling characters here; complex, secretive, and frustratingly magnetic. It’s established early on that he’s hiding things (not a spoiler), yet every time he deflects or dodges questions, you still want to believe him. He leaves you with more questions than answers, and that ambiguity only makes him more fascinating. Saskia is another standout; pretty, badass, and wrapped in mystery. The blurb reveals very little about them, and discovering their character organically was one of the most rewarding parts of the story. And then there’s Mallory, our main character, who truly goes through an emotional whirlwind. She may trust and fall a little quickly, but honestly, I understood her. The tension, the vulnerability, and the emotional circumstances surrounding her choices made them feel believable. Plus, if you witnessed the charm and intensity of these love interests firsthand, you’d probably fold too. I kept telling myself nah, couldn’t be me, only to immediately go okay wait… that was smooth.
The horror elements create vivid, cinematic imagery that feels almost tangible. With my horror media brain, I kept paralleling moments to The Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Lights Out, Black Swan, and Abigail; haunting, psychological, and beautifully unsettling. Emotionally, the story takes you through Mallory’s desperation, the slow unraveling of her situation, and the overwhelming mysteries she faces while trying to hold onto her sanity.
I buddy-read this, and we were constantly spiraling - forming theories, second-guessing everything, and still being surprised by how the story unfolded. The plot feels fresh and intriguing, encouraging you to surrender to the narrative rather than overthinking it. Between Ezra’s charm, the ominous atmosphere surrounding Mallory, and the secrets lurking within Shore College, there’s always something pulling your attention forward. So pick a thematic playlist, sit back, and let the book consume you ;)
I would absolutely love to see this adapted into a movie, it would translate so well with the visuals, atmosphere and the dialoguessss ahhhh!!! i’ve been completely obsessed with this book, and honestly, I don’t think that feeling is leaving anytime soon.
Thank you so much to Dutton Books and De Elizabeth's team for the e-arc Netgalley copy! <3
March 11, 2026
3.75★ rounded up.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the E-ARC!
I love me a good feminine rage book. She Haunts Me Still is an addicting gothic horror novel that follows Mallory, a girl with a traumatic childhood, who attends Shore University to pursue theatre, but in reality, her real pursuit ends up finding haunting truths about her family bloodline and the dark events that surround it. Her love of theatre, how she declares it a passion and needs it in her life, I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more of it. It felt more of a background plot, rather than a major atmosphere like it's being marketed as.
I did love the horror mystery that these characters explored. I was constantly kept on the edge of my seat, wondering what was real, what was the mystery that created these haunted spirits, etc. Something I wasn't really a fan of was some of the dialogue. Mallory meets a sad haunted boy, and it felt very insta-lust/love and he's very quickly claiming she's "ruined him." It just gave me the ick. Saskia is a queen, I loved her character, but again with how quickly Mallory and her declared "you're mine," it just took me out of the story (reader preference!). Some other characters kind of felt forgotten at times until all of a sudden, then they re-appeared (her aunt, for instance).
But overall, I did enjoy this! Especially towards the end when the chaos ensued and the mystery began to unravel. I recommend this to anyone who loves a good gothic setting and a haunting mystery. ❤
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the E-ARC!
I love me a good feminine rage book. She Haunts Me Still is an addicting gothic horror novel that follows Mallory, a girl with a traumatic childhood, who attends Shore University to pursue theatre, but in reality, her real pursuit ends up finding haunting truths about her family bloodline and the dark events that surround it. Her love of theatre, how she declares it a passion and needs it in her life, I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more of it. It felt more of a background plot, rather than a major atmosphere like it's being marketed as.
I did love the horror mystery that these characters explored. I was constantly kept on the edge of my seat, wondering what was real, what was the mystery that created these haunted spirits, etc. Something I wasn't really a fan of was some of the dialogue. Mallory meets a sad haunted boy, and it felt very insta-lust/love and he's very quickly claiming she's "ruined him." It just gave me the ick. Saskia is a queen, I loved her character, but again with how quickly Mallory and her declared "you're mine," it just took me out of the story (reader preference!). Some other characters kind of felt forgotten at times until all of a sudden, then they re-appeared (her aunt, for instance).
But overall, I did enjoy this! Especially towards the end when the chaos ensued and the mystery began to unravel. I recommend this to anyone who loves a good gothic setting and a haunting mystery. ❤
February 20, 2026
I don’t even know how to act normal about this book. It’s very rare that I give something 6 stars, but this??? This is one of those rare occasions. I could not put it down. I inhaled it. Binge read it. Neglected responsibilities for it. And now that I’ve finished I’m genuinely unwell. I’m grieving the story. I’m grieving the characters. I miss them already.The book is about Mallory Webb who survives a deeply traumatic childhood and heads to a liberal arts university in Rhode Island (a former sanitarium which is already creepy) to start fresh as a theater major at her mother’s alma mater. She lands the lead in Romeo and Juliet, which should feel like a dream but instead the blood soaked wraith connected to her mother’s death resurfaces. Armed only with cryptic symbols in her mom’s old college notebook Mallory starts digging for answers on campus before history repeats itself.She teams up with Ezra Pierce the fourth year directing the play and there is chemistry. But Ezra is keeping secrets especially about Saskia Garin Mallory’s mysterious understudy whose past eerily mirrors her own. As if that’s not enough an ancient bloodthirsty evil tied to the New England vampire panic resurfaces to collect on a centuries old bargain. Mallory, Ezra, and Saskia have to unravel how their histories are tangled together and face the consequences of their own star crossed love story.You’re telling me this is a queer horror inspired by the New England vampire panic paired with theater kid drama, tragic romance, and generational trauma? I was ALL up in that. The vibes are dark academia meets gothic horror. It’s romantic and horrifying. I am going to be feral when I get my hands on a physical copy because this is going straight to my favorites shelf. This is the kind of book that reminds me why I love horror. If this sounds even remotely like your thing, read it. Just be prepared to finish it and sit there staring at the wall for a while after. Because I did.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 ⭐️
April 23, 2026
4.5!
All my thanks to Dutton Books for the advanced reader copy in exchanged for my honest thoughts 💌
This was my first encounter with De Elizabeth’s writing and I am thoroughly entranced! I’ve already purchased a copy of her debut because I can’t get enough.
She Haunts Me Still has a lot of moving parts. A historical setting. A New England atmosphere. An exclusive college in a town with a bloody past. Accusations of vampirism. A lonely girl from a family line full of secrets. A very cursed production of Romeo & Juliet. A love triangle so tantalizing you will have every nail bitten off every finger.
And the way all these elements were woven together was absolute art! De’s prose gives clear voice and direction to the story while still remaining consistent in evoking the right emotion to fit the stakes of the story. Every chapter ending had my eyes the size of saucers and I sacrificed precious hours of sleep to find some solace in knowing these characters would find their peace. This reads like a true mystery and I loved the feeling of needing to eagerly turn the page to keep from my losing my mind from needing to know what happened next.
The romance?! Top notchhhh! We are promised a love triangle and it absolutely delivers in the gut wrenching way I always want a love triangle to. The chemistry was palpable, the details in all the lingering glances and brushes of fingertips had my body temperature skyrocketing.
My *very* few gripes are wishing the secondary romance plot had been developed just the teensiest bit more before having them act or speak on any bigger feelings. To me, it felt sudden and I would have felt more impact in the love confessions had their initial development after recognizing their mutual attraction been played out longer. Secondly, I think things got a little convoluted towards the 80% mark. I had a harder time following and found myself struggling to keep up with the plot points that were introduced so I’d recommend taking your time here to make sure no details are missed.
Overall though, I really loved this book and am so excited to have found an authors whose writing I absolutely adore!
All my thanks to Dutton Books for the advanced reader copy in exchanged for my honest thoughts 💌
This was my first encounter with De Elizabeth’s writing and I am thoroughly entranced! I’ve already purchased a copy of her debut because I can’t get enough.
She Haunts Me Still has a lot of moving parts. A historical setting. A New England atmosphere. An exclusive college in a town with a bloody past. Accusations of vampirism. A lonely girl from a family line full of secrets. A very cursed production of Romeo & Juliet. A love triangle so tantalizing you will have every nail bitten off every finger.
And the way all these elements were woven together was absolute art! De’s prose gives clear voice and direction to the story while still remaining consistent in evoking the right emotion to fit the stakes of the story. Every chapter ending had my eyes the size of saucers and I sacrificed precious hours of sleep to find some solace in knowing these characters would find their peace. This reads like a true mystery and I loved the feeling of needing to eagerly turn the page to keep from my losing my mind from needing to know what happened next.
The romance?! Top notchhhh! We are promised a love triangle and it absolutely delivers in the gut wrenching way I always want a love triangle to. The chemistry was palpable, the details in all the lingering glances and brushes of fingertips had my body temperature skyrocketing.
My *very* few gripes are wishing the secondary romance plot had been developed just the teensiest bit more before having them act or speak on any bigger feelings. To me, it felt sudden and I would have felt more impact in the love confessions had their initial development after recognizing their mutual attraction been played out longer. Secondly, I think things got a little convoluted towards the 80% mark. I had a harder time following and found myself struggling to keep up with the plot points that were introduced so I’d recommend taking your time here to make sure no details are missed.
Overall though, I really loved this book and am so excited to have found an authors whose writing I absolutely adore!
Want to Read
January 10, 2025"A suspenseful and romantic queer horror novel inspired by the New England vampire panic about three college theater students racing against time to break a devastating curse—and the vengeful, supernatural entities that could either force them closer together, or toward a tragic end."
February 27, 2026
“So thank you for everything, Mal. I hope your world is beautiful under the ghost light”
Terminé este libro ayer a las casi dos de la mañana y, la verdad, es que he acabado emocionándome leyendo los agradecimientos y todo...
She haunts me still de De Elizabeth habla sobre Mal, una chica la cual, tras la fatal pérdida de su madre, la única manera que encuentra de sobrevivir es en el teatro es siendo otra persona y adentrándose en historias que no sean su tragedia personal.
“We don’t have to be ourselves today. Who would you like to be instead?”
Pero lo que no se esperaba era que su tragedia se iba a volver un poco... romántica, paranormal y... digamos... comedia? durante como... tres palabras y media?
En fin, que si a la chiquilla no la sigue el mal por todas partes no es porque no lo ha intentado lo suficiente lol.
Y, ahora que ha llegado a la antigua universidad donde estudió su madre, ha revivido antiguos fantasmas y ha descubierto unos cuantos esqueletos en el armario, en lo único que puede pensar es que necesita resolver el porqué de la muerte de su madre, aunque eso le encamine más hacia la misma...
Hablemos de los personajes!
Tanto Ezra como Saskia y Mal me han gustado bastante! Realmente no sabía hacia donde me iban a llevar con tanto giro de trama y verdades reveladas y todo el drama, pero he disfrutado leyéndolos. Torturados y tristes, como me gustan.
Ezra como personaje me ha parecido de los más complicados (ya entiendo porqué le costó tanto a De terminar el libro... vaya personajito que me trae...). Al prinicipio es el típico bad boy, luego el badboy torturado... y después digamos que es solo torturado porque al pobre no le paran de caer palos y palos. La verdad es que no sabía por donde iba a ir y, aunque me hubiera gustado saber más de él, ha estado chulón.
“You’re haunted?
I’m possessed!”
(esta es una de mis frases favoritas, por favor, apreciad la obra maestra!)
Mal es una buena FMC, aunque había veces en donde la pobre chiquilla se repetía demasiado. Entendible si un fantasma te persigue como si le debieras dinero, pero girrrll corta el rollo durante solo dos palabras y fíjate en lo que tienes delante... COMO SASKIA!
Yo sé que cuando D.E. dice que va a escribir un libro con representación bi lo hace. Y lo hace con ganas. Se me ha hecho un poquito plana y predecible este hilo romántico, pero siempre se aprecia leer tan buena representación. Ella viene a devorar y punto (Y TAAANTO QUE DEVORARON-leeros el libro y lo entendéis anda por favor)
Y hablando de devorar. Esto es un libro gótico con romance oscuro. Está hecho para ADULTOS. Tenedlo en cuenta! Los TW están listados al inicio del libro y en la web de la autora <3
Y no digo que sea adulto por el contenido sexual, que lo hay, sino por otros palos oscuros que toca que quizá no esté hecho para todo tipo de lectores.
En cuanto a ambientación, no os voy a mentir, llegó un momento a la noche que yo me asusté leyendo... Y SÉEE QUE NO ES DE MIEDO, pero este no es el género que suelo leer y yo aquí me imagino cualquier cosa. Vamos, que la ambientación estaba de 10... o incluso 11. De hecho creo que es lo mejor del libro fr.
“Her final role she’s always been meant to play: a lifeless girl with a missing heart”
Para mí todo la ambientación de teatro (muy The Phatom of the Opera btw- Y AMO ESE MUSICAL) ha sido de lo mejorcito. The point of no return vibes fr
La trama se me ha quedado un poquillo floja. Aunque he disfrutado el libro igualmente (y me lo he terminado incluso un día antes de lo esperado, ENGANCHADA ES DECIR POCO) el misterio no me ha volado la cabeza, ni ha sido nada del otro mundo. Quizás ha sido casualidad o que ya leyendo dos libros de la autora (los dos únicos que tiene publicados) ya me espero que va a pasar... pero bueno. Eso, que me he visto el final desde... vamos a decir casi el inicio.
Obvio he ido barajando distintas formas de cómo acabaría, no soy yo aquí megamind, pero eso, que para mí ha sido predecible aunque interesante.
En fin, que si te van los personajes torturados, los misterios en universidades...encantadas?, lo paranomal y el ultra bi panic; este libro es para ti!
Y si no, también!!!
“I hate you”
“Show me how much”
besiiiisssssss
March 25, 2026
4 🌟
She Haunts Me Still follows Mallory when she enrolls in the same school that played a large role in her mother’s death. Mallory spends her time at Shore trying to piece together the secrets of her mother’s past; The atmosphere is bleak, you feel you are being watched at every turn and the whispers that follow you in dark corridors.
SHMS is a gothic dark paranormal mystery with a touch of vampirism and a dash of bisexual panic. Don’t forget the theater setting! De Elizabeth does a great job of constructing a mystery while still keeping one guessing till the end. I loved the gothic, dark gothic atmosphere of a haunted theater school, and the added supernatural elements were worked very naturally into the story and the setting, leaving us, the readers, with a constant sense of doom.
The pacing was done well, building so much dark tension and dread, and the reveals hit perfectly. The story has a great sense of female rage, grief, and horror; I was on the edge of my seat for a good portion of the book.
My one thing that stopped me from rating this a 5-star is the love story was advertised as a “love triangle," but I don’t think that accurate at all. I define a Love Triangle as Person A being interested in Person B and Person C at the same time (bonus if they also have some tension between them), but in SHMS, Mallory develops feelings for someone after she has pretty much lost feelings for the other person. I also feel there was not a lot of yearning; it was more Insta-love/Insta-lust. I think the romantic storylines could have been intertwined; it felt like portions of that storyline disappeared through the ending.
Overall, It was a very unique premise, and I think I will be picking up another De Elizabeth book in the future!
Thank you to Netgalley, Dutton Books, and De Elizabeth for the ARC ! Thank you especially to De for allowing me the honor of being on their street team!
She Haunts Me Still follows Mallory when she enrolls in the same school that played a large role in her mother’s death. Mallory spends her time at Shore trying to piece together the secrets of her mother’s past; The atmosphere is bleak, you feel you are being watched at every turn and the whispers that follow you in dark corridors.
SHMS is a gothic dark paranormal mystery with a touch of vampirism and a dash of bisexual panic. Don’t forget the theater setting! De Elizabeth does a great job of constructing a mystery while still keeping one guessing till the end. I loved the gothic, dark gothic atmosphere of a haunted theater school, and the added supernatural elements were worked very naturally into the story and the setting, leaving us, the readers, with a constant sense of doom.
The pacing was done well, building so much dark tension and dread, and the reveals hit perfectly. The story has a great sense of female rage, grief, and horror; I was on the edge of my seat for a good portion of the book.
My one thing that stopped me from rating this a 5-star is the love story was advertised as a “love triangle," but I don’t think that accurate at all. I define a Love Triangle as Person A being interested in Person B and Person C at the same time (bonus if they also have some tension between them), but in SHMS, Mallory develops feelings for someone after she has pretty much lost feelings for the other person. I also feel there was not a lot of yearning; it was more Insta-love/Insta-lust. I think the romantic storylines could have been intertwined; it felt like portions of that storyline disappeared through the ending.
Overall, It was a very unique premise, and I think I will be picking up another De Elizabeth book in the future!
Thank you to Netgalley, Dutton Books, and De Elizabeth for the ARC ! Thank you especially to De for allowing me the honor of being on their street team!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.75⭐️
2.5🔥
Thank you (sm) to NetGalley for this ARC copy! I had predicted this would be a 5-star and oh I was right 🙂↕️ The incorporation of the title?? We love to see it.
From the spooky atmosphere to the chilling reveals along the way, this book was everything a dark academia is supposed to be.
This genre, in my opinion, is one of the hardest to write about because it’s mainly just vibes, and it’s up to the author to bring it to life. Unlike a mystery or a romance, where there’s an end goal (the killer is revealed, the couple gets a HEA) dark academia relies very heavily on the pacing, atmosphere and a believable backstory, and having an end goal alone isn’t going suffice.
I loved how, beneath the spooky atmosphere, Elizabeth also wrote about complex and noteworthy topics.
The theme of female generational trauma really stood out to me, as it’s something that’s not nearly discussed enough. Women (especially WOC) are far too often dismissed or believed to be crazy by misogynistic men (case in point, the Salem Witch Trials), and the effects of this are still seen when female patients are read off or told ‘it’s just anxiety’ by male medics.
So having this be a central point in the novel was really important, and the author actually showed (not just told) how these women had been affected by decades of silence.
This book is sapphic, and Mallory is coming to terms with being bisexual. Her sexuality isn’t something that’s brushed off or only partly mentioned - the author addresses it with care where it’s actually discussed.
Something else I loved was the consistent spooky atmosphere throughout. Not once did things falter or become too slow - I was (to be cliché) on the edge of my seat the whole time. Every reveal actually led to something rather than tapering off and becoming background noise. It felt like every character was fully embedded in the story and had a role, rather than just existing for the sake of the plot.
Mallory Webb, the FMC, is probably one of the favourite characters I've read about in a while. I loved her fearlessness and determination throughout, especially because her investigation is quite literally tied to her mother, someone she cared about deeply. Even though she was 19, she read like a girl in her mid-20's. There was no fluff, no 'I'm just a girl' energy from her; she went above and beyond to prove herself to others, not just to her family, but the people (specifically and obviously) men who tried to discredit and brush her off.
Ezra, the boy she meets early on, is full of secrets and has a mysterious air about him from the get-go. Mallory ends up befriending him, and they start the hunt for 'Lily', one of Mallory's family members who was taken by the curse. I really liked their relationship and Ezra as a character. It was hard to trust him at times, and the things he revealed about his father explained why he had such a haunted look. Mallory and Ezra's relationship was complex (as all are), but the added twist made it even harder to fully get on board with. But that was what made it feel real - no perfect characters or relationship, just complex family ties and too many secrets.
Saskia, I found, was the most intriguing character of the lot. We don't really know much about her, only that she got a scholarship to the college and is there to escape from her dad, who disapproves of her. At the start, when Mallory and Saskia meet, they are drawn to each other in ways they can't explain, and as Saskia opens up about her past and who she is, I came to understand her more as a reader.
The twists this book goes on are something else. There are two entirely separate backstories that end up joining together. But it's done in a way that's clearly planned and well thought out. The stories and plot points themselves have so much layered into them that I'm surprised at how the author managed to weave them together. When they do come together, though, it's really worth it, and all of the characters' pain and hardships make so much more sense.
The descriptions and language in this are gorgeous too - so many metaphors and vivid imagery, particularly around Mallory's emotions as she finds out more about her past. It wasn't just the characters who felt embedded; it was me, as a reader, because of the language Beth used, that made it feel so much more real.
Overall, I loved this book sm - from the characters to the deeply complex plot, it had my attention the entire time. Will definitley be reading more from this author in the future and see more
2.5🔥
Thank you (sm) to NetGalley for this ARC copy! I had predicted this would be a 5-star and oh I was right 🙂↕️ The incorporation of the title?? We love to see it.
From the spooky atmosphere to the chilling reveals along the way, this book was everything a dark academia is supposed to be.
This genre, in my opinion, is one of the hardest to write about because it’s mainly just vibes, and it’s up to the author to bring it to life. Unlike a mystery or a romance, where there’s an end goal (the killer is revealed, the couple gets a HEA) dark academia relies very heavily on the pacing, atmosphere and a believable backstory, and having an end goal alone isn’t going suffice.
I loved how, beneath the spooky atmosphere, Elizabeth also wrote about complex and noteworthy topics.
The theme of female generational trauma really stood out to me, as it’s something that’s not nearly discussed enough. Women (especially WOC) are far too often dismissed or believed to be crazy by misogynistic men (case in point, the Salem Witch Trials), and the effects of this are still seen when female patients are read off or told ‘it’s just anxiety’ by male medics.
So having this be a central point in the novel was really important, and the author actually showed (not just told) how these women had been affected by decades of silence.
This book is sapphic, and Mallory is coming to terms with being bisexual. Her sexuality isn’t something that’s brushed off or only partly mentioned - the author addresses it with care where it’s actually discussed.
Something else I loved was the consistent spooky atmosphere throughout. Not once did things falter or become too slow - I was (to be cliché) on the edge of my seat the whole time. Every reveal actually led to something rather than tapering off and becoming background noise. It felt like every character was fully embedded in the story and had a role, rather than just existing for the sake of the plot.
Mallory Webb, the FMC, is probably one of the favourite characters I've read about in a while. I loved her fearlessness and determination throughout, especially because her investigation is quite literally tied to her mother, someone she cared about deeply. Even though she was 19, she read like a girl in her mid-20's. There was no fluff, no 'I'm just a girl' energy from her; she went above and beyond to prove herself to others, not just to her family, but the people (specifically and obviously) men who tried to discredit and brush her off.
Ezra, the boy she meets early on, is full of secrets and has a mysterious air about him from the get-go. Mallory ends up befriending him, and they start the hunt for 'Lily', one of Mallory's family members who was taken by the curse. I really liked their relationship and Ezra as a character. It was hard to trust him at times, and the things he revealed about his father explained why he had such a haunted look. Mallory and Ezra's relationship was complex (as all are), but the added twist made it even harder to fully get on board with. But that was what made it feel real - no perfect characters or relationship, just complex family ties and too many secrets.
Saskia, I found, was the most intriguing character of the lot. We don't really know much about her, only that she got a scholarship to the college and is there to escape from her dad, who disapproves of her. At the start, when Mallory and Saskia meet, they are drawn to each other in ways they can't explain, and as Saskia opens up about her past and who she is, I came to understand her more as a reader.
The twists this book goes on are something else. There are two entirely separate backstories that end up joining together. But it's done in a way that's clearly planned and well thought out. The stories and plot points themselves have so much layered into them that I'm surprised at how the author managed to weave them together. When they do come together, though, it's really worth it, and all of the characters' pain and hardships make so much more sense.
The descriptions and language in this are gorgeous too - so many metaphors and vivid imagery, particularly around Mallory's emotions as she finds out more about her past. It wasn't just the characters who felt embedded; it was me, as a reader, because of the language Beth used, that made it feel so much more real.
Overall, I loved this book sm - from the characters to the deeply complex plot, it had my attention the entire time. Will definitley be reading more from this author in the future and see more
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Special thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for an eARC of “She Haunts Me Still” by De Elizabeth in exchange for my honest review.
2.5 rounded up.
This is a book with a strong atmosphere based around New England history. The Vampire Panic is not a tidbit that most people would know, and it’s a good foundation for some of the lore De Elizabeth incorporates.
But beyond that, I personally don’t feel like there is anything new added to the horror genre. Multiple horror aspects were crammed into it and that made the focus feel a bit all over the place. That said, I might still recommend it to readers who want to skim the surface of the genre, but I’ve just read quite a few too many horror books to find myself unsettled or shocked by this one.
The characters were okay, if not a little formulaic. I could only see Ezra as J.D. from “Heathers”. That’s really all I have to say about them since I didn’t feel too strongly one way or the other. Though, I do think some will definitely find relatability when it comes to talks of how people who are still living can be a sort of haunting. They worked for the story, but they won’t stick with me.
No matter how “Romeo and Juliet”, I was not on board with the fast-burn love with Saskia; Ezra is a different story with a different message, so that intensity worked. Mallory and Saskia’s dynamic, though, felt like it happened in the blink of an eye, most of the time that passed of them getting to know each other casually stated instead of shown. Whether a relationship is full of tension or not, I like to see its progression. I need something to root for throughout the plot. To be able to scream at the characters to just admit to themselves how they’re feeling (for better or worse). I could also just be too asexual to care about immediate physical desire.
For a book marketed as theatre and dark academia, there was hardly any theatre or dark academia. Also, dark academia is a bit of a mislabel. As the general aesthetic, it works. But as the genre, it doesn’t since it’s supposed to explore the messed-up lengths people would go to for academics and the pitfalls of said academics. It’s not simply a dark book set at a school. I don’t even know when these characters were in class. In terms of the theatre aspect, I caught some of the parallels between these characters’ stories with “Romeo and Juliet”, but I’ll tell on myself and say it’s my least favorite Shakespeare play (probably because of the insta-love), so I couldn’t bring myself to pore over them. That’s entirely a me thing since they were done fairly well. There’s pepperings of theatre kid superstition when needed. We’re only ever really told how Mallory hides using theatre, never shown it. Chapter 33 features the most theatre and a good portion of the performing is skipped over except for one soliloquy. I wish they’d been on stage more, used some of the scenes in the play to really draw those parallels out even more.
Now that the few critiques are out of the way, let’s move on to and end with the positives.
One thing I really did like was the feminine rage. Through the history tied into this book, De Elizabeth doesn’t shy away from how many women went to a silent grave after having to lead silent lives. And some are determined to not let their afterlives be silent. That aspect was really well done, and it made me feel my own righteous rage for history’s mistreated and forgotten women.
Another thing that was done well was the clue morsels dropped throughout the plot. I was invested in finding out how Mallory, Ezra, and Saskia are tied together. The sense of needing to know was helped by rapid but impactful reveals. There never felt to be a point where the mystery side of things lagged excessively, which is key to keeping readers guessing and guessing again with new plot points.
Thirdly, there are some dazzling and also vicious lines. It is clear De Elizabeth has spent time honing her craft. The words are arranged in just the right way to be full of emotion without being too verbose.
Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere, emotion, and lore De Elizabeth infused into “She Haunts Me Still”, but there were just too many things that didn’t personally click. I would not let this deter anyone who is looking for a good intro into horror-mystery with fast-burn and spicy romances.
2.5 rounded up.
This is a book with a strong atmosphere based around New England history. The Vampire Panic is not a tidbit that most people would know, and it’s a good foundation for some of the lore De Elizabeth incorporates.
But beyond that, I personally don’t feel like there is anything new added to the horror genre. Multiple horror aspects were crammed into it and that made the focus feel a bit all over the place. That said, I might still recommend it to readers who want to skim the surface of the genre, but I’ve just read quite a few too many horror books to find myself unsettled or shocked by this one.
The characters were okay, if not a little formulaic. I could only see Ezra as J.D. from “Heathers”. That’s really all I have to say about them since I didn’t feel too strongly one way or the other. Though, I do think some will definitely find relatability when it comes to talks of how people who are still living can be a sort of haunting. They worked for the story, but they won’t stick with me.
No matter how “Romeo and Juliet”, I was not on board with the fast-burn love with Saskia; Ezra is a different story with a different message, so that intensity worked. Mallory and Saskia’s dynamic, though, felt like it happened in the blink of an eye, most of the time that passed of them getting to know each other casually stated instead of shown. Whether a relationship is full of tension or not, I like to see its progression. I need something to root for throughout the plot. To be able to scream at the characters to just admit to themselves how they’re feeling (for better or worse). I could also just be too asexual to care about immediate physical desire.
For a book marketed as theatre and dark academia, there was hardly any theatre or dark academia. Also, dark academia is a bit of a mislabel. As the general aesthetic, it works. But as the genre, it doesn’t since it’s supposed to explore the messed-up lengths people would go to for academics and the pitfalls of said academics. It’s not simply a dark book set at a school. I don’t even know when these characters were in class. In terms of the theatre aspect, I caught some of the parallels between these characters’ stories with “Romeo and Juliet”, but I’ll tell on myself and say it’s my least favorite Shakespeare play (probably because of the insta-love), so I couldn’t bring myself to pore over them. That’s entirely a me thing since they were done fairly well. There’s pepperings of theatre kid superstition when needed. We’re only ever really told how Mallory hides using theatre, never shown it. Chapter 33 features the most theatre and a good portion of the performing is skipped over except for one soliloquy. I wish they’d been on stage more, used some of the scenes in the play to really draw those parallels out even more.
Now that the few critiques are out of the way, let’s move on to and end with the positives.
One thing I really did like was the feminine rage. Through the history tied into this book, De Elizabeth doesn’t shy away from how many women went to a silent grave after having to lead silent lives. And some are determined to not let their afterlives be silent. That aspect was really well done, and it made me feel my own righteous rage for history’s mistreated and forgotten women.
Another thing that was done well was the clue morsels dropped throughout the plot. I was invested in finding out how Mallory, Ezra, and Saskia are tied together. The sense of needing to know was helped by rapid but impactful reveals. There never felt to be a point where the mystery side of things lagged excessively, which is key to keeping readers guessing and guessing again with new plot points.
Thirdly, there are some dazzling and also vicious lines. It is clear De Elizabeth has spent time honing her craft. The words are arranged in just the right way to be full of emotion without being too verbose.
Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere, emotion, and lore De Elizabeth infused into “She Haunts Me Still”, but there were just too many things that didn’t personally click. I would not let this deter anyone who is looking for a good intro into horror-mystery with fast-burn and spicy romances.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Frankly, it was a nice read and one that comes out of my usual readings, a good 3.5 stars or even 3.75
To start, we follow Mallory, a young theater student who ends up enrolling in the same university as her mother thanks to a scholarship, the latter dying very suspiciously. Mallory therefore joins this school to shed light on what happened, and avoid having the same thing happen to her
At first, I was really surprised because the book looked like it was in fast motion, Mallory met Ezra, the assistant to the director and they were getting really too close, like 15% of the book they were already confiding their whole lives and a scene of 40% smut already. Not a fan of fast burn, but I understood afterwards why it was so fast (even though I found Ezra very suspicious from the beginning and I couldn’t get into the romance, I told myself that he must be a vampire).
The story is really gripping and addictive, although I find that at some point in the book, around like 65 or 70% we do a bit of on-site level new information for my taste.
But as we follow Mallory’s gradual and inevitable descent into hell, we even end up somewhat wondering if she is not an unreliable narrator, since she regularly has visions that merge with reality.
The rhythm of the book is almost too fast sometimes, not giving us time to breathe, but at least we can’t get too bored, at least during the first 2 acts. We also have plenty of small dissiminated revelations throughout the book to keep the reader interested.
In the end, the negative points that I will reveal are the fact that I didn’t take more than that interest in people, I sometimes had a bit of compassion for Malory given the loss of his mother and the relationship they had, Ezra also for his role (never trust a man) but it was more a victim than anything else when one is in possession of all the elements. That said, I applaud the fact that the book doesn’t necessarily end with her first love interest, it’s realistic and in a little queer romance.
And so, since I didn’t get attached to the characters in a close manner, well necessarily, the revelations, although logical and coherent, did not surprise me more than that and even seemed a bit predictable and easy (like the fact that SPOILER Jacob is Ezra’s grandfather).
Brace yourself for long scenes of descriptive smut, personally I didn’t like them, also because I couldn’t love the romance created with Ezra, but also expect blood, contexts a bit unsuited for that (like a chapel)
Some moments nevertheless made me slightly stall because I found that it dragged on a bit, like the scene of the confrontation with Ezra where she thinks she’s finished with him or even the fact that in the end, even if Mallory tried to understand throughout the book, I had the impression that it was peaking at one point and that she needed other characters to intervene to save the day, I would have preferred it to be her until the end.
After, SPOILER at the end, I would also have liked Mallory to die to complete the curse and because it would have really surprised me. There we have a bit straight to the end of the cliché 'I had a good life, got a diploma and recovered from this trauma'
Overall, it was a good read, which I still devoured in 2 days, the flaws I found in the first half of the novel were corrected in the second (finally explained) but strangely I was less taken afterwards
No deep attachment for these characters (even though I felt compassion and also reacted when there were really cruel things said in the mix-ups), revelations a bit predictable and an ending a bit cliché, but overall it was nice
And it made me step out of my comfort zone with witches, curses etc (I never read about monsters, vampires or what because it’s not my thing)
Thanks for this advanced arc Netgalley, the publishing house and the author !
To start, we follow Mallory, a young theater student who ends up enrolling in the same university as her mother thanks to a scholarship, the latter dying very suspiciously. Mallory therefore joins this school to shed light on what happened, and avoid having the same thing happen to her
At first, I was really surprised because the book looked like it was in fast motion, Mallory met Ezra, the assistant to the director and they were getting really too close, like 15% of the book they were already confiding their whole lives and a scene of 40% smut already. Not a fan of fast burn, but I understood afterwards why it was so fast (even though I found Ezra very suspicious from the beginning and I couldn’t get into the romance, I told myself that he must be a vampire).
The story is really gripping and addictive, although I find that at some point in the book, around like 65 or 70% we do a bit of on-site level new information for my taste.
But as we follow Mallory’s gradual and inevitable descent into hell, we even end up somewhat wondering if she is not an unreliable narrator, since she regularly has visions that merge with reality.
The rhythm of the book is almost too fast sometimes, not giving us time to breathe, but at least we can’t get too bored, at least during the first 2 acts. We also have plenty of small dissiminated revelations throughout the book to keep the reader interested.
In the end, the negative points that I will reveal are the fact that I didn’t take more than that interest in people, I sometimes had a bit of compassion for Malory given the loss of his mother and the relationship they had, Ezra also for his role (never trust a man) but it was more a victim than anything else when one is in possession of all the elements. That said, I applaud the fact that the book doesn’t necessarily end with her first love interest, it’s realistic and in a little queer romance.
And so, since I didn’t get attached to the characters in a close manner, well necessarily, the revelations, although logical and coherent, did not surprise me more than that and even seemed a bit predictable and easy (like the fact that SPOILER Jacob is Ezra’s grandfather).
Brace yourself for long scenes of descriptive smut, personally I didn’t like them, also because I couldn’t love the romance created with Ezra, but also expect blood, contexts a bit unsuited for that (like a chapel)
Some moments nevertheless made me slightly stall because I found that it dragged on a bit, like the scene of the confrontation with Ezra where she thinks she’s finished with him or even the fact that in the end, even if Mallory tried to understand throughout the book, I had the impression that it was peaking at one point and that she needed other characters to intervene to save the day, I would have preferred it to be her until the end.
After, SPOILER at the end, I would also have liked Mallory to die to complete the curse and because it would have really surprised me. There we have a bit straight to the end of the cliché 'I had a good life, got a diploma and recovered from this trauma'
Overall, it was a good read, which I still devoured in 2 days, the flaws I found in the first half of the novel were corrected in the second (finally explained) but strangely I was less taken afterwards
No deep attachment for these characters (even though I felt compassion and also reacted when there were really cruel things said in the mix-ups), revelations a bit predictable and an ending a bit cliché, but overall it was nice
And it made me step out of my comfort zone with witches, curses etc (I never read about monsters, vampires or what because it’s not my thing)
Thanks for this advanced arc Netgalley, the publishing house and the author !
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(4.25) Haunting, captivating, sublime. If you're looking to escape into the darker world of haunted girls and boys with occult tendencies, this book is for you.
SHMS had me hooked from page one; it's like I opened the book and Rhode Island's eerier side fell out. The atmosphere was dark and gloomy in a way I instantly fell in love with and, I have to say, De Elizabeth sure knows how to set a scene! This felt like a truly gothic modern tragedy.
Mallory has been haunted from a very young age. At first, it was only a ghost, then it became her torrid past. She is determined to find out why her mother left her alone in the world and embarks on a tumultuous semester at Shore College in her hometown to discover the root of it all. What she finds is way worse than anything she could have ever concocted. Between the dark, intriguing Assistant Director of Romeo & Juliet (of which Mal is the star) the mysteriously skittish understudy who feels all too familiar, the religious best friend she has to constantly lie to, the ghost who won't stop following her around every corner, trying to remember all of her lines, and the mother she may have never truly known, Mallory Webb's life is a mess. A haunting, blood-filled mess that as a reader I didn't want to look away from for a second!
The female rage of it all, the occultism of it all, the commentary on performance for others and yourself, the girl slipping deeper and deeper into insanity with each page - it was truly a fantastic experience. Not to mention the steaminess! Phew! Who knew blood sharing rituals could be so hot (and yes, this does in fact seem to be a trend for miss Mallory).
Why this didn't get a full 5-star from me:
For a book set in 1999, it sure felt like it could have been set whenever. In fact, there is a scene that particularly bothered me wherein a character said he "headcanon"ed something for his character - and gentle reader, it would seem the word "headcanon" wasn't entered into the public lexacon until 2007. I understand wanting a mostly cellphone-less, tactile paper files, no social media vibe, but I wish we'd stuck a little closer to the time period.
The other reason I couldn't enthusiastically give this otherwise fantastic story a 5-star rating was the insta-love feel to both romances. Even though both Ezra and Saskia were linked to Mallory in twisted ways, both attractions felt initially forced to me, unfortunately. I'd hoped, for a dark academia/gothic-toned tale, we'd have a bit more yearning and tension to the start of these attractions. Don't get me wrong, I loved living in Mallory's head as she navigated her feelings, but the start to both just lacked what I enjoy in a romance, personally. Maybe it was intended to be a nod to the congruent play, Romeo & Juliet, with its instantaneous love stories, but regardless, it wasn't my preference.
I also wish we'd gotten to see Arden and the academic advisor a bit more; it would have made the ending all the more satisfying.
Regardless of all of that, this book was amazing and gripping from start to finish (genuinely, I could hardly put it down or stop thinking about it!) I cannot wait to recommend this to everyone I know!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the E-Arc.
SHMS had me hooked from page one; it's like I opened the book and Rhode Island's eerier side fell out. The atmosphere was dark and gloomy in a way I instantly fell in love with and, I have to say, De Elizabeth sure knows how to set a scene! This felt like a truly gothic modern tragedy.
Mallory has been haunted from a very young age. At first, it was only a ghost, then it became her torrid past. She is determined to find out why her mother left her alone in the world and embarks on a tumultuous semester at Shore College in her hometown to discover the root of it all. What she finds is way worse than anything she could have ever concocted. Between the dark, intriguing Assistant Director of Romeo & Juliet (of which Mal is the star) the mysteriously skittish understudy who feels all too familiar, the religious best friend she has to constantly lie to, the ghost who won't stop following her around every corner, trying to remember all of her lines, and the mother she may have never truly known, Mallory Webb's life is a mess. A haunting, blood-filled mess that as a reader I didn't want to look away from for a second!
The female rage of it all, the occultism of it all, the commentary on performance for others and yourself, the girl slipping deeper and deeper into insanity with each page - it was truly a fantastic experience. Not to mention the steaminess! Phew! Who knew blood sharing rituals could be so hot (and yes, this does in fact seem to be a trend for miss Mallory).
Why this didn't get a full 5-star from me:
For a book set in 1999, it sure felt like it could have been set whenever. In fact, there is a scene that particularly bothered me wherein a character said he "headcanon"ed something for his character - and gentle reader, it would seem the word "headcanon" wasn't entered into the public lexacon until 2007. I understand wanting a mostly cellphone-less, tactile paper files, no social media vibe, but I wish we'd stuck a little closer to the time period.
The other reason I couldn't enthusiastically give this otherwise fantastic story a 5-star rating was the insta-love feel to both romances. Even though both Ezra and Saskia were linked to Mallory in twisted ways, both attractions felt initially forced to me, unfortunately. I'd hoped, for a dark academia/gothic-toned tale, we'd have a bit more yearning and tension to the start of these attractions. Don't get me wrong, I loved living in Mallory's head as she navigated her feelings, but the start to both just lacked what I enjoy in a romance, personally. Maybe it was intended to be a nod to the congruent play, Romeo & Juliet, with its instantaneous love stories, but regardless, it wasn't my preference.
I also wish we'd gotten to see Arden and the academic advisor a bit more; it would have made the ending all the more satisfying.
Regardless of all of that, this book was amazing and gripping from start to finish (genuinely, I could hardly put it down or stop thinking about it!) I cannot wait to recommend this to everyone I know!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the E-Arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I appreciate places letting me read their ARC's because I want to devour all the books (and you know, have stuff to recommend to my customers). But I hate writing reviews. haha. I will want to talk your ear off about the book I like, but make me write it down? I just babble on. Okay, I babble on when I am talking about it too, but at least there is interaction ;)
Anywho, here we go!
I was picked to be on the street team for this particular book, so away she goes....
This book had a lot going on. It's a coming of age story of Haunted sad girl with a dark past full of secrets meets haunted sad boy, with a dark past full of secrets then meets another haunted sad girl... well you get it. They bond over their love for theatre and their personal traumas. There are ghosts & blood & hidden ravens. (I started keeping count, but I lost it.. I did like that little treasure hunt part) There are easter eggs from the authors previous book (which I hadn't read, but I love a good easter egg) and even a Heather's Musical moment(IYKYK). As a theatre nerd myself, I liked how we dipped into the theatre world a bit. I do wish there was more. Mallory (our Main sad girl - & I mean sad girl in a loving way) talked about how theatre was her way to be someone other then herself, how much it was part of her and she needed it in her life. And I think, because there was SO MUCH else going on with her - keeping secrets, growing love, & the threats to those around her- that I didn't really get to see that. Maybe if we got to hear about other productions she did and how she threw herself into those roles.
She was distracted for her rehearsals (rightly so) & didn't know her lines & as a Stage manager myself, it was frustrating. That was the point, but I guess I am just thirsty for more theatre in my horror. The images and lyrical words by the ghost light did speak to me. As did the College atmosphere in RI, because I also went to school in RI for a year and it was so lovely.
I was intrigued, I wanted to know what was happening, why our sad girls love interests were so haunted. I am trying to be very vague here.
There a lot of emotion packed into this book, with first loves, second loves, family secrets & loss, lost childhood friends, feeling of not being able to be ones self, not being seen, plus all the supernatural elements. No wonder Mal couldn't learn her lines.
All that said, if you like you stories dark, emotional, haunted, but also a bit steamy and full of big romantic feelings. You should definitely pick up She Haunts Me Still.
I also want to know more about Aunt Penelope. I wouldn't mind a Penelope prequel purrhaps?
*I was chosen for the Street Team and received the books via Net Gallery
Anywho, here we go!
I was picked to be on the street team for this particular book, so away she goes....
This book had a lot going on. It's a coming of age story of Haunted sad girl with a dark past full of secrets meets haunted sad boy, with a dark past full of secrets then meets another haunted sad girl... well you get it. They bond over their love for theatre and their personal traumas. There are ghosts & blood & hidden ravens. (I started keeping count, but I lost it.. I did like that little treasure hunt part) There are easter eggs from the authors previous book (which I hadn't read, but I love a good easter egg) and even a Heather's Musical moment(IYKYK). As a theatre nerd myself, I liked how we dipped into the theatre world a bit. I do wish there was more. Mallory (our Main sad girl - & I mean sad girl in a loving way) talked about how theatre was her way to be someone other then herself, how much it was part of her and she needed it in her life. And I think, because there was SO MUCH else going on with her - keeping secrets, growing love, & the threats to those around her- that I didn't really get to see that. Maybe if we got to hear about other productions she did and how she threw herself into those roles.
She was distracted for her rehearsals (rightly so) & didn't know her lines & as a Stage manager myself, it was frustrating. That was the point, but I guess I am just thirsty for more theatre in my horror. The images and lyrical words by the ghost light did speak to me. As did the College atmosphere in RI, because I also went to school in RI for a year and it was so lovely.
I was intrigued, I wanted to know what was happening, why our sad girls love interests were so haunted. I am trying to be very vague here.
There a lot of emotion packed into this book, with first loves, second loves, family secrets & loss, lost childhood friends, feeling of not being able to be ones self, not being seen, plus all the supernatural elements. No wonder Mal couldn't learn her lines.
All that said, if you like you stories dark, emotional, haunted, but also a bit steamy and full of big romantic feelings. You should definitely pick up She Haunts Me Still.
I also want to know more about Aunt Penelope. I wouldn't mind a Penelope prequel purrhaps?
*I was chosen for the Street Team and received the books via Net Gallery
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
To set the scene: I had recently finished the infinite star read of the showstopping debut novel A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann and fallen in love with the idea of a story that was written like a play and had the theatre aspect and dark fantasy vibes I couldn't get enough of in the pages of that book. I was scrolling through my phone and saw a new post on Instagram from De Elizabeth sharing the vibes of her new novel, and it was everything I had been looking for after falling into a book slump. It was going to have Dark Academia, Theatre, Vampires, an ill-fated production of Romeo and Juliet, and I started commenting and liking posts like it was a mission.
I was lucky enough to be approved for an early arc and began my read on a dark and stormy night, and the atmosphere outside hit me, and the setting in the plot hit me harder. It was all very Edgar Allan Poe with dark, mysterious forces, secrets, and hidden cults. I love a dark academia setting where you can picture the dark gothic spires rising into the sky from ancient architecture masterpieces that held the classrooms and the theatre where the story and the curse all began.
The plot was a constant evolution, and I never knew what direction the story was going to take. The way the mystery of the curse and its origins will leave you reeling for clues and any answer you can try to find is frustrating, but such a thrill. I loved the romance between Mallory and Ezra and the slow burn push and pull, and how they had these moments of almost and then nothing that left me gasping. Their dynamic together was full of chemistry, and multiple scenes gave me goosebumps as I read.
Ezra Pierce has the personality that all but screams, "I'd burn the world down for you." And I don't think one can ever get enough of that in their lifetime.
I lost some attention towards the end due to the second romance because it was hard for me to become invested in the new relationship and believe its depth and sincerity when she had those same feelings toward Ezra, and it seemed way too sudden and swift to move on like that, and it made the relationship less believable. I personally thought it would have wrapped up better without the second romance and been an act of desperation to save his one true love, but I still enjoyed the storyline and how it ended.
That ending twist and how the mystery unraveled was a showstopper of suspenseful writing. I honestly never saw it coming! It was dark and disturbing in the best way that makes you slightly hesitant to be alone in the dark later for fear of who might be there to bite you.
I was lucky enough to be approved for an early arc and began my read on a dark and stormy night, and the atmosphere outside hit me, and the setting in the plot hit me harder. It was all very Edgar Allan Poe with dark, mysterious forces, secrets, and hidden cults. I love a dark academia setting where you can picture the dark gothic spires rising into the sky from ancient architecture masterpieces that held the classrooms and the theatre where the story and the curse all began.
The plot was a constant evolution, and I never knew what direction the story was going to take. The way the mystery of the curse and its origins will leave you reeling for clues and any answer you can try to find is frustrating, but such a thrill. I loved the romance between Mallory and Ezra and the slow burn push and pull, and how they had these moments of almost and then nothing that left me gasping. Their dynamic together was full of chemistry, and multiple scenes gave me goosebumps as I read.
Ezra Pierce has the personality that all but screams, "I'd burn the world down for you." And I don't think one can ever get enough of that in their lifetime.
I lost some attention towards the end due to the second romance because it was hard for me to become invested in the new relationship and believe its depth and sincerity when she had those same feelings toward Ezra, and it seemed way too sudden and swift to move on like that, and it made the relationship less believable. I personally thought it would have wrapped up better without the second romance and been an act of desperation to save his one true love, but I still enjoyed the storyline and how it ended.
That ending twist and how the mystery unraveled was a showstopper of suspenseful writing. I honestly never saw it coming! It was dark and disturbing in the best way that makes you slightly hesitant to be alone in the dark later for fear of who might be there to bite you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An exploration of the hereditary paired with a gothic atmospheric vibe that holds a grudge in this dark academic fever dream. Sign me up, please. There's definitely an unsettling feeling about a place that contains madness. I think De Elizabeth did a nice job laying out that thick, choking tension, that makes every turn feel like you're being watched and studied. The New England vampire panic lore paired with mystery was a nice touch. Gave supernatural elements a historical weight. The setting was executed so nicely.
The heavy, clinical dread that mirrors Mallory's descent... I enjoyed the unreliable narrator elements that were sprinkled throughout... The way Mallory's visions kept bleeding into reality and continued to make me question the logic of her world and visions...What is real? What is grief? What is something so ancient and hungry for her? I liked that aspect of it a lot.
Watching the love between the three orbit one another was stressful though, LOL. For me, personally. Guys, I'm not one for love triangles, the messy feelings, but I didn't hate this! But it was INSTA-LOVE, to the MAX. Left me stressing but I think given the context of the atmosphere, it makes sense honestly.
Now, onto the theater. Yeah, I was a theater kid once upon a time and this experience sent me back years ago. The drama. The rehearsals. The way everyone is performing, even when they're offstage. Yep, it was there. It was hinted. If you know, you know. BUT... I wish there was MORE! I wish we got more of the day to day process of production, the inside jokes, the chaos of the week. MORE IMPORTANTLY, the weird superstitions that theater kids SWEAR BY. It was sprinkled throughout and it was FUN. Left me wanting more.
It would've tied into stronger to the Romeo and Juliet backdrop. Of course, it's Romeo and Juliet. The most doomed dramatic people putting on the most doomed dramatic play. The parallels were not subtle and I appreciated that they weren't. You know what's coming, you know it's going to stab your heart a little, and quite frankly there's nothing you can really do about it.
At the end of the day this was a 3.5 star read for me... the atmosphere and the theater nostalgia carried it hard. The bones are GOOD. Really good. But some of the execution left me wanting just a little more substance in places that needed it most.
Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the eARC of She Haunts Me Still by De Elizabeth for an honest review.
The heavy, clinical dread that mirrors Mallory's descent... I enjoyed the unreliable narrator elements that were sprinkled throughout... The way Mallory's visions kept bleeding into reality and continued to make me question the logic of her world and visions...What is real? What is grief? What is something so ancient and hungry for her? I liked that aspect of it a lot.
Watching the love between the three orbit one another was stressful though, LOL. For me, personally. Guys, I'm not one for love triangles, the messy feelings, but I didn't hate this! But it was INSTA-LOVE, to the MAX. Left me stressing but I think given the context of the atmosphere, it makes sense honestly.
Now, onto the theater. Yeah, I was a theater kid once upon a time and this experience sent me back years ago. The drama. The rehearsals. The way everyone is performing, even when they're offstage. Yep, it was there. It was hinted. If you know, you know. BUT... I wish there was MORE! I wish we got more of the day to day process of production, the inside jokes, the chaos of the week. MORE IMPORTANTLY, the weird superstitions that theater kids SWEAR BY. It was sprinkled throughout and it was FUN. Left me wanting more.
It would've tied into stronger to the Romeo and Juliet backdrop. Of course, it's Romeo and Juliet. The most doomed dramatic people putting on the most doomed dramatic play. The parallels were not subtle and I appreciated that they weren't. You know what's coming, you know it's going to stab your heart a little, and quite frankly there's nothing you can really do about it.
At the end of the day this was a 3.5 star read for me... the atmosphere and the theater nostalgia carried it hard. The bones are GOOD. Really good. But some of the execution left me wanting just a little more substance in places that needed it most.
Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the eARC of She Haunts Me Still by De Elizabeth for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ultimately a fun, twisty read! I'll admit I clocked most of the reveals fairly early on in the story (namely lily's identity, saskia's connection to mal, etc.), but I was still surprised by some of the other reveals towards the end.
I think this novel would have benefitted from being just a bit shorter, as I did feel like some parts dragged a bit. specifically in the beginning, it felt like the first fourth of the book had ezra and mal just aimlessly running around in circles. which, as the book progresses, makes more sense, but there is a lot of text before you get that payoff.
I think it was worth pushing through the sections that were slow, ultimately! I think de elizabeth had some interesting insights about grieving and living alongside grief, and while I think a some of those revelations could have benefitted from more of a 'show, don't tell' methology, I didn't dislike this book! the characters were interesting, the dynamics were familiar but still had some freshness to them. I had fun reading!
I also want to add that, as a theater kid turned adult myself, I loved the inclusion of theater, and the use of 'romeo & juliet' as sort of a parallel to mal's story as well. i love shakespeare, and I think this play is often misunderstood, so I really appreciated its inclusion and relevance to the overall story!
I will additionally add there are some scenes that bordered on being dubious consent—not exactly SA, but I could see some scenes eliciting a similar feeling if someone was sensitive to that subject. if that is a trigger for you, exercise caution.
thank you to dutton for providing an eARC of this novel for review!
---
light spoiler ahead, stop reading here to avoid!
and I NEVER trusted that man either. knew immediately he was a liar and a cheat. regained a modicum of my respect at the end but MAN I was cringing through every interaction between him and mal. girl you have a perfectly beautiful and delightful lesbian right there CAN YOU NOT SEE. SHE IS THE ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS YOU!!! BEEN HERE ALL ALONG!!!! anyway. loved that this was low key like. heathers (the musical) if veronica also was bisexual. which is a correct and valid retelling.
I think this novel would have benefitted from being just a bit shorter, as I did feel like some parts dragged a bit. specifically in the beginning, it felt like the first fourth of the book had ezra and mal just aimlessly running around in circles. which, as the book progresses, makes more sense, but there is a lot of text before you get that payoff.
I think it was worth pushing through the sections that were slow, ultimately! I think de elizabeth had some interesting insights about grieving and living alongside grief, and while I think a some of those revelations could have benefitted from more of a 'show, don't tell' methology, I didn't dislike this book! the characters were interesting, the dynamics were familiar but still had some freshness to them. I had fun reading!
I also want to add that, as a theater kid turned adult myself, I loved the inclusion of theater, and the use of 'romeo & juliet' as sort of a parallel to mal's story as well. i love shakespeare, and I think this play is often misunderstood, so I really appreciated its inclusion and relevance to the overall story!
I will additionally add there are some scenes that bordered on being dubious consent—not exactly SA, but I could see some scenes eliciting a similar feeling if someone was sensitive to that subject. if that is a trigger for you, exercise caution.
thank you to dutton for providing an eARC of this novel for review!
---
light spoiler ahead, stop reading here to avoid!
and I NEVER trusted that man either. knew immediately he was a liar and a cheat. regained a modicum of my respect at the end but MAN I was cringing through every interaction between him and mal. girl you have a perfectly beautiful and delightful lesbian right there CAN YOU NOT SEE. SHE IS THE ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS YOU!!! BEEN HERE ALL ALONG!!!! anyway. loved that this was low key like. heathers (the musical) if veronica also was bisexual. which is a correct and valid retelling.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you like your horror soaked in longing, theater drama, and the kind of love that feels doomed from the first glance, She Haunts Me Still is going to get under your skin.
Mallory walks onto this campus thinking she’s starting over, but nothing about this place feels clean. A sanitarium turned college already has a pulse to it, and the story leans all the way in. You can feel the history in the walls, in the stage, in the way everything seems just a little too ready for something to go wrong. And of course it does.
The Romeo and Juliet thread isn’t subtle, but it works. It mirrors everything happening around Mallory in a way that feels inevitable instead of heavy-handed. You already know how that story ends, and this book plays with that dread beautifully. It’s not about if things fall apart. It’s about how bad it’s going to hurt when they do.
The haunting itself is mean. Not just scary, but personal. The kind that feels targeted, like it knows exactly where to press. It ties into Mallory’s past in a way that keeps everything grounded emotionally, even when things get strange and bloody. There’s grief here that doesn’t sit quietly. It claws.
Ezra is exactly the kind of character you don’t trust but can’t look away from. Charming, withholding, probably a bad idea. And Saskia adds this eerie parallel that keeps the tension tight. The relationships feel messy in a way I appreciate. No one is clean. No one is fully safe.
The New England vampire panic angle gives the story this old, rotting backbone. It makes everything feel bigger than just Mallory’s story, like she’s stepped into something that was always waiting for her. I liked that it doesn’t rush to explain everything. Some of the mystery lingers, and it should.
This is one of those books where the atmosphere does a lot of the heavy lifting. It’s moody, a little romantic, a little dangerous. Not outright terrifying every second, but it sits with you. Especially if you like horror that’s tangled up with love, history, and bad decisions you can see coming.
It’s tragic. It’s intimate. And yeah, it haunts a little.
Mallory walks onto this campus thinking she’s starting over, but nothing about this place feels clean. A sanitarium turned college already has a pulse to it, and the story leans all the way in. You can feel the history in the walls, in the stage, in the way everything seems just a little too ready for something to go wrong. And of course it does.
The Romeo and Juliet thread isn’t subtle, but it works. It mirrors everything happening around Mallory in a way that feels inevitable instead of heavy-handed. You already know how that story ends, and this book plays with that dread beautifully. It’s not about if things fall apart. It’s about how bad it’s going to hurt when they do.
The haunting itself is mean. Not just scary, but personal. The kind that feels targeted, like it knows exactly where to press. It ties into Mallory’s past in a way that keeps everything grounded emotionally, even when things get strange and bloody. There’s grief here that doesn’t sit quietly. It claws.
Ezra is exactly the kind of character you don’t trust but can’t look away from. Charming, withholding, probably a bad idea. And Saskia adds this eerie parallel that keeps the tension tight. The relationships feel messy in a way I appreciate. No one is clean. No one is fully safe.
The New England vampire panic angle gives the story this old, rotting backbone. It makes everything feel bigger than just Mallory’s story, like she’s stepped into something that was always waiting for her. I liked that it doesn’t rush to explain everything. Some of the mystery lingers, and it should.
This is one of those books where the atmosphere does a lot of the heavy lifting. It’s moody, a little romantic, a little dangerous. Not outright terrifying every second, but it sits with you. Especially if you like horror that’s tangled up with love, history, and bad decisions you can see coming.
It’s tragic. It’s intimate. And yeah, it haunts a little.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I would like to thank De Elizabeth for restoring my faith in the dark academia genre. Dark academia and I have a bit of a situationship at the moment. I desperately want stories that are unsettling and shrouded in mystery, but too often, stories simply slap a school setting onto a creepy trope without the necessary nuance. She Haunts Me Still actually delivers.
Pitched as a dark academia horrormance, this book features a star-crossed love triangle, bisexual representation, a tragic curse, and a doomed production of Romeo & Juliet. That is a massive checklist to tackle, but De Elizabeth handles these themes masterfully. While the romances are fast-paced, it feels entirely authentic to the nineteen-year-old college experience. Especially within the horror genre, where the urgency of the haunting often accelerates the emotions.
The atmosphere is immediate and visceral. It reminded me of The Haunting of Hill House or The Haunting of Bly Manor, where an undercurrent of uncertainty and grief is woven into every page. Our protagonist, Mallory, is a complex lead whose drive to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death, and the curse that plagued her family, is what truly drives the narrative forward.
The love interests are equally compelling. Ezra is a dark, mysterious MMC who gives off major Phantom of the Opera vibes. He would burn the world down consume Mallory. Saskia feels like his literal opposite, yet she is just as committed. The visual descriptions alone perfectly illustrate the yin-and-yang dynamic between Mallory’s lovers. However, as much as I enjoyed the spice, the mystery is what truly sucked me in. The imagery of flickering lights, appearing entities, and seances was incredibly vivid. I could easily see this being adapted for the screen (though I’d be protective of it being a true adaptation!).
This is easily one of my top reads of 2026. If you love horror, romance, obsession, and genuine dark academia, you need to pick this up. 100% recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Pitched as a dark academia horrormance, this book features a star-crossed love triangle, bisexual representation, a tragic curse, and a doomed production of Romeo & Juliet. That is a massive checklist to tackle, but De Elizabeth handles these themes masterfully. While the romances are fast-paced, it feels entirely authentic to the nineteen-year-old college experience. Especially within the horror genre, where the urgency of the haunting often accelerates the emotions.
The atmosphere is immediate and visceral. It reminded me of The Haunting of Hill House or The Haunting of Bly Manor, where an undercurrent of uncertainty and grief is woven into every page. Our protagonist, Mallory, is a complex lead whose drive to uncover the truth behind her mother’s death, and the curse that plagued her family, is what truly drives the narrative forward.
The love interests are equally compelling. Ezra is a dark, mysterious MMC who gives off major Phantom of the Opera vibes. He would burn the world down consume Mallory. Saskia feels like his literal opposite, yet she is just as committed. The visual descriptions alone perfectly illustrate the yin-and-yang dynamic between Mallory’s lovers. However, as much as I enjoyed the spice, the mystery is what truly sucked me in. The imagery of flickering lights, appearing entities, and seances was incredibly vivid. I could easily see this being adapted for the screen (though I’d be protective of it being a true adaptation!).
This is easily one of my top reads of 2026. If you love horror, romance, obsession, and genuine dark academia, you need to pick this up. 100% recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Read
May 18, 2026I saw the art for this book posted by the author on Instagram and I KNEW that I had to read it.
She Haunts Me Still was a gothic, macabre, deliciously written story. Centred on theatre it charted a tale of female resilience and rage against the backdrop of supernatural elements. This book was extremely readable - I flew through it and not once was I wondering how much of the book I had left. The gothic, haunting, spooky elements were great - I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. I also found the supernatural lore and magic and fantasy and historical elements very well thought out and intriguing. Also big fan of queer representation and especially of messy bisexual representation.
The plot itself was simple and Elizabeth ensured that all plot details were tied up neatly - which also meant that the plot was a little predictable. Whatever I assumed was likely to be a plot point - became one which resulted in the twists not really surprising me. The characters were fine - Mallory was learning who she was, Saskia was coming to terms with herself and Ezra was strong-willed. But they all seemed to have one set facet to their personalities and that was it. The side characters could be more fleshed out too - especially Mallory's best friend. While theatre was the backdrop, I wish there were stronger links to it! More acting, more talking about acting etc. Some stronger allusions to Romeo and Juliet would have added to the whole narrative. However my biggest gripe unfortunately was the romance. It was insta-lovey - which I don't like and I get that it might be justified in this context but it didn't work for me. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the 'spice.' I actually felt that it took me out of the narrative but hey! I know there's tons of people that love this stuff so they'll be satisfied by it.
Overall though - this was a great dark fantasy romance that is going to find a permanent place in a lot of fall reading lists!
She Haunts Me Still was a gothic, macabre, deliciously written story. Centred on theatre it charted a tale of female resilience and rage against the backdrop of supernatural elements. This book was extremely readable - I flew through it and not once was I wondering how much of the book I had left. The gothic, haunting, spooky elements were great - I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. I also found the supernatural lore and magic and fantasy and historical elements very well thought out and intriguing. Also big fan of queer representation and especially of messy bisexual representation.
The plot itself was simple and Elizabeth ensured that all plot details were tied up neatly - which also meant that the plot was a little predictable. Whatever I assumed was likely to be a plot point - became one which resulted in the twists not really surprising me. The characters were fine - Mallory was learning who she was, Saskia was coming to terms with herself and Ezra was strong-willed. But they all seemed to have one set facet to their personalities and that was it. The side characters could be more fleshed out too - especially Mallory's best friend. While theatre was the backdrop, I wish there were stronger links to it! More acting, more talking about acting etc. Some stronger allusions to Romeo and Juliet would have added to the whole narrative. However my biggest gripe unfortunately was the romance. It was insta-lovey - which I don't like and I get that it might be justified in this context but it didn't work for me. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the 'spice.' I actually felt that it took me out of the narrative but hey! I know there's tons of people that love this stuff so they'll be satisfied by it.
Overall though - this was a great dark fantasy romance that is going to find a permanent place in a lot of fall reading lists!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc.
This is my first time returning to a dark academia novel for over a year, and I’m so glad I did. It took me a while to gather my thoughts for this review because I was left with so many emotions.
Mallory is our haunted FMC, and from the start, the mystery surrounding her mother’s death pulls you in. Attending the same art school her mother once did, Mallory’s mind begins to unravel as rapidly as the dark secrets tied to her mother’s gory death.
I quickly became invested in the intense, electrifying romance between Mallory and Ezra, our brooding and tormented MC. There’s an unsettling tension hanging over their relationship that made it impossible to stop turning the pages.
Mallory also finds an ally in Saskia, a fellow student who becomes entangled in her visions. Together, they race to uncover one dark secret after another, hoping to break a curse that seems destined to end in death.
I enjoyed the slow blossoming of attractiom between the two females. It felt natural, well paced, and believable.
This book is saturated with historical folklore, misogyny, feminine rage, and the repeated desecration of women in the pursuit of male power. You can feel both the cold dread of the supernatural and the very real terror of confronting dangerous men with narcissistic expectations. It leans heavily into “final girl” energy, blended with slow burn horror, and it works incredibly well.
By the end, I felt hollow and a little melancholic—it leaves a lasting impact if you’re truly invested in the characters’ survival.
That said, the writing does read a bit like young adult. Mallory is only 19, and her thoughts and decisions reflect that. At times I feel she walks into situations too easily, even while fully aware she’s dealing with something otherworldly.
This is my first time returning to a dark academia novel for over a year, and I’m so glad I did. It took me a while to gather my thoughts for this review because I was left with so many emotions.
Mallory is our haunted FMC, and from the start, the mystery surrounding her mother’s death pulls you in. Attending the same art school her mother once did, Mallory’s mind begins to unravel as rapidly as the dark secrets tied to her mother’s gory death.
I quickly became invested in the intense, electrifying romance between Mallory and Ezra, our brooding and tormented MC. There’s an unsettling tension hanging over their relationship that made it impossible to stop turning the pages.
Mallory also finds an ally in Saskia, a fellow student who becomes entangled in her visions. Together, they race to uncover one dark secret after another, hoping to break a curse that seems destined to end in death.
I enjoyed the slow blossoming of attractiom between the two females. It felt natural, well paced, and believable.
This book is saturated with historical folklore, misogyny, feminine rage, and the repeated desecration of women in the pursuit of male power. You can feel both the cold dread of the supernatural and the very real terror of confronting dangerous men with narcissistic expectations. It leans heavily into “final girl” energy, blended with slow burn horror, and it works incredibly well.
By the end, I felt hollow and a little melancholic—it leaves a lasting impact if you’re truly invested in the characters’ survival.
That said, the writing does read a bit like young adult. Mallory is only 19, and her thoughts and decisions reflect that. At times I feel she walks into situations too easily, even while fully aware she’s dealing with something otherworldly.
April 21, 2026
Thank you, Dutton, NetGalley, and De Elizabeth for the e-ARC! 🥀🖤
De Elizabeth does it again! I really love her writing, and after I read "This Raging Sea", I knew I was in for a treat with "She Haunts Me Still". The minute this started to get marketed on her IG, I was pining for an ARC. The character artwork is beautiful, and the marketing and tropes align with the story she wrote!
She Haunts Me Still is the perfect medley of dark academia, gothic, horror, mystery, and feminine rage. I enjoyed the mystery plotline throughout. I particularly loved that the theater performance in the plot is Romeo and Juliet, a story that is mimicked in the storyline of the FMC Mallory. This felt like a strong device to kind of clue the reader in to the potential outcomes of the other characters (Saskia and Ezra).
De wrote in a very atmospheric environment - I could picture the different parts of the campus in my head. Not only that, but the times when the monstrosities and true horrors were happening, she did a great job of actually showing, and not just telling. Some of the gruesome scenes I could also picture perfectly in my head, and at times caught myself audibly saying "oh my god...". Was it a vampire? Was it a demon? De keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat.
My only qualm and what is keeping me from giving this 5 stars, is how quickly Mallory goes from one love interest to the other. I really appreciate the relationships and the LGBTQ representation in this book. The relationships were intentional and felt authentic, but also felt a little sudden with Mallory's interest fizzling out from Ezra and toward Saskia. The ending was satisfying (at least for me). It was suspenseful and somewhat twisty. I had a few ideas on how it was going to end, but she had me guessing until the very end.
De Elizabeth does it again! I really love her writing, and after I read "This Raging Sea", I knew I was in for a treat with "She Haunts Me Still". The minute this started to get marketed on her IG, I was pining for an ARC. The character artwork is beautiful, and the marketing and tropes align with the story she wrote!
She Haunts Me Still is the perfect medley of dark academia, gothic, horror, mystery, and feminine rage. I enjoyed the mystery plotline throughout. I particularly loved that the theater performance in the plot is Romeo and Juliet, a story that is mimicked in the storyline of the FMC Mallory. This felt like a strong device to kind of clue the reader in to the potential outcomes of the other characters (Saskia and Ezra).
De wrote in a very atmospheric environment - I could picture the different parts of the campus in my head. Not only that, but the times when the monstrosities and true horrors were happening, she did a great job of actually showing, and not just telling. Some of the gruesome scenes I could also picture perfectly in my head, and at times caught myself audibly saying "oh my god...". Was it a vampire? Was it a demon? De keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat.
My only qualm and what is keeping me from giving this 5 stars, is how quickly Mallory goes from one love interest to the other. I really appreciate the relationships and the LGBTQ representation in this book. The relationships were intentional and felt authentic, but also felt a little sudden with Mallory's interest fizzling out from Ezra and toward Saskia. The ending was satisfying (at least for me). It was suspenseful and somewhat twisty. I had a few ideas on how it was going to end, but she had me guessing until the very end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Based on the title only, it’s obvious that She Haunts Me Still is a story of haunting. As the story progressed, themes like female rage, vengeance, and reappropriating your body emerged.
I absolutely enjoyed the dark academia/ horror/ fantasy atmosphere. I was quickly sucked into the universe created by De Elizabeth. The mystery surrounding Mallory and her mother’s haunting is what drew me to this book, and is also what pushed me to keep reading it.
De Elizabeth unveils clues and bits of information, pushing us to try and discover the full picture, but the truth kept feeling out of reach right until the end.
I liked the tension between the characters. I liked how there was something so deeply unsettling that I felt it in my guts.
Watching Mallory navigate through the mystery and make decisions was like watching a horror movie. You know when the main character is running straight into a trap or when they start trusting people they shouldn’t, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it.
On the less enjoyable side, I would have done without the love triangle/ fast burn romance. I’m not a big fan of those tropes to begin with, so it did influence my reading experience.
Since Mallory’s connection with each of her love interests is fast, especially with Ezra, it felt exaggerated. How she hopped from one to the other in such a short time and called it love made me sceptical. However, that wasn’t a deal breaker for me.
I still very much enjoyed reading She Haunts Me Still. It was a good discovery outside my comfort zone.
I absolutely enjoyed the dark academia/ horror/ fantasy atmosphere. I was quickly sucked into the universe created by De Elizabeth. The mystery surrounding Mallory and her mother’s haunting is what drew me to this book, and is also what pushed me to keep reading it.
De Elizabeth unveils clues and bits of information, pushing us to try and discover the full picture, but the truth kept feeling out of reach right until the end.
I liked the tension between the characters. I liked how there was something so deeply unsettling that I felt it in my guts.
Watching Mallory navigate through the mystery and make decisions was like watching a horror movie. You know when the main character is running straight into a trap or when they start trusting people they shouldn’t, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it.
On the less enjoyable side, I would have done without the love triangle/ fast burn romance. I’m not a big fan of those tropes to begin with, so it did influence my reading experience.
Since Mallory’s connection with each of her love interests is fast, especially with Ezra, it felt exaggerated. How she hopped from one to the other in such a short time and called it love made me sceptical. However, that wasn’t a deal breaker for me.
I still very much enjoyed reading She Haunts Me Still. It was a good discovery outside my comfort zone.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the pleasure of receiving this book.
This book was the dark academia book of my dreams. It had everything I love: interesting lore that I haven’t seen explored before, a love triangle that I was genuinely invested in and a play on one of my favourite Shakespearean works.
This book had me hooked from page one but for different reasons to why I ended up staying. I went into this book expecting a dark academia book with a haunted heroine and a dark, mysterious man who comes to save her but that is not what we got. I was first drawn into the prospect of romance between Mallory and Ezra, and the juxtaposition of their story and the Romeo and Juliet show they were working on. However, it was the exploration of both feminine rage and the long history of women being meant to an end for male ambition was powerful, meaningful and left a lasting effect.
The representation of queer romance was also another aspect that I found very interesting as it isn’t shown as an ‘ah’ moment. It is delicately handled as an attraction to both genders that can be different in intensity and understanding.
The writing was well done and beautifully rendered. I felt the love, the despair and at some moments, the fear that Mallory was experiencing. This book also had me on the edge of my seat with the writing. There was moments where I was like ‘ok, this is the direction this book is going in’ for it to do a full 180 and go in a totally different direction. It was exciting, captivating and kept me invested the whole way through.
This book was the dark academia book of my dreams. It had everything I love: interesting lore that I haven’t seen explored before, a love triangle that I was genuinely invested in and a play on one of my favourite Shakespearean works.
This book had me hooked from page one but for different reasons to why I ended up staying. I went into this book expecting a dark academia book with a haunted heroine and a dark, mysterious man who comes to save her but that is not what we got. I was first drawn into the prospect of romance between Mallory and Ezra, and the juxtaposition of their story and the Romeo and Juliet show they were working on. However, it was the exploration of both feminine rage and the long history of women being meant to an end for male ambition was powerful, meaningful and left a lasting effect.
The representation of queer romance was also another aspect that I found very interesting as it isn’t shown as an ‘ah’ moment. It is delicately handled as an attraction to both genders that can be different in intensity and understanding.
The writing was well done and beautifully rendered. I felt the love, the despair and at some moments, the fear that Mallory was experiencing. This book also had me on the edge of my seat with the writing. There was moments where I was like ‘ok, this is the direction this book is going in’ for it to do a full 180 and go in a totally different direction. It was exciting, captivating and kept me invested the whole way through.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Advanced reader copy from NetGalley
She Haunts Me Still is an easy five-star read.
As a romantasy girlie through and through, I was honestly wary dipping my toes into anything labelled horror. For the first 5–10 chapters, I turned every page with real trepidation, convinced something was about to leap out and grab me.
I finished it in 24 hours. I couldn’t put it down.
It’s literally haunting me still — all the what-ifs circling my mind — and I think a whole new genre love has just been unlocked.
I adored how complex the characters and their relationships were, and how vulnerable and real they all felt. Every time I thought my heart had broken for the last time and surely couldn’t need patching up again… it did.
The 90s references were perfect. Are You Afraid of the Dark?! — I loved that show, and it added this nostalgic unease that made everything feel even more real. I was completely hooked, keeping tally of the ravens, trying to piece together Ezra’s motives, wondering what I’d missed, who else might be involved… or whether she was, just maybe, actually crazy.
The storyline, the ending, the characters — they just had me.
And the fantasy girlie in me loved the vampire element. The mystery. It was dark and delicious without ever feeling whimsical or too light. There was gore. Blood was spilled (and drank). Mistakes were made. Lies were told.
And I have absolutely no regrets.
She Haunts Me Still is an easy five-star read.
As a romantasy girlie through and through, I was honestly wary dipping my toes into anything labelled horror. For the first 5–10 chapters, I turned every page with real trepidation, convinced something was about to leap out and grab me.
I finished it in 24 hours. I couldn’t put it down.
It’s literally haunting me still — all the what-ifs circling my mind — and I think a whole new genre love has just been unlocked.
I adored how complex the characters and their relationships were, and how vulnerable and real they all felt. Every time I thought my heart had broken for the last time and surely couldn’t need patching up again… it did.
The 90s references were perfect. Are You Afraid of the Dark?! — I loved that show, and it added this nostalgic unease that made everything feel even more real. I was completely hooked, keeping tally of the ravens, trying to piece together Ezra’s motives, wondering what I’d missed, who else might be involved… or whether she was, just maybe, actually crazy.
The storyline, the ending, the characters — they just had me.
And the fantasy girlie in me loved the vampire element. The mystery. It was dark and delicious without ever feeling whimsical or too light. There was gore. Blood was spilled (and drank). Mistakes were made. Lies were told.
And I have absolutely no regrets.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I fear that people who expect an actual love triangle will be disappointed, but alas...
She Haunts Me Still is a beautiful atmospheric piece with adoringly-troubled characters trying to solve a complex mystery that keeps you guessing even as you start collecting clues. De Elizabeth masterfully crafts the atmosphere of college build on actual bones, manages to perfectly work the supernatural elements into the contemporary setting and the sense of unease and looming doom seeps from the pages.
I personally don't mind that the book didn't deliver on the promise of a love triangle (meaning, by the time the MC develops a crush on one of the love interests, she has long ended things with the previous one), though I did find the romances little insta-lovy. The MC was quite trusting for someone so guarded. I also believe those two romantic storylines could have been better entwined with each other and the story, the first love interest basically disappears for the majority of second act - makes me wonder if these weren't two different stories joined together when the author was rewriting the book.
Overall, I think the book could use a little more developmental editing to smooth out some edges peaking out and to make it more concise, but De Elizabeth is an emerging talent that is definetly worth following.
She Haunts Me Still is a beautiful atmospheric piece with adoringly-troubled characters trying to solve a complex mystery that keeps you guessing even as you start collecting clues. De Elizabeth masterfully crafts the atmosphere of college build on actual bones, manages to perfectly work the supernatural elements into the contemporary setting and the sense of unease and looming doom seeps from the pages.
I personally don't mind that the book didn't deliver on the promise of a love triangle (meaning, by the time the MC develops a crush on one of the love interests, she has long ended things with the previous one), though I did find the romances little insta-lovy. The MC was quite trusting for someone so guarded. I also believe those two romantic storylines could have been better entwined with each other and the story, the first love interest basically disappears for the majority of second act - makes me wonder if these weren't two different stories joined together when the author was rewriting the book.
Overall, I think the book could use a little more developmental editing to smooth out some edges peaking out and to make it more concise, but De Elizabeth is an emerging talent that is definetly worth following.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I adored De Elizabeth's debut novel This Raging Sea, so much so that I have a signed copy. However, I need to preface this recommendation by being honest with you—this was a beautifully haunting dark academia horror fantasy, but I don’t think I was the intended audience—namely, because there is a love triangle in it that plays a significant role in the plot.
I knew this going in, but overall, the premise intrigued me (a haunted theatre major; the ghost of her mother’s past; a doomed Romeo and Juliet play; and a star-crossed love story—say less), and I really wanted to read her writing again because her style is so gorgeous.
So I ended up with mixed feelings about it because I am not a love triangle person (if my heart is going to break, I want it to break in one direction lol), but I think if you enjoy that trope, and are especially looking for bi rep written by a bi author, you will really enjoy it.
The chilling atmosphere is bloody and grotesque and perfect; the suspense is constant, and I love a good family legacy full of skeletons, especially when it’s tied to creepy old institutions; as a ghost story, it is both terrifying and terribly personal. Genre-wise, it was immaculate, and I could relate so much to the main character’s experience of feeling so deeply tied to her mother’s fate while also feeling like she barely knew her.
I knew this going in, but overall, the premise intrigued me (a haunted theatre major; the ghost of her mother’s past; a doomed Romeo and Juliet play; and a star-crossed love story—say less), and I really wanted to read her writing again because her style is so gorgeous.
So I ended up with mixed feelings about it because I am not a love triangle person (if my heart is going to break, I want it to break in one direction lol), but I think if you enjoy that trope, and are especially looking for bi rep written by a bi author, you will really enjoy it.
The chilling atmosphere is bloody and grotesque and perfect; the suspense is constant, and I love a good family legacy full of skeletons, especially when it’s tied to creepy old institutions; as a ghost story, it is both terrifying and terribly personal. Genre-wise, it was immaculate, and I could relate so much to the main character’s experience of feeling so deeply tied to her mother’s fate while also feeling like she barely knew her.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book has the most accurate title in history because I CANNOT stop thinking about it?????
The premise was so promising: dark academia, cursed theatre, tortured love. De Elizabeth really delivered. The writing is gorgeous, rightfully balanced, and I thought the novel itself was very well structured. I was a little worried after the 50 first pages, because I thought, oh, this is already happening? I felt like I had all the answers, but I was so, so wrong. The plot matures, unravels, twists and turns, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I completely surrounded myself to the pen of the author and was not disappointed at all.
I absolutely adored how the author weaves horror, fantasy and drama in this. The characters were layered and developed believable relationships. I got really attached to them, especially Mallory, and my heart (slight spoiler here) really, really aches for Ezra. Oh, he broke my heart.
You can just feel the love the author put in this novel, the care, the craft. Every detail is thought of, cherished. That makes it really special to read. I think De Elizabeth created something quite beautiful, and I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves the dark and, perhaps most of all, to those of us who crave for it.
Thank you Netgalley and to the author for a chance to read this arc.
The premise was so promising: dark academia, cursed theatre, tortured love. De Elizabeth really delivered. The writing is gorgeous, rightfully balanced, and I thought the novel itself was very well structured. I was a little worried after the 50 first pages, because I thought, oh, this is already happening? I felt like I had all the answers, but I was so, so wrong. The plot matures, unravels, twists and turns, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I completely surrounded myself to the pen of the author and was not disappointed at all.
I absolutely adored how the author weaves horror, fantasy and drama in this. The characters were layered and developed believable relationships. I got really attached to them, especially Mallory, and my heart (slight spoiler here) really, really aches for Ezra. Oh, he broke my heart.
You can just feel the love the author put in this novel, the care, the craft. Every detail is thought of, cherished. That makes it really special to read. I think De Elizabeth created something quite beautiful, and I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves the dark and, perhaps most of all, to those of us who crave for it.
Thank you Netgalley and to the author for a chance to read this arc.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
She Haunts Me Still by De Elizabeth is the kind of chilling, slow-burn gothic that creeps under your skin and settles there.
Mallory enrolls at the same college that shaped and ultimately shattered her late mother. From the moment she steps onto campus, there’s a sense that the past isn’t buried… it’s waiting. The atmosphere is thick with unease: old buildings that feel like they’re watching, whispers in quiet corridors, and secrets that refuse to stay dead.
What really makes this story shine is Mallory herself. She isn’t just chasing answers she’s wrestling with grief, identity, and the terrifying possibility that she’s becoming more like her mother than she ever intended. The emotional weight adds depth to the supernatural tension, making the haunting feel both literal and psychological.
The pacing is deliberate, building dread layer by layer rather than relying on cheap jump scares. When the revelations come, they hit hard. It’s eerie, it’s unsettling, and it lingers long after the final page.
If you love atmospheric campus settings, generational secrets, and ghostly vibes that blur the line between memory and madness, this one deserves a spot on your shelf.
Haunting? Absolutely. Forgettable? Not a chance.
Mallory enrolls at the same college that shaped and ultimately shattered her late mother. From the moment she steps onto campus, there’s a sense that the past isn’t buried… it’s waiting. The atmosphere is thick with unease: old buildings that feel like they’re watching, whispers in quiet corridors, and secrets that refuse to stay dead.
What really makes this story shine is Mallory herself. She isn’t just chasing answers she’s wrestling with grief, identity, and the terrifying possibility that she’s becoming more like her mother than she ever intended. The emotional weight adds depth to the supernatural tension, making the haunting feel both literal and psychological.
The pacing is deliberate, building dread layer by layer rather than relying on cheap jump scares. When the revelations come, they hit hard. It’s eerie, it’s unsettling, and it lingers long after the final page.
If you love atmospheric campus settings, generational secrets, and ghostly vibes that blur the line between memory and madness, this one deserves a spot on your shelf.
Haunting? Absolutely. Forgettable? Not a chance.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was gothicly addicting, an absolute must-read for theatre lovers!!
Things I loved:
🎭Vampires, but not in the cliche, overdone way
🎭More theatre books, more theatre books, more theatre books! Especially when you can tell the author genuinely respects theatre instead of viewing it as an aesthetic
🎭Speaking of aesthetic, creepy theatre cult aesthetic was great
🎭The spice, both with Ezra and Saskia. I liked how they felt different but both parts of Mallory
🎭I'll say it... Ezra was hot. My dumbass would have picked him and that's why I'm not in a novel hahaha
🎭I felt like this did a good job at unraveling the mystery layer by layer
🎭 Saskia on opening night!
I will say, the thing that bumped it down a star is the animal violence that wasn't noted in the trigger warnings. The bunny part made me pretty nauseous and from then on, I couldn't lose myself in the book because I was too busy worrying if anything else would happen. It put me pretty on edge. Another couple minor things: the dialogue at times felt like all the same character speaking, they spoke very similarly at times, and the insta-love with Ezra being less than believable knocked it down to 4 stars, but I still really enjoyed it!
Things I loved:
🎭Vampires, but not in the cliche, overdone way
🎭More theatre books, more theatre books, more theatre books! Especially when you can tell the author genuinely respects theatre instead of viewing it as an aesthetic
🎭Speaking of aesthetic, creepy theatre cult aesthetic was great
🎭The spice, both with Ezra and Saskia. I liked how they felt different but both parts of Mallory
🎭I'll say it... Ezra was hot. My dumbass would have picked him and that's why I'm not in a novel hahaha
🎭I felt like this did a good job at unraveling the mystery layer by layer
🎭 Saskia on opening night!
I will say, the thing that bumped it down a star is the animal violence that wasn't noted in the trigger warnings. The bunny part made me pretty nauseous and from then on, I couldn't lose myself in the book because I was too busy worrying if anything else would happen. It put me pretty on edge. Another couple minor things: the dialogue at times felt like all the same character speaking, they spoke very similarly at times, and the insta-love with Ezra being less than believable knocked it down to 4 stars, but I still really enjoyed it!
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