What do you think?
A Thousand Monstrous Forms: A Novel
Bluebeard gets a gothic horror and sapphic romance twist in this fairytale retelling from the author of Serial Killer Support Group and Trad Wife.
A young ceramic artist moves into her new wife’s isolated manor and gets drawn into dark discoveries that stain her marriage—and her very soul.
Artist Poppy Reed doesn’t care if others think her marriage to Celia Marie Fox, a wealthy art dealer, is impulsive. Sure, they’ve only known each other for six months, and Celia has an infamous romantic reputation, but Poppy is brimming with excitement when she moves across the country to Celia’s a formidable, isolated, and art-filled manor called Busirane.
As Poppy tries to celebrate her first weeks of marriage and enjoy her new home, Busirane seems intent on rebuffing her every attempt to settle in. Strange noises and confounding occurrences lead Poppy to believe the house is haunted, a suspicion worsened by Celia’s insistence that Poppy avoid the locked basement.
When Celia leaves for a work trip, Poppy is left alone in the house, then finds herself snowed in. Surrounded by secrets, stalked by faceless statues, and beset by bodiless whispers, she struggles to trust her wife—and her own mind. When Poppy is eventually drawn to the forbidden basement, dark truths shatter everything she thought she knew, throwing her into a desperate bid for survival.
Drenched in dread, this contemporary gothic folktale retelling will have you checking all the locks. Twice.
A young ceramic artist moves into her new wife’s isolated manor and gets drawn into dark discoveries that stain her marriage—and her very soul.
Artist Poppy Reed doesn’t care if others think her marriage to Celia Marie Fox, a wealthy art dealer, is impulsive. Sure, they’ve only known each other for six months, and Celia has an infamous romantic reputation, but Poppy is brimming with excitement when she moves across the country to Celia’s a formidable, isolated, and art-filled manor called Busirane.
As Poppy tries to celebrate her first weeks of marriage and enjoy her new home, Busirane seems intent on rebuffing her every attempt to settle in. Strange noises and confounding occurrences lead Poppy to believe the house is haunted, a suspicion worsened by Celia’s insistence that Poppy avoid the locked basement.
When Celia leaves for a work trip, Poppy is left alone in the house, then finds herself snowed in. Surrounded by secrets, stalked by faceless statues, and beset by bodiless whispers, she struggles to trust her wife—and her own mind. When Poppy is eventually drawn to the forbidden basement, dark truths shatter everything she thought she knew, throwing her into a desperate bid for survival.
Drenched in dread, this contemporary gothic folktale retelling will have you checking all the locks. Twice.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2026
About the author
Saratoga Schaefer
8 books764 followersSaratoga Schaefer (they/them) is the USA Today Bestselling and Indie Press Bestselling author of vicious horrors and twisted thrillers. Their books have been featured in Variety, People Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, and Glamour, and their writing has appeared in Writer’s Digest, CrimeReads, and more. Originally from Brooklyn, Saratoga now lives upstate with several needy animals and a haunted clown table.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
" Celia collected wives like she collected art. She took from places that weren't hers, conquered them, then left her prizes to rot in her home, never to see their native land again"
This book absolutely terrified me, but not in the way I expected. It isn't just creepy because of the horror elements—it gets under your skin by digging into grief, trauma, guilt, and the darker parts of being human. There were so many moments that left me feeling uneasy, and that feeling stayed with me long after I put the book down.
I'll admit the buildup is slow. Normally that's something I struggle with, and I'm usually wishing the story would get moving. But somehow it completely worked here. Every chapter added another layer of dread, and instead of feeling bored, I found myself getting more anxious because I knew something awful was waiting around the corner. The slow pacing gave me time to really connect with the characters and understand everything they were carrying emotionally, which made the scary moments hit so much harder.
What really surprised me was how emotionally deep this story went. I came in expecting horror, but I got so much more than that. The characters felt real, their pain felt real, and the emotional weight behind everything made this much more than just a frightening read. There were scenes that genuinely broke my heart just as much as they creeped me out.
The atmosphere was incredible too. There was this constant sense of dread hanging over every page, and I found myself questioning what was real and what wasn't right alongside the characters. It was the kind of horror that slowly wraps itself around you instead of relying on nonstop scares.
The only reason this isn't a full five stars for me is because the slower beginning did make it take a little while before I was completely invested. Even though I think the pacing was the right choice for this story, it still took some patience to get there.
Overall, this was a beautifully haunting, emotionally heavy horror novel that proved slow burns can be incredibly rewarding when they're done well. If you're looking for a horror story that's just as interested in breaking your heart as it is in scaring you, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
This book absolutely terrified me, but not in the way I expected. It isn't just creepy because of the horror elements—it gets under your skin by digging into grief, trauma, guilt, and the darker parts of being human. There were so many moments that left me feeling uneasy, and that feeling stayed with me long after I put the book down.
I'll admit the buildup is slow. Normally that's something I struggle with, and I'm usually wishing the story would get moving. But somehow it completely worked here. Every chapter added another layer of dread, and instead of feeling bored, I found myself getting more anxious because I knew something awful was waiting around the corner. The slow pacing gave me time to really connect with the characters and understand everything they were carrying emotionally, which made the scary moments hit so much harder.
What really surprised me was how emotionally deep this story went. I came in expecting horror, but I got so much more than that. The characters felt real, their pain felt real, and the emotional weight behind everything made this much more than just a frightening read. There were scenes that genuinely broke my heart just as much as they creeped me out.
The atmosphere was incredible too. There was this constant sense of dread hanging over every page, and I found myself questioning what was real and what wasn't right alongside the characters. It was the kind of horror that slowly wraps itself around you instead of relying on nonstop scares.
The only reason this isn't a full five stars for me is because the slower beginning did make it take a little while before I was completely invested. Even though I think the pacing was the right choice for this story, it still took some patience to get there.
Overall, this was a beautifully haunting, emotionally heavy horror novel that proved slow burns can be incredibly rewarding when they're done well. If you're looking for a horror story that's just as interested in breaking your heart as it is in scaring you, this one is absolutely worth picking up.
September 6, 2026
This is one of those wild horror novels that features art. I’m going to call it art horror and as far as the ones I’ve read, I enjoyed this one the most! And it’s creepy AF!
Poppy Reed has a whirlwind romance with a rich art dealer, Celia. They get married pretty fast and her best friend is a little worried about her. But Poppy claims her love for her and that all is well.
Until she moves into her new wife’s isolated manor. 👀👀👀👀
Celia leaves for work quite often and Poppy is left to fend for herself. Soon, statues start to move. Is she losing her mind? Is there something Celia isn’t telling her?
I loved the fact that the main character is a ceramic artist. I haven’t read anything like this before. The eerie gothic vibe of this mansion is slicked with dread.
This is said to be a retelling of Bluebird, but, I know nothing of that tale. Regardless, this was a creepy good time and I highly enjoyed it. It’s out on Tuesday wherever books are sold.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Crooked Lane for the gifted copy.
Poppy Reed has a whirlwind romance with a rich art dealer, Celia. They get married pretty fast and her best friend is a little worried about her. But Poppy claims her love for her and that all is well.
Until she moves into her new wife’s isolated manor. 👀👀👀👀
Celia leaves for work quite often and Poppy is left to fend for herself. Soon, statues start to move. Is she losing her mind? Is there something Celia isn’t telling her?
I loved the fact that the main character is a ceramic artist. I haven’t read anything like this before. The eerie gothic vibe of this mansion is slicked with dread.
This is said to be a retelling of Bluebird, but, I know nothing of that tale. Regardless, this was a creepy good time and I highly enjoyed it. It’s out on Tuesday wherever books are sold.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Crooked Lane for the gifted copy.
August 20, 2026
Oh, this was deliciously unsettling.
Thousand Monstrous Forms by Saratoga Schafer was weird; and that is the meant as the highest compliment! The way I devoured this was as unreal as the tight grip it had on me till the very end.
Dark, strange, atmospheric horror at its best, it is the kind of book that makes you pause after a chapter because you need a second to process what you just read, then immediately keep going because you absolutely need to know what happens next.
Saratoga creates such a beautifully warped, eerie world here. From the first pages, there is this feeling that something is not right, and it only gets more intense. The writing is immersive; the atmosphere is heavy in the best possible way; the story is surreal in a way that made me feel like I was trapped inside a nightmare, and the horror becomes more intense and more bizarre as the book goes on.
And I loved it.
Not a horror that holds your hand and explains every little thing. It is unsettling, ambiguous, and willing to let you sit in the discomfort. There were moments where I genuinely did not know what was real, what was imagined, or what terrifying thing was waiting just beyond the page.
And that ending? I expected everything but that and TBH the satisfaction was next level! Immediately ready for her next book and have added her backlist to the top of my TBR to keep me going in the meantime. When you are thoroughly converted into a true stan with that one book by an author!
If you love horror with psychological dread, unsettling transformations, body horror, surreal imagery, and a lingering sense of unease, I cannot recommend this one enough. It’s creepy, haunting, beautifully written, and exactly the kind of horror read I want to talk about with other readers.
Five stars from me. Read it when you are in the mood to feel uncomfortable; you can thank me later 😏
Huge thanks to Crooked Lane Books and the author for gifting me this ARC. As always, all opinions expressed in this review are my very own.
Thousand Monstrous Forms by Saratoga Schafer was weird; and that is the meant as the highest compliment! The way I devoured this was as unreal as the tight grip it had on me till the very end.
Dark, strange, atmospheric horror at its best, it is the kind of book that makes you pause after a chapter because you need a second to process what you just read, then immediately keep going because you absolutely need to know what happens next.
Saratoga creates such a beautifully warped, eerie world here. From the first pages, there is this feeling that something is not right, and it only gets more intense. The writing is immersive; the atmosphere is heavy in the best possible way; the story is surreal in a way that made me feel like I was trapped inside a nightmare, and the horror becomes more intense and more bizarre as the book goes on.
And I loved it.
Not a horror that holds your hand and explains every little thing. It is unsettling, ambiguous, and willing to let you sit in the discomfort. There were moments where I genuinely did not know what was real, what was imagined, or what terrifying thing was waiting just beyond the page.
And that ending? I expected everything but that and TBH the satisfaction was next level! Immediately ready for her next book and have added her backlist to the top of my TBR to keep me going in the meantime. When you are thoroughly converted into a true stan with that one book by an author!
If you love horror with psychological dread, unsettling transformations, body horror, surreal imagery, and a lingering sense of unease, I cannot recommend this one enough. It’s creepy, haunting, beautifully written, and exactly the kind of horror read I want to talk about with other readers.
Five stars from me. Read it when you are in the mood to feel uncomfortable; you can thank me later 😏
Huge thanks to Crooked Lane Books and the author for gifting me this ARC. As always, all opinions expressed in this review are my very own.
September 17, 2026
Schaefer has three (3!) new books out this year, including a delightful tradwife meets incubus horror
(Trad Wife) I enjoyed in the spring. I was excited to read this new one!
Premise: a sapphic Bluebeard retelling in which an artist, Poppy, marries a wealthy art dealer, Celia, after a lightning fast romance (6 months!) and moves into her manor, Busirane. But Busirane is haunted (duh) and the romantic first few weeks of marriage turn into a descent into madness as the house itself attempts to lure Poppy into its basement, a space she’s been forbidden to enter.
I only discovered the tale of Bluebeard recently, through HOW TO BE EATEN, but it's such a great pick for a horror or dark fairytale retelling. While Poppy seemed TSTL from time to time (mostly in a naive, let me bumble about and be protected because I'm a cute white woman way), I enjoyed the voice. The body horror in this is so deliciously gruesome and the setting was every bit as atmospheric and richly painted as I hope for when reading a gothic. Schaefer put her own twist on the Bluebeard story, which I really enjoyed. The star character for me is Aditi -- I'd follow her into another book!
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Imani Jade Powers. She did a great job with the read and is definitely a reader I'd listen to again.
Thanks, NetGalley and Spotify Audio Books, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
(Trad Wife) I enjoyed in the spring. I was excited to read this new one!
Premise: a sapphic Bluebeard retelling in which an artist, Poppy, marries a wealthy art dealer, Celia, after a lightning fast romance (6 months!) and moves into her manor, Busirane. But Busirane is haunted (duh) and the romantic first few weeks of marriage turn into a descent into madness as the house itself attempts to lure Poppy into its basement, a space she’s been forbidden to enter.
I only discovered the tale of Bluebeard recently, through HOW TO BE EATEN, but it's such a great pick for a horror or dark fairytale retelling. While Poppy seemed TSTL from time to time (mostly in a naive, let me bumble about and be protected because I'm a cute white woman way), I enjoyed the voice. The body horror in this is so deliciously gruesome and the setting was every bit as atmospheric and richly painted as I hope for when reading a gothic. Schaefer put her own twist on the Bluebeard story, which I really enjoyed. The star character for me is Aditi -- I'd follow her into another book!
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Imani Jade Powers. She did a great job with the read and is definitely a reader I'd listen to again.
Thanks, NetGalley and Spotify Audio Books, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2026
4.5⭐️ - This book has so much I love. Haunted house? Check. Sapphic romance? Check. We follow Poppy, who moves into her new wife Celia's sprawling family estate, where strange things start happening almost immediately. The house seems to have a life of its own, secrets are lurking behind locked doors and the deeper Poppy digs, the more she starts questioning everything around her.
The atmosphere was exactly what I want from gothic horror. The house felt off from the moment Poppy arrived, but Celia honestly made me even more uncomfortable than the house did. You can see the red flags in their relationship almost immediately: the rushed marriage, the love bombing, the way Poppy becomes isolated from the people who care about her and the constant gaslighting whenever she starts questioning what's happening. There were so many moments where I wanted to scream at her to leave, but at the same time, I understood why she didn't. It's easy to recognise those warning signs from the outside, but not when you're the one living through them. I really appreciated seeing an abusive sapphic relationship represented because it's something we rarely see talked about. This book is such a good reminder that abuse isn't defined by gender. It's about power, control and manipulation and I thought Schaefer captured that incredibly well.
A Thousand Monstrous Forms is a modernised take on the classic French folktale Bluebeard and I think it was executed brilliantly! I absolutely love Schaefer's writing and I couldn't put this down. This is easily one of my favourite gothic horror reads of the year.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.
The atmosphere was exactly what I want from gothic horror. The house felt off from the moment Poppy arrived, but Celia honestly made me even more uncomfortable than the house did. You can see the red flags in their relationship almost immediately: the rushed marriage, the love bombing, the way Poppy becomes isolated from the people who care about her and the constant gaslighting whenever she starts questioning what's happening. There were so many moments where I wanted to scream at her to leave, but at the same time, I understood why she didn't. It's easy to recognise those warning signs from the outside, but not when you're the one living through them. I really appreciated seeing an abusive sapphic relationship represented because it's something we rarely see talked about. This book is such a good reminder that abuse isn't defined by gender. It's about power, control and manipulation and I thought Schaefer captured that incredibly well.
A Thousand Monstrous Forms is a modernised take on the classic French folktale Bluebeard and I think it was executed brilliantly! I absolutely love Schaefer's writing and I couldn't put this down. This is easily one of my favourite gothic horror reads of the year.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.
September 13, 2026
🔑 A Thousand Monstrous Forms by Saratoga Schaefer 🔑
Ahhh this book! Holy moly this book. Okay lemme actually put some coherent sentences together.
A Thousand Monstrous Forms is a modern day, sapphic Bluebeard retelling. It follows Poppy, who after a whirlwind romance, moves in with her wife, Cecilia, into her mansion. Poppy is given the freedom to create sculptors and art from home. However, her new home doesn’t feel so homely. She’s hearing voices/music and seeing things that aren’t really there. Could all of this tie into the basement she’s forbidden to enter?
This is my second work of Schaefer’s and let me say, they truly are a master of their craft. The atmosphere in this book dripped from the pages. Every new room and hallway had me wishing I could personally peer around the corner to see what loomed in the shadows. And the mirror scenes…phew. Made me want to avoid my reflection at all costs.
The story also shines light on toxic relationships—and how couples of any sexuality can be both emotionally and physically abusive to one another.
I cannot wait to hold my physical copy in my hands when my pre order comes in. And I’m so thankful to @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for the advanced e copy!
This book releases this Tuesday September 15th. I gave it five stars. Could not put it down 👏
Ahhh this book! Holy moly this book. Okay lemme actually put some coherent sentences together.
A Thousand Monstrous Forms is a modern day, sapphic Bluebeard retelling. It follows Poppy, who after a whirlwind romance, moves in with her wife, Cecilia, into her mansion. Poppy is given the freedom to create sculptors and art from home. However, her new home doesn’t feel so homely. She’s hearing voices/music and seeing things that aren’t really there. Could all of this tie into the basement she’s forbidden to enter?
This is my second work of Schaefer’s and let me say, they truly are a master of their craft. The atmosphere in this book dripped from the pages. Every new room and hallway had me wishing I could personally peer around the corner to see what loomed in the shadows. And the mirror scenes…phew. Made me want to avoid my reflection at all costs.
The story also shines light on toxic relationships—and how couples of any sexuality can be both emotionally and physically abusive to one another.
I cannot wait to hold my physical copy in my hands when my pre order comes in. And I’m so thankful to @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for the advanced e copy!
This book releases this Tuesday September 15th. I gave it five stars. Could not put it down 👏
July 3, 2026
✨You had me at gothic/sapphic Bluebeard retelling!!!!✨
Is this my top favorite book of 2026???? I know we have like half of a year left, but I think this may be my number 1 read this year!👏 😍
A Thousand Monstrous Forms is absolute PERFECTION!!! I was so EXCITED for this one and it DELIVERED!!
I’m screaming 🙀
The setting, the atmosphere, the writing, the characters, everything is just incredible. The story sucked me right in and did not let go. I cannot speak enough about how well done the gothic atmosphere is!!! A very haunting, gothic, and disturbing read indeed! THE ENDING is also perfection!! This is one of those books that feels written for me and I can’t tell you enough how much I love it.
I also really like that the book shines a light about abuse in queer couples as well. That is an important topic that I don’t think gets discussed enough. I enjoyed how all of the things regarding gender and roles & villain and hero were done in this book. I can’t speak more about that without spoilers so I’ll just leave it at that.
This is the 2nd book that I’ve read from this author (the first was Trad Wife) and Saratoga Schaefer…I really, really like how you think! 👏
Highly, HIGHLY recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released September 15, 2026 .
Is this my top favorite book of 2026???? I know we have like half of a year left, but I think this may be my number 1 read this year!👏 😍
A Thousand Monstrous Forms is absolute PERFECTION!!! I was so EXCITED for this one and it DELIVERED!!
I’m screaming 🙀
The setting, the atmosphere, the writing, the characters, everything is just incredible. The story sucked me right in and did not let go. I cannot speak enough about how well done the gothic atmosphere is!!! A very haunting, gothic, and disturbing read indeed! THE ENDING is also perfection!! This is one of those books that feels written for me and I can’t tell you enough how much I love it.
I also really like that the book shines a light about abuse in queer couples as well. That is an important topic that I don’t think gets discussed enough. I enjoyed how all of the things regarding gender and roles & villain and hero were done in this book. I can’t speak more about that without spoilers so I’ll just leave it at that.
This is the 2nd book that I’ve read from this author (the first was Trad Wife) and Saratoga Schaefer…I really, really like how you think! 👏
Highly, HIGHLY recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released September 15, 2026 .
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.75/5 stars.
I really loved this book. It reminded me a lot of a sapphic version of The Haunting of Hill House. The atmosphere and descriptions left me with a comparable experience to Hill House which made me incredibly happy. I have the biggest weak spot for haunted houses and this one had a little bit of a twist.
The characters were well-written; I thought both Celia and Poppy were multifaceted. I hated Celia while Poppy had me conflicted, but she was pretty relatable. Seeing the dynamic of their relationship was interesting to me, and again, I think it'll be relatable to a lot of people whether they realize it or not.
I loved the inclusion of the statues and the mirror scenes—they were both unsettling and fun to read. I wish a few things had been explained a bit more, but it didn't bother me too much. The constant gaslighting within this book was hard to read at times, but again, relatable. I think we all know someone like this.
The ending is what stopped me from feeling that this was a "perfect" read. The execution at the end wasn't my favorite, but I do still think that it worked. I found the implication left to the readers at the very end of this book to be intriguing. I 100% plan to purchase a copy of this book once pub date arrives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I really loved this book. It reminded me a lot of a sapphic version of The Haunting of Hill House. The atmosphere and descriptions left me with a comparable experience to Hill House which made me incredibly happy. I have the biggest weak spot for haunted houses and this one had a little bit of a twist.
The characters were well-written; I thought both Celia and Poppy were multifaceted. I hated Celia while Poppy had me conflicted, but she was pretty relatable. Seeing the dynamic of their relationship was interesting to me, and again, I think it'll be relatable to a lot of people whether they realize it or not.
I loved the inclusion of the statues and the mirror scenes—they were both unsettling and fun to read. I wish a few things had been explained a bit more, but it didn't bother me too much. The constant gaslighting within this book was hard to read at times, but again, relatable. I think we all know someone like this.
The ending is what stopped me from feeling that this was a "perfect" read. The execution at the end wasn't my favorite, but I do still think that it worked. I found the implication left to the readers at the very end of this book to be intriguing. I 100% plan to purchase a copy of this book once pub date arrives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Claustrophobic, dread-fueled, and legitimately scary, A Thousand Monstrous Forms was as thought-provoking as it was deliciously unhinged. A sapphic retelling of Bluebeard with the gothic atmosphere of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, it took a deep dive into a deeply disturbing, toxic relationship, while highlighting that abuse can come from anyone, regardless of gender. Add to that a creepy haunted house with maze-like rooms and a sense of supernatural ambiguity that had me questioning everything, and I easily fell head over heels for this surreal horror story. Is it predictable if you know the plot of Bluebird? Well, okay…yes. That being said, it took it to a whole other level with a wildly shocking and unhinged last 100 or so pages that included jump scares and body horror so intense that I needed to read it with all of the lights on. After all, it was a lot for this relative horror newbie.
In spite of the definite scary-movie vibes, this profoundly atmospheric story also delivered plenty of depth. Juxtaposing art and the cycle of abusive relationships to the point that the former was an intrinsic part of the horror, it explored ownership, control, and possession with a deft and nuanced hand. I do have to mention, though, that the beginning was a bit slow and initially felt somewhat underwhelming. Once I hit the halfway point, however, all bets were off as the suspicion and dread steadily built into one heck of an explosive, *chef’s kiss* last act—even if it was ultimately left open to interpretation. So if you love well-developed unreliable narrators, a setting with a character-like feel, or the idea of domestic suspense meets gothic horror, you need to grab this one now. The perfect read for spooky season, it was a haunting and immersive tale that scared me to the core in the best possible way. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Read if the following sounds intriguing:
- A deliciously unhinged ending
- Toxic relationships
- An atmospheric setting
- Domestic suspense meets gothic horror
- Lyrical descriptions
- Body horror and jump scares
- Binge-worthy, one-sitting reads
- Slow-burning dread
- Thought-provoking themes
- A remote haunted house
- Unreliable narrators
- Supernatural ambiguity
- Nightmare-inducing scenes
- A sapphic retelling of Bluebeard with Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca’s gothic vibes
SYNOPSIS:
Artist Poppy Reed doesn’t care if others think her marriage to Celia Marie Fox, a wealthy art dealer, is impulsive. Sure, they’ve only known each other for six months, and Celia has an infamous romantic reputation, but Poppy is brimming with excitement when she moves across the country to Celia’s home: a formidable, isolated, and art-filled manor called Busirane.
As Poppy tries to celebrate her first weeks of marriage and enjoy her new home, Busirane seems intent on rebuffing her every attempt to settle in. Strange noises and confounding occurrences lead Poppy to believe the house is haunted, a suspicion worsened by Celia’s insistence that Poppy avoid the locked basement.
When Celia leaves for a work trip, Poppy is left alone in the house, then finds herself snowed in. Surrounded by secrets, stalked by faceless statues, and beset by bodiless whispers, she struggles to trust her wife—and her own mind. When Poppy is eventually drawn to the forbidden basement, dark truths shatter everything she thought she knew, throwing her into a desperate bid for survival.
Thank you Saratoga Schaefer and Crooked Lane Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 15, 2026
Content warning: gaslighting, domestic abuse, toxic relationship, emotional and physical abuse, violence, blood, body horror, gore, confinement, murder, torture
In spite of the definite scary-movie vibes, this profoundly atmospheric story also delivered plenty of depth. Juxtaposing art and the cycle of abusive relationships to the point that the former was an intrinsic part of the horror, it explored ownership, control, and possession with a deft and nuanced hand. I do have to mention, though, that the beginning was a bit slow and initially felt somewhat underwhelming. Once I hit the halfway point, however, all bets were off as the suspicion and dread steadily built into one heck of an explosive, *chef’s kiss* last act—even if it was ultimately left open to interpretation. So if you love well-developed unreliable narrators, a setting with a character-like feel, or the idea of domestic suspense meets gothic horror, you need to grab this one now. The perfect read for spooky season, it was a haunting and immersive tale that scared me to the core in the best possible way. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Read if the following sounds intriguing:
- A deliciously unhinged ending
- Toxic relationships
- An atmospheric setting
- Domestic suspense meets gothic horror
- Lyrical descriptions
- Body horror and jump scares
- Binge-worthy, one-sitting reads
- Slow-burning dread
- Thought-provoking themes
- A remote haunted house
- Unreliable narrators
- Supernatural ambiguity
- Nightmare-inducing scenes
- A sapphic retelling of Bluebeard with Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca’s gothic vibes
SYNOPSIS:
Artist Poppy Reed doesn’t care if others think her marriage to Celia Marie Fox, a wealthy art dealer, is impulsive. Sure, they’ve only known each other for six months, and Celia has an infamous romantic reputation, but Poppy is brimming with excitement when she moves across the country to Celia’s home: a formidable, isolated, and art-filled manor called Busirane.
As Poppy tries to celebrate her first weeks of marriage and enjoy her new home, Busirane seems intent on rebuffing her every attempt to settle in. Strange noises and confounding occurrences lead Poppy to believe the house is haunted, a suspicion worsened by Celia’s insistence that Poppy avoid the locked basement.
When Celia leaves for a work trip, Poppy is left alone in the house, then finds herself snowed in. Surrounded by secrets, stalked by faceless statues, and beset by bodiless whispers, she struggles to trust her wife—and her own mind. When Poppy is eventually drawn to the forbidden basement, dark truths shatter everything she thought she knew, throwing her into a desperate bid for survival.
Thank you Saratoga Schaefer and Crooked Lane Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 15, 2026
Content warning: gaslighting, domestic abuse, toxic relationship, emotional and physical abuse, violence, blood, body horror, gore, confinement, murder, torture
August 19, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for the pre-release copy of A Thousand Monstrous Forms by Saratoga Schaefer. Below is my honest review.
ALL THE STARS. If I could give more than five, I would. I'd give them all.
This one was SO GOOD. A modern day sapphic retelling of Bluebeard isn't at all what I would have expected to be one of my favorite reads of the year, but it absolutely was. I loved Schaefer's Serial Killer Support Group, and this one makes that one look downright average (and it's not average at all!). I skipped Trad Wife because it didn't seem up my alley, but Schaefer is two for two for me at this point, so I think I'll have to go back and catch up on that one. She's going on my "absolutely heck yeah insta-request/insta-buy" list.
The characters were deep. The atmosphere was IMPECCABLE. The tension was palpable. The buildup and pacing were perfection.
Highly recommend. HIGHLY.
ALL THE STARS. If I could give more than five, I would. I'd give them all.
This one was SO GOOD. A modern day sapphic retelling of Bluebeard isn't at all what I would have expected to be one of my favorite reads of the year, but it absolutely was. I loved Schaefer's Serial Killer Support Group, and this one makes that one look downright average (and it's not average at all!). I skipped Trad Wife because it didn't seem up my alley, but Schaefer is two for two for me at this point, so I think I'll have to go back and catch up on that one. She's going on my "absolutely heck yeah insta-request/insta-buy" list.
The characters were deep. The atmosphere was IMPECCABLE. The tension was palpable. The buildup and pacing were perfection.
Highly recommend. HIGHLY.
September 3, 2026
It’s been a while since I read a horror book that actually had me feeling scared. Even though the plot is incredibly predictable, what with it being a Bluebeard retelling and all, which is itself an accomplishment. Usually suspense comes from not knowing what will happen next, but here I knew exactly what would happen next and yet the suspense was killing me.
The book does take a while to really get going, and I was tempted to DNF a couple times during the first half. For a long time I felt rather undewhelmed by how the story was progressing, in part also because of how predictable it was - I felt like this retreading of the tale of Bluebeard wasn’t really bringing anything new to the table, even though it was sapphic.
Ultimately I still mostly enjoyed reading this, even though it is far from perfect.
Tropes and such:
- queer contemporary horror
- toxic sapphic relationship
- remote haunted house
- poor artist x rich art dealer
- sapphic retelling of bluebeard
- gothic vibes
- parents who are kinda shit
-----
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the ARC
The book does take a while to really get going, and I was tempted to DNF a couple times during the first half. For a long time I felt rather undewhelmed by how the story was progressing, in part also because of how predictable it was - I felt like this retreading of the tale of Bluebeard wasn’t really bringing anything new to the table, even though it was sapphic.
Ultimately I still mostly enjoyed reading this, even though it is far from perfect.
Tropes and such:
- queer contemporary horror
- toxic sapphic relationship
- remote haunted house
- poor artist x rich art dealer
- sapphic retelling of bluebeard
- gothic vibes
- parents who are kinda shit
-----
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the ARC
September 18, 2026
I FINALLY read my first Saratoga Schaefer book! How the hell did I not read anything by them sooner?! This was the PERFECT book to do a tandem read with due to all the eerieness within the story. But what really drew me in was seeing it was a sapphic Bluebeard retelling 😍 There is a creeping dread that you can feel seeping into your bones in the storytelling and the isolation was so tangible. The paranoia was so present and there were so many times I was looking over my shoulder while listening. I mean come one, an isolated manors filled with creep statues and horrifying mirrors? PLEASE. I also found myself feeling Poppy’s paranoia throughout as well! I was seriously questioning my own sanity at some points 🤣 The writing style was beautiful and flowed so effortlessly, and the narration had me salivating from the way Imani’s voice just wrapped around me.
Thank you so much Crooked Lane for sending me a gifted copy of A Thousand Monstrous Forms!
Thank you so much Crooked Lane for sending me a gifted copy of A Thousand Monstrous Forms!
July 4, 2026
Who doesn’t love a haunted house read? Throw in a sapphic romance, and a forbidden basement, and I’m pretty much locked-in.
This had great pacing. It was a slow build, leaving those breadcrumbs of doubt and suspicion along the way, and ending with a bang. I found myself so frustrated with Poppy for not making her voice be heard after everything she was experiencing. I found myself angry with Celia for all the excuses she gave to Poppy. But after the big reveal, I see I was supposed to feel all of those things 🤣
The statues were a little silly to me, I’ll admit. And the end got a little wonky for my personal taste, but I had fun with it!
Painting Poppy and Mirror Poppy will stick with me for a while 👀
Big thanks to Crooked Lane books and NetGalley for the early copy!
This had great pacing. It was a slow build, leaving those breadcrumbs of doubt and suspicion along the way, and ending with a bang. I found myself so frustrated with Poppy for not making her voice be heard after everything she was experiencing. I found myself angry with Celia for all the excuses she gave to Poppy. But after the big reveal, I see I was supposed to feel all of those things 🤣
The statues were a little silly to me, I’ll admit. And the end got a little wonky for my personal taste, but I had fun with it!
Painting Poppy and Mirror Poppy will stick with me for a while 👀
Big thanks to Crooked Lane books and NetGalley for the early copy!
Read
August 25, 2026Thank you Crooked Lane Books for my free ARC of A Thousand Monstrous Forms by Saratoga Schaefer — out Sep 15!
» READ IF YOU «
🗝️ love a retelling that takes creative liberties
🏚️ would be freaked out in an empty mansion at night
🎨 can't look away from people-pleasing and toxic love
» SYNOPSIS «
Sculptor Poppy doesn't care what anyone else thinks about her whirlwind marriage to ultra-wealthy Celia, because she knows what they have is real. And she's ecstatic to move in to Celia's art-filled manor, Busirane, even though it kind of feels like the house hates her? Snowed in and alone while Celia's away, Poppy's frustration will get the better of her as she does the one thing Celia has expressly forbidden—do not go down into the basement.
» REVIEW «
I'm a sucker for a good retelling, and this one earns its Bluebeard bones completely. The best part is that Schaefer doesn't just borrow the outline of a fairytale, they tweak it in ways that are unique and specific to Poppy and Celia's personalities and dynamics. For me, this is what makes a retelling of any kind land just as well as the original, if not better.
The vibes are also unreleeeentingly unsettling—the damn manor itself feels hostile towards our girl, but Schaefer is so good at making you doubt (right alongside Poppy) whether the house is haunted or her own mind is unraveling. That's the kind of gothic dread I want.
But it's Poppy's growth in the final quarter of the book that really got me. Watching her stop people-pleasing and start actually fighting for herself was soooo immensely satisfying—she sure as hell earns that shift, and by the end I was extra proud of her. This is a gorgeous, sapphic gothic retelling that knows exactly what it's doing!
» RATING «
🗝️ I'm Unlocked 🗝️
» READ-A-LIKES «
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
• The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
• Bluebeard's Egg by Margaret Atwood
» READ IF YOU «
🗝️ love a retelling that takes creative liberties
🏚️ would be freaked out in an empty mansion at night
🎨 can't look away from people-pleasing and toxic love
» SYNOPSIS «
Sculptor Poppy doesn't care what anyone else thinks about her whirlwind marriage to ultra-wealthy Celia, because she knows what they have is real. And she's ecstatic to move in to Celia's art-filled manor, Busirane, even though it kind of feels like the house hates her? Snowed in and alone while Celia's away, Poppy's frustration will get the better of her as she does the one thing Celia has expressly forbidden—do not go down into the basement.
» REVIEW «
I'm a sucker for a good retelling, and this one earns its Bluebeard bones completely. The best part is that Schaefer doesn't just borrow the outline of a fairytale, they tweak it in ways that are unique and specific to Poppy and Celia's personalities and dynamics. For me, this is what makes a retelling of any kind land just as well as the original, if not better.
The vibes are also unreleeeentingly unsettling—the damn manor itself feels hostile towards our girl, but Schaefer is so good at making you doubt (right alongside Poppy) whether the house is haunted or her own mind is unraveling. That's the kind of gothic dread I want.
But it's Poppy's growth in the final quarter of the book that really got me. Watching her stop people-pleasing and start actually fighting for herself was soooo immensely satisfying—she sure as hell earns that shift, and by the end I was extra proud of her. This is a gorgeous, sapphic gothic retelling that knows exactly what it's doing!
» RATING «
🗝️ I'm Unlocked 🗝️
» READ-A-LIKES «
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
• The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
• Bluebeard's Egg by Margaret Atwood
August 17, 2026
I couldn’t put this book down!! I was on the edge of my seat pretty much the entire time. From the start, I loved the creepy old manor and the gothic atmosphere surrounding Poppy and Celia.
The dynamic between Poppy and Celia was one of my favorite parts, but what really stood out to me was how descriptive the writing was. Every room in the manor felt so vivid, and the dread and eeriness came through so well. I could picture everything so clearly even down to the smells. It made the entire setting feel incredibly immersive.
The ending was Chef’s kiss!! Pacing was perfect. This was creepy, atmospheric, mysterious, and such a fun read from beginning to end. My thriller and gothic horror lovers definitely need to add this one to their TBR!!
Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the gifted copy! 🖤
The dynamic between Poppy and Celia was one of my favorite parts, but what really stood out to me was how descriptive the writing was. Every room in the manor felt so vivid, and the dread and eeriness came through so well. I could picture everything so clearly even down to the smells. It made the entire setting feel incredibly immersive.
The ending was Chef’s kiss!! Pacing was perfect. This was creepy, atmospheric, mysterious, and such a fun read from beginning to end. My thriller and gothic horror lovers definitely need to add this one to their TBR!!
Thank you Crooked Lane Books for the gifted copy! 🖤
August 16, 2026
Haunted houses aren’t typically my thing, but I truly enjoyed Saratoga’s take with A Thousand Monstrous Forms.
This story is very straight forward. I guessed the plot twists very early on, which surprised me in hindsight because The Trad Wife had an ending I never saw coming, but I still had a great time watching Poppy navigate the experience.
This is a STRONG recommend for fans of Decomposition Book, or anyone really craving a sapphic story of a character finding out who the hell they really are.
This story is very straight forward. I guessed the plot twists very early on, which surprised me in hindsight because The Trad Wife had an ending I never saw coming, but I still had a great time watching Poppy navigate the experience.
This is a STRONG recommend for fans of Decomposition Book, or anyone really craving a sapphic story of a character finding out who the hell they really are.
August 23, 2026
This was well written, and I have no doubt many readers are going to absolutely eat it up. It just wasn’t for me. And not because it’s Sapphic, because I read Sapphic stories all the time, but simply because of the writing style and the overall feel of the story. For me, the prose was very flowery, and that’s just not my personal preference.
That being said, I did this as an immersion read with the physical ARC (thanks, Crooked Lane!) alongside the audio ALC from Spotify Audio via NetGalley. The narration by Imani Jade Powers was fantastic! She fully embodied the characters and did just enough to bring everything to life without crossing the line into being overly dramatic or taking away from the reader’s imagination. I was really glad to have the audio because it helped keep me connected to the prose when I might not have been as engaged otherwise.
Now, don’t get me wrong, this is 100% a reflection of my personal enjoyment and not a reflection of the quality of the book. This is a well-written, engaging, and beautifully atmospheric homage to Bluebeard, flipped on its head to incorporate a Sapphic romance. It’s creepy, thought-provoking, and clearly a story that will resonate with a lot of readers.
So if this sounds like your kind of book, absolutely give it a go. The description does a great job of capturing what you’re getting into, and I think the right reader is going to LOVE this one!
That being said, I did this as an immersion read with the physical ARC (thanks, Crooked Lane!) alongside the audio ALC from Spotify Audio via NetGalley. The narration by Imani Jade Powers was fantastic! She fully embodied the characters and did just enough to bring everything to life without crossing the line into being overly dramatic or taking away from the reader’s imagination. I was really glad to have the audio because it helped keep me connected to the prose when I might not have been as engaged otherwise.
Now, don’t get me wrong, this is 100% a reflection of my personal enjoyment and not a reflection of the quality of the book. This is a well-written, engaging, and beautifully atmospheric homage to Bluebeard, flipped on its head to incorporate a Sapphic romance. It’s creepy, thought-provoking, and clearly a story that will resonate with a lot of readers.
So if this sounds like your kind of book, absolutely give it a go. The description does a great job of capturing what you’re getting into, and I think the right reader is going to LOVE this one!
June 14, 2026
When I got an email that I was pre approved to read a book by Saratoga Schaefer I was honored! So thank you to Crooked Lane books and NetGalley for this arc.
How to describe the feeling this book gave me…It’s like when you’re a kid and you get up in the middle of the night to get a drink from the kitchen. Your house looks completely different at night and you run up the stairs on all fours because you think someone is watching you…Maybe that was just me?? Anyway the spooky scary vibes are immaculate. I don’t think I can look in a mirror at night ever again.
For me, I had a very hard time envisioning Celia as a woman. Every time abuse was present, my mind kept wanting to envision a man. I think the main theme, that abuse can come from anyone regardless of sex or gender, is such an important topic that needs more acknowledgment especially in same sex couples. That when its a woman being abused or even doing the abusing we are inclined not to believe it. Its a solid message that is executed oh so well.
How to describe the feeling this book gave me…It’s like when you’re a kid and you get up in the middle of the night to get a drink from the kitchen. Your house looks completely different at night and you run up the stairs on all fours because you think someone is watching you…Maybe that was just me?? Anyway the spooky scary vibes are immaculate. I don’t think I can look in a mirror at night ever again.
For me, I had a very hard time envisioning Celia as a woman. Every time abuse was present, my mind kept wanting to envision a man. I think the main theme, that abuse can come from anyone regardless of sex or gender, is such an important topic that needs more acknowledgment especially in same sex couples. That when its a woman being abused or even doing the abusing we are inclined not to believe it. Its a solid message that is executed oh so well.
August 3, 2026
Another fantastic page turner from Schaefer. ATMF follows Poppy and Celia moving in together in Celia’s old home she calls Busirane. The house is vast and Poppy gets lost frequently and feels the weight of the structure caving in on her, but maybe it’s trying to tell her something? Just like those mysterious statues that keep appearing throughout the house…
Celia has secrets, especially with prohibiting Poppy from ever entering the basement. It creates the level of tension a reader would enjoy as the voices keep taunting Poppy to go and check it out.
Poppy has *some* survival instincts but she loves the idea of love and that ultimately gets in her way of realizing something is wrong with the house and her wife of six months. Despite Celia having a mysterious background, I could never tell if some of the stories she told Poppy were true bc of her stoicism.
Schaefer is incredibly talented at bringing the enriching setting to the forefront and making you feel what Poppy is feeling, even while she slowly loses her mind.
Celia has secrets, especially with prohibiting Poppy from ever entering the basement. It creates the level of tension a reader would enjoy as the voices keep taunting Poppy to go and check it out.
Poppy has *some* survival instincts but she loves the idea of love and that ultimately gets in her way of realizing something is wrong with the house and her wife of six months. Despite Celia having a mysterious background, I could never tell if some of the stories she told Poppy were true bc of her stoicism.
Schaefer is incredibly talented at bringing the enriching setting to the forefront and making you feel what Poppy is feeling, even while she slowly loses her mind.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ever since I learned about Bluebeard i've been dying for a good horror retelling (i love Marissa Meyer but the House Saphir was not the horror retelling i was after lol). So when I heard Saratoga was taking a stab at it: i was hyped.
I think this is a fantastic retelling, and I really like how Saratoga implemented the reveal, something in the original tale that feels hard to incorporate into modern retellings unless you lean heavily into paranormal. The story hit all the right beats while still maintaining its own unique identity. The tale of Bluebeard is not so overt that you need to be familiar with it to understand or appreciate this story, but knowing the original tale does enhance this story.
However I do think this story works better as a short story. This novel, while not actually too long in page count felt too long for the story it was telling. I dont know if the big reveals came too early or if there was a bit too much of Poppy waffling in general but I think this would've packed a harder punch as a short story. that being said, i still recommend it and is for sure my favorite Bluebeard retellling.
um hello i need this?! I've been dyyyying for a Bluebeard retelling
Ever since I learned about Bluebeard i've been dying for a good horror retelling (i love Marissa Meyer but the House Saphir was not the horror retelling i was after lol). So when I heard Saratoga was taking a stab at it: i was hyped.
I think this is a fantastic retelling, and I really like how Saratoga implemented the reveal, something in the original tale that feels hard to incorporate into modern retellings unless you lean heavily into paranormal. The story hit all the right beats while still maintaining its own unique identity. The tale of Bluebeard is not so overt that you need to be familiar with it to understand or appreciate this story, but knowing the original tale does enhance this story.
However I do think this story works better as a short story. This novel, while not actually too long in page count felt too long for the story it was telling. I dont know if the big reveals came too early or if there was a bit too much of Poppy waffling in general but I think this would've packed a harder punch as a short story. that being said, i still recommend it and is for sure my favorite Bluebeard retellling.
um hello i need this?! I've been dyyyying for a Bluebeard retelling
September 14, 2026
Poppy is a sculpture and a newlywed. As we open her story she is moving into a large estate on the east coast far from her west coast family and friends. She has given up her job, home, family and car to move in with her new wife Celia. In this sapphic retelling of Bluebird’s wife’s Poppy slowly uncovers the mysteries lying within Celia’s home and past.
I loved the atmosphere of this. The more I read the more I enjoyed and got to know this creepy home with lots of rooms full of all kinds of art and secrets. I became so frustrated with Poppy for not trusting her own mind and experiences but I know that that is the point. Poppy has been in one abusive relationship after another and has been gas lit and manipulated into not trusting her own self. A self proclaimed “people pleaser” she doesn’t want to ask questions or cause problems when Celia has been nothing but lovely up until this point. She doesn’t see the small hints and big signs that are laid before her.
I enjoyed the discussion of the cyclical nature of abuse. How victims can also become perpetrators. How difficult it is to leave and also how dangerous.
The only thing that bothered me was that some of the commentary was a bit spot on. We’d be treated to a lovely line and then hand fed what it meant. I am not a fan of this and prefer my books to trust the reader a bit more. However, I get that this is an important discussion so I cant fault it too much for that.
Also really loved… The statues — so creepy, the bell jars — so unique!, the mirror and sleep talking.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc of this book. I am writing this review voluntarily and honestly.
I loved the atmosphere of this. The more I read the more I enjoyed and got to know this creepy home with lots of rooms full of all kinds of art and secrets. I became so frustrated with Poppy for not trusting her own mind and experiences but I know that that is the point. Poppy has been in one abusive relationship after another and has been gas lit and manipulated into not trusting her own self. A self proclaimed “people pleaser” she doesn’t want to ask questions or cause problems when Celia has been nothing but lovely up until this point. She doesn’t see the small hints and big signs that are laid before her.
I enjoyed the discussion of the cyclical nature of abuse. How victims can also become perpetrators. How difficult it is to leave and also how dangerous.
The only thing that bothered me was that some of the commentary was a bit spot on. We’d be treated to a lovely line and then hand fed what it meant. I am not a fan of this and prefer my books to trust the reader a bit more. However, I get that this is an important discussion so I cant fault it too much for that.
Also really loved… The statues — so creepy, the bell jars — so unique!, the mirror and sleep talking.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc of this book. I am writing this review voluntarily and honestly.
Read
September 16, 2026The unsettling and atmospheric gothic horror of my DREAMS.
Poppy, a young ceramic artist has been swept off her feet by Celia, an older art dealer who invites her to move across the country into her family mansion, House of Busirane, after they've eloped. Celia encourages Poppy to work on her art out of the mansion while she travels to visit different clients frequently, but under one condition, to never go into the basement. When Poppy is alone, the mansion starts expressing their dislike of her presence through bleeding paintings, moving statues, and hallways whispering her name...
This was my first of Schaefer's work, and certainly not my last. Their writing style had me so immersed. If I could have ignored all adult responsibilities I would have been able to finish this in one sitting. The mirror scenes have truly creeped me out so bad I don't want to look at my own reflection. They reminded me of the movie
"Mirrors" from 2008, and both the movie and these scenes with Poppy are so unsettling.
You can tell how much love Schaefer poured into these pages to bring this retelling to life. I loved the authors note where they talked about how important it was to make this a gender-bent sapphic retelling. In many original works or fairytales the woman is saved by men or male figures and the male villain is slayed, but "A Thousand Monstrous Forms" shows what if the hero and villains were women?
This will definitely be one of my top reads of the year and can't wait to read more by them!
Poppy, a young ceramic artist has been swept off her feet by Celia, an older art dealer who invites her to move across the country into her family mansion, House of Busirane, after they've eloped. Celia encourages Poppy to work on her art out of the mansion while she travels to visit different clients frequently, but under one condition, to never go into the basement. When Poppy is alone, the mansion starts expressing their dislike of her presence through bleeding paintings, moving statues, and hallways whispering her name...
This was my first of Schaefer's work, and certainly not my last. Their writing style had me so immersed. If I could have ignored all adult responsibilities I would have been able to finish this in one sitting. The mirror scenes have truly creeped me out so bad I don't want to look at my own reflection. They reminded me of the movie
"Mirrors" from 2008, and both the movie and these scenes with Poppy are so unsettling.
You can tell how much love Schaefer poured into these pages to bring this retelling to life. I loved the authors note where they talked about how important it was to make this a gender-bent sapphic retelling. In many original works or fairytales the woman is saved by men or male figures and the male villain is slayed, but "A Thousand Monstrous Forms" shows what if the hero and villains were women?
This will definitely be one of my top reads of the year and can't wait to read more by them!
September 17, 2026
he atmosphere of this gothic horror retelling of Bluebeard is so sinister and claustrophobic, my rating of this novel overall is very much wrapped up in how much I enjoyed that atmosphere. Poppy has just moved from the west coast to upstate New York, to live with her new wife, Celia, in Celia’s isolated, foreboding manor. When she moves in, she starts hearing odd sounds and experiencing visions, and Celia is completely adamant that she avoid the basement. The house is so well-drawn in this - oozing with menace and decay. I also found the horror to be effective. This is a gothic novel, so the pace is slow, but the scenes of gore and horror are fairly plentiful and very visceral. The character of Poppy felt frustrating at times, almost willfully stupid and hopeful, but I think the author builds enough of a backstory to make the frustrations make sense. I also think the writing towards the end gets a little too “tell, not show,” in terms of expressing the messaging of the book, but that’s a minor complaint. I overall enjoyed this. (Thank you to Crooked Lane Books & NetGalley for the e-arc)
June 6, 2026
After a quick elopement, Poppy moves into her new wife’s family home and discovers the beautiful mansion is a nightmare.
Full of scary images and twists, this book is perfect for haunted house fans. It’s all that and more with relationship red flags and moving statues. Nothing is as it seems.
Not as disturbing as Trad Wife, though few things are, but I think horror fans will enjoy it! I especially loved everything from the faerie book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Saratoga Schaefer, and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity. I have written this voluntarily and honestly.
Full of scary images and twists, this book is perfect for haunted house fans. It’s all that and more with relationship red flags and moving statues. Nothing is as it seems.
Not as disturbing as Trad Wife, though few things are, but I think horror fans will enjoy it! I especially loved everything from the faerie book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Saratoga Schaefer, and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity. I have written this voluntarily and honestly.
May 30, 2026
Yeah baby! I was sucked-in, reading this book over the course of four days. This book has all the feels. This story explores the pain of investing yourself into another human, while they build you up into their own work of art and then break you down with their metaphorical sledgehammer.
I found literal jump scares…as I’m reading it on my phone (thanks to the Crooked Lane and NetGalley ARC)….alone in my quiet house…and my phone suddenly chirps a notification cause me to jump out of my skin! There is the fire, complications, and messiness of human relationships that made me squirm (for more). I was wholeheartedly triggered and reexamining my own relationships.
I also found imbedded humor, I love Saratoga Schaefer for that. They are an author you can devour in appreciation for their raw love of literature, storytelling, and gothic-horror depictions. This book is definitely my fav of her four books (so far!)
August 2, 2026
Surprise surprise, I actually really liked how long it took for the story to unfold. I know the pacing is usually one of the very first aspects I complain about in books BUT for once I didn’t mind it.
The house gets a lot of room to exist and become increasingly scary and that worked really well for me.
The characters were another strong point and I genuinely liked knowing them. Although Poppy… babe. Girly has the survival instincts of a piece of paper.
My main negative point was the middle of the story. The descent of Poppy into madness is very very slow and a lot of the scenes started feeling extremely repetitive. At one point it felt like it was walking in circles.
Which takes us to the ending. It was over almost immediately. After spending so much time getting there, I expected a longer conclusion. It felt basically like a… speedrun. It was over in what felt like 2 pages.
I was confident this novel would be a 4 star rating for me because there’s a lot I genuinely enjoyed. It’s a gorgeous sapphic gothic horror but the middle dragged too much and the ending was rushed enough that I couldn’t really justify it.
A thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
The house gets a lot of room to exist and become increasingly scary and that worked really well for me.
The characters were another strong point and I genuinely liked knowing them. Although Poppy… babe. Girly has the survival instincts of a piece of paper.
My main negative point was the middle of the story. The descent of Poppy into madness is very very slow and a lot of the scenes started feeling extremely repetitive. At one point it felt like it was walking in circles.
Which takes us to the ending. It was over almost immediately. After spending so much time getting there, I expected a longer conclusion. It felt basically like a… speedrun. It was over in what felt like 2 pages.
I was confident this novel would be a 4 star rating for me because there’s a lot I genuinely enjoyed. It’s a gorgeous sapphic gothic horror but the middle dragged too much and the ending was rushed enough that I couldn’t really justify it.
A thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
September 4, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this e-arc.
When I was a kid, I was a bit obsessed with the story of Bluebeard. Yes, it is absolutely fearsome, but I remember reading and rereading the tale from a young age. So when I found this retelling, in a modern setting with sapphic main characters, I knew I would do anything to read it. A Thousand Monstrous Forms tells the story of Poppy, moving into her wife’s manor, a building filled by art pieces of all forms, in a remote part of the country. She’s in love, and she’s convinced she’s about to live in paradise in her honeymoon phase with Celia. But she starts to notice that the house feels somehow alive around her, and it all seems to come from the basement door Celia forbids her from opening.
First of all, as a retelling, I feel like it did a pretty good job. It kept all the interesting part of the original story, and gave it a modern and sapphic twist that gave it its bit of originality and politically inclined message. We have the infamous closed door, the seemingly perfect love interest, the sisterhood, even the key tainted by blood. This story delivered exactly what it wanted to say, and it did say. I like how the author also adapted The Faerie Queene in it, because it paralleled perfectly with the story of our characters, and it helped in giving this eerie vibe to the house.
The plot itself takes you and doesn’t let you go. It’s genuinely a page turner, with its fast pacing and the manor always acting up around Poppy. I still wish we had more quiet moments, because even if the horror of it all takes you to the guts, it’s still very predictable. For example, if Poppy wakes up in the middle of the night, you KNOW she’s going to find some new horror to scare her. Poppy (and the reader) aren’t able to breathe, even if sometimes the scarier moments are the ones were you wait for something that doesn’t happen. Still, the atmosphere of the entire novel makes for a terrifying experience for the reader (especially for a scaredy cat like me—reading this while in the process of moving to a new empty house might not have been my greatest idea).
Poppy is a really good main character, because she’s the kind easy to relate to. Even though I would have personally got the fuck out of that house way earlier, most of her decisions make perfect sense. The horrors surrounding her manage to make her develop in a satisfying manner. But I will say I actually adored Celia even more—she seems like the perfect lover in the beginning, until her abusive nature is revealed to us. Yet, I like how grey her actions seemed once you consider the fact she was a victim herself. I liked how blurry the lines were in the morals of her character (even if we can all definitely agree she was still a very abusive person).
My favorite part of the entire novel has to to be the very last lines, because for the first time, it didn’t go like I expected it to go at all. And this open end, putting blurred lines around what we thought the ending was, definitely heightened the terrifying atmosphere surrounding the house. Sometimes, one line is all it takes, and the author definitely understood it. I just wished she had used more of these mysteries unanswered throughout the entire novel.
When I was a kid, I was a bit obsessed with the story of Bluebeard. Yes, it is absolutely fearsome, but I remember reading and rereading the tale from a young age. So when I found this retelling, in a modern setting with sapphic main characters, I knew I would do anything to read it. A Thousand Monstrous Forms tells the story of Poppy, moving into her wife’s manor, a building filled by art pieces of all forms, in a remote part of the country. She’s in love, and she’s convinced she’s about to live in paradise in her honeymoon phase with Celia. But she starts to notice that the house feels somehow alive around her, and it all seems to come from the basement door Celia forbids her from opening.
First of all, as a retelling, I feel like it did a pretty good job. It kept all the interesting part of the original story, and gave it a modern and sapphic twist that gave it its bit of originality and politically inclined message. We have the infamous closed door, the seemingly perfect love interest, the sisterhood, even the key tainted by blood. This story delivered exactly what it wanted to say, and it did say. I like how the author also adapted The Faerie Queene in it, because it paralleled perfectly with the story of our characters, and it helped in giving this eerie vibe to the house.
The plot itself takes you and doesn’t let you go. It’s genuinely a page turner, with its fast pacing and the manor always acting up around Poppy. I still wish we had more quiet moments, because even if the horror of it all takes you to the guts, it’s still very predictable. For example, if Poppy wakes up in the middle of the night, you KNOW she’s going to find some new horror to scare her. Poppy (and the reader) aren’t able to breathe, even if sometimes the scarier moments are the ones were you wait for something that doesn’t happen. Still, the atmosphere of the entire novel makes for a terrifying experience for the reader (especially for a scaredy cat like me—reading this while in the process of moving to a new empty house might not have been my greatest idea).
Poppy is a really good main character, because she’s the kind easy to relate to. Even though I would have personally got the fuck out of that house way earlier, most of her decisions make perfect sense. The horrors surrounding her manage to make her develop in a satisfying manner. But I will say I actually adored Celia even more—she seems like the perfect lover in the beginning, until her abusive nature is revealed to us. Yet, I like how grey her actions seemed once you consider the fact she was a victim herself. I liked how blurry the lines were in the morals of her character (even if we can all definitely agree she was still a very abusive person).
My favorite part of the entire novel has to to be the very last lines, because for the first time, it didn’t go like I expected it to go at all. And this open end, putting blurred lines around what we thought the ending was, definitely heightened the terrifying atmosphere surrounding the house. Sometimes, one line is all it takes, and the author definitely understood it. I just wished she had used more of these mysteries unanswered throughout the entire novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I need a moment to digest this! I absolutely loved Saratoga's first two books, but this one? I might have found my favorite!
Amid doubts swirling about their hastily arranged marriage, ceramicist Poppy Reed moves to the remote estate of her bride, Celia Marie Fox, known as Busirane. On her first night, Poppy experiences eerie events that suggest the house might be haunted. Strangely, all the doors are locked, and without a key, she's left to navigate her new surroundings while unsettling things start happening. Celia offers only half-hearted explanations, which feeds Poppy's suspicion about the secluded manor, especially when Celia warns her against entering the locked basement. As Poppy finds herself in some intriguing predicaments, she hears dark whispers and uncovers secrets after Celia leaves for a work trip. To make matters worse, Celia ensures Poppy can't leave by cutting off her transportation. And this is just the beginning! What’s hiding in the basement? What are those whispering voices? Also, why are the statues in the house moving around? What?
I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook, and the narrator, Imani Jade Powers, did an outstanding job of heightening the suspense! She brought the characters to life in such a chilling way that I found it hard to put the story down. If you can, I highly recommend getting both the book and the audiobook; the latter really took my rating up a notch. I felt everything I was meant to feel, and the audiobook sucked me into the story completely.
The author did a fantastic job of keeping the atmosphere thick, claustrophobic, and chilling. I could vividly picture the manor and all its events. Most of the time, I found myself feeling a chill, as if the coldness of the manor and its occupants were seeping into my bones. The pacing of the reveals was perfect. I was eagerly anticipating each twist. I certainly didn't see what was in the basement or how everything wrapped up. Bravo! This book is quickly becoming my favorite from this author!
If you enjoy reimagined tales with a gothic vibe, sapphic horror romance, and a haunting setting, then this retelling of Bluebeard is for you. This strange fairy tale horror went beyond my expectations. In this story, the woman is the monster, which adds a unique twist. For my friends who love haunted houses, this is one you don’t want to miss. It was creepy, terrifying, and every moment was a delight! Now, I think I’ll investigate our basement, since I also tied the knot rather quickly! Ha!
Thank you, Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Amid doubts swirling about their hastily arranged marriage, ceramicist Poppy Reed moves to the remote estate of her bride, Celia Marie Fox, known as Busirane. On her first night, Poppy experiences eerie events that suggest the house might be haunted. Strangely, all the doors are locked, and without a key, she's left to navigate her new surroundings while unsettling things start happening. Celia offers only half-hearted explanations, which feeds Poppy's suspicion about the secluded manor, especially when Celia warns her against entering the locked basement. As Poppy finds herself in some intriguing predicaments, she hears dark whispers and uncovers secrets after Celia leaves for a work trip. To make matters worse, Celia ensures Poppy can't leave by cutting off her transportation. And this is just the beginning! What’s hiding in the basement? What are those whispering voices? Also, why are the statues in the house moving around? What?
I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook, and the narrator, Imani Jade Powers, did an outstanding job of heightening the suspense! She brought the characters to life in such a chilling way that I found it hard to put the story down. If you can, I highly recommend getting both the book and the audiobook; the latter really took my rating up a notch. I felt everything I was meant to feel, and the audiobook sucked me into the story completely.
The author did a fantastic job of keeping the atmosphere thick, claustrophobic, and chilling. I could vividly picture the manor and all its events. Most of the time, I found myself feeling a chill, as if the coldness of the manor and its occupants were seeping into my bones. The pacing of the reveals was perfect. I was eagerly anticipating each twist. I certainly didn't see what was in the basement or how everything wrapped up. Bravo! This book is quickly becoming my favorite from this author!
If you enjoy reimagined tales with a gothic vibe, sapphic horror romance, and a haunting setting, then this retelling of Bluebeard is for you. This strange fairy tale horror went beyond my expectations. In this story, the woman is the monster, which adds a unique twist. For my friends who love haunted houses, this is one you don’t want to miss. It was creepy, terrifying, and every moment was a delight! Now, I think I’ll investigate our basement, since I also tied the knot rather quickly! Ha!
Thank you, Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 15, 2026
Poppy Reed has finally found true love. After ending an abusive relationship, she has finally found and eloped with Celia Marie Fox.
Celia is thirty-three and an art dealer and collector. She is eight years older than Poppy but they both are in love and make it work.
Poppy and Celia move into Celia's manor called Busirane. Aditi, Poppy's best friend and NICU nurse belives they rushed into things based on Celia's previous track record of her five previous wives. After having a fall out because of Aditi's opinions, Poppy begins to settle into the manor and that is when all hell breaks loose. The house is alive and constantly tries to get Poppy's attention. There are statues that move, mirrors that pretend to be Poppy, and a basement that she has been seriously warned by Celia not to open. Poppy sees shadows and constantly feels like someone is following her. A snow storm confines Poppy to the manor while Celia is away and though Poppy knows better she finally opens the basement.
Where do I begin. This was a slow but intense horror read. Seeing Poppy's slow decent into madness was hard to watch but I couldn't stop reading and wanted to get to the bottom of her situation and the basement. The discovery of what was in the basement was delightful. Not the actual things she found but the brilliant idea of it and how it was described. I felt like I was there with Poppy discovering this dark and macabre secret. And the bell jars were chef's kiss, you must grab a copy to find out. Another magnificent book by a favorite author of mine. Saratoga Schaefer you are on fire!
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Celia is thirty-three and an art dealer and collector. She is eight years older than Poppy but they both are in love and make it work.
Poppy and Celia move into Celia's manor called Busirane. Aditi, Poppy's best friend and NICU nurse belives they rushed into things based on Celia's previous track record of her five previous wives. After having a fall out because of Aditi's opinions, Poppy begins to settle into the manor and that is when all hell breaks loose. The house is alive and constantly tries to get Poppy's attention. There are statues that move, mirrors that pretend to be Poppy, and a basement that she has been seriously warned by Celia not to open. Poppy sees shadows and constantly feels like someone is following her. A snow storm confines Poppy to the manor while Celia is away and though Poppy knows better she finally opens the basement.
Where do I begin. This was a slow but intense horror read. Seeing Poppy's slow decent into madness was hard to watch but I couldn't stop reading and wanted to get to the bottom of her situation and the basement. The discovery of what was in the basement was delightful. Not the actual things she found but the brilliant idea of it and how it was described. I felt like I was there with Poppy discovering this dark and macabre secret. And the bell jars were chef's kiss, you must grab a copy to find out. Another magnificent book by a favorite author of mine. Saratoga Schaefer you are on fire!
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews