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Cold Empty Rooms
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26From the dark imagination of underground horror sensation Andy Marino comes a haunted house story like you've never read before...
"Marino's work is unlike any others in the genre – horrifying, complex, fascinating, and utterly unique." – Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author
Deep in the woods, on the side of a mountain, there sits an old, sprawling manor. Only those who truly need it will find it.
Mara and Soren are the latest residents. The two are broke, deeply in love, and desperate for a home.
But something is wrong with the house. Soren begins to receive messages from a nameless entity that he has dubbed The Great Other. The first direction is Invite more to this home. The Relieve them of their sorrow.
Mara, too, hears this otherworldly voice. She has been running from her past for a long time. The Great Other offers her the solace she seeks, if she has the courage to walk the home’s shadowed halls.
Soon more wanderers begin to a collection of outcasts, drawn in by Soren’s magnetic ideology.
As his feverish teachings force the residents to reveal shocking truths, old griefs scratch their way onto Mara's heart. Every day, Soren seems more dangerous. More devout. Mara knows she should leave. But within the shifting walls of this ancient home, something darkly miraculous is unfolding.
Wounds have been suffered in this place. Wounds that are. Wounds that will be.
“Andy Marino understands horror in a way that very few writers do." – Keith Rosson, author of Coffin Moon
"Marino's work is unlike any others in the genre – horrifying, complex, fascinating, and utterly unique." – Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author
Deep in the woods, on the side of a mountain, there sits an old, sprawling manor. Only those who truly need it will find it.
Mara and Soren are the latest residents. The two are broke, deeply in love, and desperate for a home.
But something is wrong with the house. Soren begins to receive messages from a nameless entity that he has dubbed The Great Other. The first direction is Invite more to this home. The Relieve them of their sorrow.
Mara, too, hears this otherworldly voice. She has been running from her past for a long time. The Great Other offers her the solace she seeks, if she has the courage to walk the home’s shadowed halls.
Soon more wanderers begin to a collection of outcasts, drawn in by Soren’s magnetic ideology.
As his feverish teachings force the residents to reveal shocking truths, old griefs scratch their way onto Mara's heart. Every day, Soren seems more dangerous. More devout. Mara knows she should leave. But within the shifting walls of this ancient home, something darkly miraculous is unfolding.
Wounds have been suffered in this place. Wounds that are. Wounds that will be.
“Andy Marino understands horror in a way that very few writers do." – Keith Rosson, author of Coffin Moon
341 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 10, 2026
About the author
Andy Marino
35 books281 followersAndy Marino was born in upstate New York, spent half his life in New York City, and now lives in the Hudson Valley. He is the author of seven novels for young readers, most recently THE PLOT TO KILL HITLER trilogy.
THE SEVEN VISITATIONS OF SYDNEY BURGESS is his first novel for adults.
THE SEVEN VISITATIONS OF SYDNEY BURGESS is his first novel for adults.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
To say this book was a slow burn would be a vast understatement.
It was, at best, difficult.
The writing is very good, the characters are well-fleshed, and the pacing moves.
I don't have to like all the characters in order to like a story, but it's best to like a few of them, and I can't say that I liked even one of these. (Possibly the cat because she just wandered into the room and wandered back out without saying much.)
Cosmic.
Difficult to follow in some places.
I found myself not enjoying being in the minds of most of these characters, and that's where the brunt of the story lands us.
The nicest thing I can say is that this is how a cult leader is born and made and his slow descent was a story in itself. Perhaps not the author's intention, but how it read to my mind. It was a deep, murky soup of how a man reacts when he feels he's being lead by something bigger than himself, and the people who follow him, sometimes unwillingly, but follow just the same.
Honestly, my expectations weren't met. I expected more of a haunted house book, when I actually found myself in the mind of a haunted individual. Dark, in every sense of the word.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books/Run For It for allowing me to read before the publication date.
It was, at best, difficult.
The writing is very good, the characters are well-fleshed, and the pacing moves.
I don't have to like all the characters in order to like a story, but it's best to like a few of them, and I can't say that I liked even one of these. (Possibly the cat because she just wandered into the room and wandered back out without saying much.)
Cosmic.
Difficult to follow in some places.
I found myself not enjoying being in the minds of most of these characters, and that's where the brunt of the story lands us.
The nicest thing I can say is that this is how a cult leader is born and made and his slow descent was a story in itself. Perhaps not the author's intention, but how it read to my mind. It was a deep, murky soup of how a man reacts when he feels he's being lead by something bigger than himself, and the people who follow him, sometimes unwillingly, but follow just the same.
Honestly, my expectations weren't met. I expected more of a haunted house book, when I actually found myself in the mind of a haunted individual. Dark, in every sense of the word.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books/Run For It for allowing me to read before the publication date.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Hachette/run for it and NetGalley for a copy of the eArc for my honest review!
Wow wow wow so not the book for me. The writing is pretentious and it is so overwritten I have a hard time even getting my bearings before another sentence hits me with more adjectives than I could ever need. It reads like trying to meet an arbitrary word count. Also my bad for requesting a book about hippy dippy types, as those types of people are quite literally the bane of my existence and I could barely stand another second being in Mara or Sorens head. The POV does switch but to the part I made it to (about 35%) it was only Mara and Soren.
I do know this book absolutely has an audience, some people really love pretentious writing and characters like this, if that sounds like your cup of tea this will probably be 5 stars for you. However, for me it was an unfortunate miss. I am somehow interested in the authors other work to see if it is similar or if he is trying a new style here with this book.
You will get a feel for the writing almost instantly so at the very least give it a good college try!
Wow wow wow so not the book for me. The writing is pretentious and it is so overwritten I have a hard time even getting my bearings before another sentence hits me with more adjectives than I could ever need. It reads like trying to meet an arbitrary word count. Also my bad for requesting a book about hippy dippy types, as those types of people are quite literally the bane of my existence and I could barely stand another second being in Mara or Sorens head. The POV does switch but to the part I made it to (about 35%) it was only Mara and Soren.
I do know this book absolutely has an audience, some people really love pretentious writing and characters like this, if that sounds like your cup of tea this will probably be 5 stars for you. However, for me it was an unfortunate miss. I am somehow interested in the authors other work to see if it is similar or if he is trying a new style here with this book.
You will get a feel for the writing almost instantly so at the very least give it a good college try!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Went in blind based on recs from 2 of my favorite horror authors. And I mean blind because beyond some vague impression of it being a ‘haunted house book’ that’s all I knew.
It starts with Mara and Soren getting to a decrepit cabin where they’re I guess starting some kind of commune in the woods? Like, they invite anyone to join them, people start showing up, it’s not a religion or a cult exactly but kind of… IDK things are dirty and weird.
The subgenre is Vague Horror. Where unsettling things happen and it kind of just rambles on and on but then there are some cool scenes (like scenes from truly bonkers, horrific versions of FRIENDS and FRASIER - like, seriously, worth reading just for that) but it just feels all drugged-out and dirty and weird more than anything actually happening.
The last 20% though? Fucking great. It’s definitely a ‘me issue’ that prevents this from being a great book. I’m an idiot who likes propulsive, spoon-fed horror. The last part of the book is 5 stars though.
It starts with Mara and Soren getting to a decrepit cabin where they’re I guess starting some kind of commune in the woods? Like, they invite anyone to join them, people start showing up, it’s not a religion or a cult exactly but kind of… IDK things are dirty and weird.
The subgenre is Vague Horror. Where unsettling things happen and it kind of just rambles on and on but then there are some cool scenes (like scenes from truly bonkers, horrific versions of FRIENDS and FRASIER - like, seriously, worth reading just for that) but it just feels all drugged-out and dirty and weird more than anything actually happening.
The last 20% though? Fucking great. It’s definitely a ‘me issue’ that prevents this from being a great book. I’m an idiot who likes propulsive, spoon-fed horror. The last part of the book is 5 stars though.
August 10, 2026
Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for this ARC digital copy!
Hmmm…I am struggling with this one because I think this author writes very well, but I did not love this book. If I could separate the two, author 4.5 stars; book 2 stars.
I will admit this could be a me problem, I was literally confused through most of the book and not in a good way. It took me much longer than normal to finish this story, but not because it was thought provoking, I just actually did not care to pick it up, it took too much energy to process. I would try this author again hoping that it was just the story that did not work for me.
Soren and Mara inherited a home and immediately set about building o collection of “misfits” to join them within its walls. But these walls contain something that they do not have the power to control. As their lives begin to merge, Soren’s ego and narcissism begins to take over. And his housemates various traumas begin to surface. Something ancient and beyond human comprehension is driving to a dark and horrific conclusion.
Hmmm…I am struggling with this one because I think this author writes very well, but I did not love this book. If I could separate the two, author 4.5 stars; book 2 stars.
I will admit this could be a me problem, I was literally confused through most of the book and not in a good way. It took me much longer than normal to finish this story, but not because it was thought provoking, I just actually did not care to pick it up, it took too much energy to process. I would try this author again hoping that it was just the story that did not work for me.
Soren and Mara inherited a home and immediately set about building o collection of “misfits” to join them within its walls. But these walls contain something that they do not have the power to control. As their lives begin to merge, Soren’s ego and narcissism begins to take over. And his housemates various traumas begin to surface. Something ancient and beyond human comprehension is driving to a dark and horrific conclusion.
July 25, 2026
First off, this has to be one of the weirdest books I’ve read. The writing is great and it held my attention.
Soren and Mara are the main characters and they set out to start some kind of commune in an old house. Weird things begin to happen when people start answering the flyers to stay. There are some interesting scenes in the book and it kept my attention, however it did seem to ramble on a bit. I will say the last 20% or so of the book were the best part! Thank you Netgalley and Orbit books US for the ARC.
Soren and Mara are the main characters and they set out to start some kind of commune in an old house. Weird things begin to happen when people start answering the flyers to stay. There are some interesting scenes in the book and it kept my attention, however it did seem to ramble on a bit. I will say the last 20% or so of the book were the best part! Thank you Netgalley and Orbit books US for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Andy Marino
Cold Empty Rooms
Publication Date: November 10
Ok, so...
A haunted house story that unfolds like a Darren Aronofsky film, steeped in the poetry of an Ani DiFranco song.
A creepy, unique, extremely dark, and uncomfortably raw and visceral horror novel. It drips in atmosphere with a dread that just ratchets up and up...
I loved everything about it.
5 Stars. No notes.
(Full Review on Publication Date)
**Thanks to NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Andy Marino for this advanced digital copy of the novel in exchange for honest and unbiased feedback.
Cold Empty Rooms
Publication Date: November 10
Ok, so...
A haunted house story that unfolds like a Darren Aronofsky film, steeped in the poetry of an Ani DiFranco song.
A creepy, unique, extremely dark, and uncomfortably raw and visceral horror novel. It drips in atmosphere with a dread that just ratchets up and up...
I loved everything about it.
5 Stars. No notes.
(Full Review on Publication Date)
**Thanks to NetGalley, Orbit Books, and Andy Marino for this advanced digital copy of the novel in exchange for honest and unbiased feedback.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a tough one to review. I found the setup and first part of the story intriguing. Soren and Mara growing their cast of characters by a flyer welcoming to stay in the mysterious, creepy house. I found Soren’s progression to a cult leader very interesting. Unfortunately the book seemed to meander a bit too much and was very hard to follow. The scattered writing style made it difficult for me to immerse myself and I began to feel frustrated with the story. Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Just wanna say thanks for giving the chance to read an arc version of cold empty rooms. It is not at all like I thought the book was gonna be about. Thursday was hard for me to get into the book. It had great characters. I feel like soren is kind of like a cult leader that preys on these other housemates. I Feel like Mara is starting to see.Things are not what they seem she just wants her son. And then I was kind of grossed out when soren licked the girls cold sore on her mouth. I Really did not like the way the book ended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was really disappointing. I read the description and saw the cover, assuming it was going to be a fun creepy house story. I tend to eat those up like candy, but I just couldn’t get into this. I did finish, but I couldn’t connect to the characters and I didn’t think it did anything that i haven’t seen before. It felt extremely over written and so slow paced this book was chore to get through.
**thank you netgalley and orbit for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review**
**thank you netgalley and orbit for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review**
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
2 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️
Unfortunately I don’t think this was the book for me. I really wanted to like this book but I felt like I couldn’t quite keep up with what was going on.
For me I felt like it was almost too descriptive that I was confused what was real and what wasn’t.
Without giving anything away I did like Mara’s story at the end about her husband. I think if I had a little more of her storyline and maybe what went on there I would have been more invested in what was going on.
2 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️
Unfortunately I don’t think this was the book for me. I really wanted to like this book but I felt like I couldn’t quite keep up with what was going on.
For me I felt like it was almost too descriptive that I was confused what was real and what wasn’t.
Without giving anything away I did like Mara’s story at the end about her husband. I think if I had a little more of her storyline and maybe what went on there I would have been more invested in what was going on.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thank you to Goodreads for the giveaway prize of this book!
The story is like a fever dream of visceral weirdness. I really like the writing and the way I was able to feel feelings with the characters. I didn’t completely get the ending, like about the last 20 pages…maybe Mara’s in Hell? Not sure, but overall it’s a very imaginative story.
The story is like a fever dream of visceral weirdness. I really like the writing and the way I was able to feel feelings with the characters. I didn’t completely get the ending, like about the last 20 pages…maybe Mara’s in Hell? Not sure, but overall it’s a very imaginative story.
Review of advance copy
My God, read this book. An absolute marvel of horror fiction, and the greatest haunted house story I've ever read in my life. And from a sentence-by-sentence standpoint, Marino's work is so dazzling and dread-inducing, the rest of us are just trying to catch up. A masterpiece, seriously.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Orbit and Netgalley for this ARC. I DNF'd this title 11 percent in to the story. I do not like his writing style at all. I also DNF'd one of his other titles. Andy Marino is not for me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to try anyway.
Review of advance copy
Review submitted to Library Journal for potential professional publication.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews