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House of Shadows #1
House of Shadows
Sophie's world is shattered when disaster bankrupts her family. She's still reeling from the news when she's offered an unexpected solution: Mr Argenton, a wealthy stranger, asks for her hand in marriage. Marrying Mr Argenton will restore her family's fortunes and save them from scandal, but condemns Sophie to a life in Northwood, a vast and unnaturally dark mansion situated hours from civilisation. Sophie struggles to adjust to her new position as mistress over the desolate house. Mr Argenton's relatives are cold, and Mr Argenton himself is keeping secrets. Even worse, the house is more than it seems. Mr Argenton's young cousin, Elise, draws terrifying images. Doors slam. Inhuman figures slink through the forest surrounding the house. A piano plays in the middle of the night. Blood drips from the ceilings. Sophie is inevitably pulled towards the terrifying truth: Northwood's ancient halls are haunted by the family's long-dead ancestors. The malevolent spirits-produced by grisly deaths-resent her intrusion into their home. Trapped in Northwood and desperate for an escape, Sophie's fate is further complicated as she finds herself irrevocably drawn to the tall, dark-eyed man she married. She suspects her feelings are returned, but Mr Argenton is hiding the truth about the house-and his secrets are so dangerous that they might just be unforgivable.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2015
1238 people are currently reading
12447 people want to read
About the author
Darcy Coates
71 books14.5k followersDarcy Coates is the USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen horror and suspense novels.
She lives in the Central Coast of Australia with her family, cat, and a collection of chickens. Her home is surrounded by rolling wilderness on all sides, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
You can hear about her next book by joining her newsletter: www.darcycoates.com/updates
She lives in the Central Coast of Australia with her family, cat, and a collection of chickens. Her home is surrounded by rolling wilderness on all sides, and she wouldn't have it any other way.
You can hear about her next book by joining her newsletter: www.darcycoates.com/updates
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,062 reviews
April 21, 2020
3.75 stars
**Many thanks to Darcy Coates, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Release date: 5 May 2020**
House of Shadows is a book that is sure to grab any readers' attention within the first few chapters. Due to its easy writing and fast pace, this is perfect for anyone trying to get out of a reading slump. After a financial disaster strikes her family, Sophie Hemlock says yes to a marriage with a dark, wealthy stranger: Mr. Argenton. Within seconds she is whisked off to a house, Northwood, where she is surrounded by hauntingly pale and scared faces of numerous mute staff and the every sneering faces of Mr. Argenton's relatives. As she struggles to find her way she accidentally finds a red door behind which Sophie senses a looming presence... will she figure out the secrets surrounding the Northwood residents?
Darcy Coates does an amazing job of keeping her readers on the edge of their seats. Since the second you get into Northwood you will be intrigued by its vastness, its residence, and the atmosphere. I loved the gothic atmosphere so much because it was ever-present in the way Northwood was described. Although the writing is very simple most times, the imagery and atmosphere is definitely Coates' strong-point. Throughout the entire book we are shown not told things, and I am very grateful for that... it really does wonders by adding to the mystery (whether it is the symbolism of labyrinths or foreshadowing or just atmospheric build-up).
One thing that I didn't really like was the beginning (and anything related to Sophie's family really). The book starts off in a random place, in my opinion, and in minutes we are already leaving Sophie's life behind. Though this doesn't really matter, I would have preferred to understand the bond surrounding Sophie and her family more as it is quickly glossed over and forgotten.
I did really enjoy the romance, maybe not so much because it was sexy, but because the way Mr. Argenton and Sophie fall in love with each other. This is definitely a strong area for the novel.
The other section that I didn't quite appreciate was the characterisation. Though I do understand that maybe the author wants the reader to envision themselves in Sophie, I do not think that making her a blank slate was the best choice. Honestly, you can replace Sophie with any YA kind and gentle female character and you'd be fine.
All in all, I thought House of Shadows was quite an enjoyable read, and I hope that House of Secrets, the sequel, continues relishing in book 1's strengths while improving on the weaknesses.
**Many thanks to Darcy Coates, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Release date: 5 May 2020**
House of Shadows is a book that is sure to grab any readers' attention within the first few chapters. Due to its easy writing and fast pace, this is perfect for anyone trying to get out of a reading slump. After a financial disaster strikes her family, Sophie Hemlock says yes to a marriage with a dark, wealthy stranger: Mr. Argenton. Within seconds she is whisked off to a house, Northwood, where she is surrounded by hauntingly pale and scared faces of numerous mute staff and the every sneering faces of Mr. Argenton's relatives. As she struggles to find her way she accidentally finds a red door behind which Sophie senses a looming presence... will she figure out the secrets surrounding the Northwood residents?
Darcy Coates does an amazing job of keeping her readers on the edge of their seats. Since the second you get into Northwood you will be intrigued by its vastness, its residence, and the atmosphere. I loved the gothic atmosphere so much because it was ever-present in the way Northwood was described. Although the writing is very simple most times, the imagery and atmosphere is definitely Coates' strong-point. Throughout the entire book we are shown not told things, and I am very grateful for that... it really does wonders by adding to the mystery (whether it is the symbolism of labyrinths or foreshadowing or just atmospheric build-up).
One thing that I didn't really like was the beginning (and anything related to Sophie's family really). The book starts off in a random place, in my opinion, and in minutes we are already leaving Sophie's life behind. Though this doesn't really matter, I would have preferred to understand the bond surrounding Sophie and her family more as it is quickly glossed over and forgotten.
I did really enjoy the romance, maybe not so much because it was sexy, but because the way Mr. Argenton and Sophie fall in love with each other. This is definitely a strong area for the novel.
The other section that I didn't quite appreciate was the characterisation. Though I do understand that maybe the author wants the reader to envision themselves in Sophie, I do not think that making her a blank slate was the best choice. Honestly, you can replace Sophie with any YA kind and gentle female character and you'd be fine.
All in all, I thought House of Shadows was quite an enjoyable read, and I hope that House of Secrets, the sequel, continues relishing in book 1's strengths while improving on the weaknesses.
January 4, 2016
Very Good! blend for a Gothic Romance.
Marriage of Convennience. Check.
Mysterious hero, Mysterious house.Check.
Creepy moments and BLOOD. Check. Check. Check.
The romance is cute, though. >6< Oh yeah, I enjoyed this!
Marriage of Convennience. Check.
Mysterious hero, Mysterious house.Check.
Creepy moments and BLOOD. Check. Check. Check.
The romance is cute, though. >6< Oh yeah, I enjoyed this!
April 11, 2020
This is an ARC Review - release date is 5 May 2020 -
This was a fun fast paced Gothic romance. The story had a old fashion horror feel to it that really made you get engrossed in the book. The growth of the heroine in the novel was also something I really enjoyed. This story had all of the elements you look for in any Gothic story and left you wanting more. The author really does a good job of setting up for more to come.
This was a fun fast paced Gothic romance. The story had a old fashion horror feel to it that really made you get engrossed in the book. The growth of the heroine in the novel was also something I really enjoyed. This story had all of the elements you look for in any Gothic story and left you wanting more. The author really does a good job of setting up for more to come.
June 23, 2020
The House of Shadows, a horror/gothic book was a solid 4 stars.
Fast paced and creepy, The House of Shadows centers around main character Sophie-a young woman that agrees to marry wealthy Mr. Argenton to help her family avoid financial ruin. After they marry, Sophie goes to live with Mr. Argenton (as well as with his aunt, uncle and cousin who already reside there) in his home- a huge and creepy mansion that is situated very far from any neighbors or towns. Shortly upon living there, Sophie starts experiencing weird and terrifying events-strange blood drips, lurking shadows, the piano playing by itself, and worst of all-big menacing red double doors that she is absolutely forbidden to open.
The House of Shadows was an entertaining and creepy read. I liked that it was fast paced and genuinely liked the characters of Sophie and the kind hearted Mr. Argenton. Definitely looking forward to reading the 2nd book. Highly recommend to fans of dark/horror books.
Fast paced and creepy, The House of Shadows centers around main character Sophie-a young woman that agrees to marry wealthy Mr. Argenton to help her family avoid financial ruin. After they marry, Sophie goes to live with Mr. Argenton (as well as with his aunt, uncle and cousin who already reside there) in his home- a huge and creepy mansion that is situated very far from any neighbors or towns. Shortly upon living there, Sophie starts experiencing weird and terrifying events-strange blood drips, lurking shadows, the piano playing by itself, and worst of all-big menacing red double doors that she is absolutely forbidden to open.
The House of Shadows was an entertaining and creepy read. I liked that it was fast paced and genuinely liked the characters of Sophie and the kind hearted Mr. Argenton. Definitely looking forward to reading the 2nd book. Highly recommend to fans of dark/horror books.
January 28, 2022
Wonderful and fun Gothic,Horror And Romance Story!
The book centers around Sophie, a young, innocent beauty who meets the very wealthy, eccentric and brooding Joseph Argenton the night she went to the opera with her uncle. The next day Joseph asks her father for her hand in marriage and since her family has fallen into devastating debt, Joseph made an offer to solve all their financial worries and make them whole again so Sophie feels she must do the right thing and she accepts the marriage proposal. Fifteen days later she is who she is whisked off to her new home called Northwood a four hundred year old monstrosity of a mansion deep within the woods and hours away by carriage from the nearest neighbor or town. Upon arriving, Sophie feels very unwelcome by the three relatives who also reside in Northwood and realizes too late that she may have made a grave mistake. There are shadows everywhere, she hears whispers from the woods and then coming from behind locked doors is it her imagination of us there something sinister and very wrong with Northwood and why does she feel that everyone is lying to her about what she is seeing and hearing. Is there a sinister reason that Sophie has been brought to Northwood?
This was a very enjoyable gothic/romance for me. Darcy Coates is a very clever and stylized writer who completely captured the ambiance and atmosphere of what a gothic story should be. The detailed descriptions of Northwood ( think the old movie and book "Drangonwyck" ) such a gloomy, cold and foreboding fortress. There are noises and shadows everywhere and the feeling of a inhuman presence wandering the halls and rooms. Plenty of shivers and chills to keep my complete attention and subtle romance as well. This is a great book for anyone who enjoys gothic style books or just a wonderful dark, creepy and atmospheric story.
I want to thank the publisher "Poisoned Pen Press" and Netgalley for this advance reading copy and any opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!I
I highly recommend this terrific book and have given a rating of 4 Foreboding 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
The book centers around Sophie, a young, innocent beauty who meets the very wealthy, eccentric and brooding Joseph Argenton the night she went to the opera with her uncle. The next day Joseph asks her father for her hand in marriage and since her family has fallen into devastating debt, Joseph made an offer to solve all their financial worries and make them whole again so Sophie feels she must do the right thing and she accepts the marriage proposal. Fifteen days later she is who she is whisked off to her new home called Northwood a four hundred year old monstrosity of a mansion deep within the woods and hours away by carriage from the nearest neighbor or town. Upon arriving, Sophie feels very unwelcome by the three relatives who also reside in Northwood and realizes too late that she may have made a grave mistake. There are shadows everywhere, she hears whispers from the woods and then coming from behind locked doors is it her imagination of us there something sinister and very wrong with Northwood and why does she feel that everyone is lying to her about what she is seeing and hearing. Is there a sinister reason that Sophie has been brought to Northwood?
This was a very enjoyable gothic/romance for me. Darcy Coates is a very clever and stylized writer who completely captured the ambiance and atmosphere of what a gothic story should be. The detailed descriptions of Northwood ( think the old movie and book "Drangonwyck" ) such a gloomy, cold and foreboding fortress. There are noises and shadows everywhere and the feeling of a inhuman presence wandering the halls and rooms. Plenty of shivers and chills to keep my complete attention and subtle romance as well. This is a great book for anyone who enjoys gothic style books or just a wonderful dark, creepy and atmospheric story.
I want to thank the publisher "Poisoned Pen Press" and Netgalley for this advance reading copy and any opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!I
I highly recommend this terrific book and have given a rating of 4 Foreboding 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
October 3, 2020
dnf at 60%. i tried. i really did. but god.
girl meets older rich man. rich man meets younger girl he can be predatory towards. its a tale as old as time. she's scared by him in their first meeting, engaged to him in the third, and in love in the tenth because... reasons. she moves into this stranger's haunted house with his weird ass family and is shut off from the world. ghosts try to murder her but don't worry! its ok because she loves him ❤️ you know him? the stranger whom she knows nothing about and was forced to marry to? yeah that guy. true love isnt dead y'all.
whats funny is that she's rich but then this guy proposes and thats conveniently when her father tells her their actually in poverty. sure.
i just want to share the part where i went from 'ok i can endure this' to 'jesus christ this is insufferable':
"something had been growing in sophie since the previous evening¹ , but she barely dared admit it to herself. I think I love him.² It felt like a tiny, helpless, fluttering emotion that could be squashed in a heartbeat. But it grew stronger with every passing moment, every word he said to her³ , every touch, and every time his eyes, so dark and intense, fixed on her. she loved him."
1. the previous evening being their first actual meaningful conversation in the entirety of their weird forced marriage
2. ?????? go fuck yourself ???
3. all 15 words? damn.
we're just going no built-up whatsoever. what saddens me is that if this forced bland romance hadn't happened this would have been a good book. the gothic elements were on point, perhaps the author should focus on that next time.
girl meets older rich man. rich man meets younger girl he can be predatory towards. its a tale as old as time. she's scared by him in their first meeting, engaged to him in the third, and in love in the tenth because... reasons. she moves into this stranger's haunted house with his weird ass family and is shut off from the world. ghosts try to murder her but don't worry! its ok because she loves him ❤️ you know him? the stranger whom she knows nothing about and was forced to marry to? yeah that guy. true love isnt dead y'all.
whats funny is that she's rich but then this guy proposes and thats conveniently when her father tells her their actually in poverty. sure.
i just want to share the part where i went from 'ok i can endure this' to 'jesus christ this is insufferable':
"something had been growing in sophie since the previous evening¹ , but she barely dared admit it to herself. I think I love him.² It felt like a tiny, helpless, fluttering emotion that could be squashed in a heartbeat. But it grew stronger with every passing moment, every word he said to her³ , every touch, and every time his eyes, so dark and intense, fixed on her. she loved him."
1. the previous evening being their first actual meaningful conversation in the entirety of their weird forced marriage
2. ?????? go fuck yourself ???
3. all 15 words? damn.
we're just going no built-up whatsoever. what saddens me is that if this forced bland romance hadn't happened this would have been a good book. the gothic elements were on point, perhaps the author should focus on that next time.
April 11, 2020
This was a fun fast paced Gothic romance. The story had a old fashion horror feel to it that really made you get engrossed in the book. The growth of the heroine in the novel was also something I really enjoyed. This story had all of the elements you look for in any Gothic story and left you wanting more. The author really does a good job of setting up for more to come.
April 10, 2022
Clique, old fashioned and fun.
PS
Rose was a bitch and totally deserved that ending.
PS
Rose was a bitch and totally deserved that ending.
January 18, 2021
This book was absolutely amazing! It had a nice gothic feel to it and would be better read late at night with the only light being a lamp or flashlight.
In this story we meet Sophie, who's world has just been shattered due to her family going bankrupt. But a mysterious and handsome Mr. Argenton comes to town and asks to marry her. Marrying him will save her family but will force her to live in Mr. Argentons dark mansion hours from the nearest town. She agrees and starts her new life in her new home. But her new home has some dark secrets and strange things start happening and Sophie starts to realize the man she's coming to love is hiding something from her.
I was sucked into this story right away and couldn't seem to put it down. The atmosphere of it is so dark and spooky that it makes you question what's hiding in the dark of your own home. I honestly wasn't expecting anything that happened and it took a complete left turn everytime I thought I knew what was going to happen.
In this story we meet Sophie, who's world has just been shattered due to her family going bankrupt. But a mysterious and handsome Mr. Argenton comes to town and asks to marry her. Marrying him will save her family but will force her to live in Mr. Argentons dark mansion hours from the nearest town. She agrees and starts her new life in her new home. But her new home has some dark secrets and strange things start happening and Sophie starts to realize the man she's coming to love is hiding something from her.
I was sucked into this story right away and couldn't seem to put it down. The atmosphere of it is so dark and spooky that it makes you question what's hiding in the dark of your own home. I honestly wasn't expecting anything that happened and it took a complete left turn everytime I thought I knew what was going to happen.
July 3, 2020
Wow! Awesome gothic haunting!
As always I am impressed by author, Darcy Coates as she weaves these atmospheric ghost/haunted stories! This story was no exception as this time the author transports the reader into a gothic mystery surrounded by a creepy haunting!
A little back story for you readers.
Sophie Hemlock along with her father experience a tragedy which takes the business into bankruptcy. There is a way to get the business back on its feet, but Sophie is not happy when her father tells her what has to take place for that to happen. Sophie is stunned to learn that a rich man "Mr. Argenton" wants to marry her and by him marrying her then he will bring the business out of its state of financial ruin!
Since Sophie really doesn't have that much choice or say in the matter she accepts the offer because it is the only way to save her father's business. After the marriage, Mr. Argenton whisks her away to his mansion, a/k/a Northwood to oversee the homestead with him. When she arrives, she is met by Mr. Argenton's family who are anything but friendly and when she sets her eyes upon the mansion, she wonders what she has got herself into as it is in mighty need of repair along with having a foreboding look to it.
As Sophie tries to become accustomed to her new home, she finds that all is not what it seems and when she wanders the halls of the old mansion, she learns that some doors are forbidden to enter especially the "red door" as no one is allowed to enter that room. It is off limits to even wander down the hallway leading to it and by no means is that room to be opened!
The more Sophie tries to learn what is going on in the house the more she is swayed by the family to finding out anything, but when she starts to hear haunting piano music along with slamming doors, whispers, and feels the creepiness of the mansion seeping into her bones is when she becomes worried about her safety along with wondering what secrets her new husband is keeping from her.
What is going on in the mansion? Who or what is behind the "red door"? What secrets are the family and husband keeping from Sophie? What is haunting the hallways of the mansion? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book!
This book was a page turner and as with any Darcy Coates novel a very atmospheric read. The haunting of the mansion seeps into your mind as you slowly work you way through the book and the characters feel real enough that you find yourself feeling the same dread and worry that the character Sophie is experiencing.
When you read about the haunting tune of the piano playing you can hear the tinkling of the piano keys in your mind. The author literally brings the visual aspects of the book into focus as you read the story. I loved the gothic story setting as it made the book more haunting and spooky!
There is a sequel to the story which I will be reading shortly as there is sort of cliff hanger at the end which will require me to continue on with the story and I am curious to know how the story will end. Giving this book five "haunting" stars!
As always I am impressed by author, Darcy Coates as she weaves these atmospheric ghost/haunted stories! This story was no exception as this time the author transports the reader into a gothic mystery surrounded by a creepy haunting!
A little back story for you readers.
Sophie Hemlock along with her father experience a tragedy which takes the business into bankruptcy. There is a way to get the business back on its feet, but Sophie is not happy when her father tells her what has to take place for that to happen. Sophie is stunned to learn that a rich man "Mr. Argenton" wants to marry her and by him marrying her then he will bring the business out of its state of financial ruin!
Since Sophie really doesn't have that much choice or say in the matter she accepts the offer because it is the only way to save her father's business. After the marriage, Mr. Argenton whisks her away to his mansion, a/k/a Northwood to oversee the homestead with him. When she arrives, she is met by Mr. Argenton's family who are anything but friendly and when she sets her eyes upon the mansion, she wonders what she has got herself into as it is in mighty need of repair along with having a foreboding look to it.
As Sophie tries to become accustomed to her new home, she finds that all is not what it seems and when she wanders the halls of the old mansion, she learns that some doors are forbidden to enter especially the "red door" as no one is allowed to enter that room. It is off limits to even wander down the hallway leading to it and by no means is that room to be opened!
The more Sophie tries to learn what is going on in the house the more she is swayed by the family to finding out anything, but when she starts to hear haunting piano music along with slamming doors, whispers, and feels the creepiness of the mansion seeping into her bones is when she becomes worried about her safety along with wondering what secrets her new husband is keeping from her.
What is going on in the mansion? Who or what is behind the "red door"? What secrets are the family and husband keeping from Sophie? What is haunting the hallways of the mansion? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book!
This book was a page turner and as with any Darcy Coates novel a very atmospheric read. The haunting of the mansion seeps into your mind as you slowly work you way through the book and the characters feel real enough that you find yourself feeling the same dread and worry that the character Sophie is experiencing.
When you read about the haunting tune of the piano playing you can hear the tinkling of the piano keys in your mind. The author literally brings the visual aspects of the book into focus as you read the story. I loved the gothic story setting as it made the book more haunting and spooky!
There is a sequel to the story which I will be reading shortly as there is sort of cliff hanger at the end which will require me to continue on with the story and I am curious to know how the story will end. Giving this book five "haunting" stars!
July 1, 2025
I can’t think of a better way to start off the New Year than reading a book from a favorite author! Darcy Coates consistently delivers haunting, immersive, and addictive reads—and no one does atmospheric writing as well as she does, nor creates within readers a more visceral response. That’s what I simply love about her!
HOUSE OF SHADOWS is a gripping gothic tale that is a lot mystery, a tad ghost story, a bit horror, and a touch of the supernatural. The story follows Sophie, a young woman forced into a marriage of convenience with the enigmatic Joseph Argenton, only to discover his ancestral home, Northwood, harbors long-held, sinister secrets. Through her writing, Darcy Coates ever-so-slowly builds suspense via her vivid descriptions of the foreboding mansion and its tormenting atmosphere. The story unfolds beautifully by balancing moments of quiet dread with bursts of intense action. Sophie, who admittedly seemed naive and ill-equipped in the beginning of the novel to face the horrors within Northwood’s walls, evolved into a courageous and determined protagonist by the end. Her burgeoning relationship with Joseph strengthens and grows in tandem with the malevolence lurking in the shadows, until we as readers witness a final confrontation of good and evil.
HOUSE OF SHADOWS is an enjoyable, fast, and immersive read for fans of gothic fiction. It’s a perfect choice for those of us who love dark secrets, haunted mansions, and a touch of romance in their ghostly tales. I can’t wait to start reading Book 2!
HOUSE OF SHADOWS is a gripping gothic tale that is a lot mystery, a tad ghost story, a bit horror, and a touch of the supernatural. The story follows Sophie, a young woman forced into a marriage of convenience with the enigmatic Joseph Argenton, only to discover his ancestral home, Northwood, harbors long-held, sinister secrets. Through her writing, Darcy Coates ever-so-slowly builds suspense via her vivid descriptions of the foreboding mansion and its tormenting atmosphere. The story unfolds beautifully by balancing moments of quiet dread with bursts of intense action. Sophie, who admittedly seemed naive and ill-equipped in the beginning of the novel to face the horrors within Northwood’s walls, evolved into a courageous and determined protagonist by the end. Her burgeoning relationship with Joseph strengthens and grows in tandem with the malevolence lurking in the shadows, until we as readers witness a final confrontation of good and evil.
HOUSE OF SHADOWS is an enjoyable, fast, and immersive read for fans of gothic fiction. It’s a perfect choice for those of us who love dark secrets, haunted mansions, and a touch of romance in their ghostly tales. I can’t wait to start reading Book 2!
October 9, 2022
I was hoping this would be another The Haunting of Ashburn House, but this one was quite different. For starters, the heroine is young, naive, and unworldly. In Ashburn House, the contemporary setting allowed for a pluckier heroine, which is my personal preference. The creature in this manor house was definitely sinister, as were some of the human inhabitants, but I never bought into the sudden connection between Sophie and Joseph and was far more concerned for the young girl in the house than I was for the main characters. Still, this is a quick and entertaining read. It's spooky enough for those who liked to be frightened by gothic tales rather than grittier horror novels.
July 1, 2025
A generous 2 stars.. it this didn’t have romance and adults I’d be convinced it was a middle grade book. Truly, what was that??
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March 27, 2020
So originally I requested this book because I thought House of Shadows maybe something spooky with ghost but, it turned out to be soo good. A gothic romance that turned out soo well! I really enjoyed her writing style! It was definitely really great in that aspect.
I like Sophie as a character, she was very courageous and I liked that she tried to save Joseph. The marriage of convenience with Joseph was something that Sophie needed because her father was financially ruined. Once joseph asked for her hand and he promised to take care of her family she did agree.
The setting was creepy. Sophie was hearing things and seeing things and was convinced the house was haunted but, I guess all is not what it seems. I definitely recommend this book!
I like Sophie as a character, she was very courageous and I liked that she tried to save Joseph. The marriage of convenience with Joseph was something that Sophie needed because her father was financially ruined. Once joseph asked for her hand and he promised to take care of her family she did agree.
The setting was creepy. Sophie was hearing things and seeing things and was convinced the house was haunted but, I guess all is not what it seems. I definitely recommend this book!
November 25, 2022
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
Kind of meh. It is sorta entertaining, but mostly bland.
If you are looking for scary, this is not it.
If you are looking for romance, this is not it.
If you are looking for a riveting mystery, this is not it.
If you are looking for rational characters, this is not it.
I was never invested in the story or connected to the characters. One of the things that really bothered me here is the main protagonists. I find them very unlikable, specially Sophie since we are seeing everything from her perspective.
Sophie's feelings towards her husband make no sense to me since they don't know each other AT ALL, so it is all insta-love with no development whatsoever, it just is.
Sophie's thoughts and actions towards Rose frustrated me to no end since the very beginning and throughout all the book. Since the beginning Sophie is passive and submissive towards others, specially Rose. You could excuse this as someone in a new situation with new people, taking everything in, being cautious and observing to learn first about her new environment so she can later act accordingly having being appropriately informed. But no, that was not it, her thoughts were submissive and passive from a cowering victim perspective, from a poor me I am so weak perspective, which made me very angry and frustrated since I did not like that one bit. Then, suddenly, at the end she is all lets throw self-preservation out of the window and be brave, confrontational and TSTL because you know, looove towards her unethical lying husband/stranger.
If you are looking for a more entertaining mystery, with some scares, a romance and set in and old house, I recommend you check this book out: Halton Cray by N.B. Roberts
Kind of meh. It is sorta entertaining, but mostly bland.
If you are looking for scary, this is not it.
If you are looking for romance, this is not it.
If you are looking for a riveting mystery, this is not it.
If you are looking for rational characters, this is not it.
I was never invested in the story or connected to the characters. One of the things that really bothered me here is the main protagonists. I find them very unlikable, specially Sophie since we are seeing everything from her perspective.
Sophie's feelings towards her husband make no sense to me since they don't know each other AT ALL, so it is all insta-love with no development whatsoever, it just is.
Sophie's thoughts and actions towards Rose frustrated me to no end since the very beginning and throughout all the book. Since the beginning Sophie is passive and submissive towards others, specially Rose. You could excuse this as someone in a new situation with new people, taking everything in, being cautious and observing to learn first about her new environment so she can later act accordingly having being appropriately informed. But no, that was not it, her thoughts were submissive and passive from a cowering victim perspective, from a poor me I am so weak perspective, which made me very angry and frustrated since I did not like that one bit. Then, suddenly, at the end she is all lets throw self-preservation out of the window and be brave, confrontational and TSTL because you know, looove towards her unethical lying husband/stranger.
If you are looking for a more entertaining mystery, with some scares, a romance and set in and old house, I recommend you check this book out: Halton Cray by N.B. Roberts
March 13, 2023
This is the first instalment in the Ghosts and Shadows series.
Sophie has two choices. She can either see her family bankrupt or marry Mr Argenton. She choses the latter and travels far from the only faces she has ever known to his sprawling and isolated manor. There she encounters far more than she ever anticipated with shifting shadows and eerie sounds permeating through the night, a young cousin who draws strange images and hears whispers on the breeze, and a red door that lies at the heart of the troubles plaguing her new husband's, and now her own, family.
This had all the trappings of a traditional Gothic horror novel and I loved it for that. Whilst it did not bring much freshness to the genre, it had all the elements that make it one of my favourites to read. The supernatural elements begun early on in the novel and, whilst never truly horrifying, definitely made me uneasy whilst reading about them. I quickly formed an attachment to the central character, Sophie, and also found all of the Argenton's intriguing figures, which also aided in my bonding so quickly with this text. The final lines sent chills down my spine and my fingers immediately reaching for the second series instalment. I can always count of Darcy Coates for an entertaining, page-turning, and spooky read, and this one was no expection.
Sophie has two choices. She can either see her family bankrupt or marry Mr Argenton. She choses the latter and travels far from the only faces she has ever known to his sprawling and isolated manor. There she encounters far more than she ever anticipated with shifting shadows and eerie sounds permeating through the night, a young cousin who draws strange images and hears whispers on the breeze, and a red door that lies at the heart of the troubles plaguing her new husband's, and now her own, family.
This had all the trappings of a traditional Gothic horror novel and I loved it for that. Whilst it did not bring much freshness to the genre, it had all the elements that make it one of my favourites to read. The supernatural elements begun early on in the novel and, whilst never truly horrifying, definitely made me uneasy whilst reading about them. I quickly formed an attachment to the central character, Sophie, and also found all of the Argenton's intriguing figures, which also aided in my bonding so quickly with this text. The final lines sent chills down my spine and my fingers immediately reaching for the second series instalment. I can always count of Darcy Coates for an entertaining, page-turning, and spooky read, and this one was no expection.
March 27, 2017
I think I went into this thinking it was going to be like Dark Shadows.
I was expecting the vampire and the gothic family.
The book delivered the gothic family, but no vampires.
There was so much more inside than vampires.
The book delivers healthy doses of excellent descriptions of gore and insanely eerie events.
I enjoyed it and I can't wait to read part 2!
September 20, 2019
I'll admit two stars is a very generous rating, but I finished it so... *shrugs*
1) Sophie might be the dumbest heroine ever. I think she's supposed to be good and kind, but she comes across as a doormat who won't even demand answers. If you're that terrified in your home and your husband doesn't give a fuck, I think it's safe to demand answers. She doesn't and also doesn't seem to care much about it. I genuinely don't understand most of her decisions. She also falls in love with Joseph for... reasons? Like, they barely interact and in all their conversations, he's lying and she can tell he's lying, but she still thinks he's amazing and handsome and whatever. Let's just say I have a very low opinion of her.
2) Joseph is awful, that is all.
But seriously, his decision-making abilities are nearly as poor as his wife's. And he isn't a good person at all. I have zero reason to root for this guy.
3) No atmosphere or suspense. I wasn't scared at any time; the author didn't do a great job at making the house feel unsafe. Part of this is so many of the horrors are through Sophie's eyes, and she feels very fragile. I'm sure seeing all these things would be horrific--but it's not described in a way that made me feel horror, and Sophie is so weak as a character and as a person that sometimes I wanted to shake her until she got some sense. The author's writing fails here too--Sophie's fear and relief and horror and love are all written in the same manner that doesn't translate well to the reader feeling it.
4) The ending is moderately better (at least until that awful epilogue--there's zero reason for a book two). But it's still not great. I think the main issue here is the tone and pacing never really picks up--it doesn't feel like the house is tightening the noose because Sophie doesn't know the truth for so long, it doesn't feel like there's tension in the family for the same reason, I hated Joseph and had no reason to care if he lived so that tension didn't work for me. Maybe the best way to put is: the climax feels unearned. So much of the story is just Sophie getting scared by the horrors of the house. And it happens so often that by the end it's lost all ability to worry you since it just happens over and over. There's no real escalation in events. So there's no real punch in the climax and few pages after the climax.
1) Sophie might be the dumbest heroine ever. I think she's supposed to be good and kind, but she comes across as a doormat who won't even demand answers. If you're that terrified in your home and your husband doesn't give a fuck, I think it's safe to demand answers. She doesn't and also doesn't seem to care much about it. I genuinely don't understand most of her decisions. She also falls in love with Joseph for... reasons? Like, they barely interact and in all their conversations, he's lying and she can tell he's lying, but she still thinks he's amazing and handsome and whatever. Let's just say I have a very low opinion of her.
2) Joseph is awful, that is all.
But seriously, his decision-making abilities are nearly as poor as his wife's. And he isn't a good person at all. I have zero reason to root for this guy.
3) No atmosphere or suspense. I wasn't scared at any time; the author didn't do a great job at making the house feel unsafe. Part of this is so many of the horrors are through Sophie's eyes, and she feels very fragile. I'm sure seeing all these things would be horrific--but it's not described in a way that made me feel horror, and Sophie is so weak as a character and as a person that sometimes I wanted to shake her until she got some sense. The author's writing fails here too--Sophie's fear and relief and horror and love are all written in the same manner that doesn't translate well to the reader feeling it.
4) The ending is moderately better (at least until that awful epilogue--there's zero reason for a book two). But it's still not great. I think the main issue here is the tone and pacing never really picks up--it doesn't feel like the house is tightening the noose because Sophie doesn't know the truth for so long, it doesn't feel like there's tension in the family for the same reason, I hated Joseph and had no reason to care if he lived so that tension didn't work for me. Maybe the best way to put is: the climax feels unearned. So much of the story is just Sophie getting scared by the horrors of the house. And it happens so often that by the end it's lost all ability to worry you since it just happens over and over. There's no real escalation in events. So there's no real punch in the climax and few pages after the climax.
March 27, 2020
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Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
...she felt vulnerable and weak--
a lamb sat before a wolf--
as though the civility could be dropped at any second
and replaced with a danger she couldn't have imagined in her darkest dreams.
I'm not one to prefer timid, meek little females in novels. That's not said as an insult to them, that's just my preference. I tend to prefer badass, kickass women who more often than not tend to tear into a room and command all attention. Both have their pros and cons, but if I'm presented with the former, I just hope that she'll eventually grow a backbone and bring the story around to center around her.
I am delighted that Sophie saved herself in the end. Quite literally too, as a matter of fact.
I'm forever grateful for the teacher that introduced Edgar Allan Poe into my syllabus back in the year I-no-longer-remember, because it began my lifetime love affair with all things Gothic in literature. Granted, when you read a book of this genre, there is going to be the chance that the author writes a story which falls into a traditional setting rather than a modern one. That will bring to the forefront the romantic, sometimes angsty, sometimes eye-rolling moments that accompany these settings. And you have plenty of that here, but there's also the delightful dark ambiance that one is to hope for.
Sophie's introduction to the Argenton's family estate of Northwood is as bleak and imposing as one might expect, with mazes of hallways and plenty of skeletons in the closet. Again, quite literally. The story brought to mind so many references to Dark Shadows, Rebecca and even the film Crimson Peak, that it was hardly surprising to stumble through the first half of the book. But, thankfully, right around the time that Sophie began to show the little granule of strength hiding within herself, the plot became more intriguing.
I only wish that we'd had more time for our characters to be tortured—I mean that lightly, mostly—by the Grimlock, the dark creature that has haunted the Argenton family for generations since its initial pact with it. What a cruel and vicious being this is, with its own little army of the dead. The red door, often used in various forms in other stories, was an entertaining factor to include. Step through it and you step through the Northwood mansion's alter and mirror image, where the Grimlock lives and its heart resides. How the creature is (supposedly) destroyed and the family is saved brought the novel to a climaxing conclusion and made up for any dragging in storytelling that occurred for the first part.
Sophie and Joseph's romance is incredibly rushed—with her love for him being a revelation after they have been in each others' company for no more than whopping five days—but it's sweet, even if it's also incredibly corny more often than not. Rose was a good antagonist, albeit flat. But I look forward to Elise's part in the second book, House of Secrets.
With an open-ended possibility at the close, the Argentons might not quite have been saved yet, and I'm eager to see this brought to a close.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
...she felt vulnerable and weak--
a lamb sat before a wolf--
as though the civility could be dropped at any second
and replaced with a danger she couldn't have imagined in her darkest dreams.
I'm not one to prefer timid, meek little females in novels. That's not said as an insult to them, that's just my preference. I tend to prefer badass, kickass women who more often than not tend to tear into a room and command all attention. Both have their pros and cons, but if I'm presented with the former, I just hope that she'll eventually grow a backbone and bring the story around to center around her.
I am delighted that Sophie saved herself in the end. Quite literally too, as a matter of fact.
I'm forever grateful for the teacher that introduced Edgar Allan Poe into my syllabus back in the year I-no-longer-remember, because it began my lifetime love affair with all things Gothic in literature. Granted, when you read a book of this genre, there is going to be the chance that the author writes a story which falls into a traditional setting rather than a modern one. That will bring to the forefront the romantic, sometimes angsty, sometimes eye-rolling moments that accompany these settings. And you have plenty of that here, but there's also the delightful dark ambiance that one is to hope for.
Sophie's introduction to the Argenton's family estate of Northwood is as bleak and imposing as one might expect, with mazes of hallways and plenty of skeletons in the closet. Again, quite literally. The story brought to mind so many references to Dark Shadows, Rebecca and even the film Crimson Peak, that it was hardly surprising to stumble through the first half of the book. But, thankfully, right around the time that Sophie began to show the little granule of strength hiding within herself, the plot became more intriguing.
I only wish that we'd had more time for our characters to be tortured—I mean that lightly, mostly—by the Grimlock, the dark creature that has haunted the Argenton family for generations since its initial pact with it. What a cruel and vicious being this is, with its own little army of the dead. The red door, often used in various forms in other stories, was an entertaining factor to include. Step through it and you step through the Northwood mansion's alter and mirror image, where the Grimlock lives and its heart resides. How the creature is (supposedly) destroyed and the family is saved brought the novel to a climaxing conclusion and made up for any dragging in storytelling that occurred for the first part.
Sophie and Joseph's romance is incredibly rushed—with her love for him being a revelation after they have been in each others' company for no more than whopping five days—but it's sweet, even if it's also incredibly corny more often than not. Rose was a good antagonist, albeit flat. But I look forward to Elise's part in the second book, House of Secrets.
With an open-ended possibility at the close, the Argentons might not quite have been saved yet, and I'm eager to see this brought to a close.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2020
The House of Shadows. A Gothic tour de force filled with such atmosphere, so many secrets, twists galore, death and deception, and, of course, romance.
Joseph Argenton meets sweet Sophie by chance. Shortly thereafter he is asking for her hand in marriage. It is no coincidence that this offer comes directly after Sophie's father loses the family fortune. A caveat: Joseph will restore the family fortune if Miss Sophie will give him her hand.
Within the week, Sophie and Joseph are wed and Sophie is leaving her father's home to become the new mistress of Northwood. Sophie knows this marriage is advantageous for her family; her husband has made well on his offer of restoring their family's financial position.
What Sophie doesnt know is that this union is very important to Joseph. There is a specific reason he has chosen to marry so quickly. His family is cursed and Sophie will play her part.
Sophie and Joseph will transform before you. From beginning to end, their relationship flows. From one obstacle to the next, they begin to merge, in love and war. The monster, the madness, Northwood will fall. Or will it?
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Darcy Coates for an ARC of this title in return for an honest review
Joseph Argenton meets sweet Sophie by chance. Shortly thereafter he is asking for her hand in marriage. It is no coincidence that this offer comes directly after Sophie's father loses the family fortune. A caveat: Joseph will restore the family fortune if Miss Sophie will give him her hand.
Within the week, Sophie and Joseph are wed and Sophie is leaving her father's home to become the new mistress of Northwood. Sophie knows this marriage is advantageous for her family; her husband has made well on his offer of restoring their family's financial position.
What Sophie doesnt know is that this union is very important to Joseph. There is a specific reason he has chosen to marry so quickly. His family is cursed and Sophie will play her part.
Sophie and Joseph will transform before you. From beginning to end, their relationship flows. From one obstacle to the next, they begin to merge, in love and war. The monster, the madness, Northwood will fall. Or will it?
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Darcy Coates for an ARC of this title in return for an honest review
September 27, 2021
This book was the perfect blend of horror, suspense and gothic romance. Loved it!
June 7, 2025
She'll never escape this shadow... Sophie's world is shattered when disaster bankrupts her family. She's still reeling when she's offered an unexpected solution: Mr. Argenton, a wealthy stranger, has asked for her hand in marriage.
This, as all of Darcy Coate's ghost tales, is a fun, dark, scary gothic horror, with creepy happenings and very intriguing, interesting characters that you are more than happy that you DON"T know or have ever had to encounter.
Marrying to save her family from an unfortunate event that lost most of their family fortune, Sophie goes to live with Mr. Argenton and his family consisting of an aunt and uncle and a niece. Right from the start Sophie is uncomfortable, and more so when weird, unexpected things start to happen. Not to mention that the house itself is one big maze.
The family and staff won’t really answer her questions or tell her about anything that is happening. While she wants to leave, she finds herself being ever more drawn to her husband who she hardly knows. Talk about bad decisions!!!
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the story. I'm a big fan of dark creepy stories and this definitely fit that description. I thought the romance to be a bit rushed...but hey, they barely knew one another...but in spite of them being almost strangers, they were rather "cute" around each other. Good thing because the books not terribly long.
Overall, if you want a quick dose of horror with trouble lurking around every corner, with creepy family members and a mysterious man, then this is diffidently the book waiting for you.
This, as all of Darcy Coate's ghost tales, is a fun, dark, scary gothic horror, with creepy happenings and very intriguing, interesting characters that you are more than happy that you DON"T know or have ever had to encounter.
Marrying to save her family from an unfortunate event that lost most of their family fortune, Sophie goes to live with Mr. Argenton and his family consisting of an aunt and uncle and a niece. Right from the start Sophie is uncomfortable, and more so when weird, unexpected things start to happen. Not to mention that the house itself is one big maze.
The family and staff won’t really answer her questions or tell her about anything that is happening. While she wants to leave, she finds herself being ever more drawn to her husband who she hardly knows. Talk about bad decisions!!!
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the story. I'm a big fan of dark creepy stories and this definitely fit that description. I thought the romance to be a bit rushed...but hey, they barely knew one another...but in spite of them being almost strangers, they were rather "cute" around each other. Good thing because the books not terribly long.
Overall, if you want a quick dose of horror with trouble lurking around every corner, with creepy family members and a mysterious man, then this is diffidently the book waiting for you.
January 17, 2026
This is a horror/gothic romance that reminded me of Crimson Peak
The story follows Sophie, the oldest child of a merchant who encounters a strange man that looks like a wolf , at the opera. After that encounter her father looses the money and they end up poor but then the strange man proposes to save her family if she will marry him.
Before moving with the plot, I have to say the romance is very well made, two strangers that marry out of love but by the end of the book are so in love that they sacrifice anything for each other.
Now Sophie is married in a rush to this wolf like man and brought to his estate and from here things get strange from his weird family to the different grotesque things that the house does, Sophie is absolutely sure that the house and her new family hide secrets about the true origin of the house...
Scared for her well being, Sophie must find out how to escape from this nightmarish bloodied house....
Definitely reading the second installment after that cliffhanger!
The story follows Sophie, the oldest child of a merchant who encounters a strange man that looks like a wolf , at the opera. After that encounter her father looses the money and they end up poor but then the strange man proposes to save her family if she will marry him.
Before moving with the plot, I have to say the romance is very well made, two strangers that marry out of love but by the end of the book are so in love that they sacrifice anything for each other.
Now Sophie is married in a rush to this wolf like man and brought to his estate and from here things get strange from his weird family to the different grotesque things that the house does, Sophie is absolutely sure that the house and her new family hide secrets about the true origin of the house...
Scared for her well being, Sophie must find out how to escape from this nightmarish bloodied house....
Definitely reading the second installment after that cliffhanger!
October 2, 2021
This was such a captivating gothic romance. I devoured this story and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see what would happen next. The atmosphere described was deliciously creepy and haunting. The storyline had romance, deception, monsters, secrets, and so much more that kept me immersed in the story. This is my second Darcy Coates book that I’ve read. I’m becoming a huge fan of hers and I can’t wait to read more of her books!!💜
December 21, 2018
I'm giving House of Shadows four stars simply because it had me turning the pages long after I should have gone to sleep. That's a good sign.
At first the story followed the familiar pattern of young girl marries stranger in order to save her family from poverty and he whisks her away to a large, remote house with a sinister secret. So far so ordinary.
However, the author captured my imagination with the way the story twisted and turned and after that I was unable to put the book down. I liked Sophie very much and thought her a courageous young girl.
Joseph was a different matter, since I only warmed to him slowly. But I'm sure the author intended that to happen. I grimaced when he had intended to sacrifice Sophie on their wedding night, but realised this was borne out of desperation.
I was alarmed when wolves were mentioned, since there's been no wolves in England for some centuries, but this was explained in the story.
The only other quibble I have is that I was dubious about Sophie taking the stairs two, and at one point, three at a time. In a long dress that might have been quite hazardous, since women had to lift their skirts and carefully climb a stairway.
But this was such an enjoyable story I'm sure it will appeal to Gothic Romancers everywhere.
At first the story followed the familiar pattern of young girl marries stranger in order to save her family from poverty and he whisks her away to a large, remote house with a sinister secret. So far so ordinary.
However, the author captured my imagination with the way the story twisted and turned and after that I was unable to put the book down. I liked Sophie very much and thought her a courageous young girl.
Joseph was a different matter, since I only warmed to him slowly. But I'm sure the author intended that to happen. I grimaced when he had intended to sacrifice Sophie on their wedding night, but realised this was borne out of desperation.
I was alarmed when wolves were mentioned, since there's been no wolves in England for some centuries, but this was explained in the story.
The only other quibble I have is that I was dubious about Sophie taking the stairs two, and at one point, three at a time. In a long dress that might have been quite hazardous, since women had to lift their skirts and carefully climb a stairway.
But this was such an enjoyable story I'm sure it will appeal to Gothic Romancers everywhere.
September 4, 2018
Well this one is firmly in the realm of "it was ok", which for me is disappointing. I had to wait a long time to finally get hold of it, and it just wasn't as good as I had hoped. The lore behind the haunting was really neat. I liked that a lot actually. What really brought this down for me was the romance. I liked how it started, but it felt like the 'I love him' realization came out of nowhere and for no reason. They had said all of five words to each other, but suddenly she loves him. Why? If that had happened even a little bit later in the book it would have made sense, but when it did happen it just felt so forced. Kind of like the plot needed to move forward and the best way to do that is to have them be in love so now they are. I still want to give the sequel a try. Hopefully it will be a little bit better.
March 9, 2025
I don't talk about this one enough. It's one of my favorite gothic-romance-spooky-ghost-weird-families stories. Please give it a chance even if you haven't heard about it on tiktok.
August 23, 2024
It's not often I give a Darcy Coates book anything below a 5-star. But this book was one of those few. It wasn't bad, just a little boring. It's a shame too because I bought the physical version of this and it's sequel. So of course I'll be reading the next book, but I just don't know if I'll ever reread it.
It's dark and gothic and historical. I love the premises behind the book, I just feel it dragged on a lot. I hope the next book delves into the creatures history more, cause I think a lot can be done with it here.
It's dark and gothic and historical. I love the premises behind the book, I just feel it dragged on a lot. I hope the next book delves into the creatures history more, cause I think a lot can be done with it here.
May 1, 2017
~2.5 stars~
I was intrigued by the "Gothic Horror Romance" genre so I decided to give this one a shot. Here's my breakdown:
The pros:
* Solid writing style
* Offered as a kindleunlimited
The cons:
* Extreme insta-love
* Vague characters
* The storyline execution seemed rushed
Overall, I wasn’t impressed with this particular book but I did like the writing style for the most part. I won't be continuing this series, but I would check out more of this writers other work.
I was intrigued by the "Gothic Horror Romance" genre so I decided to give this one a shot. Here's my breakdown:
The pros:
* Solid writing style
* Offered as a kindleunlimited
The cons:
* Extreme insta-love
* Vague characters
* The storyline execution seemed rushed
Overall, I wasn’t impressed with this particular book but I did like the writing style for the most part. I won't be continuing this series, but I would check out more of this writers other work.
Read
February 4, 2025DNF @ 50%
This kind of sucks, and its very paint by numbers for a gothic book. I don’t find the main couple believable, and these characters have no discernible personalities.
This kind of sucks, and its very paint by numbers for a gothic book. I don’t find the main couple believable, and these characters have no discernible personalities.
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