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The Oak
Description
A gothic thriller for the modern era, ‘The Oak’ is a taut web of mysteries set in rural Italy. In this quiet corner of the world, cracks appear in the lines between fact and fiction, between the real and the supernatural...If Dafne is to unravel the puzzle before her and learn about her fractured past, she’ll have to watch her back. For in the darkness of The Oak, an all too human threat stalks her every move.But why long for the truth at all? And what are we willing to sacrifice for it?
Blurb
Dafne is a young writer. After the death of her aunt Clara, the woman who raised her, she is left with no family save for a dilapidated mansion called ‘the Oak’, a 400 year old family heirloom - and all of its mysteries.Having escaped the mansion for the modern world years ago, Dafne finds herself there once more. And at the Oak, silence is her only companion. Or so it seems.On her first night back, Dafne is woken by a wheezing sound in her room. That breath has no body, no face, like the ancestors who came before her.Truth is a game of smoke and mirrors, secrets entwined by grudges and misunderstandings. If Dafne is to unravel all of this, she has more to fear than just ghosts of the past.
A gothic thriller for the modern era, ‘The Oak’ is a taut web of mysteries set in rural Italy. In this quiet corner of the world, cracks appear in the lines between fact and fiction, between the real and the supernatural...If Dafne is to unravel the puzzle before her and learn about her fractured past, she’ll have to watch her back. For in the darkness of The Oak, an all too human threat stalks her every move.But why long for the truth at all? And what are we willing to sacrifice for it?
Blurb
Dafne is a young writer. After the death of her aunt Clara, the woman who raised her, she is left with no family save for a dilapidated mansion called ‘the Oak’, a 400 year old family heirloom - and all of its mysteries.Having escaped the mansion for the modern world years ago, Dafne finds herself there once more. And at the Oak, silence is her only companion. Or so it seems.On her first night back, Dafne is woken by a wheezing sound in her room. That breath has no body, no face, like the ancestors who came before her.Truth is a game of smoke and mirrors, secrets entwined by grudges and misunderstandings. If Dafne is to unravel all of this, she has more to fear than just ghosts of the past.
226 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2020
1 person want to read
About the author
Sunny Valerio
7 books8 followersÈ nata nel 1992 a Bari, città che ha lasciato per trasferirsi a Novara con il marito, la loro bambina e le adorate cagnoline. Dopo aver conseguito la maturità artistica in architettura e arredamento ha studiato doppiaggio a Roma, cominciando poi la carriera di doppiatrice e speaker pubblicitaria.
Il bacio del lago (0111 Edizioni, 2018) è il suo esordio letterario. Tra le pubblicazioni anche il racconto thriller È ora di dormire nell’antologia NO2, dieci racconti per un nuovo immaginario novarese (Edizioni Effedì, 2019).
Il bacio del lago (0111 Edizioni, 2018) è il suo esordio letterario. Tra le pubblicazioni anche il racconto thriller È ora di dormire nell’antologia NO2, dieci racconti per un nuovo immaginario novarese (Edizioni Effedì, 2019).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 9, 2021
I have weakness for stories in which there are family secrets to shed lights on and this novel impressed me for its uniqueness, if you’re looking for a spooky/romance short story I highly recommend this novel .I loved this book soooo much and the author who wrote this book is kind as well .Everything looked real , i felt like i was there this book brought my imagination in real life ,I felt like they (characters) were there with me.I can’t find the perfect words to describe the love i have for this book and for the author too.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING TO US A BOOK LIKE THIS,I REALLY NEEDED THIS.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING TO US A BOOK LIKE THIS,I REALLY NEEDED THIS.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2021
𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓼 𝓪 𝓰𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓼𝓶𝓸𝓴𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓶𝓲𝓻𝓻𝓸𝓻𝓼...
Firstly I want to say a huge thank you to the author Sunny for gifting me her book in exchange for a honest review. Safe to say, I LOVED this book!!!
The Oak is a gothic, mystery, historical fiction based on the 400 year old gothic mansion. The Oak. Dafne has inherited The Oak by her late Aunt Clara and she is back into her family home she was brought up in. As soon as Dafne settles into her new home, creepy things start happening. A strange breathing sound, things moving, touches but nothing is there. Soon Dafne is sure there is a presence but doesn't understand why. On top of that she finds diaries which she discoveries secrets, lies, betrayal and a self discovery about herself. On top of that someone in her past won't take no for an answer and more sinister things happen, that isn't by a spirit!
For a 220 page book damn it was jammed pack. I was extremely creeped out by the creepy goings on, however as I got into the book more I felt it was more friend than foe. Though it still made me have to read this book during the day, rather than night haha!
I absolutely loved the history by this book, reading all about The Oak was fascinating and the images I was making up of what it could possibly look like made reading fun. I absolutely adored Dafne a complete orphan and all on her own, yet she was strong and confident, stubborn at times and determined. Dafne is a young writer and an experienced one at that. I really liked learning all about her and her secrets. I adored Mr Panero who became her handy man and protector. He reminded me of a dear grandad with lots of stories to share. Then we have Claudio and Ivan, considering Dafne thinks no-one is interested in her, she had two very fit suitors who liked her a lot. Ivan for me took more of my fancy and I liked the slow burn of him and Dafne. Although at times infuriated by the pair of them. The creepiness of this book was very mysterious and left me on edge. However, after a while I started to appreciate it and slowly not feel so freaked out. It was nice to know that not all spirits are nasty...
I was so here for the mysteries in this story. At the start you have Dafne's narrative at present time (2003), then you slowly are incorporated into Eleanor's diaries between 1976-1977 and also Aunt Clara's between 1965-2003. I really liked these two diary entries and talk about secrets, lies, betrayal and hate. As you slowly get into the book, you are dived into these two lives even more and wow talk about some plot twist, I did not see any of that coming at all! I felt this made the book move up another level and I was certainly trying to work out all the pieces to make everything whole. Lets just say I feel for Dafne after all these revelations!
Then to Dafne's past, I won't spoil it but this certainly added on an extra edge of the story and damn does Dafne know how to put up a fight. I knew she had some strength in her. I was left again on the edge of my seat wondering how everything played out. I generally am still shook my all these turns of events.
I definitely am glad that I was given an opportunity to read such an incredible short book. Even with little length, this novel is packed with so many things that I absolutely love in a book. I definitely think Valerio as an author,is someone who we need to see more of, and I hope people will emplore this book and enjoy it like I have. Definitely an author to watch out for!
Firstly I want to say a huge thank you to the author Sunny for gifting me her book in exchange for a honest review. Safe to say, I LOVED this book!!!
The Oak is a gothic, mystery, historical fiction based on the 400 year old gothic mansion. The Oak. Dafne has inherited The Oak by her late Aunt Clara and she is back into her family home she was brought up in. As soon as Dafne settles into her new home, creepy things start happening. A strange breathing sound, things moving, touches but nothing is there. Soon Dafne is sure there is a presence but doesn't understand why. On top of that she finds diaries which she discoveries secrets, lies, betrayal and a self discovery about herself. On top of that someone in her past won't take no for an answer and more sinister things happen, that isn't by a spirit!
For a 220 page book damn it was jammed pack. I was extremely creeped out by the creepy goings on, however as I got into the book more I felt it was more friend than foe. Though it still made me have to read this book during the day, rather than night haha!
I absolutely loved the history by this book, reading all about The Oak was fascinating and the images I was making up of what it could possibly look like made reading fun. I absolutely adored Dafne a complete orphan and all on her own, yet she was strong and confident, stubborn at times and determined. Dafne is a young writer and an experienced one at that. I really liked learning all about her and her secrets. I adored Mr Panero who became her handy man and protector. He reminded me of a dear grandad with lots of stories to share. Then we have Claudio and Ivan, considering Dafne thinks no-one is interested in her, she had two very fit suitors who liked her a lot. Ivan for me took more of my fancy and I liked the slow burn of him and Dafne. Although at times infuriated by the pair of them. The creepiness of this book was very mysterious and left me on edge. However, after a while I started to appreciate it and slowly not feel so freaked out. It was nice to know that not all spirits are nasty...
I was so here for the mysteries in this story. At the start you have Dafne's narrative at present time (2003), then you slowly are incorporated into Eleanor's diaries between 1976-1977 and also Aunt Clara's between 1965-2003. I really liked these two diary entries and talk about secrets, lies, betrayal and hate. As you slowly get into the book, you are dived into these two lives even more and wow talk about some plot twist, I did not see any of that coming at all! I felt this made the book move up another level and I was certainly trying to work out all the pieces to make everything whole. Lets just say I feel for Dafne after all these revelations!
Then to Dafne's past, I won't spoil it but this certainly added on an extra edge of the story and damn does Dafne know how to put up a fight. I knew she had some strength in her. I was left again on the edge of my seat wondering how everything played out. I generally am still shook my all these turns of events.
I definitely am glad that I was given an opportunity to read such an incredible short book. Even with little length, this novel is packed with so many things that I absolutely love in a book. I definitely think Valerio as an author,is someone who we need to see more of, and I hope people will emplore this book and enjoy it like I have. Definitely an author to watch out for!
March 8, 2026
The Oak is a beautifully written gothic thriller that kept me hooked from the very first page. The atmosphere of the ancient mansion in rural Italy is haunting and immersive, making the setting feel almost like a character of its own. Dafne is a compelling protagonist, and her journey to uncover her past is both emotional and suspenseful. The blend of mystery, family secrets, and subtle supernatural elements makes this novel incredibly engaging. A fantastic read for anyone who enjoys dark, atmospheric stories.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews