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Audrey is supposed to be attending the exclusive performing arts academy she has dreamed of attending her entire life. However, one wrong click landed her at the exclusive House of Shadows a… vampire academy.
Once Audrey discovers the truth of where she is, it is too late to leave without an entire coven of vampires realizing she is human and their next meal. Forced to remain at the academy, Audrey finds herself fitting in a world unlike any she had ever imagined. As she settles into her new role, a dark secret emerges and Audrey is now in danger...again.
Only, one boy can save Audrey from a dark secret lurking within the House of Shadows. But, will his desire to save her withstand the hunger he feels for her? Discover this exciting new academy series today!

Fans of the House of Night and Twilight will adore this new series.

151 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 2020

215 people are currently reading
802 people want to read

About the author

Michelle Areaux

60 books232 followers
Michelle Areaux is a wife, mother, and seventh grade Language Arts teacher.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky and a Master’s degree in Literacy from Asbury University.

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5 stars
57 (17%)
4 stars
53 (15%)
3 stars
80 (24%)
2 stars
74 (22%)
1 star
69 (20%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
Profile Image for Mikky.
983 reviews283 followers
dnf
May 9, 2020
DNF At 12%

This sounded like a great story but from the beginning, something didn't sit right with me. After I realized that the novel could have stopped in chapter three and have never gone anywhere it lost me.

The answer was so simple that it became stupid. They could have just made up a reason to not have her as a student, call her dad to pick her up and be done with it. They didn't need to tell her they were vampires or threaten to kill her. They could have just asked what school she thought she was attending realized it was the wrong one and have sent her on her way back home.

I bearly got into the novel but one other thing that bothered me was how the dialogue was stiff because the author didn't use contractions. Having one character have the "quirk" of speaking while not using any contractions is cool. Having everyone speak stiffly is not.

It's clear this novel is not for me. I'll be moving onto the next book!
Profile Image for Danielle (The Blonde Likes Books).
680 reviews436 followers
December 3, 2023
Ughhh I wrote out a review and got to the end and the app quit on me and I lost the whole thing 😭 I’ll try and remember what I wrote.

Basically it said, I struggled to rate this one. I did enjoy the plot, even if it was basic and predictable, but the writing itself was really rough. It felt like the author wrote the book straight through in one go and then never went back and re-read it for editing. There were really simple mistakes, like the spelling of characters names changing (Zain/Zane, Lain/Lane), the wrong characters names used (Zane instead of Alex) that made scenes not make sense, autocorrect mistakes (exLained instead of explained or carve instead of curb), and the author didn’t seem to like contractions, so the dialogue was written in a way that felt stilted and unnatural. I think a good edit would do this book a world of good.

On the plus side, it’s a short book so it didn’t take too long to get through, and I did enjoy the story itself and I do kind of what to know what happens next, so I may pick up the second one if it’s on KU. Overall I’d rate this one a 1.5 but have to round down because of how bad the writing was. It truly distracted from the book, and it was frequent, not just once or twice.
Profile Image for Kristie.
112 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2023
What in the wattpad did I just read?
This book was the messiest, fastest, badly written thing I’ve read in a long time. Thankfully I downloaded it for free and it only took me an hour to read so my pain didn’t last for long. Plot was way too fast, nothing made sense and none of the characters had personality. This book could’ve been about 130 pages shorter by the main character showing up to the wrong school (also lmao house of shows vs house of shadows I couldn’t stop laughing at that), the vampires realising she was a human, compelling her to forget they existed and sent her on her merry way. Regardless of the plot, the grammar was awful and there were multiple spelling mistakes throughout- like Zane was written as Zain a couple times, and was it Lain or Lane because both were written.
Profile Image for CJ.
381 reviews38 followers
October 13, 2023
This reads like a teenager's Twilight fan fiction. I liked Twilight... loved it even, but this was not that.



Summary

Audrey is accepted into the prestigious art school of her dreams. Or so she thought. Turns out she is at a very exclusive school for vampires. Now, when this mistake is known, could the vampires have just NOT TOLD HER ANYTHING and sent her back to her normal life? YES, yes they could have. They don't though. They tell her everything about the school and then inform her they cannot send her home, but she can go to school there for the semester. Soooo... they are going to let her learn EVEN more about the school and the vampire secrets and THEN let her go?





Audrey is in a baby love triangle with two of the vampires (Donavan & Zane) and she makes a vampire BFF right away. One of the guys is not what you think he is and Audrey learns she may not be safe here.





My Thoughts

The plot and writing were juvenile even for a YA book. I found many editing errors. Note these editing errors don't really change my rating for a book, but I have found that the more errors, the less polished the plot and story line of the book appear to be. I would have given this book 3 stars out of my love for small authors if the book did not end TOTALLY UNRESOLVED. You resolve the major problem and then you come up with a new problem for cliffhanger. Like I got through this book. All I wanted was a little resolution!



Quotes

"I refuse to sit back and watch as you risk your life because you can't see what a nightmare Zane is. But, it's your life. Just don't come crying to me when you find out the truth," Donovan spat out.
Taking a step back, I felt like he had just assaulted me. "Fine by me. I don't need you." I ecLained (**That is actually how it is in the book***), locking eyes with Donavan so he could see I meant what I was saying.

Profile Image for Imi.
22 reviews
Read
February 7, 2025
I was on holiday and had no books with me and apparently this was on my kindle app.

Not my proudest read.

This took me back to being 13 and discovering Wattpad all over again.
Profile Image for Kelsey Attwood.
245 reviews
September 10, 2023
0.5 Stars

It feels like a book I would have read when I was younger that, as an adult, made me cringe so hard and the writing wasn’t as high level as the previous books I’ve read.

The premise was promising but the execution could have been better
Profile Image for Kelsey Murphy.
63 reviews1 follower
August 8, 2023
This sounded like an interesting read however after only a couple chapters the female lead annoyed me to no end. She is scared but basically accepts things just because one girl is nice and tries to help her. Everything just seems way too rushed.
Profile Image for Kaye.
7,177 reviews71 followers
March 30, 2020
ONE ADRENALINE PUMPING DELIGHT!!!
Need for speed! Michelle rocks this baby from start with all the ingenuity, immense talent, imagination, passion and unique insight, fusing this little gem together sleek, shiny and tight. A tumultuous wild ride with a slew of fervent events and baffling circumstances, blasts those swirling emotions into play, blasting it to life beautifully. Anarchy, escapades and havoc run amuck, blowing this gem into a roaring tempest, blasting it into a frenzy with a mind-blowing culmination. Satisfaction is an understatement, this baby comes packing a punch that'll bring you to your knees, keeping you riveted on a razors edge. Rousting the drama, turmoil, intrigue, danger, mounting suspense and nerve racking situations along with a boatload of trouble while dodging bedlem, makes for one chart topping, jaw dropping experience. Maneuvering through terrifying trials and torrid tribulations, noting the shocking twists and wicked turns, testing our characters in ways they could have never envisioned. Dynamics and countenance in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this web so deep until everything else ceases to exist. The characters are complex and authentic with depth and traits that blend and flow, transforming into genuinely relatable personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions you have no problem picturing each scenario creating a colorful backdrop that makes the storyline pop. Amazing job Michelle, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
Profile Image for Elle Schroder.
153 reviews9 followers
May 4, 2025
This book is very poorly written.

'Just ahead of us is a large opening leading to the auditorium. A large opening to what I now assumed was the auditorium just ahead of us.'

Unnecessary repetition that should have been caught with a simple proofread.

'The Dean assured me he would launch an investigation, but I told him it wasn’t necessary. While I had a choice to tell him that I thought Brie was behind the so-called accident, I didn’t have any evidence to prove my theory. I would just have to hope that in their investigation they would uncover her as the culprit themselves.'

So she told him not to do an investigation, then hoped the investigation she'd asked them not to do would uncover the answers. Um, what? That makes zero sense.

There were so many typos (one that really jumped out at me was Buffett (complete with capital) used repeatedly instead of buffet), wrong names used, repetition, lack of clarity, lack of continuity, and so on. It definitely needed a proofread, but honestly, before that it needs a rewrite. The plot is ridiculously simple, the heroine is too stupid to live, the foreshadowing is clunky....

If I wasn't reading it for a challenge, I would have DNF'd it.
Profile Image for Holly Vincent.
70 reviews2 followers
April 14, 2020
*** I’m volunteering to review this arc ***
This story is a paranormal romance. It’s also fast paced with a little bit of action and it has some suspense with some secrets. Audrey Monroe is just your average girl. So how did she get into The House of Shadows which is a prestigious vampire academy she couldn’t figure it out. It differently wasn’t the The House of Shows that she thought she was going. During her time there she meets Eden and Donovan Sullivan and she also meets Zane. She becomes attracted to Donovan and Zane.Then she stumbled into something she shouldn’t have and so someone is been trying to scare and kill her. Will she find out why she got into the school? Will she find out what is going on at the academy? Who should she trust? Who will she turn to Donovan or Zane? Who will she give her hear too?
I look forward to continuing to learn and her more about Audrey, Donovan and Zane. The second book is called Unleashed: House of Shadows

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Meghan.
368 reviews
August 20, 2023
I got this through KU purely to fulfill a prompt for the PopSugar Reading challenge (author with the same initials). I was not a Twilight fan, so this book really didn’t hit for me like it may have for others. It felt rushed with no real character development to see the hows and whys of the plot. There’s a cliffhanger to encourage you to read book 2, but I’m not invested enough to continue. Maybe if Audrey, Eden and Donovan were more detailed, I’d want to know what happens with them and Zane.

*other reviewers have pointed have there’s some grammatical errors and whatnot. Yes, they are present, but I don’t find them to be so severe to detract from the meaning. My review rests more of the fact that things seem to be missing from the text. An idea is certainly present, but I need more detail as a reader. However, I haven’t ever attempted to write a book, so there’s that too.*
1,491 reviews7 followers
April 5, 2020
Audrey believes she has just been enrolled in prestigious drama school instead she has ended up in a school full of vampires and she mite just end up on the menu. She makes friend with the dean's daughter but her twin Donavan is moody and angry another boy Zane is almost to perfect to be true he says all the write things but there's something going on with him and Audrey has been warned about him is it all just a mistake. Something wrong is going on at the school now did a human get in and why is she there. This book ends in a cliffhanger can't wait to see if Audrey is smart enough and brave enough to save herself in the next book.

I was allowed to receive and advance copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my honest review.
662 reviews9 followers
March 2, 2020
Excellent start to the series. Audrey is mistakenly accepted to the House of Shadows Academy. She is the only human at an all vampire academy. She navigates her residency at the academy with the help of the dean’s twin children. She also finds a romantic interest with one of her bodyguards. It’s a good story with plenty of suspense and plot twists. Betrayals and secrets are revealed as to why Audrey is at the House of Shadows. The book ends in a cliffhanger but I’m on edge to find out what happens next with Audrey.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lenna  Wright.
3,413 reviews35 followers
March 30, 2020
New reader to this author and I’m impressed. I was a huge fan of Vampire Academy, House of Night and other similar stories years ago since there is always more to the story that has to wait for more to read, well the same. Great story from start to mild cliffhanger and Audrey has a great group of friends that are vampires but one is a fraud and a teacher is not wanted to follow the rules about humans. Will Audrey and her friends beat her ex in his game and gain the man who hungers for her or will she loss her life and be the cause of what will happen in the near future to the school?.?

Now to wait.
4,498 reviews21 followers
April 2, 2020
Audrey thinks she is going to her dream high school for performing arts but instead ends up the only human at a Vampire Academy. The characters were intense and complex due to their usual teenage hidden secrets and that pesky vampire thing. There was a bit of a mystery too. She ends up with guards to help her survive but that does not exactly go as planned as things escalate as expected at a high school. I liked the story and the pace as Audrey learns about herself and her new schoolmates. Entertaining and hard to put down as had to keep reading to see what would happen next.
Profile Image for Christina Luberts.
2,779 reviews7 followers
April 4, 2020
This is a short read, but full of suspense. I feel teens and young adults would like to read this book. Audrey has always loved acting and wanted to make her mom proud even though she was not around any more. Her dad got her into the school she wanted, at least that is what they thought. What will she do when she finds out it is a whole different type of school? Who can she trust? What are some of them really up to? Will she live or will someone take her out?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Aimee Dennis.
309 reviews4 followers
April 6, 2020
Great start to a new series, House of Shadows. Audrey’s father somehow manages to enroll her in a vampire academy and it’s too late to back out now. Although several of the classes are similar to the human academies there are some major differences. How anyone can navigate through a classes, hallways and dorm rooms full of predators is anyone’s guess. Loved this story and cast of characters. Can’t wait for the next installment of this adventure.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Rebekah Brehm.
12 reviews4 followers
July 4, 2023
good but…

So the book is good. But it’s fast paced, which I don’t really mind but I will say there’s a time skip within a couple weeks which I wish I could’ve read to see if anything more has happened. Also there are some typos in there and some grammar issues. Which I kinda over looked. I mean in my opinion they are annoying to see but it didn’t bother me too too much. It also felt like the author used “or so I thought” or something along those lines a bit too much it seemed kind of repetitive. But it’s a good short story to read.
Profile Image for Liv.
767 reviews11 followers
dnf
May 14, 2024
DNF at 63% unfortunately.

This book had WAY too much telling and not enough showing. Being spoon fed every single line, emotion, observation and plot point… I stuck it out to 63% in the hopes it either got better or could be salvaged with a negative review but it’s difficult.

Not to mention it’s in need of serious revision and editing, given the grammar mistakes, spelling errors and general lack of consistency throughout the contents.

I’m gutted for the results of this book given that the premise was AMAZING and I was super excited for it…
1,147 reviews13 followers
March 8, 2020
Audrey wants nothing more than to be an actress. Its her lifelong dream. So she is going to attend the school of shows. Instead someone has made a mistake and she has been registered in the house of shadows where it is dangerous to be a human. This was a decidedly new twist on the vampire tales. The characters had alot of depth and secrets. It was a captivating story that I cannot wait to read more of.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Elizabeth McDaniel.
2,383 reviews
March 9, 2020
Audrey was supposed to go to an exclusive academy for acting but ended up being the only human in an academy of vampires. The dean’s children, Eden and Donovan immediately befriended her. Donovan fell for her but she fell for Zane. But something bad was going on and no one really knew who was behind it. Interesting and exciting read

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Linda Frigault.
272 reviews6 followers
April 2, 2020
Audrey Monroe finds herself enrolled at House of shadows by mistake. But was it a mistake? Being the only human in a school full of vampires what could possibly go wrong? If you like a good YA vampire academy read you should pick this one up and enjoy your reading time. It was an entertaining read and I can't wait to see what will happen next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Cassi Sanchez-Manning.
182 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2020
A supernatural Academy story that pulled me in from page 1!!!

Audrey believes she has been accepted to the school of her dreams but instead she ends up in a school full of vampires!

If you enjoy shows like Vampire Diaries, Legacies and The Originals, you will love this book! I’m looking forward to the next in the series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Caroline Doig.
5,460 reviews49 followers
April 12, 2020
I loved this story it’s about Audrey who’s dreamed of going to the exclusive performing arts academy but one mistake later she’s ended up at the House of Shadows a vampire academy, one human surrounded by vampires is not healthy at all but luckily for Audrey she has bodyguards and Zane who she has feelings for but is Zane as he seems or is he just too perfect?. Loved this story and I can’t wait to read book 2 and I definitely recommend this book.
Profile Image for Crystal.
7 reviews
July 25, 2023
This was a quick read for me, read it in one evening. I agree with some other reviews that Audrey could have been removed from the school without ever realising that vampires exist. The book was written well, however towards the final chapters a few spelling/grammar mistakes slipped through the cracks. Aside from these points I do want to continue the series to see how the events at the end of the book are resolved
Profile Image for Crystal.
180 reviews
March 25, 2024
3.5 Stars

This was a nice little read which I enjoyed. I liked the world that has been set up and felt it was a bit different to some of the other vampire related books that I have read before. For me personally I also didn't feel that there was much filler which was great as the story then seemed to flow quite nicely. I'm quite looking forward to seeing what happens next as this book definitely ended on a cliff hanger.
Profile Image for Stacey Rankin.
470 reviews2 followers
March 24, 2020
Loved this book. Fantastic main character, best friend and antagonists. The story is great, very mysterious and suspenseful with a giant twist of betrayal and nefarious evil activity at the end. I cannot wait for what comes next because everyone knows, after betrayal comes revenge.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Cheryl Sedman.
1,159 reviews11 followers
April 5, 2020
What a great new series this is growing to be. We meet Audrey who thinks she is going to the house of shows academy, when she arrives it's called the house of shadows and is filled with vampires.
Audrey goes through many twists and turns to end the book figuring things out just before the dance. Totally need to see what happens next after all that was brought to attention.
10.8k reviews125 followers
April 6, 2020
This is the 2nd book I've read written by Michelle Areaux; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I loved the chemistry between the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
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