This book is historical fiction meets paranormal horror and it does that job very well. It is not what I expected going into the story. The main characters have a bad case of insta-love, which is not uncommon in YA, but it seems so out of left field for me. I expected it to take a lot longer with these two.

Overall, the story kept me interested and a twist that I expected to happen, didn't, so it kept me surprised. I'm heading into book 2 now.

*** I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review ***

Immediately enjoyed this novel as soon as I started reading. I’m on a gothic/ historical kick right now as evidenced by all the Korean historical webtoons I’ve read lately, and really found this interesting to read.

The characters weren’t immediately annoying. The main female lead felt like a human - she is torn between doing the right thing and her suspicions about the family she marries into. She tries to become a part of her in-laws, but is presented with so many conflicting events and patterns, that something just doesn’t add up. I really enjoyed reading her as a character, because she felt like a real person.

The other characters grew as the novel continued, which drew me into being invested into the story.

Now, onto the horror bit: YES this has horror! And it’s good! And it’s scary and creeps you out! I felt satisfied at the end of the novel and not frustrated, unlike other horror books I’ve read recently that just have poor, disappointing endings. It was even better BECAUSE the author managed to get me invested in the characters and the setting.

This is a read that I would definitely suggest to someone who enjoys romance with a bit of historical fiction and horror and thriller.

At first I didn’t think I’d enjoy this book but by the fourth chapter I was hooked. Sophie selflessly marries a man to keep her father and sibling from poverty. When she arrives at her new home she realizes that there’s something wrong with the house. It was a book full of suspense and just enough romance to not make me want to gag!

This book exceeded my expectations, I love the combination of romance, mystery and terror, I loved how the author plasma the gothic setting and terror, in truth it is the first time I read this type of reading and I do not regret anything, I know that some situations are delicate for some people but I am some who like this .

'House of Shadows' tells the exceptional story of Sophie. Her father got into financial difficulties, and one of his connections sees his chance. Mr. Argenton asks for Sophie's hand. When she married him, it wasn't because of love. However, she slowly seems to fall for him. On the other hand, she didn't know what she was getting herself into. The Argenton house doesn't seem like the perfect home. It's harsh for her to fit in and understand what is happening in the house.

This is a rather sweet gothic romance story. It wasn't as haunting and scary as I expected it to be. The gothic romance is combined with the thriller genre and a bit of horror/paranormal. It was a very new way of reading to me. I hadn't seen this combination before and I must admit: I was hooked from the first page.
Darcy Coates was unknown to me. I hadn't heard about this author before, and it feels like such a shame because she is such a good writer. Her way of writing is ideal for this genre. It's dark, haunting and most of all it has such a formal feel to it. Her characters received a very spoken personality due to this. She used her words, to make theirs stronger.
Another thing which I liked was the setting. It was creepy and made the house exactly what the author tried to show. For real, I felt so sorry for Sophie to live there. It gave me the chills and I felt as if the house was alive. Really liked the atmosphere used to describe rooms.
Some characters were a bit plain, but it didn't bother me. The main characters were fine, could be rounder, to be honest. Sometimes I felt like they reacted very similar to earlier situations. As if they had a list of answers to give and not answering with their hearts. Overall, some scenes could have been a little more detailed to make it more interesting.

I truly fell in love with Darcy Coates' writing style and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Note to self: Do not start reading a Darcy Coates novel at midnight! For two reasons, I didn't sleep a wink: (1) I could not put this book down, and (2) I was so on edge that I was terrified of what could possibly be lurking in the shadows and couldn't stop listening for the things that go bump in the night.

It begins simply enough: Sophie encounters a dashing stranger at the opera and becomes mesmerized by his alluring eyes. On the surface, Joseph has it all: wealth, charm, and good looks. What else could a girl want? After Sophie's father suffers a financial setback, Joseph proposes marriage, and her father hopes this arrangement will save her from ruin. Soon, the two are wed, and Sophie is whisked away to Joseph's family estate. Here, the simplicity abruptly ends. The home is cloaked in mystery, and something sinister threatens Sophie's happiness and her very existence.

If a gothic horror novel somehow had a love child with a historical romance, this book would be that child. The result is something that feels very much like a fairytale for adults. Sure, it begins with a wedding and a promise of a happily-ever-after, but Sophie's experiences in the house catapult it to a whole other level. There are strange noises, eerie music, and vivid illusions. There are unsettling family member, dreadful bargains, and forbidden sections of the house. Something's not right there, and even animals sense the suffocating wrongness that surrounds the property. Will Sophie solve the house's mystery before it's too late, and will she escape the danger that jeopardizes her happy ending?

If you like your books with a dash of spookiness, definitely pick this one up. It's some fast-paced gothic goodness that will leave you wanting more from Darcy Coates. Enjoy!

House of Shadows by Darcy Coates is a dark and twisty thriller that does not disappoint!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.