I admit I was confused for a good chunk of this book. It felt like I had picked up a sequel where all of the backstory information was given in the first and never mentioned again. I thought perhaps this perspective was given so I, as the reader, would be just as confused as the protagonist was and would figure out the plot as they did.
Unfortunately, that wasn't exactly the case.

These Fleeting Shadows is a classic YA horror novel complete with a family with lots of skeletons in the closet, a bunch of secrets, and some paranormal activity for good measure. It follows Helen of the prestigious Vaughan family, who is plagued with nightmares and hallucinations. Helen's emotional disturbances were depicted in a way that was both sensitive and that added to the overall creep factor to the story. Helen is still a likeable character despite it, and Marshall weaves them into the story by making Helen's nightmares and hallucinations relevant to the larger plot.
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Upon the death of her grandfather, Helen learns that she is to inherit her family's estate but before she can come into it she has to live there for a year. In her year living at her family's estate, Helen uncovers lots of dark secrets about her ancestors, her extended family, and even herself. She seemingly interacts with dead people connected to her family, and knows things she shouldn't. Even though this book is about a messed-up family, I thought that the dynamics were done really well, especially the push-pull between Helen and her mom and how Helen finds allies in her cousins.
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A unique book that is so well-written.

Kate Alice Marshall’s These Fleeting Shadows is an atmospheric and chilling gothic horror that grips readers from its first haunting page and doesn’t let go. With its labyrinthine setting, sinister family secrets, and eerie supernatural undertones, this novel is a must-read for fans of gothic fiction and psychological thrillers.

The story centers on Helen Vaughan, a relatable and determined protagonist who inherits Harrowstone Hall—a sprawling, malevolent estate teeming with secrets. The one-year condition of her inheritance quickly spirals into a waking nightmare as Harrow begins to warp not just Helen’s surroundings, but her very sense of self. Marshall excels in creating an oppressive and unsettling atmosphere; the house is almost a character in its own right, with its twisting corridors and inexplicable phenomena.

What sets These Fleeting Shadows apart is its seamless blend of gothic tropes with modern storytelling. The mystery of Harrow unfolds in layers, revealing chilling family betrayals and horrifying truths that are both shocking and deeply tied to Helen’s identity. The creeping dread builds steadily, punctuated by moments of visceral terror and heart-stopping twists that keep the reader guessing until the end.

Marshall’s writing is vivid and evocative, painting the decaying grandeur of Harrow in stark contrast to the growing sense of dread. Helen’s journey of self-discovery is as compelling as the horror elements, offering readers a protagonist who is complex, vulnerable, and ultimately resilient.

While the novel’s climax is undeniably gripping, some readers might find certain revelations to be slightly rushed or overwhelming. Even so, the emotional payoff and the lingering unease make the journey worthwhile.

These Fleeting Shadows is perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House or Sarah Perry’s Melmoth. It’s a darkly enchanting tale that explores themes of family, legacy, and identity, leaving readers to question not just what lies within the house, but what lies within themselves.

While I absolutely gobbled up KAM's first release, after rereading and quickly reading every release up to this point to get caught up, I feel like all of her books have the same plot line. There is always a girl who has gone through something horrifc that nobody believes, only for them to somehow take the soul of another random girl. I kid you not, this happened in like 3/4 books of hers I have read.

I do not, not reccomend this, but my advice is to separate them from each other so you are not reading the same twist over and over.

I loved the atmosphere created once they arrived at Harrow. By the mid-way point though, my interest was waning and by the end, I was looking forward to it being over.

I really wanted to like this book, but it was not my favorite. It sounded like a great mystery/horror read but I felt disconnected with the story and the characters. It was still enjoyable.

Throughout the book it was slow paced and very confusing to me at some points. I did like the clues and the mystery about the Harrow house. The confusing and weird things that kept happening to the main character, Helen, kept me interested throughout most of the book but at times the pacing felt slow to me and I had to remind myself to keep reading.

The parts of this book that I really enjoyed were her interactions and relationships with Bryony, Desmond, and Cecilia. Helen's relationship with Bryony was kind of an insta-love romance, but I still liked it.

I think that one of the issues I was having with this book was the writing style and how confusing it was. On some of the authors descriptions, I could not picture the scene.

Although I thought I would enjoy it more I still recommend this book if it sounds like something you would read.

Read this book if you like:
-YA horror
-a good mystery
-plot twists
-sapphic books

Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group for an ARC.

Archived prior to being able to read the book. Lost interest in trying to pick it up. I was originally interested but as it sat in my library, I did not feel the summary grabbed my attention anymore.

This was creepy and kept me on my toes throughout the whole book!! I didn't expect anything that was happening!

I tried three times to get into this book but unfortunately I will be DNFing at about 45%. I'm not exactly sure what it was about it that wasn't working, but I frequently felt confused and like the story wasn't pulling me in. I was very interested in the premise but this one just wasn't for me. I would definitely be willing to try another book by this author, especially another horror with sapphic romance!

This mystery reminded me of knives out slash glass onion slash clue! The solving a mystery throughout with twists I never saw coming

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

Wow. This is good YA horror book. The plot is well placed, and the characters feel well rounded with some growth as well.

4/5

This book messes with your head, and the twist is pretty gasp-worthy. That being said, to me, the book is too long and the story drags in places.

These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall caught my attention because I want to get back into horror but not anything gory. I just want creepy. And well, based on the cover, this book looks creepy. Thanks to the magic of audiobooks, I was able to get to this sooner rather than later. Helen Vaughn and her mother left their home, Harrowstone Hall when Helen was very young and she isn't quite sure why. Flash forward to Helen being a teenager and the patriarch of Harrow has died. Helen and her mother are called back. Surprisingly, the will names Helen as heir. However, to inherit, for all the family to inherit, she has to stay for a year. Seems easy, except Harrow is kind of like a labyrinth and there's many secrets and it just may be sinister. Also there is sort of a supernatural element.

I did not love These Fleeting Shadows. However, that could be because I am still trying to find my way in the genre, re-acclimate myself and figure out what I do like. There were some twists that I found to be quite creepy. Yet, I was never really all that invested in Helen or the plot. It was just kind of there as in hmmm okay I'll go along with this as I listen. The audiobook is narrated by Megan Trout and it is 10 hours and 54 minutes. I feel like the audiobook wasn't all that memorable. Your mileage may vary with this story. Overall, I'd give it 2.75 stars.

I loved this book, finding it hard to put down for even a moment. I loved the atmospheric setting, the characters and the twists and turns of the story. With this book being compared to Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, I went into this hoping that there would be lots of frights and chills up and down the spine. Thankfully this book not only lived up to my expectations, but exceeded them.

This is one of those books that it’s hard to talk about as I don’t want to give anything away. I will say that I really loved the fact that I didn’t see the twist and big revelation coming. The eventual truth and knowledge behind the house, why Helen and her mom left and more importantly why Helen’s grandfather left her the house were all things that didn’t even enter into my mind. Finding out the truth was such a surprise and made the story that much more enjoyable for its originality.

This is a book that. I know I will return to again and again, especially in the fall when I do my annual horror themed reading.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

The story follows Helen, who’s always been an outsider, after she inherits her family’s estate and its secrets. I enjoyed how the narrative tackled putting familial issues on a teenage girl and the blame that is put on them for mistakes. The novel deals with legacy, what does that mean, and the harm it causes. This is very much the core of the story and I liked it. Also, the twist was fantastic! I didn’t see it coming (not fully) and it brought some great ethical conversations with it. The plot of this novel was definitely the highlight.

Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the characters. I found the character dynamics not to my taste. I didn’t find myself invested in Helen’s romance and social relationships. There were small conflicts with the romance interest and her new friends, but it was resolved quickly and not explored enough for me to care about it. I don’t believe the characters were badly done just not for me. You may enjoy these characters more than I did!

These Fleeting Shadows is a good gothic story with a great twist! If you’re into dark fantasy or creepy but not too scary stories with queer characters I would recommend you give it a read.

Wow - this plot twist caught me off guard!
The beginning of this horror novel was kind of meh for me, it dragged a bit for me and I couldn´t grasp what it tried to tell me - after the plot twist, it of course made a lot of sense. And I really enjoyed how the conflict was resolved. The second half was a 5 out of 5 for me.

Creepy read that will be enjoyed by y.a. readers.

Helen is forced to come to terms with family secrets as she is reintroduced to her mysterious family from which she and her mother have been estranged.

A distant family, a family legacy and an inheritance that maybe too good to be true. The spectral and unnatural feeling that Marshall is able to create gives this story its edge. With every page that is read there is a build up that has an unexpected end. In some moments, the writing seems to be at times convoluted and makes the intention hard to keep track with. But over all a spooky tail of generational inheritance.

I knew from the start that this would be pretty spooky which I was super excited for. This did not disappoint at all There were many twists and turns that kept me intrigued and I was invested in the story even if it did take me a while. Following Helen wasn't hard at all since she is a very interesting character. Overall, this is a perfect creepy read that many will enjoy!