The Haunted Mansion: Storm & Shade is a fun middle grade/young adult mystery thriller. While I really enjoyed it, it felt a bit long to me at times.

The Haunted Mansion: Storm and Shade was a fun read and a wonderful addition to the haunted mansion lore. It's very fun to see them adding to the lore of the haunted mansion

I had such high hopes for this book but was a tad disappointed the story was good and definitely a coming of age book but there just wasn’t much Haunted Mansion to it and for a book set there I just wanted more I guess. Over all a good YA book

The author did a wonderful job of keeping the Haunted Mansion spirit! (No pun intended) I imagine it is hard to write a complete book on the ride without trying explain a backstory which would ruin the mystique of it all. We still have all our spooky fun, many familiar (also no fun intended) faces, and an excellent villain. This book takes place at the New Orleans Haunted Mansion as most fans know there are different ones. You definitely feel like you are there and the characters are fun without too much teenage angst so good for all ages!

There’s a new Haunted Mansion book out, and it’s a delightfully spooky addition to the iconic Disney ride’s lore. “The Haunted Mansion: Storm & Shade” by Claudia Gray is heavily inspired by both the Disneyland attraction and the macabre history of New Orleans.

More from my review for Attractions:

“Storm & Shade” follows teenager Audrey, who just moved to historic New Orleans proper and started a new school. Audrey has anxiety, especially when it comes to big changes and social situations. But she finds beauty and comfort in the darkness of old buildings and haunted abodes.

When she stumbles upon the Mansion, Audrey and her two new friends uncover a sinister plot that has even the 999 happy haunts scared to death. Pun intended.

With all of Gray’s stories, the author is known for excellent growth and delving into the darker parts of relationships — no matter how young they are. This is also true for IP-based (intellectual property) stories like “Star Wars” and Haunted Mansion.

However, “Storm & Shade” is the weakest of Gray’s IP books when it comes to connecting the characters’ authentic struggles with the established Disney ride lore.

If you love the Haunted Mansion ride, you will like this book. All the classic characters make an appearance, and there’s even a new ghostly addition named Sterling. He loves books and spectral photography.

There’s also a slow-burn mystery unfolding as Audrey and her friends investigate the Mansion and what has the ghosts of New Orleans so spooked. This supernatural mystery allows for the best and creepiest parts of the book — including a cameo by the infamous Axeman of New Orleans.

But Audrey’s mental health struggles feel disconnected from the Haunted Mansion’s problems, even as her story includes authentic representation of anxiety and positive therapy experiences.

In short, Audrey’s story didn’t need the Haunted Mansion aspects, but the Mansion storyline needed hers.

This is only a guess, but the disjointedness may be because of inflexibility with a Disney property. The Haunted Mansion arguably has the most room for creativity and expansion of its lore, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney exerts strict control over how its attractions are used in new stories.

Still, Gray’s voice still shines in the depictions of Audrey’s emotional growth and the power of friendship. The book overall is sweetly romantic and full of spooky but not too scary vibes – perfect for all ages fans of the Haunted Mansion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I would like to begin this review by stating I always get excited with I see a Disney Publishing Worldwide book because they have never left me unentertained. Thank you for putting out wonderful material.

The book was not really spookie but entertaining and mysterious. It very much felt like the Disney ride it is based on. The best part about this novel was the protagonist and the way Claudia Gray chose to represent her.

Audrey is relatable for many students, besides moving into a new home with a new school.l, she has the same friend, relationship,grades and fitting in worried most kids have. Like myself, at her age and many other readers, she suffers from debilitating anxieties.

I can not give the author enough praise for her healthy representation of Audrey' mental health battles. I truly believe it will help others to ask for help, so thank you.

Audrey is angsty and moody in the best ways. When she's forced to move closer to the city, she knows major life changes will happen and she's not excited for it: new school (all girls and a HIDEOUS uniform), having to make new friends, navigating a new routine while coping with anxiety, having to keep up with her therapist... and worst of all, dealing with a "long-distance" relationship. She had finally managed to settle into her old life and start a relationship with Chase... and then her parents had to move. While dealing with all the stress moving comes with, Audrey escapes for a bit and finds an old, seemingly abandoned mansion: yes, THE HAUNTED MANSION: home of 999 ghosts.
When Audrey befriends Iris and Tatum, she slowly convinces them of the haunted nature of the mansion and they set about exploring. But not all the spooks are as handsome and intelligent as the librarian Sterling, most of them are playful and pranksters. Trying to get proof of the paranormal proves almost impossible, but it doesn't stop the trio from trying.
When a series of ghostly possessions plague Audrey, the trio try to figure out what is happening and prevent the Shade from taking over the mansion and nibbling on the 999 ghosts as snacks. Can the girls save the mansion, their town, the world? Read on to find out!

Audrey Perez is a lot like many teens, juggling school, social lives, romantic partners, as well as a signifiant amount of anxiety about all of the above. Added to these challenges, her family has just moved towns, meaning Audrey has to leave behind her familiar school, friend group, and especially her boyfriend. While out exploring her new neighborhood by taking pictures, she stumbles on an abandoned looking mansion, which holds more secrets than she could possibly imagine! With help from her two new Gracey Academy friends, as well as a compelling young man, Audrey sets out to solve the mystery of the Haunted Mansion, before it's too late...

I especially liked the author's descriptions of how Audrey's anxiety makes her feel, and the overall treatment of this part of the story. I know more than a few people who can relate to Audrey's feelings, and I thought Ms Gray handled the subject in a forthright, yet sensitive way.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review!

There is a lot to like about this story. Fans of the Haunted Mansion, particularly the Disneyland version, are going to love all the nods to the lore surrounding this classic attraction. As a former resident of New Orleans, I also loved all the details of one of my favorite cities. I lived in the same part of town that Audrey and her family moved to, and this book definitely nailed what it’s like to live in that area! My favorite detail was the inclusion of the Axeman of New Orleans, a real serial killer from the early 1900s that was never captured.

This book is intended for teens and YA, but you wouldn’t know it from the plot itself. If you take out the more mature language, references, and relationships, this story could easily pass for a middle grade novel. I would classify it as a mystery with supernatural elements, but not a true scary story. Readers wanting a book to give them the shivers will probably be bored by this tale. However, readers who want just a hint of spookiness with great characters will really enjoy this one! The Haunted Mansion is indeed haunted, but the spirits within are very similar to the ghosts found on the actual attraction - more silly than anything else.

I loved the anxiety representation in this book as well as Audrey’s positive experience with therapy. The three friendships that take center stage in the adventure felt strong and authentic. This book will be great for big fans of the Haunted Mansion and teen literature, but readers (young and old) who really want to get freaked out would be better off looking elsewhere.

The Haunted Mansion: Storm and Shade is a fun addition to the Haunted Mansion lore with likeable, realistic characters, delightful spooks, and a looming threat that is scary without being overdramatic.

Audrey's family moves from the suburbs to New Orleans proper, taking Audrey away from her friends and boyfriend and pushing her anxiety into hyperdrive. While she's worried about attending private school (one with revolting uniforms), the discovery of an abandoned mansion in her new neighborhood provides her with the perfect place to practice her photography. But the mansion is more than it seems, and Audrey's curiosity soon garners her more terror and danger than she's ever expected, placing her at the center of a threat to the entire world, living and dead.

Audrey is a great main character. She's a typical high school student who worries about friends, relationships, and her family. She also suffers from pretty severe anxiety, which is described in an authentic and sympathetic way. Audrey is receiving help for her anxiety, and it's good to see her put different techniques into use to help her feel better. Some of these tips may be helpful for readers who suffer from their own anxiety (myself included). It's also great to see Audrey grow throughout the story; as she spends more time at the Haunted Mansion and experiences more supernatural events, she grows more confident in herself and her abilities, and she learns that it's okay to put herself first when she's being treated as second-best.

Audrey's new friends, Iris and Tatum, make for a great supporting cast. Iris is serious and logical, and she keeps things in perspective when dealing with the Mansion's 999 happy haunts. Tatum's sense of humor and cultural differences (she's just moved from Scotland) make for many light-hearted moments, but she has her own strengths and is a great friend. Sterling, who Audrey meets in the Haunted Mansion, is another great addition to the main crew--he's sweet, kind, and helpful, but he's hiding a (fairly obvious) secret, and his ending is a bit surprising.

The story does a great job of incorporating the Haunted Mansion without being too ham-fisted or hokey. The Mansion maintains its air of spookiness what with the constantly moving rooms and the trickster ghosts, and many familiar rooms and characters are seamlessly incorporated. Additionally, there's lore given for the changing paintings/pictures in many of the hallways and for the ghosts themselves, which adds not only to the story but to the Mansion itself. Whether or not it's true is irrelevant; nothing contradicts the current stories of the Mansion, so I'm choosing to accept this new information as canon.

The big bad--The Shade--is explained well and is frightening, particularly as it's a threat not just to the living but to the ghosts. What's truly frightening, though, is the way that the Shade forces Audrey to help with its goals. These scenes are actually scary and truly original. The addition of the Axeman of New Orleans nicely ties in real NOLA history and adds another level of fear to Audrey's story.

All in all, The Haunted Mansion: Storm and Shade is a great addition to the world of the Haunted Mansion. Although written for younger readers, older readers--especially fans of those infamous 999 happy haunts--will appreciate the realistic topics and the Easter eggs (like the mention of The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, which is vastly underrated). If you're looking for a fun Halloween read with well-written friendships, representation of anxiety, and a whirlwind of ghosts, this is the book for you!

As I've seen other reviewers also express, I really wish this had more of The Haunted Mansion. I love the Eddie Murphy adaptation. And I've been to both the Disneyland Haunted Mansion and the Disney World attractions. Also, as someone who wants romance in stories more than not, this one could have done without. Chase was a terrible character. Still, it was a fun addition to The Haunted Mansion lore. And the perfect read to start spooky season with. Recommended for fans of Netflix's Wednesday.

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Press for providing me with a review copy.

This was a fun, quirky story. It will be perfect for middle or high school libraries! An adventure, ghost story, story of over-coming adversity, making friends, moving to a new home and school all wrapped into one package. It seems that ghosts are not the worst thing that can lurk in the haunted mansion with 999 ghosts.

I appreciated the growth that Audrey experienced, and love that her story was not trite or exaggerated. It is not easy to move to a new school in a different part of a city, and it was made worse by her extreme anxiety. She longs for friends, yet she is afraid to put herself out there. She only wants to spend her time taking photographs for her Instagram account, but she is too afraid to share her images with others. The Mansion has other ideas and beckons to her, and she learns what it is to become a friend - and not just of the human kind.

A fun, spooky YA novel that is perfect for any Haunted Mansion lover. Claudia Gray is one of my favorite authors and she did not disappoint. She does a great job depicting friendship and the importance of it. Also, very good rep for mental health.

Everyone has been there. We’ve all been the new kid in school, struggling to make friends, unsure if we picked the right ones, And desperate to hold our feelings of anxiety in when our parents want us to fit in. Audrey is missing her old school and her boyfriend, depressed by her new school’s dismal uniform attire, and just in general attempting to control those miserable feelings that keep overwhelming her and making her question everything she says or does. While exploring her new home in New Orleans, she catches the multitude of supernatural eyes of the infamous Haunted Mansion and is drawn into its mystery. 999 happy haunts are just never enough and there’s always room for one more. I loved the eerie feel of this story, a little like RL Stine but with that heartwarming Disney energy that has endeared this classic ride to generations. The book captures it well and introduces us in more depth to several of the ghouls and ghosts from the mansion in a fun, exciting way.I have collected and loved several of Claudia Gray’s Star Wars novels and once again, she does NOT disappoint in any manner with her well fleshed out (and lively spirited) characters, well done descriptions and taught action and intrigue pacing of storytelling. Awesome book, a great must read for any Disney fan.

3.5 stars
For a book that is called "The Haunted Mansion," I was expecting more of the Haunted Mansion. It's an important part of the book, but there just wasn't enough for me.
This book is about Audrey who has just moved across the Mississippi River to a different part of New Orleans. She has to go to a different school, leaving her boyfriend Chase. She has very bad anxiety, so this is a big deal. She ends up making 2 new friends, Tatum and Iris and she also finds a haunted house near her house. Finding this house leads to an ancient evil that wants to destroy all ghosts and even humans.
I enjoyed my time in the Haunted Mansion. There were lots of different ghosts in all different shapes. The plotline involving the house was really fun and exciting. We just never really got to know any of the ghosts and didn't spend much time in the house.
Audrey making new friends in Tatum and Iris was heartwarming. They created such a strong bond and they were with Audrey no matter what, until the end.
Audrey's boyfriend Chase, I hated. Not only did I hate him, but there was a A LOT of him and he had nothing to do with the overall story. If he was completely taken out of the story from the beginning, it would have changed nothing. He gaslighted (gaslit?) Audrey their whole relationship, making her think that she could do nothing without him, especially when she was anxious. He alienated her from her old friends (her specific words) and she still thought he was doing what was best for her. She cut her hair and loved it, but he hated it, so she was growing it back out. She told him she had made 2 new friends at school and he told her she couldn't immediately decide they were good people and if they should be her friends.
(Spoilers for how their relationship ended up)
What made me really mad was at the end, he apologized for being controlling after she moved because he knew that the longer distance would be hard. But through the whole book, Audrey was giving examples of how he was doing stuff like this long before she moved. And then they just happily parted ways and said they wanted to be friends. Like no, acknowledge how long you were gaslighting and then leave her alone. Thanks.
(End spoilers)
The plot was fun (would have been more fun without Chase), but seemed like a bunch of stuff mashed together. Audrey finds the haunted house. She gets possessed by 3 different entities. Everything with Chase felt like it could have been its own plot. The Shade. Ultimately it all linked together (except for Chase), but it just felt a little clunky. By the end, I was really invested though and really wanted to see how it ended.
The anxiety rep in this book is good. There is positive therapist representation, which I always love. Audrey has a really good relationship with her therapist Doctor Ron and she really learns and applies what she learns in her real life anxiety inducing situations. She learns about how certain things may be holding her back instead of moving her forward and being able to do more things without being anxious, or being anxious and being able to do it anyways.
Overall, this was a fun book. I just wanted more Haunted Mansion and less Chase.

I wanted to like this book. I am a die-hard Haunted Mansion fan. I love stories that add on to a well-known story or ride. This book did nothing to really add to the lore or the excitement of the Haunted Mansion. It is slow paced. Sadly, there is not much redeeming about this title. I do enjoy the references to the rides such as having the house have a different facade depending on what door you went out of, or the references to the ballroom, library, etc. That stays true to the ride that I know and love. Audrey’s story is not terrible, over all it just didn’t add anything. I do enjoy that she is able to figure out that she is strong enough to face challenges on her own even with her anxiety. This was the only part of her storyline I enjoyed. I wish this book had tied to the Haunted Mansion more or made me feel like it added on to the story so many already know and love.
Thank you so much to Disney Publishing Worldwide and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

THE HAUNTED MANSION STORM AND SHADE is delightfully Spooky, gently romantic, firm on friendship, and strong in exemplifying the main protagonist's various lifelong struggles with Anxiety (I think primarily Generalized Anxiety, given the descriptions of her symptoms). Audrey's family moves to New Orleans from suburbs at the start of the school year, and she and younger brother William (a video game aficionado) enroll in private academies. Audrey, for whom anxiety ranges from mild to debilitating, adores photographing antique buildings and residences, and what is New Orleans full of but that? (Well, and tourists) In the Perez family's new neighborhood is a cunningly concealed three-story abandoned home, which quickly entices Audrey, and her two new school friends, aspiring filmmaker Iris and new from Scotland Tatum. The Haunted Mansion is never the same from one visit to the next; and it is both Scary, and talented at revealing individuals' true characters. Soon, Apocalyptic Danger will arise, and Audrey, Tatum, and Iris must combine with their new Ghostly friends to battle it before all the Ghosts are devoured, followed by the living.

Audrey has moved to a new town and must attend a new school. Lucky for Audrey, she makes friends right away; unlucky for Audrey, she discovers a haunted mansion near her house. These three teens decide they want to figure out why Audrey has waking dreams and sees ghosts. While all of this is going on, Audrey is trying to deal with her boyfriend being a distance away and the fears/anxieties she is constantly overwhelmed with. What is with this haunted mansion? Why does Audrey go into fugue states and finish with a key?

The Haunted Mansion: Storm & Shade is a stand-alone novel based on the Disney Ride. I will be honest and say that I have not been to Disney in over 15 years, so I don’t know this ride, yet I still enjoyed this book. The characters were fun to get to know and the storyline was easy to follow. I’m sure there are hidden gems for those who have experienced the ride, though. This adventure is quick, and the topics are light yet also important. A fun read for all ages.

Did not finish, very middle grade and mostly just emo teenager behavior. Not sure what else to write, because I don't want to be overtly negative, but I am definitely disappointed with the quality.

A new teen drama inspired by the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disney Parks! Audrey Perez is a high school student who has severe anxiety and is moving to a new home and school. There she discovers a supposedly haunted mansion that she and her new friends start investigating... but strange things are happening to Audrey... like the fact that she's begun talking to ghosts and the fact that someone is possessing her body at night and she has no idea who or why. Unfortunately this one just did not work for me, it dragged on for too long and the teen drama and ghost drama just didn't seem as exciting or fun. I really wish it did work for me and I tried so hard to get into it but I just couldn't unfortunately. It definitely felt like a case of "its me not you" and I think younger readers, probably 12-16 would have a better time with this than I did.

*Thanks Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide, Disney Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*