In theory, this ticked all of my boxes. Dark, gothic, probably unreliable narration ... I'm usually here for it. But this was executed so dully that reading felt like swimming through mud. I didn't care about any of the characters or their problems, and the spooky aspects of the story took their sweet time showing up. Lots of other dark academia-with-gothic-undertones books out there to choose from.

I loved this atmospheric gothic story of Our Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith. Gobbled this up!

Synopsis:
A teen girl’s attempt to make amends with her former friend group takes a sinister turn during a weekend getaway at an ancestral Irish estate in this atmospheric, literary horror from the author of Those We Drown.

It's a YA book but I'd say an older YA. Which doesn't matter because it was still a good and creepy dark academia book.

In Our Wicked Histories Meg is the poor girl who has been kicked out of a high class school after an altercation with one of the members of her rich, preppy group of friends. Trying to get back in their good graces, she attends a Halloween party in a run down house in Ireland that is supposedly cursed and haunted by a banshee.

First, what I liked about the book. The atmosphere was fantastic. A creepy old house, a lake with half submerged statues and an overabundance of choking green weeds, a paranoid small town nearby, and lashing thunderstorms. The storyline itself sucked you in; you wanted to see what happened next and what the big event was that caused the falling out with the others. The characters COULDN'T leave - they weren't just staying in a place where people were dying because they were being dumb.

What I didn't like:
The main character was incredibly selfish and made some poor choices. The other characters were shallow, annoying, and felt pretty similar to the characters in Those We Drown... in fact, we even copy/pasted the poor girl surrounded by rich jerks trope.

The drinking! Is that what high school kids do these days? There was not a night (and sometimes day) that went by where they weren't getting drunk and stupid.

The two-possibly two and a half-story lines. Honestly, in the end I didn't know if some of the events really happened or if they were just dreamed up/hallucinated. This was one time that I wish the villain had monologued MORE because I didn't understand why some of the things in the book even needed to be in the book.

WHY ARE GIRLS SO STUPID OVER CUTE BOYS??? A little self confidence would have gone a long way.

In the end, the book was good enough to finish, but not enough for me to rave about it to my friends.

It was a not-for-me-right-now gothic horror novel. I'd read her first one and enjoyed it so I thought I'd fall right in but I think I was a little distracted from the start. And the setting, in Ireland, definitely shifts the atmosphere and the fact that everyone's carrying secrets at Wren Hall and there's an ominous lake nearby- I wonder what deaths will occur and what secrets will and won't be spilled?

... that's how I felt because I've just read a few too many of these thrillers that I need a break because they're all blending together. Again, not that it's not a good one, just that I've been immersed in them and have a bit of overload.

Excellent ghost story.

I loved everything about this story from beginning to end.

I am looking forward to picking up "Those We Drown." It's great books like this that make me want to read an author's backlist. Amy Goldsmith will definitely be on my favorite authors list.

This story had me from the beginning. I love a book that makes me think things are going one way but then has me second guessing myself and everything and everyone.
Characters (while I didn’t particularly like any of them) felt fleshed out and developed in a way that made still sort of care what happened to them and gave everything a nice flow.
My only real complaint was how things were revealed as being suddenly remembered at the end, too much. If they had just been given to us along when learning about the event in the beginning, I don’t think it would have made the book any less interesting or riveting and maybe made it feel more seamless.

This was an interesting read, with some very intruiging characters.

Overall, very decent. It took me a bit to get into this book, but one I did, I did not want to put it down. A perfect weekend read!

Thought this one was okay. I was hoping for more of a punch to the storyline. The more I read about Meg the more I kind of didn’t like her, which led me to become a bit disengaged on what was happening.

The ending wasn’t surprising. It was also a bit ridiculous in one aspect. Ultimately, it wasn’t memorable. I hope others like it more.

Goldsmith’s visceral descriptions never failed to give me chills. I enjoyed the way the story built up, and couldn’t put the book down for the last 100 pages! The perfect mystery read.

A delightfully atmospheric and chilling gothic horror, OUR WICKED HISTORIES is the story of a girl outcasted from her friend group who’s just trying to get back in their good graces. When they decide to meet for the weekend at Wren Hall, the country estate of the Wren girls and their family, it’s the perfect time for Meg to beg their forgiveness. The only trouble is, there’s something off about the estate, but especially the lake that surrounds it, and it soon becomes apparent that something sinister is lurking in the shadows of Wren Hall. ⁣
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What a way to kick off my end-of-summer spooky tbr! I adored this book. It’s atmospheric, it’s eerie, there are secrets and lies and plenty of things that go bump in the night. The story switches between past and present as we slowly learn the secrets that Wren Hall keeps, and it also sheds some light on the Wren family itself. The characters were all delightfully shrouded in mystery, particularly the Wren twins, and it’s quickly realized that each character, Meg included, are hiding secrets of their own. ⁣
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Bottom line — this was an immersive and sinister-feeling tale that’s perfect for spooky season. Definitely pick this one up if you’re a fan of:⁣
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🪦Gothic horror⁣
🪦Secrets and mystery⁣
🪦Rambling country estates⁣
🪦Dark academia ⁣
🪦Untrustworthy characters ⁣
🪦An overall feeling that something is lurking in the shadows waiting to get you.

Wickedly suspenseful and atmospheric, this is a story for the lover of gothic settings and dark twisty plots.

Friendships come and go, but Meg also lost her scholarship. When Meg’s once best friend, Lottie invites her to spend Halloween weekend with her and her lost friend group, she see’s this as a chance to make things right.

This is where the author introduces us to the ‘secrets and hurt run deep’ scenario and the weekend away at Wren Hall will prove to be a challenge for Meg. There’s a legend of skulking evil, a host of awkward vibes and a murder!

This is my second book by Goldsmith and with each one, I become a bigger fan. Can’t wait to see what she writes next!

4.5/5

"Fear death by water."

"I was irrevocably under the Wren twins' spell even after everything that had happened,"

Disclaimer: I am a chicken when it comes to anything scary so take how scared this made me with a grain of salt lol

I adored this chilling, gothic horror. There were several scary scenes that are going to live in my head rent free for a while (i.e. I'm not going to be able to look into a mirror for a bit). I appreciated how there was enough teen drama and mystery to break up the worst of the scares to keep me reading.

Finding out the book was inspired by The Fall of the House of the Usher made me so excited to read, and I really loved the parallels. The gothic manor setting was described in great detail, and set the scene perfectly. The twins were always a little unsettling, leaving you to wonder what dark secrets lay beneath their picture perfect exterior. Once circumstances left them unable to leave the house and creepiness abounded, the scene was already perfectly set for an atmospheric horror.

The combination of the banshee, the haunting, and not knowing which of the teens could be trusted made everything so tense, it was perfect! Everyone had their secrets, and everyone could be a murderer which kept me guessing up until the end.

I'm going to be thinking about this house and its lake for a while. If you enjoy YA gothic horror, you need to read this book!

Thank you to the author for the review copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

This book didn't work for me so I'm DNFing - but I appreciate the opportunity to read the ARC. I forget how I came upon this book, but I didn't take into consideration that I'm not really a slow burn gothic story kind of person, so this is a me thing. Thanks anyway for the ARC.

My god this was good! It is so atmospheric and really had me holding my breath at points. It was creepy for me and so I definitely think this would be so fun to read during spooky season! I listened to the audiobook as well and the narrator was astounding. I loved her different accents and she brought so much life to the characters.
I really enjoyed the different mysteries in the present and the past. It was so well done! I highly recommend this!

Thank you @netgalley and @delacortepress for the arc!

Our Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith is an engaging and informative exploration of history's darker moments with a compelling narrative style. Goldsmith’s vivid storytelling and detailed research make historical events both accessible and intriguing.

4 Stars

This story was so eerie and atmospheric and lush. Full of twists and turns, you can’t help but feel so unsettled as you try to navigate the mystery of the banshee at this Irish estate.

Told with flashbacks, the story revolves around a weekend at an isolated Irish estate where Meg has gathered with her upper crust former classmate, hoping to make amends for an incident she participated in the term before. Meg is the outsider and is hoping a sincerely apology will help make the friend group right, thus paving her way back into the prestigious school she has a scholarship for. What Meg didn’t anticipate was this eerie omen of a drowned woman in the lake, haunting her every moment. Nor did she anticipate Seb, her former flame, being there trying to muddle her attempts.

As we follow the story and get flash backs to the incident from the previous term, it’s hard to know who to trust and what is reality or maybe a psychotic break. It kept me on my toes and even when I thought I had it figured out, there would be a Scooby Doo-esque moment of the reveal that still had me shocked.

I really enjoyed this dark twisty story with its gothic setting and lush yet disturbing moments of horror.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Random House Children's in exchange for an honest review.

There's something in the lake at Wren Hall.

Meg realizes that her invitation to spend Halloween weekend in Ireland with the Wren twins and her old friend group from Greyscott's is her last chance to make amends for the incident that resulted in her suspension after the summer ball. She needs them to forgive her and let her back in their lives; she needs them to help her get back into the school. She arrives to find Wren Hall is a dark, dank old manor house with mirrors covered in black cloth and a dirty, weed choked lake with a tainted history. From the moment she arrives, Meg hears sobbing and screaming and sees a woman the locals say is a banshee. As her friends start disappearing, Meg must figure out who she can trust and what is really in that lake.

Atmospheric and well-written, this woud be the perfect book to read on a dark and stormy night, especially if you were by a lake and wanted to creep yourself out.

English teen Meg accepts an invitation to a Halloween party at the Irish countryside estate of her classmates, the Wren twins—Lottie (her best friend) and Seb. She’s seeking to earn redemption for a drunken misdeed that landed her a suspension from their elite London art school, Greyscott’s. Bullied by her wealthy peers for being on scholarship and having a mum who’s a cleaner at the school, Meg also harbors a secret: a forbidden crush on Seb. The story unfolds as Meg’s reflections on the past are interspersed among the present day scenes. The sour atmosphere at the party forces her to relive the terrible incident and subsequent fallout that led her classmates to mistrust her. Flickering lights, a failing fuse box, tales of a local banshee, unusual paintings, and more—leave Meg questioning her senses and fearing for her life. Will she survive the party?

The author writes a tension filled novel that hinges on twisted secrets. I liked how the reader is kept guessing on what is fact and what is just rumor. People aren’t the only ones who keep secrets. Places can keep them too—and Wren Hall is drowning in them.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in advance!

This sounded a lot more interesting than it actually ended up being unfortunately--I think in my case I've just read so many books that can fit into the same subgenres as this one that it became forgettable compared to better ones.

It felt like 85% mean girl shenanigans and 15% actual weird and creepy happenings and it really didn't feel like any of it came together within the story soon enough--to me there was a lot of telling and not enough showing. It would make an attempt at tension and twistiness except it never actually went to any of the lengths it needed to to successfully achieve either of those things.

Overall, it was okay, but I did have to really push myself to finish it towards the end (which is why I missed pub day by a week). I do think this will have a lot of young adult interest though!

Ok I LOVE a proper scary book with a good couple mysteries tied to it. Who’s the lady in the lake? What really is the Wren family history? What’s happening in the house?
If you loved the Netflix Hill House series you will LOVE this book. It’s got the perfect blend of terror and mystery that will creep you out but still try to figure out the very human side of the mystery—because there has to be one right?….right? Or is it all really the banshee.
I personally would have ran the second anything started happening and especially after the first “incident” as things were already tense. Also our girl deserves so much better than Seb! He is just a walking red flag. She also deserved better friends. They were all horrid. Except Charlie, he can stay.

Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours for having me on the tour