Orabella is sent off to her husband's estate after marriage, a whirlwind of change that is happening way too fast. Once arrived, Orabella learns that there is much wrong with this house, she just can't escape it.

The family themselves are quirky and mysterious, and the house is another story altogether. Dark, full of dust and decay, and in states of various disrepair...side by side with a gilded ballroom and fancy breakfasts. Nothing feels quite right.

This was interesting, uncanny and just so, so unsettling. I couldn't put it down because I had to find out what was going on!

I was drawn to this as a fan of Donyae Coles's short fiction and was fascinated to see her imagination at play over a longform work. Yes, this is very much in the gothic fiction category but is also quite weird. It may remind you at times of Jane Eyre, Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic, or the works of Angela Carter. It also reminded me a bit of Shirley Jackson's story "The Lovely House."

Loved reading it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a horrifying and also sometimes steamy gothic tale!

I love this slow-burn gothic horror novel, which remixes 'Crimson Peak' by centering a Black biracial Victorian woman and her new wealthy husband. The shades of Edgar Allen Poe are strong, though I can see why some find the lengthy middle fever-dreamish in a negative way. It all builds to a truly unique, intense ending (content warnings for a lot of intense stuff...). To me, it made everything that came before worth it.

First loved this book. Donyae Coles understood gothic horror. The creepy, suffocating atmosphere was top tier for me. Now I don't know if I am not smart enough for this book, or it actually left with no answers. This whole book was a disorienting fever dream. I still do not know what was real and wasn't real. I ended this book with no answers. But still loved the creepy story. I can not wait to read more from them

"Donyae Coles invites readers into a hauntingly atmospheric realm with 'Midnight Rooms,' a novel that deftly blends elements of horror, mystery, and the supernatural. Set against the backdrop of a sprawling mansion steeped in secrets, this tale unfolds with a gripping intensity that keeps you enthralled until the final page.

At the heart of the story is Emery, a young woman grappling with the recent loss of her sister under mysterious circumstances. As Emery delves deeper into the enigmatic history of Midnight Rooms, the estate left to her by her estranged sister, she discovers a world teeming with hidden passages, eerie manifestations, and unsettling revelations.

Coles excels in crafting an evocative setting that serves as more than just a backdrop; Midnight Rooms itself becomes a character, its dark corridors and whispered echoes adding to the sense of foreboding that permeates the narrative. The mansion's secrets unfold gradually, revealing layers of intrigue and suspense that keep the reader guessing.

Emery's journey is one of both personal discovery and supernatural exploration. Her determination to uncover the truth about her sister's death leads her to confront chilling apparitions, confront her own fears, and navigate a web of family secrets that threaten to consume her.

The characters in 'Midnight Rooms' are nuanced and multi-dimensional, each harboring their own secrets and motivations that intertwine with Emery's quest for answers. From enigmatic servants to spectral entities, every encounter adds depth to the story's unfolding mystery.

Coles' prose is atmospheric and immersive, capturing the eerie ambiance of Midnight Rooms while maintaining a brisk pace that propels the narrative forward. The tension builds steadily throughout, culminating in a series of revelations that are as shocking as they are satisfying.

Overall, 'Midnight Rooms' is a masterful blend of supernatural suspense and psychological intrigue. Coles weaves a tale that lingers in the mind long after the final chapter, leaving readers haunted by its eerie beauty and haunted by its lingering questions. For fans of atmospheric horror and compelling mysteries, 'Midnight Rooms' is a must-read that delivers both thrills and emotional resonance."

This book was a huge fever dream/mind f*ck all the way until the ending. It was so abrupt! Never did i imagine this story would have unfolded the way that it did.

I love the way this author writes her horror. The gothic vibes were there and also the creepiness. This is how you write. Gothic novel. It was so atmospheric and a lot of that had to do with the author’s beautiful writing style.

Now i Do have some dislikes. I feel like it was insinuated but never put right what Elias was? Maybe I’m just little slow but sometimes i need it spelled out on paper.

I also felt like the ending dragged for a bit even down to that epilogue.

FLAG ON THE PLAY! 🚩

In a nutshell, Midnight Rooms seemingly took both myself and its main character Orabella for quite the ride! One thing I like about this novel is that as far as pacing and timing are concerned, it all worked very well. I think the author does a really good job in keeping the reader engaged enough through Orabella's newly constructed life and with a cast of wicked characters.

While their initial meeting was awkward within itself, nothing could have prepared me for the life that Elias prepared for his new bride, Orabella. I couldn't believe that Orabella's uncle sold her off to pay his gambling debts: RED FLAG! Everything from that point on was questionable. What a tragic foundation to build from.

Honestly, I think Orabella was just as lost as the reader at times and that is surprisingly what made it work well for me. Everytime Orabella was given roofied tea or wine, I was just as lost as she was. Everytime the family came over, I didn't know if she trying to figure what was and what was not. What was real and what was a figment of her imagination. And, like her, I just did not want to believe that Elias was a part of the problem, if not the biggest problem of them all. I think if you're into the supernatural, dark and mystifying...you'll find enjoyment in this book in the same way that I did. Thanks to NetGalley for the gifted copy.

I liked the creepy/fever dream vibes of this book, even though I had no idea what was happening for most of it. I enjoyed the ending and felt that it explained things well enough. Orabella was a smart character and I found myself rooting for her throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Midnight Rooms" by Donyae Coles is a sweeping saga with supernatural undertones set in Victorian England that immerses readers in a richly atmospheric and tension-filled narrative. The story begins in 1840, where Orabella Mumthrope, the orphaned daughter of a white man and a Black woman, spies an unexpected visitor in her uncle’s parlor. Elias Blakersby, scruffy in appearance yet claiming to be the scion of a fabulously wealthy family, declares a deep desire to make Orabella his wife. Despite her status as an outsider with no fortune or connections, Orabella, curious about Elias's seeming devotion and mindful of her uncle's many debts, agrees to marry him.

Orabella is whisked away to Korringhill Manor, the Blakersby family estate, expecting splendor but finding decay, skittish servants, and curt elders. However, her kind new husband’s loving touch and promises of a happy life soothe her initial concerns. Yet, there is a darkness deep within this house. That darkness soon begins to engulf her, as she experiences macabre dreams and blood-curdling screams in the night, awakening with mysterious bruises. Confused and terrified, Orabella begins to question where her dreams end and reality begins.

While the story bears similarities to other gothic horrors and is not entirely original, Coles's writing is incredibly immersive. The imagery in "Midnight Rooms" is vivid and evocative, drawing readers deep into the eerie and unsettling world of Korringhill Manor. Though the purple prose can be a bit much at times, it generally fits the mood of the story well, enhancing the overall sense of dread and mystery.

Orabella is an intriguing protagonist, though her naiveté can become tiresome. Despite this, her journey through the chilling and oppressive atmosphere of her new home kept me engaged. Coles has crafted a tale that vibrates with tension and is haunted by ghosts, trauma, and familial bonds, making it an electrifying story that will linger in your dreams.

Overall, I highly recommend giving this debut horror author a chance. "Midnight Rooms" is a captivating read from a very promising new author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

A must-read (buy) for gothic horror fans.
*Reccomended season of reading (to set the mood): early Spring or anytime Fall... Truly anywhere that has cool, rainy, glum vibes.

For me, this was akin to meeting the love child of Crimson Peak and Alice in Wonderland, but make it manic woodland, gothic chic.

To state the least, Midnight rooms is a beautiful, creeping tale of one woman's spiral into delirium via a sudden arranged marriage. Orabella is an orphaned, yet adult, young woman doing her best to become a proper and sophisticated wife after being married off by her uncle. This often means keeping her opinions and concerns to herself, no matter the oddities and eeriness she experiences in her new home and with her new husband and extended family.
Expect to be creeped out and confused. As Orabella finds, this is the way of life in Korringhill manor. Curl up in a cozy, dark room with a cuppa tea, maybe some honey, and follow Orabella down the rabbit hole of derelict rooms and family secrets.

Note- I'll be needing a physical copy of Midnight Rooms for my shelf as this cover is GORGEOUS, and this story has easily shot to the top of my yearly re-reads list.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amistad for the eARC!

(3.4 stars)

Gothic horror and Gothic romance and some of my favorite genres. I was very intrigued when I saw the beautiful cover and read the premise.

This was a Gothic fever dream that played out more like scenes from In the Company of Wolves and Labyrinth (specifically the As the World Falls Down scene) than Crimson Peak. I did see some similarities between Midnight Rooms and Crimson Peak but I wouldn’t go into this book expecting a gothic romance like that.

Unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations. I loved how atmospheric it was, the lush descriptions of Korringhill Manor. I’m always a sucker for a dilapidated mansion. The characters seemed interesting and there seemed to be many mysteries for Orabella (our main character) to discover. The premise and the setup for the story had me hooked and then the pace slowed down considerably. Things got very repetitive. I understand this was a part of the story but it would have been better if Orabella had been able to discover more things about what was happening in the manor. Her constantly exploring and finding nothing seemed pointless. The exploring the castle/mansion trope usually works for me because the heroine either discovers something or there are supernatural events happening at the same time.

Orabella’s constant confusion could have worked if the reader wasn’t always kept in the dark as well. Towards the end, Orabella seems to just know some things or she guesses at them. All of the mysteries that seemed so intriguing at the beginning are not given a satisfying conclusion (in my opinion). I wanted to know more about the family and have certain things cleared up. I wasn’t really satisfied with the ending for Elias and Orabella’s relationship either. The ending also seemed a bit abrupt.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this for the most part. Although it may not have been my perfect gothic story, I did enjoy large parts of it. My issues with the pacing and the direction the author decided to take the story in doesn’t necessarily mean this was a bad book. I’d still recommend this to those that love gothic stories, especially if they like their fiction laced with fairy tale elements. I’d read from this author again. Thank you to NetGalley, Amistad, and the author for providing me with an ARC for review.


Below I give warning about some of the content in the book that some readers may want to be aware of, skip if you want to avoid spoilers.



The book includes animal deaths, gore, mentions of SA, incest, cannibalism, mentions of infant deaths, etc.

A marriage of convenience that swiftly becomes a fevered nightmare.

I enjoyed the writing of this novel immensely! It immediately gripped me and the pacing was well done with a good balance of the terror and resting points.

I loved that this seemed to be inspired by The Fox Bride fable. The fairytale elements really helped to keep my interest even when I got very squeamish with the horrific elements.

I usually enjoy a good gothic horror. Unfortunately, I personally ended up too squeamish to fully enjoy this tale. That is by no means the fault of the author. The story was very well done, very upsetting, and a relatively satisfying ending. My tolerance was just not high enough for it.

Content is explicit with sexual content, gore, and drugged hallucinations.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a complimentary copy of this digital book. All the opinions expressed are my own.

This book is so interesting and atmospheric, i loved that! Orabella, a biracial woman, is sold into marriage and taken to a mysterious, decaying manor where strange and sinister things happen. The descriptions are so vivid I could almost feel the drafty, moss-covered rooms and the unsettling presence of the family she now lives with.

Orabella’s curiosity and bravery shine as she explores the manor despite being told to stay in her room. Her journey of discovering the manor’s dark secrets is filled with suspense, making me question her sanity at times. The writing is beautiful but can be challenging with its long, intricate sentences. Some parts felt like they lagged a little, but overall, it was a fun read.

The ending left many questions unanswered

What happens when you play along to fit into a bad system? When you give the benefit of the doubt for acceptance? Donyae Coles’ debut novel Midnight Rooms is a disorienting fever dream of an erotic horror novel that will spin you in circles, and have you questioning the sanity of its hero, as you wrestle with these questions. It lures you in innocently, with a dark gothic romance story that feels familiar however, this book is anything but. Set in 1840s England, a perfect setting for this genre, Midnight Rooms dishes up something new from the familiar.



Orabella is an outsider. A young, Black orphan raised by her uncle. She finds herself at a crossroads. One life, as an unwanted ward of her uncle's home in Bristol, is ending. Her new life is the product of an arranged marriage of convenience, her uncle put it together in exchange for a gambling debt. Her new husband, Elias Blakersby, seems too good to be true, wealthy, cordial, polite, and handsome. He seems to care about what Orabella wants, even leaving the choice of marriage up to her, though that choice may be illusory. Her new life is in Korringhill, a dark, decaying mansion filled with secrets, locked doors, and strange inhabitants. She’s given a “personal girl,” Sloane, who she befriends almost instantly, though their uneven footing undermines the nature of their friendship, often with disastrous results.



It's difficult to pinpoint the exact moment things go sideways in this novel. From the moment Orabella arrives at Korringhill, you want her to leave. Orabella’s new family has some rather strict rules and schedules at Korringhill, they insist she drink tea and wine which often seems to make her sleepy or disoriented. Worse, they make a habit of locking her away. The more freedom Orabella loses, the more she is judged for the outcomes. Sloane is tasked with ensuring Orabella follows the house schedule and also sees to the orders of Mrs. Locke, Hastings, and his daughter Claresta. Elias doesn’t stay with Orabella at night. Her father-in-law is cruel, mysterious, and demanding. Claresta is doll-like and never speaks.



It's important to note the ways Orabella is persuaded by her new husband, Elias. Despite the red flags, she finds him attractive and interesting. As an orphan, she lacks the options of someone with the background of her wealthier cousin, she often finds herself making the best of situations. She might wait for another suitor, but she questions whether he will be worse or able to afford her the kind of life Elias can. The jaws of this trap are order and decency, in her desire to be part of polite society, Orabella finds herself with less and less.



This setup is no doubt familiar, and I must confess, reading the early chapters, I wasn't sure this book was for me, but if Donyae Coles Midnight Rooms is good at one thing, it's setting you up for the familiar and sweeping your feet out from under you. Fairly early in the book, the reader is given every indication that the Blakersby family is not at all what they seem, but Orabella’s point of view becomes increasingly less reliable with each dizzying sip of wine and tea. So much of this book is told through altered perceptions, and I found myself wondering with glorious anxiety if the things clouding Orabella’s judgment weren’t also changing her. By the time you hit anything conclusively grim or supernatural, the horror is already so suffocating that you hardly blink at the escalation. In the end, I loved it.



Comparing Midnight Rooms to anything is difficult, but I’ll attempt. Suppose you combined the hallucinatory elements of Midsommar, with the surreal fairy tale atmosphere of A Company of Wolves and set it in a gothic mansion ala Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic but with the sensuality of old Hammer horror films, you might get close to describing Midnight Rooms.



This story is about the dangers of conformity, the loss of autonomy, and the limits of determination. Orabella is systematically made powerless by her new family and is surrounded by beastly animalistic behavior. The parallels to the way patriarchal systems isolate and alienate women and outsiders are 1:1. For Orabella, any reasonable reaction or protest to the cruelty and inhumanity of her new family is seen as proof of her mental instability. They cannot relate to her desires. Their only expectation is for her to be obsequious and ornamental.



Often when reading the fusion of romance and horror, I find myself lulled into an unfortunate sense of security, knowing that the emotional connection between the two characters serves as a kind of light, it diffuses the horror. That is delightfully not the case in Midnight Rooms, where our main character Orabella finds herself regularly seduced beyond reason, succumbing to her desires, unsure of her husband's intentions or innocence, and always making excuses to herself and her lover before giving in. I'm reminded of the way classic horror filmmaker Terence Fisher thought of evil; it is attractive. It's something you want. And that's both the allure of power a family like the Blakersby offers and also the raw sexuality of Elias Blakersby. Orabella frequently goes against her better judgment, but if you examine the scenarios closely enough, she seldom has any choice at all. Agency is an illusion for women and outsiders at Korringhill. I kept turning pages as Orabella’s encounters with her husband became increasingly erotic, I wondered what they were costing Orabella as things became increasingly passion-blind.



If you're looking for a Gothic horror novel from a fresh voice, Midnight Rooms hit shelves last Tuesday. Donyae Coles put together a wicked maze of a debut horror novel that will please many pallets. You can lose yourself in Korringhill’s Midnight Rooms by buying it wherever books are sold.

Orabella Mumthrope, an orphaned young woman of mixed race, agrees to a sudden marriage proposal from the mysterious Elias Blakersby. Lured away from her familiar life, she arrives at the decaying Korringhill Manor, expecting a wealthy estate. Instead, she finds a decaying home full of closed doors and strange occurrences.

Confined within the manor walls, Orabella spends her days with an unspeaking sister-in-law and is forbidden to wander the halls without her maid. As the darkness within the house intensifies, the line between reality and dreams blurs for Orabella. Is Elias a prince or a beast? Is she sane, or has she gone mad?

I saw other reviewers describe this book as a fever dream, and they weren't lying. There are passages in this book where Orabella is overwhelmed by her in-laws, and it is difficult for the reader to suss out what is real and what is imagined. Much how Orabella likely feels as she doubts her sanity.

I'm not a reader of dark romances, but I think this might be a book for fans of that sub-genre. Orabella's marriage to Elias is passionate, isolating, and frightening.

If you are looking for a spooky summer read, look no further. This book is a wonderful Gothic horror, and I love that the author doesn't try to tie a neat bow on it. Gothic horror fans -- go! Start reading now!!

Orabella Mumthrope is an orphan of mixed-race who lives at the mercy of her uncle, so when a handsome suitor shows up to ask for her hand in marriage, she immediately seizes the opportunity.

However, when she arrives at his family estates, the manor is in a state of clutter and disrepair. Rooms are locked off from her, her in-laws’ teeth appear too long, and she’s plagued by visions of a dead fawn.

Can she unravel the manor's dark secrets before she it devours her?

Midnight Rooms by Donyae Coles paints a deliciously dreamy, gothic fairytale that will fill you with equal parts wonder and dread.

Reading this book feels like a surreal fever dream—like you’re tumbling down the rabbit hole or you’re watching A Company of Wolves, so if you enjoy trippy psychological horror where the main character is constantly questioning their sanity, this will be exactly your cup of tea.

Overall, Midnight Rooms is a dark, delirious read that gives a unique woodsy twist to the classic gothic, and it’s easily one of my favorite new reads of the year.

Thank you, NetGalley and Amistad, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc. A gothic fairytale fever dream. I found this story to be strange in a lot of ways. The beautiful cover is what drew me in but I definitely didn’t feel connected to the story like I would’ve liked. .

A historical novel starting a story with an arranged marriage for the unwanted niece and orphaned daughter of a white man and a black woman , a marriage situation that seemed to cause more anger than warranted for something that was more customary at the time. I was surprised to find how many pages the author dedicated to that fact. Unfortunately the first fifty or so pages started to lose me over the contradictions.

You will fall into the scene, particularly that of the manor from the author’s use of descriptions. A little too heavy in places at times and may have made the story a little stronger to leave a little more to the reader’s imagination. Orabella was an interesting character and I would have loved to seen her with a little more growth. But I think that may just be the story- stagnant. The transitions of the reality and the fantasy weren’t always smooth and could come across as muddled, as if the writer couldn’t decide the nature of the beast, so to speak.

Unfortunately, the back half of the book didn’t seem to know what it wanted to do with itself. It came across as if it wanted to have the readers question but I needed more investment from the writer to care enough to be confused. I even found myself laughing at a part in disbelief in how the author did not have the characters question certain situations.

I really do hope the story goes through the editor a few more times from the arc to the published copy, as I do feel like there is some potential here.

MIDNIGHT ROOMS by Donyae Coles
Release date: July 2, 2024.

Gothic horror is one of my favorite sub-genres and being able to get my hands on an ARC of this masterful story was a delight. And can we just say right now, easily one of the most beautiful covers this year! 🌟

In Victorian England, Orabella Mumthrope is whisked away from her uncle’s house by an enigmatic stranger who has long been enamored with her. To pay off the uncle’s debts, a deal was made with one Elias Blakersby in which Orabella would become his bride and the debt forgiven. With Orabella being of mixed race, this is thought to be a very satisfactory resolution for all parties involved.

Elias and Orabella are quickly married in a perfunctory ceremony and return to Elias’s family estate, a sprawling yet decrepit mansion that at once seems ominous and foreboding. As Orabella discovers the secrets of Korringhill Manor, she’s struck by the darkness that seems to permeate through every room. Her dreams become fantastical and frightening, Elias’s family is beyond a bit strange, and she endures continual warnings about leaving the house alone. All these things threaten to rattle her last bit of sanity, and her dreams and reality seem to have blurred edges and run together, confusing and frightening Orabella to the point of near-madness.

I’ve heard this book described as a fever dream and I can’t disagree with that. There is much to enjoy here, but be warned it is convoluted at times, maddening at others.
In the beginning it reminded me quite a lot of Crimson Peak, with the main character having suffered loss and sadness and then whisked off to a dilapidated family mansion with a less than honest husband and off-kilter family members. But Midnight Rooms holds its own, dragging the reader on a gothic journey of confusion, brooding introspection, and macabre dread. The ending was not one tied up in a neat bow, but sometimes that is what is deserved after such a unique and immersive story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Orabella Mumthrope is an orphaned, biracial young woman. She lives with her aunt and uncle who has a lot of debts. He wants to marry her odd to mysterious and wealthy Elias Blakersby. After meeting him Orabella agrees. Then it's off to a new life at his old, crumbling English manor.

There she finds the situation much different than expected. Her new home isn't just old, it's full of decay and strange goings on.. The people who live there are odd. And there are rules and rooms she can't go into. The longer she stays in the strange place Orabella feels it is changing her. Can she figure out what's really going on and save herself?

This book reminds me a little of Rebecca. It has a gothic feel and is very atmospheric. Everything is described nicely. The characters are hard to get attached to. Orabella is a little silly and I didn't understand her relatuonship with Elias.

The story itself is strange. I understand why it's this way due to the plot. I needed more clarity though. So much time is spent on things being vague, leaving no.focal point.