This is a complete user error on me for not reading the synopsis closely before requesting this from NetGalley. I do not like aspects of the super natural in my books, which should have been obvious from the title but I was blinded by the idea of a horror set in Bolshevik Russia. Needless to say, I did not finish this but I highly recommend it if you do like the supernatural!

**3.5-stars**

The Haunting of Moscow House is set in 1921, after the Bolshevik Revolution. In this novel we follow two sisters, Irina and Lili, whose family home, a once lush mansion in the heart of Moscow, has been taken over by a group of Boleshevik soldiers. The remaining family members are banished to the attic living space of the home, even though many rooms in the lower levels remain vacant. Crammed in, frequently cold and hungry, it's a huge transition for this once powerful family.

The sisters understand that the way they used to live is a thing of the past and they must adapt quickly to this new political landscape, or perish trying. For its part though, this once stately home isn't as adaptable and it certainly hasn't forgotten the past.

Anxious to escape the haunted halls, the sisters end up getting jobs working for an American relief agency. This provides good pay, food, a place to escape during the day, as well as some potential love interests. At night though, the house seems to be becoming increasingly unsettled. Unexplained things are happening, noises and apparitions. People are getting hurt.

Is the explanation supernatural, like ancestral spirits wrecking havoc, or is someone more corporeal to blame?

While this wasn't necessarily to my tastes, I think for Historical Fiction fans who enjoy a potential Supernatural twist, this could work really, really well. Nevertheless, I appreciated the direction the author took with this story and I'm glad I took the time to read it. I do have a lot of interest in this time period of Russian history, so having it focused around that was quite captivating.

I did feel a lot of empathy towards the remaining members of the Goliteva family, whose ages ranged from small children, who didn't understand what was going on, to elder family members, who had lost everything they had previously cherished and enjoyed. The situation in the city at that time, brought to life here by the author, did provide a lot to think about. It made me think how I may have dealt with such upsetting and dire circumstances. It's an uncomfortable thing to consider, but I appreciated how Olesya Salnikova Gilmore got my mind working.

Without giving too much away, in order to maybe spur more Horror Readers into picking this up, it does have a bit of an Occult bent to it, so if that is something that interests you, check it out. Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I did enjoy the atmosphere and the character work of this quite a bit. I would be interested in reading more from this author.

Quick and Dirty
-sentient house horror
-Russian Revolution history
-sister story
-for fans of The Reformatory

Y’all, this is historical horror done right! Full of fun undead characters, eerie atmospheric details, and a house that can’t let go, this book is everything I wanted from a historical fiction spooky season read. I loved the historical elements: politics, power, Slavic folklore fairytales, and much more. Reading this felt like a slice of Russian history; that was a complete treat for me. The fact that the house was keeping alive the memory of the pre-Revolution glitz and glam of the Russian aristocracy was eerily chilling, especially when juxtaposed with the bread lines the family was now forced to acknowledge. Adding the ARA jobs and the subsequent romance felt unnecessary but helped prop the story forward; the sister’s job at the ARA gave them access to the information necessary to solve the “mystery” of what happened to their family, ultimately helping them free themselves from home. But it still felt like America was there to save the day rather than the women saving themselves. Other than this, my only other complaint was the pacing was off at times (like her previous book, which I ultimately DNFd). This is a good bet if you want a glimpse into post-Revolutionary Russia blended with a ghostly tale of intergenerational trauma!

I loved the mixture of history and horror in this one! I loved how the author wrote the history and then splashed it periodically with ghost sightings, making the characters think they were going crazy. This is an interesting story and it was a pretty quick read!
The author beautifully connected the rather complex period of 1920s Russia, and how the sisters were navigating through it very well, and then adding the ghost sightings was epic! It's a very eerie feeling!
The main characters Lili and Irina Goliteva tired of seeing one of their sons and little cousins starving to death decide to go work with the Americans to try to bring food to the table. Then while you are rooting for the two sisters, they are trying to protect the loved ones they have left while trying to make it out of the situation alive with their loved ones! I don't want to give too much away as this review will not do it justice but this is a compelling, gripping read that will leave you wanting more and to know what happens!
Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Books for the opportunity to read and review this one! An afternoon read kept me on the edge of my seat!

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the digital arc.
1921, Russia. Bolsheviks are in charge, and the country is in turmoil. War and revolution have turned all of society upside down, famine is on the menu, shortages of essential goods, housing, and jobs abound, and someone has woken the ghosts of Moscow House, the ancestral home of sisters Irina and Lili Goliteva when they are in Moscow. Once a stunning mansion it is now descending into decay, and deaths within the home are suspicious. I love historical fiction, and I often drift toward books set in places I've visited, so Russian history is one that attracts me. This title brings to light a little known program called the ARA, an American program to bring relief to the famine stricken country. Plot points include the paranormal activity and the dynamics between the family and the Bolsheviks in the Mansion. Filling out the story are the sister's goal of ridding the mansion of the ghosts, their work with the ARA, and romance. Author's note in the back identifies the facts and fiction of the story. Sounds like a lot, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Haunting of Moscow House, and highly recommend this title.

The story has rich Russian culture embedded into the story to not only build the plot but also the era. The writing is exquisite and old, the reader truly feels like they are visiting the old home mentioned by the main characters. There is a lot of history embedded throughout the story which would probably attract those with strong historical knowledge. I greatly enjoyed the story for its gothic features and unbelievable historical markers.

I enjoyed parts of The Haunting of Moscow House, but at times it felt like reading two different books. The historical fiction part was interesting... I love reading books from this time period and I love books with Russian folklore elements, but those things didn't really mesh well here for some reason. I put it down for a while, but decided to pick it back up and finish. I'm glad that I did because I enjoyed the overall plot and the ending.

This is a chilling blend of Russian history and supernatural mystery. Valentina uncovers dark secrets and restless spirits when she inherits her family’s crumbling estate. Perfect for fans of eerie historical fiction!

I was so excited to pick up this book as someone who really enjoys historical fiction and a ghost story here and there. I loved the setting in Russia and the Russian folklore. However, I was a little underwhelmed by the ghost/spooky aspect of the story. I think I was expecting something spookier based off the synopsis provided.

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕒𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕠𝕗 𝕄𝕠𝕤𝕔𝕠𝕨 ℍ𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖
Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
Gothic Fiction/Horror
384 pages

Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs
In post-revolutionary Russia, aristocratic sisters struggle to survive while dealing with a group of Bolsheviks and ghostly inhabitants of their rundown mansion.

Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs
When I first started this story, I wasn’t sure about it. It seemed rather flat. However, as I read, I enjoyed it more and more.

The setting was one I’ve never experienced in any book, so it was fresh and intriguing to me. The atmosphere was spooky, and the mansion continued to decline in odd ways as the story progressed.

The characters were modeled after real people. The author talks about this in the back of the book, but I’d also say it is character-driven. I was enthralled with the characters more than the ghosts, especially Irina. She suffered yet cared so much for others.

This is a sad story that includes death and distress that would drive many to give up. Irina and her sister fought instead.

Intriguing with a ghoulish tone, this is such a good October read.

💕Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ebook for me to read and review.

Set in post-revolutionary Russia, this story follows two aristocratic sisters, Irina and Lili, who are forced to live in the attic of their ancestral home after it’s taken over by Bolsheviks. While they try to rebuild their lives through work with the American Relief Administration, the haunted house they live in begins to stir with secrets from their family’s dark past. As strange events unfold and an official turns up dead, the sisters must uncover the truth—whether it’s supernatural or human.

I struggled with this book a lot. I didn’t know much about it when I started, except that it was meant to be Gothic fiction. I was hoping it would lean more toward Gothic horror, but that’s not what I got at all. Instead, it felt like a mix of historical fiction, Gothic fiction, romance, a little bit of a ghost story, all thrown together with Russian folklore. It felt like the book couldn’t decide what it wanted to be.
The story shifted focus too much. At first, it’s historical fiction, with lots of details about the time period. Then it suddenly focuses on the sisters getting jobs with the American Relief Administration. After that, it awkwardly pivots to romance, which felt completely out of place. Meanwhile, there’s a subplot about a haunted house and Russian folklore running in the background.

I was really disappointed with how the story turned out. I had high hopes for a spooky Gothic fiction, but it just wasn’t what I expected. I wanted to love this, but in the end, it wasn’t for me.

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

I really wanted to love this more, but I do think there are some neat ideas here. I liked the historical aspects woven with ghosts/folklore and it gave everything a bit of a creepy element that I was looking for. However, I felt like so much of the book lacked direction and my interest would wane waiting to see where we were headed. Maybe this was a case of timing because I feel like if read at the right time, this could have been a favorite of mine.

This is an intriguing Gothic horror story. It said during the time right after the Russian revolution, and where the Russian government has taken over the house of Aristocats. The two female protagonist try to make the best of the situation, but there are weird going on happening in the house. Intriguing because they are to show what happened to some during the Russian revolution

This was tedious to read. Set in 1921, after the Bolshevik revolution, Russian soldiers take over the hope of an aristocratic family. Irina and Lili are forced to live in the attic, where they encounter ghosts of deceased family members. The ghosts want the real story of what happened in the revolution to be told.
The story also delves into the sisters lives, their interests, and their loves.
While the story is based in fact, I think it could have been much more interesting without the supernatural element.

his one was a great spooky season kickoff. It combines a great atmosphere with suspense. I’ve always been fascinated with Russian culture and their 100+ names for everyone. 😂

Set after the Russian revolution, it starts out slow setting the tone and introducing the characters. There’s a little bit of a ghost story, some romance with a little spice and a mystery. Wait did I mention a little Russian folklore? I know it seems like a lot but it really does layer together.

Family secrets abound in this haunted house. Gothic horror can be hit or miss for me but this one had me wanting to know what would happen next. Do the sisters survive? I really loved their relationship at the center of all this. It raised the story up from just a gothic tale.

What made the book even better was the author’s note at the end with the explanation this is based on real women, a real family and a real house.

The author's previous book was an easy 5 star hist fic retelling, so I was so excited to grab this new one. Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me for several reasons.

Haunting of Moscow House lacks the polished writing and editing of the Witch and the Tsar. It was clunky, slow paced, rambling, and redundant. I wish more time had been spent on the historical events and the city around the House than on the internal struggles of the sisters as it felt as though there were no other people in the whole city, like the House and ARA existed on an island though in truth they existed in devastation and desperation. The paranormal action was all tell and very little show which is all the more unfortunate because the scenes were she did "show" spooky things rather than spell out, it was soooooo good!

I also didn't expect on the page, open door sexual scenes. That's fine if that's what the author wants, but especially for a paranormal historical fiction, there ought to be a content warning *somewhere.* I didn't think these scenes added anything to the plot and could have been perhaps even more successful had their encounters been fade-to-black.

Overall, this story, in my opinion, lacked polish in the writing, ambiance in the setting, and creativity in the retelling of real history. I still look forward to what she writes next, and the hardcover looks gorgeous next to the rest of my Russian lit.

Arc from NetGalley and Berkley. All opinions are my own.

Wanted to love this one but had a hard time really connecting to the story. I love the weaving of powerful historical narratives and the haunting feeling of this book. Overall, a very cool premise.

The haunting Of Moscow House, not having read many books from Russia I couldn’t wait to read this one and was not disappointed there’s way too much in this book to give a good summary just know if you’re fan of historical fiction old secrets and new ones in a slight paranormal aspect you will love the story. At a time when just talking to Americans can get you arrested Irene and her sister Lily go to work for them and at the same time the bolsheviks take over their home forcing them to live in the attic but living in the attic is not the only new way they will come to view their home and their family history. I love the historical fiction where once you start reading it you’re transported to that time and place and that definitely happened with this book it’s so easy to think we’re victims and our lives aren’t that great until you start reading about others who lived much harder lives than we ever will. This was a really good book that I definitely recommend. #NetGalley,#BerkeleyPublishing, #TheHauntingOfMoscowHouse,

The Haunting of Moscow House by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore is a mesmerizing blend of mystery and the supernatural that transports readers to a chilling, atmospheric setting. The story unfolds as a family grapples with unsettling occurrences in their ancestral home, revealing layers of history, trauma, and unresolved tensions. Gilmore’s lyrical prose beautifully captures the essence of the house itself, making it a character in its own right, while the rich cultural backdrop enhances the haunting experience. With its intricate storytelling and emotional depth, this novel is a captivating exploration of love, loss, and the ghosts that linger in our lives.

This novel is an interesting blend of historical fiction and gothic horror. While the blend was intriguing, and the plot okay, I did not love this book.

I struggled to differentiate between the two points of view for the bulk of the story, as the sisters were written in a very similar voice.

I also wished for more of the gothic elements. Large portions of the story occurred away from the house, and lacked any connection to the gothic elements of the story.