Title: These Fleeting Shadows
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Helen Vaughan doesn't know why she and her mother left their ancestral home at Harrowstone Hall, called Harrow, or why they haven't spoken to their extended family since. So when her grandfather dies, she's shocked to learn that he has left everything—the house, the grounds, and the money—to her. The inheritance comes with one condition: she must stay on the grounds of Harrow for one full year, or she'll be left with nothing.
There is more at stake than money. For as long as she can remember, Harrow has haunted Helen's dreams—and now those dreams have become a waking nightmare. Helen knows that if she is going to survive the year, she needs to uncover the secrets of Harrow. Why is the house built like a labyrinth? What is digging the holes that appear in the woods each night?And why does the house itself seem to be making her sick?
With each twisted revelation, Helen questions what she knows about Harrow, her family, and even herself. She no longer wonders if she wants to leave…but if she can.
MY THOUGHTS
It’s October, you know what that means…Spooky Season! These Fleeting Shadows fit the bill perfectly and checked off all the boxes in what I was looking for. Gothic Victorian manor, Check. Mysterious deaths, Check. Spirits and Spectorals? Check. Witches, Check. Morally gray characters....or just straight-up unhinged? Check.
These Fleeting Shadows was pitched as a cross between Haunting of Hill House and Knives Out, which was a pretty accurate description in my opinion. Our main protagonist, Helen, grew up with only her mother and knows nothing of her mother’s family or past; until they’re called home after the patriarch of the family passes away. Meeting your relatives for the first time may be awkward and strange but what’s more discerning was the fact that Helen’s grandfather left the estate and millions of dollars to Helen. But the caveat is that she must reside at Harrowstone for the duration of one-year. Helen, tired of moving, her mother struggling and finding out why she’s afflicted with blackouts and visions agrees to the term only to later discover that her family didn’t disclose everything about Harrowstone and that the binding agreement may lead to her prosperity or death.
I was captivated within the first few chapters. The setting was
perfect, an ancestral home and the family that resides there; steeped in
secrets and mystery. Readers follow along with Helen, the Harrow Witch and her
cousins Cecilia and Desmond as they uncover Harrow and Leopold’s secrets. I loved
Marshall’s description of Harrowstone, a labyrinth home built on sacred
grounds, where each room and floor were purposely crafted for occultism or
numerology reasons. Where right is left and up is down with ‘secret’ rooms and
stairways hidden in plain sight. Add to the creep factor was that people weren’t
allowed to go out past twilight and all rooms were locked because monsters roam
the halls.
My only criticism for These Fleeting Shadows was the pacing
was a bit slow. The middle section felt like it was dragging with not much
happening. However, I thought the characters were three-dimensional, very developed and the
writing well done. I also appreciated learning about the history of the family,
ancestors through the journal style. It was both mysterious and suspenseful as
Helen and Desmond decoded the entries piece by piece culminating in a terrifying
revelation that I didn't see coming! I love when things aren’t predictable and
I get genuinely surprised, they’re my favorite kind.
Overall, I enjoyed These Fleeting Shadows, it was a quick spooky read. This is my first KAM novel and it surely won’t be my last. I highly recommended These Fleeting Shadows for anyone looking for a quick, not too scary read.
