Malice House by Megan Sheperd ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5
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When escaping a horrible marriage, Haven has only one place left to turn- the home of her once estranged, eccentric author father. Now that he has passed, Malice House is hers to hide in and have a fresh start. Local rumors that the house is haunted seem to have sturdy ground as Haven begins to experience very unusual bumps in the night. When she finds an unpublished manuscript from her famous father, she has to decide whether to publish it through her father’s friends or on her own with her illustrations, all the while the mysteries of Malice House are becoming more sinister and possibly more real?
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O I just loved this! Monsters, magic, haunted houses, creepy vigilantes, family dramas.

Let me begin by saying Megan’s Shepherd’s Malice House had A LOT going on... While I loved the idea of monsters from an unknown manuscript being brought to life, I felt the story as a whole was just a bit too convoluted. It contained too many insignificant characters that you only got to catch a glimpse of for a brief second, before they just vanished for the rest of the story.

Malice House is about the main character, Haven, moving into her now deceased father’s house to take care of his estate. In doing so, she begins to uncover her father’s secrets, including a mysterious unpublished manuscript in her father’s attic. She decides to illustrate her father’s insidious ideas, and in doing so, unknowingly gives them a physical form in the real world. A curse that her father has known about for quite some time. But it’s not the only secret her father has to hide. Haven uncovers several of her father’s other secrets, too. One that will later turn her world upside down.

Going back to what I was saying in the first paragraph, I felt the monsters played very miniscule parts in this tale, when I felt they could have all shared the lead – Or could have just been omitted from the story completely because they had such small parts. It was also mildly disappointed how the manuscript tied them all together, but they did not coexist well amongst each other in the real world. But I think the biggest complaint I had about Malice House was that we didn’t find out what happened to all of the creatures in the end.

Overall, this story is still an enjoyable read. The ideas are there, the book’s plot still hits pretty hard, and the fire sequence was my favorite part. While I wouldn’t give this one a 5-star review, unfortunately, I still think it’s a book that has a lot of potential.

Special thanks to Net Galley, Hyperion Avenue, and the book's author Megan Shepherd for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A unique story that wasn't typically predictable *at least to me!) Having excerpts from a story within the story was a bonus.
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Artist Haven Marbury returns to her [once an award winning author] fathers home in a small seaside town. Upon rummaging through her fathers things, she comes across "Bedtime Stories for Monsters" a hand written story that is unlike her fathers usual books. Literally a starving artist, Haven has the great idea to illustrate this long forgotten manuscript. Hoping to bring in enough money to start over after a divorce. Haven never believed her fathers warnings that his home was haunted, after all he had dementia (which could explain the plates of toast under the bed) Haven takes the manuscript to her fathers literary group of friends, the ink drinkers, who seem too eager to help. She also meets a few others ..... a barista who offers to help her sell off some of her fathers literary possessions, an attractive neighbor, a detective who tries to advise Haven to leave town for a while, and the mysterious creature grom under the bed. After numerous break ins at her fathers home, deaths of those associated with Haven ..... she starts to believe this could all be connected to the found manuscript, discovering a few family secrets along the way, even the ones that were meant to stay buried.

Name of Book: Malice House
Author: Megan Shepherd
Publisher: Hyperion Avenue
Genre: Horror, Gothic, Mystery
Pub Date: October 4, 2022
My Rating: 2.5 rounded up

Book within a book!

When Haven Marbury is cleaning out her father's seaside house after his death she finds a secret manuscript entitled ‘𝘉𝘦𝘥𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴”.
Haven’s father Armory always said the house (Malice House) was haunted, Have was sure it was his dementia. However, since she is an artist she decides this manuscript might be a good book to illustrate and perhaps a posthumous release of her famous father’s writing might launch her career.

When Have started illustrating the manuscript, strange things seem to be happening... she begins to see and hears scuttling under her bed. One night and is bitten on the ankle by a monstrous creature, it appears her illustrations are coming to life.
Could Malice House really be haunted or is the manuscript messing with her mind?

Hmm I am a big psychological thriller fan and am okay with dark and creepy and sometimes really like a gothic story. ( I was totally drawn to this creepy cover!) However, some of the descriptions in this story were a tad much for me. Not what I was expecting. I hung in there – not a fav.

Want to thank NetGalley and Hyperion Ave for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 4, 2022

What a creepy, creepy tale! Haven Marbury, is a struggling illustrator and recovering from a failed marriage. Following her father's deaeth has come to his house to clean it out and determine it's worth. Her father was a famous, an author of dark and ghoulish stories - some so good that he was awarded a Pulitzer. However, very little of his fortune is left due to mismanagement and Haven is doing her best to clean out the house and find a way to stay afloat. In the attic she finds an interesting and unusual manuscript of short tales that compels her to illustrate them. She is hoping an illustrated companion book may be just what she needs to start again. But there is something very wrong in the Marbury Mansion and the people in town seem well aware of it. Was Haven's father suffering from dementia or was there something much more sinister at work?

This premise is VERY UNIQUE and highly recommended to all horror lovers. It was creepy and grotesque and may just keep you up all night. If you like a good (great!) horror story, like an unusual plot and maybe just want to stay up all night reading - Malice House is for you!
#HyperionAvenue #MaliceHouse #MeganShepherd #Netgalley #Netgalleyreads

Is Malice House really haunted? Follow Haven as she explores her father's horror stories and his house. I liked it but it felt to me like a YA book despite the adult subjects. I would've liked more fully fleshed characters but the plot was intriguing.

3.5 stars, rounding up.

Horror is such a subjective genre! What scares one person may be laughable to another. Personally, I'm most horrified by stories that align closely with reality, because let's face it, reality is horrific enough. This particular novel is pretty fanciful, so it didn't SCARE me, but I really enjoyed the premise and most of the plot points.

Haven Marbury returns to Malice House after her father's death to prepare it for sale. When she finds an unpublished manuscript locked away in the attic, she begins a project to illustrate it herself and sell the combo for a fortune. However, strange things keep happening since her return to town, including violent murders and scuffling sounds in the walls of her own home. She starts investigating with the help of some new friends? foes? and things quickly spiral out of control...

Since it's not clearly outlined in the synopsis, all I'll say about the origin of the monsters is that I found it unique and imaginative. This book could probably be labeled as horror/fantasy and not raise any eyebrows, so if that's your kind of thing, I think you'll love the premise as well. I really enjoyed the snippets of stories from the fictional manuscript at the beginning of each chapter, as this detail really brought the monsters and their stories to life for me. I also loved the choice of setting; a relatively remote town in the pacific northwest was the perfect vibe for Malice House.

Be forewarned that the beginning third or so is pretty slow, but the story does pick up pace and roll pretty quickly after that. There were a few moments that dragged for me, but overall I found the pace appropriate for an atmosphere horror novel. There is some violence, but it isn't super graphic or gory. My biggest problem with this novel is the main character, Haven, who I found unlikeable and wasn't able to connect with. Some of this may have been intentional, based on reveals later in the story, but it definitely prevented me from actually getting scared for her when she was in peril.

Thank you to Megan Shepherd, Hyperion Avenue, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

Malice House is one of those books that grabs you from the beginning and refuses to let go, taking you along for a truly chilling ride until the thrilling end.

The author has created a world full of terrifying creatures that leap from the page (literally) and one that the reader will gladly travel with the characters to face these horrors together.

It's an incredibly atmospheric read that will have you tucking your feet in your blankets lest something under the bed pinches your flesh.

The realistic characters feel like flesh and blood people. These are characters you will have feelings about one way or another. There are enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes and jaw dropping secrets that leave you breathless when they're revealed.

The "book within a book" storyline is so well done and provides some of the most frightening moments you'll find in a book. The creatures are pure nightmare fuel and will have you checking your doors and windows just to be sure!

This book is a must read for horror fans and will make "best of" lists in 2022.

Malice House is a stunning blend of mystery, thriller, fantasy, and horror. From the very beginning you are intrigued by the main character who has returned to the quaint town where her famous writer father spent his life. She is clearly in between stages of her life and is relatable with her quandaries of how to provide for herself and which path to take in life next. When she discovers an unpublished manuscript in her fathers attic, she feels as though she has stumbled across a goldmine. Especially because as an artist herself, she feels she can enhance his work and create something entirely new, adding artwork to her fathers words.. The results of her work will keep you fascinated, making you wonder if she's going crazy like her father supposedly did, or is there really something supernatural at play? You root for her regardless of which opinion you take and the outcome will keep you on your toes. Such a fun read!

This is a mix of Misery by Stephen King and Home Before Dark by Riley Sager or anything by Megan Miranda, but leaning more towards the fantasy side. It can also get pretty gruesome at times. I would recommend this title for people who like the darker side of things or, if you were initially a fan of Megan's earlier works like The Madman's Daughter series, this is essentially a grown up version of that original trilogy. I liked it for the nostalgia and it makes a great late summertime/fall read set on the coast in Washington you never really know who you can trust in this page turner. The thing that turned me off was first person narrative. With stories like this, featuring the book within a book trope, it is always jarring to me for the differences in points of view even though I know the purpose of it. This is a personal preference. I think that this will definitely find its readers come October, but it just missed the mark for me, especially the ending since it left it open for a sequel which I personally thought the book did not need.

Expected Publication: October 4, 2022

I really liked the concept of this book, overall I have mixed feelings. There were times I was fully engaged and creeped out, but most of the time it was very slow and drawn out. I had a hard time picking it back up for the most part. I was not a huge fan of the writing, or many of the characters. The ending was okay for me.

Thank You to the publishers via NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Woah!

I want this to be a Netflix movie asap. This was a slow build for me and then boom, it goes off the rails at lightening speed. From about 40% on I flew through this book.

What a unique and intriguing plot line. I really enjoyed the character development, all of the detailed gothic horror and it was just extremely entertaining.

The only thing I can compare this to is some of Stephen King’s classic work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Megan Shepherd and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of a digital advanced reviewer copy in exchange for an honest review!

Gripping. Monstrous. Haunting.

"So the girl who doesn't get scared by horror movies gets scared off by... what?"

REVIEW:
This book follows Haven Marbury, who relocates to her father's house - Malice House - after his passing. Haven is an aspiring illustrator, while her father, Armory Marbury, was a world renowned author and Pulitzer prize winner. Before her father's passing, Amory, was certain that his house was haunted and everyone believed he was going mad from his progressing dementia. Upon settling into the house, she discovers an unpublished manuscript by her father that consisted of short horror stories. Desperate for money, Haven attempts to collaborate with her deceased father by illustrating each of his short stories and sell it to a publisher. But soon after she begins her illustrations, Haven begins seeing and hearing odd things in her house. Is Haven going mad like her father because of her obsession with illustrating for her father's manuscript or is there something a little more sinister going on inside Malice House?

This book is very descriptive and can easily paint the picture of the scene in the readers mind. The writing style was easy to follow. I did appreciate that each chapter began with an excerpt from Armory Haven's manuscript to create that connection between the monsters Haven was illustrating and the storyline they are based off of. With all that being said, this book wasn't for me. I had a difficult time following all the monster's storyline since there were so many to keep track of. Although it is a categorized as a horror, I didn't feel like the finished product reflected a horror novel - other than the brief monster occurrences throughout. I wasn't a fan of the storyline and felt like it was too slow of a build. The book had a great premise, but fell a little flat for me.

A horror story that will challenge your idea of reality. Interesting and unique concept as a daughter tries to unravel her author fathers' legacy, while capturing through her drawings. Didn't have this one figured out!

I have mixed feelings about this one. It was atmospheric and genuinely scary at times and a couple of the twists were surprising. I couldn't connect with Haven's narration though (and that may be intentional, given what we learn about her) but I found her woefully naive and much too trusting in the situations she ended up in.

I was captivated by Malice House when I first dived into this book, but half way through I could see where it was going and began to tire of the story. Great premise but mediocre execution. 3/5 stars.

Haven Marbury is a starving artist, and the daughter of a world renowned author. When her father passes away he leaves his home, Malice House, to her. While exploring Malice House she finds an unpublished manuscript in her father’s handwriting bearing the title, “Bedtime Stories For Monsters”. As Haven reads she finds herself sketching the monsters as if she can’t help herself. The more she sketches the more strange things begin to happen to include a mysterious, but handsome neighbor she can’t quite trust, something that seems to lurk under the bed, boxes of dirt in the attic, and a few gruesome murders.
This was an enjoyable and bizarre horror with a hint of the Tulpa lore……what if you could create something, but once created you’d have no control over your creation?
Thank you #nethalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC of #MaliceHouse.

“Malice was chaos and chaos was malice.”

I initially thought this was a thriller just basing it off the book title and cover. I kept waiting for the first dead body to appear. But eerie sounds, odd coincidences and strange things started happening in Malice House. When the first dead body appears in the oddest and gruesome way, I realized this book was more a supernatural, horror, fantasy novel.
Haven Marbury moved to Lundie Bay to clear her late father’s house. While doing so she discovered a secret handwritten manuscript very different from his award winning works. The manuscript is titled Bedtime Stories. It’s a collection of short stories about horrific monsters and peculiar humans. Haven hoped to do a posthumous father and daughter collaboration. As an aspiring artist she started illustrating the characters. That’s when chaos started.
This book showed the dangerous powers of words and arts in reshaping a world. I like the world building and description of the monsters, their stories and how they all connected. I didn’t really know where the story was heading but the creep factor, deceptions and my curiosity kept me reading. The middle part slowed down for me. It became too descriptive. I guess I wanted more action than words. But things started speeding up once Haven discovered a family secret and started putting pieces together. I was expecting a grand ending but I liked how the author wrapped up things. She left enough room to wonder about the monsters and other peculiar characters of Bedtime stories, she reminded you that you are not alone and to keep checking under your bed for monsters.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a bit slow in some parts, but I really enjoyed the story overall. I would recommend!

Megan Shepherd’s "Malice House" was like nothing I expected and it absolutely delighted me in its obscure and eerie storyline. A story within a story within a story, it’s a wildly unique concept that Shepherd executed beautifully. This is a less gory, more suspenseful and eerie horror about a hidden manuscript brought to life with the stroke of a hand to wreak havoc on Haven’s reality. "Malice House" is a dark, interesting dive into family secrets and self-identity.

This is Haven’s story and told from her point of view. I liked her vulnerability and complexity. She had a tumultuous relationship with her father and seems to still be seeking approval for her talents since she was denied by him growing up. I wish we would’ve gotten a tad more on her backstory from her marriage to time with her father as a child, as I feel it would’ve added another layer to the story that felt missing. The rest of the characters are equally well-written and easy to dislike with so many out for their own self-serving purposes. From the beginning you’ll very much have a “don’t trust anyone” feel to the story—which ultimately ends up being true. There are some really great twists in this book.

I loved the setting that Shepherd created. Malice House itself reading as a character with hidden secrets and hauntings within its walls. So much of the story depends on the house or what was housed there. Loaded with gothic elements, I loved the slow build of this story into a strange, shocking climax.

I think what I loved most was the storyline driving "Malice House." Without giving it away just know that it’s a story within a story type of read with a lot going on but all tied together with those epic twists I mentioned above. I loved the excerpts from “Bedtime Stories for Monsters” and they added such scary, unsettling parallels to each chapter.

Overall this is a story of self-identity as Haven fights to make peace with not only her haunted past but the things haunting her present and threatening her future. Through the series of terrifying and shocking events, she learns to trust her talent, embrace her identity and stand up to those trying to take her down.