Review published on Goodreads, 2 May 2022:

Thanks to its compelling tagline ("The Haunting of Hill House meets Knives Out") and its deliciously Gothic premise, there was just no way I could resist reading THESE FLEETING SHADOWS. I felt sure I would love it. Did I? Well...

Turns out, THESE FLEETING SHADOWS is—unfortunately—more Hill House than Knives Out. I don't mind ghosts and goblins, but I was looking forward to a novel full of playful cleverness, as implied by a comparison to Knives Out. It doesn't have that. THESE FLEETING SHADOWS is almost relentlessly dark, depressing, and just...strange. The characters are mostly unlikable. Even Helen isn't super appealing. Her romance with Bryony feels insta-lovey and cheesy. Although the plot did keep me turning pages, it really is rather weird and cliché. In addition, although I like a spooky vibe, the atmoshpere in this one is so overdone that it makes the whole novel seem melodramatic and over-the-top. Let's just say, I did a lot of eye-rolling while reading it. In the end, then, THESE FLEETING SHADOWS felt like a silly, dissatisfying read to me. I think I'll go back to avoiding supernatural YA books, thank you very much!

Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️
TW: blood, body horror & lobotomy, murder & child death, queerphobia, abuse, misogyny, experimentation, and sexual assault

“There were wicked things within Harrow’s walls. And I was one of them.“

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. 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?

Going into this story my expectations were quite high and thankfully Marshall delivered! I really enjoyed following our main character Helen who was incredibly developed with her own set of strengths and weaknesses. To my surprise this story also handled thought-provoking topic such as generation trauma, the corruption of power, and the misunderstanding & marginalization of people. Personally the writing style didn’t necessarily click with me which lower my rating slightly, but the story and its mystery were still beautifully done. Definitely one to add to the spooky season TBR!

I recommend this one to readers looking for a cross between “The Haunting of Hill House” and “Knifes Out,” fans of “White Smoke” and “Go Hunt Me,” and anyone looking for a creepy gothic haunted house vibe.

These Fleeting Shadows is an ambitious narrative that sadly falls apart in the end. However, I will eagerly awaiting Marshall’s next release.

Thank you to TBR & Beyond Tours and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions contained within are my own.

As summer has it’s last full month, I can feel my soul getting ready for my favorite time of the year: spooky season! I don’t like the weather (give me the heat any day) but autumn cannot be beat when it comes to ✨vibes✨ This is why, come August, my mind is very much in the mood for some darker reads. These Fleeting Shadows most definitely fits that bill! Now, let me give you five reasons why it might work for you, as well.

#1. You enjoy a nice, spooky atmosphere

Do you like a mysterious, cavernous house that is most definitely hiding a ton of secrets. Check! Do you also like creepy woods filled with shadows that may be more than just shadows? Double check! This book absolutely kills it (pun very much intended) when it comes to the gothic, creepy vibes. The writing is crafted in such a stunning way to make you feel like you’re stuck in this dark and potentially murderous world right alongside the main character.

#2. You enjoy a main character who doesn’t have everything figured out

Speaking of the main character, let’s talk about our star, Helen Vaughn. I loved Helen so much. She’s trying her best in the severely awful situation in which she finds herself. I love that she’s messy. I love that she often times has no idea what she’s doing. And I love that, despite all that, she is absolutely determined to see whatever is happening through to the end. She’s a fighter and just an incredibly compelling character to follow.

#3. You’re looking for a gothic story that’s a little more sapphic

Helen isn’t the only compelling character in this story, however. We also have her witchy love interest, Bryony, who was probably my favorite out of everyone in this book. Sorry, Helen… Bryony has an iron will and is not afraid to fight for what she believes in. She’s also just badass on her own. Her and Helen together, however, is a match that I didn’t realize I wanted til the chemistry started practically fizzing off the page. It was gradual, but intense; sweet, but fiery. And I loved it! I also love the casual bi and gay rep we get in a couple of the side characters. More casual queer rep, please!

#4. You’ve ever found Cthulhu legends mildly interesting

I’m not saying the tentacled legend is the big baddie in this one, but the monster that is haunting this story feels very Old God-esque. The way the story is written also leans into that Lovecraftian feel, but without all the racism. It gave the entire story such a perfectly ghoulish vibe that I loved! It also left me a touch confused, which I’ve found happens to me quite often whenever I read something like this, haha. But not in a way that truly detracted from the story!

#5. You’re not afraid of a a jump-scare or two… or three

I’m a big fan of horror movies and horror novels, which means I’ve consumed quite a lot of the genre. It also means that I don’t scare that easy. When I tell you there were moments in this book that had me shuddering… Kate Alice Marshall is fantastic at painting a vividly grotesque scene and it absolutely works in this book! I’m probably gonna see the Folded in my dreams. I am not looking forward to it 😅😂 But, as a horror fan, I certainly appreciate how much effort was made to truly make this experience, well, horrific!

Final thoughts: That’s just five of the many reasons I can think of why one of you out there might enjoy this book. Since autumn is creeping ever closer, this is the perfect time to pick it up, as well! Overall, this was a beautifully crafted, gothic tale that held just the right amount of horror and heart. I thoroughly enjoyed our main character, Helen, and the fact that there is a sapphic romance that blossomed amidst all the scares. The writing was superb and it makes me want to explore this author’s backlist!

This story was full of deceit and betrayal. The plot was super interesting and the characters were well written. I was hooked to the story from the beginning. The whodunnit part was very intriguing. there were slow parts but nothing that deterred me from continuing the book. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

I am such a fan of the way that Kate Alice Marshall writes YA horror, and These Fleeting Shadows was no exception. My immediate reaction when I finished this book was that the gothic vibes of this one were spot on!

This book had so many of my favorite things when it comes to gothic horror stories: family members who can't be trusted, gothic vibes, paranormal elements, family secrets, murder, a terrifyingly haunted house, and a curse.

This was a quick read, and I did NOT see the ultimate twist coming. This book kept me guessing, and it was so unsettling. Such a great story.

DNF at 50%. This one is just not for me. It seems like it wants to be The Inheritance Games with supernatural and I wasn't into it.

Helen Vaughn and her mother Rachel left there ancestral home, Harrowstone Hall, long ago but for reasons Helen never knew. She may soon find the answers when Rachel receives a phone call from her brother Caleb. Helen’s grandfather passed away and has left Harrowstone Hall to Rachel on the condition that Rachel lives there for one year. They arrive and Helen meets her extended family. It’s creepy and atmospheric, it may be haunted and there’s plenty of secrets! Thank you to the publisher and author for a copy.

This was one that I read the blurb and was like, YES, it is going to be good, and the cover looks creepy. Sadly, I put this book down much more than I expected. I just was not truly invested in it like I had hoped. I finally finished it, and though it was good and I believe my students might like this book, it was not truly for me.
Helen has inherited a mysterious yet creepy house; you would that would be awesome, right? Well, something haunts the halls and makes everyone stay indoors at nightfall.
Along with that, there is a witch that is on the grounds as well. Not knowing any kind of backstory except that her mother left and never looked back, Helen starts looking into what is going on. For myself, I started getting lost and confused as it seemed that the family had something to do with what was on the grounds; there seemed to be some sort of magical element going on. I couldn't wrap my head around it. There were a lot of different things going on that I felt it was sometimes a bit too much. I will say it started pulling me in towards the end, so I kept on reading. Sadly, I have to give this book three stars.

These Fleeting Shadows is a great book for the spooky season coming up. The setting of this book, a remote estate, sets the perfect atmosphere for this read. Plus it has a creepy family that’ll have you continuously guessing about their motives

The book follows Helen Vaughan, as she and her mom come back to Harrowstone Hall for the funeral of her grandfather. Harrow gives Helen a weird feeling, which gets worse once it’s revealed that Helen has inherited the house and A substantial amount of money. The only catch is that she has to stay for one year at Harrow. If she makes it, everything is hers.

Soon after they move in, Helen starts seeing weird things. Her estranged family seems to be keeping an eye on her every move. Time seems to move differently at Harrow too, and the house is practically a labyrinth. If not for the friendship she forms with her cousins and Bryony, known as the Harrow Witch, Helen wouldn’t be able to stand all the strange things happening.

I loved seeing the mystery of Harrow unfold. The plot of this book flows smoothly and moves fast. The tension builds to an unexpected plot twist that I did not see coming. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a spooky read.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: These Fleeting Shadows

Author: Kate Alice Marshall

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: Anxiety disorder charcter, queer MC, Bisexual character, gay character, Black character, sapphic romance

Recommended For...: young adult readers, horror, mystery, thriller, LGBT, generational trauma

Publication Date: August 9, 2022

Genre: YA Horror

Age Relevance: 15+ (animal gore, death, cursing, gore, violence, sexual content, racism, romance)

Explanation of Above: There is some slight animal gore shown in this book with a skeleton of a fox being dug up. There is a lot of violence, gore, and death in this read. There is some slight cursing and slight and vague sexual content. There is some racism mentioned and there is some romance.

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

Pages: 336

Synopsis: 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.

Review: For the most part I really liked this book. The book is a great and horrifying horror read and I loved how the book made commentary on how women/girls are often sacrificed for the success of men. The book did well to be fairly unique and it was a page turning mystery. I thought the twists and turns were well written and the book kept me on my toes for the entirety of the read. I thought the character development was well done and the world building was amazing as well, considering we’re pretty much trapped in the same house throughout the book and it’s kind of an elevator book/movie.

The only issues I had with the book are that I thought the pacing was a bit wonky in a few places. It felt like it was a little too slow in a couple of areas and a little too fast in others. I also thought that the book didn’t do a stellar job at explaining the how of the mystery. I was still a bit confused in a couple of parts of the book, but it was enough information for me to get through it.

Verdict: It was good!

I fell in love with Kate Alice Marshall when I read Rules for Vanishing. Her ability to craft an atmospheric, creepy, in the moment story is what I love most. These Fleeting Shadows does not disappoint. It’s unsettling, mysterious, and who doesn’t love a good haunted house with generational family secrets?! I have been talking to multiple students about this book, and there’s a waiting list to borrow my copy!

Helen Vaughan and her mother fled her families home at Harrowstone Hall, called Harrow. She has no idea why and why they don’t talk much to their family anymore. They return back for her grandfathers funeral and finds out this man who has barely known her - left everything to her. The house, the grounds, and money all to her as long as she stays at the house for one year.

Helen decides to do it, not only for the money but also to get to the bottom of things. She needs to know why her grandfather picked her when there were so many other choices. Helen has also always felt different growing up and that no one liked her. She knows there is something about Harrow that will give her these answers. What she finds out is not even close to what she had expected.

These Fleeting Shadows is a mixture of thriller and horror. Marshall never fails to create a creepy story with a twist. The revelations only bring on more questions to the point where you have to keep reading. When you think you know where it’s going, there is much more to it. I can’t wait to see what Marshall has in store for us next! Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Was this everything I wanted and then some? YES. Kate Alice Marshall knows how to write YA horror/gothic horror. I devoured this book, literally once I started reading it I couldn't stop reading it.

These Fleeting Shadows had everything I wanted, murder, mystery, creepy mansion, even creepier family members, and a curse.

We're following Helen who is a teenage girl who just inherited her families huge gothic mansion from her grandfather who she barely knows. The catch is she has to live there for one year to reap the benefits. Strange things happen at the house after dark, and you aren't to leave after dark and go outside. Girls have been going missing for years and people in town think it's their family taking them.

Helen was such a fully developed character who I loved so much. I loved seeing her faults and weaknesses and also her strengths throughout the book. I never felt bored even though this was a bigger book. I was on the edge of my seat and was actually a little scared reading it at night. The things that go bump in the night had me reading with the lights on.

The plot twist of this book was absolute perfection and I didn't see it coming, but yet it was so realistic that if I reread this I could see the clues. This had major Knives Out and The Haunting of Hill House vibes and I loved every minute reading this. The ending was exactly what I wanted and I wasn't left with any unanswered questions.

Seriously, if you want a good horror book read any of the authors books!

Starting with the cover - it pulls you right in. It creates the perfect vibe and exactly what you should expect from this book - haunted house, lost girls, dark and eerie and gothic.

This is a book about a girl, that comes to her family's estate - The Harrow House. There's a lot of darkness and secrets surrounding it, and it gets even worse when she is offered to become the new Mistress of the House. But there's something dark hidden in the bones of the house. And Helen is bent to find out what.

It's a dark, spiraling story. You can never tell what is a dream and what is reality and you kind of spiral out of your mind along Helen. Until that is, all the pieces come together. I loved the paranormal, haunting side of this book. The creepiness, the atmosphere, the psychological devolvement. It is so perfect for the #spookyseason.

Three and a half stars......
I was really wrapped up in this gothic story about a family with many secrets. I enjoyed Marshall’s writing and loved how her words played as scenes in my head. At times throughout the novel I was a bit confused because a lot was happening quickly. The ending went on for too long to the point I got bored.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was super mysterious and intriguing and I genuinely did not guess some of the plot twists. I really liked the characters and representation. It was nice getting to see how Helen interacted with everyone, especially given the mysterious background of her childhood.

The one thing that made this a little harder to get through was the pacing. The book takes place over a year, but I felt like it was really hard to tell how much time was passing most of the time. I do think this had the intended effect, as Helen herself doesn't realize how much time is passing and keeps forgetting things. It just felt a little too jarring to me.

Overall, I think this is the perfect spooky read if you enjoy a little mystery. The queer representation was also super casual.

The vibes of this book were immaculate. It was very reminiscent of House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland. I was here for every single eerie page. The ending was phenomenal. Im trying to think of something I didn't enjoy about it, but nothing comes to mind. 5 star read. Would recommend.

<b><u>5 Reasons to read These Fleeting Shadows</u></b>

<strong>1.) Helen is an intriguing protagonist searching for the truth. </strong>She's <strong>awkward, bad at social interactions, and just a bit strange</strong> (which I very much related to). Her life has never been stable, she's been moving around all her life because bad things start happening once she stays too long in one place. <strong>Helen's feeling of isolation and like there is something wrong with her becomes a central part of the book</strong>. She becomes Mistress of Harrow to gain the inheritance of her deceased grandfather but she's still pretty much the black sheep of the family. No one will tell Helen what is going on, so she sets out to find the truth herself.

<strong>2.) The book is very atmospheric. </strong>I love how Kate Alice Marshall always manages to infuse her stories with a <strong>sinister, eerie atmosphere</strong>! The book is <strong>set at Harrowstone Hall</strong>, an old mansion that has been the Vaughan family home for generations and things are feeling off from the very beginning. The place feels like it might be haunted, even though everyone insists that there are no ghosts. <strong>Helen is drawn to Harrow's secrets and the house keeps playing tricks on her mind</strong>. The endless corridors and maze-like interior seem to serve a sinister purpose. The writing style really made the strangeness of Harrow and Helen's estranged family come to life and I loved how vivid it was. These Fleeting Shadows would make the perfect autumn read!

<strong>3.) Desmond & Celia are great secondary characters. </strong>They are Helen's cousins and immediately welcome her into the family. I especially <strong>loved Desmond, he is funny, charming, and loves all kinds of riddles</strong>. That's why Helen enlists his help in order to find out more about Harrowstone Hall. <strong>I loved their friendly banter</strong> and that Helen had someone in her family to confide in. Celia was also great, she could be a bit withdrawn but has a good heart and was genuinely trying to do what's right. In the end, I even came to like Eli, the brother of Helen's deceased grandfather.

<strong>4.) The sapphic enemies to lovers romance. </strong>Since Helen has to stay a year on Harrow's ground she meets the groundskeeper's daughter: Bryony Locke. Bryony also isn't like other people, she's the supposed 'witch of Harrow' and seems to notice things no one else does. <strong>Initially, both girls start out as enemies, Bryony hates the Vaughan family and Helen isn't used to people liking her</strong>. Throughout the book, both of them draw closer and try to solve the mystery of Harrow together. The understanding and tenderness between them were warming my heart, especially as it was in between horror and grief!

<strong>5.) It's such a fast, addictive read. </strong>I finished this book within a day because I was so intrigued and at a certain point I simply couldn't stop reading. <strong>I can never resist a good mystery and I loved the themes that were present</strong>, such as the meaning of humanity and the price of power.

<strong>IN CONCLUSION.</strong> ➽ <em>These Fleeting Shadows </em>is a <strong>great, atmospheric supernatural thriller</strong> that you won't be able to put down! I was hooked by the mystery from the very beginning and loved how romance and horror were interwoven here!

Similar to other books by this author, this one builds the creepy factor a little slowly at the beginning. The reader, like the characters, can at first find rationalizations for why things are off. As the story goes on, there's no denying the paranormal. The reader finds themself questioning the reliability of the narrator.

This is different from some of Marshall's other books in that it's a straight first person narrative instead of a collection of documents and different accounts of the story. It's a satisfying read for someone looking for a haunted house with a twist.