It was lush and gothic and the romance was indeed a heart throbbing romance. I really enjoyed the world as well as the characters in this book it made the world feel as though it was coming to life.

Read: May 23rd - May 28th
Format: E-book
Rating: 4 stars

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I read Together We Rot, and it was pretty cool, and I think I'd appreciate it more now as I read more horror-y things. But this one just really hit. I can't say it's my favorite thing ever, but the VIBES, man. So much about this book promised vibes, and it delivered.

I think my main complaint is that some parts felt a bit disjointed from the rest, and also the ending felt a bit nice-little-bow-on top-y, which (Together We Rot spoilers) <spoiler>given the way Arndt's last book ended with the curse winning in its own way</spoiler> I wasn't expecting this one's ending. I think the book could have benefitted with another 15-ish pages throughout.

But when this book just embraced its concept, it really did amazing. I loved the atmosphere created, the story told, and the 'twist' which I did see coming but still made my heart hurt. There was this wonky maze scene that also was just so 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

Also, just taking a moment to say OH MY GOSH, THIS BOOK'S COVER IS 😍😍😍😍

“𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘸𝘯.”

Solving her best friend's murder means infiltrating a secret society, resisting a forbidden love, and running from a vengeful ghost in this sophomore novel by the author of Together We Rot

Together We Rot was the first book I read from Skyla Arndt and I immediately fell in love with her unique ideas in plot and writing style. Skyla does an amazing job bringing the idea to life and I loved it so much that I finished it in less than two hours. The book cover immediately gave the idea of dark academia and Alice in Wonderland. The prose was making me read without taking a break and had me hooked from the very beginning. I was kept on my toes from the very beginning of this book, from the mysterious academy, the haunting ghosts, the secret society, the characters and the thrilling secrets hiding behind the walls. Violet is a very compelling and relatable character. Her strong-willed mind which drew her to Hart Academy for seeking revenge for her best friend showed how far she would go for her loved ones. Calvin is cunning and handsome whose eyes are at Violet. Behind that facade hides a boy who has been living with the struggles of the middle child, the 'spare'. This book is more of a thriller with murder mystery than romance but the romance does shine because their love is deadly and they're under a Vicious soulmates curse. The way these characters react to the situations in the book are so on point with their ages. The cast of characters are so much fun and amazing! The entire idea of this book is amazing and I had so much fun reading it! Skyla did an amazing job with his one and I can't wait to get a physical copy of this book!

If you're wondering if you’ll like this book, all you need to do is look at the cover.
Gothic, horror, mystery: check. Secret societies and rich boarding schools: check. A lush, dark, rich story: check and check.

"Ghosts don't appear for no reason. Something really bad has to happen to bring them back."
House of Hearts follows Violet, who attends a boarding school that her best friend was enrolled in the previous year and died, but Violet knows there's more to the story; she knows she was murdered, and she plans on proving it.
Sklya Ardnt is a master at writing atmosphere. She writes a dark, whimsical tale in her book House of Heart.s Her writing is fantastic; she plunges you into this twisted world of dark fancical terrors and dreams. The way she describes things is particularly beautiful and visual. I truly adore how she can twist every word and sentence into a darker, more splendid version of itself. If you are someone who is not particularly fond of flowery writing, I still think you will enjoy Skyla Ardnt's prose; she very rarely crosses over the line, keeping it mostly to a lush, dark melody.

"The calamitous, often tragic aftermath of passion: how heartbreak can drive us into violence."
As for the story, it's very intriguing, a dark fairytale like all true childhood stories. I loved the Alice and Wonderland inspiration, the dark fairytale inspiration, and the morbid urban legends all wrapped up in this book. The mystery was intriguing, and there were quite a few twists and turns, some I saw coming and others surprised me.

The characters were all enjoyable as well - the ones you were supposed to like at least.
One thing I have noticed about Skyla Ardnt's writing is that she is exceptional at creating deep, loving friendships. The relationship between Violet and Em was probably the most powerful and poignant in the story, and relationships between other characters, often not in scene, still felt real and earnest, adding to the believability of the story.

"If anything, I’m not a fairy tale but a lesson for the Lockwells."
Violet is a strong-minded bull of a heroine, charging in; she’s smart, but also angry, and she’s ready to rip everything down in her way to find the truth of what happened to her friend. She’s logic-minded, making the new world of spectral ghosts and curses a challenge for her to navigate.
Calvin is a carefree playboy with no worries or troubles - or so he appears to be. Slowly, we see the mask drop and the desperate horror and grief that haunt him.
I enjoyed Calvin and Violet’s interactions so much! They were always witty and matched each other for clever retorts. However, I would say that Clavin and Violet's relationship wasn't as flushed out as I would have liked it to be. They spent a lot of time bantering (which I loved), but I also understand that it took a long time for them to trust one another, and that a relationship is something that has to grow. I wouldn't have wanted them to go from 0 - 100 in 200 pages anyway. I think also that while this book does have romance in it, Clavin and Violet are not the only relationship. We have Calvin and Violet, but also Em and Percy, and Ana and Oleander, and then Ana and Helen, but the most prominent and important is probably Em and Violet. It's the one that gets the most time, as it's the main driving force for most of the book.
"You don't stop loving someone when they die. Your grief is your love, and they live in your hearts."

Skyla seems to like bittersweet endings. Sort of wrapped up - sort of open. Not everything turned out okay, but that doesn't mean it won’t one day be okay.

I would say this book was almost everything I wanted it to be, it was a gothic paranormal horror romance. Alice in Wonderland and dark fairy tales mixed with a mysterious boarding school. How could you not love it? Once again, Skyla Ardnt's writing is fantastic and what truly elevates the story. I very much enjoyed it, I couldn't put it down once I started! Worth reading.

STARS: 3.8 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you, Netgalley and Skyla Ardnt, for Providing Me With an ARC copy. I Am Very Thankful :)

Cristismisims: (SPOILERS) Since this is an ARC REVIEW, the few things I would have changed were: a bit more closure with Em. What we get is mostly Violet thinking about how it truly was an accident. It would have been interesting now that she is walking the same path as Em if, in the scene where she is in the tower thinking of this, she sees Ana or the winds start to sweep her away, and she almost falls, but Calvin catches her. It would further cement her belief in her theory and add more closure to Em’s fate. It would also be a call back to the beginning of the book with Violet and Calvin, and would also further grow Calvin and Violet's relationship.

I enjoyed Calvin and Violet's relationship, but I felt like it was a bit rushed at the end. We get a good slow burn, and their banter is great, but then it kind of all moves very fast at the end. They discover their soulmates and each other's true love, but I think it would be better phrasing to say 'you are my true love' or 'you will one day be my true love,' since love isn't something that happens in an instant.

I adore Skyla’s writing, but there were a few moments, mostly in action scenes, where I felt there were a few too many sentences that sidetracked or bogged down what was happening. There were also quite a lot of spelling or grammatical mistakes that I assume will be fixed before publishing. It was still an amazing book!

Thank you Netgallery for the ARC.

I absolutely loved the world building and the Alice in Wonderland inspired touches throughout the book. It hit every note that I was looking for in this book: romance, mystery, paranormal, and dark academia. The book keep my interest the entire time. I absolutely felt for Violet the entire time trying to figure out what happened to her best friend. Absolutely recommend reading this book ASAP!

What a beautiful atmospheric horror!! The author’s note said that Skyla Arndt has always been a fan of the creepy crawly and, oh man, does that ever come through in this book. Ghosts, family drama, secret school societies-it truly has all the makings of the most perfect YA horror and the immaculate pacing and interesting characters really round it out to be such a quick and enjoyable read.

I was hooked from the very beginning—House of Hearts wraps you in its eerie embrace with fog-drenched courtyards, hidden passageways, and whispers behind every door. The gothic atmosphere is absolutely intoxicating, like wandering through an abandoned cathedral where every stained glass window holds a secret.

Violet is clever, determined, and brave in a way that feels raw—she’s not just looking for answers; she’s hunting justice. After the suspicious death of her best friend, she transfers to the elite boarding school where it all began. But the deeper she digs, the more entangled she becomes—with secrets, lies, and a brooding boy named Calvin, who radiates danger and dark charm. (Of course he’s the headmistress’s son. Of course he’s got a past.)

The story glimmers with mystery: a secret society hidden behind masks and rituals, cursed playing cards, a haunting family legacy, and yes—subtle threads of Alice in Wonderland surrealism stitched into its bones. And can we talk about that cover? Gothic perfection.

The pace gallops, which keeps the tension high, but I did find myself yearning for more space. I wanted Violet’s grief to bleed more onto the page, for the shadows of the past to stretch deeper. There were so many compelling elements that could’ve thrived with more time to unfold. It's like being led through a beautiful nightmare, but waking up just before the final revelation.

Still, House of Hearts cast a spell on me. It’s a dark academia gem—equal parts ghost story, love story, and fever dream. If you like your mysteries shrouded in lace, blood, and candle smoke, this one’s for you. I’ll gladly return, should the doors ever creak open again.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Skyla Arndt, and Netgalley for my digital ARC of this book.

You know when a cover 100% sells you on picking up and reading a book? The cover of House of Hearts is a stunning example of YA gothic romantic horror, which also happens to be a pretty good summation of the genre of this book.

House of Hearts is part detective story, part ghost story, following Violet, a girl who enrolls at a prestigious private school in order to investigate the supposed suicide of her best friend, Em. Violet thinks there is something more sinister at play and seeks to discover who killed her friend, and why. Once she arrives at school, she discovers there is much more going on than she realized, from a secret society to ghosts to centuries old vengeance plots and more. All the while falling for the son of the headmistress, who happens to be the brother of her #1 suspect in Em's murder.

I love ghost stories and am genuinely impressed when books manage to spook me. This one has at least two scenes I found genuinely creepy, in the best way. I really liked the characters and found Violet to be a very likeable, and humorously sardonic, protagonist. The mystery at the center of House of Hearts is compelling and will keep readers hooked from beginning to end.

This was a very enjoyable read for me and I'm giving it a very solid 4/5 stars. I would definitely read more by this author in future and would recommend this book to those who enjoy this genre.

After Violet’s best friend dies, she’s not as convinced as everyone else that it was a “freak accident.” To uncover the murderer & the truth she goes undercover at her friend’s elite boarding school. While there she must gain access to the school’s secret society in order to get the answers she’s looking for. What she wasn’t expecting was Calvin, the brother of the prime murder suspect. He’s flirty, charming & hiding a family secret that may be more supernatural than she bargained for.

I’ll start off by saying this was an enjoyable read. There were elements of this book that hooked me, leaving me wanting to know more. I liked the author’s sarcastic tone throughout the book. I loved the supernatural elements.

However, I did need some suspension of belief in order to fully enjoy it. The chemistry was there between the characters but it felt like the romance wasn’t fully developed. It also felt like things were easy for our fmc. She didn’t experience a lot of roadblocks when working towards her goals. I think with the length & the fast pace of the book made these elements hard to really develop fully.

Overall I still think this is a good read & would recommend it to those who want something short, fast paced, dark academia, mystery & family curses.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the arc!!

thank you netgalley & penguin for this arc in exchange for an honest review

I have been lucky enough to receive both of Skyla Arndt’s ARCs, and I hope to be able to continue that tradition with whatever comes next.

House of Hearts is a gothic mystery/thriller that follows Violet, an angry and heart broken girl hell bent on avenging her best friends death.

Admittedly, I did love Together We Rot more than House of Hearts, but HOH is a fun, intense read that will keep your mind working as you try to figure out what the heck is happening at this boarding school.

As usual, a very fun and prose-filled read from Arndt.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

HOUSE OF HEARTS by Syla Arndt

Thank you Netgalley and PenguinTeen for the earc (Sept 2)

When Violet Harper's friend d*es, she knows it wasn't an accident, so she enrolls at the fancy school her friend went to dig into the secret society she believes is responsible for her best friend's d*ath. There, she is thrown into a whirlwind investigation, and her undeniable attraction to Calvin Lockwell (brother of her prime suspect) doesn't help. Can she break the curse, or will it break her?
HOUSE OF HEARTS is easily devourable YA thriller. It is dark academia with a society and curse at its core. This book is beautiful: beautifully written and beautifully witty. From page one, I was hooked. I loved how descriptive the writing was, and it was like the author painted a picture with words. My favorite part wasn't the investigation, or the way it played out, or even the society. My favorite part was the flirtatious banter between Violet and Calvin. It added so much to the story with just their interactions, and I was smiling and rooting for them---especially as the book played out. I thought the ending was satisfying, and I loved how everything played out.
HOUSE OF HEARTS is gripping and dramatic, and I cannot wait to read more by this author. I highly recommend this.

Rating: 5 stars!

Old school with a secret society? Ghosty vibes? True Love? What is there not to love about this book. It's creepy, it's dark, it's got everything you could possible want in a mystery/dark academia/thriller. Violet and Calvin had me FLYING through this book. Its a quick >300 page read that you can easily devour in a single sitting.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great quick and captivating story. The plot had me hooked easily and had me seated until the end. I love all things spooky as well as a good mystery and combined with elements of Alice in Wonderland, it makes for an incredible read.

“Her heart hurt. It burned in her chest. She could feel every crack in it, and she wanted it gone. So she took a knife and dug it out.”

The book cover guys.. the book cover...

Skyla knows how to entice me in, I have been obsessed with this cover since I saw it and instantly applied for the authors street team as soon as there was a chance.

I have always loved Alice in Wonderland and when I saw this book had vibes of this I was excited!

This is a relatively short book so I loved that. It felt like it flew by! As it's a YA horror it is easy to read and get engrossed in.

I loved how the romance didn't take up a lot of the story line and it was more about the murder mystery and boarding school. The romance is slow burn but quite sweet. I loved Calvin as the love interest - he had so much personality he jumped off the page to me.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓dark academia
✓hate to love
✓Alice in Wonderland vibes
✓secret society
✓forbidden love
✓soulmate curses

Thank you to Skyla for the advance copy and for having me as a member of The Cards street team !

This book was really good! The mystery element kept me on my toes. The academic setting was so entertaining. The romance between the main characters was chefs kiss. My only complaint is that the book was hard to get into at first!

4.5/5

✧ Enemies to lovers
✧ Paranormal
✧ Love curse
✧ Detective vibes
✧ Secret society

Deadly kiss. Love curse.
Bloody Mary meets Alice in Wonderland.

Murder mystery, dissapearebce mystery, family history mystery, mystery, mystery, so much secrets.

Her friend is dead. And she wants a revenge, but would it be so easy to get? "If something happens to me find Percy" - but what if Percy isn’t so easy to be found?

I adore the book's sarcastic tone; it may well be one of my favorite aspects while reading. Additionally, the overall writing style is refreshingly easy to read.

The paranormal elements and the love curse are truly captivating. As we delve deeper into the story, it becomes increasingly tense and intricate.

With each layer we uncover, we realize that Calvin is far from a simple playboy asshole. All the characters feel vibrant and distinct. I particularly adore the chemistry between Calvin and Violet; it may not follow a typical slow burn, their connection is undeniably charming ans cute!

The retelling of Alice in Wonderland is not so typical here, but I love all the little references woven throughout the text.

I devoured the second part of this book; its tension and gripping left me breathless!

First off the cover is absolutely stunning and initially drew me in. This book has something for every one… dark academia… murder mystery… family curses… slow burn romance… and who doesn’t love a ghost?! This book is your next thrill with mind blowing secrets revealed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

2.5 - I rounded up for now but it’s so difficult for me to decide. So this may change.

This was advertised as an Alice in Wonderland-inspired horror romance. In my opinion, there was not enough Wonderland, not enough horror and not enough romance. 🤪

For the first 2/3 of the book, we essentially get a contemporary mystery story. A girl goes to the school where her best friend died to find out what happened to her. The school has a secret society that the girl needs to get into to learn more about her friend’s death. This section feels more like the aftermath of a real horror romance and I found myself thinking: This book would have been way more enjoyable if it were Emoree and Percy’s story. 😅

The lore of this book was also mediocre. I didn’t even care enough to ask the questions I wanted answered. I loved that when a sort-of twist happened it was explained with an “apparently it works this way.” (Slow clap.) Let’s change the rules at 75% to make it more actiony.

Calvin and Violet…. Wow. I don’t know at all where their attraction came from because they had like two solo scenes the entire book until their “romance status” was revealed. I read another review that said they felt like friends and I wholeheartedly agree!! There was zero romantic chemistry here. 🤷‍♀️ Again, that’s just my opinion.

For me, I think had she leaned into one or the other, it would have worked. What I mean by that is: I either needed this book to solely be a “I need to avenge my dead friend” OR “I fell in love and am now in danger.” Because for the majority of the book, she didn’t really acknowledge Calvin all that much - except to comment on him as if he was a coworker or friend. Then suddenly “I was always looking for you.” (I legit was like “did I miss something?”) 😂

Ultimately… I’m not sure who this book would appeal to. It felt like a story I’ve read before and that has been done better before. It was overall pretty basic with nothing super complex or innovative. This book was my “I’ll give her one more shot” for Skyla and I think she went into my “I’m done now” pile.

I hope this book finds its readers but unfortunately that’s not me.

A haunted school with a heart-stealing ghost? Sign me up.

I loved the vibes of this book, with its dark history and detailed horrors. The author did a great job crafting vivid scenes and bringing the gruesome elements to life. I really liked the main character, Violet, because she was stubborn and brave in her search for revenge. Her character was very straightforward from the start, which I appreciated.

Also, this cover is absolutely gorgeous and I love it so much.

I'm giving this 3.75 stars instead of 4 because I wish the other characters had been more fleshed out. They all felt two-dimensional, and I wasn’t really able to get to know them—especially Calvin. His personality seemed to change so often that I couldn’t get a read on him. I wish he had been more fully developed and distinct from the other characters.

The romance between Violet and Calvin also felt lacking. I wish there had been more indicators throughout the book to show a developing connection between them, or at least more progression. Additionally, the academy setting felt underutilized. We only got two or three scenes of regular school life, so it never truly felt like an academic setting. The focus was heavily on the haunted locations, which made the balance feel off.

But other than that, I thought the story was very spooky, full of twists and turns, grief, love, and mystery.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. House of Hearts had an intriguing setup that initially drew me in boarding school secrets, a murdered best friend, a mysterious society, and even a vengeful ghost. It promised a dark and twisty mystery with emotional stakes and forbidden romance. But after a strong start, the story lost momentum. Once Violet got to the school, the plot started to fall flat for me. The ghostly elements, while meant to be believable, didn’t hold my interest, and the emotional pull faded as things became more scattered. The book had potential, but it didn’t follow through in a way that kept me invested.