OK, so the only reason this is getting three stars is because there was quite a lot of similarities between this and Manacled so I definitely see where people are getting the plagiarism ideas from. However, with it being vampires, there was quite a bit of difference. I really enjoyed the narration. The narrator did a very good job. I think I’ll definitely be picking up book 2. This was quite a bit gorier than I thought it was going to be. I would say definitely check your trigger warnings at the beginning. I also wouldn’t say book one is romance. I don’t even think this could be considered slow burn. I did enjoy it though! Thank you to NetGalley for my audio arc. This is my honest review.

I have seen the plagiarism claims, I cannot speak towards them as I have not read the claimed source work. This is my honest review without bias towards the author or work for outside speculation.

I found the work to be a poor attempt at gothic romance. It felt like SA and poorly written body gore were the only things making this work dark and edgy. If that is how those genres are represented, it feels like a lackluster attempt. The romance didn't make sense, even with the Stockholm of it all. The amnesia was probably the only novel idea to the plot.

Now having seen the allegations of the source work being fanfiction, I can see how Aaron's House of Night draws heavily from it. There seems to be an assumption that the reader knows fundamental information on the characters that isn't provided.

Even with the claims against it, House of Night comes off as mediocre at best.

I was unfortunately not able to get this audiobook to play on any of my devices. However I am still very interim reading the book when it comes out! It definitely seems like a book that I would enjoy 😊 Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the ARC. (Hope to read the book soon!)

The narrator, Emilia Bauer, did an incredible job telling the story with emotion. The story is vampire, post-apocalyptic, dark romance. I would have loved more romance in the book!! But I love an enemies to lovers and this delivered.

I would describe House of Night as a darker haunting/mysterious and really unique fantasy. I am so glad i got the audiobook because the narrator was fantastic! I love the Gothic vibes and the romance is sublime!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio version of this ARC.

The narrator did a great job with the material. It was easy to get lost in the story.

As for the story itself, I had some mixed feelings. The tone of this book is spot on with apocalyptic feel. It felt dark and heavy like I would expect. I think the author nailed that aspect.

This book is marketed as a romance, but I had a hard time feeling any chemistry between the two main characters. I think it's possible to develop it, but I kept waiting for really any spark that I just couldn't find.

When the story was over, I don't feel like I learned much more than I did after the first couple of chapters. It felt like the same things kept happening along with the tiniest of bits of information that eluded to some bigger piece that we never got. It can happen in the next couple of books but it made this book feel like nothing was really happening.

I liked the FMC well enough but there wasn't a whole lot there about the MMC. We get glimpses more from other characters about him than we do when the two characters interact.

I think the series has potential and it could be interesting to see how the plot unravels without trying to keep everything so heavily secretive.

4’3/5⭐️ First of all, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an audiobook arc of “House of Night”. I really really enjoyed this book! A dark gothic vampire romance, inside an upside down castle, with horror elements? Truly amazing. The plot had me completely hooked, I cannot wait to read the second book 🖤🥀✨

I had high expectations for this book and I truly wanted to love it. However, I was disappointed. It felt like it just dragged on, there seemed to be no plot and what little we were given felt half thrown together. After reading other reviews it seems the last potion of the book has a great deal of plot but I dont tend to like books that are badly paced. No one should have to read 90% of a book for it to finally get good.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

First of all, I’m not familiar with Manacled so I can’t comment on any similarities.

This was indeed a slow burn (which I usually don’t mind) and there was potential there but it felt more like it was dragged out rather than a slow build up.

I did appreciate the exploration of darker vampire elements (casual cruelty, gore, torture) and the non-linear plot with the past being revealed slowly through the journal entries, however I found myself mostly frustrated with the FMC’s repetitive inner monologues — even when the truth or evidence was right in front of her, it was like she was determined to ignore it (which felt at odds with her being a doctor).

As others have mentioned, the pacing picks up more towards the very end of the book but by then, unfortunately I found that I had no connection with any of the main or side characters (except Melody).

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the free audiobook
For me this falls into the category of "the last 100 pages got me". The beginning was kind of slow. Which made sense. Georgia has only a basic knowledge of what is going on. This one defiantly gave me a good understanding of what the world was in it. It was a bit predictable but I don't mind that for a first book. Like I said the last "100 pages" are what got me. The book did have a twist I did not see coming and it ended on a pretty good cliff hanger. I thought Emilia Bauer was a good narrator as well. I'm excited to see where the trilogy goes! Overall there wasn't much that was new or fresh but if you like vampire romances this one will be right up your ally!

House of Night
By Celia Aaron
Narrated by Emilia Bauer
3 ⭐️

FIRST: I 100% agree there are similar concepts in this story and Manacled. I 100% reject this story is “plagiarized” from Manacled. Similar concepts does not equal plagiarism.

That said, this book was okay. I didn’t find anything inherently bad or wrong with this story. It just didn’t pull me in like I’d like. I enjoyed the overall themes, and dare I say, I liked the Manacled-like vibes. *gasp* Otherwise I was lukewarm about it. I’m not fully sure if this is a standalone or if it will continue. If it does continue, I may keep going. To audiobook was decent. The book has many flashbacks and it wasn’t always clear in the audiobook if you were in a flashback or not. I don’t like it when this happens.

Thank you to NetGalley, Celia Aaron, and DreamScape Media for a copy of this audiobook ARC. 🩸

House of Night was a quick and easy read. I really liked the way the book was constructed (dated chapters) and the dystopian setting. The characters and the storyline were interesting. I saw a lot of reviews stating this was a really dark paranormal romance, but I disagree. It was for sure a dystopian read, but I wouldn’t characterize it as a dark romance at all. There was a little romance (key word little), a super slow burn, and it really left me wanting more (like much more). There wasn’t any spice, which I hope that changes with the next book. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job.

I would like to thank Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for giving me an ARC (which did not sway my opinions or review).

***I see a lot of reviews stating this book is a lot like a few other books. I do not support plagiarism, but I cannot speak in that regard as I have not read those books. My opinion is based on this book alone.***

I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me a lot of Shatter Me but with vampires. It did have a scene that was hard to listen to which leads me to the fact that I love how protective Valen was to Georgia. This is exactly what I’m looking for in a romantasy. While I do wish there was some more actual romance, it definitely made me want to continue on with the series once it’s available.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job.

Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC of House of Night.

#HouseofNight #NetGalley

I'll admit, I was a good bit confused for most of this book but I think it was my attention wavering at the different names. But it reeled me back in by the end. And the cliffhanger DEFINITELY has me ready for book 2. Overall, I enjoyed this one. The narrators did an excellent job.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape for the gifted ALC.

While I really loved the narration, this book gave me a lot of deja vu with another story I read in the past year. That book was so phenomenal that it's hard not to compare the two. And while I think the story of Georgia and Valen has potential, I wish it was a little more original.

🅖🅔🅞🅡🅖🅘🅐 🅐🅝🅓 🅥🅐🅛🅔🅝

Georgia is Introduced to us as a prisoner and we slowly learn she is a Doctor who was searching for the cure to a plague and Also the Sister of a high Up.

Also the human race is in a war against Vampires, And that is whos holding her captive.

She is Gifted To Valen who before her memory got spotty was helping her find the cure, back when vamps and humans got on ok.

For the Majority of the book there after she is walking around the house goes into the gardens a few times and A ball where she meets Valens Father who is the Master vampire and he wants info he is sure georgia is hiding about his murdered prodigy son.

I did feel this Part dragged Alot.... The last few chapters were brilliant - but i woudnt really call it a romance - its heading that way but wasnt there yet......

HouseOfNight by CeliaAaron is Book one of HouseofNight series, and a 4.5 ⭐️ read. The Audiobook is Out On the 29th APR 2025

House of Night is a gothic dark romance and the first of a trilogy.

Oh my god!!! The cliffhanger this book left me on!!! Nooooo!!!! Also!!! Bloody and gory and brilliant!

Filled with beautiful betrayals, a world at war! Vampires who kill first and think later. This series is for readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric elements, horrormance, and an engrossing plot that drags you in and refuses to let you claw your way out.

Favourite Quote: “Never forget what you are. You are available to me at all times, Your blood is mine, your body is mine! Now return to your room like a good little rabbit.”


Spicy Level - 🌶️🌶️

4/5 stars.

I loved it, but I couldn't sadly give it 5 stars because it left so many things unanswered. I know that this will be a series so it was an intentional decision and it did in fact make me want to read book 2 asap.

I adored how dark it was, and the gothic atmosphere was on point. I also enjoyed how cruel the vampires were in it, something I haven't read for a long while so it was realistic and refreshing.

Surprisingly it was a slooow burn, there was yearning and good banter between MC's but that was it. It also made it realistic, because situation the FMC was in. But I do wish that in book 2 there would be some spice. I also wish they spend more time together in general in the next book.

All in all, I enjoyed listening to it and will keep an eye on when the next one is coming out.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ALC.

Rating: 4 stars!

I'll start with: I want my fantasy books to take place in some magical, made-up world. This book takes place in the United States while a "war" rages on between Humans and Vampires after an outbreak, so minus one point for that.. Georgia Clark is a scientist that is out to find a cure. Her memory is wiped and she wakes up in a dark hole with other prisoners of the Vampires. All heck breaks loose while she attemps to break out from the upside down, underground castle and save the human race. I found myself trying really hard to get to the 40% mark. The story felt like I was reading book 2 in a series and was playing catch up to figure out the world building, the backstory of our main character, and why there was already so much going on. Once I got past the 40% mark though... The story explodes, the love interest fall into place, and the drama ensues! I cannot wait for book 2!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. This may as well be a 1 for 1 rip-off of Manacled/Alchemised... I mean, the plot is damn near identical. I can't in good conscience give this anything above a one-star rating based on the blatant plagiarism. The only real difference is the vampire/plague thing. Also an overuse of the phrase "impotent rage" was quite notable.

Aside from that, the performance by the narrators was good!