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ALT Ushered into an arranged marriage with Bramwell Hellthorne, the lonely Lord of Valen, Belle finds herself wandering the wicked walls of an eerie, gothic manor on a cliffside far from the shores of home. When Belle's sister experiences a demonic possession and slips into insanity following her visit to the mansion, Belle's beliefs of religion, spirituality, and the unknown are suddenly tested, and Hellthorne Manor begins to haunt both Belle's dreams and her reality. With walls that weep tears of blood, pipes that whisper an untold tune, and a haunted portrait that dances between different locations, daily life within her new home shifts into a waking nightmare. By the time Belle realizes that both the manor and her husband may have a bit more than just a few bones hidden away, it's too late, and her remains may just rot away with the rest.

ALT Overall, I thought Alyssa Page’s writing was gorgeous - lyrical and atmospheric. I loved the artwork too. It was evocative; the creepier moments had me on edge, with visceral descriptions that made me feel queasy. I was most intrigued by Bramwell. He’s such an enigmatic, compelling character, and his dynamic with Velveteen had me invested in learning more. The world building and lore felt eerie, sensual, sinful. I also enjoyed Belle, Lyren and Flo of course! The premise of a haunted manor, alongside the supernatural elements like possession, exorcisms, and the inclusion of goddesses, made the story feel vivid. It definitely scratched the gothic itch I had. At around 90%, the story hits a cliffhanger that absolutely hooked me. It was one of the strongest moments in the book for me. The thrill, the anticipation, the dread - so striking. The final page, especially the callback to the prelude, felt poetic.