Anticipated August 2025 Releases

 

August is here and so are many fantastic new books! I am woefully behind on just about every single blog post that I need to be writing, but fortunately August is only beginning so there's still time to get excited about all of these. Be sure to let me know which August releases you're most looking forward--and definitely let me know if any of your most anticipated August releases are missing from this list! Happy reading, everyone!

The Island of Last Things by Emma Sloley || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Women, Seated by Zhang Yueran, transl. Jeremy Tiang || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher || August 19th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Sunbirth by An Yu || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

A Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Last Soul Among Wolves by Melissa Caruso || August 19th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Secret Lives of the Dead by Tim Lebbon || August 26th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Lessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie Jane Anders || August 19th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

This Vicious Hunger by Francesca May || August 26th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang || August 26th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Unseen by Ania Ahlborn || August 19th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History by Moudhy Al-Rashid || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

13 Months Haunted by Jimmy Juliano || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Faceless Thing We Adore by Hailey Piper || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America by David Baron || August 26th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Canas || August 19th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Tantrum by Rachel Eve Moulton || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization by Tim Queeney || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

A Mother's Guide to the Apocalypse by Hollie Overton || August 19th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State by Caleb Gayle || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

House of the Beast by Michelle Wong || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

This is My Body by Lindsay King-Miller || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Voidwalker by S.A. MacLean || August 19th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Black Flame by Gretchen Felker-Martin || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

LA Women by Ella Berman || August 5th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

Clodia of Rome: Champion of the Republic by Douglas Boin || August 12th -- Amazon | Bookshop.org

What are your anticipated August releases?

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Women, Seated by Zhang Yueran, Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher, & Unseen by Ania Ahlborn, & The Faceless Thing We Adore by Hester Steel

 

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released

Women, Seated by Zhang Yueran, transl. Jeremy Tiang
Publication: August 12th, 2025
Riverhead Books
Hardcover. 208 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"From the award-winning author, an enthralling novel about the unravelling lives of a nanny and the family she works for following the downfall of its patriarch, a prominent Chinese politician

Enter the world of an elite Chinese a life of luxury, limitless power, and around-the-clock service, which includes their trusted nanny Yu Ling. Slipping in and out of the shadows, careful to speak deferentially, meticulous in her care of their only son Kuan Kuan, Yu has served the family for years and knows their secrets. But little do they suspect that Yu has secrets of her own.

In the pressure-cooker political environment of China, the fates of even the most powerful families can reverse overnight. When Kuan Kuan’s father and grandfather are arrested and his socialite mother goes on the run, Yu is left behind to make a series of life-changing choices. Will she be able to outrun her own past, and how far will she go to claim what she considers her due?"

This sounds like something that I could absolutely devour, and I'm so eager to check it out! I always love reading new (to me) translated fiction as well, so I'm excited about that as well.

Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher

Publication: August 19th, 2025

Tor Books

Hardcover. 368 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"From New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-winning author T. Kingfisher comes Hemlock & Silver, a dark reimagining of “Snow White” steeped in poison, intrigue, and treason of the most magical kind

Healer Anja regularly drinks poison.

Not to die, but to save—seeking cures for those everyone else has given up on.

But a summons from the King interrupts her quiet, herb-obsessed life. His daughter, Snow, is dying, and he hopes Anja’s unorthodox methods can save her.

Aided by a taciturn guard, a narcissistic cat, and a passion for the scientific method, Anja rushes to treat Snow, but nothing seems to work. That is, until she finds a secret world, hidden inside a magic mirror. This dark realm may hold the key to what is making Snow sick.

Or it might be the thing that kills them all."

It's new T. Kingfisher, of course I'm excited to read it!

The Unseen by Ania Alhborn
Publication: August 19th, 2025
Gallery Books
Hardcover. 384 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"A terrifying new novel from bestselling #HorrorBookTok sensation Ania Ahlborn—the acclaimed author of the modern classic Brother.

Hailed as a writer of “some of the most promising horror I’ve encountered in years” (Seanan McGuire, author of the Ghost Roads series), Ania Ahlborn delivers a novel that pushes the boundaries of horror into a new realm.

Isla Hansen, a mother reeling from a devastating loss, is beside herself when a mysteriously orphaned child appears on the outskirts of the Hansens’ secluded Colorado property. Although strange and unexplainable, the child’s presence breathes new life into Isla. But as the child settles in, Isla’s husband, Luke, and their five children notice peculiarities that hint at something far beyond the ordinary—anomalies that challenge the very fabric of reality itself. The tension within the Hansen household grows, and with it, the sense that there is something very wrong with the new kid in the house.

The Unseen is a haunting tale that walks the line between the familiar and the unknown, drawing us into a chilling narrative where reality itself feels just out of reach."

I've heard some really great things about Ania Ahlborn, and it's just about time for horror (although, I say it's always time for some horror), so I'm curious to check this one out. 

The Faceless Thing We Adore by Hester Steel

Publication: August 5th, 2025

Page Street Horror

Hardcover. 416 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"It’s a tale as old as time: break up with your shitty boyfriend, travel to a foreign country to find yourself . . . end up in a sex-fueled commune worshiping an angry God. When Aoife stumbles across the Farmstead, she finds everything she’s been missing—a community that loves her, sexual freedom, a greater purpose. She could actually be happy here. . .

If it weren’t for the teenager they keep locked up in a cabin with no windows. Or the mysterious rot spreading through the farmland. Or that some of her new friends talk about their leader Jonah with more fear than love.

When the god wakes up and it all goes wrong, it’s only Aoife who has the power to choose what will become of their tiny reality. Awkward, clumsy Aoife, who was always told she was weak, and is just now realizing the depths of her strength—and the pleasures of her rage."

I usually like to throw in a nonfiction option on these posts, but since we are slowly entering the season for horror there are an abundance of new horror options, so I just had to share this last one here. What a premise and I have absolutely no idea what to expect, so I'm definitely intrigued!

Review: Arcana Academy by Elise Kova

Arcana Academy by Elisa Kova

Publisher: Del Rey
Publication Date: July 22nd, 2025
Hardcover. 576 pages.

About Arcana Academy:

"A woman who wields magical tarot cards lands herself in a false engagement with the headmaster of a mysterious academy in this first installment of an enthralling fantasy romance series from the bestselling author of A Deal with the Elf King.

Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards-a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy.

Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy's enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape-for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time.

In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be.

Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems. But can she risk giving him power over the world-and her heart? Or will she take it for herself?"

I apologize that this review is so overdue! I finished this book about a week and a half ago and started writing the review, but then got way too busy and it took forever to get it done, but it’s finally finished, so here we go!

Arcana Academy is exactly what it’s billed as: a dark(ish) academia fantasy romance. This could be great--or not so great--depending on your reading tastes and what you're looking for. We follow Clara Graysword as she’s given a choice: continue to rot in  prison for illegally inking magical tarot cards, or fake an engagement to Prince Kaelis, the headmaster at Arcana Academy, in order to become a student at the school and help him with an unimaginable task. As you might expect, Clara takes the latter option, and thus begins our story of her joining Arcana Academy and everything that follows. While there, she’s also trying to uncover what happened to her sister (who was also a student at the academy), while also maintaining a revenge plot for her mother’s murder.

Clara is the perfect protagonist for this story and was genuinely entertaining to follow. She’s clever, headstrong--but fortunately  she doesn’t consistently make terrible decisions, which was a nice change--and is always thinking ahead. I really enjoyed seeing how she navigated the many complex aspects of her new situation, including navigating relationships with fellow students, figuring out her new classes, and of course balancing her new "relationship" with the surly prince. She’s incredibly talented at inking cards, but we still see her struggle with certain topics and learning new techniques, which I found to be a great balance of a protagonist who is capable and clever, but not perfect at everything.

This also brings me to some quick remarks on Kaelis. He's not a bad character in the slightest, but he's a bit... boring. If you've read any similar fantasy featuring the grumpy, "evil" dark guy who is just so bad and hates our protagonist, then you've read them all, including this one. This was another case of someone who is constantly described as being so bad and mean and dangerous, but I am not really ever given a reason to believe that. And, of course, as Kaelis and Clara get to know each other and work together more, we see a breaking down of barriers that feels like everything I've seen before. And as negative as this all sounds, I'm not saying it's bad, as it's done fairly well--if a bit hasty and sudden--and I think many readers will enjoy it. It's just not going to blow your mind or bring anything particularly new to this trope.

The magic system is really intriguing, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the tarot card-based magical processes. Some aspects felt a little strange to me and I’d really love to be able to see it in action to better visualize how it works, but overall I found it to be really creative and compelling. The magic ranges from simpler spells to more complex methods and uses, and I liked learning about the different nuances that affect it, such as which inks are used to draw the cards, how they are wielded, and so on.

The pacing in Arcana Academy is a little hit or miss, as it sometimes felt a bit rushed and other times a little drawn out, but overall I was able to follow the story fairly well and enjoyed my time reading it. I do think some things in this book could've used a bit more time for exploration, but it was generally easy to follow. I did find the way that Kaelis and Clara's relationship developed to be both developed at a reasonable and slower pace, as well eventually a bit sudden (as I mentioned earlier) and I think could have been smoothed out a bit at the end. I found Kova’s writing generally smooth and well-crafted, though there were a few moments that felt slightly choppy or like they could have been tightened up or even edited out. There were also a few words thrown in that just didn't fit the story and felt like the author opened a thesaurus to find something different to say (for reference, I think it's great to use a thesaurus, but not if the words chosen don't seem to fit the tone of the rest of the book).

Arcana Academy is a perfectly solid story. It’s well-executed, tells an engaging narrative, and has some strong plot beats and compelling conflicts. The issue is that it lacks anything that truly feels new. The problem is that it's missing anything that brings something new to the table. It's definitely not a requirement that books always be innovating and turning tropes upside and so forth, and I certainly love plenty of books that don't do that, but for this book to be worth the hype I've started seeing for it, I feel like it really needs a bit more. I think people w ho love these tropes and this genre will absolutely adore this book and that makes me so happy for them, but for people who are wanting something to add a bit more depth to the tropes used and/or something new in the motivations and plot, then I'm afraid they may be disappointed.

Overall, Arcana Academy is a strong story that will leave many readers full satisfied, while others, like myself, maybe come away from it wishing for just a little bit more. I will definitely consider reading the sequel to see where Kova decides to take many of the different storylines in this one, and it may just end up being even better than this first book.

*I received a copy of Arcana Academy in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Sunbirth by An Yu, A Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper, 13 Months Haunted by Jimmy Juliano, & Rope by Tim Queeney

     

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released

Sunbirth by An Yu
Publication: August 5th, 2025
Grove Press
Hardcover. 256 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"From the celebrated author of Ghost Music and Braised Pork, a bewitching and atmospheric novel following two sisters in an isolated village as the sun begins to diminish above them

In Five Poems Lake, a small village surrounded by impenetrable deserts, the sun is slowly disappearing overhead. A young woman keeps one apprehensive eye on the sky above as she tends the pharmacy of traditional medicine that belonged to her great grandfather. She has few customers, and even fewer her older sister Dong Ji, her last living relative, works at a wellness parlor across town for those who can afford it—which, during these strange and difficult days, is not many.

Five Poems Lake had fallen on hard times long before the sun began shrinking, but now, every few days, a new sliver disappears. As the temperature drops and the lake freezes over, the population of the town realizes that they will soon die—if not of the cold and starvation, then of despair. When the Beacons begin to appear—ordinary people with heads replaced by searing, blinding light, like miniature suns—the town’s residents wonder if they may hold the answer to their salvation, or if they are just another sign of impending ruin. Soon, a photograph found in the possessions of their father, who disappeared mysteriously twelve years ago, will offer another clue in the mystery of the Beacons, and Dong Ji and her sister wonder if they may finally learn what happened to their father.

With a richly surreal sensibility that has earned comparisons to the work of Haruki Murakami, and anchored by searching curiosity and wisdom, in Sunbirth An Yu honors the unique relationship held between sisters and asks how much we can ever know about the deepest mysteries of the world."

Everything about this sounds amazing, and the mention of comparisons to Murakami's work completely seals the deal--I can't wait to check this one out!

A Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper

Publication: August 12th, 2025

Saga Press

Paperback. 288 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"Euphoria meets Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke in this latest novel by the Bram Stoker Award–winning author Hailey Piper, following a couple whose search to spice up their sex life leads them down a path of madness.

A kink-fixated couple, Carmen and Blanca, have been in a rut. That is until Blanca discovers the enigmatic Smoke in an under-street drug den, who holds pages to a strange play, The King in Yellow. Read too much, and you’ll fall into madness. But read just a little and pull back, and it gives you the adrenaline rush of survivor’s euphoria, leading Carmen to fall into a game of lust at a nightmare’s edge.

As the line blurs between the world Carmen knows and the one that she visits after reading from the play, she begins to desire more time in this other world no matter what horrors she brings back with her. Bram Stoker Award–winning author Hailey Piper masterfully blends horror, erotica, and psychological thriller in this captivating and chilling story."

I lovethat this centers The King in Yellow, as I finally read that story a couple years ago and I'm kinda obsessed with its madness association/history. I'm so excited for this one!

13 Months Haunted by Jimmy Juliano
Publication: August 12th, 2025
Dutton
Hardcover. 384 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"Piper Lowery, a public library clerk in charge of liaising with the local middle school, can tell right away there’s something strange about the new girl in eighth grade. Avery Wallace won’t touch any kind of technology, not even the computers at the library, and her mother comes to school with her every day, refusing to leave her side—not even when Avery uses the restroom.

And then there are the rumors, the whispers Piper hears from kids in the hallway and parents around Avery’s mother is a witch. Her sister and father were killed by something supernatural. A strange virus killed them.

Seeing how isolated and lonely Avery is, Piper befriends her but quickly realizes it might just be the worst decision she’s ever made. Because there’s something dark inside Avery Wallace, and it’s spreading . . ."

I will happily read a horror story that follows a public library clerk--and the premise sounds intriguing, as well!

Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization by Tim Queeney

Publication: August 12th, 2025

St. Martin's Press

Hardcover. 336 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"A unique and compelling adventure through the history of rope and its impact on civilization, in the vein of single subject bestsellers like Salt and Cod

Tim Queeney is a sailor who knows more about rope and its importance to humankind than most. In Rope, Queeney takes readers on a ride through the history of rope and the way it weaves itself through the story of civilization. From Magellan’s world-circling ships, to the 15th-century fleet of Admiral Zheng He, to Polynesian multihulls with crab claw sails, he shows how without rope, none of their adventurous voyages and discoveries would have been possible. Time traveling, he describes the building of the pyramids, the Roman Coliseum, Hagia Sofia, Notre Dame, the Sultan Hasan Mosque, the Brooklyn Bridge, and countless other constructions that would not have been possible without rope.

Not content to just look at rope’s past, Queeney looks at its present and possible future and how the re-invention of rope with synthetic fibers will likely provide the strength for cables to support elevators into space. Making the story of rope real for readers, Queeney tells remarkable nautical stories of his own reliance on rope at sea. Rope is history, adventure, and the story of one of the world’s most common tools that has made it possible for humans to advance throughout the centuries.

Rope is history, adventure and the story of one of the world’s most common tools that has made it possible for humans to advance throughout the century."

Okay, so an entire book about rope doesn't sound the most exciting at first glance, but I think histories around various items can be fascinating and can give such an interesting glimpse into the world and how it's evolved, so I'm totally in to check this one out. 

Review: The Island of Last Things by Emma Sloley, Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz, Between Two Rivers by Moudhy Al-Rashid, & House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama

    

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released

The Island of Last Things by Emma Sloley 
Publication: August 12th, 2025
Flatiron Books
Hardcover. 272 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"A soaring, propulsive, and unforgettably poignant novel about two zookeepers at the last zoo in the world, in the vein of Téa Obreht and Charlotte McConaghy

Camille has always preferred animals to people. The wild has nearly disappeared, but as a zookeeper at the last zoo in the world, on Alcatraz Island, she spends her days caring for playful chimpanzees, gentle tree frogs, and a restless jaguar. Outside, resistance groups and brutal cartels fight to shape the world’s future, but Camille is safe within her routines. That is, until a new zookeeper, Sailor, arrives from Paris.

From their first meeting, Camille is drawn to Sailor, who seems to see something in Camille that no one has before. They bond over their shared passions and dream up ways to improve their lives. When Sailor whispers the story of an idyllic, secret sanctuary where wild animals roam free, Camille begins to imagine a new kind of life with Sailor by her side.

Sailor knows all too well the dangers beyond Alcatraz, but she increasingly chafes at the zoo’s rigid rules. She hatches a reckless plan to smuggle one of the most prized animals off the island to freedom, and invites Camille to join her. The consequences if they fail would be catastrophic, and Sailor’s contacts at the sanctuary go dark just as the threats from the cartels grow more extreme. Camille must decide if she’s ready to risk everything for the promise of a better world.

Propulsive and fiercely hopeful, with a heart-stopping final twist, The Island of Last Things is an elegy for a disappearing world and a gorgeous vision for the future."

I am so captivated by this premise, and I hope the writing is as beautiful as it sounds. 

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz

Publication: August 5th, 2025

Tordotcom

Hardcover. 164 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"From sci-fi visionary and acclaimed author Annalee Newitz comes Automatic Noodle, a cozy near-future novella about a crew of abandoned food service bots opening their very own restaurant.


While San Francisco rebuilds from the chaos of war, a group of food service bots in an abandoned ghost kitchen take over their own delivery app account. They rebrand as a neighborhood lunch spot and start producing some of the tastiest hand-pulled noodles in the city. But there’s just one problem. Someone―or something―is review bombing the restaurant’s feedback page with fake “bad service” reports. Can the bots find the culprit before their ratings plummet and destroy everything they created?"

This sounds like a blast, and I'm so here for it.

Between Two Rivers: Ancient Mesopotamia and the Birth of History by Moudhy Al-Rashid
Publication: August 12th, 2025
W.W. Norton & Company
Hardcover. 336 pages.
Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:
"Humanity’s earliest efforts at recording and drawing meaning from history reveal how lives millennia ago were not so different from our own.

Mesopotamia saw the first cities, devised the original writing system, sowed the early seeds of agriculture, and developed myths, medicine, and astronomy that all went on to influence societies around the world. However, the significance of this ancient civilization goes far beyond its technological inventions: These were the people who began the human tradition of recording their own histories.

With each chapter focusing on a new artifact, historian Moudhy Al-Rashid takes us on a personal tour of ancient life: the brick that was the basis of Mesopotamian architecture; the classroom tablets that shed light on the timeless anxieties of student life; the stone obelisk that spoke to the vast socioeconomic gulfs. Ancient Mesopotamians wanted a witness to their lives, and thousands of years later, Al-Rashid shares their stories."

I am always up for more about Ancient Mesopotamia!

House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama

Publication: August 12th, 2025

Berkley

Hardcover. 336 pages.

Pre-order: Bookshop.org | Amazon

From Goodreads:

"A young woman is drawn into a dangerous game after being invited to the mazelike home of her childhood friend, a rumored witch, in this gothic horror set in 1986 Philippines.

In this game, there’s one rule: survive.

Orphaned after her father’s political campaign ended in tragedy, Josephine is alone taking care of the family home while her older brother is off in Manila, where revolution brews. But an unexpected invitation from her childhood friend Hiraya to her house offers an escape....

Why don’t you come visit, and we can play games like we used to?

If Josephine wins, she’ll get whatever her heart desires. Her brother is invited, too, and it’s time they had a talk. Josephine’s heard the dark whispers: Hiraya is a witch and her family spits curses. But still, she’s just desperate enough to seize this chance to change her destiny.

Except Ranoco house is strange—labyrinthine and dangerously close to a treacherous sea. A sickly-sweet smell clings to the dimly lit walls, and veiled eyes follow Josephine through endless connecting rooms. The air is tense with secrets and as the game continues it’s clear Josephine doesn’t have the whole truth.

To save herself, she will have to play to win. But in this house, victory is earned with blood.

A lush new voice in horror arises in this riveting gothic set against the upheaval of 1986 Philippines and the People Power Revolution."

I'm honestly really drawn to this setting of 1986 Philippines, and the premise just makes it sound even better!

Review: It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest

It Was Her House First by Cherie Priest

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: July 22nd, 2025
Paperback. 352 pages.

About It Was Her House First:

"Ronnie doesn't know it yet, but her fate rests in the hands of the dead.

Silent film star Venita Rost's malevolent spirit lurks spider-like in her cliffside mansion, a once-beautiful home that's claimed countless unlucky souls. And she's not alone. Snared in her terrible web, Inspector Bartholomew Sloan—her eternal nemesis—watches her wreak havoc in helpless horror, shackled by his own guilt and Venita's unrelenting wrath.

Now the house has yet another new owner. This time it's Ronnie Mitchell, a grieving woman who buys the run-down place sight unseen. She arrives armed with an unexpected inheritance, a strong background in renovation, and a blissful ignorance regarding the house's blood-soaked history. But her arrival has stirred up more than just dust and decay. In the shadows, unseen eyes watch. Then, a man comes knocking. He brings wild stories and a thinly veiled jealousy, as well as a secret connection to the house that can only lead to violence.

Venita's fury awakens, and a deadly game unfolds.

Caught between a vengeful ghost and a ruthless living threat, Ronnie's skepticism crumbles. The line between living and dead isn't as sharp as it seems, and she realizes too late that in Venita's house, survival might be just an illusion."

If you can't wait for October to start reading about some delightfully haunted mansions, then look no further because It Was Her House First is here! I didn't expect to become as invested as I did in this book, but Cherie Priest's dry wit, haunting atmosphere, and delightfully character-driven horror story grabbed me from page and didn't let go (much like Venita Rost can't seem to let go of the mansion...)

It Was Her House First follows Ronnie Mitchell as she purchases a crumbling old mansion that she quickly finds out has a more tumultuous--and deadly--past than she knew about. The mansion once belonged to Venita Rost, a silent film star, who is now one of the many spirits that reside within it's deteriorating walls.

I really liked this one! I had good hopes for it, but, as mentioned, I didn't expect to fall into this story and become as invested as I was. I think it's largely due to Ronnie's narrative voice that I have to thank for that, as she made it so easy to become invested in both her own story and that of the mansion's. Ronnie is very much a highly competent protagonist, which I always find refreshing in any haunted house type of story since it makes everything feel just a bit more believable and like a situation I can really put myself into without feeling overly frustrated by excessive dumb decisions.

The story mainly follows the perspective of Ronnie, but we also get some chapters intermixed that feature some ghostly characters and I think I ultimately appreciated getting the extra backstory and intrigue that the ghost chapters provided. Everything worked together well, and I think Priest did a great job of slowly allowing our ghastly and murderous tale unfold as we learn more and more about each character and some of the causes of the dastardly deeds that occurred in the house.

I loved the tone of this book--it's got a very dry wit and self-awareness to it (largely due to our narrator, Ronnie) and it worked so well. I love this type of horror and how it's very straight to the point with things and somehow manages to incorporate very eerie and questionable occurrences with a subtlety that translates into a strong sense of uncertainty. I wouldn't say the atmosphere was overly dark or terrifying, but it definitely had a strong sense of foreboding as an overtone that made me feel like constantly looking over my shoulder. I appreciated that this book didn't feel overly descriptive, but still managed to incorporate absolutely everything I needed to feel invested and understand what was going on. And I truly enjoyed getting to hear about Ronnie's plans to restore the house, I love a good project! If you like T. Kingfisher's horror, then you will probably like this one, and vice versa.

I'd definitely say It Was Her House First moves on the slower side of pacing, but I never found it boring. I feel like everything that occurred in the first half and build-up to more intense moments was perfectly executed and paced and worked perfectly for the story Priest was telling. I will say that I think I kept expecting a little bit more to happen on the way to the climactic moment, but I wasn't upset with the plotting that was there. 

Overall, It Was Her House First is a wonderfully eerie, clever, and satisfying haunted house novel that balances horror, drama, and wit beautifully. Cherie Priest does an excellent job of slowly revealing a dark, terrible past while keeping readers invested in her clever and relatable protagonist. If you like your horror to be complete with sharp writing and compelling characters, then be sure to add this one to your summer TBR. 

*I received a copy of It Was Her House First in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my opinions.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org