These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall

Rating: ★★★★☆

Dates Read: 2/13/23 - 2/13/23

    Helen Vaughan receives a shocking inheritance from her grandfather, gaining everything at Harrowstone Hall, known as Harrow, including the money and the house. However, the inheritance comes with a condition: she must stay on the Harrow grounds for a whole year, or she risks losing everything.

    Haunted by unsettling dreams about Harrow, Helen is determined to uncover its secrets to survive the year. But as she delves deeper, the house's labyrinthine structure, mysterious nightly holes in the woods, and strange illnesses she experiences raise more questions about her family and herself.

    These Fleeting Shadows left me with mixed feelings. While the initial premise and setting of Harrow were captivating, the book struggled with too many horror elements jumbled together, leading to confusion as the plot progressed.

    The writing was enjoyable, and Harrow's creepy atmosphere as a haunted house was well-executed. The dysfunctional Vaughan family and their dark secrets added intrigue to the story. However, as the eldritch aspects became more prominent, I found myself struggling to follow the development from Helen's perspective. The writing style with short sentences and abrupt cuts made some scenes hard to comprehend.

    Additionally, the ending felt drawn-out, and some revelations lacked the necessary buildup. While I appreciated the concept of the dark soul, its execution fell short for me. Overall, These Fleeting Shadows had its strong points, but the convergence of horror elements and execution left me wanting more clarity and coherence in the story.