House of Ash

by Abd Al Hafiz Karar

Overview

After hearing voices among an eerie copse of trees in the woods, seventeen-year-old Curtis must confront his worst fear: that he has inherited his father’s mental illness. A desperate search for answers leads him to discover Gravenhearst, a labyrinth mansion that burned down in 1894. When he locks eyes with a steely Victorian girl in a forgotten mirror, he’s sure she’s one of the fire’s victims. If he can unravel the mystery, he can save his sanity . . . and possibly the girl who haunts his dreams.

But more than 100 years in the past, the girl in the mirror is fighting her own battles. When her mother disappears and her sinister stepfather reveals his true intentions, Mila and her sister fight to escape Gravenhearst and unravel the house’s secrets—before it devours them both.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683350637
Publisher:	ABRAMS
Publication date:	09/26/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Hope Cook has been obsessed with all things Victorian and gothic since she was a small child and her parents let her watch one too many atmospheric BBC dramas. She lives in Edmonton, Canada, and holds degrees in literature and art history. House of Ash draws from her personal experience with mental illness and family violence.

Editorial Reviews

"Mila’s portion of the story is what will draw readers in, as she navigates not only Victorian-era restrictions on how a girl should behave but also tries to survive a house that, through years of dark magic, has been given life and requires certain sacrifices to keep “living.” An interesting addition to collections in dire need of horror offerings."

Booklist

Curtis is trying to overcome his difficulties. His mother is dead, he is responsible for his younger sister, and his father’s mental issues and suicidal thoughts are becoming too much for him to handle. He is inexplicably drawn to the area of the old Gravenhearst Mansion. Here, Curtis hears voices in his head and wonders if he is crazy like his father. In 1894, Mila, her mother, and her younger sister are traveling to their new home, Gravenhearst Mansion, with the mysterious Andrew Deemus, who will soon become her stepfather. Curtis catches a glimpse of Mila in a strange mirror and thinks that unraveling her mystery will help save his sanity. Meanwhile, in 1894, Mila is trying to save herself from the menacing house and the wicked intentions of Deemus. Strangely, their timelines intertwine and they work together to destroy the evil mansion. They are given the chance to heal together. The storyline of House Of Ash is intriguing, and the writing style is interesting. Employing the house as the evil adversary is unique; however, the main (human) characters are not fully developed or particularly likeable. Curtis continually pushes away those who are trying to help him, and Mila is protective but keeps making the wrong choices. Strong on mystery and suspense, this gothic story will be a good choice to put in the hands of readers who devour horror stories (and do not mind the strong language employed throughout). Reviewer: Elizabeth Nebeker; Ages 15 to 18.

VOYA, December 2017 (Vol. 40, No. 5) - Elizabeth Nebeker