About the Book:
Solving her best friend’s murder means infiltrating a secret society, resisting a forbidden love, and running from a vengeful ghost in this sophomore novel by the author of Together We Rot.
Violet Harper knows her best friend was murdered. Even if everyone else has labeled her death a “freak accident,” Vi is sure she’d been trying to tell her something right before she died. Cryptic messages about her friend’s elite boarding school, her whirlwind romance, and the mysterious secret society she was entangled in all point to a more sinister fate.
So, Violet does what no one else seems willing to do: She transfers to the same fancy school to dig into the society’s murky history and find out what really happened to her friend. She knows the truth might not be pretty, but what she doesn’t bargain for is the handsome boy at the center of it all—Calvin Lockwell, the brother of her prime suspect and descendant of the school’s founder. He’s obnoxious and privileged, and Violet can’t deny their haunting attraction. It soon becomes clear his family is hiding a dark secret that may not be of this world, and suddenly Violet’s following her friend’s doomed footsteps down the rabbit hole. Even as details emerge of a deadly curse plaguing the school, she can’t escape her true feelings for Calvin. But loving him may be the last thing she ever does.
*Review Contributed by Katelyn McCall, Staff Reviewer*
Prepare to be scared, with this twisty dark academia novel that is perfect for the spooky season reading.
House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt is a YA gothic thriller about a girl that gets caught up in a slew of secrets while trying to solve her best friend’s murder. Violet Harper knows her best friend was murdered. Even if everyone else has labeled her death a “freak accident,” Vi is sure she’d been trying to tell her something right before she died. Cryptic messages about her friend’s elite boarding school, her whirlwind romance, and the mysterious secret society she was entangled in all point to a more sinister fate. So, Violet does what no one else seems willing to do: She transfers to the same fancy school to dig into the society’s murky history and find out what really happened to her friend. She knows the truth might not be pretty, but what she doesn’t bargain for is the handsome boy at the center of it all—Calvin Lockwell, the brother of her prime suspect and descendant of the school’s founder. He’s obnoxious and privileged, and Violet can’t deny their haunting attraction. It soon becomes clear his family is hiding a dark secret that may not be of this world, and suddenly Violet’s following her friend’s doomed footsteps down the rabbit hole. Even as details emerge of a deadly curse plaguing the school, she can’t escape her true feelings for Calvin. But loving him may be the last thing she ever does.
I LOVED Arndt’s debut novel, Together We Rot, and I was over the moon excited to read her next gothic novel, and I CANNOT thank YABC enough for gifting me an ARC. What I loved most about House of Hearts is the sheer fact that it took my favorite elements of the eery gothic and mixed it with Alice in Wonderland (a favorite classic of mine). All whilst still harking on the whole horror aspect, as is expected with Arndt’s works. I also really loved the romance that buds between Violet and Calvin, as it can be quite tricky to feature a romance in the midst of a spooky story without making the romance itself creepy.
One thing I found a little troubling with this book, was it’s general pacing. At times it felt like the plot was happening too fast. While at other times, it felt like everything was at a standstill despite there be a looming threat that created a sense of urgency in both the reader and the character. Also I felt like some questions were left unanswered at the end, and I know there are currently no plans for this to have a sequel title.
Regardless, House of Hearts by Skyla Arndt is a thrill YA gothic dark academia novel fill with thrills and chills that is absolutely perfect for anyone looking for a recommendation for spooky season.
*Find More Info & Buy This Book HERE!*
