I really wanted to love this book because the synopsis sounded intriguing. However, I found the story to be a bit confusing and slow moving. Therefore, this book had potential but it fell flat.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House (publisher) for granting me early access to an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this book 5 stars.

This is an adult gothic paranormal horror that follows Theodora Corvus, a young girl whose father has been depressed since they lost her mother and whose grandmother takes care of.

Theodora has to work at some point because her family lost all the wealth they had is gone and she wants to send money to the family, but when she finds a job as a housekeeper and carer at another family's mansion, the carriage where she was travelling has an accident and she falls on the lake, from where she gets out to reach the mansion where she's about to start a new life full of surprises.

C/T W: Death (parent, child), child abuse and mention of sexual content. All of them just briefly mentioned.

There's a range of types of personality and morals. Some characters are really sweet and good people, some others are evil and some are morelly grey, even though the number of characters is not big whatsoever. I still didn't feel the characters really relatable, except for Theodora's grandmother, but I understood their motivations and thought they were really well developed.

I already said this on my video review, but I cannot stop myself for repeating it here; there are two films that I thought of throughout the book, specifically at the end. Shamefully, I cannot tell you which ones until you're read this because I'd be spoiling the book!

I really liked the writing style and the structure of the story including the descriptions and when events were introduced, made it so atmospheric, I couldn't not like it. Highly recommended if you love a gothic atmosphere and sudden plot twists.

I very highly recommend this book.

In 2019 my health started going down hill and I didn't take into consideration what that would mean for my book reviewing. Sadly, I've been trying to play catch up for years and it's been affecting my ability to keep up with present day tasks. So I greatly apologize for this but I am going to clear out all these older review books and focus on present day. I will come back and update this review if I end up reading the book, which is very possible as a lot of these books are still ones I would like to read, I just don't think the pressure looming over me is helpful. Thank you for giving me a chance to early read these books and I am so sorry I wasn't able to provide what was needed.

I was completely drawn in by *The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses*. L.V. Russell has crafted Broken Oak Manor into a character of its own, with its decaying grandeur and lingering secrets that seem to whisper through every corridor. As Theodora leaves behind the familiar comfort of her childhood home and her beloved grandmother to assume her role as a governess, I found myself journeying alongside her into a world where every creak and shadow promised mystery.

From the outset, the novel’s atmospheric tension was palpable. The slow unveiling of the manor’s secrets—the mysterious footsteps echoing late at night, the elusive presence in the attic, and the enigmatic character of Cassias Thorne—kept me eagerly turning the pages. Russell’s richly descriptive prose transported me to the dark, winding halls of Broken Oak, where the interplay of light and shadow mirrored Theodora’s internal struggle between duty and desire.

I was particularly charmed by Theodora’s character. Her resilience and vulnerability are portrayed with a subtle elegance, making her a truly relatable and engaging protagonist. Her growing, if scandalous, feelings for the mysterious Cassias Thorne provided a delightful counterbalance to the suspense, adding a layer of complexity that enriched the narrative.

However, while I admired the immersive world Russell created, I did feel that certain plot threads could have been developed a little more thoroughly. There were moments when the pacing lagged, and a few of the manor’s mysteries remained tantalisingly unresolved. These minor issues slightly tempered my overall enjoyment, but they in no way diminished the novel’s charm or its emotional impact.

In summary, *The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses* is a compelling blend of mystery, romance, and historical intrigue. Despite a few pacing hiccups, it remains a richly atmospheric read that I wholeheartedly award four stars. I look forward to exploring more of Russell’s work in the future.

After her first job as a governess turns sour, Theodora takes up another governess position at a dark manor, where the only occupants are the lord of the house, his child, and their housekeeper. She leaves behind her grandmother and her own crumbling estate, hoping for a time when she can return with a positive experience to tell. But of course, her new job has secrets too. There’s her forbidding yet quietly intriguing employer, her precocious and questioning student, and worse -- those strange sounds at night.

The book portrays the usual gothic tropes and delivers them well, but the story felt too familiar to me to stand out at first. Theodora is a smart, capable woman haunted by her previous job and the loneliness of being away from her family. She is quickly taken by the new people in her life. I had questions about her behaviour, especially her relationship with her boss. I didn’t think there was enough character development for Theodora. But there’s a surprising reveal that I didn’t see coming which puts everything that came before into perspective. While the book ends up being quite similar to a popular gothic horror film, it has key differences in the main character and her circumstances. I wish there was an epilogue so I know what happens next, but I was satisfied enough at the end. It’s a tragic, beautiful tale of love, loss, and second chances.

In true gothic horror form, The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses, explores loneliness, loss, and the madness that can overtake a person when dealing with both. Can our own thoughts be trusted when we're in such a vulnerable state?

L.V. Russell has a poetic writing style that will have you immersed in this beautifully tragic tale and wishing that it would never end.

Great read from a great author! I hope to read more by L.V. Russell in the future.

This book is such a beautiful blend of gothic horror, mystery and romance. This book was just sweet. I love well written gothic stories, where the atmosphere is gray and white, the rain and fog create a mysterious and haunting world. It was an interesting mix of mystery and historic storytelling. I didn't mind the romance either. I don't really like romance my books but this one was good.

Thank you to NeGalley and the publisher.

The book is spellbinding, lyrical, atmospheric and has a gothic realism. It hooks the readers from beginning till the end. And it continue to carry the mysterious vibe with a gothic realism. It’s a historical gothic romance. Loved the bond of Lord Thorne and Theodora. The bond grew over with time. Thank you Netgalley.

If you like an old school gothic thriller than this is for you. I thought it was written well but it was definitely slow going. I did almost DNF but I decided to keep going. It very much gave me Haunting of Hill House vibes so I wanted to push through. I definitely enjoyed the last 25% of the book and enjoyed the twist at the end. I’d say if you don’t mind a slower paced thriller than you might like this!

In “The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses”, L.V. Russell weaves a haunting tale set against the backdrop of a decaying manor, where secrets linger like shadows in the dimly lit corridors. Theodora Corvus, a young woman with an affinity for hearing whispers, leaves her crumbling family home and takes up the position of governess at Broken Oak Manor. There, she encounters a house filled with enigmas. The stern housekeeper watches her every move, and the mysterious Lord Cassias Thorne draws her inexplicably. But the manor harbors more than just secrets—it conceals Lady Thorne’s whereabouts. Is she truly away at the coast, or does someone else wander the halls at night, their footsteps leading to the attic? As Theodora navigates the dark passages, she becomes entangled in the web of Broken Oak’s mysteries. Her scandalous feelings for Cassias Thorne intensify, even as she seeks answers. Who is the elusive Lady of the manor, and what lies behind the attic door high up under the eaves? The tension builds, and the house’s silence becomes deafening.

The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses evokes the eerie charm of classic Gothic novels. The author vividly portrays the manor. The crumbling walls, the black-eyed watchers by the lake, and the hidden secrets create an immersive atmosphere.

Thanks to Quill and Crow Publishing for providing an eARC of this book.

I enjoyed this book. It scratches the itch if a spooky, gothic horror. This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed their writing style. There were some moment that lagged for me a bit but overall I would recommend.

This was a great story. Highly recommend for fans of gothic horror. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read it!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
So this one started off with a lot of promise and I LOVED the gothic atmosphere and setting.
However, the further I got into the book it did lose my interest which made me sad.
I really wanted to love this one and I did finish it, but it ultimately was not what I was hoping for and expecting.

Unfortunately, I didn't really like this book. There was a beautiful atmosphere created however I found myself not enjoying it very much after about 25% and had to DNF. Such a shame, but I think it just wasn't for me in this case.

This was a Gothic atmospheric novel that seems to have missed its mark with me. It was a good book, but it seemed eerily similar to the concept of The Others. Which seemed to lose its affect on me somewhat. The plot seemed to also miss a lot within the story and it made me a little lost on where I was at times. But overall, anyone into Gothic historical mysteries with a twist should give this one a go!

Thank you to Quill and Crow Publishing and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Loss and decay have surrounded Theodora Corvus for as long as she can remember, leaving her to find reluctant comfort in the whispers of her crumbling family home and the presence of the black-eyed watchers that lurk by the lake.
Theodora leaves behind her home and grandmother, travelling north to Broken Oak Manor to become young Ottoline Thorne’s governess, and she soon realises that, unlike her home, Broken Oak is eerily silent and devoid of the watchers. Footsteps traipse the halls at night, winding through the manor until they finally stop at the only part of Broken Oak that ever seems to defy the silence: the attic. Theodora finds herself mysteriously drawn to the lord of the manor, who is bathed in secrets but reluctant to divulge them.

I absolutely adore the poetic, almost lyrical way that Russell writes. It perfectly fits the gothic horror genre and is so heart-wrenchingly beautiful. I really appreciated the use of anthropomorphism to paint such a vivid scene of a world so hauntingly lonely and help the reader picture Theodora on her journey to find her home. I would definitely read another book from Russell just for the writing style and the mesmerising atmosphere she creates. There are so many quotes I could cite to demonstrate this, and one of my favourites is, “It was a lonely farewell, but Theodora was used to being lonely; it brought a strange sense of comfort – a familiarity that nestled amongst the melancholy of leaving.”. The focus on atmospheric aspects of horror, as opposed to heavier aspects, makes this an excellent introduction to gothic horror-type books.

Whilst there are many things I admire about this book, I do have a few issues that left this book at 4 instead of 5 stars for me. One problem I had was with the pacing; the book felt slow-paced at the beginning, which I enjoyed as it allowed the suspense to build, but unfortunately, it then felt quite rushed towards the end. As the romance was mainly in the latter part of the book, this resulted in the romance feeling rather rushed and not entirely fleshed out, which almost took me out of the haunting atmosphere Russell had so masterfully created. I feel like this book could’ve benefitted from being slightly longer, with more time to properly pace and develop the romance, allowing more individual character development and fully reaching its potential as a 5-star gothic horror read.

I have seen some reviews of this book describing the ending as predictable, and to an extent, I agree, but I don’t agree that this is a negative thing. I found the ending hauntingly comforting; it wasn’t the obvious HEA that we tend to desire and have become accustomed to when reading romance, but it was the ending the characters needed. I think that there’s beauty in that predictability and knowing the characters together have found their home, even if it isn’t exactly in the way we want it. I really enjoyed the ‘simple’ and ‘predictable’ elements of this book; I found that it made it easier to sink into Russell’s lyrical gothic prose and become absorbed within the story.

Overall, I enjoyed The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses. I recommend it as a light introductory read for those new to gothic horror or avid atmospheric horror readers. I wouldn’t personally class it as a gothic romance due to the pacing issues as I felt the romance was held back, and I wouldn’t recommend it to those looking only for darker horror, but I think this could be a great first horror book for a broad audience. While it is not the same story-wise, the setting and description reminded me of Crimson Peak, so if you’re looking for a Victorian/Edwardian-feeling light gothic horror, this may be the book for you. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the very start of this novel a lot more than the rest. The writing and the atmosphere is incredibly compelling, but unfortunately after around the 30% mark it started falling really flat. I did like the twist, though, and can see this author doing great work in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

I recently had the pleasure of delving into this book, and I am beyond impressed with the mesmerizing world that the author has crafted. From start to finish, the intricate plot weaves a tapestry of suspense, emotion, and unexpected twists that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

One of the standout features of this book is undoubtedly its characters. Each one is meticulously developed, breathing life into the narrative with their unique personalities, motivations, and flaws. The protagonists are not just names on paper; they are relatable, complex individuals with whom readers can form a genuine connection. The antagonist, too, is not a mere foil but a multi-dimensional force that adds depth to the story. The author's ability to create such well-rounded characters is a testament to their storytelling prowess.

The plot unfolds seamlessly, drawing the reader into a richly layered narrative that expertly balances tension, drama, and moments of poignant reflection. The pacing is impeccable, maintaining a perfect rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without sacrificing the depth of the story. The author skillfully navigates through various plot arcs, interweaving them with finesse to create a cohesive and satisfying whole.

What sets this book apart is its ability to tackle profound themes while maintaining an accessible and engaging narrative. The book seamlessly combines suspense and emotional depth, making it a truly immersive experience. The author's prose is both elegant and evocative, painting vivid imagery that lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page is turned.

As I reached the conclusion, I found myself yearning for more from this talented author. Their ability to craft a gripping plot and bring characters to life is truly commendable. I eagerly anticipate future works and would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any reader who appreciates a masterfully told tale. If you're searching for a book that seamlessly blends captivating characters with a compelling plot, this is a shining example. I can't wait to explore more literary worlds crafted by this exceptional storyteller.

While I really liked the idea of this book, the execution left something to desire. It’s a gothic historical mystery that promises a lot, but in the end does little to deliver.

The anticipation was high, but the story unfolding was underwhelming, the characters a little less than three dimensional, and the dialogue a bit disjointed. The ending was good, but it wasn’t enough to rescue the building up to it.

I’d still check out coming works from this author because I think they have a good mind for a story.

I enjoyed this gothic ghost story, but it dragged for me in places and it took awhile for me to finish it.