Welcome to Hawthorne House—an orphanage where mean little girls play dangerous games to become queen.

The rules are simple: prank the other girls or get them in trouble with the Matron. At first, the tricks are harmless—tossing clothes out the window, hiding bugs in shoes. But when two sisters arrive, things turn cruel and even deadly.

These girls are nasty, and some scenes are hard to stomach. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading.

The first half of the book was interesting, following the girls' daily lives and their tricks. But I had trouble keeping track of who was who since they weren’t very distinct.

The second half, set years after a tragedy at Hawthorne House, had promise, but the ending felt disappointing. There wasn’t much action—it just ended. I wanted a bigger, more exciting finish. I feel like it could have been better but it was still entertaining.

Set in an orphanage that becomes a funeral pyre, This haunting story is tragic and dark. Childhood games become deadly.

Very good atmosphere rich book. I did like the unsettling vibes and the children being at odds with each other.

Gothic...and i loved every single second of it! This was so creepy and disturbing. I have a hard time finding books that actually creep me out but this...this did the job! There's something about children in an orphanage and ghosts that just had me turning the lights on at night!

A very atmospheric Gothic short novella, game gone too far! Very creepy and entertaining! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for arc of this book!

What happened at Hawthorne house by Hadassah Shiradski is told in different parts and spans various decades. The first part of the book takes place in November 1926 at an orphanage of sorts. We are introduced to three young girls, Rosalie, Marie & Sophie who live at Hawthorne house. The young girls have an active imagination and bide their time playing make believe. They love to pretend that Hawthorne house is a castle, that one of them is a queen and the rest are princesses. Two more girls named Heather and Willow also come to Hawthorne Manor and are drawn into, although hesitantly, the game of make believe and the royal court. When a game of make believe turns tragic, their games take on a more sinister turn.

Part 2 takes place years later and we are introduced to Andrew whose job is to restore what once was Hawthorne house. Andrew, who also happens to be a medium, communicates with those who lived at Hawthorne house once upon a time. Upon seeing that the precious inhabitants do not like future inhabitants in their space, Andrew comes up with a set of rules to keep those who visit safe.

If you are a fan of paranormal stories then this short novella might be for you. Special thanks to Hadassah for sending your book to NetGalley. I received it in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

This novella is about a children's game that turns sinister and the consequences of the game. Contains subject matter that may be upsetting to some readers.


This book takes place at an orphanage in 1929. A group of girls come up with a game called The Clover Court, where much like real life royalty, the Queen holds the power. It starts out innocent enough. Girls vying for the position of queen, where they hold power in the game and amongst the girls in their day to day. At first I was bored. Girls being mean. Yawn. We get it. But then it turns sinister. And yes, that's where it got my attention. These girls turn violent on top of their cruelness. And it ends with their death. That held my attention.


And then we get the second half. While I love that we get what leads to the haunted house,it falls flat on the haunted house part. The house is being rebuilt and a medium is overseeing the development. His goal is the rebuild the Hawthorne House while he attempts to finish the game and set the girls free. This never happens. It just ends after a group of what I assume mediums enter, years after the house is rebuilt. Just nothing. It ends. No solution, good or bad. Very unsatisfying to a book that started out strong.


The first half had me on the edge of my seat. The second half was a struggle for me to finish. So much more could have been done to bring this novella full circle. To end it. Honestly would not read again and would only recommend you read the first half. The ending of the first half is enough to get you what you need from this novella.

3/5 rating

This gothic horror novella is set in 1920s England and follows a group of young girls at an orphanage. After establishing a rule over Hawthorne House the reader follows a cruel children's game gone too far. However, that's not all. A shift in the timeline allows us to really find out what happened at Hawthorne house.

The eerie atmosphere of this novella is perfect for fans of short horror stories and unnerving plots. A list of trigger warnings is provided in the novella.

Thank you Ntegalley, Hadassah Shiradski and Brigids Gate Press for the eARC of What Happens at Hawthorne House.

Set in an Orphanage in the 1920's, a game that goes wrong with a group girls who keep pranking each other. I found this book had an interesting premise and has great elements of dread and gothic darkness prevalent for this time period. I found the girls personalities really interesting being preteen and teens and I felt they all had individuality. The plot is medium to fast with a nice build to the pay off which makes it a fast read novella.

I loved the gothic atmosphere of this book and I felt that there was some repetition in the plot line ( going in circles ) before the pay off. I would have loved to of seen more character development with the characters rather than the plot line. Overall a really interesting gothic horror.

3.75 stars for Storygraph. 4 stars for other review sites.

This book had a good premise and I was very eager to read it, but it fell flat for me and I just couldn't bring myself to finish it. A group of mean girls playing games to become 'queen' just feels a little to ya for me.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC copy they provided.

What Happened at Hawthorne House was a surprisingly hard book to read. I went in expecting a typical ghost story, in essence, a tragedy, but this isn’t exactly what I found. What Happened at Hawthorne House is a tragedy, yes, but it is also a book dealing with a lot of intentional, senseless cruelty and mutual abuse. Reading this material was difficult and stomach turning at times.

That said, the fact I felt sick at heart for the characters and the actions portrayed on the page means this book is well written. Hadassah Shiradski created an emotion-packed work that will leave you feeling as any ghost story should, haunted. And with the subtle dread of a place you’ve never been and never want to go. If you are looking for a book to read in the dark and leave you with a little pit of despair and disgust in your gut, What Happened at Hawthorne House is the right book for you.

What Happened at Hawthorne House by Hadassah Shiradski is a dark, haunting, and richly atmospheric tale that explores the fragile boundaries between childhood imagination and the darker, more dangerous aspects of human nature. Set in the tumultuous year of 1926, the novel follows nine-year-old Rosalyn, a young girl in the Hawthorne House Orphanage, as she creates a make-believe game with the other girls in her dormitory. What begins as a whimsical, innocent distraction soon spirals into a chilling power struggle, with Rosalyn determined to take control at any cost.

Shiradski’s writing is immersive and evocative, drawing readers into the shadowy world of the orphanage. The game that Rosalyn invents, centered around a Royal Court, serves as a clever metaphor for the characters’ struggle for power and agency in their otherwise powerless lives. The innocence of childhood imagination quickly darkens as Rosalyn’s desire to wear the crown overtakes her, leading her to make decisions that are as morally questionable as they are bold. What starts as a playful escape turns into a battle for control and survival, and Rosalyn’s transformation from innocent girl to ruthless competitor is both compelling and unsettling.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its exploration of the human desire for power and belonging. Rosalyn’s ambition is both heartbreaking and chilling, and as her character develops, readers are left questioning how far one would be willing to go to escape their circumstances. The girls in the orphanage, each with their own personal tragedies and desires, are vividly portrayed, and their interactions—both supportive and adversarial—add layers of complexity to the story.

The atmosphere in What Happened at Hawthorne House is one of quiet dread. The orphanage itself is a haunting setting, a place where innocence and cruelty coexist. Shiradski’s ability to build tension through both the environment and the evolving dynamics between the girls makes the story increasingly suspenseful. As the stakes rise, the sense of unease intensifies, and the reader can’t help but feel the growing darkness as Rosalyn’s ambitions come to fruition.

The plot’s pacing is tight, and though the narrative unfolds with a steady, deliberate rhythm, there is always an undercurrent of tension that keeps the reader on edge. The stakes—emotional, moral, and eventually physical—build with each passing page, and the final outcome is both satisfying and thought-provoking.

What Happened at Hawthorne House is a gripping psychological drama that explores the lengths to which a young girl will go to seize power. With its richly drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and unflinching exploration of ambition and morality, this novel is a deeply compelling read for fans of dark fiction and psychological thrillers.

Rating: 4.5/5

If you enjoy stories that explore the blurred lines between innocence and darkness, and that delve into the complexities of ambition and power, What Happened at Hawthorne House is a must-read. Hadassah Shiradski has created a hauntingly memorable story that lingers long after the final page is turned.

Thank you Netgalley and Brigids Gate Press for an ARC of What Happened at Hawthorne House in exchange for an honest review.

In this novella we meet a group of young girls who all reside at the same dormitory at Hawthorne orphanage. With a strict guardian the girls try to occupy their time in the house as best as possible trying to make light of their situation. When one of the girls creates a royal court each try their best to become queen. As their antics start taking on higher stakes, which little girl has the willingness to become queen?

I liked this story and the way it was set up, but was left wanting more towards the end of the story. The build up of the events at Hawthorne house led me to believe we would see more events in part 2 that never really happened. Overall enjoyed the novella and can't wait to see what Hadassah writes next.

Wow. Ok. What Happened at Hawthorne House. This book left me wanting more of the second part. Part 1 was detailed and made you feel something for each girl and maybe fear them a bit also. Part 2 just felt like a rushed conclusion. This was a very enjoyable read and the writers vision for the story is very clear, I just wish there was more to part 2.

Unfortunately for me at 23% I find myself unable to continue. I don't really understand what is going on other than little girls playing a game to become Queen. It doesn't feel scary nor particularly gothic, just girls bullying other girls for a reason I can't quite fathom. The writing style is easy to follow but it has taken 5 days to get this far as I am completely uninterested in any of the characters and have found the beginning of this book rather boring and flat. This however, is more likely a me problem instead of any fault of the author or writing.
I would have liked more of a backstory to the game and the girls themselves, but as this is a short story, I understand that this would have made this book far longer.

An interesting premise, just sadly not for me.

This was a short read, but a good read. I really enjoyed how it was written as it seemed like a child was writing it. I believe that was what the author wanted and it came across exactly like that. I am really sad for the kids and wish that they could have had a better life and not such a tragic death. I’m glad that in the afterlife they are trying to have a good time with what happened. The rules of Hawthorne house at the end make me want to visit these kids and allow them to have a little more fun.

What Happened At Hawthorne House is an interesting novella about what happens when girls seek power (?) It is broken up into two parts, which I thought was great, and I appreciate the author a little more for being bold enough to take that leap when writing such a short story. Unfortunately, too much time was spent on the first half and not enough development was put into it. It felt long and as if it just dragged on. Overall, I'm not sure of the point of the story (hence the question mark in the first sentence). Maybe if she would have focused on the latter timeline with small flashbacks, or the first timeline with current day details.. maybe then it would have worked better. I felt like I was listening to a friend tell me a long, drawn-out story. The concept was great, though.  I can get down with multiple girls in an orphanage, doing whatever it takes to be "queen." I just don't think this novella was for me.
Thank you NetGalley, Brigids Gate Press, and Hadassah Shiradski for this read.

Unfortunately, this book was a big miss for me. The premise of this story was super intriguing, but the execution was disappointing.

There was no real point to the story, other than watching children play a boring, violent game. None of the characters had any sort of development, I didn't like any of them, and had no interest in learning more about them.

Despite the promise, I didn't see much horror or gothic elements within this book, and there was no tension. This left very little entertainment value in the story for me.

The switch in pov confused me and I didn't understand what the second half of this book added. It was essentially a continuation of the first half, but from someone else's perspective.

I would have loved to enjoy this story, especially based off of its summary, but it was very difficult for me to connect or engage with this book.

“What Happened at Hawthorne House” is a short, atmospheric gothic novella set in an orphanage for girls.

Let me start by saying that I absolutely loved the writing style. It was so easy to picture events as they happened, and the way the acts of violence were written out were drawn out just enough to make me squirm in my seat without feeling like it dragged. The author does a fantastic job utilizing the creepy kids trope, simultaneously creating a cast of children that are both easy to feel sorry for and shudder at the thought of.

Personally, the only reason I rated it 3 stars despite the 5 star writing style is mainly due to the structure. While I can see the intent the author had by meshing both the events of the past and events of the present, for me the jump from before to now was jarring and threw me out of the story. Had the story just been the first part with the orphanage burning and ended with maybe a mock news article or brief epilogue, I would have walked away satisfied. Instead, with the way it ended, I found myself wanting more from the story, and not in a “man I wish it didn’t have to end” and more in a “wait, that’s it?” kind of way.

I really had fun with this read and am definitely going to keep my eye out for more by this author. If anyone is looking for a quick, creepy read to cozy up with during those cold autumn nights, this novella is sure to delight.

I was looking for something to read outside of my usual genres and this free copy met that. Unfortunately, I didn't like it much though. It was hard for me to keep track of who is who - whether that was due to my lack of interest or due to the writing style, I'm not sure.