Midnight Rooms

A Novel

De: Donyae Coles

Narrado por: Georgina Campbell

“An immersive horror fairy tale marrying Crimson Peak to Pan’s Labyrinth upon strange foundations. You’re never really safe here, with Midnight Rooms wondrously defying expectation and refusing obedience. Donyae Coles leads us into a house of sinister magic, full of corners for peeking around, but careful—these walls have claws. A feverish, labyrinthine debut.”—Hailey Piper, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth

Set in a foreboding Gothic mansion and infused with the heightened paranoia and creeping horror of novels like Catherine House and Crimson Peak, a spine-chilling debut historical thriller from a fresh voice in the genre that will leave you questioning who, or what, you can trust . . . including your own sanity.

England, 1840. Orabella Mumthrope spies an unexpected visitor in her uncle’s parlor. Scruffy in appearance yet claiming to be the scion of a fabulously wealthy family, Elias Blakersby declares a deep desire to make Orabella his wife. The orphaned daughter of a white man and a Black woman—an outsider with no fortune or connections—Orabella never expected to marry. But her uncle has many debts, and Orabella, curious about the seeming devotion Elias bestows upon her, agrees.

The new bride is quickly whisked away to Korringhill Manor, the Blakersby family estate, and far from everything she knows. Expecting splendor, Orabella is shocked to find decay, skittish servants, and curt elders. But her kind new husband’s loving touch, promises of a happy life together, and his assurances she’ll never want for anything soothe her concerns.

Yet there is a darkness deep within this house. Rooms are locked or hidden away, and the walls seem to thrum with secrets. Orabella can never venture outside unattended; she spends her days having tea with a catatonic sister-in-law and evenings at Elias’s side, dutifully hosting lavish dinners. The darkness soon begins to engulf her, too. Becoming dizzy and drowsy after dinner, she falls into a fitful sleep filled with macabre dreams, and is awakened by blood-curdling screams in the night. In the morning she rises from her bed covered in mysterious bruises. Confused and terrified, she begins to question where her dreams end and reality begins. The longer Orabella stays in this place, the more she loses parts of herself . . . how long until she no longer exists?

Midnight Rooms is a sweeping saga with supernatural undertones set in Victorian England. Vibrating with tension, richly atmospheric—haunted by ghosts, guilt, and familial bonds—it is an electrifying story that will linger in your dreams.

It was so vague and repetitive

I actually got through the whole book. It was hard to continue, so repetitive, I guess to lean in hard on mysterious. Would not read/listen again.

I really wanted to like this story

Sigh,
It stated out ok, and they the middle got really interesting and had so much potential… But then, I don’t know if it was supposed to be confusing or not due to the character being drugged?? But I had to constantly rewind and try to focus when I felt like it was supposed to be the most interesting part. The ending was left with a bit of a cliffhanger, which ok, but I have too many questions. The overall feeling of the house had all the weirdness that I would have loved, but it fell flat for me when exploring more. The FMC also frustrates me. She feels a bit too “alright, I guess this is just how it has to be”.

Performance was phenomenal

If it wasn’t for the performance of this book, I probably would have stop reading it. However it was an enjoyable listen. Not what I was expecting but not bad.

A missed opportunity

I am in love horror! This title caught my attention because of its promise to leave me with chilling suspense and a familiarity of classical Gothic horror. However, this read was a letdown on many levels. The protagonist was beautifully described and would have been someone I could see myself as, but missed every mark at being astute, keen, and a heroine. The author missteps on the satire of survival in a carniverous world cause this book to land flat. It left me with more questions than answers, sorting out what the true storyline was, and happy that the book is over. I wished I could have loved this book, but I didn't.

Brilliant!

I was hooked! The story kept me hanging on and wondering what was going on and what would happen next. I truly felt for the main character and shared her confusion. I can't wait for more books from this author! The narrator did an excellent job at bringing the story to life.