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    House Of Shadows
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    House Of Shadows
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    House Of Shadows
    Audiobook12 hours

    House Of Shadows

    Written by Nicola Cornick

    Narrated by Heather Wilds, Fiona Hardingham and Beverley A. Crick

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    About this audiobook

    For fans of Barbara Erskine and Kate Morton comes an unforgettable novel about three women and the power one lie can have over history.

    London, 1662:
    There was something the Winter Queen needed to tell him. She fought for the strength to speak.
    ‘The crystal mirror is a danger. It must be destroyed – ‘
    He replied instantly. ‘It will’.

    Ashdown, Oxfordshire, present day: Ben Ansell is researching his family tree when he disappears. As his sister Holly begins a desperate search, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to an ornate antique mirror and to the diary of Lavinia, a 19th century courtesan who was living at Ashdown House when it burned to the ground over 200 years ago.

    Intrigued, and determined to find out more about the tragedy at Ashdown, Holly’s only hope is that uncovering the truth about the past will lead her to Ben.

    *************************************************************

    Readers love Nicola Cornick:

    ‘Alluring and hypnotising… I was hooked from page one.’

    ‘A haunting and mesmerising story.’

    ‘Atmospheric and filled with tension and danger.’

    ‘Full of dark twists and spooky turns. Brilliantly written, unguessable and page-turning.’

    ‘Spellbinding, with a narrative that left me bewitched. Not to be missed!’

    ‘A fabulous read. I was completely enthralled, and kept guessing throughout.’

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins Publishers
    Release dateJan 1, 2019
    ISBN9780263276206
    Author

    Nicola Cornick

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    Reviews for House Of Shadows

    4/5

    48 ratings7 reviews

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    • 3/5
      This book suffers horribly from tell-itis, which happens when a writer forgets that trusty adage: show, don't tell. As a consequence, the whole story falls flat. Which is a shame cause it sounded like an interesting story, but the telling is truly torturous.

      I was sent this book free by Harlequin via Goodreads.

    • 5/5
      Well what a wonderful read that was! Three timelines run through this book, modern day, Regency, and Stuart. The main historical protagonist being Elizabeth of Bohemia (Charles I’s sister). If this isn’t enough to whet your appetite we have a set of historical memoirs to read through, a curse and cursed artefacts finding their way through time. All the ingredients of a truly cracking and addictive read, in the style of Barbara Erskine! Recommended ❤️
    • 3/5
      I am a sucker for a time travel books. The plot was really interesting and I found that I quickly became absorbed in the story. I like how the story went from past to present seamlessly. Overall a very good book.
    • 3/5
      I want to thank the publishers and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this in advance.This was a nice story, intermixing the past and the present in a way that didn't aggravate me (!!), where I cared for both sides of the story equally. That's not an easy thing for me to do, I usually choose sides and get bored with the side that doesn't peak my interest as greatly.I enjoyed the historical aspects of this novel, the English peerage and royalty that spanned nations and empires, marriages rarely for love, almost entirely for political purposes. I liked the romance between the Winter Queen and the Earl of Craven. This tale of forbidden love was very enjoyable, albeit tragic. I also enjoyed the relationship between Holly, Ben and Mark, and how that played out. It wasn't anything that I expected at the end there and I like to be surprised.This story did have a touch of trade paperback romance where a long-haired, tanned shirtless hunk named Fabio graces the cover and is off to save his damsel in distress. There is NOTHING wrong with that, it's just not for me. It's not very believable, in my opinion, and it moves too fast, somewhat out of nowhere. Again, not hating on this genre or those that enjoy it, it just isn't my preferred reading material. Overall, House of Shadows was a good read. Definitely would recommend for any royal/history/romance buffs.
    • 5/5
      House of Shadows by Nicola CornickSource: NetgalleyMy Rating: 4½/5 starsMy Review: For 350+ years, the ruins of Ashdown House has been a source of speculation, mystery, and perhaps the greatest and saddest love story in the whole of the country. In centuries past, there lived a woman known as the Winter Queen, a woman born and bred to rule, but not allowed to so because of circumstances beyond her control. She was a Queen without a kingdom, wed to a man incapable of restoring her to her destiny. Through it all was one man, a man unequal to her in social standing, but certainly worthy of her strength and love. As an act of his love and devotion, he built his Winter Queen Ashdown House, a site she never visited as she could never publicly acknowledge her ties to and love for this man. One short century later, another destined-for-tragedy woman, Lavinia Flyte moves into Ashdown House, a place she hopes will change her fortunes forever. Her fortunes are indeed changed, but not at all in the way she imaged. Lavinia, like her predecessor the Winter Queen was a strong and intelligent woman who was a victim of the circumstances she was born into. Looking to improve her circumstances and her station in life, Lavinia ties herself to a man who is both selfish and cruel. Like the Winter Queen, Lavinia finds a measure of happiness with another, but her happiness is short-lived.By the twenty-first century, Ashdown House is nothing but a memory, a legend, a place steeped in mystery and tragedy, a place that has claimed yet another victim and that is why Holly Ansell has come to town. In the wake of her brother’s disappearance, Holly has taken up the investigation into his circumstances which leads her to the history of Ashdown House and one of the greatest unsolved mysteries associated with the site. As Holly’s search progresses, she learns of the tragic lives of the Winter Queen and Lavinia Flyte and how Ashdown House is responsible for the fate of both women and her brother. Unlike the two women who came before her, Holly is determined to find the light at the end of the tunnel and by the time she’s done, she’ll have laid to rest a great mystery. The Bottom Line: I am, historically speaking, a big fan of past meets present reads and House of Shadows is no exception to that rule. All three women, all tied to Ashdown House are linked through tragedy, but Holly Ansell is not so much a victim of her circumstances, but a woman of action interested in changing her fate. Though this story does, ultimately, have a happy ending, it is largely a sad read. Overall, I found this book to be intricately woven together, smartly plotted, and interesting. There is just enough at the end of each chapter, that little tidbit, that made me want to keep going and not put the book down until I got to the last page.
    • 4/5
      Ben is wanting to know all about his family. He begins to research his past and his family history when he disappears. His sister is determined to find out what happened to him. In the process, she discovers more than she bargained for.This book is rich in history. I love a book which has me researching. I had to look up the Winter Queen. She is not someone which I was very familiar. This novel follows her pearl and her mirror throughout the years. These items were thought lost to history until Holly discovers the mirror. There is magic attached to these items. You need to read the novel to find out what all this magic entails. The recovery of these artifacts keep you guessing till the end.This story rotates between time periods. The Winter Queen, 19th century courtesan are just a few of the historical figures recreated in this tale. However, I did feel there were several plot problems. One is very noticeable. When Ben disappears you very seldom hear anything else about it. A word or two dropped several chapters apart. It is like an unimportant factor. But, he is the reason his sister is researching. It just sort of falls to the wayside. The story more or less follows Holly and her discoveries. This is minor in the grand scheme of this novel and does not take away from the story. And the story is riveting and creative.I have a huge amount of cover love! This cover is super. Makes you just want to dive in and get started!I received this novel from Harper Collins for a honest review.
    • 4/5
      Just look at that cover.Isn't it pretty? I defy you to not judge this book by its gorgeous cover. It certainly seduced me into wanting to read the story, despite my mild aversion to historical fiction.-- What's it about? --Where to begin? Three time periods feature in this story of mystery and magic, romance and reincarnation.In the sixteenth century, Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, struggles to contain her attraction to her most devoted courtier, Willian Craven. Can she really give herself to him? What would it mean for her royal reputation? At the same time, she is beset with challenges she believes are caused by the combination of two powerful items: an antique mirror and an ancient pearl. Craven builds Ashdown House for her, but, when it matters, can she really trust him? Their choices will echo through history.In the nineteenth century, regency courtesan Lavinia Flyte is taken to Ashcroft House by her current protector, greedy Lord Evershot. Can he find the famous pearl and harness the power of the dangerous mirror? Can Lavinia find happiness?Finally, in 2014, Holly Ansell's brother has disappeared while living in the shadow of Ashdown House and researching his family's history. Using Lavinia's diary and her own research into the history of Elizabeth Stuart and William Craven, can Holly find her brother and the truth about the past?-- What's it like? --Carefully slotted together to create overall patterns. Pleasant to read. Meticulously researched at heart with a heavy dusting of fantasy colouring in the historical unknowns.The opening chapters establish the first and last time frames with suitably dramatic flourishes; we are privy to Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia's dying moments with her beloved courtier; we witness King James' consternation at his daughter's baptismal gift; then we meet Holly, whose niece phones her, sobbing, with the news that her father has disappeared. Each chapter works effectively to create intrigue and introduce key characters but perhaps it's most impressive that the continuing drama - a broken engagement, a sudden romance, a vision - excites without saturating or feeling overblown.Of course there are calmer moments, too: Holly walks her dog, chats to neighbourhood friend and super-gossip Fran, gets to know the locals and reads Lavinia's diary. These calm periods are perhaps particularly pleasant when the naturally more hectic life of the Winter Queen is presented! All three women - Elizabeth, Lavinia, Holly - are strong characters with flaws and so hold the readers' interest, though I found Holly's relationship slightly less interesting than the other two, simply because I felt her mate was too accepting of her 'fey' nature. I also thought Holly's throwing up of one life and abrupt embracing of another was a little unconvincing, but I suspect this is largely due to my own dislike of change - I cannot imagine myself acting as Holly does, but that doesn't mean it isn't plausible, simply that she is more impulsive than I am!Each storyline is sufficiently interesting and fully developed to ensure that I didn't have a 'favourite' or find myself rushing through any of the chapters in order to return to another time period. I would have really liked to know more about Ben and to have seen a little more of his wife and daughter at the end of the story, but in this book with its strong female protagonists there's little room for the development of subsidiary male characters, and ultimately Ben is a collection of functions rather than a character.-- Final thoughts --Somehow, Nicola Cornick's light touch renders the potentially ludicrous (such as Holly's time slips) acceptable in this tale of reincarnation through generations of (illegitimate!) descendants. Historical fact is bought to life with a similarly deft hand and I felt that I was learning about history (Queen Elizabeth's life in particular) without being made to feel like I was being taught. Some authors awkwardly shoehorn in their recently gleaned knowledge, desperate for you to see the depth of their research and the breadth of their knowledge, but Cornick's novel is a story that just happens to brilliantly illuminate an earlier time period.This achievement is perhaps less surprising - though certainly no less pleasing - when contextualised: Cornick is a historian who has volunteered as a guide at the real Ashdown House for the last fourteen years. Obviously thoroughly steeped in the history and lore of the real house, Cornick has been able to infuse her book with genuine understanding of the place and people involved - or as genuine as you can get without claiming to have been reincarnated yourself!Despite the serious romances and traumatic experiences of many of the characters, this is never less than pleasant to read. Somehow, no matter what happened to individuals and their dreams, I felt that the overall mood and tone was heading upwards towards a happy ending. Perhaps this is because, after all, the tale we will inevitably find closest to our hearts is Holly's: she's the modern one with a life still to live when the book closes (no matter how much you might root for Lavinia or wish Elizabeth and Craven could overcome the obstacles between them, they are already dead when the story proper begins); Holly reads about Lavinia and Elizabeth, just as we do, creating another connection with us and distancing us from their disappointments; Holly is the heroine we can most imagine succeeding; and the slightly chick-lit feel of Holly's sections of the book mean we can't be in any serious doubt that Holly will have some kind of happy ending. (Although...the precedent set by the Winter Queen and her lover could be seen to undermine that.)If you're able to suspend your disbelief sufficiently to accept that two powerful objects are at work throughout the centuries, destroying lives when handled with malign intent, then this is an absorbing read; the kind of book that's perfect for dark, lazy autumnal evenings spent snuggling up on the sofa with steaming mugs of hot cocoa and a pet stretched lazily across your lap.Thanks to the publishers for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.