House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A Craig
Synopsis:
Despite dreams of adventures far beyond the Salann shores, seventeen-year-old Verity Thaumas has remained at her family’s estate, Highmoor, with her older sister Camille, while their sisters have scattered across Arcannia.
When their sister Mercy sends word that the Duchess of Bloem—wife of a celebrated botanist—is interested in having Verity paint a portrait of her son, Alexander, Verity jumps at the chance, but Camille won’t allow it. Forced to reveal the secret she’s kept for years, Camille tells Verity the truth one day: Verity is still seeing ghosts, she just doesn’t know it.
Stunned, Verity flees Highmoor that night and—with nowhere else to turn—makes her way to Bloem. At first, she is captivated by the lush, luxurious landscape and is quickly drawn to charming, witty, and impossibly handsome Alexander Laurent. And soon, to her surprise, a romance… blossoms.
But it’s not long before Verity is plagued with nightmares, and the darker side of Bloem begins to show through its sickly-sweet facade.
Review:
Verity is a bit naive, but kindhearted and full of hope. She has faced tragedy and longs to escape for a brighter future. But darkness seems to follow her. And a dark and sinister mystery begins to unfold. This period YA novel reminded me a bit of the classic Gothic Rebecca. It’s a fast-paced read with plenty of suspense and the feel of a chilling Gothic horror. I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging and unpredictable story.