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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
A fun little ghost story with some action scenes. Didn’t love it but didn’t hate it.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a solid supernatural haunted house book. It was reasonably fast-paced and kept me guessing until the truth was revealed. The ending is certainly different than a lot of these types of books, but I really liked it!
One thing that threw me off was not knowing where this took place! At the start, I pictured Daniel living somewhere like NYC, but then the landscape nearby didn't make much sense. The old villages surrounding the city could have been somewhere else in New England (especially with the talk of witches, it made me think of Salem) but I didn't see any indication of that. The author is Australian, so it's possible it took place there, I just wish I knew WHERE.
Finally, I found some of the characterizations were a bit too on the nose. Daniel, Bran, and Kyle especially were very one-dimensional.
Overall, very enjoyable and something a bit different than I was expecting! I'll definitely read her other books.
One thing that threw me off was not knowing where this took place! At the start, I pictured Daniel living somewhere like NYC, but then the landscape nearby didn't make much sense. The old villages surrounding the city could have been somewhere else in New England (especially with the talk of witches, it made me think of Salem) but I didn't see any indication of that. The author is Australian, so it's possible it took place there, I just wish I knew WHERE.
Finally, I found some of the characterizations were a bit too on the nose. Daniel, Bran, and Kyle especially were very one-dimensional.
Spoiler
Daniel was naive but eager to please, and clearly a very generous person despite not having anything. He was almost too earnest, I wish he had a bit of grit to him. He let Kyle, who was just a total asshole the whole time, walk all over him. And even though Bran's character was called into question during the book, he proved himself to be magnanimous and forgiving. Bran - "Don't open the tower, I will not be forgiving of that." Daniel - *opens the tower* Bran - "oh it's okay, it was my fault anyway for spreading that story and sewing a seed of doubt. My bad, please stay with me!" Yeah, okay.Overall, very enjoyable and something a bit different than I was expecting! I'll definitely read her other books.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
This is an oddly cozy ghost story. I liked that the main character was male.
Craven Manor by Darcy Coates is exactly the kind of eerie, suspenseful story I needed. I picked this one up between two hefty book club reads, craving something spooky and atmospheric, and it absolutely delivered.
The story follows Daniel, a down-on-his-luck day laborer living with his selfish cousin Kyle. Daniel is barely scraping by, and when Kyle moves in another roommate, Daniel is relegated to the couch. Just as his situation hits rock bottom, he gets an unusual job offer: become the groundskeeper at Craven Manor, an abandoned estate that feels as foreboding as it looks.
From the moment Daniel arrives, the tension builds. The manor itself is practically a character, with its crumbling stone walls, overgrown gardens, and that haunting, flickering candle in the tower. Every detail adds to the chilling atmosphere, and as Daniel settles into the groundskeeper’s cottage, you can’t help but feel like something terrible is just waiting to happen.
Daniel is a fantastic protagonist. He’s brave, kind, and driven by a strong sense of doing the right thing, even when it’s not the best choice for him. His loyalty to Kyle, despite Kyle’s awful behavior, highlights just how compassionate—and perhaps naive—he is. Bran, his employer, is another fascinating character. He’s creepy in all the right ways but has an undeniable likability that keeps you guessing. Even the black cat, which seems to come and go as it pleases, adds an extra layer of intrigue and mystery.
The plot is a slow burn, and I loved how Darcy Coates took her time building up the suspense. There’s a sense of unease woven through every chapter, and while some exposition felt a bit repetitive, it ultimately enhanced the claustrophobic, haunted vibe. The ending ties everything together in a satisfying way, with every character getting exactly what they deserve—no more, no less.
Craven Manor perfectly balances a haunted house atmosphere with strong character development and a touch of mystery. If you enjoy suspenseful, spooky stories with a side of heart, this one’s for you. Highly recommend for fans of haunted house tales or anyone looking for a chilling read. Let me know if you’ve read it—what did you think of Bran? And did you love the black cat as much as I did?
The story follows Daniel, a down-on-his-luck day laborer living with his selfish cousin Kyle. Daniel is barely scraping by, and when Kyle moves in another roommate, Daniel is relegated to the couch. Just as his situation hits rock bottom, he gets an unusual job offer: become the groundskeeper at Craven Manor, an abandoned estate that feels as foreboding as it looks.
From the moment Daniel arrives, the tension builds. The manor itself is practically a character, with its crumbling stone walls, overgrown gardens, and that haunting, flickering candle in the tower. Every detail adds to the chilling atmosphere, and as Daniel settles into the groundskeeper’s cottage, you can’t help but feel like something terrible is just waiting to happen.
Daniel is a fantastic protagonist. He’s brave, kind, and driven by a strong sense of doing the right thing, even when it’s not the best choice for him. His loyalty to Kyle, despite Kyle’s awful behavior, highlights just how compassionate—and perhaps naive—he is. Bran, his employer, is another fascinating character. He’s creepy in all the right ways but has an undeniable likability that keeps you guessing. Even the black cat, which seems to come and go as it pleases, adds an extra layer of intrigue and mystery.
The plot is a slow burn, and I loved how Darcy Coates took her time building up the suspense. There’s a sense of unease woven through every chapter, and while some exposition felt a bit repetitive, it ultimately enhanced the claustrophobic, haunted vibe. The ending ties everything together in a satisfying way, with every character getting exactly what they deserve—no more, no less.
Craven Manor perfectly balances a haunted house atmosphere with strong character development and a touch of mystery. If you enjoy suspenseful, spooky stories with a side of heart, this one’s for you. Highly recommend for fans of haunted house tales or anyone looking for a chilling read. Let me know if you’ve read it—what did you think of Bran? And did you love the black cat as much as I did?
Craven Manor was a perfectly fine haunted house story! It was easy to read and had a good pace throughout. Our protagonist was made some goofy choices but was overall very likable.
The book wasn't as creepy or scary as I would have liked, but the descriptions of the manor and gardens did set a sort of Gothic tone for parts of it. Honestly, I kind of wanted Daniel to hang around and do more groundskeeping work, it was satisfying to read and the most interesting and eerie parts of the story happened on the grounds of the manor (naturally). I particularly enjoyed the ending, it was actually pretty heart-warming!
The book wasn't as creepy or scary as I would have liked, but the descriptions of the manor and gardens did set a sort of Gothic tone for parts of it. Honestly, I kind of wanted Daniel to hang around and do more groundskeeping work, it was satisfying to read and the most interesting and eerie parts of the story happened on the grounds of the manor (naturally). I particularly enjoyed the ending, it was actually pretty heart-warming!
Starts pretty good. Pretty readable and a likeable main character. Until they become drearily stupid in the middle. The further you get into the book, the more you think oh dear. I don’t think this is for me. It’s very very silly.
Is this young persons fiction? I’m not sure. It felt like it to me.
Is this young persons fiction? I’m not sure. It felt like it to me.