House of Hearts - by Skyla Arndt (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Violet Harper knows her best friend was murdered. Even if everyone else has labeled her death a "freak accident," Vi is sure she'd been trying to tell her something right before she died. Cryptic messages about her friend's elite boarding school, her whirlwind romance, and the mysterious secret society she was entangled in all point to a more sinister fate.

So, Violet does what no one else seems willing to do: She transfers to the same fancy school to dig into the society's murky history and find out what really happened to her friend. She knows the truth might not be pretty, but what she doesn't bargain for is the handsome boy at the center of it all--Calvin Lockwell, the brother of her prime suspect and descendant of the school's founder. He's obnoxious and privileged, and Violet can't deny their haunting attraction. It soon becomes clear his family is hiding a dark secret that may not be of this world, and suddenly Violet's following her friend's doomed footsteps down the rabbit hole. Even as details emerge of a deadly curse plaguing the school, she can't escape her true feelings for Calvin. But loving him may be the last thing she ever does.

Review Quotes

"An intoxicating blend of romance and horror, darkness and wit. With haunts and twists that leap off the page, this was a rabbit hole I was happy to fall down." --Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning

"Arndt once again delivers with her singular verve and vivid imagination! House of Hearts is a book to get lost in, with its snappy humor, doomed love, secret societies, and haunted grounds. A whimsical, sinister fairytale."--Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic

"A haunting and haunted love story that explores themes of grief and betrayal, loyalty and friendship, House of Hearts is an incredible sophomore novel from an author with voice and vision. You won't be able to stop thinking about this epic tale."--Kamilah Cole, bestselling author of So Let Them Burn and This Ends in Embers

"A hauntingly romantic and whimsically dark read. Hilarious banter and enemies-to-lovers romance makes the pages practically turn themselves while showing how love, courage and a little bit of madness breaks curses in this inventive Alice-in-Wonderland-touched story."--Autumn Krause, Author of Before the Devil Knows You're Here and Grave Flowers

"Atmospheric, haunting, and deliciously dark, House of Hearts is a stunning dissection of both platonic and romantic grief against the backdrop of a chilling boarding school with horrors at every turn. Violet and Calvin are an ensnaring duo always caught in a dance, making this the perfect read for romance and horror lovers alike."--Mackenzie Reed, author of The Wilde Trials and The Rosewood Hunt

"Chilling legacies, whip-smart snark and enemies-to-lovers romance perfectly combine in Arndt's eerie trip through the maze of dark academia."--Amy Goldsmith, author of Those We Drown, Our Wicked Histories, and Predatory Natures

"With banter as sharp as a briar rose, a murder mystery as twisted as a hedge maze, and romance reminiscent of the bloodiest fairytales, House of Hearts is sure to enchant readers. A beautifully written, gripping exploration of love and loss that will leave you ready to rip your heart out."--Crystal Seitz, author of Inheritance of Scars

"At turns heart pounding and mind bending, it's a compulsively readable tale, both haunting and romantic. With its secret society, forbidden romance, and ancient curse, House of Hearts had me riveted from the first page."--Kate Pearsall, author of Bittersweet in the Hollow

"A quite literal heart wrenching romance with sweltering tension and a healthy dose of the macabre. Enter the House of Hearts and descend the rabbit hole of haunting urban legends, decadent secret societies, and a deliciously eerie mystery. A horror with enormous heart and terror."--Vanessa Montalban, author of A Tall Dark Trouble and These Vengeful Wishes

"Brimming with lyrical prose, Skyla Arndt's House of Hearts reads like a dark, devastating fairytale dream. A stunning horror-romance sharp with the pain of loss and love."--Kara A. Kennedy, author of I Will Never Leave You

"A vivid and imaginative take on Alice in Wonderland that delighted me, filled to the brim with witty banter, eerie atmosphere and a compelling mystery with equal parts heart... and horror. Readers will gobble up this curious, ghostly tale!"--Amanda Linsmeier, author of Starlings

About the Author

Connect with her at ArndtSkyla.com or @ArndtSkyla on Instagram or Twitter. (Howling at the moon works, too.)