The Shrouded Wind: A Gothic Mystery of Witchcraft and Curses

by Tami Egonu

"I would highly recommend this to those who enjoy a bit of mystery mixed with magic." Kristy, Reviewer Some houses keep secrets. Bautil Hall keeps score.

Ella is trying to outrun death. Arriving at her family’s crumbling Victorian estate, she discovers that death—and the dark magic tied to her bloodline—has been waiting for her. The halls whisper of witchcraft, madness, and a curse that has haunted her ancestors for generations. And the deeper Ella digs into the truth, the more the house seems to close in around her.

Strange visions. Unsettling footsteps. A presence that knows her fears as intimately as her memories. Bautil Hall is waking, and it wants her attention.

As Ella unearths the violent history her family tried to bury, she begins to question her own sanity. Is she truly being haunted, or is she unraveling like her laudanum‑addicted aunt before her? And what of the mysterious man bound to the estate’s darkest secrets—an ally she shouldn’t trust, yet can’t seem to turn away from?

Every revelation brings Ella closer to the heart of the curse… and closer to a truth that could claim her soul.

The Shrouded Wind is a slow‑burn gothic mystery woven with dark family secrets, haunted‑house suspense, twisted magic, and a touch of forbidden romance. Perfect for readers who

Gothic fiction set in atmospheric Victorian England

Haunted house mysteries with creeping dread

Family curses, witchcraft, and generational secrets

Gothic romance with tension, danger, and slow‑burn chemistry

Psychological suspense where nothing is as it seems

If you enjoy authors like Silvia Moreno‑Garcia, Laura Purcell, or V.E. Schwab, this chilling, character‑driven tale will keep you turning pages long into the night.

Will Ella break the cycle that has claimed generations—or become the next ghost trapped within Bautil Hall?

Start reading today. Also available on audiobook.


*Please note the spelling of this novel is English (UK)*

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2025

About the author

Tami Egonu is a British indie author (her surname is Igbo, Nigerian) who is addicted to writing fiction, whatever the genre, sometimes a mash-up (speculative fiction), including contemporary and historical romance, horror, time travel, ghosts, and (to come) science fiction.

She loves travelling, eating naughty things, and spending time with her nearest and dearest. She also enjoys long walks when new stories of imperfect love and sinister intentions will bloom in her usually positive mind.

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Reviews

[Hunter Clint · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a whirlwind taking the reader through time. The language was beautifully rich and breathtaking with many lines reading like poetry and I loved the world that was created. However I found the pacing of the story to be a little too slow; perhaps if you like a slow-burn this is more for you but I personally felt like I was ‘waiting’ the entire time. The characters had so much more potential for depth than they were given and as a result I felt very emotionally disconnected from them including the protagonist Ella. I loved aspects of the dark romance but, without spoiling, it did seem to wrap up rather quickly and didn’t feel as organic as it could’ve been.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mira B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this! It had a lot of twists and turns that I could never pinpoint what I thought was going to happen in the ending. I finished this in two days it was so good! The little touch of romance in there was perfect.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sherry Priddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had a little bit of everything in it. Along with twist and turns. It was a nice change.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book with so many beautifully written sentences. I really enjoy Tami Egonu's writing. I would highly recommend this to those who enjoy a bit of mystery mixed with magic.

[Cavak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dancing between three or four stars, but I went with the higher score since there were subtle elements that I ended up liking.

The Shrouded Wind is a bit difficult for me to review without spoilers, as spoilers are what drew me to coming around to the story in the end. Repeated flashbacks to the past, the narrations of multiple family members, drew to something that made logical sense. Even the vaguely Biblical references did their part.

Before that point, I found myself riddled with layers of descriptive passages and internal dialogues. Everything felt concrete and super-explained for Ella (or whatever narrator)'s inner landscape, which I'm not sure I liked. There's not a moment where I felt "inside" a character. Events that are meant to be bizarre and shocking were distant, lacking emotional tension for me. Pacing felt odd at times. Despite several chapters dedicated to careful worldbuilding and anticipation, there were times when I felt events were strangely rushed.

It isn't until about the halfway point that I felt like the plot itself moved, and that's when I felt the reasoning for the narrative style.

The Shrouded Wind was a slow burn historical read for me. Egonu writes eloquent prose and has a deep love for personification. This one didn't immediately draw me in, but I'd liked enough turn of phrases and metaphors within her prose to keep going. I'd like to read another book of hers in the future.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Dawn Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story follows Noëlla, Ella pushed from house to house as relatives die. She eventually finds herself living with her aunt. This is where things start to get out of control for poor Ella as she struggles to understand what is happening to her in this strange old house. The house is more alive than she imagined and she needs to find a way to survive and to find a way out.

The story is set over several time periods, now and in the past which explains why the house has such a hold over the family.

I was intrigued to keep reading!

Thanks for your the advanced readers copy!

[Tami Egonu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited to welcome you to Bautil Hall. Time to unlock its mysteries and break its curse.