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Shadow House
What Do You Do If You’re Trapped In A Nightmare …
New Earth’s Supreme Council dooms Johari Hightower to Elimination. Never mind that he’s innocent. His only hope is the House, a rite shrouded in mystery. No one says what happens inside. And those who don’t make it out are never seen again.
But what do you do if the girl you love is inside?
What do you do if she’s cozy with the guy who set you up?
What do you do if you’re running for your life?
New Earth’s Supreme Council dooms Johari Hightower to Elimination. Never mind that he’s innocent. His only hope is the House, a rite shrouded in mystery. No one says what happens inside. And those who don’t make it out are never seen again.
But what do you do if the girl you love is inside?
What do you do if she’s cozy with the guy who set you up?
What do you do if you’re running for your life?
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 22, 2022
5 people are currently reading
894 people want to read
About the author
A.R. Silverberry
10 books16 followersAdler wouldn’t do—I needed the right handle to go where I was going. Silverberry unlocked the magic door. Now I quest through the limitless realms of the imagination, here, official scribe to bold knights and treacherous kings, there, intrepid recorder of the future and the far reaches of space. Wherever I land, I promise to hold nothing back.
This portal takes you there … www.arsilverberry.com
This portal takes you there … www.arsilverberry.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 14, 2022
I was sent a complimentary digital copy of this novel by the author and am reviewing it on behalf of Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team #RBRT. Thank you to both A.R. Silverberry and Rosie Amber. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Shadow House is a fairly short novel, but it is not lacking in depth of story. I found it sucked me in almost immediately and it was very difficult to put down.
The story is set in the not too distant future on “New Earth”, a dystopian future following the breakdown of society as we know it:
“History, as taught in school, proclaimed that New Earth had sprouted from a chaotic lawless time in human history, when small bands preyed on and slaughtered each other over dwindling resources. Johari believed that part of the account. It was the next part that seemed iffy. All at once, something happened. A mutation—a new species, some people claimed—appeared, like Cro-Magnon beside the Neanderthals. This new “more advanced” group broke away from the old one and traveled to New Earth. How that was done was sketchy at best. But even today people talked about the Freedom, a mass migration of millions to a new world. And the new world they created was, so they said, superior in every way to the one they left. It was a perfect society.”
I would have liked a little more information regarding this migration. I felt the author brushed it aside somewhat, but I am hoping perhaps it will be given more explanation in the next book. Perhaps it is another mystery that the main character, Johari, will need to solve.
The major portion of Shadow House revolves around four teenagers’ time inside the House, a kind of glorified magical escape room filled with monsters and peril, which teens must enter once during their lives. Not everyone comes out again and those who do not escape are never seen again. Once inside, stairways and doors disappear, herding the four main characters to desired destinations, where they have to face their pasts and personalities and be tested in sometimes terrifying situations.
“…he had difficulty shaking off the feeling that the House would be their tomb.“
““People get out; people get out,” he told himself. And some don’t. “
However no one knows what they will discover once inside, as it is forbidden for the survivors to discuss their experiences. The House itself is described really well, it sounds like the kind of building you might cross the street to keep away from:
“The House had a curious tinge, like an early photograph, faded and discolored. It was three stories and old beyond reckoning. The paint had peeled off. The wooden walls were weathered and sun-bleached a mottled gray. He wondered why termites hadn’t consumed the whole thing long ago. The house bulged on the right to accommodate a semi-circular tower rising two stories and culminating in a conical roof. A lower gable above the front porch was ornamented with scrollwork. But it was the upper gable that arrested his attention. The woodwork was much more complex, filling the whole triangular shape of the gable. In the center was a symbol of some sort. It might have been a flaming candle, but it seemed to Johari it was more like a hand held up in warning.”
The four teens had very different characters. Johari is the main point of view character and hero of the book. He is a mixed race orphan with gorgeous features who spent his childhood being tossed from one foster family to another, never really knowing love and suffering bullying. This often ended in his getting blamed and eventually in him being saddled with a criminal record. Despite his horrible childhood, Johari is very likeable, brave, and a team player. He is a natural leader and caring – concerned for Calista’s health. He is also the love interest for another of the characters, Greta. He is determined that if one of them manages to leave then they all must. Greta is observant and makes notes in each of the rooms as they explore the House. She is kindhearted and beautiful and Johari fell in love with her at a recent party where they first met. Due to a misunderstanding caused by Brice, the ridiculously wealthy party host, they are now unsure of each other’s feelings. This leads to expertly written romantic tension between Johari and Greta and typical teen angst which the reader experiences through Johari’s inner monologue. Greta’s friend Calista is also in the House. An asthmatic, she struggles with the dusty House but retains her wit and feisty nature. She proves to be resourceful, having grabbed bread from the kitchen, which they can no longer access once they reach the attic. The fourth main character is the entitled and unlikeable Brice, who was instrumental in Johari being arrested for stealing Brice’s father’s anti-grav car, when Brice actually leant it to him. He also paid Greta’s Mom to keep her grounded at home when she would have been a useful witness in Johari’s court case. He wants Greta to fall in love with him and is jealous of her attraction to Johari.
Sentenced to elimination in his court case, Johari sees the House as the only way out. If he is able to find his way out of the House he expects that his criminal record will be cleared. Society believes that only the very best people are able to survive and in this way it rids the world of evil:
‘It purifies,’ ‘It perfects,’ ‘It protects,’ ‘It eliminates war, disease, and poverty.’
There were elements of the book which reminded me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or the horror movies where one by one the main characters are callously picked off. It was a very enjoyable read and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy YA thrillers or dystopian mysteries.
Shadow House is a fairly short novel, but it is not lacking in depth of story. I found it sucked me in almost immediately and it was very difficult to put down.
The story is set in the not too distant future on “New Earth”, a dystopian future following the breakdown of society as we know it:
“History, as taught in school, proclaimed that New Earth had sprouted from a chaotic lawless time in human history, when small bands preyed on and slaughtered each other over dwindling resources. Johari believed that part of the account. It was the next part that seemed iffy. All at once, something happened. A mutation—a new species, some people claimed—appeared, like Cro-Magnon beside the Neanderthals. This new “more advanced” group broke away from the old one and traveled to New Earth. How that was done was sketchy at best. But even today people talked about the Freedom, a mass migration of millions to a new world. And the new world they created was, so they said, superior in every way to the one they left. It was a perfect society.”
I would have liked a little more information regarding this migration. I felt the author brushed it aside somewhat, but I am hoping perhaps it will be given more explanation in the next book. Perhaps it is another mystery that the main character, Johari, will need to solve.
The major portion of Shadow House revolves around four teenagers’ time inside the House, a kind of glorified magical escape room filled with monsters and peril, which teens must enter once during their lives. Not everyone comes out again and those who do not escape are never seen again. Once inside, stairways and doors disappear, herding the four main characters to desired destinations, where they have to face their pasts and personalities and be tested in sometimes terrifying situations.
“…he had difficulty shaking off the feeling that the House would be their tomb.“
““People get out; people get out,” he told himself. And some don’t. “
However no one knows what they will discover once inside, as it is forbidden for the survivors to discuss their experiences. The House itself is described really well, it sounds like the kind of building you might cross the street to keep away from:
“The House had a curious tinge, like an early photograph, faded and discolored. It was three stories and old beyond reckoning. The paint had peeled off. The wooden walls were weathered and sun-bleached a mottled gray. He wondered why termites hadn’t consumed the whole thing long ago. The house bulged on the right to accommodate a semi-circular tower rising two stories and culminating in a conical roof. A lower gable above the front porch was ornamented with scrollwork. But it was the upper gable that arrested his attention. The woodwork was much more complex, filling the whole triangular shape of the gable. In the center was a symbol of some sort. It might have been a flaming candle, but it seemed to Johari it was more like a hand held up in warning.”
The four teens had very different characters. Johari is the main point of view character and hero of the book. He is a mixed race orphan with gorgeous features who spent his childhood being tossed from one foster family to another, never really knowing love and suffering bullying. This often ended in his getting blamed and eventually in him being saddled with a criminal record. Despite his horrible childhood, Johari is very likeable, brave, and a team player. He is a natural leader and caring – concerned for Calista’s health. He is also the love interest for another of the characters, Greta. He is determined that if one of them manages to leave then they all must. Greta is observant and makes notes in each of the rooms as they explore the House. She is kindhearted and beautiful and Johari fell in love with her at a recent party where they first met. Due to a misunderstanding caused by Brice, the ridiculously wealthy party host, they are now unsure of each other’s feelings. This leads to expertly written romantic tension between Johari and Greta and typical teen angst which the reader experiences through Johari’s inner monologue. Greta’s friend Calista is also in the House. An asthmatic, she struggles with the dusty House but retains her wit and feisty nature. She proves to be resourceful, having grabbed bread from the kitchen, which they can no longer access once they reach the attic. The fourth main character is the entitled and unlikeable Brice, who was instrumental in Johari being arrested for stealing Brice’s father’s anti-grav car, when Brice actually leant it to him. He also paid Greta’s Mom to keep her grounded at home when she would have been a useful witness in Johari’s court case. He wants Greta to fall in love with him and is jealous of her attraction to Johari.
Sentenced to elimination in his court case, Johari sees the House as the only way out. If he is able to find his way out of the House he expects that his criminal record will be cleared. Society believes that only the very best people are able to survive and in this way it rids the world of evil:
‘It purifies,’ ‘It perfects,’ ‘It protects,’ ‘It eliminates war, disease, and poverty.’
There were elements of the book which reminded me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or the horror movies where one by one the main characters are callously picked off. It was a very enjoyable read and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy YA thrillers or dystopian mysteries.
June 28, 2022
Shadow House by A.R. Silverberry was a gripping sci-fi/fantasy book from start to finish! If I could I would definitely give this more than 5 stars! The main character is relatable. The supporting characters add great depth to the storyline. I absolutely could not put this book down! The Shadow House itself was intriguing and scary. I can't wait for the next book of this series!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are of my own.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are of my own.
May 29, 2022
In the cruel dystopian world of A.R. Silverberry’s engaging protagonist, Johari, young people at the age of eighteen must enter the darkly mysterious Shadow House. There they face appalling trials: some survive, some do not. Johari goes into Shadow House willingly after being framed for a crime he did not commit and sentenced to banishment: Ironically, if he can survive the rituals of Shadow House and escape, he might live. The author increases the story’s tension by giving Johari and his love Greta just twenty-four hours to face and overcome the lethal obstacles they encounter. These are highly inventive and described in meticulous detail. The story contains valuable insights into the family situations that can scar young lives; reading and absorbing Silverberry’s wisdom will benefit readers. Read for the roller-coaster story, for insights, and for the writing: it is dazzling.
October 3, 2022
Shadow House is a young adult teen story filled with science fiction material keeping the young mind intrigued. The added romance and dystopian nature to the premise adds to the interesting dynamic of the story.
This is the first book of its series and begins with intense scenes and descriptive writing. The author manages to provide enough foundation and structure to base the remaining series. It also provides enough closure but leaves some for future additions.
I predominantly enjoyed the attention to detail that was given to the dynamic of the tale. The author also meshed the characters together in such a way that it was very suitable for the age of its audience.
I recommend this book to sci-fi fans and young readers.
This is the first book of its series and begins with intense scenes and descriptive writing. The author manages to provide enough foundation and structure to base the remaining series. It also provides enough closure but leaves some for future additions.
I predominantly enjoyed the attention to detail that was given to the dynamic of the tale. The author also meshed the characters together in such a way that it was very suitable for the age of its audience.
I recommend this book to sci-fi fans and young readers.
May 22, 2022
What an adventure fraught with danger, deceit, love and loss. I just finished Shadow House and it dragged me down a path of intrigue and wonder. I’m glad I don’t live in that society! Johari has led a terribly lonely and abused life but he had a couple years before it was his turn for the House but a trumped up stealing charge changes everything. Now he escapes to the House to take his chances with the girl he really likes. This is their adventure as the rules keep changing and the House claims their due. I really enjoyed the maturity and thoughtfulness Johari displayed even to an enemy. I can’t wait to see what the next adventure will bring. I will definitely be reading it!
April 29, 2025
An excellent, well-written fantasy. The story revolves around teens, who have to enter the Shadow House, but not everyone is guaranteed to survive. Johari is set up for a fall, entering the house unexpectedly with others. No-one knows what to expect as each faces their own demons. Who will survive the house and emerge when their time is up? A must read and highly recommended.
May 22, 2022
I loved it right from the start. Good characterisation and a distinct tales of the unexpected feel as soon as they entered The House
We all know the house can’t lose in vegas
However what you carry around everyday can help you out
We all know the house can’t lose in vegas
However what you carry around everyday can help you out
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2024
Frickin WOW!
I wasn't sure what to expect from the first few pages. I struggled with the heart wreching things that happened to Jakari.
This is an Amazing book!
A. R. Silverberry has the Best Imagination that gives me goosebumps and heart-stopping magic that'll also melt anyone's heart.
The characters drew me in. The story grabbed me completely from the beginning. This is an excellent story that I Highly Recommend.
I wasn't sure what to expect from the first few pages. I struggled with the heart wreching things that happened to Jakari.
This is an Amazing book!
A. R. Silverberry has the Best Imagination that gives me goosebumps and heart-stopping magic that'll also melt anyone's heart.
The characters drew me in. The story grabbed me completely from the beginning. This is an excellent story that I Highly Recommend.
June 24, 2022
I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a very long time. The writing was well-crafted and kept my attention to the very end. I loved the characters, and the concept was intriguing. I'm excited to learn where the series goes from this point on! Some swears and sensual language, along with some errors, but not enough to hamper my enjoyment. Great book; I'm eagerly awaiting the next one!
April 9, 2023
I've always been a fan of A.R. Silverberry's books. His Wyndano's Cloak is just flat-out one of my favorite books. His latest, Shadow House, continues his streak of writing science fiction and fantasy books that feature young adult protagonists that appeal to all ages. As an avid-reading septuagenarian, I am always happy to read an A.R. Silverberry book and know that I will be engaged throughout, even when the main characters are still in their teens! I absolutely believe that this is not an easy thing to do.
In Shadow House, the protagonist, Johari Hightower, has to make a decision that could greatly impact his well-being. Will he choose to protect himself? Or will he risk his own safety to protect someone else? I don't think any of us know ahead of time how we will react in a situation like the one Johari faced. Suffice it to say that the decision Johari makes will have you spellbound. Get your copy of Shadow House and find out what happens.
In Shadow House, the protagonist, Johari Hightower, has to make a decision that could greatly impact his well-being. Will he choose to protect himself? Or will he risk his own safety to protect someone else? I don't think any of us know ahead of time how we will react in a situation like the one Johari faced. Suffice it to say that the decision Johari makes will have you spellbound. Get your copy of Shadow House and find out what happens.
May 26, 2024
2.5 ⭐
•Opens at an amusement park 🎡🎢
•Dystopian, futuristic Earth
•The mysterious House.. it's different for everyone.
•Basic characters.. the dumb, arrogant jock, the "it" girl, the it girl's best friend and the misunderstood rebel.
•Insta love
A simple YA read that had great potential. Might be better for younger YA readers.
•Opens at an amusement park 🎡🎢
•Dystopian, futuristic Earth
•The mysterious House.. it's different for everyone.
•Basic characters.. the dumb, arrogant jock, the "it" girl, the it girl's best friend and the misunderstood rebel.
•Insta love
A simple YA read that had great potential. Might be better for younger YA readers.
June 18, 2022
One wonders how the previous generation survived. I await the sequel.
July 3, 2025
An amazing beginning to a new series for me. Johari’s life hasn’t started out well. Will he ever have a chance. Full of intrigue and secrets that will keep you wanting more.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews