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thomaswjoyce's review
5.0
Another fantastic tale from Piper. I loved the main character being a female pirate, happy to let others assume she is a man and dealing with the prejudice and assumptions. The setting is very well conveyed, as is the relationship she has with Elizabeth. It is a fast read, and the mounting dread leading to the horrific reveal is wonderfully done. I just love Piper's style in everything I have read so far.
elenika's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ericarobyn's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
An Invitation to Darkness by Hailey Piper is an eerie tale of love, but there’s just one thing in the way of these two living happily ever after…
Captain Jamie is tired of a life at sea. Instead, she has decided she will find a port to invest in and make a bustling town. Upon arriving at her chosen place, a woman comes by to offer a greeting and then invites her in for tea.
When the Captain crosses the threshold of the manor, we’re off and running as Captain Jamie is immersed into the life and terrors that are hidden within the walls… while at the same time, she is quickly falling in love.
For such a short book, I found myself super invested in the two main characters and their relationship! I was rooting for them from the very first touch of their hands and kept hoping everything would work out.
With the overall plot, I was definitely on the edge of my seat, reading as quickly as I could to see how it would all turn out. There were so many eerie elements that totally creeped me out! I mean, a chamber that leads to an underground lake that you can only get to when the tide is low? No thank you.
Hailey Piper’s writing style and use of description made this story really come right off the pages! I got chills when something spooky was occurring, I got anxious when a character was in a tight spot, and I smiled when something positive happened. And I won’t spoil the details, but there’s one specific scene that made me visibly cringe when I read the scene.
I loved this so much!
My Favorite Passages:
Elizabeth, Reginald, and myself should have been the only three souls present, but there was at least a fourth, or more. Some nights I heard footsteps in the dark.
Never underestimate the speed of a woman whose lady is in danger.
My Final Thoughts
This short read really packs a punch! I absolutely loved my time reading this and will definitely be returning to it in the future.
Captain Jamie is tired of a life at sea. Instead, she has decided she will find a port to invest in and make a bustling town. Upon arriving at her chosen place, a woman comes by to offer a greeting and then invites her in for tea.
When the Captain crosses the threshold of the manor, we’re off and running as Captain Jamie is immersed into the life and terrors that are hidden within the walls… while at the same time, she is quickly falling in love.
For such a short book, I found myself super invested in the two main characters and their relationship! I was rooting for them from the very first touch of their hands and kept hoping everything would work out.
With the overall plot, I was definitely on the edge of my seat, reading as quickly as I could to see how it would all turn out. There were so many eerie elements that totally creeped me out! I mean, a chamber that leads to an underground lake that you can only get to when the tide is low? No thank you.
Hailey Piper’s writing style and use of description made this story really come right off the pages! I got chills when something spooky was occurring, I got anxious when a character was in a tight spot, and I smiled when something positive happened. And I won’t spoil the details, but there’s one specific scene that made me visibly cringe when I read the scene.
I loved this so much!
My Favorite Passages:
Elizabeth, Reginald, and myself should have been the only three souls present, but there was at least a fourth, or more. Some nights I heard footsteps in the dark.
Never underestimate the speed of a woman whose lady is in danger.
My Final Thoughts
This short read really packs a punch! I absolutely loved my time reading this and will definitely be returning to it in the future.
thebookdad's review
3.0
An Invitation to Darkness is a chilling tale of lovers haunted by the evil of a past life. Hailey Piper wrote vividly descriptive scenes that swept me away to Leavenworth Manor, the estate by the sea. This short, sharp story is sure to shock readers.
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motherhorror's review
5.0
Is AN INVITATION TO DARKNESS everything I want in horror and more?
Yes, by god! Yes.
First of all, if I were to give an elevator pitch of this book, I'd sell it by saying the protagonist is a confident, female pirate who finds herself falling in love with an heiress isolated in a seaside estate. The longer Jamie Thames remains at Leavenworth Manor, the more mystery surrounds her lover. It had this REBECCA vibe that I enjoyed-a newly formed relationship threatened by a haunted past.
Hailey Piper is a chameleon-she can adapt her narrative to suit any genre and make it sound like her own, personal wheelhouse. If AN INVITATION TO DARKNESS was your first Piper read, you would think that she was a mainstay in Gothic horror lit. I can assure you that the other two books I have read have drastically different styles! I've read several short stories of Piper's in various anthologies and her presence is always known; a standout among others.
Next on my nightstand is THE WORM AND HIS KINGS and I can't wait to see what unexpected versatility Piper will impress me with next. If you haven't gotten on the Hailey Piper train, this would make an excellent introduction.
Yes, by god! Yes.
First of all, if I were to give an elevator pitch of this book, I'd sell it by saying the protagonist is a confident, female pirate who finds herself falling in love with an heiress isolated in a seaside estate. The longer Jamie Thames remains at Leavenworth Manor, the more mystery surrounds her lover. It had this REBECCA vibe that I enjoyed-a newly formed relationship threatened by a haunted past.
Hailey Piper is a chameleon-she can adapt her narrative to suit any genre and make it sound like her own, personal wheelhouse. If AN INVITATION TO DARKNESS was your first Piper read, you would think that she was a mainstay in Gothic horror lit. I can assure you that the other two books I have read have drastically different styles! I've read several short stories of Piper's in various anthologies and her presence is always known; a standout among others.
Next on my nightstand is THE WORM AND HIS KINGS and I can't wait to see what unexpected versatility Piper will impress me with next. If you haven't gotten on the Hailey Piper train, this would make an excellent introduction.
inkychaotics's review
4.0
I love ocean stories and this one did not disappoint! Piper's vivid prose creates an inviting tale to lure the reader in, but much like the characters, we find ourselves realizing the twisted depths that lay beyond that invitation. I really enjoyed this story, and it also made me want a series of tales about the enchanting, devious sea captain and her adventures before this story! I would read the heck out of that.
el_stevie's review
3.0
Truly Gothic
Invitation to Darkness is a little slice of gothic horror from Hailey Piper. The neglected Leavenworth lies on the edge of Lucre Shores. There, Captain Jamie Thames meets, and falls in love with, Lady Elizabeth Leavenworth. Her courtship of Lady Elizabeth however, does not run smoothly as she discovers both ghosts and demon at the manor. The demon in particular, with its inhabiting of a human host, to become Elizabeth's Husband, is very creepy and I really liked this element. Part of me would've preferred Husband to have appeared earlier, allowed a greater conflict, a greater trial in this chilling triangle. An enjoyable read for those who like gothic romance, and it was only because the romance aspect seemed to override the horror (although it was the driving force behind the story) that I gave it 3 out of 4 stars. A bit more weaving in of Husband and it would've been higher.
Invitation to Darkness is a little slice of gothic horror from Hailey Piper. The neglected Leavenworth lies on the edge of Lucre Shores. There, Captain Jamie Thames meets, and falls in love with, Lady Elizabeth Leavenworth. Her courtship of Lady Elizabeth however, does not run smoothly as she discovers both ghosts and demon at the manor. The demon in particular, with its inhabiting of a human host, to become Elizabeth's Husband, is very creepy and I really liked this element. Part of me would've preferred Husband to have appeared earlier, allowed a greater conflict, a greater trial in this chilling triangle. An enjoyable read for those who like gothic romance, and it was only because the romance aspect seemed to override the horror (although it was the driving force behind the story) that I gave it 3 out of 4 stars. A bit more weaving in of Husband and it would've been higher.
brennanlafaro's review
4.0
Possession, slashers, gothic evil house terror. Is there anything that Hailey Piper doesn’t do well? The correct answer is no.
An Invitation to Darkness picks up with (former) Captain Jamie Thames discovering that an abandoned manor isn’t so abandoned, and falling head over heels for the occupant, Elizabeth Leavenworth. Elizabeth’s father also lives in the house, and it gets a little bit complicated from there.
The story starts written in an old-fashioned gothic style. The time fits the story nicely and showcases Piper’s ability to immerse herself in the writing, bending the narrative to her will.
The tone is consistent, but the subject matter gets weird and truly terrifying. Piper perpetually shows, and not just in this story, that she doesn’t shy away from showing the gore when it counts.
At its heart, this a story about a woman who will go to extreme lengths for the love of her life. We’ve read that story before, but not quite like this.
An Invitation to Darkness picks up with (former) Captain Jamie Thames discovering that an abandoned manor isn’t so abandoned, and falling head over heels for the occupant, Elizabeth Leavenworth. Elizabeth’s father also lives in the house, and it gets a little bit complicated from there.
The story starts written in an old-fashioned gothic style. The time fits the story nicely and showcases Piper’s ability to immerse herself in the writing, bending the narrative to her will.
The tone is consistent, but the subject matter gets weird and truly terrifying. Piper perpetually shows, and not just in this story, that she doesn’t shy away from showing the gore when it counts.
At its heart, this a story about a woman who will go to extreme lengths for the love of her life. We’ve read that story before, but not quite like this.
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