Life has been cruel to Louisa Ditton, an Irish girl in the early nineteenth century, who ekes out a living telling fortunes, ever since fleeing her oppressive boarding school. When an old woman offers her employment as a maid in a place called Coldthistle House, it seems like a boon: a roof, a hot meal, and companionship are all things that Louisa lacks. But Coldthistle is no ordinary boardinghouse. After a ghostly supernatural encounter, Coldthistle's young-seeming owner, Mr. Morningside, explains the truth: the house attracts boarders who have committed terrible misdeeds, and when they arrive, the staff exacts a swift and savage justice. Louisa refuses to acknowledge her own connection to the house, and fears for the safety of one gentle boarder. From eerie prologue to gory end, this gothic tale is imbued with a lingering sense of unease, offering up a Faustian plot that explores the darkest pits of human nature. Atmospheric and troubling, this series starter will sink its hooks into readers as surely as it frightens them.--Reagan, Maggie Copyright 2010 Booklist

It's 1809 in Malton, England, and Louisa Rose Ditton barely scrapes by telling fortunes in the market. When an old woman approaches Louisa with an offer of employment and a warm bed, she is soon on her way to Coldthistle House, "a place for the wayward and lost." There, she meets the strange staff: Poppy, a girl whose voice holds terrible power; the tall, enigmatic Chijioke, who has a certain way with the dead; and the inscrutable master of the house, Mr. Morningside. She also finds friendship in Coldthistle's new guest, Lee Brimble, who is there to research his claim to an inheritance. When Louisa discovers that Mr. Morningside's motives toward his guests are anything but benign and that Lee may be in danger, she is determined to help. Roux (the Asylum series) brings her gothic setting to rich life in this darkly delightful (and frequently gruesome) series opener. Snippets and sketches from a fictitious book, Rare Myths and Legends, complement the unsettling atmosphere, offering clues to what otherworldly creature readers, and brave Louisa, will face next. Ages 14-up. Agent: Kate McKean, Howard Morhaim Literary. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

A runaway works at a boardinghouse for the damned in late-Georgian-period England.In a prologue, Louisa informs readers that she works for the Devil among other odd and cursed employees, cleaning up after the deaths of those who visit Coldthistle House. After fleeing an abusive, governess-training boarding school, Louisa scrapes by telling fortunes until she's rescued from a sticky situation by a crone who promises employment at Coldthistle House. On the way, they're joined by fellow Coldthistle-bound travelers: a wealthy (if unpleasant) man and his charming nephew, Lee, who takes to Louisa right away despite the fact that he's a guest and she's to be a new servant. Once they arrive, the crone quickly transforms into the much more proper house matron and manager, Mrs. Haylam, and Louisa's other new co-workers quickly befriend her. But soon Louisa uncovers just how supernatural the eerie proprietor, Mr. Morningside, and the rest of the residents are. All guests are sinners marked for death. Louisa must help Lee with a mystery of his own and prove he doesn't deserve a grisly endor discover if he does. Characters' emotional connections create wonderful tension. Periodic illustrations and excerpts from fictional supernatural texts provide concise exposition. Most characters are white, while many are inhuman. Louisa's a classic Gothic narrator, her diction recalling genre standards. The ending is satisfying without ruling out sequels. Atmospheric, moody, and great fun. (Horror. 13-adult) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 8 Up-In this first installment of Roux's latest gothic horror series, the plot meanders around a creepy mansion where ghostlike apparitions appear to take the souls of unlucky sinners who have found their way to Coldthistle house. Death is imminent for its visitors. Louisa Ditton takes a job as a maid. Once she arrives and witnesses the depraved madness in the house, she vows to flee. Her boss is a charming cad named Mr. Morningside. Louisa is strangely captivated by Morningside's dark, brooding manner and wants to discover what secrets he and his strange house hold. The teen has a secret of her own, which is revealed late in the book. The glacial pace of the plot will deter most fans of the horror genre. VERDICT A secondary purchase for larger horror collections or where the author is popular.-Pamela Thompson, Col. John O. Ensor Middle School, El Paso, TX © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Louisa Rose Ditton's existence in early-nineteenth-century England is harsh and uncertain. Employment as a maid at Coldthistle House is welcome but troubling: the boardinghouse is described as "a place for the wayward and lost," and the master doesn't seem human. What starts as an engrossing Gothic mystery goes off the rails with a plot line reliant on gross-out violence. Eerie photo illustrations are included. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.