Books › Serafina and the Black Cloak
Serafina and the Black Cloak
320 pages
A shadowy, Southern Gothic-tinged mystery where the gilded halls of a grand estate hide creeping, feral dangers.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sneaking through the darkened corridors of a grand, opulent mansion at midnight, jumping at every creaking floorboard. It balances the gilded luxury of the Gilded Age with a creeping, feral dread that lurks just beyond the tree line. The pace is brisk and suspenseful, pulling you through secret passageways and into the heart of a genuinely spooky mystery. It has a distinct Southern Gothic flavor tailored perfectly for middle-grade readers, wrapping them in an eerie, shadow-drenched atmosphere. Beneath the chills, it is a deeply earnest story about an unconventional outsider finding her courage and her people. It will delight young readers who love a touch of darkness, historical mysteries, and fierce, untamed heroines who aren't afraid to bare their claws.
- Mood
- shadowy
- eerie
- gothic
- opulent
- Tone
- earnest
- suspenseful
- courageous
- feral
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- embracing differences · unlikely friendships · hidden darkness · courage in the shadows
- The writing
- Sensory and atmospheric, the writing vividly contrasts the gilded luxury of a historic mansion with the feral, creeping dread of the surrounding forest.
- The arc
- The protagonist moves from a life of fearful, isolated hiding to stepping boldly into the light to protect those she cares about.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers who crave a genuine thrill, loving spooky, atmospheric mysteries led by fierce, unconventional outsiders.
Content notes
- child abduction
- mild horror elements
- spooky imagery
About the book
"Never go into the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul."
Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of Biltmore Estate. There's plenty to explore in Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt's vast and opulent home, but she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa have lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember. She has learned to prowl through the darkened corridors at night, to sneak and hide, using the mansion's hidden doors and secret passageways.
But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows the clues to follow. A mysterious man in a black cloak stalks Biltmore's corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of Biltmore's owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak's true identity before all of the children vanish one by one.
Description from Open Library.
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