Eleven Houses

Mabel Beauvry is one of the last surviving members of the families living on Weymouth Island, a secret and secretive community off the coast of Nova Scotia. No one who lives off the island ever remembers its existence, nor are they aware that the foundation stones of the 11 houses on the island are the gateway between the dead who lurk beneath the Dehset Sea and the living on the mainland. Each family is committed to shoring up their houses and laying traps to try to capture and ensnare the dead who rise out of the ocean every decade or so during heavy storms. But all their efforts and preparations are not necessarily enough to stop the dead, and no one is safe. In a storm years earlier, Mabel lost her father to the dead, her sister to agoraphobia, and her mother to alcohol consumption. When Miles Cabot arrives on the island after the death of his mother, a former resident of the island, Mabel is instantly and inexplicably drawn to him in spite of the fact that the community is fearful and often antagonistic to outsiders. Many believe that the connection between Miles and Mabel may have a cataclysmic effect on the island and perhaps the rest of the world. This is a slow-build Gothic thriller filled with zombielike corporeal ghosts, plenty of foreshadowing, and a surprise twist that will be savored by patient readers who enjoy atmospheric suspense thrillers with a sprinkle of romance sans blood and gore. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase. – School Library Journal * 11/8/24 *This fresh, atmospheric paranormal romance from the author of The Black Coats (2019) follows Mabel, a teen living on the haunted, isolated island of Weymouth, in Nova Scotia. Eleven founding families reside in each of the houses on the island and have for generations. Mabel and the other teens in the novel are preparing for the Storm, a once-in-a-decade natural disaster that brings not only a hurricane but also a dangerous portal between the living and the dead, so when the handsome, mysterious Miles enters the picture, Mabel’s attraction to him feels risky. The island setting is a character of its own, with distinct world building and enticing backstory about the troubled history among the families, but the characters make it special, as the residents come up with schemes to protect themselves from the Storm. The powerful chemistry between Miles and Mabel drives much of the plot, as she learns about him and his secrets. But can she guard her own heart? An engaging story about survival, romance, and the importance of breaking from damaging traditions. – Booklist * 10/1/2024 *The residents of Weymouth Island have a secret. Hidden off the coast of Nova Scotia, their island is a gateway between the living and the dead. Roughly every decade, the Storm comes, bringing the dead up from the ocean. They’re drawn to the foundation stones of each of the eleven houses of the island’s families: Cabot, Beuvry, McLeod, Gillis, Nickerson, Pope, Pelletier, Des Roches, Bodhmall, Grimes, and Mintus. The dead attempt to reach the mainland, but the family members prepare by laying traps. Seventeen-year-old Mabel Beuvry knows the Storm’s danger; the last one killed her father. Her mother turned to alcohol, and her younger sister became agoraphobic. Now, Mabel and her House Guardian, Jeff, care for their estate. The arrival of Miles Cabot is a bright spot—he and Mabel feel an instant, almost mystical, connection. But the island’s inhabitants fear their attachment, blaming Miles for changes they sense, and rumors swirl of an impending Great Storm. Oakes’ swoony, gothic tale blending elements of White Walkers and The Fog features an original history that vividly breathes life into Weymouth. Historical journal entries explain the island’s rituals and beliefs, and a surprise twist and action-packed fight scenes against the dead keep the suspense alive. Most characters are white, the Nickersons are the island’s only Black family, and Miles is described as having generically “Asian heritage.” A robust plot and worldbuilding make for an engaging, atmospheric read. (map, list of storm years, list of houses) (Fantasy. 14-18) – Kirkus Reviews * 9/1/2024 *

Colleen Oakes is the author of the Queen of Hearts Saga, the Wendy Darling series, The Black Coats, Eleven Houses, and more.