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Malice House (The Malice Compendium) Hardcover – October 4, 2022

by Megan Shepherd (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 412 ratings
Editors' pick Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
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From New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd comes a complex tale of dark magic, family secrets, and monsters that don’t stay on the page.

“A propulsively charming nightmare, pooling like spilled ink across your imagination.” ― Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of Hide

“Haunting and beautifully written . . . an exploration of the mysterious power of stories.” ―Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and The Last to Vanish

“One step away from our world lies another: a land of violent fantasies, of sharp-toothed delights. . . .”

Of all the things aspiring artist Haven Marbury expected to find while clearing out her late father’s remote seaside house, Bedtime Stories for Monsters was not on the list. This secret handwritten manuscript is disturbingly different from his Pulitzer-winning works: its interweaving short stories crawl with horrific monsters and enigmatic humans that exist somewhere between this world and the next. The stories unsettle but also entice Haven, practically compelling her to illustrate them while she stays in the house that her father warned her was haunted. Clearly just dementia whispering in his ear . . . right?


Reeling from a failed marriage, Haven hopes an illustrated Bedtime Stories can be the lucrative posthumous father-daughter collaboration she desperately needs to jump-start her art career. However, everyone in the nearby vacation town wants a piece of the manuscript: her father’s obsessive literary salon members, the Ink Drinkers; her mysterious yet charming neighbor, who has a tendency toward three a.m. bonfires; a young barista with a literary forgery business; and of course, whoever keeps trying to break into her house. But when a monstrous creature appears under Haven’s bed right as grisly deaths are reported in the nearby woods, she must race to uncover dark, otherworldly family secrets―completely rewriting everything she ever knew about herself in the process.
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Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 2
    Malice Compendium
  2. Print length
    384 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Hyperion Avenue
  5. Publication date
    October 4, 2022
  6. Dimensions
    6.35 x 1.16 x 9.28 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1368089283
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1368089289
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Haunting and atmospheric, Megan Shepherd expertly blends horror and suspense in her captivating book-within-a-book adult debut. Beautifully written and steeped in Gothic lore, Malice House explores themes of family and legacy, magic and curses, and the mysterious power of stories.”
   —Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and The Perfect Stranger

"Gripping, chilling, creepy, and enthralling, Megan Shepherd's new thriller Malice House channels Shirley Jackson, if Shirley Jackson knew how to make me check under the bed every night before going to sleep. Malice House is a must for readers who love gothic horror, creaking old houses, attics overflowing with dark secrets, or for anyone who has ever secretly suspected that there is an entire other universe hovering just out of reach."
   —Katherine Howe, New York Times bestselling author of Conversion and The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

“This book, like Malice House itself, contains many secrets, and you will read it voraciously to try to find and consume them all. May it compel you as swiftly as it compelled me."
   —Chuck Wendig, NYT bestselling author of Wanderers and the Star Wars: The Aftermath trilogy 

“In her adult debut, Shepherd (Midnight Beauties) conjures up a twisted tale—made up of even more twisted tales—perfect for adults nostalgic for Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark.”
   —Library Journal

“All is not what it seems at Malice House, and Shepherd uses the conventions of a gothic haunted-house tale to keep readers on the edge of their seats. In her adult debut, bestselling young adult author Shepherd has written an intensely spooky and scary tale about the power of stories and the art of creation. Highly recommended."
   —Booklist (starred)

"Each word of this novel felt like a blade down the spine, chilling and haunting and perfectly crafted. Megan Shepherd weaves a story like no one else, and Malice House is no exception."
   —Shea Ernshaw, New York Timesbestselling author of A History of Wild Places

"Shepherd's deft adult debut is a propulsively charming nightmare, pooling like spilled ink across your imagination. Count me a happy resident of Malice House amidst all its monsters." 
   —Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of Hide

“Utterly original and exquisitely terrifying, Malice House unfolds like a carefully crafted mystery. Every twist and reveal drew me deeper into its walls and the monsters within refused to let me go. Like a bone-chilling Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children for grown-ups.”
   —Elle Cosimano, USA Today bestselling author of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

“Turn on all the lights before you start Malice House, and plan to stay up late. Megan Shepherd's novel is a sophisticated, gothic tale that will keep readers turning the pages and guessing what's next until the very end.”

   —Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds

“Beyond phenomenal! This book scratched an itch I’ve had since reading Night Film years ago. I adored every second! Malice, and all its denizens, are going to linger with me for a very, very long time to come!”
   —Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows

“Megan Shepherd crafts a seriously tight mystery with plenty of red herrings, shocking twists and even a few jump scares, making it a chilling thriller with a totally immersive setting. At the same time, it is a deliciously dark fantasy that is a true testament to the power of stories and perfect for any book lover who has ever wanted to step inside a book or has been obsessed with a favorite author (bad idea, says Haven). Haunting, full of secrets and strangely charming, Malice House is perfect for readers of Leigh Bardugo, Shea Ernshaw and Katherine Howe.”
   —Bookreporter

About the Author

Megan Shepherd is a New York Times best-selling and Carnegie Medal–nominated author who grew up in her family’s independent bookstore in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is the author of many acclaimed novels and now lives and writes on a historic farm outside Asheville, North Carolina, with her family, an especially scruffy dog, and several ghosts.

Author Website: https://www.meganshepherd.com

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hyperion Avenue (October 4, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1368089283
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1368089289
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.35 x 1.16 x 9.28 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 412 ratings

About the author

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Megan Shepherd

Megan Shepherd

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New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd grew up in her family’s independent bookstore in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She is the author of many acclaimed young adult and middle grade novels. She now lives and writes on a 125-year-old farm outside Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband and children, an especially scruffy dog, and a few ghosts.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
412 global ratings
Spooky and gruesome.
5 Stars
Spooky and gruesome.
Gothic atmosphere, spooky vibes, creepy creatures running amok, I loved this book.Aspiring artist Haven Marbury is returning to her late father's remote house by the sea to clear it out after his death. Her father has warned her the house is haunted but she chalks it up to the supposed dementia ailing him. Her father has won Pulitzers for his works but she unexpectedly finds a book she's never seen, Bedtime Stories for Monsters. Haven has been shot down by multiple publishers due to her illustrations being too dark but she thinks this could be the book that catapults her work, drawing her illustrations to a book by her famous father that no one even know's exists. After creating these monsters from this book, all of a sudden monsters start appearing in the house, monsters that look just like the ones she's drawn.I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book as Megan Shepherd's first adult horror/thriller book. I've read her past Young Adult Fantasy books and immensely enjoyed them. But wow, her adult work is so much better. I know they say authors work improves with each of their books they write and that was definitely the case here.This book was spooky to the point I didn't want to read it at night. The way these monstrous creatures were described legitimately freaked me out to the point I wanted to look under my bed incase anything was lurking there. The atmosphere only added to the eeriness of this book, everything was rolled together perfectly to creep me out and make my heart rate kick up. The dark and gruesome themes might not be for everyone but I seriously couldn't get enough.I was expecting a lag somewhere in the story due to it being entirely following Haven's perspective but I honestly didn't get that. The entire story kept me engaged and then I got to the break-neck speed ending and I loved the story even more.Thanks to Hyperion Avenue for the copy for my review.
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Top reviews from the United States

Warrior Princess
4.0 out of 5 stars monsters and more monsters
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2024
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This is what I would call a slow burn. Not all monsters are created equal. While this book was not sleep with the lights on scary, it was spooky for sure. Lots of twists and turns that aren’t obvious. I would recommend this book.
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Kia
5.0 out of 5 stars Very unique and spellbinding book
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2023
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I'm really glad I stumbled across this book and author I hadn't seen before.

The premise is amazingly creative, and I felt myself almost getting lost and absorbed by the story.

I highly recommend "Malice House" and am immediately picking up "Midnight Showing."
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Cozy Ginger
3.0 out of 5 stars Maybe you'll love it, maybe you'll hate it but either way you've never read anything like it
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2023
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Malice House, the book with all the most unique and fantastical horrific things that just couldn't get out of its own way. This book is a plethora of some of the most interesting ideas that would have any bookworm drooling over it just for the book / reading related madness that surround it. This was a solid read until it very much wasn't anymore, the middle being filled with the mundane tasks of everyday life that added nothing to the story. While I don't mind fleshing out side characters and adding the touch of reality to a very bizarre book, it just took away from it with its heavy handedness. Even that being said, I still recommend this book because if you can get over that hump, its a crazy mix of horror, fantasy and one of the best twists ever. Seriously, this could have been my book of the year and it slays my heart to even say "grit it out" since I never encourage a reader to push through too much useless wordage. Maybe you'll love it, maybe you'll hate it but either way you've never read anything like it.
5 people found this helpful
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Mmm925
4.0 out of 5 stars Not my normal read but…
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2023
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This isn’t my normal read. I usually like my thrillers and the “bad guys” to be a real people. This book was different but so good. It was a little slow to start but I’m so glad I kept with it! Haven is a great main character sync you root for her the entire book. Definitely an original book. I enjoyed it.
3 people found this helpful
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Khadija George
5.0 out of 5 stars whew, Amazing!
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2024
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I had no idea what this book was about so I had no expectations but it was so good! If you enjoy suspense, thrillers, and supernatural stuff this is the perfect book for you. So many twist and turns!
One person found this helpful
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Sam
4.0 out of 5 stars what a tailspin
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2023
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So many twists, turns and emotions with this book. Im still reeling after reading it. If you decide to read this, buckle up and hold on tight.
2 people found this helpful
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expertbooksmuggler
5.0 out of 5 stars Wild, twisty, and FUN!
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2023
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I had *such* a good time reading this book. You never know what’s going to happen next and it’s just one wild ride after another. I love it.
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Wendy
3.0 out of 5 stars Solid Plot-Not-So-Solid Editing
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2023
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I’m not sure what happened with the editing. The story began as a page turner but midway through the book, the writing seemed to become more amateurish~too many adjectives and adverbs (telling rather than showing). I found myself thrown out of the story and editing as I read. Then suddenly, the writing improved. Overall, the premise of the story was solid. There were some well-written, terrifying scenes and a satisfying conclusion.
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Top reviews from other countries

Jess Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars A creepy jaunt through magical realism
Reviewed in Australia on September 16, 2023
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When Haven Marbury goes back to Malice House after her father's death, all she's expecting is a laborious mission of clearing out a lifetime that belonged to her father - a painfully successful author. What she's not expecting to find is a hidden manuscript title "Bedtime Stories for Monsters" a seemingly unknown and unpublished work, written in her father's own hand. Initially she wonders what the manuscript would be worth on its own, but after some thought she wonders if she could combine her own art with the manuscript, bringing it to life in a father daughter collaboration that would hopefully help launch her failing art career into the stratosphere. Haven knew how popular and sought after the manuscript would be, but she never imagined how many people would be dying to get a hold of it. From the strange book society in town that her father was a member of - The Ink Drinkers; her strange neighbour who likes to burn things in his backyard at 3am; the appealing barista who makes a living from selling literary wares, both real and forged; as well as whoever has been trying to break into Malice House. On top of this, the ramblings of her father's dementia addled brain are beginning to seem as though they had some truth to them, strange noises throughout the house, strange smells, and odd things seen out the corner of the eye. When a strange creature appears under Haven's bed, and gruesome murders begin to take place, Haven can't help but wonder whether she's losing her mind, just as her father did, or whether there's much more to Malice House and Bedtime Stories for Monsters, than meets the eye. What secrets was her father hiding? And will Haven uncover them in time to stop whatever's happening?

Malice House is one of those Bookstagram made me buy it purchases, and I was not disappointed. The cover caught my eye as I was scrolling through my feed, something about the dreary seascape overlayed with bright orange text just grabbed my attention, and it's a book cover that I still find myself gazing at like a crazy person. Initially I didn't realise it was a horror novel, but after reading the synopsis I was sold and purchased it as soon as I could. This was one of those books that I thought I knew how it would play out, but it turned out to be something totally different to what I expected, and it worked.

When Haven goes back to Malice House to clean out the home after her father's death, she finds a manuscript in the attic that she knows has never been published. Having escaped an abusive marriage and taken off, she could use any money that she can possibly find, so the manuscript becomes a beacon of hope for her. As she's a flailing artist who is struggling to get her art career off the ground, the thought crosses her mind that she could illustrate the manuscript, making money from the publication as well as being able to showcase her work next to a Pulitzer winning author's story. And seeing as she's his only next of kin, there's no red tape that she'll have to battle her way through to do it. This story was one that built a slow atmosphere of isolation and dread. Haven is very alone, she hadn't seen her father in a long time and she has no friends or family to reach out to. I feel like Shepherd did a fantastic job of really illustrating how alone and desperate Haven was, and I sympathised greatly with her. I could feel the excitement at the manuscript's discovery and the possibility that it brought with it. I felt the kick in the guts when her fantastic idea was shot down. And I truly felt the fear and isolation that coalesced around Haven when she was in Malice House alone. Shepherd really set the scene with her descriptions, so much so that I felt like I could smell the sea air, the dirt, and the briny smell that accompanied the monster under Haven's bed. The monsters were also very well written, while physically they may not all have seemed like something to fear, it was their abilities that made them terrifying. The way that the Uncle character could manipulate someone's mind, taking away their free will, and the way that the Witch could alter one's reality, making escape impossible. I do admit, that for some reason, I had a weird soft spot for Pinchy, and I really liked the character of The Harbinger, being able to get to know him through Bedtime Stories for Monsters was something I was not expecting when I started the book, but I'm super intrigued by his character, as well as the other monsters, and I'm hoping that should this be followed up with a sequel at the very least, we do get to see these characters some more and get to delve deeper into them.

The story is one that has a book within a book. Not only does Haven find this magical unicorn of a manuscript, but we also actually get to read it. Throughout the book, Bedtime Stories for Monsters is peppered between chapters of Haven's story. So not only did Shepherd write Malice House, but she also wrote all of these other short stories on top of that. She created the characters in Haven's story, of which I thought were fantastic, but she also created the monsters from Armory's manuscript. I enjoyed the character of Haven a lot, she's trying to find her feet and work out where her life is headed after leaving an abusive marriage, while simultaneously trying to clean out her father's entire life. She's got no cash, and she writes summaries of obscure and obscene horror movies for a guy she's never met, on the internet. I really enjoyed the character of the bookstore barista, and I developed a soft spot for her instantly, as well as Haven's interesting neighbour. The Ink Drinkers were suss from the get-go and I never really liked any of them, if I'm honest. I feel like it really says something when I liked the monsters from the manuscript more than The Ink Drinkers.

The story was an interesting one and while there were definitely horror elements to it, I feel like it would also fit in as a dark fantasy, possibly magical realism kind of mesh. I wasn't expecting it to be anything but horror, but I feel like the amalgamation of these genres all worked super well together to create an interesting story that was unlike anything I'd ever read before. This book was way different than what I was anticipating it to be, and it worked out so well. There were many times that I was reading before bed, because of course I was, where I actually felt really creeped out by different situations and characters. Nothing is as it seems and you need to expect nothing and everything all at once. This was an absolute page turner for me and I'm looking forward to seeing if we get a book two, I'm super interested to see where the story goes and what happens to Haven as she continues to unravel the mysteries and secrets that are hidden deep within her family line.
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