Ray Celestin: Palace of Shadows

Hi everyone

My dad is a huge reader, and we always talk about books, writers, and series. He recently told me how much he loved Palace of Shadows by Ray Celestin and thought I’d enjoy it too. So, he lent me his copy, and isn't the cover gorgeous! 

"1899. The desolate Smugglers’ Coast of North Yorkshire is a place that strikes fear into those who live nearby. Unexplained deaths, suicides, young girls gone missing on the nearby moors ­­― the locals say it’s the grand house that drives people mad.
Still, when Samuel Etherstone is contacted by its reclusive owner, Mrs Chesterfield, and commissioned to work on the property, he accepts the offer. For a penniless artist adrift in London, the opportunity is too tempting to ignore.
It is only on arrival at the Chesterfield house that he learns the sinister details of its architect’s disappearance. Meanwhile, the widowed Mrs Chesterfield, keeps adding wing upon wing, and no one will tell him the reason behind her chilling obsession. But as Samuel delves deeper into the mysteries that swirl about the house the nature of the project becomes terrifyingly clear . . ." 

I enjoyed Palace of Shadows a lot, but I didn’t love it.

The atmosphere of the book is amazing; so bleak and grim throughout the entire novel. From the very first page, you can feel that something is very wrong. There’s a constant sense of foreboding and doom that hangs over everything, and it’s so well done. The writing is great, I especially loved the descriptions of the land and the house. They’re vivid and immersive, making the house and the land feel like a living, breathing character.
Speaking of characters, they’re a bit flat, but I think that’s intentional. In my opinion, the house is the real main character of the story. It’s haunting, mysterious, and utterly compelling, and the way Ray Celestin writes it makes it feel like it’s pulling all the strings.

Unfortunately, the ending felt rushed for me. It was as if the story built up this incredible tension and atmosphere, only to wrap things up too quickly. I wanted more depth and resolution after all that buildup.
One thing that bothered me was how Samuel’s heritage was handled. He’s half-Chinese, but that fact is barely mentioned and doesn’t seem to play any meaningful role in the story. Given the time and setting (1899 in North Yorkshire), I can’t imagine his background wouldn’t have been commented on or explored further. It felt like a missed opportunity to add another layer to his character and the story’s themes of otherness and isolation.

All in all, Palace of Shadows is a moody, atmospheric read with a strong sense of place and a haunting premise. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely worth reading if you love gothic, eerie stories with a focus on setting and atmosphere.

Have you read Palace of Shadows? Did you feel the same way about the ending or Samuel’s character? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena