A lost heir inherits her House's wild magic, but will it break her heart? Her feckless brother inherits nothing, and will this break their world?

A gripping tale of a descent into darkness as two siblings enter a world of magic, secrets and twisted loyalties – for those who loved Starling House by Alix E. Harrow, Gallant by V. E. Schwab and A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid.

A lost heir inherits her House’s wild magic.
Her feckless brother inherits nothing.

When a magical fire destroyed their family as children, Aleks and Vaira Kercheval escaped. Born to a world where power was everything, they’ve hidden from it all their lives. Then a letter arrives stating that Vaira has inherited Aubrey House, a decaying Gothic mansion full of dark, wild magic.

The estranged siblings haven’t spoken for years. But together, they return to their ancestral home, where crossing the threshold plunges them into a realm of shadows and ancient feuds. As the pair are drawn into a war between rival mages, the powerless Aleks accidentally summons and binds a monstrous prince from the Void – a creature of immense power. His gifted sister must learn to unleash her inner fire as the lines between human and monster blur. But can they survive the darkness that is to come?

From acclaimed author CL Hellisen, The Shape of Monsters is a treasure trove of dark magic, demonic possession and family secrets, where betrayals linger and power corrupts.

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'Elements of both gothic storytelling and dark academia . . . Hellisen weaves a story of love, lust and magic'
– Annabel Campbell, author of The Outcast Mage

'A dark and intricate delight . . . exquisite'
– Lorraine Wilson, author of The Salt Oracle


Readers are also loving The Shape of Monsters
- ‘A dark, Gothic, twisty delight’
- ‘Haunting, heartfelt and utterly unforgettable’