Forsaken House (novel)

Forsaken House is a gothic horror novel by author S.K. Barnaby, published in 2023. The story centers around Eleanor Ainsworth, a young woman inheriting her estranged grandmother's dilapidated estate, Blackwood Manor, located in the remote and historically cursed town of Hollow Creek.

Eleanor, initially skeptical of the local legends surrounding Blackwood Manor, soon finds herself plagued by strange occurrences: unexplained noises, unsettling visions, and a growing sense of dread. She discovers old journals detailing a history of tragedy, madness, and suspected demonic influence within the house. As Eleanor delves deeper into the manor's past, she uncovers a family secret that connects her directly to the malevolent force haunting the house.

The novel explores themes of isolation, inherited trauma, the corrupting influence of secrets, and the battle between sanity and madness. Common gothic horror tropes are employed, including a decaying mansion, a remote setting, psychological torment, and a supernatural element. Forsaken House is noted for its atmosphere of creeping dread and its focus on the psychological breakdown of its protagonist. Critical reception generally praised the author's ability to create a suspenseful and unsettling reading experience, though some criticized the reliance on familiar gothic conventions.