In Romantic Dreams

Name: In Romantic Dreams
Price: 14.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781544144559

✍️ Vanessa M Cornwall

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

$14.95

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A grieving couple faces a haunting that exploits their loss in Cornwall's gothic novel.

Cornwall’s narrative explores how unresolved trauma can attract malevolent entities. The Wrights’ new home becomes a vessel for past violence, manifesting through dreams and visions. Adison’s solitary investigation contrasts with Liam’s dream-induced detachment. This duality emphasizes the theme of isolation in grief. The book does not offer easy answers or closure. Instead, it presents a lingering sense of unease rooted in the couple’s inability to move forward. The horror stems from the erosion of their relationship and sanity. Cornwall’s previous works inform this approach, blending emotional depth with supernatural threat. The story appeals to readers who enjoy slow-burn atmospheres and psychological complexity over visceral shock.

Key Themes

grief and loss haunted domesticity dream intrusion

Literary Context

Published in 2017 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, this work fits within the contemporary independent horror market. It revives the classic haunted house tradition for modern audiences seeking emotional resonance alongside supernatural terror.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Shirley Jackson · M.R. James · Thomas Ligotti · Daphne du Maurier

👻

Ghost Stories

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2017 📖 222 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781544144559

📝 Description: In Romantic Dreams

Vanessa Cornwall, known for Kingdom in the Sky and Desolate Pages, presents a classic haunted house narrative centered on grief and supernatural intrusion. Adison and Liam Wright relocate to escape the pain of losing their newborn son. Their attempt to rebuild their marriage is complicated by sinister forces within their new home. Liam encounters cryptic visits from a beautiful young woman fleeing unknown assailants in his dreams. Simultaneously, Adison hears strange noises and sees visions of mutilated men. As Liam withdraws emotionally, Adison must investigate the haunting alone to uncover the truth behind these disturbing events. This tale draws on traditional gothic horror elements, focusing on the psychological toll of loss and the intrusion of the past into the present. Cornwall utilizes dream sequences and sensory hallucinations to build tension rather than relying on jump scares or explicit gore. The narrative structure follows the couple’s parallel experiences, highlighting their isolation and the slow unraveling of their reality. Readers who appreciate atmospheric dread and character-driven horror will find this work engaging. Those seeking fast-paced action or clear resolutions may find the ambiguity frustrating. The story remains grounded in the specific emotional landscape of bereavement, making the supernatural elements feel intimate and personal rather than distant.

💎 Our verdict on In Romantic Dreams

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Vanessa Cornwall delivers a classic haunted house narrative that effectively blends emotional depth with supernatural threat. The novel excels in building tension through dream sequences and sensory hallucinations, avoiding reliance on explicit gore or jump scares. By contrasting Adison’s solitary investigation with Liam’s dream-induced detachment, the text highlights the isolating nature of grief. This approach creates a lingering sense of unease rooted in the couple’s inability to move forward. While the ambiguity may frustrate readers seeking clear resolutions, it serves the narrative’s focus on psychological toll. It is an ideal choice for those who prefer atmospheric dread and character-driven horror over fast-paced action.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate slow-burn atmospheres and psychological complexity will find this book engaging. It appeals to those interested in how unresolved trauma can attract malevolent entities, offering a narrative where the horror stems from the erosion of sanity and relationships rather than visceral shock. The story grounds supernatural elements in the intimate emotional landscape of bereavement, making the threat feel personal. Those who enjoy character-driven horror and thematic explorations of isolation will gain the most from this immersive experience.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Vanessa Cornwall delivers a classic haunted house narrative that effectively blends emotional depth with supernatural threat. The novel excels in building tension through dream sequences and sensory hallucinations, avoiding reliance on explicit gore or jump scares. By contrasting Adison’s solitary investigation with Liam’s dream-induced detachment, the text highlights the isolating nature of grief. This approach creates a lingering sense of unease rooted in the couple’s inability to move forward. While the ambiguity may frustrate readers seeking clear resolutions, it serves the narrative’s focus on psychological toll. It is an ideal choice for those who prefer atmospheric dread and character-driven horror over fast-paced action.