The Chateau by Penelope Sky

 He’s the only reason I’m still alive.

I love my sister dearly, but she’s one of the reasons I moved across the world to Paris. I’ve been taking care of her since I was eighteen—and I don’t want to do it anymore. She comes for a visit during winter break, and of course, I’m pulled back into her shenanigans. But this time, it gets us trafficked into a labor camp.

Now we’re in the wilderness, surrounded by a snow and nothingness, processing the drugs dropped by the Colombians. The weakest worker is sacrificed in the Red Snow every week, and if I don’t keep up with production I’ll be the next one to hang. I’ve tried to find an escape route—but there’s nothing. But then I meet Magnus—and he changes my odds.

He’s my guard at the camp, but I can tell he’s important based on the way others treat him. He’s kind to me, bringing me extra food, books, and hot cocoa with little marshmallows on top—because that’s the way my mother used to make it. Unlike the others, I know he has a heart, but I can’t understand why he works in a place like this. Hefinally agrees to help me escape—but he wants something in return for risking his reputation.

Me.

Book Review

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Reading The Chateau feels like stepping into one of those dark, slow-burn suspense stories where you’re constantly trying to guess what’s really going on—and who you can actually trust. Penelope Sky leans hard into atmosphere, tension, and psychological intrigue, so even when the plot isn’t racing forward, you’re completely pulled in by the sense that something isn’t right beneath the surface.

The chateau itself is practically a character. Sky paints it as this beautiful, isolating, almost haunting place—luxurious on the outside, deeply unsettling underneath. It gives the whole book this rich, moody vibe where you’re always waiting for the next shift in tone or the next crack to appear. That setting creates the perfect stage for a story about power, secrets, and the kind of relationships that thrive in the dark.

The protagonist is easy to root for because she’s relatable in her fear, her uncertainty, and her spark of defiance. You’re right there with her—confused, suspicious, and trying to piece together what’s true and what’s manipulation. Sky has a talent for writing characters who feel emotionally intense but still grounded, so even when the stakes get wild, the emotions feel real.

And then there’s the male lead—dominant, mysterious, morally gray, and undeniably compelling. This is very much a Penelope Sky signature: a man who walks the line between dangerous and intriguing, the kind where you’re torn between wanting the protagonist to run away and wanting to see how their dynamic will evolve. Their chemistry is tense, charged, and unpredictable, which is exactly the kind of energy the story thrives on.

The plot blends dark romance with psychological suspense, so you get twists, reveals, emotional confrontations, and a constant feeling that more secrets are waiting to surface. Sky knows how to build tension without rushing it; the story unfolds in a way that keeps you reading “just one more chapter” even when it’s late at night.

If there’s anything to be aware of, it’s that this is definitely a darker romance—emotionally heavy at times, morally complicated, and designed to push the boundaries of trust and control. If you enjoy that style, you’ll be fully hooked. If you prefer lighter, fluffier romance, this one might feel intense—but in a way that fans of the genre love.

Overall, The Chateau is gripping, atmospheric, and addictive. It’s the kind of book that leaves you thinking about the characters long after you’ve finished, wondering where the story will go next. If you like dark romance with psychological twists, complicated power dynamics, and settings that drip with tension, this one definitely hits the mark.