Sanctum

Dan Crawford returns for his senior year at New Hampshire College Prep, still haunted by the events that occurred at Brookline asylum. Through conversations with his friends Abby and Jordan, Dan learns of a secret society at the school with connections to the asylum's dark history. The discovery of old photographs and documents leads Dan and his friends to investigate the society's activities, both past and present. Their search reveals rituals, codes, and a pattern of disappearances spanning several decades on campus. As Dan works to solve the mystery, he struggles with determining what is real and what exists only in his mind. The boundaries between past and present begin to blur as the investigation draws him deeper into the society's web. The novel explores themes of memory, belonging, and the lasting impact of institutional trauma while questioning how the past shapes identity and reality. Through its academic setting, it examines the hidden currents that run beneath seemingly ordinary places.

Readers position Sanctum as a weaker follow-up to Asylum, with less character development and scares. Review aggregates show most readers found the mystery elements predictable and the plot slower than the first book. Readers appreciated: - The vintage photography throughout the book - The continued architectural descriptions - The friendship dynamics between main characters - The asylum setting atmosphere Common criticisms: - Repetitive plot points from the first book - Less frightening than Asylum - Underdeveloped new characters - Pacing issues in the middle sections Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 from 8,900+ ratings Amazon: 4.3/5 from 190+ reviews Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 from 85+ reviews Multiple reviewers noted the book reads more like a mystery than horror, with one Goodreads reviewer stating "the creepy factor decreased significantly." Amazon reviewers frequently mentioned the book works best for younger YA readers who enjoy mild supernatural elements.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski This narrative follows multiple storylines about a house that contains an impossible labyrinth, incorporating found footage elements and psychological horror through innovative page layouts and typography.

Asylum by Madeleine Roux The first book in the series connects to Sanctum through its exploration of dark secrets within an old psychiatric hospital turned dormitory through photographs and supernatural encounters.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs Vintage photographs guide readers through a mystery involving an abandoned orphanage and supernatural beings who once lived there.

The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich Through diary entries, interview transcripts, and video footage, this book unravels the story of a boarding school tragedy and a student with a dark alternate personality.

Dreamfall by Amy Plum Seven teenagers become trapped in a shared nightmare during an experimental sleep study, forcing them to confront their darkest fears in a series of connected dreamscapes.

🔷 Sanctum is part of the Asylum series, which blends gothic horror with found photographs - real vintage photos are included throughout the book to enhance the eeriness of the story. 🔷 Author Madeleine Roux began her writing career through a blog-based zombie novel called "Allison Hewitt Is Trapped," which gained popularity online before being traditionally published. 🔷 The story takes place at New Hampshire College's summer program, drawing inspiration from real-life historic asylums and their controversial treatment methods from the 19th and early 20th centuries. 🔷 The book explores the dark history of eugenics programs that were actually implemented in various American institutions during the early 1900s. 🔷 Though written for young adults, Sanctum addresses serious themes of mental health stigma and institutional abuse while incorporating supernatural elements into its narrative.