Review: ‘The Haunted Mansion: Storm & Shade’ is all spooky, but not scary, vibes

Gray is widely known for her contributions to “Star Wars” publishing as well as her original young adult paranormal romances and fantasy books. Living in New Orleans, Gray said the city was the perfect location for a new Mansion story.

“Storm & Shade” follows teenager Audrey, who just moved to historic New Orleans proper and started a new school. Audrey has anxiety, especially when it comes to big changes and social situations. But she finds beauty and comfort in the darkness of old buildings and haunted abodes.

When she stumbles upon the Mansion, Audrey and her two new friends uncover a sinister plot that has even the 999 happy haunts scared to death. Pun intended.

With all of Gray’s stories, the author is known for excellent growth and delving into the darker parts of relationships — no matter how young they are. This is also true for IP-based (intellectual property) stories like “Star Wars” and Haunted Mansion.

However, “Storm & Shade” is the weakest of Gray’s IP books when it comes to connecting the characters’ authentic struggles with the established Disney ride lore.

If you love the Haunted Mansion ride, you will like this book. All the classic characters make an appearance, and there’s even a new ghostly addition named Sterling. He loves books and spectral photography.

There’s also a slow-burn mystery unfolding as Audrey and her friends investigate the Mansion and what has the ghosts of New Orleans so spooked. This supernatural mystery allows for the best and creepiest parts of the book — including a cameo by the infamous Axeman of New Orleans.

But Audrey’s mental health struggles feel disconnected from the Haunted Mansion’s problems, even as her story includes authentic representation of anxiety and positive therapy experiences.

In short, Audrey’s story didn’t need the Haunted Mansion aspects, but the Mansion storyline needed hers.

This is only a guess, but the disjointedness may be because of inflexibility with a Disney property. The Haunted Mansion arguably has the most room for creativity and expansion of its lore, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney exerts strict control over how its attractions are used in new stories.

Still, Gray’s voice still shines in the depictions of Audrey’s emotional growth and the power of friendship. The book overall is sweetly romantic and full of spooky but not too scary vibes – perfect for all ages fans of the Haunted Mansion.

There are also a few subtle nods and parallels to the new “Haunted Mansion” film, which premiered in July.

“The Haunted Mansion: Storm & Shade” by Claudia Gray is available now from Disney Books Publishing.