#choices the haunting of braidwood manor

[choices-binglebonkus]

Eleanor: *returns to life without any explanation or effort on her part*

Clarissa, Thomas, and Simon:

[cadybear420]

Cadybear's Reviews- The Haunting of Braidwood Manor

Welcome to the second official Cadybear's Reviews post! Today I'll be talking about The Haunting of Braidwood Manor, which I have ranked on the "Gold Tier" at 8 stars out of a possible 10.

I’ve played this about 4 times. Mainly because I needed the diamonds and this one is 6 chapters, so it’s easy mining. Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed this one. 

The story was pretty linear, but it was interesting and compelling with memorable characters, and it works fairly well as creepy paranormal horror. And a few points do even make me want to cry. However, I do have two nitpicks. Like, how did MC make the connection between her brother’s death and Braidwood Manor? Unless I missed something even after playing the story 4 times, it felt very out-of-nowhere and unexplained. And how come Eleanor is the only one that can be brought back to life but not the rest of the Waverly siblings? That’s not fair at all. But for the most part, those are pretty minor issues. 

It’s also kinda neat that we have a story where the main LI is female while the male LI is sidelined. Actually, I wouldn’t even say Victor is sidelined– he’s straight up a total non-character. I mean, I’m not a fan of sidelining LIs at all, but considering how so many books have treated female LIs now, this one is at least a rare change of pace. And I say this as someone who is very wlm. And I say “wlm” and not “straight” because quite simply, I don’t think I’m really straight. And Eleanor Waverly is one of many female Choices characters who I can thank for helping me realize that. Seriously, it’s super adorable how she’s supposed to be this cold stoic ghost, but then gets really blushy and flustered when you flirt with her. 

Though, as much as I appreciate the sapphic ghost romance taking the full spotlight… this book is rather pointlessly genderlocked. And probably the first ever Choices book that I would deem as such*. I mean, all you’d really need to change is the dialogue in that one set of choice options when Clarissa asks for help writing her letter. 

In the canon version, Clarissa assumes you know how to write letters to guys, and you get an option to say you’re actually into girls, and then she says how she’s cool with it and she considers sapphism very sophisticated if you choose said option. For a playthrough where you’ve chosen a male MC, she could maybe assume that you’d know what guys like to hear from girls, you could get an option to say you’re actually into guys, and she’d say it’s very sophisticated if you choose said option. Easy as that.

And as far as I’m concerned, Eleanor is only canon sapphic and not lesbian (but do correct me if I’m wrong). THOBM, I am sad that you are the start of the pointless genderlocking trend /jk

*Technically ROE is the first Choices book I could consider pointlessly genderlocked, but I’m a little more uncertain on that because there’s a handful of scenes that would need tricky coding changes such as the bachelorette party/girls night scenes. Or even before that is TFS, but I’m also a bit dubious about calling it pointlessly genderlocked because Kaitlyn is a lesbian and has a whole arc revolving around her coming out about it to her parents– but people have said that aside from Kaitlyn, the story and MC are very gender neutral, so do with that what you will. There’s also LH, but I’ll say my thoughts on its genderlocking in its own review.

So it didn’t have anything that really wowed me, but it’s still a great story that holds a very special place in my heart.

[the-unconquered-queen]

The Ghost of Us concept: MC helping Eleanor Waverley contact her siblings/helping THoBM MC contact Eleanor and helping WEH MC contact Dakota

[choicespride]

Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week 2024 Masterlist

Blades of Light and Shadow

aeruilir - f!elf!mc (Killian Clawthorne) - @inlocusmads

Crossroads - nb!OC (Nyx Selenastra) - @storyofmychoices

New Nyx Edit - nb!OC (Nyx Selenastra) - @storyofmychoices

Nyx Ask - nb!OC (Nyx Selenastra) - @storyofmychoices

Nyx & Nessa - nb!OC (Nyx Selenastra) & f!OC (Nessa Tidalheart) - @storyofmychoices

Crimes of Passion

Questionnaire - nb!MC (Kiira Rose) - @aallotarenunelma

The Elementalists

Atlas in Blue - Atlas Ernhardt - @storyofmychoices

SpreadJoy #858 - Zeph Hernandez - @storyofmychoices

SpreadJoy #861 - Atlas Ernhardt - @storyofmychoices

The Freshman

Maddison & Rin - MC (Rin Day) - @choicesmc

Somehow, I Never Got The Rose-Tinted Glasses - MC (Rin Day) - @choicesmc

Getaway Girls

SpreadJoy #859 - Maia Thompson - @storyofmychoices

The Haunting of Braidwood Manor

Questionnaire - f!MC (Hanna Watkins) - @aallotarenunelma

High School Story

Myra Khandaar but if she had a full body sprite for her casual outfit ft. an alt version - Myra Khandaar - @cadybear420

Questionnaire - nb!MC (Ilo Jordan Lee) - @aallotarenunelma

It Lives Anthology

Lottie Hamilton ASAW24 Edits - nb!MC (Lottie Hamilton) - @peonyblossom

SpreadJoy #860 - Amalia de León - @storyofmychoices

Murder at Homecoming

Questionnaire - nb!MC (Valentine Edelmina Stone) - @aallotarenunelma

Open Heart

Asks - f!OC (Aliyah), Bryce Lahela - @mydemonsdrivealimo

So I'll Just Paint It Chrome - Bryce Lahela x m!MC (Jensen Valentine) - @mydemonsdrivealimo

Perfect Match

Questionnaire - f!MC (Pirjo Park) - @aallotarenunelma

Untameable

Questionnaire - nb!MC (Virta "River" Ariel Aaltonen) - @aallotarenunelma

[choicesbookclub]

Looking Ahead...

In the past week I've posted two polls. One asking if TE2 should be our next book club or something else but then I had the thought of doing a The Deadliest Game book club and put a poll up for that. It seems like a lot of people are interested in that, but not until the general release which will probably be in 6-8 weeks since VIP starts now.

So I have a few ideas.... I'll put a poll up later but would love feedback thoughts.

Option #1: Traditional The Elementalists 2 Book Club: two chapters a week/Saturdays~ starting April 6 This would mean NO The Deadliest Game book club most likely unless I have time to do 2 book clubs at once (which I can't promise)

Option #2: Informal TE2 Book Club (month of April) + The Deadliest Game Book Club (starting with the General Release): For TE: read what you can, when you can (no formal schedule) during the month of April. This probably would mean no chapter specific polls and more broad open ended questions/prompts Traditional Book Club for TDG

Option 3: The Haunting of Braidwood Manor Book Club: one or two chapters/week for April 6-27 + The Deadliest Game Book Club (general release) Full polls, questions, and posts for BOTH books since THoBM is only 6 chapters

Option 4: Take April off and resume with a The Deadliest Game Book Club with general release (I'm assuming in late April-May)

Thoughts? Opinions? Ideas?

[reneechoices]

Let it be known that the following series and stand-alone’s were so good, some even excellent!!! Most of them deserved sequels but were pushed aside and I will never forget that!!!

[noheadthoughtsemptyig]

After replaying The Haunting of Braidwood Manor I gotta admit that I had forgoten how fascinating Choices could be back in the day.

First and foremost, I’d forgotten most of the soundtrack was, in fact, a Braidwood Manor original and not from ILITW. There is a particular track that is slightly off key and that makes it TERRIFYING. The entirety of the OST was extremely clever.

Secondly, the whole “mama dearest murders her children for absolutely no reason” is sort of seen again in Bloodbound book 3, specifically in Rheya’s story, yet these two storylines/tropes are so different from each other that I am fascinated that they pulled that off without repeating a previous storyline

I admit that it is way less detailed (especially when it comes to character relationships) than I remembered, and the MC casually says very illogical things to Eleanor every now and then, but overall, for a six-chapter book it does very well. And I won’t even mention how beautifully it executes its horror scenes. The visuals are far superior than modern day choices books and it generally achieves a very engaging atmosphere and a cohesiveness that Choices sadly left behind a long time ago.

[choicesmonthlychallenge]

🌻 Week Three: March 11-17

Thank you to everyone who shared their beautiful works with us this week. If I've missed any, please let me know! 🌻

[March Prompt List] || [Weekly Masterlists]

⟢Bachelorette Party:⟢

Gardenia in Blossom 🖊️ [MC] by @aallotarenunelma

⟢Blades of Light & Shadow:⟢

Nyx and LunaRose 🎨 [OC + unicorn] art by @lilyoffandoms ; submitted by @storyofmychoices

Second Thoughts 🖊️ [Tyril x MC] by @thosehallowedhalls

⟢Big Sky Country:⟢

Pink Azaleas For a Love That Saved Us 🖊️ [Dallas x MC] by @aallotarenunelma

⟢Crimes of Passion:⟢

"mama, didn't mean to make you cry" 🖊️ [Trystan, Viktoria] by @inlocusmads

⟢The Elementalists:⟢

Yoga & Pancakes 🖊️ [Beckett x MC] by @storyofmychoices

⟢The Haunting of Braidwood Manor:⟢

Chicory Flowers For My Beloved 🖊️ [Eleanor x MC] by @aallotarenunelma

⟢Immortal Desires:⟢

Lavender Sass 🖊️ [OCs] by @aallotarenunelma

⟢Laws of Attraction:⟢

A Morning Together 🖊️ [Gabe x MC] by @choicesmc

flower: forget-me-not 🎨 [MC] by @oh-so-youre-a-nerd

⟢Perfect Match:⟢

Alstroemeria as in Adoration 🖊️ [MC, Nadia] by @aallotarenunelma

⟢Red Carpet Diaries:⟢

My Favorite Place 🎨🖊️[Hunt x MC] submitted by @theartoflovingthomashunt ; art by majoma_art (Insta)

⟢Rules of Engagement:⟢

Stitched Sunflowers 🖊️ [Bartender x MC] by @aallotarenunelma

⟢Open Heart:⟢

It Happened One Miami Night (1/?)🖊️ [Ethan x MC] by @liaromancewriter

⟢Save the Date:⟢

Origami Daisy 🖊️ [Simon x MC] by @aallotarenunelma

⟢Multiple Books:⟢

Multiple MCs with Flowers Picrew 🎨 by @peonyblossom

[moominofthevalley]

are there any.........choices horror stories that are a bit gothic horror-y????? besides braidwood manor and bloodbound ??

[choices-binglebonkus]

You know, I would actually not be opposed to another college series that takes place at Hartfeld. We got The Freshman+ series obviously, and while they don’t take place at Hartfeld per se, the Endless Summer crew were seniors there and the THoBM MC was a Hartfeld student too.

[oliviacatherinesposts]

even tho the haunting of braidwood manor was only six chapters, it was still a more complex and interesting story than most of the modern releases

[the-unconquered-queen]

The Haunting of Braidwood Manor movie adaptation is not a want, it’s a NEED.

[myautumnrose]

Another reel I made on instagram! This time giving tribute to some of my favorite playchoices lesbians.

[moominofthevalley]

if thobm were to ever be a show/movie i feel like victoria pedretti would KILL IT as eleanor

[lavastories]

UPDATE!!!Everything I’m Currently Reading to Completed to Everything on my Interactive TBR!

LOL, brace yourself guys this is gonna be a pretty long list from all of my interactive platforms across the grid. This will be going by apps with list of stories.

What I completed reading will be in red crossed out. What I’m currently reading will be in green. What’s on my TBR will be in pink. And what I’m considering to read will be in orange. And what I’m unsure about will be in purple. And what I’ll drop reading will be in blue. And undecided will be in black.

Romance Club

1. And The Haze Will Take Us

2. 7 Brothers

3. Astrea’s Broken Heart

4. The One: Vol 2

5. Garden of Eden

6. Soulless

7. W: Time Catcher

8. Song of the Crimson Nile

9. Elite Tag

10. The Desert Rose

11. Vying for Versailles

12. Psi

13. The One: Vol 1

14. Hell and High Water

15. Theodora

16. The Flower from Tiamat’s Fire

17. Heart of Trespia

18. Gladiator Chrronicles

19. Seduced by the Rythum

20. Arcanum

21. Shadows of Sanitfour

22. Sophie’s Ten Wishes

23. Path of the Valkyrie

24. Love from Outer Space

25. Dracula. A Love Story

26. Legend of the Willow

27. Wave Patrol

28. Queen in 30 Days

29. Sails in the Fog

30. Heaven’s Secret- Requiem

31. Kali: Flame of Samsara

32. Love, Sin, & Evil: Vol 1

33. Chasing You 2

34. Heaven’s Secret 2 (Currently rereading for LI)

35. Kali: Call of Darkness

36. On Thin Ice

37. Sins of London

38. Rage of the Titans

39. Heaven’s Secret

40. Chasing You

41. My Hollywood Story

42. Moonborn

43. The Thunderstorms Saga

CHAPTERS (Keep in mind this app has SOOOO many books, so I’ll be putting the one’s I’ve started, all 27 books. I see to which ones I’ll be continuing, finished read, on my TBR, or not going to continue.)

1. Paying My Dues - Story by ME

2. Knocked Up By the Hockey Team

3. Bride of Anubis

4. Bad Boy Blues

5. Dangerous Guilty Pleasure - User Story

6. My Best Friend’s Baby

7. Having the Convict’s Baby

8. I Lost My Innocence to the Mafia Boss

9. Slashes In The Snow

10. Hot Hot Hate

11. Ruined

12. Pregnant by my Ex’s Dad

13. Addicted

14. My First Time - User Story

15. Our Story - User Story

16. The Darkest Kiss

17. Emergency Engagement

18. Night Prince 3: Bound by Flames

19. Love In the Deep End

20. COLE

21. Seven Day Fiancé

22. Burn for Me

23. The Dark Ones

24. Promise Me - User Story

25. Nico: A Mafia Romance

26. HALO

27. Waking up Pregnant

Choices (For the sake of the post, I’ll keep the books for this general and away from the VIP books. However, only will have the books of the VIP books that became wide release)

1. The Ghost of Us

2. BloodBound Series

3. The Royal Romance Series

4. The Nanny Affair Series

5. Rules of Engagement Series

6. Open Heart Series

7. Laws of Attraction Series

8. Roommates With Benefits

9. The Royal Masquerade

10. With Every Heartbeat

11. Rising Tides

12. Hot Shot

13. Alpha

14. Dirty Little Secrets

15. The Billionaire’s Baby

16. Surrender

17. Untameable

18. Shipwrecked

19. Kiss of Death

20. Wolf Bride

21. Witness: A Bodyguard Romance

22. Endless Summer Series

23. Hero

24. The Heist: Monaco

25. The Phantom Agent

26. Most Wanted

27. Across the Void

28. Ship of Dreams

29. Desire and Decorum Series

30. A Courtesan of Rome

31. Distant Shores

32. The Duchess Affair

33. Murder at Homecoming

34. High School Series

35. My Two First Loves

36. Ride-or-die: A Bad Boy Romance

37. The Elementalists Series

38. HSS: Class Act Series

39. Immortal Desires Series

40. Wake the Dead

41. It Lives Series

42. Nightbound

44. Haunting of Braidwood Manor

45. Perfect Match Series

46. Foreign Affairs

47. Mother of the Year

48. Bachelorette Party

49. Kindred

50. Blades of Light and Shadow Series

51. The Cursed Heart Series

52. The Crown & Flame Series

53. Guinevere

54. Baby Bump Series

55. First Comes Love

56. A Very Scandalous Proposal

57. LoveHacks Series

58. Passport to Romance

59. Along Came Treble

60. Red Carpet Diaries Series

61. America’s Most Eligible Series

62. Hot Couture

63. Platinum

64. Slow Burn

65. Queen B Series

66. The Freshman Series

67. Wishful Thinking

68. Getaway Girls

69. The Deadliest Series

70. Crimes of Passion Series

71. Veil of Secrets

72. The Unexpected Heriess

73. Big Sky Country Series

74. Ms. Match

75. Save the Date

76. The Princess Swap

77. Home for the Holidays

78. Guarded

79. Hearts on Fire Series

80: Open Heart Series

Episode (So just like Chapters, keeping it close to my history. Because there is so many books)

1. The Mafia Bride

2. Eat Me Up

3. Flirting with the Villian

4. Barely Mine

5. Rule Breaker

6. Tempting Devil

7. Playing Princess

8. Blood Lust

9. Pregnant by a Vampire: The Curse

10. The Gamer Girl

11. Love Life

12. It’ll Be Our Secret

13. Feel Me

14. VAMPS & HUMANS

15. Behind His Mask

16. Unexpectedly Expecting

17. Kidnapped by a Prince

Journeys (This app specifically is more like the more stories you read the more books you’ll have access to. So, I’ll list the ones I have so far.)

1. Linda Brown Series

2. Recipe of Love

3. Don’t Forget Me

4. Love Lessons

5. Vampyra

6. #3SUM

My Candy Love (This app is pretty much one story but progressing with the MC life, which I love!)

1. My Candy Love: High School

2. My Candy Love: College Life

3. My Candy Love: Adulting

5. My Candy Love: Alternate Life

6. My Candy Love: Next Gen

Another World’s History (Wasn’t long since I discovered this app. Fairly new to me like some others that will be in this post but it’s great.)

1. My Name Is Hope

2. Neoxites: Child of Light

3. Codex of Consistency

4. Speculum

5. Parallels

6. Chimera

Forbidden Fruit (This app is very new. They only have 4 books so far. And I haven’t gotten around to reading any of them. So they are all on my TBR)

1. The Legacy of Rosefield

2. Undermind

3. Ghostpice

4. Daughter of the North Wind

League of Dreamers (Discovered this app not too long ago.)

1. Laws of the Beast

2. Wondering Spirit

3. Lullaby of Witches

4. Tablet of Isis

5. The Seal of Nostradammus

6. Silence of the Sea

7. Blooming Garden

8. Chronicles of Ark Dryden

9. Gates of Samhain

YourStoryLand (Discovered this app just recently, and it’s also fairly new as well. Most of the books are on my TBR and my not sure list)

1. Rock Wave

2. Audrey’s Dairy

3. Blue Abuss

4. Behind The Wall

5. The Lily of the Sands

6. City of Nightmares

Real Love (This app freshly discovered with 4 books. Haven’t started any of the books yet. Most are on the TBR.)

1. Look Around

2. Lame

3. The Codex of a Chess Player

4. Empire of Shadows

Seven Hearts Stories (This app recently made 2 years with 8 books. I honestly do like this app and have started reading one book from this app.)

1. The Deadly Biome

2. Illusion of Fame

3. Legend of the Celestials

4. The Era of Fatum

5. The Villain’s Last Wish

6. Mission Fortune

7. The Heart of Atlantean

8. Bride for a Vampire

TWISTMAX! (This app I freashly discovered just last week. Already started one book from there. And I got most on my TBR.)

1. Billionaire’s Revenge

2. Happily Ever After

3. The Boy Next Desk

4. Love & Scandal

5. Ace!

6. My Prince

7. Princess Escape

8. Touched by Love

9. The Prince’s Consultant

10. Threads of Desire

11. Love to Hate

12. All His Secrets

13. About Last Night

14. The Price of Polanco

15. Surprise Husband

16. Tutoring the Football Star

17. Freshman Flirt

18. Living With Guys

19. Undercover Lover

20. Broadway Baby

21. Forbidden Island

22. His Melody

23. Hometown Hookup

24. Lone Star Lovers

25. Go Fur Gold

26. Blood Red Moon

27. Stuck in the Past

28. A Powerful Choice

29. Handcuff Him!

30. Sultry on Set

31. Seduce Me, Senator

32. Chef’s Kiss

33. Dirty Work

34. Cold Case Chemistry

Dream Zone (Also discovered this last week. Haven’t started a story from here yet. So wee will leave all of the stories undecided.)

1. Hostel Story Series

2. Singles in Your Area

3. Half Human Series

4. Wildest Dreams Series

5. Behind the Counter Series

6. Teaching Undercover Series

7. Going Places Series

8. Incognito Mode Series

9. The Impossible Game Series

10. Devil’s Deal Series

11. Project Prometheus Series

12. Rogue Gang Series

13. Man for Hirer Series

14. Ubers Series

15. Time and Time Again Series

16. Colorblind Series

17. My Bloody Classmates Series

18. The Lookalikes Series

19. Honeywood Series

20. Family Business Series

21. Therapy Sessions Series

And the rest of the stories I read are single story apps which are…

1. Havenless

2. Dangerous Fellows

3. Killing Kiss

4. Henri’s Secret

5. Uncoven

I do plan to keep this list and update it with time. But I am happy I have this list so I can update as I go and keep ya’ll up to date. But this is going to be hella fun. Feel free to have this list if you are also using the same app as myself.