Ghosts by Edith Wharton My rating: 5 of 5 stars Edith Wharton’s Ghosts is an absolute gem that beautifully combines her literary brilliance with the timeless allure of ghost stories. Wharton’s collection of supernatural tales is not just haunting but also exquisitely crafted, balancing spine-tingling suspense with her signature wit and elegance. Wharton uses the ghostly theme to explore deeper emotions like regret, longing, and the unseen forces that shape people’s lives. Her ghost stories are not about cheap thrills; they are about the eerie undercurrents of human experience. The haunting is subtle, making it all the more unsettling. Each story in the collection is distinct, but they all share…
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Immortality: A Love Story
Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz My rating: 1 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Immortality: A Love Story in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist Dana Schwartz’s Immortality: A Love Story, the sequel to Anatomy, attempts to expand on the gothic atmosphere and medical intrigue of its predecessor. It ultimately struggles to maintain momentum or deliver a satisfying continuation of the story. While there are moments of intrigue, the novel is marred by pacing issues, underdeveloped characters, and a plot that often feels meandering and unfocused. The Details At the center…
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The Cloisters
The Cloisters by Katy Hays My rating: 5 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Cloisters in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist Katy Hays’ debut novel, The Cloisters, is a captivating and atmospheric blend of historical mystery and academic intrigue. It keeps readers on edge from beginning to end. Set primarily within the mystical, ivy-draped walls of The Cloisters, a gothic museum in New York City renowned for its medieval art collection, this novel explores the dark undercurrents of ambition, power, and obsession. The story follows Ann Stilwell, a young academic who…
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River of Ashes
River of Ashes by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor My rating: 5 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of River of Ashes in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **Trigger Warning: contains rape, violence, and psychopath POV** The Gist River of Ashes by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor is a dark and gripping thriller that delves into the sinister undercurrents of a small Louisiana town. With its compelling characters, atmospheric setting, and chilling narrative, this novel offers a haunting exploration of evil and obsession. The Details River of Ashes centers on the mysterious and macabre happenings…
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Little Eve
Little Eve by Catriona Ward My rating: 1 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Little Eve in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist Little Eve by Catriona Ward is a novel that promises much but ultimately falls short in its execution. While the premise of the story is intriguing – a gothic horror set in a remote Scottish village – the novel struggles to deliver on its potential, leaving readers feeling disappointed and unsatisfied. The Details One of the main issues with Little Eve is its pacing. The narrative unfolds at a glacial…
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The Lost Orphan
The Lost Orphan by Stacey Halls My rating: 4 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Lost Orphan in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist Stacey Halls’ The Lost Orphan is a captivating journey through the gritty streets of 18th-century London, where a young woman’s search for her past unravels a tapestry of secrets and deceit. Halls transports readers to a vividly depicted historical setting, exploring the harsh realities of life in the Georgian era. The Details The protagonist is a compelling and tenacious character whose quest for truth takes readers on a…
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A Lullaby for Witches
A Lullaby for Witches by Hester Fox My rating: 2 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher, Graydon House, for providing me with an ARC of A Lullaby for Witches in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist I loved Fox’s The Orphan of Cemetery Hill and could not contain my excitement when I found out Fox wrote another story. For the past two years I have noticed a slight change in the publication process, shall we call it, in the books that have hit the shelves. A larger number than before feel like they are missing the last bit of polish before getting…
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The Raven’s Tale
The Raven’s Tale by Cat Winters My rating: 5 of 5 stars The Gist I absolutely love Winters’ works. I have read all of her novels without fail. Heck, I even went out in a snowstorm while on a romantic Valentine’s Day weekend retreat to Montreal so that I could purchase one of her books for the train ride home. It’s rare for me to read, or even want to read a book twice, because I can remember most stories quite well, generally speaking. Something strange happened with The Raven’s Tale. Starting in August of this year I kept thinking about it. It was haunting. I had the indescribable urge…
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The Orphan of Cemetery Hill
The Orphan of Cemetery Hill by Hester Fox My rating: 5 of 5 stars Thank you to the publisher, Graydon House, for providing me with an ARC of The Orphan of Cemetery Hill in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gist I had Fox’s first novel, The Witch of Willow Hall, on my to-read list ever since it came out in 2018. Being the hopeful optimist that I am, I kept making plans to read it any day now. Well, the road to hell is usually paved with good intentions. So, sadly, I hadn’t been introduced to her writing until the publisher was so kind…
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A Vampire Story – Excerpt
… I tossed and turned for a long time before sleep finally found me, but it was soft and peaceful until I woke up early the next morning. I wasn’t sure what had woken me, but the sight that greeted me at my window was worth the short night. Outside snow was gently falling. I smiled, picked up my robe and looked for the tin of cook’s shortbread cookies I had hidden in the dresser and made for the bedroom door. It was a tradition of Isabella and I to wake each other up, should we notice snow falling in the middle of the night. We would sit in the…
