Caitlin Starling

This is by far the best new gothic novel I've read in years; in fact, I'd put reading it off because I'd hit so many disappointments in the genre, but this one sucked me in almost immediately. Although the beginning was a somewhat slow start, I was still engaged and drawn in to the characters, and once the story really got going, I couldn't put the book down. Starling has such a dynamic story and characters here, with so much nuance to each plot turn and moment, I just adored it from start to finish.

This is absolutely a gothic horror novel and ghost story that I'll remember and recommend.… (mais)

Honestly, I'm not a huge historical fiction fan unless it's from the 1970's to present. I read this for the horror of it not for the historical aspect of it. The horror was good, but because it was a genre I'm really not fond of, I got bored. The book is about a single woman who needs to marry. She comes across a doctor who isn't married. She makes a business proposition, and tells him if he marries her, she will work in his office for free. He takes her up on it but reminds her it is only business. She will live in the Surgery, and he will live at his estate. He doesn't want her to come to his estate no matter what. One night, their carriage has an accident and is not usable. They are close to his estate, so Jane asks if she can stay. He doesn't want her to, but he gives in. It turns out he has very good reasons for keeping her away. His estate is haunted. Jane later realizes that staying at his estate is not the best idea after the spirits come after her.

I'm not going to rate the book as it wasn't my cup of tea. However, historical fiction readers may love it.… (mais)

I'm giving this very generously 3*** in recognition that a lot of other readers might like it more than I do. If you're thing is scifi with a combo of horror and thriller, you'll probably like it. Personally, it's not my cuppa and I'll probably not go on to the author's other books. It was a quick Kindle read.

The ending, I might add, was disappointingly inconclusive, perhaps as a set-up for a sequel. Again, it's a sequel I won't be reading, but best wishes to a competent writer and to her admirers.… (mais)