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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
A Gothic story set in the 1800s, in Boston, about an orphaned medium. Sounds good. Grave robbery? Sounds even better. I was pretty disappointed.
I'd give 2.5 stars
I didn't find the characters all that interesting, sadly. I felt like if this was a movie I'd be reading something while it was playing in the background (because sometimes I do that
I'd give 2.5 stars
I didn't find the characters all that interesting, sadly. I felt like if this was a movie I'd be reading something while it was playing in the background (because sometimes I do that
Finished reading: September 9th 2020
"Tabby knew that her greatest fault was that, once won, her trust was too freely given."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Graydon House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
I've been wanting to try this author for a while now, and I confess that I was immediately intrigued by the blurb of The Orphan Of Cemetery Hill as well as the atmospheric cover. I love a good gothic story and this book most definitely delivered the perfect spooky gothic atmosphere. The Orphan Of Cemetery Hill is set in mid 19th century Boston, and this historical setting is what sets the tone for a suspenseful and creepy read that packs a mean paranormal punch. The perfect marriage of gothic and paranormal with plenty of historical details to savour!
There were quite a few things I enjoyed of this story, but let's start with the historical setting first. As far as a historical and gothic setting goes, I couldn't have wished for something more atmospheric with the mid 19th century Boston setting and its focus on the cemetery. The descriptions and details are used to create the perfect creepy vibe and really gave the story that extra touch. Later on, we even get a bonus with the London and Edinburgh settings, which fitted right in the same gothic vibe. The setting and historical details were definitely one of the strongest assets of this story!
Another thing I loved was the paranormal angle. I confess this element isn't always my cup of tea, but it worked really well in The Orphan Of Cemetery Hill and complemented the plot. The same goes for the whole mystery around the body snatching and grave robbing element... While it's not the first time I see it incorporated into a story, it is an element that always intrigues me and it definitely added an air of creepiness as well as suspense to the plot. It was interesting to see both elements develop over time and I had fun figuring out how much both influence the direction of the plot.
The story is mainly told with the help fo a dual POV, with an added extra POV later on. I personally loved Tabby as the main character; both her gift itself and her character development in general stood out for me. I especially loved her relationship with Eli, but her development and reactions to the things happening in the plot were a delight to follow as well. She might seem like your typical strong female character, but she will win you over quickly with her charm and strength as well as her quirkiness. That said, I do have to say that I wasn't too big of a fan of other main character Caleb though. I felt he was a bit too cliche and I just didn't get a good vibe off him... This might just be because of the whole mention of the cheating and love triangle though, which is a personal pet peeve I never react well to. We didn't see much of Tabby's sister Alice, which is for obvious reasons of course, but I did like what I saw. Tabby is clearly the true star of the show though.
The writing itself is solid, and especially the gothic vibe and historical descriptions are spot on. While the pace was a bit haltered in points, and I could have done without the romance, overall I had a great time with this story. If you are looking for something creepy and enjoy a historical setting as well as a paranormal angle, The Orphan Of Cemetery Hill is a great option. It's also perfect for the upcoming Halloween month!
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Initial Thoughts
First of all, Boston is one of my favorite cities in the world. No, you know what, it’s probably my favorite city. So, historical fantasy set in my favorite place? You know I want to read it!
Also, this book sounded perfect for my October Spooky Reads list.
Some Things I Liked
Harvard, Boston, and the Resurrectionists. I loved the history and familiar topics found in this book. Weirdly, I’ve read a few books about people who dug up graves in the name of science recently and I really loved that I could connect a familiar subject to a familiar city.
Multiple POVs. I also liked the different POVs. Our main characters are not always together so it can be difficult to show the reader what they are all up to all the time. I thought the POVs were well done here and I liked that Caleb was essentially the bridge between the other two.
Dark themes. This book is creepy, it covers some pretty heavy topics, but, overall, I really enjoyed that. I thought it was perfect for the season and I will be recommending it in October.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
Caleb had his moments where he was kind of a weasel. I thought Tabby deserved better. I almost didn’t want there to be romance between them because he was not my favorite in beginning of the story.
Series Value
I think Tabby’s abilities could certainly yield sequels but this felt like a stand alone story. I liked the other characters but I wouldn’t drop everything to read a sequel. I think this story is better as a stand alone.
However, I will continue to read Hester Fox’s books. I really enjoyed the history and writing here.
Final Thoughts
I liked this book. I was hesitant to read it at first thinking it might be too spooky for me. I am pleased to report, the spooky-ness was minimal and this was an enjoyable, quick read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Magic Dark and Strange by Kelly Powell – if you’re looking for a YA version of this story with slightly younger characters and a bit more magic, try this October 2020 release.
Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zdrok – again, if you’re looking for YA or looking for a Parisian setting, try this duology by Jodie Lynn Zdrok.
First of all, Boston is one of my favorite cities in the world. No, you know what, it’s probably my favorite city. So, historical fantasy set in my favorite place? You know I want to read it!
Also, this book sounded perfect for my October Spooky Reads list.
Some Things I Liked
Harvard, Boston, and the Resurrectionists. I loved the history and familiar topics found in this book. Weirdly, I’ve read a few books about people who dug up graves in the name of science recently and I really loved that I could connect a familiar subject to a familiar city.
Multiple POVs. I also liked the different POVs. Our main characters are not always together so it can be difficult to show the reader what they are all up to all the time. I thought the POVs were well done here and I liked that Caleb was essentially the bridge between the other two.
Dark themes. This book is creepy, it covers some pretty heavy topics, but, overall, I really enjoyed that. I thought it was perfect for the season and I will be recommending it in October.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
Caleb had his moments where he was kind of a weasel. I thought Tabby deserved better. I almost didn’t want there to be romance between them because he was not my favorite in beginning of the story.
Series Value
I think Tabby’s abilities could certainly yield sequels but this felt like a stand alone story. I liked the other characters but I wouldn’t drop everything to read a sequel. I think this story is better as a stand alone.
However, I will continue to read Hester Fox’s books. I really enjoyed the history and writing here.
Final Thoughts
I liked this book. I was hesitant to read it at first thinking it might be too spooky for me. I am pleased to report, the spooky-ness was minimal and this was an enjoyable, quick read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Magic Dark and Strange by Kelly Powell – if you’re looking for a YA version of this story with slightly younger characters and a bit more magic, try this October 2020 release.
Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zdrok – again, if you’re looking for YA or looking for a Parisian setting, try this duology by Jodie Lynn Zdrok.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Give me this book without Caleb and it would have been a 5 star read.
Tabby and her sister are orphans who were born with preternatural gifts, one can talk to the dead and the other can see the future. As children, they are submitted to cruel torture to exploit those gifts. They escape and are separated and our story follows Tabby who hid herself in a cemetery and is "adopted" by the caretaker. She hides her gift and tries to live a normal life. One day she meets a handsome young boy, Caleb who changes the trajectory of her life.
He is accused of murder and Tabby breaks her promise to herself and uses her ability to talk to try and have the victim help clear him from beyond the grave. Where that journey takes Tabby and Caleb and Alice is convoluted and fascinating.
The story is perfect for spooky fall reading and the supernatural vibes are perfect. Tabby was not my favorite heroine, as she was a bit of a reluctant hero who didn't really enjoy speaking to the dead. There are a few moments where she got a little fire in her and went for it but it took a lot of twisting in the wind to get her there. There is also insta-love which gets her to use her gift which she had otherwise hidden, it was not my favorite plot point, if that doesn't bother you, then this one might be right up your alley. I still enjoyed the journey and the spooky vibes. This one gets 3.5 stars from me.
Thanks so much to Graydon House and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
He is accused of murder and Tabby breaks her promise to herself and uses her ability to talk to try and have the victim help clear him from beyond the grave. Where that journey takes Tabby and Caleb and Alice is convoluted and fascinating.
The story is perfect for spooky fall reading and the supernatural vibes are perfect. Tabby was not my favorite heroine, as she was a bit of a reluctant hero who didn't really enjoy speaking to the dead. There are a few moments where she got a little fire in her and went for it but it took a lot of twisting in the wind to get her there. There is also insta-love which gets her to use her gift which she had otherwise hidden, it was not my favorite plot point, if that doesn't bother you, then this one might be right up your alley. I still enjoyed the journey and the spooky vibes. This one gets 3.5 stars from me.
Thanks so much to Graydon House and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars.
This was the perfect book to read during October!
I really enjoy Hester Fox's books, and I was extremely excited to start this one. The story follows Tabby, a woman living in mid-19th century Boston, and she has a gift: she can communicate with the dead. This story has romance, murder, and grave robbing, man did it suck me in.
I really liked reading this book, especially the grave robbing storyline, it was very hard to put down when I was reading it. I wish we got to see more of Tabby and Caleb together though, I really liked getting both of their stories, but I wanted to see them take on the world together.
This was the perfect book to read during October!
I really enjoy Hester Fox's books, and I was extremely excited to start this one. The story follows Tabby, a woman living in mid-19th century Boston, and she has a gift: she can communicate with the dead. This story has romance, murder, and grave robbing, man did it suck me in.
I really liked reading this book, especially the grave robbing storyline, it was very hard to put down when I was reading it. I wish we got to see more of Tabby and Caleb together though, I really liked getting both of their stories, but I wanted to see them take on the world together.
what I found mildly lacking in plot I found balanced by an absolutely gorgeous narrative. With fresh detail and perfectly-thorough descriptions, I couldn't help but find myself in love with the haunting gothic scenery!