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chellski's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
2.25
juliwi's review against another edition
3.0
Governesses, you say? Mysterious houses and sullen employers? Where do I sign up?! That was basically my thought process when I saw The Shadow Hour. Ever since reading Jane Eyre and Agnes Grey, I have a Bronte-inspired love for novels about governesses. They are the perfect vehicles for authors to explore family relations, class difference and bring in some supernatural or mysterious tones. However, not every novel strikes that perfect balance. So while I happily delved into The Shadow Hour, I finished it slightly confused. Thanks to Penguin - Michael Joseph and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Shadow Hour is told through two different timelines. On the one hand there is Grace, a young woman living in 1922, who is sent to Fenix House as a governess by the gentle order of her grandmother, Harriet, who was once a governess there herself. Harriet's tale, set 50 years prior, forms the second timeline. Grace was raised on stories of Fenix house, making her new residence and employers strangely familiar and yet uncanny as well. As the novel moves between Grace and Harriet's timelines, more and more is revealed about Fenix House, its inhabitants and how Grace and Harriet belong there. Riordan manages to make Harriet and Grace feel quite different, despite being in almost exactly the same situation. Although Harriet's tale is, for a long time, the more interesting one, it is Grace's desire to finally found out what happened at Fenix House that the reader most identifies with. At times Riordan purposefully leaves the reader in the dark, while at other times filling the reader in while leaving Grace in the dark. It creates a nice balance that keeps the novel engaging.
Riordan's writing is at times beautifully visual. She brings Fenix House and its inhabitants to life with stunning descriptions of the house, its gardens, the costumes and the atmosphere. Luscious in Harriet's time, the decay of the house in Grace's time feels much more real. Rioridan manages to infuse her governess tale with a lot of different elements, bringing in some mysterious and some supernatural tones. This consistently, and thankfully, shakes up the narrative. As history repeats itself in Grace's story, Riordan mostly manages to make the same events still feel interesting. With how the story is set up, however, it is almost inevitable that at times it feels a bit repetitive. Although these are all minor gripes, it means that the end of the novel felt a little bit unsatisfactory. While Riordan ties all the different stories together into a nice bow, it seems too easy of an ending. I'd have likes for her to have spent a little bit more time describing how the characters go on.
Once I got into The Shadow Hour I very much enjoyed it. Governesses will always hold a special place in my heart and I'll remember The Shadow Hour fondly. It touches upon some of the best staples of the genre, even if it doesn't always hit all the notes. I'd recommend this to fans Gothic literature and Women's Fiction.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-shadow-hour-by-kate-riordan.html
The Shadow Hour is told through two different timelines. On the one hand there is Grace, a young woman living in 1922, who is sent to Fenix House as a governess by the gentle order of her grandmother, Harriet, who was once a governess there herself. Harriet's tale, set 50 years prior, forms the second timeline. Grace was raised on stories of Fenix house, making her new residence and employers strangely familiar and yet uncanny as well. As the novel moves between Grace and Harriet's timelines, more and more is revealed about Fenix House, its inhabitants and how Grace and Harriet belong there. Riordan manages to make Harriet and Grace feel quite different, despite being in almost exactly the same situation. Although Harriet's tale is, for a long time, the more interesting one, it is Grace's desire to finally found out what happened at Fenix House that the reader most identifies with. At times Riordan purposefully leaves the reader in the dark, while at other times filling the reader in while leaving Grace in the dark. It creates a nice balance that keeps the novel engaging.
Riordan's writing is at times beautifully visual. She brings Fenix House and its inhabitants to life with stunning descriptions of the house, its gardens, the costumes and the atmosphere. Luscious in Harriet's time, the decay of the house in Grace's time feels much more real. Rioridan manages to infuse her governess tale with a lot of different elements, bringing in some mysterious and some supernatural tones. This consistently, and thankfully, shakes up the narrative. As history repeats itself in Grace's story, Riordan mostly manages to make the same events still feel interesting. With how the story is set up, however, it is almost inevitable that at times it feels a bit repetitive. Although these are all minor gripes, it means that the end of the novel felt a little bit unsatisfactory. While Riordan ties all the different stories together into a nice bow, it seems too easy of an ending. I'd have likes for her to have spent a little bit more time describing how the characters go on.
Once I got into The Shadow Hour I very much enjoyed it. Governesses will always hold a special place in my heart and I'll remember The Shadow Hour fondly. It touches upon some of the best staples of the genre, even if it doesn't always hit all the notes. I'd recommend this to fans Gothic literature and Women's Fiction.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-shadow-hour-by-kate-riordan.html
carhog's review against another edition
3.0
I need half stars. This is probably 31/2. I enjoyed it and wanted to see what happened and it was satisfying. I don't think it will stay with me, but most books don't. I found the time shifts confusing, and I don't usually struggle with that so I don't know why it was different with this book. I did find the twist surprising, so that was good. I liked the characters in both time periods, and it was a classic historical novel with governesses
erin_moran87's review against another edition
3.0
Overall an excellent book but the ending felt rushed
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
4.0
The Shadow Hour is a beautiful written account of two women who both worked for the same family. Harriet's story takes place in 1878 and her grand daughter Grace's in 1922. Grace goes to work at Fenix House at Harriet's insistence. The house is now in a dilapidated condition, very different to how it was in Harriet's time. A few family members are present in both times and one servant, Agnes.
Straight away Grace realises that Harriet's story of her life there is inaccurate and as you get further into the novel the truth starts to come out.
It's a lovely novel to read. Out of the two I preferred Grace to Harriet. She seemed to be a lot warmer and less brittle. One of the strongest parts of the novel was the account of the decline of the house and the family over the years. That Grace could still see the beauty underneath the neglect felt very believable. My favourite character was Agnes, headstrong, mouthy and sarcastic but also very loyal to the family and Harriet. I could sit and listen for hours to her talk about her life at Fenix House.
I plan to read Kate Riordan's novel The Girl in the Photograph very soon.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.
verityw's review against another edition
4.0
Read for Novelicious - http://www.novelicious.com/2016/03/review-the-shadow-hour-by-kate-riordan.html
In brief:
The Shadow Hour follows the two women as they work in the same house nearly half a century apart. Piece by piece you discover the secrets that Harriet has been hiding and what happened to her charges after she left. Told by both women alternately, The Shadow Hour is packed full of twists and turns and is set in two periods that I always enjoy reading about – the 1870s and the 1920s.
The final reveal had me flicking back earlier in the book to read some passages again to check I hadn’t misunderstood things and to look for clues that I’d missed. If you like stories about secrets, lies, families and relationships, The Shadow Hour should probably be on your to-read pile. I found it gripping, page turning and unexpected.
8/10
In brief:
The Shadow Hour follows the two women as they work in the same house nearly half a century apart. Piece by piece you discover the secrets that Harriet has been hiding and what happened to her charges after she left. Told by both women alternately, The Shadow Hour is packed full of twists and turns and is set in two periods that I always enjoy reading about – the 1870s and the 1920s.
The final reveal had me flicking back earlier in the book to read some passages again to check I hadn’t misunderstood things and to look for clues that I’d missed. If you like stories about secrets, lies, families and relationships, The Shadow Hour should probably be on your to-read pile. I found it gripping, page turning and unexpected.
8/10
snazzybooks's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed on www.snazzybooks.com
I’m a bit of a sucker for a good historical novel with dual storylines; I’m a huge fan of Kate Morton, Lucinda Riley, Susannah Kearsley and Rachel Hore (among others) and know that, whenever I fancy reading something fairly easy but enjoyable, with secrets and family dynamics thrown in, one of these authors will more than satisfy! I really enjoyed The Girl In The Photograph, the only other book (so far!) that I’ve read by Kate Morton, and so was very excited to give her new novel, The Shadow Hour, a go!
Both Grace and Harriet’s storylines have their own intriguing elements and, as always, it's quite interesting to try and work out how they are connected (apart from being grandmother and grandaughter, obviously!) The two narratives reveal a lot about each character and their thoughts and feelings, and Kate Riordan's descriptions are very vivid and descriptive, meaning you often feel like you're right there with them! There are lots of possibilities and 'could-have-beens' throughout the novel, and you wonder what actually happened and what the outcome for Harriet was all those years ago. There's elements of revenge, family rivalries and some threatening undertones, all of which add to the novel's slightly dark (at times) atmosphere. It still manages to retain a largely compelling and captivating novel which is perfect for a lazy afternoon read in the English sunshine (if only!)
The Shadow Hour is quite a long novel, at over 500 pages, and at times it did feel like it could have been cut down slightly, but I still really enjoyed reading it. I'd definitely recommend for anyone who fancies reading some well-written, historical fiction.
*I received this novel in a Goodreads giveaway, and this has had no influence on my unbiased and honest review*
I’m a bit of a sucker for a good historical novel with dual storylines; I’m a huge fan of Kate Morton, Lucinda Riley, Susannah Kearsley and Rachel Hore (among others) and know that, whenever I fancy reading something fairly easy but enjoyable, with secrets and family dynamics thrown in, one of these authors will more than satisfy! I really enjoyed The Girl In The Photograph, the only other book (so far!) that I’ve read by Kate Morton, and so was very excited to give her new novel, The Shadow Hour, a go!
Both Grace and Harriet’s storylines have their own intriguing elements and, as always, it's quite interesting to try and work out how they are connected (apart from being grandmother and grandaughter, obviously!) The two narratives reveal a lot about each character and their thoughts and feelings, and Kate Riordan's descriptions are very vivid and descriptive, meaning you often feel like you're right there with them! There are lots of possibilities and 'could-have-beens' throughout the novel, and you wonder what actually happened and what the outcome for Harriet was all those years ago. There's elements of revenge, family rivalries and some threatening undertones, all of which add to the novel's slightly dark (at times) atmosphere. It still manages to retain a largely compelling and captivating novel which is perfect for a lazy afternoon read in the English sunshine (if only!)
The Shadow Hour is quite a long novel, at over 500 pages, and at times it did feel like it could have been cut down slightly, but I still really enjoyed reading it. I'd definitely recommend for anyone who fancies reading some well-written, historical fiction.
*I received this novel in a Goodreads giveaway, and this has had no influence on my unbiased and honest review*
bookbuyingaddict's review against another edition
3.0
Dear oh dear I feel as if iv just read 500 odd pages waiting for something to happen and nothing has! I would give this book 2.5 stars if I could. When I saw the reviews comparing it to a novel by Sarah waters (one of my favourite authors) I thought I'd be in for a treat. Instead stuck with it and literally not an awful lot happens. What does & no spoilers - I'd guessed by about page 200. So 300 pages after that which are totally pointless & one of the worst endings iv ever read ! One plus point- it's easy to read with short chapters!
stelladafloresta's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
abookloversdiary's review
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5