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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Car accident, Death of parent, War
Minor: Trafficking, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
What can I say about this book? I was lucky enough to receive the ARC and was very enthusiastic about it based on what the description read. I was expecting a ghost-y type gothic tale that would fill me with suspense, and perhaps also involve something going on with the animal exhibits (they come to life? they are haunted?). Sadly, it didn't deliver on any of these expectations, but sometimes it's a lesson to not have expectations and just see where the story takes you. All in all, it's very well written for a debut author and is really a great love story.
It wasn’t bad. But it wasn’t a gothic horror. To me it seemed a very tame version of classic gothic literature, with some contemporary themes thrown in. Not bad, just not my cup of tea.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
reflective
slow-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:
No
Do you like sapphic historical romances, taxidermy museum animals, haunted manors and murder plots? You might like this! But I didn’t.
I thought this was going to be a spooky sapphic romance and I guess technically it was that, but this just didn’t do it for me. I listened to the audiobook which was immediately a mistake since this is dual POV and the narrator did not differentiate the voices of the two main characters, so I was very confused throughout the entire book about who’s perspective we were on.
The first SIX WHOLE HOURS was spent introducing the characters and their relationship dynamics and there wasn’t even a slither of gay until the 6 hour mark which, originally I thought “okay maybe this is just a slow burn”. But then within the span of about 5 minutes they thought homosexuality could be an option, decided they couldn’t live without each other, told each other they’ve been in love since they first saw each other, and then they had sex…. So like was this supposed to be a slow burn or an insta love?? I’m confused
I feel like the plot was just kind of all over the place. I mean the haunting part of the plot, was about Lucy’s nightmares and the manifestations of her childhood trauma. Which wasn’t terribly done but it definitely could have been a lot more interesting. I just feel like there was a lot of dull moments throughout. Also, at the end of the book, in the last hour, that was just so weirdly structured.
They just chucked in a plot line about a secret pedophile ring involving Lord Lockwood and the head maid?? Like that was never even hinted to previously but it was just randomly slotted in at the end, I’m guessing to lead to Lord Lockwood’s death but it was just so random and weird. I guess it had a happy ending since Lucy and Hetty end up living together and looking for queer community and being so in love and that but idk, the plot was just such a mess, I really did not care by the end of it.
Also I can’t remember the precise location of this but at one point the author included an ableist slur which was completely unnecessary and should have been taken out during the edits. This one was definitely not for me, maybe someone else will enjoy it but this will definitely not be a reread for me.
Rep - Anxiety (MC); Mental Illness (MC); OCD (MC); Queer (A); Sapphic (MCs)
TWs/CWs - Ableism; Animal Death; Blood; Car Crash; Child Abuse; Child Harm; Classism; Cussing; Death; Death Of A Loved One; Fatphobia; Fire/Fire Injury; Grief; Homophobia; Hunting; Internalised Homophobia; Manipulation; Miscarriage (mentioned); Murder; Misogyny; Neglect; Nightmares; Physical Abuse; Plantation House (mentioned); Paedophile; Sex (on page); Sexual Assault of a Child (past, detailed); War
adventurous
it's an intriguing book, but i did find it difficult to tell which chapter was which in the audiobook (and the physical book did make it easier to tell) the story was good but a little overdone to have a rapist predator being compared to animals isn't it
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I really liked this, and the audiobook narration was perfect for the story. I kind of saw the ending coming - there's a lot of Jane Eyre and a bit of Rebecca in here, plus Chekhov's candles - but it worked for me, for the most part. I cared about the characters and their relationship, and the writing effectively conveyed the spooky, claustrophobic atmosphere of the house.
Turns out a wlw ship does not make up for formulaic writing and mediocre prose - it's a shame because I really wanted to love this book and we just did not vibe. By the time the two female mcs got together I'd already lost too much interest to even be excited or invested.