Scan barcode
knittyreader's review against another edition
5.0
When I opened the e-book, I soon noticed how short it was. So short, that I wondered how well fleshed-out the plot and characters would be. Let's say it was quite a surprise, in the best way.
Johnson managed to write a wonderful, dark and thorough story that felt very real. One of the assets is, that she only included *counts on her fingers* ten characters that were named and labeled, so to say. Because of that, she could give them all the attention they needed to become realistic and deep, in a short amount of time.
The plot was well-balanced as well. It had the form of a classic plot as it would have been in the time it was written; it started kind of easy, worked it's way into a peak full of action, then slowed down again. The end, meanwhile, gave me something to look forward to in the next installment. I admit that I really liked it this way, it showed how everything was thought of.
I received a free copy through Netgalley, in return to an honest review.
Johnson managed to write a wonderful, dark and thorough story that felt very real. One of the assets is, that she only included *counts on her fingers* ten characters that were named and labeled, so to say. Because of that, she could give them all the attention they needed to become realistic and deep, in a short amount of time.
The plot was well-balanced as well. It had the form of a classic plot as it would have been in the time it was written; it started kind of easy, worked it's way into a peak full of action, then slowed down again. The end, meanwhile, gave me something to look forward to in the next installment. I admit that I really liked it this way, it showed how everything was thought of.
I received a free copy through Netgalley, in return to an honest review.
agentkp's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
I'm not usually a fan of super fast books but for some reason this one really worked out for me. I really liked the main character and seeing her growing and finding out she could be more than what everyone expected of her. Very curious about the whole Leviathan stuff too.
mxsallybend's review against another edition
4.0
Harkworth Hall is one of the most interesting stories I have read in quite a while. It's a deceptive piece of literature that seems to be one thing, but which has a whole other story lurking beneath the surface. L.S. Johnson simultaneously captures the feel of old-school Gothic romance and Victorian horror beautifully, but imbues it all with some contemporary sort of sexual confidence.
Rather than being your typical gothic protagonist, Caroline is a strong, confident woman, not afraid to play a role outside her father's approval. Mr. Masterson is an interesting twist on the gothic antagonist, a seemingly suave and sophisticated gentleman with ulterior motives, but it is Mr. Chase who brings the whole story together. Minor spoiler here, but he is actually a heroine in disguise, a woman who kindles an inappropriate spark within Caroline while working to expose her employer.
On top of the Gothic romance and Victorian horror, there is also a paranormal thriller that, perhaps, fits a bit awkwardly within the final pages, but makes for an enjoyable whole. Harkworth Hall wasn't at all what I was expecting, and it's all the better for the surprise.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Rather than being your typical gothic protagonist, Caroline is a strong, confident woman, not afraid to play a role outside her father's approval. Mr. Masterson is an interesting twist on the gothic antagonist, a seemingly suave and sophisticated gentleman with ulterior motives, but it is Mr. Chase who brings the whole story together. Minor spoiler here, but he is actually a heroine in disguise, a woman who kindles an inappropriate spark within Caroline while working to expose her employer.
On top of the Gothic romance and Victorian horror, there is also a paranormal thriller that, perhaps, fits a bit awkwardly within the final pages, but makes for an enjoyable whole. Harkworth Hall wasn't at all what I was expecting, and it's all the better for the surprise.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC of this title from the author in exchange for review consideration. This does not in any way affect the honesty or sincerity of my review.
womanon's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
So, this was a wild ride. The book is rather thin, only 150 pages, so I could easily read it away in an afternoon. It was so good! It has the right vibe, I loved the characters, and there was a lot of intrigue. Can highly recommend!
So, this was a wild ride. The book is rather thin, only 150 pages, so I could easily read it away in an afternoon. It was so good! It has the right vibe, I loved the characters, and there was a lot of intrigue. Can highly recommend!
jamietherebelliousreader's review
3.0
3 stars. Interesting plot and I was definitely into it. However, I didn’t really like the writing style and the main character Caroline was annoying. She was super judgmental and made some really stupid decisions. Jo, on the other I thought was fascinating and I liked her a lot. The ending definitely made me want to continue on with this series eventually.
acornsbooksandcoffee's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Harkworth Hall is a clever mix of Regency romance, eldritch horror, and badass queer women. When Caroline Daniels is pressed to marry the mysterious but ominous Sir Edward Masterson, her life will never be the same, especially once the enigmatic "Mister" Chase catches her eye. This was an absolutely delightful romp and an excellent beginning to the series.
frogggirl2's review against another edition
4.0
Sapphic HP Lovecraft + Jane Austin + Gothic Romance. What an atmospheric, adventurous little nugget! A delicious appetizer that whets the pallet for more. Looking forward to the sequel.
dtaylorbooks's review against another edition
5.0
What a delightfully creepy book! I was a little nonplussed about the voice at the beginning, kind of a “oh not another one of these” moments, but the plot unfolded nicely and I got sucked right into it to the point where I didn’t even notice the voice. In fact the voice ended up adding to everything that was going on so it all worked out in the end.
Caroline is a character that’s been shoved into a particular role that she doesn’t really want to be in but society tells her it’s a must so she does it despite her heart screaming otherwise. But soon circumstances change and even though Caroline is desperate for a change, what society wants is so ingrained in her that it’s hard for her to do what’s right by her and by her family. It creates excellent tension among her, Mr Chase and Edward Masterson.
On top of that there’s this sinister, underlying scheme going on and you’re not sure whether there’s a supernatural element to it or if the men involved are just all sorts of shady and Johnson does an excellent job of toeing that line without dragging out the story in any unnecessary way.
And it’s a shorter story, my digital copy coming in as just over 100 pages. Johnson doesn’t waste words and she doesn’t waste time getting to the point but she doesn’t sacrifice setting or character development to get there. Another excellent balance.
I really hope there’s more to this story, at least one more book, because after what happens at the end it can’t just end there!
4.5
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Caroline is a character that’s been shoved into a particular role that she doesn’t really want to be in but society tells her it’s a must so she does it despite her heart screaming otherwise. But soon circumstances change and even though Caroline is desperate for a change, what society wants is so ingrained in her that it’s hard for her to do what’s right by her and by her family. It creates excellent tension among her, Mr Chase and Edward Masterson.
On top of that there’s this sinister, underlying scheme going on and you’re not sure whether there’s a supernatural element to it or if the men involved are just all sorts of shady and Johnson does an excellent job of toeing that line without dragging out the story in any unnecessary way.
And it’s a shorter story, my digital copy coming in as just over 100 pages. Johnson doesn’t waste words and she doesn’t waste time getting to the point but she doesn’t sacrifice setting or character development to get there. Another excellent balance.
I really hope there’s more to this story, at least one more book, because after what happens at the end it can’t just end there!
4.5
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
reginamea's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5