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drb_11's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kkdelrey's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting characters and a story with different paths that all connect nicely by the end. Good pacing. While it had dark moments, I wanted it to be darker.
kagold240's review against another edition
I will read literally ANYTHING that Hester Fox (aka current-day queen of the gothic novel) writes!!!!!!
whitreadslit's review against another edition
4.0
*I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
I have been a huge fan of both of Hester Fox’s previous books (find my reviews for them here and here!), so I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to be part of her blog tour for her latest book. Fox writes with a delightfully Gothic style that brings to mind the Bronte sisters, but with American heroines.
The heroine of this novel, Tabby, is just as much a delight as the ladies from her previous works. She is an intriguing character in that she is clairvoyant and can speak to the spirits of the dead. This is a gift she has hidden from the world, much as she has hidden herself. Getting to see Tabby blossom into a confident young woman is one of the great joys of this novel.
Our other main character, Caleb, was a little harder for me to fall for. He is rich, privileged, and a bit of a rake. As the story progresses he becomes more and more endearing, but I had a bit of a hard time seeing why Tabby was so head over heels for him from the start.
The story was riveting and kept me guessing the entire time. I loved the mystery of the grave robberies and how all of the strange goings-on of the novel were connected. I thought Fox did a fantastic job keeping the plot moving without giving too much away.
I also wish we had gotten a little more of Mary Ruth and Alice in the story. They were both such interesting characters, and I really wanted to know more about both of them.
Overall, this is a fantastic story that will keep you guessing until the end. It has a bit of the paranormal in there, but it is largely a Gothic romance with an interesting mystery. I highly recommend it!
My Rating:
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
I gave The Orphan of Cemetery Hill 4.5 STARS!
I have been a huge fan of both of Hester Fox’s previous books (find my reviews for them here and here!), so I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to be part of her blog tour for her latest book. Fox writes with a delightfully Gothic style that brings to mind the Bronte sisters, but with American heroines.
The heroine of this novel, Tabby, is just as much a delight as the ladies from her previous works. She is an intriguing character in that she is clairvoyant and can speak to the spirits of the dead. This is a gift she has hidden from the world, much as she has hidden herself. Getting to see Tabby blossom into a confident young woman is one of the great joys of this novel.
Our other main character, Caleb, was a little harder for me to fall for. He is rich, privileged, and a bit of a rake. As the story progresses he becomes more and more endearing, but I had a bit of a hard time seeing why Tabby was so head over heels for him from the start.
The story was riveting and kept me guessing the entire time. I loved the mystery of the grave robberies and how all of the strange goings-on of the novel were connected. I thought Fox did a fantastic job keeping the plot moving without giving too much away.
I also wish we had gotten a little more of Mary Ruth and Alice in the story. They were both such interesting characters, and I really wanted to know more about both of them.
Overall, this is a fantastic story that will keep you guessing until the end. It has a bit of the paranormal in there, but it is largely a Gothic romance with an interesting mystery. I highly recommend it!
My Rating:
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
I gave The Orphan of Cemetery Hill 4.5 STARS!
lisakimmence3's review against another edition
4.0
I love all of Hester Fox's books. Her writing is beautiful and her books so atmospheric. The historical fiction genre is lucky to have her.
nearly_empty_nesting's review against another edition
4.0
I will read anything from Hester Fox. She is the queen of going back in time with atmospheric novels full of witchery & paranormal activity. This one fits right in and bring a bit of a murder mystery with it.
meggreadsxo's review against another edition
1.0
Have you picked up a book that you felt was written for you? This is what I THOUGHT this book was going to be. I cannot tell you how jilted I feel in regards to this book. It had everything in it for the making of a phenomenal book. Spooky atmosphere? Check. A person who can talk to the dead? Sign me up! 1800's Boston? I am there for it. Somewhere along the line these amazing ingredients became spoiled and the result was this. I wanted to love this book so desperately, but the longer I read this, the harder it became to justify my love for it. Weak characterization was the first hole in this novel. Was I supposed to care for Tabby? I didn't. She was hollow and unlikable. Their was, in my opinion not enough time to love her. Was I supposed to like Caleb? I didn't, I actually hated him. I think he was written to be a charming scoundrel but I found him more hound. He came off as slimy and manipulative. The romance between these two was rushed and unbelievable. I was not pining after them in the hopes that they would realize they were in love, I was actually hoping Caleb would stay in jail and rot. The rest of the cast felt more like secondary characters in a knock off Scooby Doo film than actual people. The plot was CONVOLUTED beyond belief. I did not know what the central problem was until it was FAR too late. This book hardly has any instances where Tabby is acting as a medium. I was hoping, waiting and praying for more ghosts to show up, but a complete lack of anything remotely supernatural was highly disappointing. The the entire plot was rich with historical inaccuracies. Yes, the body snatchers bit was interesting but it was shrouded over by this bland love story/ random murder/ conspiracy/ pointless travel/ coming of age novel. The points that made this book interesting were completely shrouded in unnecessary sub plots and useless characters. The worst part of this was the prose. I felt like I was trolling a bad Jane Austen rp page than reading a novel that was supposed to take place in the Victorian age. The premise in the hands of someone else, this book may have been a phenomenal read. All the elements were there but the execution REALLY missed the mark. If you are into paranormal or historical novels give this one a PASS!!
acrosstickx's review
4.0
3.5. The description let me down on this one. I was expecting this to be the tale of a badass mystery-solving medium; and while that technically happened, it was mostly to the service of a heterosexual romance.
About 50% of the book was told through Caleb, the love interest's, POV (who wasn't even mentioned in the blurb!) and Tabby's instant and all-consuming infatuation with him was confusing at best.
This story was plot-driven in an exciting way, but also in a "characters regularly decided abruptly and without reason that they simply must do this or that" way that left me consistently scratching my head.
Overall a nice spooky October read.
About 50% of the book was told through Caleb, the love interest's, POV (who wasn't even mentioned in the blurb!) and Tabby's instant and all-consuming infatuation with him was confusing at best.
This story was plot-driven in an exciting way, but also in a "characters regularly decided abruptly and without reason that they simply must do this or that" way that left me consistently scratching my head.
Overall a nice spooky October read.
guylou's review against another edition
4.0
THE ORPHAN OF CEMETERY HILL by Hester Fox is a haunting and atmospheric tale set in 1844 Boston, skillfully blending gothic historical storytelling with a touch of the paranormal. Tabby, gifted with the ability to communicate with the recently departed, navigates a dangerous world, haunted by grave robbers known as the "Resurrection Men." Fox crafts a captivating narrative, drawing readers into the dark and magical world of 19th-century Boston. The story unfolds seamlessly, revealing a web of mysteries and secrets that keep you on the edge of your seat. The understated paranormal element adds to the allure, making Tabby a compelling character with strength and intelligence. Caleb's involvement and the captivating grave robbery mystery add depth to the narrative. Fox's prose beautifully captures the essence of the era, making this book a perfect choice for the spooky season, immersing readers in an eerie yet enchanting experience.
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