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cavernism's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Moody and foreboding, this historical fiction novel has a supernatural twist. Temperance is a lamplighter to light the way in the foggy darkness of her 19th century fishing town, and grows increasingly wary of the figurehead carver, Gideon, amidst villagers disappearing into the fog. This is as much a family drama as it is a tense supernatural mystery. Readers who get drawn in by an evocative setting and those who like a touch of weirdness in their stories should enjoy this!
kelleyd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Crystal Bell has written a humdinger of a gothic novel. The stage is set in the whaling village of Warbler that happens to have a seemingly malicious fog. But is the problem really the fog? It has a lamplighting heroine who is ready to fight the patriarchy and give the devil his due, so to speak, but things aren’t always as they seem nor do plans turn out the way she plans them.
The pacing of the book is slow at times. It doesn’t reveal too much too soon, but does a fine job of putting one on the edge of their seat at the end. I do believe that the author could have developed the characters a bit more and given a bit of background to the ‘why’ of the creature, but all in all it is a very satisfying read.
I think it will sit well with any fan of the gothic genre and linger in one’s mind a bit after reading it. Now, where is my lamp and my chisel?
Many thanks to North Star Editions | Flux and NetGalley for the digital ARC!
The pacing of the book is slow at times. It doesn’t reveal too much too soon, but does a fine job of putting one on the edge of their seat at the end. I do believe that the author could have developed the characters a bit more and given a bit of background to the ‘why’ of the creature, but all in all it is a very satisfying read.
I think it will sit well with any fan of the gothic genre and linger in one’s mind a bit after reading it. Now, where is my lamp and my chisel?
Many thanks to North Star Editions | Flux and NetGalley for the digital ARC!
sunlitzenik's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
https_presley's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for giving me and e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to love this book- I really did. The premise sounded like something I would adore. It has a strong fmc, a small seaside town, supernatural elements, and a touch of eerie horror.
Firstly I’ll start with what I did enjoy: I loved the main villain as a character. Without spoiling anything, I thought they were genuinely scary and threatening. At a couple different points I really feared for our main character and had absolutely no idea how she was going to succeed. The action scenes present in this book were definitely thrilling and well-done. I also liked the number of twists- most of which I didn’t see coming. They kept me interested in the story and motivated me to finish it.
Now for what I didn’t like as much: Basically, I found the first 60% of this book to be incredibly slow. So slow I almost dnfed this book. I found it very hard to connect with any of the characters and be interested in their survival/success/goals. I think this book would have worked much better for me if those scenes were shortened and replaced by more action scenes. Additionally, while the ending was very unexpected, it felt vague and unsatisfying. It almost feels like the author is setting up the plot for a sequel book but without really concluding anything from this one.
Overall, I didn’t think this book was particularly bad, it just struggled to keep my attention and be something I’m interested in. I would still suggest other readers give it a shot if they’re interested- especially if they’re ok with a slower start. I do think there are readers who would love this story, I’m just not one of them.
I wanted to love this book- I really did. The premise sounded like something I would adore. It has a strong fmc, a small seaside town, supernatural elements, and a touch of eerie horror.
Firstly I’ll start with what I did enjoy: I loved the main villain as a character. Without spoiling anything, I thought they were genuinely scary and threatening. At a couple different points I really feared for our main character and had absolutely no idea how she was going to succeed. The action scenes present in this book were definitely thrilling and well-done. I also liked the number of twists- most of which I didn’t see coming. They kept me interested in the story and motivated me to finish it.
Now for what I didn’t like as much: Basically, I found the first 60% of this book to be incredibly slow. So slow I almost dnfed this book. I found it very hard to connect with any of the characters and be interested in their survival/success/goals. I think this book would have worked much better for me if those scenes were shortened and replaced by more action scenes. Additionally, while the ending was very unexpected, it felt vague and unsatisfying. It almost feels like the author is setting up the plot for a sequel book but without really concluding anything from this one.
Overall, I didn’t think this book was particularly bad, it just struggled to keep my attention and be something I’m interested in. I would still suggest other readers give it a shot if they’re interested- especially if they’re ok with a slower start. I do think there are readers who would love this story, I’m just not one of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Sexual assault
meggeorge's review against another edition
4.0
Big thanks to North Star Editions and NetGalley for this ARC.
The cover and blurb of this book drew me in immediately. The Lamplighter is a deeply atmospheric historical fantasy with horror elements-- exactly my cup of tea! It follows Temperance, who inherits the position of lamplighter in her small coastal village after her father's death. When a girl goes missing in the night fog Tempe's light is supposed to ward off, her livelihood is made precarious and she takes it upon herself to solve the mysteries of the night.
This story was simply lovely. It gripped me from the very start with its amazing atmosphere and mystery. It has very strong character building and the development arc of the protagonist is a rare gem in YA fantasy. The structure was very good and succeeded in shocking me with some of the twists in the mystery plot, which is unusual for me.
I was let down by the prose in places. Though I do think for the most part it was very fitting for the story, some parts really made me wince. Something else in that vein was the very heavy-handed treatment of the themes of feminism. I understand this is basically a staple of the genre, but it was too on the nose for me in this historical fantasy. On that note, there are some scenes in here that seem like thinly veiled metaphors for sexual assault. Quite a few of them actually, so read with caution.
Unfortunately, I was not very invested in Tempe's romance with Josiah, but I think this doesn't take away from the experience of the story, especially later on. What I mean is, the romance subplot (if you can call it that) won't give you butterflies, but it will do what it was intended to do.
The thing I loved most about this book was the ending, which I won't spoil. For me, it felt appropriate and earned, even though it was very unexpected.
So 4 stars for this lovely book. I will be getting a copy for my own collection on release. I mean, look at that cover!
The cover and blurb of this book drew me in immediately. The Lamplighter is a deeply atmospheric historical fantasy with horror elements-- exactly my cup of tea! It follows Temperance, who inherits the position of lamplighter in her small coastal village after her father's death. When a girl goes missing in the night fog Tempe's light is supposed to ward off, her livelihood is made precarious and she takes it upon herself to solve the mysteries of the night.
This story was simply lovely. It gripped me from the very start with its amazing atmosphere and mystery. It has very strong character building and the development arc of the protagonist is a rare gem in YA fantasy. The structure was very good and succeeded in shocking me with some of the twists in the mystery plot, which is unusual for me.
I was let down by the prose in places. Though I do think for the most part it was very fitting for the story, some parts really made me wince. Something else in that vein was the very heavy-handed treatment of the themes of feminism. I understand this is basically a staple of the genre, but it was too on the nose for me in this historical fantasy. On that note, there are some scenes in here that seem like thinly veiled metaphors for sexual assault. Quite a few of them actually, so read with caution.
Unfortunately, I was not very invested in Tempe's romance with Josiah, but I think this doesn't take away from the experience of the story, especially later on. What I mean is, the romance subplot (if you can call it that) won't give you butterflies, but it will do what it was intended to do.
The thing I loved most about this book was the ending, which I won't spoil. For me, it felt appropriate and earned, even though it was very unexpected.
So 4 stars for this lovely book. I will be getting a copy for my own collection on release. I mean, look at that cover!
cortanasreadingnook's review
Thanks to North Star Editions for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my thoughts about the book in any way.
This is the best possible way I could articulate my thoughts about this book, but it is unfortunately, very terrible. I rarely DNF when I’ve progressed to 41%, but I cannot say anything that makes this book redeemable. I am part of the minority who disliked this and these are just my thoughts.
CWs/TWs: Sexual Assault, Suicide, Depression, Mental Illness, Adult/Minor Relationship, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Sexual Harassment, Sexism
Bell’s writing paints an eerily atmospheric picture. It is poetic and has lots of potential but is very dragging. Almost halfway through and I could see why other readers did not like this at all. With these amount of CWs, you’d think the writer would’ve handled these issues in a manner that compliments the story and its main character’s purpose, but the execution was bad. I am not intentionally being mean, but this story made me so uncomfortable, especially with the Adult/Minor relationship and how Temperance (the fmc) dealt with SA. The FMC’s goal was to provide for and protect her sister, which I have nothing against, and SA survivors do not owe the world their story, but Tempe was clearly protecting her sister and she failed to do so by hiding substantial information from her, defending her abuser by disguising his actions as rejection. This was a constant reminder throughout the book that it just lost how crucial this should’ve been addressed. In the end, her sister ends up with a pedophile who preyed on her emphasizing how he’s “pushing her for another child” despite her not being ready and our main character loses her mind. It strayed away from the purpose of the story as a whole. I am not trying to be harsh here, but if you want to write a book that says “fuck the patriarchy” then don’t write a book where men still win.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicide, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Grief, and Sexual harassment
sophiawolf's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Temperance works as the lamplighter of Warbler like her father before his suicide. Warbler is plagued by a thick fog when it is dark, making Temperance’s job crucial for the safety of the people in the port town. However, when a girl goes missing, Temperance’s position is put into jeopardy and she begins investigating what might be behind the mystery, all while she is struggling with her life at home as her family’s provider.
The Lamplighter had a great atmosphere, sinister and mysterious. Often, I could not stop reading, because it was so suspenseful.
In general, the characters were well done, especially with their different ways of coping with their struggles.
While the plot could be somewhat slow, the pace was still fine and didn’t stop this book from being an entertaining read.
However, Temperance could sometimes annoy me, because she often blamed others and misogyny for the consequences of her own actions. There were some misogynistic actions, but Temperance just began using that as an excuse for her poor choices often enough to be annoying. If Temperance was so aware of her social situation, then I hoped she’d make better choices, especially when explaining herself.
While a big part of the ending was obvious, I still liked the ending in a way as it seemed fitting.
I would also recommend it to people who like to read some gothic and slightly spooky things, because this aspect of the book was greatly done!
The Lamplighter had a great atmosphere, sinister and mysterious. Often, I could not stop reading, because it was so suspenseful.
In general, the characters were well done, especially with their different ways of coping with their struggles.
While the plot could be somewhat slow, the pace was still fine and didn’t stop this book from being an entertaining read.
However, Temperance could sometimes annoy me, because she often blamed others and misogyny for the consequences of her own actions. There were some misogynistic actions, but Temperance just began using that as an excuse for her poor choices often enough to be annoying. If Temperance was so aware of her social situation, then I hoped she’d make better choices, especially when explaining herself.
While a big part of the ending was obvious, I still liked the ending in a way as it seemed fitting.
I would also recommend it to people who like to read some gothic and slightly spooky things, because this aspect of the book was greatly done!
calamario's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Flux and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It's an honor to bring light to the dark.
In the sleepy whaling village of Warbler in New England, Temperance Byrne has taken over her late father's duty as the town's lamplighter, keeping the villagers safe at night in the near-impenetrable fog that hangs heavy over the town. Sure, sometimes foreign whalers go missing in the fog, but eh, nothing to do about that, they probably just decided to skip out from a hard life at sea, right? Until a young woman goes missing.
The dark atmosphere of The Lamplighter is so delicious, and I was intrigued from the very beginning. The sad circumstances of Tempe's family makes it clear why her job and duty as the lamplighter is important to her, so her anxiety to keep her job and independence is understandable – and when things start to go wrong, through both her own actions and the actions of a more malignant entity hidden in the fog, her increasing desperation is extremely gripping and completely hooked me.
I had a very good time with this read, and the only reason I didn't give it a full five stars is that, since it's a YA horror, I really wish Bell would've leaned more into the eldritch horrors of the woods and the fog, instead of focusing almost solely on the human monster in Warbler (even if said monster had a connection to the surrounding forest). I feel like that relationship and that potential wasn't fully realised, which is a shame – after all, the mysterious fog and strange woods surrounding Warbler are undoubtedly what fuel the dark and gloomy atmosphere of the book.
If you like YA horror that explores the unsafety of young women from monsters hidden in plain view, a nature twist, and a book without a neat and happy ending, then this book is definitely for you!
It's an honor to bring light to the dark.
In the sleepy whaling village of Warbler in New England, Temperance Byrne has taken over her late father's duty as the town's lamplighter, keeping the villagers safe at night in the near-impenetrable fog that hangs heavy over the town. Sure, sometimes foreign whalers go missing in the fog, but eh, nothing to do about that, they probably just decided to skip out from a hard life at sea, right? Until a young woman goes missing.
The dark atmosphere of The Lamplighter is so delicious, and I was intrigued from the very beginning. The sad circumstances of Tempe's family makes it clear why her job and duty as the lamplighter is important to her, so her anxiety to keep her job and independence is understandable – and when things start to go wrong, through both her own actions and the actions of a more malignant entity hidden in the fog, her increasing desperation is extremely gripping and completely hooked me.
I had a very good time with this read, and the only reason I didn't give it a full five stars is that, since it's a YA horror, I really wish Bell would've leaned more into the eldritch horrors of the woods and the fog, instead of focusing almost solely on the human monster in Warbler (even if said monster had a connection to the surrounding forest). I feel like that relationship and that potential wasn't fully realised, which is a shame – after all, the mysterious fog and strange woods surrounding Warbler are undoubtedly what fuel the dark and gloomy atmosphere of the book.
If you like YA horror that explores the unsafety of young women from monsters hidden in plain view, a nature twist, and a book without a neat and happy ending, then this book is definitely for you!
readingonthehorizon's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
In the gloomy whaling village of Warbler, an eerie fog haunts the night and is blamed for the disappearances of townspeople and visiting whalers. Temperance Byrne, the town's lamplighter, gets caught in the middle of accusations and daring acts following the disappearance of a local girl, sending her life into a spiral as she strives to uncover the mysterious disappearances.
Crystal Bell's "The Lamplighter" was an absolute joy to read. It was my first dip into the gothic genre and I couldn't have asked for a better introduction. The world building gave way to thrilling twists and betrayals that left me saying "just one more chapter".
Despite its beauty in storytelling and the world it built, I would have loved to see more of the relationship between Josiah and Temperance as well as Tempe's mother and her character. For me, the fleshing out of these relationships and characters would have allowed me to connect more with them and produce a bigger reaction to the novel's climax.
Thank you so much to North Star Editions and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy!
Crystal Bell's "The Lamplighter" was an absolute joy to read. It was my first dip into the gothic genre and I couldn't have asked for a better introduction. The world building gave way to thrilling twists and betrayals that left me saying "just one more chapter".
Despite its beauty in storytelling and the world it built, I would have loved to see more of the relationship between Josiah and Temperance as well as Tempe's mother and her character. For me, the fleshing out of these relationships and characters would have allowed me to connect more with them and produce a bigger reaction to the novel's climax.
Thank you so much to North Star Editions and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, and Violence