Reviews

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

booktravler101's review

5.0

Margret Lea has grown up in her parent's book store and learned the love of reading and getting lost in stories. She is drawn in to the life story of author Vida Winter and her life and tragedy that that followed.
This is a book I could not put down and enjoyed how Diane Setterfield brings the story around, connecting past and present.

carriehickmannn's review

3.0

I enjoyed the reveal and ending so much that I almost bumped it up to a four star, but I couldn’t get over the weird logic inconsistencies of the main character and the long-winded writing style. Also, it didn’t help that while this book is advertised as a love letter to reading it’s very specifically aimed at victorian/gothic lit which is tbh not my cup of tea

carolinamoon's review

dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Gothic literature. 
Family secrets.
Formerly wealthy and wasting away with wickedness and neglect. 
A booklovers book.
The prose was beautiful and enthralling for the most part, although I would have shortened it a bit. Towards the middle and end, I was scanning the page to get it moving.
Did you get the reference to Jane Erye? It was only mentioned a handful of times... could have been more subtle.
(To be fair, I read an advanced readers edition)

wailish's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

mullinscl9657's review

adventurous dark mysterious slow-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

4.0

brn's review

5.0

This is an excellent read! I couldn't put it down. One of those stories that when it ends you are sad. I thought I had hints of the end then thought I was wrong...then turns out I was right.

nicolioli's review

emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

dlhryan's review

dark sad 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? It's complicated

3.0

A re-read. I don't remember much from this story, but after rereading it, I now remember why I liked it. It is an interesting gothic tale that gives the air of a ghost story without actually being one. It was a slow burn for me, but it's an interesting take on twins/triplets that reminds me a lot of The Turn of the Screw. There are some parts that I didn't enjoy as much, like

how the "ghost" is just the 3rd child that no one really knew about because she was kept secret.

3/5 

deanna_rigney's review

3.0

This was brooding, melodramatic, and mysterious. There was definitely a Dickensian feel to it. I couldn't completely buy the ending, but it was entertaining and well written.

betseyboo's review

2.0

I enjoyed reading this book but it is best to curl up with this novel on a snowy day. It helps to set the mood. The mystery was great but the book could have used some editing so that is why I gave it three stars.