A review by beccabookworm
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole

dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A very convoluted story of legacy, rightful heirs, and especially mistaken identity rounds out what’s considered to be the first gothic novel. Nobody knew who anybody was in this story. Jk, but there were some important moments of mistaken or hidden identity that led to some silly and some tragic outcomes. There were some comedic moments too, but overall, it’s a pretty dark novel with a sprinkle of fate and prophecy magic that follows the downfall of a man mad with power who brings the people who love him down with him. 

I listened to a LibriVox recording narrated by Great Plains, who was amazing! The voices and the acting really kept me engaged in the plot. It’s pretty slow starting off, but picks up a lot in the last third. So if you do plan on reading this book, I recommend listening to this version because I likely wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much if I read it myself. 
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