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A review by worldsbetweenpages
Fyneshade by Kate Griffin
4.0
**4,25/5**
Favorite character: None. They are supposed to be unlikable.
Three words: cruel / eerie / slow
Favorite quote: Many would find much to fear in Fyneshade's dark and crumbling corridors, its unseen master and silent servants. But not I. For they have far more to fear from me.
Manipulative, cunning and ambitious Marta is the main character of the story. She learned some bits of witchcraft from her late grandmother, particularly curses and prophecy, and has a kleptomaniac side; you never know when you might need trinkets from a person you want to curse, right?
She is sent as a governess to the old and disappointingly a bit crumbling Fyneshade estate, to oversee its widowed master's little daughter. Ambitious Marta sees this as a chance to escape her aunt and the village she lives in, to gain a better position or even suitor.
Surprisingly for Marta, the master isn't at Fyneshade and his daughter Grace is disabled and can barely speak. Still, Grace knows more than she first lets on, especially the manors secrets. Marta is annoyed of the little girl but depends on her, for the housekeeping staff is just as secretive and manipulative as Marta herself. Especially when Marta asks questions about the absent master or his heir, Vaughan, who surprisingly showed up in the middle of the night and isn't allowed to enter the manor. With little tricks and manipulation, Marta gets Grace into helping her meet Vaughan secretly, despite the warnings of the housekeeper, that he's evil. But Marta isn't a helpless damsel and has her own plans; as well as Vaughan and everyone else.
I have to say, if you don't like books with unlikable characters, this book is not for you. None of the adults are innocent or even nice, and especially Marta's way of thinking and manipulating little Grace is repulsive. You should know that the story about Marta is the backstory of the angry ghost Miss Jessel in the classic The Turn of the Screw, and what she did in her life to be damned as a ghost. I can safely say, she deserves to become one!
Fyneshade is cruel and dark, full of gothic vibes and although it's slow, I read it super fast, because I wanted to know how all the twists will wrap up and who will emerge victorious from all the lies and scheming.
Favorite character: None. They are supposed to be unlikable.
Three words: cruel / eerie / slow
Favorite quote: Many would find much to fear in Fyneshade's dark and crumbling corridors, its unseen master and silent servants. But not I. For they have far more to fear from me.
Manipulative, cunning and ambitious Marta is the main character of the story. She learned some bits of witchcraft from her late grandmother, particularly curses and prophecy, and has a kleptomaniac side; you never know when you might need trinkets from a person you want to curse, right?
She is sent as a governess to the old and disappointingly a bit crumbling Fyneshade estate, to oversee its widowed master's little daughter. Ambitious Marta sees this as a chance to escape her aunt and the village she lives in, to gain a better position or even suitor.
Surprisingly for Marta, the master isn't at Fyneshade and his daughter Grace is disabled and can barely speak. Still, Grace knows more than she first lets on, especially the manors secrets. Marta is annoyed of the little girl but depends on her, for the housekeeping staff is just as secretive and manipulative as Marta herself. Especially when Marta asks questions about the absent master or his heir, Vaughan, who surprisingly showed up in the middle of the night and isn't allowed to enter the manor. With little tricks and manipulation, Marta gets Grace into helping her meet Vaughan secretly, despite the warnings of the housekeeper, that he's evil. But Marta isn't a helpless damsel and has her own plans; as well as Vaughan and everyone else.
I have to say, if you don't like books with unlikable characters, this book is not for you. None of the adults are innocent or even nice, and especially Marta's way of thinking and manipulating little Grace is repulsive. You should know that the story about Marta is the backstory of the angry ghost Miss Jessel in the classic The Turn of the Screw, and what she did in her life to be damned as a ghost. I can safely say, she deserves to become one!
Fyneshade is cruel and dark, full of gothic vibes and although it's slow, I read it super fast, because I wanted to know how all the twists will wrap up and who will emerge victorious from all the lies and scheming.