A review by karlakayjenniges
The Garden of Bewitchment by Catherine Cavendish

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Twins, Evelyn and Claire, spinster women, wanting to hide from society move to a remote location. A sweet little cottage in the Yorkshire Moors. A place for peace and quiet where they can avoid prying eyes and write their stories. 

Settling into their new home, they discover a toy box called “The Garden of Bewitchment”. It appears to be magic and they are quite enamored by the box's ability to create an alternate world that feels all too real but disappears and causes even more confusion and fear.

Things become very sinister as there are appearances of ghosts of the past and strange occurrences begin happening in the sisters home. 

The neighbors become involved and want to help the sisters to solve the mystery and yet their intentions do not seem to be trustworthy. 

The blend of reality and the supernatural gives the story a quality of nothing is as it seems and a sense of being isolated and confused. What is real and what is really happening to these poor sisters? Steeped in deep gothic imagery and the isolated misty moors creates an unsettling  feeling of being watched and wanting to look around corners to see if something is lurking. Appearances of sinister presences with evil intentions, the howling of wolves, walking along dark paths, and being trapped in an abandoned cottage were spine tingling. 

Suspenseful , mysterious, and creepy with an unexpected ending!