A review by literaryjunarin
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

dark mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 “There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner."

This quote is the perfect description on how Diane Setterfield writes. I was indeed a prisoner when Vida Winter was telling the story of her life. 

SHORT SUMMARY: "The enigmatic author Vida Winter has spent six decades creating various outlandish life histories for herself -- all of them inventions that have brought her fame and fortune but have kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she at last wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth, hidden by those who loved her most, remains an ever-present pain. Struck by a curious parallel between Miss Winter's story and her own, Margaret takes on the commission. "

I was busy so I only managed to read this book every lunch break and it's a torture on all the times in between because I wanted to continue reading so badly. This book has the same format as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but compared to Monique of Evelyn Hugo, I loved this book's Margaret way, way better.

This book is deliciously gothic, mysterious, a bit sad and surprisingly heartwarming at the end. This is a book for people who loves book.

If you like books that has gothic strangeness with dysfunctional family drama, this book is for you.