A review by jcdunn16
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

dark mysterious 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

3.0

A lot of the fiction I read gets tagged as « literary fiction » but this is the first book I’ve read in quite some time that truly fit that category. It’s an homage to gothic literature (and has countless allusions to Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and other literary touchstones) with a few unique twists of its own. Ultimately, the book becomes a story about agency and grappling with dark legacies and trauma. It wasn’t necessarily my cup of tea, but I don’t regret reading it and don’t doubt that it will stick with me for a while.
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