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epellicci's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I'm not normally a historical fiction kind of girl, but the recommendation from a friend combined with the lure of Welsh mythology tempted me to give The Shadow Key a go. I'm so happy to say I wasn't disappointed.
This book is beautifully Gothic. Set in the county of Gwynedd, Susan Stokes-Chapman has evoked the sense of the landscape so richly. It follows Dr Henry Talbot, who, after an unfortunate dismissal from his his position in London, has arrived in the remote village of Penhelyg to reluctantly take up the role of community physician.
There is a dark mystery hanging over the characters in The Shadow Key, unraveled slowly though the tenacious stubborn investigating of the two main characters. I loved their relationship and the respect that forms between them. More than that though, I loved Linette. Her sense of responsibility, her willingness to be misunderstood, the loneliness she goes through, and the fire that she loves her home and her culture with, really resonated for me. She is a powerhouse of a character, and I longed for her to get a happy ending.
Stokes-Chapman very kindly visited where I work as part of her proof drop for the release of The Shadow Key. Her enthusiasm and passion for the inspiration for this book was infectious. The history of the area, from local tradition and faiths, to the tensions between local tenant and English gentry is so important to the story, and the care she has taken with her research was both a pleasure to hear her talk about and evident within the writing. Thank you to her again for my copy of The Shadow Key, it is fantastic.
This book is beautifully Gothic. Set in the county of Gwynedd, Susan Stokes-Chapman has evoked the sense of the landscape so richly. It follows Dr Henry Talbot, who, after an unfortunate dismissal from his his position in London, has arrived in the remote village of Penhelyg to reluctantly take up the role of community physician.
There is a dark mystery hanging over the characters in The Shadow Key, unraveled slowly though the tenacious stubborn investigating of the two main characters. I loved their relationship and the respect that forms between them. More than that though, I loved Linette. Her sense of responsibility, her willingness to be misunderstood, the loneliness she goes through, and the fire that she loves her home and her culture with, really resonated for me. She is a powerhouse of a character, and I longed for her to get a happy ending.
Stokes-Chapman very kindly visited where I work as part of her proof drop for the release of The Shadow Key. Her enthusiasm and passion for the inspiration for this book was infectious. The history of the area, from local tradition and faiths, to the tensions between local tenant and English gentry is so important to the story, and the care she has taken with her research was both a pleasure to hear her talk about and evident within the writing. Thank you to her again for my copy of The Shadow Key, it is fantastic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Death of parent
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