Scan barcode
eme17's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
A dark mystery with a self-centred, greedy protagonist who is confident she is meant for great things. She's drawn to Fyneshade and wants to uncover it's mysteries while she is burdened with the task of being governess to a troubled young girl. All the characters are not quite as they seem, and everyone has alterior motives. It's a concisely written and well paced story that has a healthy sprinkling of magic. A twisting tale with plenty of darkness to it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Death, Sexual content, Ableism, Abortion, Child abuse, Drug use, and Pregnancy
outsmartyourshelf's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Marta has lived with her grandmother for as long as she can remember, & the old woman has educated her in the ways of using magic. Following her grandmother's death, Marta discovers that she is to be sent away to be a governess at Fyneshade Hall, & she suspects that this is a plot cooked up between her aunt & the mother of Marta's lover, Nathaniel. When Marta arrives at Fyneshade she discovers that her charge, Grace, has developmental & learning delays (the description seems to suggest Down Syndrome).
The house & its environment is distinctly odd: not only is the Master (Sir William Pritchard) never at home, but all of the maids & staff are homely & 99% are female. Not only that, but one of the few males, young Master Vaughan Pritchard is forbidden to enter the house whilst his father lives. This is not a pleasing situation for Marta but she uses her time to learn about the secrets of those around her & how best to use them to her advantage. Marta believes she is destined for something much greater than being just the governess but her conceit might be her undoing.
This is a dark gothic read, a genre which I love. Usually the audience empathises with the main character & wants to see them succeed, but here the main character, Marta, is easy to dislike. She's manipulative, cunning, physically abusive to Grace, mercenary, & what we would now term fatphobic with how she describes others. She thinks herself above everyone else, so what kept me reading above it being an engrossing tale, was hoping to see she gets her comeuppance. The author has crafted Marta so convincingly that the character raises antipathy from most readers judging by the reviews. That's not quite the end of the story though, & there's a nod to Henry James in the final scenes. Verdict: liked it but not sure I'd re-read it due to the main character. If you like books by authors such as Laura Purcell, you'd probably enjoy this one too.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
The house & its environment is distinctly odd: not only is the Master (Sir William Pritchard) never at home, but all of the maids & staff are homely & 99% are female. Not only that, but one of the few males, young Master Vaughan Pritchard is forbidden to enter the house whilst his father lives. This is not a pleasing situation for Marta but she uses her time to learn about the secrets of those around her & how best to use them to her advantage. Marta believes she is destined for something much greater than being just the governess but her conceit might be her undoing.
This is a dark gothic read, a genre which I love. Usually the audience empathises with the main character & wants to see them succeed, but here the main character, Marta, is easy to dislike. She's manipulative, cunning, physically abusive to Grace, mercenary, & what we would now term fatphobic with how she describes others. She thinks herself above everyone else, so what kept me reading above it being an engrossing tale, was hoping to see she gets her comeuppance. The author has crafted Marta so convincingly that the character raises antipathy from most readers judging by the reviews. That's not quite the end of the story though, & there's a nod to Henry James in the final scenes. Verdict: liked it but not sure I'd re-read it due to the main character. If you like books by authors such as Laura Purcell, you'd probably enjoy this one too.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Sexual content and Murder
More...