INK VINE by Elizabeth Broadbent

Ink Vine: A Gothic Sapphic Novella by Elizabeth Broadbent
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The weekend is almost here and I wanted to start a novella that I could read in one sitting. I'm glad that I picked this one.

Emmy Joiner lives in a trailer with her family in Lower Congaree. She works as a stripper and because of that, people like to make assumptions and throw out labels that don't apply. Besides, they don't know anything about her ambitions or what's in her heart. The day she meets Zara, her life takes an unexpected turn...

I really enjoyed this! The writing is as lush as the vegetation, and throws the reader into the middle of Emmy's life. The swampy landscape is inspiring and almost as dangerous as the people.

Emmy is such a great character with a very strong voice. A young woman who's only ever known poverty and the cruel words her mother continually spews her way. Still, she keeps going and aspires to become so much more. Yet, everyone is willing to judge her every action and call her names. But she doesn't let their opinions define her.

Another thing that I loved about this novella is the descriptions. Whether inside the strip club, in the deepest part of the swamp, or trapped within the tight walls of the trailer she calls home, I really got a sense of location and could picture everything vividly.

In many ways, this is a sad story about a woman trying to survive in a place where everyone pushes against her desire to grow. Only to find that the one part of herself she's kept secret is her real salvation.

I found the romance to be sweet and hopeful, even a little scary at times because of its intensity. The last bit is only because I suspected something otherworldly was going on, which was later confirmed.

This is a great Southern gothic tale.


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DIAVOLA by Jennifer Marie Thorne

Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is another book that I've had my eye on for a while and finally decided to get stuck into the other day.

This year, Anna is going to Italy for the annual Pace family vacation. She's not looking forward to spending time with her dysfunctional family (twin brother, his boyfriend, older sister, brother-in-law, two nieces and parents) but she instantly likes the villa in the remote Tuscan town. Yet, there's something about this place that bothers her. And it's not just the locked tower door...

Fucking creepy. In the best way possible.

I really love it when a character's voice is so compelling and strong that I'm instantly hooked. I'm also a sucker if she's obviously flawed and definitely keeps secrets that slowly slip out. Add family complications, a spooky haunted house, plenty of unreliable situations to the mix, and my curiosity will keep me there during the duration of the book.

Seriously, I wanted to devour this story in one sitting but forced myself to slow down. To savour every creepy moment for as long as I could.

Everyone in the Pace family is annoying af, which only adds extra flavour to everything else that's going on. And there's a LOT. But mostly, I had a great time following Anna until she reached that very satisfying and unexpected unending.

Loved it. Great book!


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LADY MACBETH by Ava Reid

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to admit that the first thing that caught my attention was this lovely cover. And the fact I enjoyed Macbeth many, many years ago.

Roscille is a young girl married off to the Scottish Thane of Glammis, Lord Macbeth, who lives in a miserable castle and only cares about his ambition to become so much more. As his wife, Lady Macbeth, Roscille is forced to exert her own power in the only way she can: via reputation, suggestion, and manipulation...

I was hooked from the first word. The gothic vibes are all over this story: the cold castle, isolated location, rough terrain, harsh ocean, dark secrets, brutish man, and witches. I found the whole witchy thing to be especially interesting, as well as Roscille herself. Who happens to have her own legend attached to her, that may or may not be true.

I also wasn't expecting any mention of a dragon, but it was very cool, and definitely added to the depth of the story.

Roscille is a strong character who manages to hatch her own cruel plans but can't escape the constraints of horrible men who rule the world and control so much by using violence. These two very different concepts were balanced very well, and certainly made for a great story with an intriguing ending.

I really enjoyed this retelling.

 

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BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE by Anna Biller

Bluebeard's Castle by Anna Biller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yes, I totally bought this book because the cover is stunning and the paperback version is lovely. There's nothing wrong with that. After all, I've always loved those old gothic romance covers from the past. ☺️

Judith is a successful gothic author with a terrible childhood and complicated family connections. Labelled an ugly duckling by her mother, she has issues. But the day she meets the handsome and alluring Gavin, she becomes a romance heroine with a haunted castle and a husband. But Gavin isn't what he seems and soon, Judith finds herself trapped in a gothic novel of her own making...

Wow. This book is something else. It's a bonkers gothic trip, and I absolutely enjoyed every minute of it.

I can understand this story won't be for everyone, but I totally got the undertones in the narrative. Understand how this novel doesn't just tell the obvious story about a woman who gets swept off her feet by a mysterious, sexy man who blinds her with sexual pleasures that melt away her every defence. There's a LOT more there, but I don't want to spoil anything, so this is all I'll say.

Judith, our hopeless romantic heroine is many things—delightful, hopeful, curious, interesting, and infuriating. I was often upset with her decisions and gullible nature, but also understood what she was up against. And the eerie, isolated vibes perfectly capture this genre and kept me glued to the pages.

I liked the writing style and the depth of this tale. A lot. It might not be for everyone, but I enjoyed the hell out of it!


PS. Yes, the overuse of the word gothic was intentional.

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HELENA by Claire L. Smith

Helena by Claire L. Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Last night, while looking through the many books I have on my Kindle, I decided to get stuck into this one.

It's 1855 and Helena Morrigan is a mortician struggling to make ends meet. That's how she ends up living in an old house that's close to the graveyard. But it also means that she befriends the Tarter siblings and realises she's not the only one with secrets...

I loved the rich atmospheric gothic vibes that dripped from every page of this novella. The sense of Victorian times, as well as the location was very vivid and pulled me into the story. Once I started, I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. And it didn't disappoint.

This is a fast-paced story about a very strong young woman determined to live her life even though she's suffered a lot of loss. She excels at a job most find macabre and in her time, struggle to understand why a woman would go anywhere near dead bodies. But she's not the only cool character. I really liked Audrey and Valerie because they're also women who aren't afraid to be themselves.

The creepy side of this tale kept me guessing but there were enough breadcrumbs throughout to realise exactly what Helena's dark secret is. And I found the writing charming. It was snappy and lovely, but also threw a hint of confusion into the narrative that made everything that little bit darker.

Really enjoyed this one!

 

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THE DISMEMBERED by Jonathan Janz

 

The Dismembered by Jonathan Janz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm going to start this review by saying that I love the cover for this novella. It reminds me of those old gothic covers from yesteryear, but also totally captures the story vibes.

Arthur Pearce is an American writer who has escaped to England because his marriage fell apart. But his plans to write a new novel change during a chance meeting with Sarah Coyle. A stranger who asks for his help, and her strange situation captures his imagination so much, that Arthur finds himself at the stunning Altarbrook, in the middle of some unexpected trouble...

Well, this was a fantastic story! I was captivated from the very beginning and couldn't wait to see where Arthur was going to end up. And boy, it didn't disappoint.

Not only is this story gothic to the core in the way of characters, locations, plot, and lavish households, but it's also quite adventurous. It's unpredictable and violent. Plus so bloody, in the most menacing and crude way. I loved every moment of it.

Actually, I loved everything about this novella, but have to give a special mention to Lizzie. She's such a great character, and SO freaking cool.

Another brilliant thing about this gothic nightmare are all the female characters. None was a damsel, and each had their very own good and not-so good traits.

Oh, and Arthur was pretty cool, too.

I enjoyed this so much!


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INHERITING HER GHOSTS by S.H. Cooper

 

Inheriting Her Ghosts by S.H. Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was in the mood for another gothic tale, and this one definitely fit the bill.

Eudora Fellowes is happy to live on her own in the city. The only companions she needs are her loyal wolfhounds, Cerberus and Black Shuck. But when she inherits her estranged great-aunt's seaside manor, High Hearth, she decides to move there. Unfortunately, the house is full of dark secrets...

Well, this novella is fantastic! It's a Victorian Gothic story that features everything you would expect from one, with its own unique twist. I mean, who doesn't want to read about a secluded manor by the sea, a mysterious locked door (love this so much I've used this trope in my own gothic stories), ghosts and secrets? I know I do.

Not only is the writing engrossing, the atmosphere creepy, the location perfectly suited to a gothic tale, but Eudora is an amazing character. Loved how she wanted to live her own life and didn't care what people said about her. And her wolfhounds are such an awesome addition to the story.

The sense of creeping dread is there as soon as she arrives at the seemingly abandoned, High Hearth. And although this is a slow burn horror, you definitely want to stick around for the revelations.

Asides from being a moody piece, I also really liked the characters. Mr. Bentley and his wife, Tillie, are absolutely charming. Morwen's story is both intriguing and sad.

I LOVED this!

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