I requested an ARC of this book because of the description and title - a haunted library? Enchanted artifacts? A woman born ahead of her time? My opinions are mixed, but the story pretty well composed so it's a 3 for me.

Some of my dislikes may be your likes, so let me start with those.

The book is slow - and not in the worst way, as there is definitely an audience for this book - one that appreciates a cozier story or maybe prefers classics, as this story reads like one. Not just in the "I really researched 19th century dialogue," but in the tune of "I am going to write like Jane Austen." The whole book reads in the style of classics, and while that's not anything that powers my motor it might do something for yours.

There was not enough action in a book that has ghosts and exorcisms for a reader with preferences like mine. Take a scene where an enchanted book is trying to swallow up an enchanted creature and it lasts a few paragraphs, compared to several mentions and pages throughout the book of Hecate's relationship to her bicycle. Again, these are interesting takes, for sure, but I needed more suspense.

The ending was kind of... meh.

My likes are definitely Hecate's character and relationship with her father.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

On paper, this book has the makings of the kind of story I should absolutely love: a free spirited Victorian era girl resisting gender expectations by seeking work as a librarian, the library has a magical map and fantastic creatures, and there’s a (demonically inspired) murder mystery afoot.

In reality, it took me a week to read this book. It rarely takes me a week to read a good book, but for some reason I never could get fully invested: it was kind of slow going. I loved Hecate as a lead character. But I didn’t really buy into either the magic or the romance. And the mystery? Surely there has to be a sequel, because it’s never fully resolved.

There are definitely parts that I loved: the library, the ghosts, Hecate herself, her relationship with her father. I can’t put my finger on what’s missing. Would I read a sequel, if provided? Probably. I want some resolution, and I liked the story well enough. It’s just not going to be a hands down favorite.

Having read Paul Brackston’s “ Witch’s Daughter”, I was delighted to read her latest work “The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish”. The book is a wonderful start to her new series. Spellbinding and captivating I didn’t want to put it down. This whimsical fairy-tale about demons and goddesses and good vs. evil is nothing short of brilliant. Although slow at times I still rated it five stars and look forward to reading more books in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on July 23, 2024.

Solid start to a new series - it was a bit of a slow read at times even though I did generally enjoy it and am looking forward to the next installment.

Interesting concept. I didn’t realize that this was a first book in a new series, so I was rather surprised when the story didn’t have a conclusion. It definitely left me wanting to know what will happen next!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

The premise of The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is delightful, but it moved a bit slow for me. I technically DNF at 38% but I had to skep to the end to find out what happened. If there’s ever an abridged audio version, I’d check it out.

3.5/5 stars for The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish. I really did enjoy this book. Hecate is a wonderful heroine who is smart and genuine to all those around her. I thought the plot was very interesting although I felt it dragged a little through the first half of the book.
The writing was beautiful and intriguing. Unclear whether this will lead to a sequel, but if It did I would definitely read it!

First of all I absolutely am in love with this cover. The dress, the keys, the colours the sparkle, perfect.

I don’t read a lot of books in this genre but the description of this one (and the cover) really called to me.

Hecate is hired to be a library assistant at the cathedral library. This library houses not just old and rare books but a medieval map and a few souls who have spent their lives and afterlives looking after the books. Hecate will soon learn that she can see and speak with these spirits. But there are some dark forces who would seek to do her and the library harm in search of some knowledge that had been locked away for safety.

So I was hooked on this book from the start, Hecate is so earnest in her love of books and knowledge. Her father is an archaeologist and the bond they share is beautiful. This is a really neat story, but somewhere a little past halfway it starts to fall apart. And by then end I was finding myself a bit uninterested. I think the scope of the story expands too quickly and it doesn’t have the foundation to carry it. I do know this isn’t my typical book so it might just be it didn’t mesh with what I like but I wound up not loving it by the end the way I did in the beginning. There is another book coming as this is going to be a series so maybe the next one will flesh out the rest of the story a bit.

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for letting me read this one a little early. Look for it July 23 2024.
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The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish has a lot going for it: interesting premise, strong lead you can root for, great setting, and paranormal aspects. There were just two pieces keeping me from giving it a higher rating. The pacing at times seemed off. There were sections of the story that dragged and then the ending was rather abrupt for me. The second was the ending itself. I know it's a series but I was hoping for somewhat better resolution before moving to the next installment.

I'll definitely continue this series though

I adore Paula Brackston's writing and stories! She is my go to when it comes to all things magic as I just love the creativity and spins she puts on the stories. There are definitely slow parts, but not enough to make me stop reading.

I loved the storytelling in this. Yes, the paragraphing was weird and I do wish the ending left on a better foot. Yet, I am willing to read the next installment. Hecate’s character is fierce and unmoving. I absolutely loved stepping into her world with the very realistic cathedral setting.

Thank you NetGalley for my copy!

I’ve been wanting to read something by this author for years. Why I never have is beyond me. This being my first book by Paula, I had no expectations. After seeing some lukewarm reviews, I was hesitant, so I’m pleasantly surprised that I quite enjoyed this. Yes, it’s slow, but in this instance it didn’t bother me. For one, I loved the characters. Every single one of them, especially Hecate. I think the story flowed at a good pace. I liked the action at the end. I like that there’s going to be more……I hope. Lastly, I liked the paranormal aspect. I won’t be hesitant about reading more of Paula’s books.

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

Wow, what a strong start for a new series, with an incredibly compelling lead! Hecate Cavendish is the independent-minded bright daughter of an archaeologist. She speeds through Hereford on her bicycle, thrilled to be starting her new job as an assistant librarian at the local cathedral. There, she's enthralled not only by the collection of old, obscure books, but by the medieval map over her desk--and in it, the figures seem to move, for her eyes alone. Within the first day, she meets new friends on the grounds as well--ghosts, which to her shock, she can speak with. But when evil entities burst forth from the crypt beneath the cathedral, darkness soon stalks the streets of Hereford.

There is so much I love about this book. Foremost is Hecate, who is smart, savvy, and oh so human. Her love of books immediately made her relatable for me. The setting is wonderful, too--Hereford, a quintessential British small town with a deep history and ready access to London for when the plot requires a jaunt to the British Museum. The supporting cast is great, too. There's the kind of ensemble cast you need for a mystery.

There were two major points that made me pause from a full 5 stars, though. First of all, I was left craving more... uniqueness in the dark magic that was afoot. Maybe more nuance and originality will emerge with future books--I hope so! The end brought a devastating twist that was a bit transparent, and overall, left a whole lot hanging. I would have liked to have had more resolved in this book, but hey, I adore Hecate and I'll be happy to read onward to find out what happens next.

I received a temporary digital copy of The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Hecate Cavendish, the new Assistant Librarian, at Hereford Cathedral learns of her special background as the "daughter" of the goddess of Magic, Hecate. As a necromancer raises spirits from the cathedral's crypt, Hecate does everything she can to learn of its origins and how to stop them.

The Haunting of Hecate was okay - the premise was interesting and I enjoyed the character of Hecate; however, the story moves slowly and there was absolutely no resolution by the end of the book. I also don't feel compelled to continue the series by any means.

I have always loved reading Paula Brackston's novels and her newest release, The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish, is no different. I greatly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it. Five stars.

With a modern looking father and a traditional mother, Hecate Cavendish is lucky to have earned a position as an assistant librarian in a local Cathedral. Not a job most would consider a woman for, but her father helped to pave the way with the head of the Cathedral. But as soon as Hecate begins her new role, use learns something new about herself as well. She can see and hear things that others cannot.

Committing herself to her job and her new found friends and fighting evil, Hecate will have to make many choices in her young life that can lay the foundation for her future. If she can manage to survived the current evil, that is.

Brackston NEVER disappoints. She is the mistress of all things paranormal in her books and she brings the character and creatures to life. If you have not yet red a book by Brackston, or haven’t read anything of hers in awhile, you are missing out!

This one was hard for me to get into... I managed 20ish pages at a time unless I really committed myself. It made the first 100+ pages pretty tough to slough through...and then the last 50ish pages weren't much more fulfilling.

Hecate is a smart girl--and you'll need to remember that because it's pretty much her defining characteristic. She's smart for a girl. She's smart for the time period. She's smart enough to outwit, outrace, out maneuver. The constant reminder of her "brilliance" became tiresome.

Hecate works in a local church's library, where she befriends spirits and finds mysteries. As deaths occur in the town, SHE wants to find them and her father bends to her will while her mother holds her at arm's length. While I'm glad Hecate was her own person, the reverence that every one felt for her (and her intelligence) seems shallow and lazy.

The story's pacing needed work, the vocabulary was vexing, and the characters lacked depth. It didn't hit for me while reading and became a wholly forgettable story.

Overall: 2 stars (It was fine; won't reread)

I'll tell my students about: language, alcohol, religion, supernatural, trauma, sexism, violence/gore/death

**Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the free ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 4
Pace: 3
Plot development: 3
Characters: 3
Enjoyability: 3
Ease of Reading: 4

Overall rating: 3 out of 5

I try to read everything that Paula Brackston writes. I have loved her books about witches and the historical period pieces she’s written. This book captured my attention because it was a historically set book but not one about witches per se. I found Hecate’s character very intriguing as her gifts were revealed throughout the book, and loved how she was portrayed as the strong young woman who often defied behavior expected of her time.. The other characters in the book were equally compelling especially the souls and the Romantic interest. The mystery and other dramatic events in the story unfolded at a good pace. I didn’t realize that the book was the beginning of a series, so I was caught off guard at the end. Now I’ll be impatiently waiting for the next in the series!

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is the beginning of a new magical series by author Paula Brackston. This story mixes historical fiction, mystery, and the paranormal into a delightful beginning. Hecate is a wonderfully engaging character who is smart, strong-minded, warm-hearted, and inquisitive. Her father has gotten her a job at Hereford Cathedral as an assistant librarian. Here she immediately makes some interesting new friends who are spirits that reside there and also discovers a special connection with the Mappa Mundi map of the world behind her desk.

Hecate turns detective after a disturbance in the crypt precedes several seeming possessions and deaths around the town. With the help of her father, who strongly supports her investigation, she proceeds. Inevitably she puts herself into some dangerous situations. I enjoyed the supernatural elements of the book. They are woven so well into the narrative. The author Paula Brackston is a beautiful writer and I was easily immersed in the world she has created. There is the comfort of the library contrasted with the dark atmosphere of the plot.

I really enjoyed this story. My only issue was the unexpected ending that left me a bit confused. It felt like an odd place for the story to stop. As the story moved forward, there was a sense of urgency to resolve the mystery. This urgency seems to have disappeared when the book ends and leaves us waiting for book two.


Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.