This is a compelling story about a young girl, Hecate, who works in a cathedral library. There are things that happen while at this job that teach Hecate secrets about herself, as well as some horrifying things going on within their community. Only she is able to confront said things, along with help from some special friends along the way. This thrilling mystery book was really well written. The style in which the author writes is extremely detailed and has an old-timey feel to it which matches perfectly with the 1800s setting and time period of the book. I really enjoyed the storyline and felt drawn to Hecate herself as a character. I related to her in many ways and it’s always nice to see a girl heroine!! I also really like the cover of the book. Judging it by that, I definitely would have picked it up at a bookstore! I am under the impression that this book will have a sequel or series according to a hint in the acknowledgment section at the end which is really exciting to me!! There were some aspects left unsolved and I am really excited to hear how it will play out.

Thank you to Netgalley for a kindle edition of The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston.
This does not impact my review.

I am already familiar with and enjoy this author’s other work. This one really hits it out of the park! I love the medieval setting, the nod to mythology that runs through the story and develops with magical alacrity (pun intended). The characters themselves are well developed and suspense is upheld right through the climactic ending … a sequel is hopefully in the works! Great story, I will be buying a physical copy to reread at my leisure.

3 stars
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the ARC of this book. I enjoyed the premise of this book but for me it was slow going and the paragraphs were far too long(sometimes a whole page) just a pet peeve my brain has. I know it was historical fiction/fantasy and set in the 1800's which that's kind of the style but this one just didn't hook me in right away. The Hecate was a great and well built up character though. I didn't realize this was the start of a series until towards the end. Not sure it I will read the next or not at this time.

Brackston creates an excellent character in Hecate Cavendish as someone spirited, likable, and independent. She's singular in her ambitions and habits compared to usual Victorian constraints, but her character still works well within the story and the society. I loved that her father was supportive and invested in her special abilities. One of my coworkers loves Brackston and as I described this to her, with the witchy boots and hitched skirts, the fair array of potential suitors, and the temperment of the main character, she said it hit all the hallmarks. This may sound strange, but the costuming of the main character stands out as clear and makes her easy to envisage and the rest of the cast round out the picture well.

The plot was overall interesting, with more fantasy than what I expected (ghosts are one thing, to my mind, and griffins flying out of maps another). The ending left me a lot of questions, as the threat that was at one moment quite immediate seems to evaporate so that we can tie off this book until the next one comes out. I might be alone in loving what becomes of Hecate's suitor which I found compelling and well done (and given her abilities, there is great dramatic potential here for future books).

This felt like a real change from the other books I’ve read by Paula Brackston. .I found it tedious, most of the way through the book - when the pace picked up in the last 20% or less, I came to the less than satisfying ending, and found that it was the first book in a series.

While I realize the mores of the 1800 required a more tedious pace, and Hecate at least had a father that didn’t hold her to that pace, I simply didn’t enjoy the repeated descriptions, and the slower pace.

Three stars because I still like Paula Brackston. I won’t be doing a written review on Goodreads or Amazon.

I want to thank the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my review.

This is the first in a series, but I have zero interest in continuing the story. There was so much included that didn’t have anything to do with the story. And it’s slow. 50 pages in and still no haunting? I almost gave up.

As others have said, the story ends abruptly. Most series are written as self contained novels in case a reader picks up in the middle. This one ends weirdly with no explanation for the events.

I realize it was an ARC, but not sure if these mistakes will get caught. Hecate mentions having the apothecary belt before she’s actually given it by her father.
And towards the end the word “toothsome” is used incorrectly. Maybe the author meant “toothy?”

What a fun and imaginative novel by Paula Brackston! Loved the historical setting combined with the twist of magic and supernatural. Enjoyed the main character of Hecate and her development through the story. A must read for fans of Brackston or those who like a little magic to their read! #thehauntingofhecatecavendish #paulabrackston #netgalley #goodreads

Reads very slowly, and ends on a crazy cliffhanger! So just a fair warning. I liked the story, I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes from here. The atmospheric elements and the characters kept me on my toes.

What an interesting haunting this is. I enjoyed the story and the characters. Looking forward to the rest of the story.

I have waited a bit to give a review on this book because I was extremely disappointed in the ending.

I really enjoyed the story and the characters but the ending has colored the book for me. I will read the next book in the series in hopes that it makes up for the way this book ended.

The good is the book was well written, pacing was great and the characters were well developed and interesting and is most definitely worth reading.

Cliffhanger alert…
Still with me? Okay.

The title character is a great heroine - young, strong, independent, and curious. The relationship between Hecate and her father is a wonderful one, and the development of her character over the course of the story is intriguing and kept me turning the pages.

I did find this to be slow in its buildup and abrupt in its ending, which will be an issue for some readers. I don't enjoy recapping, so won't here, but will simply say that I really enjoyed this one and I look forward to reading more of this new series.



Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the DRC

The beautiful cover of this book and the promise of a story that takes place in a cathedral housing an ancient chained library had me salivating to begin reading, and Paula Brackston’s The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish did not disappoint! The story takes place in England, 1881, where Hecate Cavendish, who is in no rush to marry, accepts a job as the new Assistant Librarian at the Hereford cathedral. The cathedral is known for its collection of obscure book, many of which are kept under lock and key. It also houses the Mappa Mundi, the oldest and largest medieval map which can be used to navigate people’s beliefs, legends, and histories. Hecate is not only drawn to the map, which is covered in strange animated symbols, but she also learns that she can commune with the dead who reside in the crypt beneath the ground.

This book is a fun mystery story with some supernatural twists, and while the ending felt a bit abrupt, Brackston is setting up a series about Hecate which promises to be entertaining. I love Hecate’s spunky character, witty humor, and the way she rails against the feminine conventions of the Victorian period. Her relationship with her father, an archeologist who travels the world excavating gravesites, is particularly endearing since he once received a prophecy that he “would have a daughter with hair the color of a sunrise who would have a gift.” It is Hecate’s father who named her after the goddess who acts as a liminal guide between the crossroads of dark and light, living and dead. He also gifts his daughter a cameo of Hekate with her keys torch, and snakes, cementing his daughter’s important role in communicating with the dead. Rich in folklore and filled with mystery, The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish will delight those who enjoy a contemporary spin on the Victorian Era and those looking for an exciting new series that blends the supernatural with the everyday world. I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is a great story about a woman named Hecate who works as an Assistant Librarian at Hereford Cathedral. Strange things begin happening once she starts there, and the books in the chained section draw her in as does the medieval world map by her desk. As time goes the characters on the map become animated which is cool. I loved the character especially Hecate and her dad. Very well written. I also loved the Victorian vibe from the story, once again, well done. I kind of got lost near the end, I am not sure what exactly happened and who went where. I am hoping there is more and I look forward to reading about Hecate's adventures in future books.

Reads like a procedural. Very interesting but kind of slow and quite the cliff hanger for an ending. Loved the protagonist, especially the fact that its a woman, and a.young one at that! She goes about her mystery in quite the methodical way, dealing with ghosts and malevolent spirits in such a calm way. She is a young woman in Victorian times who gets a job in the library at the Cathedral as a library assistant to the Master Librarian. She reacts to something called the Mappa Mundi which comes to life in her presence. She has a little pet from it! She is investigating a series of murders that have taken place since the crypts were desecrated and has determined that there are paranormal forces at work. With the help of her fatjer,an archeologist, a reversed from the Catherdral, and a police detective, she comes to find what is happening, but by the end still needs more time to determine the who, and that is the cliff hanger. So.e sad parts, beautiful friendship, an amazing mystery. Quite an interesting read.

I found this disappointing, primarily due to the ending. It felt unresolved in a way that made me not care to read the next part in the series. Hecate is a strong character and was enjoyable enough but the story itself felt disjointed.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love Paula Brackston and her books!
Hecate is a fabulous heroine - spunky, funny and so ahead of her time. When she began her dream role as Assistant Librarian at Hereford Cathedral she had no notion of the adventure that awaited her. She learns that she has abilities beyond the norm and those abilities will be tested when crypts are broken and murders begin. Can she live up to her namesake Hecate - the Goddess of Witchcraft, Magic, and Ghosts?
There has to be more in the series based on how it ended and I can't wait to read the next installment.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish
by Paula Brackston
Pub Date: 23 Jul 2024

England, 1881. Hereford cathedral stands sentinel over the city, keeping its secrets, holding long forgotten souls in its stony embrace. Hecate Cavendish speeds through the cobbled streets on her bicycle, skirts hitched daringly high, heading for her new life as Assistant Librarian. But this is no ordinary collection of books. The cathedral houses an ancient chained library, wisdom guarded for centuries, mysteries and stories locked onto its worn, humble shelves. The most prized artifact, however, is the medieval world map which hangs next to Hecate’s desk. Little does she know how much the curious people and mythical creatures depicted on it will come to mean to her. Nor does she suspect that there are lost souls waiting for her in the haunted cathedral. Some will become her dearest friends. Some will seek her help in finding peace. Others will put her in great peril, and, as she quickly learns, threaten the lives of everyone she loves.

It seems we have been waiting a long time for this one! And yes, it was worth the wait.

Meet Hecate Cavendish, a young woman in England in the year 1881. Our story begins with Hecate excited to begin her first day of employment at Hereford Cathedral, as an Assistant Librarian. Working on old books, manuscripts, and maps.

Riding around on her bicycle, scandalizing her poor mother, flaunting convention everywhere she goes. She is a brilliant young woman with an insatiable appetite for knowledge.

Oh, she also sees and speaks to ghosts. All over the castle. Some are happy to see her and some are determined to get rid of her.

But, Hecate is determined to find out some things. And those things may be the end of her.

I was thrilled to see this new book from Brackston. And can we just talk about how gorgeous her covers are? Always a hit.

Netgalley/ St. Martin’s Press July 23, 2024

This is the second series of Brackston's that I've attempted. Both times I have been drawn in by the gorgeous cover art and the fabulous descriptions. And, unfortunately, both times I have struggled with the books... I think I have to just accept that her writing style and my reading styles just don't mesh. I just couldn't find my way into the story here. Despite a fascinating construct, Hecate's tale just didn't draw me in and I didn't connect with her or the direction or pacing of the plot. This one just wasn't for me.

I wasn’t personally a fan of the writing style (the prose felt ‘older’ in tone), and stopped after chapter 1 (6%). I am not familiar with the author or target audience, so I can’t say how it’s likely to go over. That said, considering how many books the author has written, she probably has come into her own.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.