Sounded like a good book at the time I requested it, but this fell flat. It was a slow paced horror and I was expecting more. She did write good, might give other books of hers a try.

Catherine Cavendish has become one of my favorite female horror writers. I really appreciate her female-fronted novels. The Garden of Bewitchment started off slow for me, but was full of twists and turns.

Catherine Cavendish took only one book to become my favorite author of atmospheric and Gothic horror.. The Haunting of Henderson Close did it for me, In Darkness, Shadows Breathe ingrained the opinion, and this novel, The Garden of Bewitchment, cemented it into the 7th level of granite stone.
The setting of The Garden of Bewilderment is exactly what I would have expected from Cavendish, but she writes with such depth and breadth that it becomes more than a background; it is immersible. and the slow, methodical progression of eerie events from the garden build and build in a torturous fashion keeping the reader in almost constant suspense. I actually found myself having to put the book down for several minutes on two occasions just to catch my breath before compulsively diving in again to see what was going to happen next!
Not to be missed. This is a master craftsman in full stride.
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The premise was very promising. However, the plot was slow moving. By the time it picked up, I did not really care about the sisters. Still, it is very well-written, and the setting was atmospheric. I recommend this for fans of Simone St. James!

This is my first novel by Catherine Cavendish, but it surely will not be my last. Her writing is absolutely breath-taking. With a haunting atmosphere and wonderful characters, The Garden of Bewitchment left me just wanting to read the book again.

This is a work of supernatural horror, but it feels like an old horror. I love that about this book. It doesn’t rely on silly scare tactics, instead it relies on atmosphere. With such twists and turns, as the story progresses, I was very intrigued.

The end of the novel is very intense. It’s like journeying into a dark hole, and it successfully managed to freak me out. I really loved it so much.

This book really caught my attention. I absolutely loved it and I highly recommend it!!

*I received a free copy of this book from Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*

This book was a wild ride. It took me a little while to get into Cavendish's writing; initially, the style felt a bit off to me. However, I soon got into it and became really invested in the story.

It goes in a lot of different directions, with lots of twists and turns. While I did foresee one of the major twists, I was not expecting the ending to play out the way it did.

I enjoyed the pace of the book and was continuously interested. The fact is, the book is pretty weird, but definitely an enjoyable kind of weird. I finished it in a day because I was so eager to figure out just what the hell was going on.

I will say that I do wish the ending hadn't been felt so rushed. More explanation could've, and should've, been given to elaborate on why these characters in particular were involved in this story, and how the actions in the latter part of the book facilitated the ending. There was a lot of build up to a climax that fell a bit flat, with questions left unanswered that definitely should've been.

Still - I enjoyed it and I would definitely pick up something else of Cavendish's in the future.

i really enjoyed reading Ms. Cavendish's book, this was my first book that I read of hers and it didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed the spooky atmosphere and the characters.

*Many thanks to Catherine Cavendish, Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
I found the premise and the idead behind this horror interesting, and there were moments when this book drew on me. However, if the story takes place in England, why American English spelling? This was something that did not allow me to appreciate the writing as much as I would have liked. Besides, a historical fiction requires the characters to be drawn as closely as possible to the people who ived in a given period. Unfortunately, in case of ths book, they fel too modern to me.

Deeper Shades of Victorian Darkness

This was a story that tied my nerves in knots with all its twists. The setting explicitly imbued it with the flavor of the Brontës and their works, especially Wuthering Heights. The darkness underlying the sisters' Victorian manners and charm grew more apparent, page by page, until the shocking conclusion.

I think I may have been too young to properly appreciate Wuthering Heights! I recall it was dark, but I can't recall anything that would inspire ideas such as these.

Catherine Cavendish is an exceptionally skilled writer in the horror genre, with the capability to equally charm and horrify. Her books are entirely original, but they remind me in ambiance of those old pioneers so loved by the film industry: Lovecraft; James; Le Fanu; and DuMaurier and Jackson as well.

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller! The Garden of Bewitchment was amazingly engrossing. This story is about twin sisters and a game that comes between them. A bit of ghostly & demon fun time. The scenes & settings were done so well.. Catherine Cavendish is a new to me author, and I will certainly be picking up more from her.

Twin sisters move to a cottage on the Yorkshire Moors but then a strange “toy” turns up - best to leave it well alone! I liked the story very much and the cover was great. What completely ruined it for me was that it shrieked of the way people speak today, so much so that it might just as well have been, losing all the atmosphere in the process. The other thing which jarred was using the American way of spelling. Such a shame as it could have been a 5 star book.

It’s the late 1800s, the countryside moors and the howling wind. The perfect horror settings right? Oh! Don’t forget the creepy house where you start making friends with a person who is supposed to be long dead.
Yes. An absolutely riveting tale of horror. Catherine Cavendish has extracted a lot of juice from the already saturated tropes of classical horror.
But having read a lot of horror novels and stories, I couldn’t help but get a hint of what’s actually going on; which however was compensated well towards the ending.
The story kind of becomes confusing at times. Well it had to, as the story also deals with the horrors hidden in the deepest trenches of the human mind.
Overall, it was a perfect read during these quarantined times, as it was not a dragging read.

As an undergraduate English major, I was introduced to many books that I otherwise would not have read. Even if I didn't really appreciate reading them at the time, the same way kids don't always appreciate the green vegetables they were forced to consume, I find that I am still a better writer and better librarian for it. This is especially true upon discovering Gothic classics like Wuthering Heights or Wieland, Or, The Transformation, or the expanded universe of Poe's writings beyond "The Tell-Tale Heart." I discovered these stories and still remember them fondly. In reading Catherine Cavendish's The Garden of Bewitchment, it was like a trip back to when I first discovered these stories and what made them special.
The story is set up like many Gothic page-turners: in 1893, two sisters Claire and Evelyn Wainwright have moved to a quiet cottage on the English countryside, but a mysterious game is waiting for them, a magical game called the Garden of Bewitchment. The game allows you to make your own garden, complete with house and with little cardboard people inside, but there are also things waiting for Claire and Evelyn in the house, and in the garden. What is waiting for them wants the sisters to stay awhile, possibly forever.
More fun than downright terrifying, this book often feels like a kitchen sink of Gothic and horror conventions, everything from mysterious but genial stranger Matthew Dixon to Bramwell Bronte, a specter who is also Claire's paramour, but these differing elements, from fantastical board games to serpentine Old World gods, come together in a fun and lively way. Even the sisters' love of Bronte's literature and their own writing endeavors show that Cavendish is well-versed in Gothic horror and doesn't mind addressing it in an almost meta way. Fans of classic stories from Poe, Hawthorne, Lovecraft, and Bronte, whether or not they discovered these writers in a college-level English course, will find something to love in this garden, which Catherine Cavendish has planted with an evident love for Gothic literature.

This was my first Catherine Cavendish book. I love a good victorian gothic horror novel and this didn’t disappoint. I will be picking up more books by the author.

This a slow-burn suspense/horror novel in the vein of Victorian Gothic. This is a genre of fiction that I absolutely love, and I'd say Cavendish did a pretty decent job with it. The eerie atmosphere and setting is fantastic, and the creeping dread the sisters felt really did resonate. Admittedly, the ending felt a bit rushed after the slow pace for most of the story. But overall this was a solid genre story and I'd be very interested in reading whatever this author does next.

4 Stars!

I had read several books by Catherine Cavendish before so I was happy to get a copy of The Garden of Bewitchment from Flame Tree Press. I had enjoyed her previous novels and the Gothic vibe mixed with strong horror that each had held in its pages so was eager to dive into this new book looking for a good, old-fashioned scare.

Evelyn and Claire had always loved the moors and always felt out of place in the small town they had lived in their entire lives. As two single sisters living together, the world in 1893 was not ready for them to remain together and single for their entire lives. They decided to move to a house on the moors in Yorkshire away from the prying eyes of the town. It was to be a peaceful existence. Instead, when a strange toy garden appears in their new home, their new life quickly turned into a nightmare.

Evelyn quickly becomes friends with their handsome neighbor, Matthew Dixon, but Claire is suspicious of the man who seems to hold many secrets. Then the toy garden comes to life and things begin to quickly spin out of control. The two women seem to be controlled more and more by the game and the ghosts within and begin to wonder if Matthew may be the mastermind behind all of their troubles. Once they have entered the garden of bewitchment, though, they may never be able to find their way out.

I was prepared for a strong atmosphere and a gothic horror novel when I started The Garden of Bewitchment and that is exactly what Catherine Cavendish delivered. From the first page, I was transported back into England in 1893 and felt completely immersed in the novel. The setup was strong and Cavendish makes the characters and the world seem real from the outset. If anything, there may have been a little too much realism to the beginning of the novel as it takes a little time to get into the heart of the story but fans of this type of story will enjoy this. Once the sisters move to their new house, however, the story begins to develop quickly and in a very strange way.

The toy garden is a strange way to introduce the supernatural into the story by the idea of the toy being a gateway to a much darker dimension works in this novel. It is more than a little strange at times and once the ghosts begin to have their way with the sisters it just gets more bizarre and intense as the story draws toward its climax. I was at times confused and terrified but I was never bored with the second half of the tale. This is a period work of fiction but it also a strong horror novel that borders on the bizarre at times. Cavendish handles all of this with a deft hand and crafts a unique and haunting tale.

I would like to thank Flame Tree Press and NetGalley for this review copy. The Garden of Bewitchment is available now.

Claire and Evelyn have moved to a smaller place — a cottage to live after their father dies. They are wealthy though not married. However two sisters who live alone is not consider normal. Instead of living in the city, they will live in the country. Claire and Evelyn are twins. They are aspiring to become authors. Claire and Evelyn have always been fond of the Brontë authors. Claire believes herself in love with Branwell Brontë. Evelyn and Claire argue about Branwell being an imaginary person as he has been dead. Evelyn goes for walks on the moors behind them where she meets a temporary neighbor, Matthew who tells about a toy he had as a child. The toy was called “the garden of bewitchment.” He explains how the toy had a miniature house, garden and more. He also said it had something evil in it. How can their be evil in a toy? When this toy mysteriously appears in the house, Claire becomes infatuated with it. She tells Evelyn she finds herself in the garden of the toy. Evelyn cannot believe it. As strange things continue to happen to them, Evelyn finds herself in fear of he life and wondering if she is losing her sanity. Is she?

A gothic novel that is suspenseful , mysterious and creepy. I enjoyed the novel as I love the mystery of the toy. I found the ending of the novel not to be what I expected. It’s a great ending but surprised me.

Evelyn and Claire are twin sisters. They feel they no longer belong in Yorkshire. Their parents are deceased and before dying, their father sold the family business which employed much of the town. While this left Evelyn and Claire financially set, many lost their jobs. Evelyn and Claire are looking for a new start and since they are budding writers who are obsessed to different degrees with all things Bronte, they move to a small cottage on the Moors. Once their, Evelyn and Claire stumble upon a game, The Garden of Bewitchment, that shouldn't exist but does. The neighbor, Matthew, also has had experiences with this game and even though they are leery of him, Evelyn and Claire end up seeking his help.

I really enjoyed this tale and to be honest, it would be a great read for a cold winter's night huddled in a blanket with a glass of bourbon (or coffee, but I'm in the mood for bourbon). While not exactly action-packed, Cavendish does a great job with scenes and setting and at times I actually felt like I was on the Moors with Evelyn and Claire. I enjoyed their sisterly bond to a point, but can't really elaborate any more for risk of spoiling things. I also kind of figured out some of the twists early on, but that didn't damper my reading enjoyment. My only real issue with it was that I wish it had been a tad more scarier. That being said, I'm not easy to scare so if you are looking for a mild horror read, this is definitely the ticket.

While this book is classified as horror I think it might better be described as a slow-burn suspense novel. However, it also very much feels like a Gothic horror tale. So if any of these descriptors intrigue you, then you might want to pick this one up. I will most certainly be on the lookout for more titles from this author.

~Available Now~

‘In 1893, Evelyn and Claire leave their home in a Yorkshire town for life in a rural retreat on their beloved moors. But when a strange toy garden mysteriously appears, a chain of increasingly terrifying events is unleashed.’

I hate not finishing a book, especially when I have gotten three-quarters of the way into it, and though I found it difficult at times to stay connected with the characters and their circumstances in THE GARDEN OF BEWITCHMENT, I am really glad I read this book until the end; which I loved!

The majority of the book felt, to me, very anticlimactic, at least until I reached the ninety percent mark. As the reader, you are presented with several intense moments throughout, only for that tension to dispel when the characters appear to be unfazed by what’s happening to them by way of a scene change into the next day or going to bed, for example.

Also, I was a bit surprised that characters who experience the Supernatural for themselves have difficulty fathoming another character witnessing something Paranormal, to the point of thinking, said character might be losing their mind.

The premise behind the story I like, it’s unique and brings a tiny bit (pun not intended) of a Through The Looking-Glass feel to it with a dark twinge of horror, the characters, and by extension the reader, question what’s real and what’s not.

I loved the ending, which was intense, a twist in the narrative I had expected, but thankfully I was a bit off regarding how the story plays out, and that Epilogue - Loved it!

Just because this book didn’t completely resonate with me doesn’t mean other readers won’t feel differently. If the synopsis sparks your interest as it did mine, then give THE GARDEN OF BEWITCHMENT a chance, you may be surprised what you find lurking within.

Next up from Catherine Cavendish, her novel THE HAUNTING OF HENDERSON CLOSE, which admittedly has been on my to-be-read list after purchasing it last year, and I for one, can’t wait to read it!

Thank you, NetGalley and Flame Tree Press, for loaning me an advance copy of THE GARDEN OF BEWITCHMENT in exchange for an honest review.

- After the death of their father, Claire and Evelyn decide to live in the country where it’s nice and quite. This little country side town also ties in with the brontë family and was where wuthering heights was inspired. Claire is obsessed with the dead Branwell Brontë brother. Claire is convinced she sees him and he visits her in person. Evelyn can’t convince her sister otherwise about Branwell. Evelyn takes long walks in the moors by their house and meets a fine young man named Mathew. On one of Evelyn and Mathew’s walks, he tells her about this toy he saw when he was a kid thats was called “the garden of bewitchment”. Which happens to appear in Claire and Evelyn’s cottage soon after. They are connected somehow and must figure out how. This book had a great start but becomes very slow and rambling towards the middle. The end picked back up. This book was like some sort of weird dark Alice in wonderland spiraling down the rabbit hole. 3/5 🌟 review! Happy pub day


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