Caitlin Starlight has a powerful voice in Yellow Jessamine. She created a novel that recovers the best from Gothic classics, added some fantasy and horror to make it more current, and decorated with a bit of romance, and who doesn’t like a supernatural fairy tale out of hell? We need more books like this in the market, please!
Full review (Aug-11): https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/2020/08/resena-review-yellow-jessamine.html

Having read (and loved) Starling's debut novel The Luminous Dead not once but twice, I knew I needed to get my hands on this novella and supported the Kickstarter campaign back before quarantine. Yellow Jessamine has everything I needed: all the Gothic vines (pun/typo intended), queer ladies, and Starling's evocative prose. She doesn't waste words, but what some might find extraneous is used to brilliant effect, painting the main character's fracturing psyche across the page.

The only downsides are: I wanted more description and worldbuilding. Descriptions particularly of house and garden. This is a very Gothic story and the settings are so important. I wanted time and care and attention given to the house and every plant and jar and tincture in Evelyn's house/greenhouse/workshop. As for worldbuilding, I didn't feel like we had much of a handle on the greater world, even though it ended up being rather important to the plot. There are hints that definitely intrigued me (namely: the soldier) but I felt unsatisfied by it.

I will say that Starling is a master of weirdly descriptive but very internalized horror-adjacent writing. I'm very excited for my finished copy to arrive, as per my Kickstarter backer perks, because this was a story I was able to devour in an evening and probably would again.

I didn't imagine what reading Yellow Jessamine would be like. I thought I would get a mysterious disease in a town somewhat led by a weird woman, but instead, I got a mysterious businesswoman, expert in herbology and poisons who seems to be followed by an odd disease.

One thing I want to highlight before anything else is the beauty of the book ! The cover is gorgeous and totally drew me in ! You can add to this the beauty of the headers at the beginnning of each chapter. The attention given to the details of the header is crazy ! I loved it !

Now, Yellow Jessamine is a character-driven story, where everything revolves around Evelyn. The disease is here, but it seems to revolve around her as well, chasing her and the people around her. Evelyn is a very well-crafted character. She's the opposite of a hero, and she just wants the world to forget her existence and live in peace (what a relatable character !). I liked reading about the evolution of her mind, seeing how she thinks, tries to figure out solutions to protect herself and her maid Violetta.

Violetta is another reason I loved this novella. She's nice, loyal, and ultimately quite fierce. She's not afraid of Evelyn, never hesitates to voice her opinion, and brings out the best in Evelyn. I loved that she tried to help her mistress the best she could, dealt with all the obscure sides of Evelyn, yet never left her side.

I'm not giving this book 5 stars because I would have wanted to read more about the disease, and have more answers about it. Ultimately, the disease is just a way to help getting inside Evelyn's head and uncovering her past, when I wanted it to be its own entity and have a big impact on its own.

Overall, this is a great novella, quick to read and utterly captivating. I mean that. You become glued to the book, and don't let it go until the end. It had been a while since I had been so fascinated by someone's writing.

Gorgeous prose, haunting story. I was spellbound by the plot, the characters, the aura that surrounded this novel. It is the perfect read for a cozy fall evening.

I did like this how the horror element was presented in this. The world building was good and this could have been developed into a full length novel as this was a little shorter than i thought it should be. The queer element is missold and is not really explored or has anything important done with it, it is just a longing that is behind all the text and if you can't read the codes then you miss it entirely. The ending was okay but it was a tiny bit confusing in how it was presented as the outcome was not written in such a clear way to follow. I did like this but this needed to be edited again to get it to where it should be.

If Yellow Jessamine’s gorgeous cover isn’t enough to hook you, then maybe this description will: Sapphic gothic horror story about a murderous gardener. Are you in yet?

Evelyn Perdanu has inherited monumental wealth in addition to her father’s shipping company after every member of her family has mysteriously died. She and her right hand woman, Violetta, must navigate running a business in the dying city of Delphinium which is ruled by an failing empress and devolving into civil war. Evelyn hides behind her mourning veil and tends a well-kept and poisonous garden full of foxglove, belladonna, and hemlock— among other things. The novella begins when an otherworldly sickness claims some sailors on one of Evelyn’s ships and she must desperately try to stem the coming plague before it ruins her by unearthing her deadly secrets one by one.

This book delivers exactly what it’s selling— a surreal and fantastical gothic horror experience. It’s quite short and fast-paced, easily read in the time it would take to watch a movie. Its premise is unmistakably similar to that eerie scene in Dracula in which the ship is found empty and the horrifying illness which renders its victims almost possessed is reminiscent of the best demonic horror films. I would categorize this book as a novella, a form that favors plot over character development. Evelyn is a well-sketched character and the plot builds around the reader uncovering her many secrets. Violetta and Evelyn’s relationship is tender and loyal, and though it was not fully developed, it reminded me a little of Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith. Starling’s writing is poetic and beautifully descriptive, especially concerning Evelyn’s luscious garden, and she has a knack for horror. This book is like a fast-paced combination between Carmilla, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and a biography of Lucrezia Borgia.

This novella packs interesting social drama, political intrigue, and an overarching mystery into a short number of pages. I was really intrigued by the description of the dying city and the mysterious illness that kicks off the action of the story. The latter third or so of the novel moves at a somewhat disjointed, dreamlike pace, which I think lessened the impact of certain reveals. I really enjoyed this novella overall, and I look forward to reading more from this author!

I don’t normally read this kind of book but it was very good strange but good. It is very well written and you really feel for the characters in the story I definitely couldn’t stop reading I just had to know what happened next. I definitely recommend this book

this was such a creepy little novella. I loved the aesthetic but wish the story wasn’t as hard to get into. I also wish that it had more of an explicit WLW romance rather than pining. the length was really good and fit the story. the characters were also well crafted and made me want to keep reading. halfway, once the story picked up, I didn’t want to put it down.

Yellow Jessamine is like if you took The Monster of Elendhaven and made it sapphic. That’s the easiest way to describe it. It’s almost scarily similar in vibes, in fact (which is to say, small town, creepy goings-on, a cabal of powerful people who will sacrifice whatever it takes for their cause, and murder).

First things first, it’s a very atmospheric novella. It’s short and almost like the end of a longer story, but it immerses you in the world nevertheless. That’s probably the best part about this novella, the writing and the atmosphere it creates. I’m not a huge horror fan, but I would really just go pick up everything Caitlin Starling has ever written on the basis of this writing.

Along with the creepiness of the atmosphere, it’s also a story that keeps you on your toes. You’ll think you have everything figured out, but then, at the end when it all becomes clearer, you realise that what you thought you knew isn’t right.

I think the only thing I would say about this novella is that, while it worked as a standalone, it felt like it should be set within a longer tale. I mean, I guess that’s a simultaneously good thing and bad thing, because it made me want more, but also made it clear that I didn’t get enough. What I’m trying to say is that the didn’t-get-enough outweighed the wanting-more. I wanted more because I didn’t get enough, not solely because I wanted to read in that world for longer.

But anyway. If you’re a fan of horror, you won’t want to miss out on this one.

(Review will be posted on my blog on July 5th, 2020, it is currently up on Goodreads.)

Story—★★★★☆
Characters—★★★☆☆
Writing Style—★★★★☆
Overall—★★★★☆

What do you grow in your garden? What do you sow? What do you reap? Poisons or antidotes?

Yellow Jessamine hits the creepy nail on the head with its presentation of the first victim of the new "plague:" Evelyn stands over a catatonic sailor, alive but no longer human, empty of humanity and reaction as a fly lands directly on his eyeball. Starling paints a glum picture of Delphinium, a city dying from the inside out and the outside in as plague steals the lives of inhabitants, downed ships throttle trade and enemies close in on the border. Amongst all this death is a surprising story of love and devotion, one which doesn't hesitate to ask questions—Does devotion necessary equal love? Can you love someone without knowing them? What does love look like to a person who loathes themself? Starling crafts a smart story wrapped in an intense and paranoid narrative. The infected victims searching needily for Evelyn are perfectly unnatural and other in their presentation: their bright eyes, their insistence. 

Lady Evelyn Perdanu stands at the center, death all around. She lost her mother at a young age, and a few years later her father and all her brothers in short order. At her side, is her devoted assistant, Violetta Fusain. They had a quiet, understated relationship, which pushed the bounds of employer and employee. Evelyn is a fascinating elevation of her archetype—she is practical and direct in her actions, doing what is necessary, both to move forward and to protect herself. Both her paranoia and panic come through clearly: she is a woman with everything to lose and is scrambling to save anything, no matter what the cost. 

Two key issues keep Yellow Jessamine from reaching its peak potential. One is the beginning: starting on a note where readers are introduced to a number of mostly throwaway characters is a weak, distracting foot to begin the book on. The second, and most imperative, is that Evelyn and Violetta lack a key "bonding" scene, something simple and effective where the two endure something together. I love their dynamic and the sort of bittersweetness between them, but in order for the latter half and ending to hit the emotional note they need to at full strength, readers need to see something that tests, reinforces or strengthens their relationship and displays their personalities very early on. 

Starling's writing style is top-shelf: clean and practised, elegant and brutal. Her vocabulary is broad and her word choice appropriate and precise, making for prose both easy and enjoyable to devour. The switch of tone from sombre and paranoid to frenetic and fearful as events spiraled and the story approached its climax was conveyed clearly and effortlessly. In this regard, Yellow Jessamine was a delight to read. My only complaint in this area is Starling's tendency to "tell over show" when it comes to writing emotions, opting for direct statements of "she was afraid," etc. in contrast to letting them hit home with a few select descriptions of Evelyn's physiological reactions. However, given the length of the story and the frantic turnover of emotions as things progress, it's fairly forgivable. 

I don't think it's a story that will appeal to everyone, but I think to those it appeals to Yellow Jessamine will satisfy.

This novella was really interesting and I would absolutely love more books in this universe? Realm? There were moments where I did feel lost, however, I had to remind myself there’s only so much you can keep in a novella. Additionally, I would have loved more development of the relationship of the two women, as this was marketed as an LGBTQ+ book and expected a little more in that aspect. All in all though, it was really solidly creepy and fantastic! I love a good creepy parasitic style garden as much as the next guy (probably?).

Yellow Jessamine follows Evelyn Perdanu in the dying city of Delphinium. The only member of her family left, Evelyn is head of the Perdanu estate and manages an import business. When a mysterious condition befalls many of the people of Delphinium, seemingly possessing them to seek out Evelyn, Evelyn must confront her many causes of lifelong guilt.

Starling has spun an intriguing and well-written Gothic tale, full of chilling atmosphere and interesting horror elements. While it certainly could have used additional worldbuilding, the town of Delphinium and the people within it are clearly defined. As others have previously mentioned, a full-length novel may have suited the story better; I would have liked Evelyn, Violetta, and the mystifying disease to have been fleshed out more. I also wish that there had been more explicit romance or tension between Evelyn and Violetta, as I’d expected a legitimate LGBTQIA story but it’s not really even a subplot of the novella. I won’t mention it here to avoid spoilers, but I appreciated how the theme of Evelyn’s guilt manifests as it does in the end.

This novella was dripping in the gothic tone you expect from classic tales of macabre, which happen to be some of my favorite. I absolutely loved the tone and pace. Dread starts to wind its shadowy fingers around you right from the start as the dance of questioning begins. Is it imagination, paranoia, guilt, or something supernatural?

Evelyn was depicted perfectly, embodying the strong vulnerability of a woman who did what was needed even under the strain of her haunted past. Violetta contrasts her in a lovely clash of personalities that fit together in unexpected, yet natural ways as things begin to unravel.

The atmosphere, like Evelyn herself, serves the story, adding to the dread that gripped me so tightly that I was unable to put book the book down. I highly recommend this hauntingly beautiful horror novella.

trigger warning
<spoiler> grief, drug abuse</spoiler>

Delphinium is under siege, and Lady Evelyn Pardanu's ships belong to the last ways of getting ressources into the city. One day, they see the ship has not only brought what was ordered, but also a strange illness, that needs to be figure out quickly, or they'll all die before their enemies decide to finally attack.

Sadly, I did not get along with this. As things started to get intriguing, I had already lost my interest in it.

This book is guilty of the thing where <spoiler> they are under attack of a strange entity and don't ask what it wants, to busy with running. Yes, it might be instinct, but ever since I saw the Devil's Backbone I just have no patience for that anymore. </spoiler>

I came for lesbian horror, but the queer element was mostly retroactive, and I kept waiting and waiting - again, until I didn't care anymore. Which is sad, because I felt the author could do more, so I guess I'll keep an eye out for other works by them.

I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I think I would have adored this if it had been a full length novel. There are great shades of characterization and world building that get shunted in name of expedited plot. Otherwise a solid gothic novelette with a dash of Sapphic yearning.

Thank you, Neon Hemlock Press! Also Net Galley as well in which I received a free e-ARC of this novel.

I do have to preface that for a novel being tagged as LGBT, I expected a little more of that woven into the slow burn of the gothic tale. This is my first of reading of Caitlin Starling work and I did very much enjoy it, but it felt like it could of world built a little more. It made me ever so curious. Evelyn's grief and paranoia, her slow spiraling through the book made it hard to put the novel down.

This was a gothic novella with an interesting protagonist. I liked Evelyn's character and how my perception changed once I found out more about her story. I will say that for a story claiming to be LGBT, I wanted more of those elements. Starling proved once again that she can write a story with few characters, claustrophobic settings and tension.

Yellow Jessamine is set in a dying city in a shadow filled world. It is an incredibly engaging read. This book definitely veered closer to horror than I typically like, but, I really enjoyed reading this book. The primary protagonist, Evelyn, is portrayed exceedingly well. Her mounting fear through the book is visceral. The world building is very interesting and made me want to know more about what’s around Delphinium.

Potential ***spoiler*** ahead, in which I discuss my overall feelings on the ending. I think it’s great to have any and all LGBTQ+ representation in books. That being said, I wish there were more happy endings. I would not say this ending is an outright sad ending, in fact it felt a tiny bit hopeful.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Yellow Jessamine was a very creative and fast read that follows a disease with mysterious origins.

If I were to try to explain the ending of this book, I don't think I could do it. It gets very crazy and very confusing, but if I had to explain hopefully I could still outline the main points.

There were two things that made this book such a standout. First is the characters, and I was very pleased to see how developed and interesting they were even in just a span of one hundred pages. I loved Evelyn's character of being a really cutthroat and demanding person but then has to make big sacrifices which completely conflicts what she stands for. Second is the atmosphere, there is a lot of eeriness and the Pirates of the Caribbean vibe, and an old and deadly plague really does so much for this book. I don't see any way how the disease scenario would function well in any different setting.

With that being said, I found the ending a little bit hard to follow. I would've also liked to see the atmosphere being used to its fullest abilities and sometimes I found myself disinterested in reading it even when it was so short of a book.

An author with a lot of creative potential with the settings and characters that were introduced, but the story itself didn't do a lot for me.