Jennifer Mistmorgan a new to me author is fabulous! Her upcoming book “The Mapmakers Secret” is a wonderful read! It has a bit of everything I enjoy in a book! Historical fiction, a bit of romance and a lot of suspense! It is the perfect combination! Check it out! You won’t be disappointed!

Man of Shadow and Mist
by Michelle Griep
Pub Date 01 Jun 2023
Barbour Publishing,Barbour Fiction
Christian| Historical Fiction


Barbour Publishing and Netgalley sent me a copy of Man of Shadow and Mist to review:


Michelle Griep weaves a tale that holds on and doesn't let go!


England, 1890
 
North Yorkshire is full of vampires, at least in the minds of the uneducated. It's librarian Rosa Edwards' mission to kill such superstitions. There's gossip flying when Sir James Morgan returns to his shadowy manor. The townsfolk say he is cursed.He's cursed, say the townspeople.
 
There's nothing James likes about England. The weather. The rumours. The scorn. Still, he has to stay. His mother is dying of a disease for which he’s desperately trying to find a cure—an illness that will eventually take his own life.A disease that will eventually kill him is killing his mother, a disease for which he's desperate to find a cure.
 
When Rosa sets out to prove James' dark gossip isn't true, she finds more questions than answers. Is it possible for her to accept something she can't explain - especially the strong allure of the mysterious man? James must battle a town steeped in fear as well as the unsettling attraction he feels for the no-nonsense librarian.Besides battling a town steeped in fear, James is also drawn to the librarian's no-nonsense attitude.
 

In a town filled with fear and doubt, can love win?


I give Man of Shadow and Mist five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Four stars, but that is huge for me rating a Victorian Era Romance novel. Honestly, I enjoyed this book far more than I expected to.

The story is told from the point of view of Rosa. She works in the town's little library owned and run by her kindhearted father (who is my favorite character in the book.) Her two goals in life are to educate the local townspeople so that they wouldn't be so superstitious, and to become a secretary in the big city so that she would never have to marry and become dependent on a man.

Along comes James, the "Man of Shadow and Mist." Is he a vampire as many believe? Impossible. After all, vampires don't exist and he is just so "dreamy." As the connection between James and Rosa grows, another jealous suitor starts throwing up roadblocks, Rosa's mother keeps meddling, and the town's fears and superstitions bring everything to a head.

Over the course of reading I went from: "Meh, I just have to plow through this so I can write a review..." to "This book isn't actually half bad..." to, "Wow. This book is so much better than I expected." Although the genre isn't really much my cup of tea, anyone who would be interested in some Bram Stoker meets Jane Austin vibes would absolutely love it and find it one of their instant favorites.

Hello! This is Michelle Griep’s best book to date. I appreciate all of the symbolism throughout each chapter. I read this in one sitting and took notes starting from the first line of the first chapter. In fact, speaking of first lines, this book has a first line to rival that of Pride and Prejudice. I love the choice of names…the dark, strong James Morgan in contrast to the shallow,, weak Mallow Albin. And the ‘new beginning ‘ of and for Rosa. All characters are facing crises and are not at all what are expected or what is perceived at the outset. Each character grows and evolves. The interplay of books and science with fiction and misperceptions of real maladies is brilliant. The romance that blossoms and deepens between James and Rosa is lovely. I knew they would end up together but was on the edge of my bookcover waiting for that relationship to cement. I am always transported to time and place in Michelle Griep's books – not only time travel but immersion. I see and hear the eeriness of the manor, I hear the timbre in accents, and I am all-consumed by words on every page. I was provided an ARC by Netgalley, and this is my honest review. Thank you! :)

This book was really interesting. It had me guessing, which I like in books. Let me just say, James was such a good character! That mysterious vibe of him had me wanting to know more about him. He and Rosa had a cute first meet. I also liked how Rosa stuck by him. That third character was honestly such a nuisance! I was like go away. But Michelle Griep did an excellent job with his character. The cover was what caught my attention. It is so gloomy and mysterious. And I like how that person is just in the background.

Disclaimer: I requested and received a NetGalley copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All options are my own.

Vampires in England. Only they aren't quite what some would have you think.

Man of Shadow and Mist takes the familiar Dracula story and breathes new life into it. Very captivating title to read that blend historical fiction with gothic romance.

I am curious to read more titles by this author as I enjoyed her writing style.

Oh my word! This Dracula retelling was incredibly well-done, and while outside of my normal genre and tastes, I absolutely loved it Rosa is such a darling character and I loved her determination and enthusiasm for her trade. James was the perfect moody, broody, character who you can't help but love. And the overall vibes? Immaculate! Gloomy English countryside with rich descriptions and colorful characters. This is a perfect fall read! Spooky and cozy at the same time, Griep might be a new favorite!

Michelle Griep has become one of my favorite authors. Her novels usually hearken back to a piece of classical literature which is an added bonus to me. In this instance the classic literature is Bram Stoker's Dracula. In fact Bram Stoker himself is a character in the story.

The book was fascinating because it used the superstitions of the people to create the underlying conflict. Sir James has a blood disorder that makes him avoid direct sunlight. Which of course makes him somewhat of a recluse and just adds fuel to the fire of the superstitions.

In contrast to Sir James is librarian Rosa Edwards. She is a beloved member of the community. She has a deep desire to eradicate the superstitions of the people by educating them. Much to her father's dismay and displeasure she continues to sneak books out of the library for those that are unable to afford a subscription.

Through a chance meeting Sir James and Rosa become acquainted, which leads to a fabulous story. I picked this book up out of my TBR pile without realizing that it is book two in the series. I'm eagerly anticipating going back and reading book one. And I will be eagerly anticipating any additional books in this series.

If you enjoy historical fiction that has overtones of gothic romance, I am sure that you will enjoy this title as much as I did. Don't forget to read book one as well!

4 🌟s!

The characters in this book were so intriguing and well written. I absolutely loved Sir James Morgan and the inhabitants is his dark, brooding estate . The nurse was a sweet bit of humor in the dark setting. James was so much more than just a ”male love interest”. He was so well written that you could feel his emotions coming through the book.

The characters were eccentric and easy to love (and hate where appropriate). The dark and broody setting was the perfect fall read.

Thank you Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for providing a digital advanced reader copy for honest review. All options are my own.

A powerful story that is both heartrending and hopeful. I really liked the reference to Bram Stoker.
Many thanks to Barbour Publishing and to Netgalley for providing me a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a middle of the road read, not great but not horrible. While atmospheric, the plotting and characters fell flat. Pacing was decent but let down by other elements of the story unfortunately.

Such an amazing story!
Each character in this book feels tangible. The settings breathe as if they are as alive as the characters. And if the foggy, hidden vibe isn't to keep you reading (think Doyle's Hound of the Baskervilles), Michelle Griep has fashioned a plot full of layers and romance.
If you're looking for a book that blends history, science/medicine, romance, mystery, and the feel of a cold, foggy night - then look no further.

Content: moderate violence, mild medical-related gore, moderate romance

Moody, intriguing, and romantic, Man of Shadow and Mist was a great read with a few eerie moments and plenty of mentions of faith weaved in.

Although nodding to the classic, Dracula, this story managed to maintain an original flare. I really enjoyed the scientific moments and superstitious lore/fear that played into the plot. The gloomy town setting was perfectly atmospheric. These elements added an excellent realistic twist to a classic tale.

I loved the relationship between Rosa and James, despite their challenges, they were the light in this story. Their romance was sweet and their connection grew from friends and outcasts to more. I will say there were many mentions of faith in this novel, making it read more as Christian fiction rather a traditional historical fiction.

This read is perfect for stormy nights!

This Was A Very Interesting Read!

I love Michelle Griep’s writing. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this particular book. I’m not a huge vampire fan other than watching Lost Boys, 1-3 times a year. I did end up enjoying this book. The story was fascinating and the characters were very well developed. I look forward to her next book.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

I have read Dracula twice and really enjoyed it both times but, this book was even better! This is the first book I have read by Michelle Griep and it definitely won’t be my last. I have absolutely found a new favorite author.

This book has everything you would expect in a gothic tale and more. It will keep you guessing what is real and what is only part of superstitious people’s imagination. One of my favorite parts is how the author wove real people such as Bram Stoker, who wrote the original Dracula, into the story. It made it even more intriguing.

Trust me, you are definitely going to want to read this book and I can wait to delve into the rest of the series.

I was provided a copy of the book from the author/publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

I read this anyway and it wasn’t very Christian at all. That’s a good thing for me. Could have been spookier but overall it was a good read.

"Vampires are alive and well in North Yorkshire, leastwise in the minds of the uneducated."
When a man and his family live in darkness, never venture out without total covering during the day and mostly just appears at night... they truly believe the family is cursed. When he ventures into the library seeking medical books the young librarian decides he has a secret problem and she is going to help him. Such an interesting story and I learned a lot about the medical condition of this man of shadow and mist!

3.5 stars

As a fan of Dracula, I was drawn to "Man of Shadow and Mist" by its description as a story of a vampire living in Yorkshire in the 1890s. This book puts a new spin on the classic vampire tale, while adopting its setting, Whitby, and even introducing Dracula's author, Bram Stoker, as one of the minor characters.

Sir James Morgan has returned to England from Transylvania to try to find a cure for his mother, who is dying from porphyria. For years his mother's eccentric behavior has fed the rumors and superstitions of the town of Whitby and the deaths of livestock coinciding with Sir James' return only fuel their fears. Librarian Rosa Edwards sees through the superstitions and of course falls head over heels for Sir James.

I thought the concept of combining vampire superstition with a disease that was largely a mystery at that time was ingenious. I really enjoyed that storyline. For it to be a Christian novel was just a bonus. I loved how the characters prayed in their distress and then actually gave God the credit for their rescue. However I thought the romance was a little stale, but I don't read that many Christian romances. I would have loved more of the storyline where Rosa spends the night in the manor. More of the crazy mother. More goosebumps, gothic chills and dark corners.

Thank you Michelle Griep for writing this fun novel. I almost wish I'd saved it for October.

I love Michelle Griep's work, and I expected to love this book (Yorkshire! Curses! Brooding misunderstood hero!) but I was underwhelmed. I really struggled to connect with either of the main characters; both felt lacking in depth, and the antagonist was extremely one-dimensional. It is enjoyable for a light read, but I think I went in expecting something more substantial. I still strongly recommend Griep's books, and this may be a hit with her other readers.

England, 1890

Vampires live among the North Yorkshire community, or so the townsfolk say. Not one to put stock in gossip, librarian Rosa Edwards determines to prove otherwise. Yet even she can’t deny the sense that something dark and sinister lurks from the shadows.

Sir James Morgan detests England and all it entails, especially his closed-minded and superstitious neighbors. But for the sake of his dying mother, he endures the scorn and contempt of those around him as he desperately searches for a cure to an illness that ails her and will eventually take his own life as well.

Inexplicably drawn to James, Rosa risks the disapproval of family and friends to find the truth. However, the more time she spends in his presence, the less certain she is of the line between reality and fiction.

In Man of Shadow and Mist Michelle Griep explores the effects of superstition, judgment, and the fear of the unknown in this deliciously gothic tale that had me riveted from beginning to end. I became so entrenched in the storyworld that its shadow lingers and continues to echo long after encountering the final page.

Masterfully sewn together with spooky settings, evocative storytelling, and unforgettable characters, the Of Monsters and Men series not only holds the distinction of being my favorite Griep series to date, it’s a favorite in its genre. With threads of faith weaving through the fabric of these stories, they remind readers that light shines even in the darkest times. Man of Shadow and Mist stands alone as it shares no characters or storylines with book one. Nevertheless, gothic mystery fans won’t want to miss one second of this series.