In a Nutshell: A Gothic historical fiction. Had great potential; fulfilled only a part of it. The ending elevated my experience somewhat.

Story Synopsis:
Theodora Corvus has stayed in her crumbling family home since years with only her grandmother for company. But after she loses her job as governess at Kingsward Manor, her grandmother finds her a similar position in the distant Broken Oak manor.
As governess to eight-year-old Ottoline - daughter of the enigmatic Lord Cassias Thorne, Theodora finds herself in a house that has many hidden secrets and lurking shadows. The biggest mystery seems to be the location of Lady Thorne, who is said to be away at the coast. If so, who is wandering through the house at night and making all those noises?
The story comes to us in the limited third person perspective of Theodora.

Bookish Yays:
😍 The ending. I had guessed a part of it, but didn't see many things coming. The execution could have been better, but the idea was still good. Do note that the ending is similar to that of a famous Gothic horror movie of recent years, the name of which is mentioned in several other reviews. If you want to be surprised, don’t read any other review and go into the book blind.
😍 The scenic descriptions, right from the appearance of the houses to the spectres at the lake, are wonderfully written.
😍 At 194 pages, this is a short and quick read.
😍 Ottoline's character was the most interesting and well-sketched. She felt like her age, though in many ways, she was not like a typical child her age due to her situation.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 A great part of the story is reminiscent of the classic Charlotte Brontë work, ‘Jane Eyre’. The house, the noises in the attic, the orphaned governess, the wilful but adorable child, the housekeeper, the problematic house owner... It went so much into Jane Eyre mode that I fell into a comfort zone, assuming that I knew how things would proceed. When the final quarter went a different way, I was pleasantly surprised. So the ending worked well, but the rest created strong feelings of déjà vu.
😍 I liked how Theodora’s surname was linked to the corvid family, who make plenty of appearances in the plot. I wish they had been utilised more. Gothic and crows work so well together as a concept, and the cover also promised more of the birds.
😐 Staying true to the Gothic genre, we get not one but three creepy houses, though not at the same time. The houses and grounds were used to create a nice, eerie atmosphere. At the same time, the book could have been so much creepier, what with such a house and the porcelain doll and the mysterious noises and the night wanderer. But somehow, the spooks aren't fully utilised. I barely even flinched at any of the supposedly scary scenes.

Bookish Nays:
😣 This should either have been a short story (cutting out all the fluff such as the events that happened at Kingsward Manor – barely relevant to the main plot) or a longer novel with all details sketched in to avoid the logical jumps in the flow. At this length, it's neither here nor there. As such, we get some details that are irrelevant, and some relevant details are missing. This also creates several plot holes.
😣 The character development is flat. What we see on the page is what we get. There is no depth at all, which leads to a disconnect with almost everyone in the story.
😣 Many important scenes feel rushed. I'd have preferred the novel to focus more on the creepy elements than on general conversations and the romance. Moreover, several key things occur off the page. The focus of the novel should have stayed on its core theme.
😣 The romance was neither believable nor acceptable. It was too instant, and unlike in Jane Eyre, awkwardly guilt-free, especially considering that both parties knew about one of them being married. The ending explains this partly, but it is still not convincing.
😣 Which year is it set in? I always like to know the era so that I can place the stories better in my head. But this detail is nowhere to be found.
😣 As the plot is still clearly historical, it is safe to say that the dialogues and Theodora’s behaviour aren’t authentic to the era. (And please, slapping your employer just because he greeted you without your noticing his arrival is plain weird, regardless of the era!)
😣 Minor complaint: The spelling of the main lead’s name was very distracting to my eyes. Isn’t it always ‘Cassius’ and not ‘Cassias’? I couldn’t find any reference to ‘Cassias’ as being an acceptable alternative spelling.

All in all, this story had plenty of potential, but the writing let it down. Had all the plot holes been sealed and the story streamlined, this could have been an impactful indie read. But in its current form, it provides an average experience despite that stunning plot twist towards the end.

2.5 stars. (with the 0.5 being added solely for the ending.)

My thanks to Quill and Crow Publishing House and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I love gothic horror novels, and I always loved Jane Eyre - this book resembles it closely, so i feel like it's a perfect book for me!
To be honest, i loved most things about it, enjoyed the characters and the pacing, and the story was captivating. A definite 5 stars from me.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super original, thrilling and entertaining read!

Things I liked:
- I loved Ottolina. What a little sweetheart. Such a great portrayal of the desperation for love.
- The relationship between Cassius and Theodora is a perfect balance of compassion, longing and understanding. They are just gorgeous!
- The gothic elements are great. I love a gothic novel, and this one delivered. The perfect amount of creepiness, romance, suspense and mystery, with a great twist!

Things that didn’t really get me:
- It was pretty slow at the beginning…I think one chapter would have been sufficient to introduce the world.
- That’s it really! 4.5 ⭐️

Creepy, eerie and packed with suspense. I was hooked from the beginning. Fast paced, and a really rich story. A good variation of characters, and this really helps create the claustrophobia within the book. Well written, very subtle horror.

After reading I had to take a while to gather my thoughts on the book which is always a positive sign. After all, authors write books so the audience can feel the pages long after it has been read. Now the plot itself is nothing too fancy. Instead, it has perfect foundations to springboard off; An eerie house, a love interest, a mystery that needs solving, and a protagonist that allows the reader to walk with and not run the other way. they are great ingredients for a plot which has been done countless times such as in 'Rebecca' and 'Lady Audley's Secret'. However, what Russell delivers is some excellent and almost lyrical prose in this fictional piece that sells the book:
"...dull and heavy clouds remained, brittle winter light broke through in intervals, landing upon the damp spot Theodora had chosen. Mist clung to the edges o the lily-pond, the water grey and cold, the reeds around it wild and unloved."
Such beautiful prose and it has been consistent throughout. However, what immersed me was the dialogue between the characters which was beautifully remnant of Jane Austen's speech and modernity. Take Cassias's speech for example:
" "Is this friendship?" The words rushed past his lips, harsh and quiet. "Truly, Theodora? I can feel the echo of your hand upon mine, the warmth of your voice in my very soul, and I look for you in each shadowed corner of that damned house. Is that friendship?"
Such beautiful dialogue and a great representation of what is in store for those yet to read. I truly cannot recommend The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses enough. What a brilliant read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a quick and interesting read. It's part The Others, part Jane Eyre, and part Rebecca.

Theodora Corvus leaves her crumbling family home and her ailing grandmother behind to work as a governess in Broken Oak Manor to a young girl named Ottoline. On the way to her new employment, her carriage overturns, and she knocks on the door, wet and disheveled, without her belongings.

The housekeeper doesn't say much, and Theodora has to wait a few days before she meets the Lord of the Manor. However, she gets along with her ward Ottoline and becomes close friends. But the walls of Broken Oak have secrets, and Theodora will soon discover that everything is not what it seems.

I love well written gothic stories, where the atmosphere is gray and white, the rain and fog create a mysterious and haunting world. And this story had all of the above, but it also had something extra. It was poetic! I felt like I was reading a beautiful heartbreaking poem. The author's style of writing is magical. It is very poetic and emotional, makes you fall in love with the landscapes and characters. It is a beautifully written story that I loved from the very beginning. I will look for more stories by this author as her writing style is captivating. I highly recommend it.

Thank you L.V.Russell, Quill and Crow Publishing House and NetGalley for this digital copy!

what a precious and fun read!! i am always so thankful to netgalley for giving me access to books before they come out. this was such an enjoying read! you should definitely check it out when it comes out!!!

4.75 stars
After being fired from her previous workplace, Theodora travels to Broken Oak for a new job of a Governess. But the house is not what she expected. And Theodora is not what the house expected.

The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses is a dark, atmospheric read. The writing is fairly flowery and the descriptions elaborate.
This is one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a while. One could almost compare it to the Night Circus in the way of writing style.

If you don't enjoy fast-paced dark mysteries, this is not for you. If you do enjoy any of those things, PICK THIS BOOK UP. You won't regret it.

Overall, this was great- I literally couldn't put this down. The ending left me slack-jawed and looking forward to more from this author. Cheers

This was an absolute Goldilocks book for me, and the first book of its nature to actually hit the notes I was looking for. With elements that called to mind both The Turn of The Screw and Jane Eyre, this mildly spooky tale really threaded the needle and felt like a proper Gothic novel.
I found Theodora to be an interesting protagonist, with her determination and kindness and caring nature. She was nurturing without being irritating to read about, as can be the case in Governess stories, and I found her growing relationship with Cassias to be believable and sweet.
I genuinely enjoyed watching the two of them get to know each other, and it seemed like they were very well-suited to one another. I'm pleased Ottoline got the kind of family she deserved.

The prose was adequate, very well-suited to the kind of story being told. It could have been more elaborate, but truly the book didn't suffer from it, I thought it was just fine as it was. Furthermore, the twist was very well foreshadowed. I think I guessed what was happening about 60% of the way through, and I still found the reveal to be satisfying.

Wholeheartedly recommend anyone looking for a quick Gothic-y read to give this a try, it's perfect to fill any rainy afternoon.

Thank you NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for a free copy of this recently published ebook, in exchange for an honest review.

This story began with a lot of potential. It was atmospheric, dark, dreary. I was drawn in by the main character Theodora’s bleak circumstances: her father passing away, her grandmother’s illness, the decaying family home, and out of necessity, taking the position of a governess to a nearby wealthy estate. However, as the story progressed, I found the dialogue between characters abrupt and awkward. The characters were underdeveloped so I didn’t feel sympathetic towards the characters reactions or emotions. Movement from one scene to the next came across as choppy and I was not always clear as to what had just happened.

Fairly early on, there were some big plot holes, and I felt that it had similarities to the movie, The Others, so the plot twist was not a surprise for me.

I did enjoy the theme of finding home and family in the end.

If you are a lover of the gothic genre then you have to pick up a copy of The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses. It is a bittersweet tale about a woman named Theodora, who takes on a job as a governess at a mansion that is equally as crumbling as the one she grew up in. The daughter of Lord Cassias, Ottoline, is to be her charge and soon she finds herself wrapped up in the mysteries of the old place.

The haunting atmosphere of this novel is perfectly mixed with romance, leaving readers wanting more with each page. Even though I knew some sort of twist was awaiting me at the end, I could have never foreseen what was to unfold. A heartbreaking, yet satisfying ending for an excellently written novel. My gothic-loving heart is filled.

Wow. This really enraptured me! I did not want to put it down - I was thinking about it when I wasn't reading it, itching to get my hands back on my kindle.

This book gave me all the gothicness I wanted - bringing elements from some of my favourite classics together. It served me Woman in Black, Jane Eyre, and Haunting of Hill House vibes - but with everything more that I have always wanted those stories to give me wrapped up in the tale. We have grand old buildings giving off almost intentions of their own, corridor wanderings late at night following things going bump in the night, secrets to be uncovered, and a romance that runs alongside it all.

I really loved the characters, the writing conjures the story and atmosphere beautifully, and the ending gave me great satisfaction. For once I actually didn't get my guess right! I am delighted!!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a review copy.

This was a fun read! Seeking out the warmth in cold mansions, this story is filled with lovable characters and navigates some tough topics of family, grief and SA. My only issue with this book is that it's too short! I thoroughly enjoyed being in Broken Oak, but felt that some key points/characters were underused and a little rushed. I often found myself having to reread a couple of pages because so much is packed into the text, I was sure I had missed something.

I enjoyed the ending and felt it wrapped up the story quite nicely. I know I would enjoy popping into this world again with new characters!

Thank yo unto NetGalley and Quill and Crow Publishing House for the ARC in exchange for a review.

Theodora’s father has passed and is sent to live with her grandmother in her dying house. She finds work as a governess but is let go after striking her young master. She ventures out on her own to a further away home to become a governess for another family. Cassias and his daughter Ottoline live in a dark, damp estate on a lily pond with their housekeeper Ms Rivers. Theodora falls in love with Ottoline, enjoying teaching her lessons but is plagued by bad dreams and the whispers of skirts in the halls.

This was a great gothic horror with just the right amount of romance. I ate this up in an afternoon and didn’t expect the twist.

This was a quick read with beautiful, flowing prose. I loved the juxtaposition of flowery prose and a Victorian gothic vibe. The story progression was a little slow, but I was invested in the characters and storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I almost gave up on this because it wasn't grabbing my interest. But I read a review that said to persevere, so I did and whoa. I was not expecting the twist at the end.
Theodora was very proper and outspoken for a woman of her time.
Ottoline seemed incredibly intelligent for such a young girl.
Cassius gave the impression of danger but also love for his daughter.
Mrs Reeves was a missed opportunity for some humor within the book.

Now that I've finished it, I find myself thinking about it and asking myself questions about Theodora's grandmother, who found the position for her.

I received a copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was a spectacular gothic horror that I couldn't put down. I was intrigued from the get-go about the characters and even though the plot was a little slow at first and it took me a few chapters to warm up to Theodora, I was drawn in by the atmosphere and the writing.
I loved the plot twists so much, it was so original and didn't expect it at all.
Even though it is very short I think I would have preferred it if it was a couple of chapters shorter and had ended after the plot twist was revealed or if the chapter between the reveal and the ending was cut as I was a little bored at that part.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quill & Crow publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Atmospheric, light on the horror and heavy on the gothic romance. I was hesitant at first that I would be turned off by the flowery prose, but I settled into it.

I don’t want to spoil it, so I will simply say that I guessed at the twist - if you’ve seen some older films of this ilk, you’ll likely guess it, too. Still, I read on, intrigued enough to see if I was right.

If this type of story is new to you, then it may be a 4 or 5 star read. I enjoyed it but didn’t find it special enough to warrant more than a 3.5.

Russell's writing style is poetic and introspective, drawing the reader into the emotional landscape of the characters. The descriptions of the empty houses and the natural surroundings are vivid and evocative, creating a sense of stillness and melancholy that permeates the novel.

The characters are well-written and relatable, each grappling with their own grief and trying to find a way forward. The dynamics between the siblings are realistic and nuanced, reflecting the complexity of family relationships.

Overall, "The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses" is a poignant and moving novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Russell's writing is both beautiful and insightful, and the story is a testament to the power of love and resilience in the face of loss. Highly recommended for fans of literary fiction and family dramas.