My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fantasy, Historical Mystery
Spice Level: Kissing
Ghost Factor: Oh, yeah! There are ghosts for this haunting and more wild stuff!

THE HAUNTING OF HECATE CAVENDISH is a WILD ride! Oh, my gosh—I could not stop reading. There was one point where I literally yelled "NO" and you'll have to guess where when you read this.

Reasons to read:
- Hecate is feisty and not your typical Victorian woman
- Hecate's bicycle is awesome!
- The setting is moody and dark and wonderful—ATMOSPHERIC!
- There's a thread of romantic elements
- GHOSTS!
- The twists will make your head spin!
- MYTHOLOGY COME TO LIFE!

There are so many things I loved about this book. It is intense. Even if you don't like historical books, you're going to eat this one up. It's amazing.

Happy (haunting) reading!

I really was intrigued by this but could not get into it. I think if I had this physical copy, I would have an easier time reading because I think the format through my off. DEfinitely still read if you're interested!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Paula Brackston for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I sadly couldn’t really get into this one… I didn’t connect with the writing style, but I still recommend picking it up because others will probably enjoy it more.

In 1881, Hecate Cavendish is a simple girl in an English village. She is thrilled when her father arranges for her a library assistant position at the local cathedral. Her love of books and learning makes her a perfect fit. She discovers she has other gifts as well. Like her namesake, Hekate, the goddess of ghosts, modern-day Hecate can see and communicate with souls that are still among us.

When a terrible desecration of tombs in the cathedral crypt occurs, Hecate sets on a path to discover what is happening without knowing whom she can trust. While the goddess provides help, it's up to Hecate to find out how to stop the sinister activity.

I'm in the middle of Brackston's "Found Things" series, and I've enjoyed it. Readers who are looking for magical realism and stories of the supernatural that do NOT turn into horror will be pleased with The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish. It started a bit slow but then rapidly picked up. This one is an investment - it's the beginning of a series, so you won't find all the answers or a tidy wrap-up in this novel. Brackston's formula worked because I'll be impatiently waiting for the next installment to find out more!

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is a great start to a new series for Paula Brackston. I loved Hecate Cavendish. She is strong, brave, and very intelligent, just what is needed to defeat the dark forces assaulting her city. I loved her connection to the Inspector at the local police station. I hope this connection develops in future books as they work together to defeat the forces of evil. The story definitely ended in a way that completed this book, but left you knowing there is much more to come.

The plot of this book was intriguing, but at the same time it was so slow. It's an odd mix when you're interested in the story and where it's going, but have to force yourself to continue reading because the plot won't pick up.

The story revolves around Hecate, who discovers she has a special ability to see and talk to ghosts after starting work at a library in a cathedral.. Sounds interesting right? The problem is it takes so long to get to this point, and then what should be interesting or exciting encounters with the ghosts seem very mundane. The feelings and interactions other characters have with Hecate feels forced at times - the author is trying to show that everyone loves and adores and respects Hecate, but it feels unnatural, especially for the times. There are long stretches where nothing of interest happens, then some quick action, followed by more long stretched of nothing, The pacing is off, which doesn't help the storyline. Towards the end, there is a bunch of action, but the ending is incredibly flat and leaves a lot to be desired. I understand this is written to be a series, but a better ending would have helped the overall story and brought more excitement into reading the next installment. Instead, I was left feeling unsatisfied and unsure how to feel.

This isn't to say the book is bad - it's not. There is some very good writing in here, but it gets overshadowed by how much the plot drags. While I am interested in a sequel, it will need to fix the pacing issues and deal with the ending in order to keep my interest.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston is a mesmerizing journey into the mystical and haunting world of Hereford cathedral in 1881 England. Hecate Cavendish, a bold and curious Assistant Librarian, finds herself drawn into a web of ancient secrets and spectral encounters as she navigates her new role among the cathedral's storied collection. Brackston's evocative prose weaves a rich tapestry of history and fantasy, where the medieval world map becomes not just a relic but a portal to unexpected friendships, perilous threats, and the restless spirits of the cathedral's past. As Hecate delves deeper into the mysteries hidden within the cathedral's walls, she discovers that her journey to uncover the truth will test her courage and loyalty in ways she never imagined. The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is a spellbinding tale that captivates from start to finish, blending historical intrigue with supernatural suspense in Brackston's signature style.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read. The writing style made this to be a very slow read for me. I understand it was probably most for the effect of the time period and environment. It took a while for me to get into — the beginning was a little long before the plot picked up. Once that had happened though I was entertained. I enjoyed Hecates character and her determination to be independent. The paranormal aspect and lore added made for this to be a fun and eerie mystery for Hecate. I have my suspicions on pretty much everyone else.

Interesting read overall. I’d be interested to see how Hecate takes on the wickedness in her home when the story continues.

Based on the synopsis I was interested to read this one, but unfortunately I don't think it was for me.

I think I was hoping for a heavier tone of mystery and maybe something more from the characters. While I enjoyed the story at times, it did move a bit slowly for me. However, if you're a history fan, this is a great novel. The history in it is fantastic and there's a lot of intrigue for future stories.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for access to the e-ARC.

Thank you @netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review includes spoilers further down.

I came incredibly close to DNFing this one I’m afraid. The writing is overwrought and overdone. Felt like the author had a thesaurus active next to them the entire time. It was full of unnecessarily flowery descriptions and over the top adjectives. The plot was incredibly slow until the last 10%, only to hit you with the unfortunate fact that there will be another book and that none of the conflicts have been concluded and none of the mysteries have been answered.

I was also going to be really angry when the “villain” turned out to be John, based on the sheer number of times Hecate swore it could never be John because essentially she liked him too much. Now, knowing it wasn’t John, I’m almost angrier at how often the au tbh or lingered on that fact? Got instinct and looking a hot boy is a terrible reason to “know” he’s innocent.

I guess pleased I finished it because I hate DNFing books but I will absolutely not be picking up book two.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for the free E-book for review.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackstone is as atmospheric as they come, and I'm all for it. Set in the Hereford Cathedral, readers get a tour of the ancient chained library, its crypts, and a glimpse of the medieval Mappa Mundi. While some details may have been changed, these elements add an undeniable element of authenticity to the story.

Hecate, the heroine, is named after the Greek Goddess of witchcraft, ghosts, and necromancy. She is an inquisitive character who defies social norms, and her close relationship with her father is something special. I enjoyed following her as she crept through the crypt, conversed with ghosts, and pored over ancient tomes to unravel the mystery of the rogue souls, all while befriending a cat and a griffin.

The introduction of mystery, the supernatural, and an ominous, shadowy presence piques the reader's curiosity. The author's writing style kept me glued and engaged throughout the book.

This is a strong start to the series, and I look forward to delving deeper into this world and witnessing Hecate's growth as she resolves the mystery of who was behind the unleashing of the souls possessing the rich.

hecate can see and talk to ghosts and she gives off detective vibes all throughout the book. it is sad and haunting and left me quite shocked.

According to her mother, Hecate Cavendish needs to settle down with a nice man. According to her father, Hecate is a gifted scholar who should be given the freedom to choose her future. Things in the Cavendish house are, understandably for the late 1800s, tense. As if this weren’t enough, Paula Brackston makes things even more complicated for her protagonist in The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by, well, introducing some hauntings.

Hecate’s first day as assistant librarian at the Hereford Cathedral is a happy one. Only her mother’s disapproval mars the day, but Hecate is used to that. She wheels across town on her new bicycle, determined to make a good impression on the clerics at the cathedral. One might think that her gender and her name would put the men of the cathedral off but, with the exception of the cantankerous librarian, Hecate charms everyone she meets. Much to her surprise, she also charms the resident ghosts: a medieval monk, a Napoleonic veteran, a Georgian maid, and an aristocratic lady.

Things get stranger at the cathedral when an apparent desecration in the crypt and a shocking murder nearby lead Hecate and the ghosts to pursue supernatural leads. Hecate is the kind of protagonist to hare off on her own but, thankfully, she takes precautions to arm herself before tackling anything dangerous. It’s a relief to read a character who doesn’t charge in blindly. And, being a librarian myself, I appreciated that one of the things Hecate does to learn more about her adversary is to take a trip to the British Library and con her way into the archives.

Readers may want to wait for the next book in the series before picking up a copy of The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish. The conclusion to this book leaves a huge hanging thread that diminishes the effect of a pretty spectacular climax.

I was so excited to be accepted for Paula Brackston's new book but sadly this wasn't for me (at least at the time). The story did not grip me in a way that I wanted and I found myself falling asleep when I would read at night. That said, Brackston's writing style is beautiful and I thought that I would immediately fall in love with what was being written but it fell flat for me.

I am a reader that likes a character that is easy to connect with and dynamic enough to pull me in and while I thought the main character was interesting, she did not make up for struggling to pick up the book. I slogged through each chapter just trying to get through the book. There were moments throughout the novel that would pick up my interest, but when that would end it would again cause of a lack of interest.

Overall, there some interesting moments, but I was not enthralled with the book itself or the mysteries that should have made me want to continue. I will probably try this novel at a different time to see if my opinion changes and in turn update my review, but as it stands I am at a 2.5 stars for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such an interesting premise for a book! The language is very descriptive. I felt like I was there with Hecate! If you’re interested in 1881 England, treasured old books, strong young women, and fantasy, I suggest you check this book out. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5
Thank you @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress #partner #macaudio2024 for the gifted audiobook and eARC of this book!

In this magical story we follow an assistant librarian, Hecate, who has magical skills who can see ghosts. 👻 Within the library that she works at is a secret library within which is old, mysterious and houses an unusual collection of books. Not just anyone has access to it. Next to Hecate desk is a map with eccentric people and mythical creatures. She will soon discover just how important those people and creatures mean to her.

💭I loved Hecate’s “take no sass” attitude. She is fiery, spunky, and spirited which made her easy to like. In fact, I am not sure there was a character in here that I didn’t fall in love with. This book was a magical slow burn that features extraordinary souls and fanciful writing. The author was able to create such a atmospheric setting it was easy to get lost in. I am not sure this book will be for everyone based on the prose and slowness of it so make sure you’re in the right mood going in! This was light in fantasy, mixed with historical fiction, mystery, paranormal and magic! I do think the audio helped me to become immersed into this ancient librarian’s world! This is labeled as book 1 so there will most certainly be a continuation of Hecate!

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish was a captivating story set in a historical period about a young woman named Hekate . The plot centers on her experience learning that spirits are speaking to her and that she can communicate with them without anyone else seeing her at her new work as the librarian's assistant at Hereford Cathedra.

I thought the book's plot was intriguing and that it had a lot of mystery, spirits, and murder! Even though I liked Hecate's personality and that she was unique, I thought everyone's respect for her was a little forced. To be honest, I thought the book's pacing was a little off; at first it started out slowly before picking up speed in the later part.

And the ending doesn't really appeal to me. The storyline was left completely unresolved. No answers to the questions or even a suggestion as to who the main villain is. Hekate merely postponed evil till a later time rather than vanquishing it.

Despite that, it still was a interesting book to read. Though it might not be for everyone, I thought this book was quite unique.

Paula Brackston has hit a home run with ‘The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish’. From the first page to the last, I was enthralled with every aspect of this story. The characters are well developed and the places are rich with detail. Hecate Cavendish, although the main character of this story, does not appear overtly so. She is well entwined with other characters, which I found made her stronger and more relatable to the average reader. The slow development of the story and its environment allows for total emersion into it. I was hard pressed to put this book down and found my thoughts and feelings lingering long after setting it down. This book is written in the past, which I loved for many reasons, but the depth in which the story is laid out, it’s as if you are riding on Hacate’s bike with her, feeling the wind in your face. Most people don’t appreciate or read a long review of a book, so I’ll conclude with this: read this book, you will not be disappointed. I am eagerly awaiting the next great adventure of Hecate! Great work, Paula.

Good world building and, in the end, a clever and engaging story. But it was so slow! The first half of the book just dragged. I almost gave it up a time or two, but finally the story came to life and the second half was quite enjoyable.

Hecate is just the kind of character that I love to love! She's got lots of moxie.
Hecate Cavendish is a young woman in the Victorian Era. She has a job as a librarian's assistant in a cathedral when strange things start happening. I really enjoyed Hecate's relationship with her father, but the rest of the family isn't bad either- the somewhat stodgy, but well meaning mother and the sickly, but mischievous brother. While, there were great, well rounded characters, I wasn't a big fan of the romance involved.
This is a fun story, that kept me wanting more, but I didn't love the ending. It is part of a series, so I'm hoping for more resolution in the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy for review.