This is the second series of Brackston's that I've attempted. Both times I have been drawn in by the gorgeous cover art and the fabulous descriptions. And, unfortunately, both times I have struggled with the books... I think I have to just accept that her writing style and my reading styles just don't mesh. I just couldn't find my way into the story here. Despite a fascinating construct, Hecate's tale just didn't draw me in and I didn't connect with her or the direction or pacing of the plot. This one just wasn't for me.

I wasn’t personally a fan of the writing style (the prose felt ‘older’ in tone), and stopped after chapter 1 (6%). I am not familiar with the author or target audience, so I can’t say how it’s likely to go over. That said, considering how many books the author has written, she probably has come into her own.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
I loved Hecate as a main character. She is brave and stands out from the women of her time period. Her father is awesome too with how supportive of her unconventional interests. I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down until I was a bit disappointed by the ending cutting off without wrapping everything up. It definitely has a to-be-continued feeling without actually saying those words. I hope the next one comes out soon.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Thank you to to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the Arc. Well it was a very good book until the last few chapters.

Ok, I’m just going to say it straight out. The ending is TERRIBLE. Shew! Glad I got that off my chest. I was going to dance around it but it’s literally colored my whole opinion of the book. I’ll come back to that in a minute.

So here’s some good stuff….Brackston gave us a really strong and amazing female heroine. I loved Hecate so much. She’s young and impulsive but so headstrong and smart. The Victorian Era books usually give us mousy gals fighting against society. There’s a bit of those social rules trying to squelch our girl, but Hecate is a badass and does things her way which I loved.! She’s intelligent and finds herself at a new job as an assistant librarian in an English cathedral Chaos unfolds at the cathedral and Hecate is right in the center of the drama! I got sucked right in and boy, it’s a fun ride!

The characters are overall, pretty well done, with lots of detail and color. My favorite character and Hecate’s chief supporter on her quest to solve the mystery of what is happening in the cathedral’s crypt is her father. It’s another anomaly for these kinds of books. Most Victorian men are stuffy and want their daughters to confirm and be ladylike. Instead we have a father who cares little for convention and gives Hecate confidence in her own abilities to bring the truth to light, even when she’s in danger! He lives for the adventure and I love how he plays second fiddle with no hesitation to help his daughter use her gifts.

So back to the ending. I don’t want to spoil it and I will tell you this is supposed to be a first book in a series. But the ending does NOT work. There’s some terrible events and then the book just stops with maybe a one page wrapup that does nothing to make you feel satisfied or like you’re at a good stopping point. It’s not that I mind a cliffhanger. But this isn’t a cliffhanger. It’s just a dull thud with no resolution. Hecate doesn’t solve the mystery and lots of bad things happened. We have no hints of how she will solve things, nothing to feel excited about and just a couple sentences to reassure us that Hecate feels hopeful it will all turn out well. Um, what? NO! You can’t give us a whole intriguing and wonderful book and zero finish!

So because of the ending I am giving a 4 star quality book a 3. If you’re a patient soul and can wait til book 2, you’ll be ok. And the book is good. But I’m feeling salty and disappointed myself so there ya have it!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press who generously provided this ARC to me in exchange for my honest opinion!

The Haunting of Hekate Cavendish is the newest witchy mystery from Paula Brackston, featuring ghosts, old books, and goddess magick.

Hekate Cavendish is Hereford Cathedral's newest Library Assistant, tasked with sorting and cataloguing its ancient books in the chained library. Home to rare tomes full of arcane secrets, it is the Mappa Mundi, a medieval world map full of fantastical beasts that has Hekate's curiousity piqued. When malevolence begins to grip the cathedral, it will be up to Hekate and her treasure trove of knowledge located in the library to put a stop to the evil that has its sights set on her and those that she loves.

I absolutely loved this story. The storyline was original and satisfied my fantasy dream of working in an ancient library. Hekate Cavendish made the perfect heroine in this supernatural tale, with her independence, courage, and passion for knowledge on full display. I really enjoyed the ways the author incorporated the Hekate mythology throughout the story with keys, serpents, darkness, and apparitions moving the plot along. The occult nature of the story was the perfect accompaniment to the library and its mysterious contents which were both characters in this bibliophilic adventure. It was not only the bits of magic that made this story entertaining, but it was the relationships between Hekate and her family and friends that helped to ground the story in love and loyalty, so that Hekate occupied a liminal space between the seen and unseen worlds throughout the book, each demanding so much from her.

It appears that this book is the first in a new series which I cannot wait to read. I almost think that this book would have worked wonderfully as a stand alone novel as well, but the cliffhanger and unanswered questions at the end of the story requires a second book to unlock the secrets that remain.

If you like stories about ancient libraries and hard to solve mysteries, featuring a fiercely independent heroine, look no further than The Haunting of Hekate Cavendish, you will not be disappointed.

"The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish" by Paula Brackston takes readers to England in 1881, where Hereford Cathedral looms over the city, holding its secrets and embracing long-forgotten souls. The protagonist, Hecate Cavendish, is an eccentric and spirited young woman who can see ghosts. She navigates the cobbled streets on her bicycle, headed for her new position as Assistant Librarian at the cathedral.

This is not an ordinary library; it houses an ancient chained collection of books, preserving wisdom and stories for centuries. The centerpiece is a medieval world map that hangs near Hecate's desk. Little does she know that the people and mythical creatures depicted on the map will come to mean a great deal to her. Moreover, she discovers that the haunted cathedral holds lost souls—some of whom become her dearest friends, some seeking peace, and others posing threats that endanger the lives of those she loves.

Paula Brackston, a New York Times bestselling author, weaves a tale of magic, mystery, and the supernatural, creating a world where the past and present collide, and where the haunted corners of the cathedral hold more than just books. "The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish" promises an enchanting and atmospheric journey through a world where the boundary between the living and the dead is thin, and where the past reaches out to shape the present.

1881, Hecate Cavendish is not your ordinary woman. She wears her skirts shorter so she can ride her bicycle and she works as an Asst Librarian at a cathedral instead of sitting at home learning how to nab a husband. It is at the cathedral, where Hecate makes discoveries about herself including the ability to see and talk to ghosts. This leads her into some scary situations but she has friends along the way that help her.

This is my first book by the author and I wasn’t prepared for how much I would enjoy it. I liked all the characters, Hecate is a very determined character and not afraid to tackle her fear. I loved the relationship between Hecate and her father, he not only was supportive but believed and encouraged her which to say in 1881 was something. My only complaint about the book was the ending. Just when you thought things would be solved, the book ended. I thought maybe I didn’t download the entire book but nope just ended. I understand the author wanting to continue the series but honestly, the ending could have been written differently to accommodate.

An extremely unique novel that blends historical fiction with magical elements and a strong heroine. Hecate has all the pressures that a young woman in the late 19th century must deal with such as finding a husband. However Hecate's dad has been very supportive of her love of learning and helped her get her own job as a librarian assistant at the cathedral. While there, Hecate discovers that she has an unusual ability; she can communicate with ghosts. What follows is an incredible story filled with mystery, and many magical elements as Hecate tries to discover who is behind the dark forces before they hurt the people she loves.

I loved that this book featured a well educated woman who was confident and strong. She also was supported by the people around her and they did not dismiss what she was thinking and feeling. This is extremely rare especially in historical fiction books set in the late 1800s. I also love a book that has magic in it especially when the main character can do something that others are not able to do. A delightful start to this series and I can't wait to read more.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Um wow this is so fun! Just sad I didn’t get to read it during spooky season!