When St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley, approved my request to read this ARC, I hastened to the novel with immediate excitement. It had all of the makings of stories that I love: 18th century setting (and a library at that!), strong-willed gothic heroine, a love triangle (of sorts), and souls (ghosts)! This novel was one that I raced to read and then the strangest thing happened…. I developed novel-induced narcolepsy. I could only read this book sitting up in full light; otherwise, I was a goner. Indeed with only 9 minutes left in the book (as gauged by my Kindle), I had to set a 10 minute alarm on Alexa so that I may rest my eyes as they drooped closed and power through later. That is not to say that this was bad writing. Far from it. But there was something about the rhythm of the narrative that put me right to sleep.

The first couple of sentences were a beautiful work of prose: “For more than three hundred years the ancient tomb had housed the remains of its occupant without threat of disturbance. Even the hungry rats and slithering worms had been deterred by its impenetrable walls, so that the cadaver within had, over the long, lonely centuries, quietly and gently turned to nothing more than dry bones.” This is imagery at its best. Additionally, Brackston’s word choice consisted of some of my all time favorite words: remonstrate, sundry, vertiginous, termagant, nomenclature, Sisyphean, and scintilla. She clearly has a love for language as evidence in the narrative. There was also the time when I was tickled by the philosophical tidbit in the following excerpt and immediately read it to my best friend, a pastor’s wife: “Faith and gossip are what fuels our work here. Faith is what calls us. Gossip, or as I prefer to think of it, a real and lively interest in our congregation and parishioners, well, that is what gives faith its application.” That’s an ideology that I can get behind.

No, my steady mental slide into slumber while reading this had less to do with the writing and more to do with the dichotomy that exists in the narrative. Much of this felt like wait and then hurry up and then wait again. There were long stretches of inactivity and then bursts of activity that were quickly resolved. The concept of “Never Stand Next to the Hero” (thank you Mr. Foster) was textbook in relation to the culminating event. What should have felt like an organic stopping point until the sequel instead felt like a mask of resolution. If I was Hecate, I would never be able to sleep again (I understand the irony of that statement pertaining to my earlier comments).

Overall, while I would not recommend this to my coterie, I do think there are people who will enjoy this novel.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston, just not for me. I tried to get into this book and it simply failed for me. Thank you for giving me a chance with this book and I do think others will enjoy it

I am reviewing an ARC and appreciate the honor.
Hecate Cavendish is an interesting character for whom the author developed wonderfully through the book. She is outspoken for the times, impulsive, independent and can see "souls." I also noticed that she can't seem to keep from lying. She is asked to not tell a secret and then a few hours later she tells it. She swears to her father she will wait to tell something to her "beau" and then a few hours later she tells. She pretty much can't keep things to herself if she feels it is for the best. She is impulsive, thoughtful, and self-assured.

The story is focused around Hecate's new job as assistant to the Librarian at Hereford Cathedral. She starts noticing that ghosts are talking to her and she can talk to them without anyone else seeing them. Alas, weird things start happening at the Cathedral and the investigations begin.

My problem with the book is that EVERYONE Hecate tells about her abilities believes her IMMEDIATELY. Skepticism would have been nice with at least 1-2 individuals. Situations happen quickly and are resolved quickly. It would have been nice for these to have been a little more developed or more extensive explanations. This made me want to finish the book quickly and get on with my life.

The ending is terrible and quite rushed. Obviously, this book is the first in a series but I don't feel a burning desire to read the next book. It is not a bad book, it is just not as interesting as the title suggests.

Oh Hecate. What a charming, appealing character. Daughter of an archeologist, she's bookish and wants to pursue research over settling into a traditional route (marriage, house, kids). Her father helps her get a job in the library at Hereford Cathedral and she encounters paranormal activity almost immediately. It's interesting to see very heavy use of ancient religions, Christianity, and the paranormal. At times, I found myself wishing this was more of a fantasy story because the heavy use of Christian concepts (especially during an exorcism) felt cartoonish and yet that was a climatic scene with a dramatic ending.

Speaking of dramatic endings, this one just peters out. There's an exorcism and an epic battle, but then things end with a whimper. No villain is vanquished. It wasn't very satisfying for any character.

If I was reading with all books in the series out, I think I'd keep reading.

The only thing I found hard to comprehend was the In Verse style so I read it like it was in past tense so that made it easier and more enjoyable for me. Once I did that then the story became more fast paced and enjoyable.
I am so glad to find I'm not the only one that had a hard time with it.
I'm still giving it 5 stars however for the adventure aspect of it.
I love a good ghost story, and this story was pretty good!
I finished it in one evening. Yes, I lost some sleep over it, but oh, so worth it!
Awesome characters that I really enjoyed in getting to know, especially Hecate. What an unusual name!
But I really admired her. An assistant librarian! Wow!
Yes, the ending is hmmmm. I'll leave it at that. I don't want to spoil it for others.
I am giving this 5 stars because I love the Greek mythology and other things that were happening as well.
Sometimes I pictured myself as Hecate. Why you ask? Because she has one of my dream jobs. I've always wanted to work in a library but never got to. Too much involved now.
I recommend this novel to other readers as they may like it too.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Spellbinding and Unputdownable!

A fantastic new series like no other!
The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is a wonderful start to this new series by Paula Brackston! I recommend this book to readers of historical fantasy fiction who loved her previous books! The author has a true gift for these stories filled with magic.

I found this first new novel spellbinding! It is particularly fascinating to follow the heroine Hecate in 1881 England. Hecate Cavendish is Hereford Cathedral's new library assistant, in charge of cataloging ancient books. Some volumes are full of secrets, especially the Mappa Mundi, an old medieval map which Hecate will find very captivating and fascinating. But when the cathedral becomes overrun by evil, Hecate will have to find a solution and give her curiosity a rest! Throughout her journey filled of twists and turns when certain mythical creatures and lost souls suddenly start to fascinate her too much. Will Hecate’s curiosity put her in danger? Will her family and friends be threaten by what’s happening at the cathedral?

It’s so captivating and exciting that I didn't want to put it down That’s what happen when you read a novel written by a talented and descriptive writer. Hecate’s journey is a must read for anyone who loves magic worlds!

The last chapter might leave you on a cliffhanger, but it also leaves you wondering what will happen next! I can’t wait to read the next story in this amazing new series. Thank you, Ms. Brackston, for writing such spellbinding novels.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book! I also won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway!

The story follows Hecate Cavendish as she explores a world filled with magic and spirits, which she discovers she can see while working at the Cathedral and library in her small English town. Love, murder and magic make for an exciting tale set in Victorian England.

I enjoyed the characters, plot and setting of this book and how they all worked together seamlessly. The author did an excellent job of merging very disparate worlds with Christian England, Ancient Greek mythology, and barbaric tribal traditions all making sense in the same story. The pacing of the story was also quick, and each event felt natural coming after the one before it. The characters were also well developed, each unique in their own personalities, and I enjoyed seeing the world from the point of view of Hecate.

Where I struggled with this book was how the writing style made it challenging to feel the urgency, danger and sensationalism of the events of the story. We encounter everything from murders to malevolent spirits, and yet the writing is so detailed and mundane that it felt challenging at times to continue in the story even when exciting events were happening. It’s on parr with the writing style from other Victorian English works, such as Austen or Brontë, but with the contents of this novel, I found it challenging to read at the fast pace in which the plot is laid out.

Overall, I did enjoy the story and I’m looking forward to seeing where the next instalment leads.

First of all, I want to thank NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish. I enjoyed the story and found the context and real history most interesting. The writing was very descriptive, somewhat to a fault. The action scenes were great and really kept you on the edge of your seat, and I found myself caring for most of the main characters. Clemmie, take her or leave her.

Two of the biggest issues I had were the extremely long paragraphs and the transitions between the different sections invoking the feeling of accidentally skipping ahead or missing a vital scene.

I am not going to lie, the ending left me a bit confused. I found myself turning back to see if I missed something from the library fight scene. Then I came to understand that the evil spirits were not yet defeated and this was only book one of the series. Still, it ended too quickly after building up for almost the entire book.

I just want to say my heart went out to John. It made me upset that the lost souls who helped Charlie couldn’t break John’s fall. That part bothered me a bit.

I would read the next book in the series based on the topic alone. I love history and archaeology and the mappa mundi is an intriguing subject. In the next book, I am looking forward to learning more about Hecate and hopefully the author will make more sense of how she came to possess the powers she does.

I liked this book, the main character was exactly what you alwant out of a female heroine. Strong willed, sure of herself and her choices. The story was a bit slow at the beginning and then got there and picked up nicely. Didn’t love the ending but that’s a story issue more than the authors writing because I thought the author was a great writer!

Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity!

I quite enjoyed this beginning to the new series by this author. I’m excited to read more from it.

3.75ish. Historical fiction/romance/mystery/fantasy(?) A few general plot spoilers ahead.
The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish tells the tale of Hecate, a young woman living in the late 1800s. She gets a job as an assistant in the cathedral library. There she discovers her ability to see or communicate with spirits and other mystical things such as the Mappa Mundi, an historically significant map which comes "alive" in her presence. When there is a disturbance discovered in the crypts of the cathedral and subsequent murders around town, Hecate takes on the role of unofficial detective, determined to solve the mystery.

The writing of this story is so wonderfully descriptive. It was a joy to read about the library and all of its old splendor. I could vividly picture what was happening and put myself in the story alongside Hecate. I literally sat down with tea and biscuits because I was so immersed. (I'm a coffee person!) That is no small task, and the sign of superior writing in my opinion. Hecate is a delightful FMC who feels accurate to the time period while remaining headstrong, stubborn, and determined.

"I am as I have ever been. The girl you both know. The only difference is, now I know myself better".

The negatives I feel come down to editing mostly. It IS an ARC copy, so grain of salt going forward. The paragraphs are loooong and difficult to get through at times. Pages without paragraph breaks are daunting. The chapters are also very long which is likely more of a personal preference. These two combined make the reading a bit of a slog. The ending is... unexpected and wildly frustrating. There's a huge climax that has you on the edge and there's absolutely no resolution afterwards. I understand the use of cliffhangers and generally don't mind them. This one is a on a different level and I hate it.

Overall, I think this book is worth the read. Especially if the time period is of interest to you and you like a little bit of odd-ness added in. The writing is stellar and the story is compelling.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC copy in exchange for this review.

I (quite literally) spent the entire day entranced reading this book, and I regret nothing! Paula Brackston, I Am Obsessed with Hecate!

Obsessed - That is how I feel about this fast-paced story.

This historical bibliophile dream of a tale was full of goddesses and demons and the fight for the light of goodness versus the darkness of evil, which just happened to be taking place in the library of a religious cathedral. Our assistant librarian protagonist was familiar to me for her tenacity and self-assuredness. I recognized myself in her character and immediately was immersed in her story. I laughed, cried, and felt swept away with the charm as her journey progressed. I researched locations, legends, and histories. At the climax, I could not stop reading - I needed to know the ending, even as I did not wish for the story to end. The good news…I sense a sequel!

I will need to own and reread this story. I am beyond grateful to NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin’s Press, for allowing me the opportunity to read this A.R.C. Five stars from me, as I have already preordered the tangible copy for my collection. I cannot wait to read more stories from Ms. Brackston.

I enjoyed this ghost story. Some suspense. I didn't want to put it down. I would definitely recommend it.

This was a DNF for me. I read the first couple of chapters and it just failed to catch hold, unfortunately.

I tend to agree with some of the other reviews that say this book is a bit slow paced. However, that doesn't take away from story Paula Brackston has created. Magic, a bit of horror, a bit cozy, it's all in this book. If you're one who likes stories that are magical/ fantastical, this book might be right up your alley. Worth the read.

The description of this book sounded so interesting and I was so excited for it.. Unfortunately, the story was very slow. So it just didn't grab my attention.

This book genre blends by hopping one into another. At times cozy, and then easing into horror territory. I think there are readers who will love the vibe and style, but I suspect it's more of an acquired taste situation. A bit too much telling versus showing, not the deepest character development, but still can be an enjoyable read for someone looking for a light magic story.

I continue to be amazed by Paula Brackston’s imagination. She has written so many excellent books, including this one. She has the ability to create characters that are unique and places them in settings then builds a story that pulls the reader into their world. Even with all of her books and characters there is no formula to her writing, each new series offers adventures and creativity with the only similarities being the inclusion of a strong female protagonist. Hecate Cavendish definitely fits this model as she faces unbelievable revelations and danger but stands up to face everything thrown at her. As I was reading I could clearly see how this would make an excellent movie, especially the epic battle between good and evil. Other reviewers commented that this book ending abruptly but I respectfully disagree. Having read all of the Little Shop of Lost Things series it has a similar ending, not a real cliffhanger but definitely leaving the door open for the next phase of the story. I am grateful to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for offering me an ARC of this excellent book - however, this did not impact my opinion.

I find it hard to believe this is a book being published in 2024 - it reads like it was written in 1930. I believe this is partially intentional and partially unintentional. I haven’t read anything else by this author, so I don’t know if the writing style is typical for her, but to me it read as a bit stilted. I think it was going for atmospheric, but as a result, the story was very slow to get started and in general I found it difficult to connect with the characters. I did enjoy Hecate’s love of her bicycle, her clothing choices which were described in great detail, and her general rejection of certain social norms. Her relationship with her father was also great, but really are we not past the dad is the only one who gets me and mom just wants me married trope?
Even worse in the dated tropes category is the use of persons of color as shorthand for “mystical,” both in the “evil cannibals” who kick off the plot and the “mysterious helpers” who guide the main character on her quest. This is so deeply unnecessary and totally took me out of enjoying the book.
Finally, the book’s conclusion is definitely unsatisfying, clearly meant to set up future installments in the series, but I doubt I’ll be reading.

I don't read a lot of books about magic and fantasy. At least not since reading the Harry Potter books when they came out. So Harry Potter is my measure of what is a good fantasy story and what is not. This book definitely measured up. Although a lot of the action was by mythical characters on a map, it was written in a way that was totally believable and carried the plot along nicely. I would definitely recommend this book and this author.