The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston is a truly amazing novel from the first page to the last.
The characters were described with such detail you could almost see them.
They are superb - so realistic. Brackston is so great at description!
Her phenomenal writing style draws the reader in and keeps them there throughout the story. You don't just read this novel—you are living in it.

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you so much @stmartinspress for the gifted copy for an honest review

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is an historical, fantastic, mystery book.

Hecate can communicate and see ghosts. She works in the library in the cathedral. It's there that she learns about her abilities. While she learns to navigate with her power, the crypt where she works was desecrated and murders keep happening in the city.

At the end of the book, it was almost creepy. The Exorcist scene 🫥 .

I absolutely adored her.
She's strong, fierce, loyal and she's true to herself. Her love for books and everything antique made her a character that everyone will love. She's sharp and brilliant.

Her relationship with her father was beautiful and so well-written.

If you love :

✨ Academia;
✨ Historical fantasy;
✨ Mysteries ;
✨ Magic and ghosts ;
✨ Scandal and murder mystery;
✨ 1880s era.

Hecate Cavendish can interact with spirits. She starts working at a library where many old texts and books are held, but strange things begin happening to her inside it's walls. There is also something else prowling around and Hecate might be the only one that can figure it out,

This book is really slow. I wanted to enjoy it but was put off by pages dedicated to her hemming her dress and then jumping multiple days into the future without any warning. It felt very disjointed and full of a lot of unimportant information that did not push the narrative forward. I think that someone who likes a fast paced thriller (myself) would find it very hard to get into the storyline,.

This one is for Brackston's fans and those who like historical fiction about intrepid young women who, in this case find they have a connection with the spirit world. It's 1881 and Hecate's father endorses her desire to work and explore life more before she marries (if she marries) so he helps her get a job at the library at the cathedral. And then she discovers she can speak with the spirits that haunt it. Know that Brackston sometimes wades a little deep into a tangle but Hecate is a good character and the plot moves along briskly. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This reads as if it's the first in a series so I'm now looking forward to the next one.

In general, I really enjoyed this book. I like Hecate's sassy, independent personality, especially being a Victorian Miss. I love her relationships with her Father and her best friend, great character development there. I love how the author researched the history and the settings of her book. You felt immersed in the story. I found myself googling Hereford Cathedral's history - absolutely fascinating!

Now on to the cons. It was a slow read and tended to drag on. I was not satisfied with the abrupt ending and felt that there was no true resolution. I understand that this is going to be a series, however something should have been solved. However, I am glad that the author has a new series and I do look forward to Hecate Cavendish's next adventure.

This is going to appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction with dark supernatural elements. The main character, Hecate, is an interesting and strong female character, and one of my favorite things about this book. I also enjoyed the fantasy elements of ‘ghosts’ and a creatures on an old map coming to life.

This is the first book in a series and ends mid story. Readers will have differing opinions and reactions to that. My other personal hesitation with this book is that it deals with evil elements as part of the storyline, so it is not a happy read, and I found the ending downright sad and unsatisfying.

This was an interesting book about a woman named H ECA TEC.A v e r n dish. She started to work in the cathedral.And this was interesting because there was a map there. She's very helpspoken about a lot of things too. Her father was a person of interest too because he was into egypt Artifacts. Her mother ran the house and her brother was very sick. She did not trust the person who was in charge of the cathedral because weird things started happening when she touched the snap. She started to see ghost after that and they all had a very interesting past as well. John was her friend and he was a part of the church. Things got very interesting when the graves were open And under the cathedral. This is played a very important part of the book and it all gets tied together and you find out at the end what really happened. She was a very clever woman and she had keys made because she needed to see certain books. I can't wait for the other series to start because I really want to know what happens to this Woman

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston is a very unique story where a library houses chained books, ghosts, and maybe some things in the library are full of mysteries.

Set in 1881, Hecate Cavendish has got a job as an assistant librarian at Hereford Cathedral. The library contains several secrets, and Hecate, just like her namesake Goddess, has talents that might make her life interesting.

This gothic mystery is definitely interesting. Hecate is an amazing character, especially due to the time period this book is set in. The whole premise of the library happenings was something I really enjoyed. However, I felt the pace was kind of slow, and I am hoping that in the sequel, we get more answers for some of the loose ends. I am definitely going to be on the lookout for the next book in the series.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press for this book.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish (Hecate Cavendish #1) by Paula Brackston from Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press to read and give an honest review.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish the series debut by author Paula Brackston introduces us to the young heroine Hecate Cavendish. Living with her retired archaeologist father, proper Victorian Mother, and fragile little brother, in Hereford England Hecate is ready to take on a new adventure. Hecate has landed a job at Hereford Cathedral as the new library assistant, in charge of cataloging and repairing ancient tomes. Many of the books are so valuable they are chained to the shelves, and some are completely locked away from everyone’s reach. The library contains so many secrets and the ever-inquisitive Hecate is in heaven. She settles in quickly with her daily routines and quirky colleagues, but it is the Mappa Mundi, an old medieval map that draws Hecate to work every day.

When the cathedral’s mausoleum is broken into it releases an ancient evil that threatens Hereford, murdering innocents, Hecate must investigate by pooling as many resources as she can to locate and stop the evil before it takes hold. With the help of her father and new friends she follows the clues with help from the Mappa Mundi, old books, and letters, leading Hecate to an ancient rite and the realization this was a path chosen for her long before she was born.

I am so conflicted with this book, I read it in one sitting (minus the daily acts of living, giving up any idea of sleep and with total disregard to being a functioning adult the next day). The book was truly spellbinding, captivating the reader with such an intriguing protagonist, brilliantly bookish plot and gothic atmosphere. In The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish, the author as is her style, has woven a rich tapestry of a plot intertwining mystery, magic, heartbreak, fantasy and romance so much so that I did not want to put it down. The protagonist, Hecate (named after the Goddess) is intelligent, sassy, courageous and empathetic in addition to the incredible multifaceted secondary characters who all seemed to have a place in the story.

My biggest complaint was the ending, it was such an incredible letdown after such a brilliant build up. The character arc showed a dynamic change but the plot itself felt unfinished, unresolved even for a cliffhanger, there was just too much left hanging without even the hope of being close to a resolution. I am hoping that the next book gives us the answers we longed for this time around. I would have gladly given five stars but how do you rate a book that was brilliant until the last few pages.

Normally I don’t like to read historical pieces, but this one pleasantly surprised me.

Hecate Cavendish is a girl after my own heart, with plenty of spirit who can SEE spirits. She’s smart, witty, can see and converse with ghosts, which is a help to the murders happening in her city.

It took me a hot minutes to get into it, but this book was rather interesting and was well written.

I always enjoy Paula Brackston's books and The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is a wonderful start to another great series. I loved the historical setting of England and Hecate's eagerness to work in the cathedral's library. This magical story kept me turning pages to the end. Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Only minor detail spoilers, no major plot spoilers below:


The first 60% was very slow, a lot of establishing the world and mundane things, follower by 20% of "oo is it starting to pick up?", followed by the remaining 20% going full tilt. I texted my friend to tell them the book I was reading was mid, and 2 hours later my tears were falling on my kindle mourning a character I hadn't realized I was attached to?? It's very much a whiplash-y read.
The ending felt a little too daydreamy, with her putting on a special magic girl outfit and deciding to exclude everyone that could have helped her because of the "I need to do this on my own" trope, and I was genuinely furious to realize at the end that it ISN'T a standalone.
Also fair warning it does has that English mindset of "foreign 'exotic' magics are about death and evil", which yes is partially due to it being historical but also I feel is just reflecting the biases of the creator a bit? I mean, the father is an English ARCHAEOLOGIST, and he is seen as beloved and well traveled, as if English archaeologists didn't either steal or destroy half of the world's treasures, (some of which this character keeps in his attic. No joke.) I believe it is a reflection of internal biases due to a collection of small details such as the father's occupation and such, but the other details would be full-on spoilers, so please understand I'm not just hating on the English. I lived in England for a bit, and the reason I see these biases in the text is because I study English literature specifically, and these are the things we look for.

Was it fun? Sure! Did I learn a lot about a cathedral that exists in England! You betcha! Am I going to seek out the sequel? Probably not.

This is a book for anglophiles and mythology lovers, so this might be the book for you! It just so happened to not be the book for me, and that's okay, my opinion is subjective and I still believe this book is well-written and very much worth publishing

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review

In England in 1881, Hecate Cavendish gets a new position as Assistant Librarian in the Hereford cathedral. The cathedral houses an ancient chained library, wisdom guarded for centuries, mysteries and stories locked onto its worn, humble shelves. The most prized artifact, however, is the medieval world map which hangs next to Hecate’s desk. Little does she know how much the curious people and mythical creatures depicted on it will come to mean to her. Nor does she suspect that there are lost souls waiting for her in the haunted cathedral. Some will become her dearest friends. Some will seek her help in finding peace. Others will put her in great peril, and, as she quickly learns, threaten the lives of everyone she loves.

This is the first book in a new series, and I am eager to see where Hecate's story goes from here. I had never heard of the term Mappa Mundi before, and I was also unfamiliar with chained libraries, so as I was reading this book, I was doing research on the things I was reading about. Hereford Cathedral is also actually a real place, and I loved all of the factual elements that were incorporated into this work of faction. I adored Hecate. She was so headstrong and brave, and I can't wait to read more about her. If you are a fan of historical fiction, or even fantasy fiction since there were elements of that in the book, then you are going to love this book. I highly recommend it!

It’s 1881 and Hecate Cavendish has a new job at Hereford Cathedral in the library. Upon starting at the library, she looks at it. Hecate also learned that she can speak with the dead. All the Cathedral ghosts are friendly, but the dark force has unearthed from the cathedral tombs. And these dark ghosts are after Hecate.

There were things I liked about this book and things I didn’t. It was a little slow and I didn’t like how the ending was largely unresolved. This is definitely book one in a series. I did like how Hecate was strong and came up with her own solutions, instead of relying on other people, particularly men.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

📚 The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston 📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎉Publication Date🎉
July 23, 2024

✨Tropes✨
📚Mystery
📚Talking to ghosts
📚Magic

✨Summary✨
Hecate Cavendish is a seemingly normal, albeit, over educated girl for her time. Her greatest wish is to work with old texts and tomes instead of attending parties and finding a husband like other girls her age in the late 1800s. Much to her mother’s chagrin, Hecate even orders a bicycle, the first in the county, all the way from America, to get around the country lanes. When Hecate’s father secures her a position as an assistant librarian, Hecate is overjoyed. After a rocky start, Hecate settles in to her role. However, when a series of mysterious events begin to occur, Hecate finds herself obliged to get involved and help. She even discovers that she possesses unique gifts she never knew she had. Can Hecate solve the mysteries unfolding in the cathedral and, consequently, the town?

✨Critiques✨
It did take awhile to get into the book. I almost gave up on it. However, I’m glad I stuck with it.

✨Elements I Loved✨
The speaking to ghosts and finding out their background stories was really fun.
The author’s writing style was also so good. I would have given up on the book early on if not for how well written the book is. It was a little hard for me, personally, to get into at first, but after about a quarter of the way through, it picked up and I ended up enjoying it. I loved the added mystery to the story that kept me guessing the whole way through.

🪄Standout magic features🪄
The added magical ability of touching the mappa mundi and making the creatures and pictures come alive was so fun.

👩🏻My Recommendation👩🏻
If you’re looking for a good, witchy, ghostly book for the fall, this is it. It’s perfect for curling up with a cup of tea and a blanket on a cool, crisp day.


Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing the ARC.

"The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is a notable work that skillfully merges historical fiction with elements of fantasy and mystery. Brackston excels in crafting a vivid and immersive world, filled with well-developed characters, which distinguishes this book within its genre. The narrative emphasizes themes of empowerment and the significance of knowledge, leaving a lasting impact on readers.
This book is highly recommended for enthusiasts of historical fantasy and those who appreciate stories featuring strong, independent female protagonists. Its combination of whimsy, mystery, and emotional depth makes it an ideal choice for readers seeking an engaging journey to a magical rendition of Victorian England.

This book sounded like it would be right up my alley, but I wasn't hooked. There was a lot going on— the magic map, talking to ghosts, a sick brother, a budding romance, spirit possession— but somehow it all fell flat for me (especially the romance). I appreciated that it clearly stated "Book 1" on the cover so I knew to expect some sort of cliffhanger. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this kind of story right now.

I've always wanted to read a book by this author and I finally did.

Blending fantasy with historical fiction is not my type of book. However, I liked this story set in a world of magic and ghosts.

Hecate whose name came from the goddess of ghosts and magic, had special power. From her first day of work in the cathedral library, Hecate was fascinated by the medieval map Mappa Mundi. One day she touched the map and the map came to life. No one else could hear it, just like no one could see the lost souls she befriended in the library.

When the tombs in the cathedral were broken, Hecate knew that the course of the Essedenes had been summoned and that only she could stop the dangerous spirits of the ancient tribe.

Brackston immediately introduces a very interesting character with a special power. Hecate is a wonderful daughter, a caring sister and a brave person who has the gift of seeing and communicating with the dead.

Hecate's ethereal friends are nicely portrayed and are sympathetic and convincing. The cathedral library with its old books was a great setting for this well-written story.
I will read more books by this author.

If you like fantasy mixed with historical fiction and the mysterious world of spirits, definitely try this book.

Hecate becomes employed at a cathedral as a library assistant much to the disappointment of her mother. She quickly finds out that she is gifted in that she can see ghosts.

I genuinely wanted to enjoy this book as the premise sounded fun and mystical but unfortunately I didn’t find much that stood out. In fact, I found myself speed-reading more often than not.

My biggest takeaway was Hecate’s empathy for the ghosts and her struggle with whom to trust. The ghosts stories could have been far more in depth and compelling in my opinion.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. The review expresses my own opinion.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc!

I absolutely devoured this book. I was hooked within the first few pages and I could hardly put it down. I cannot recommend this book enough. Happy reading!