Synopsis: The Lamplighter by Crystal J. Bell follows Temperance, aka Tempe, as she navigates the grief of losing her father, the troubles of her emotionally absent mother, and being the financial supporter for herself and her younger sister Prudence. After Tempe's father passed away, she took on his role of the town Lamplighter, which is especially important in Warbler, where the story takes place. Every night a dense fog emerges, making it impossible to safely navigate around the small town. Tempe goes from lamp to lamp as the sun sets to each one, keeping her community safe. However, even though she is doing her job to the best of her ability, there is still an evil lurking within the calm town of Warbler.

Review: I am giving The Lamplighter 3.5 stars out of 5! For the sake of NetGalley I will round this up to 4. I really enjoyed this story, which very much gave the pace of a horror story. There was a lot of learning about the life of Tempe, her inner turmoils, and how all of that while being a woman in this society took such a toll on her spirit. The eeriness of the setting is very important to the overall story. I found myself feeling for her so much when nail after nail was hit into her coffin (metaphorically speaking of course). The epilouge also set the story up well for a hopeful resolution. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a book with horror/thriller vibes that keep you on the edge of your seat!

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and Crystal J. Bell for allowing me to read an advanced copy in return for my honest review!

Creepy, atmospheric and fantastically written. One hell of a debut, and I am looking forward to future works by this author. Thank you to the publisher, NetGelley and the author for the advanced copy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy. It has not affected my opinion or review:

Tempe Byrne is the village's lamplighter. A job she's held for the past 4 years, ever since her father - the previous lamplighter - had committed suicide. She's the de facto head of her family, since her mother hasn't uttered a word in the interim, and her year-younger sister Prudence isn't of age. The whaling seaport has suffered a lot of disappearances in the past and two recent missing girls drive the novel's beginning. As the lamplighter, Tempe is expected to keep a watchful eye as she executes her duties, as an able assist to the thinly staffed guards that patrol the village.

Early on, we're told that Tempe's father had warned her to avoid Gideon, the village woodmaster who carves the female figureheads that the port is known for. Years ago, an early run-in solidified the wisdom of her father's advice, but Tempe has cause to dread him further. This is the impetus for the story of the missing villagers and sailors and Tempe's bound by necessity and desire to sort this mystery out.

The book was very well written and the winding path to the finale was very well handled. The dialogue was tight and believable, and the characters well-developed. The setting of a New England seaport could have used a little better fleshing out, as it's never fully clear where the town is, making it feel more like an author creation in a near-fantasy world, though they referenced real-world events and places on occasion, which made me wish they'd just have put a pin in where it was on the map, but that's a minor gripe.

Tempe and the supporting cast are fully realized, and developed to the point where they had me invested. The inevitable twists and turns you'd expect in a tale like this had me dreading and cheering at the lows and highs Tempe experienced. The book feels more mystery-horror hybrid than anything to me, but well-entrenched in the YA feel without feeling pandering to either YA or Adults, and never veers too hard into the terrifying or gory that it might've become off-putting.

I'm hopeful that we see a lot more from this author. I know I'll be watching for her new releases going forward.

The Lamplighter is a gripping and atmospheric read that takes you in like the pittoresque fog crawling from a stunning forrest - first you find it has a lovely pull and then it becomes very, very scary.

At its heart this is a brutally honest story on the inevitable helplessness women so often face under the crushing and incessant need of men to control us, and to hurt us if we refuse. But avove that it is a tribute to that unbelievable strenght and light women find in themselves to rebel in spite of everything.

The ending is stunning and I immediatly had a sequel happening in my head - few writers manage that so elegantly.

I think the writing could have been more concise in the middle - I read in some reviews here that's when some readers got lost a little - but this is a debut and a stunning one, and thus a small fault. And the finale more than makes up for it!

What i grappled with the most were Tempe's decisions regarding her sexual assault. It made me angry at first, how she presented it to her sister, describing it as her own fault. I wanted to scream why would you do that??! But then I sadly remembered the many girls that did the same when they recounted real-life occurences of SA to me and it is what happens, it's precisely the mindset society has instilled in us and this is a complex and truthful example of it, even if it does make us furious. So I applaud that. I only wish the author had shed a bit more light on this in Tempe towards the end.

But I fully reccomend this book to everyone. It is an amazing debut and you will find yourself right in this world of seaports, dark woods, and lonely lanterns lighting the dark, and you will wish to remain a little while longer, despite the horrors you have witnessed.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Really enjoyed this book, was very unique and the twists and turns kept you intrigued. Really enjoyed the development in characters and the ending was incredible!

From the first sentence I knew I would like this book. It’s dark, spooky and heartbreaking. There’s a little romance and characters are well written. Though the ending was a little frustrating for me.

A twisted, beautifully dark story that leaves the reader hungering for more. Bell eloquently pulls you into a fictional world that is a microsome of our real one and asks hard questions through the lens of magic.

Absolutely phenomenal short horror. Would recommend loudly to everyone within earshot while carrying a lantern at a spooky old dock. Thanks for the arc

Thank you to North Star Editions and NetGalley for the eBook in exchange for my review.

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. Set in a weird town that doesn't seem to know if it's the 17th or 19th century (they've got Puritanical names and some Puritan community traits, but whaling is the big industry...) , this tale features empowered women, mystery, romance and a bit of sci-fi as well.

The ending is gut wrenching, leaving big questions and hope for a sequel????

Thank you to netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow, this book is a wild, atmospheric ride you’ll easily devour in one sitting!!

I absolutely loved The Lamplighter and recommend everyone check this book out when it comes out in May! If you like atmospheric seaside towns with horror elements and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end, then this book is for you!

The Lamplighter is set in the 19th century in a whaling town known for lucky ship figurehead and disappearances in the nightly fog. The book follows Temperence, a Lamplighter, as she fights for her voice and position as a young woman disappears under her watch when two of her lamps go out. Tempe is up against the town as she learns unsettling information about her father and the town’s famous figureheads. And on top of it all, Tempe has to protect her sister from a marriage proposal she doesn’t trust when more women go missing.

With talks of myths and folklore hiding in the fog, Tempe doesn’t know what to believe anymore. But time is running out and only she can unearth all the lies and secrets.

Tempe is a wonderful character to read from and goes through so much in this novel! She deserves so much and I loved seeing her go about her job as a Lamplighter. Her sister and Josiah were amazing supporting characters and that twist will stay with me for a long time – I still can’t believe what happened. Or the ending … I’m in shock, but I also still really liked the way it ended.

Overall, I was wildly impressed and will be picking up everything this author writes next! I adored the way they wrote and created this incredibly atmospheric setting that was hauntingly eery and mythical at the same time.

Lastly, this is incredibly niche and obscure and definitely probably just me, so bear with me. There’s this Ray Bradbury short story audio cassette my teacher played for my class in the 5th grade (I can never remember the name but there was a murderer, a river, a bridge, fog, and scissors I think) that has stuck with me for years. I’ve yearned to find a book that matches those terrifying, eery vibes with murder and disappearances in a foggy town and this book scratched that itch so well. From the first chapter I was hooked and this is probably just me, but it reminded me of that Ray Bradbury story and I’m obsessed!!!

Content Warnings: The Lamplighter contains discussions and/or depictions of sexual assault, violence, suicide, parental death, and string language.

This book grabs you from the very beginning and doesn’t let go until the end! I absolutely loved it! The setting is creepy and adds to the story so well. I enjoyed how very real day to day subjects are dealt in the book. They weren’t depicted in offensive or harmful fashions, as has been my prior experience with most books that have touched on delicate subjects. The story was wonderfully crafted and kept me guessing as to what was really going on even when I thought I’d figured it out. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to anyone looking to read a story that’s as heartfelt as it is creepy.

Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book exceeded my expectations vastly. I was drawn in by the description and the cover but was completely hooked by the atmosphere and story.

Tempe is a lamplighter. A position she inherited from her father. She brings light to her community, the small, dark, and foggy Warbler. She is the only line of defense against the fog that blankets the town each night. Because when someone goes missing in the fog, they are never seen again. But when a girl goes missing and the lamps go out the blame falls on the lamplighter. Tempe must search for the truth as more villagers go missing. But the secrets her small town hides may be horrible than she could have ever imagined.

This was a short spooky read and, while the first half started a little slow, the twist and ending threw me for a loop. My only complaint is I wish there was more. I wasn’t ready to leave Warbler.

Thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions for an early copy in exchange for an honest review

>It's an honor to bring light to the dark.

Okay first off, I did not expect this book to be so good???

Right from the beginning, we are introduced to the haunting whaling village of Warbler. Every night, a mysterious fog creeps into the village, held at bay by the bright lamps. Temperance (Tempe), our main character, is the lamplighter, a job she inherited after her father k!lled himself.

As a female lamplighter, Tempe already faces a lot of judgement and misogyny, something that is heightened when another village girl, Molly, goes missing during Tempe's shift. Struggling to keep her job to continue to support her mother and sister, Tempe throws all her effort into finding Molly, not knowing how much of the town's dark secrets she would uncover.

-------------------

This book. THIS BOOK. It's slow. It's sinister. It's terrifyingly haunting.

I was instantly hooked.

There's just something about the vivid, yet chilling descriptions that immersed me so deeply into the story, I finished it within 5 hours. I can't say every chapter was exciting, but there was always something within them that pushed me to keep reading and find out what was coming next.

This book is very much a gothic mystery/horror, and the setting reminded me a lot of Sherlock Holmes! (disclaimer: I've only watched the Robert Downey Jr movies 🫣)

But it was creepy, VERY creepy, and not just because of the setting- you know what else was creepy? The men. A few central male characters here were disgustingly misogynistic and... well... terrifying... but you won't know what I mean with that second part unless you read it (you should).

> I'm the lamplighter. I'm here to bring light. To show the way.

Throughout the whole book, I just felt so bad for Tempe. She definitely has eldest daughter syndrome. Not only does she have to carry the livelihoods of her mother and sister on her back but when she discovers something important (and dangerous!), no one believes her because she's a "delusional woman" 🙄. Even characters (whose names I won't mention) that she loves dearly and works hard to protect don't believe her. The audacity 🙄

But, here are some of my favourite characters to make up for the annoying ones!

The fog:
> The trees whisper behind the fog, or maybe its the fog itself? Feeding on my sanity like termites.
There are so many descriptions of the fog in this book that I've grown to love it 🤠👍 ...not really actually, it's still creepy.

Mr. Landon:
This guy barely appears in the novel, but he deserves a mention because he is the absolute kindest and sweetest 🫶

Temperance:
And of course, Tempe herself!

--------------

I did see some similarities to The Hunger Games in terms of characters, but only very loosely.
Tempe --> Katniss (overall protector of the house)
Da --> Katniss's dad (dead! 🤠👍)
Pru (Tempe's sister) --> Prim (different age, but same dependance)
Mother --> Katniss's mum (absent in grief)
Josiah --> Gale (I don't like them both)

Again, this is only a very loose comparison because this book's characters change a lot throughout the novel! This is based on first impressions only.

-------------------

Overall, I really, really loved this book! It's haunting, it makes you dread what's going to happen next... it's a fantastic debut, and I hope it gets all the love it deserves!

-------------------

Trigger warnings:
- sexual assault
- suicide
- misogyny

*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Flux in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating.

The beginning of the book is pretty slow. I understand that the plot is being established with the characters and backstories but I had to skim a lot. The mystery of the missing girls is nicely portrayed and the historical context is intact.

But I think a lot of the narratives could be slimmed down.

The only reason I did not DNF is the ending. The ending and revelation is amazing! I love how everything came together yet there is still a hanging mystery.

My advice - if you are a horror fan and can power through the book, you will be happy with the ending.

Thank you NetGalley, North Star Editions and Flux for giving me the opportunity to read this!

The moment I laid my eyes on the cover of The Lamplighter, I was immediately drawn in by its intense and atmospheric design. The opening sentence was equally captivating, and as someone who is a fan of gothic and 19th-century literature, I knew I was in for a treat. The story is set in a mysterious, damp town, and the plot unfolds slowly, building tension and intrigue with each passing page. The female protagonist’s job as a lamplighter was unusual for a woman of that time, and added a unique dynamic to the story. As the mystery unravels, she sets out to solve it, leading to a gradual descent into complete horror that had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put the book down until I had read it cover to cover. I am eagerly anticipating its release on May 21, 2024, and I highly recommend that you get a copy as well. It’s a spine-chilling journey that you won’t soon forget.

This story was an absolute delight to read; a breath of fresh air (ironic, considering the suffocating nature of the fog itself), and unputdownable. Whilst I didn't entirely agree with Temperance's actions, and the repeated nature of her hesitancy towards seeking help, I did understand her and empathise with her—which is definitely a testament to the quality of writing from Bell. Warbler was as haunted, mysterious and dangerous as promised, and the twists and turns had my heart and my mind racing every time. The ending, whilst grief-filled, made total sense in the context of the world—and I appreciated the commitment to the overarching plot, whilst also finding satisfaction in the potential for hope held within the final lines. The Lamplighter was a treat of a book to devour and I can't wait to buy a copy when it releases in May this year. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for the opportunity to read rate and review this arc which will be available May 21,2024.

This an atmospheric ya horror that builds upon the suspense and then slaps you in the face with it.

Temperance is the main character and she is the Lamplighter for the sea side town of Warbler which is famous for its Lucky Ship Figureheads made by the creepy Gideon. Tempe gets the job because of the death of her father(which if you have a trigger for abrupt deaths mind it because it’s literally the first sentence of the first chapter). There is a lot of push back because this is a man’s job and well Tempe is a teenage girl dressing as a man because climbing ladders in a dress would be difficult. There is a bit of a mystery when 2 lamps go out and a young girl goes missing. So naturally because she is a woman the towns folk call for her removal. There is something in the fog. Something her father knew and died for. Something that broke her mother. Gideon knows. And the figureheads? What is off about them? Such a haunting atmospheric and truly creepy read.

I really do highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed reading this - however found the pacing somewhat difficult to get into. Once I was in though I was hooked. I adored the characters and loved the ending!

This feels like an old timer version of the fog mixed with folklore, and with the added worry Temperance has to provide for her family after her fathers death.

Temperance is a woman who sees what is going on in her community but is unsure of how to be accepted and have her thoughts and concerns heard as a young woman in a male driven sea port.

The story digs deep into the idea of assault and not wanting to speak out. At the heart of the story there’s an ask for help message, don’t bottle everything up moral.

The build up is natural and when the secrets start to unravel they start coming at you fast!

Gideon’s reveal and the secret behind his skill was a twist that kept me reading and wanting to know more!

This book was so beautiful and amazingly written I don’t know how I will overcome the feeling of emptiness left by it. You know the feeling after you finish a great book and then you don’t know what to do with yourself anymore? Yup that’s what I’m feeling and I really didn’t want to go into 2024 in a book slump.
Join Temperance, the lightlighter as she tries to battle the fog that buries Warbler every night and it’s people and secrets with it.
It’s a YA book with creeping dread and a character that tries to so the right choice but fails to do so terribly. There’s just so muchI could say about this book, but I can’t spoil. I wish I could’ve been longer yet at the same time I love the way it ended.