An interesting concept for sure. I wish more groundwork had been laid to explain why the logical actions weren’t feasible. And while the pacing was pretty slow overall, the romance seemed to come out of nowhere.

Thanks to Alcove Press for providing an advanced digital copy through NetGalley for me to review!

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this. I did like it but never really felt called to pick it up. The pacing was pretty slow and didn't make me excited to get back to the story, until the third act that felt a lot more engaging. The writing is pleasant but extremely detailed, which I think is one of the reasons it felt so slow. At first I thought all these details must have a meaning and maybe it was important to pay attention to it all, but after a while I realized that was just the way the author writes and skimmed a little. The characters are mostly interesting, with additions throughout the story that create a fun dynamic. Elegy is a great MC; I felt for her and loved seeing her growth. I also enjoyed how different Atticus was and thought they were very sweet together. It would have been amazing to learn more about the ghosts and their story, it would perhaps have added some depth to the story. As it is, the plot and romance were a bit too simple, though still enjoyable and easy to follow. I loved the gothic vibe and the hints of foreshadowing. Overall, it was a nice read, but just lacked that spark that would have made it stand out.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Elgey Thorne lives a life that most people would never understand. Not only is she living in a virtual time capsule but she is also forced to not stray far from her ancestral estate home. And while most twenty five year olds are getting married or finishing schooling Elgey is preparing for the day she will become Thorne Hall’s mistress. For Elgey’s family inheritance includes much more than the place she calls her home, but also the unruly ghosts that are forever walking its halls. This is her duty, her life’s purpose. To keep the ghosts of Thorne Hall at bay. However when a leak caused by one of the manors more restless spirits occurs it sets in motion a new path for Elgey. One that not only includes the handsome handy man Atticus but also freedom.
This gothic ghost filled story was an absolute delight to read and encompassed so much more than I had originally anticipated when I first picked it up. We follow along as Elgey learns to navigate her soon to be role as the ghostly caretaker of Thorne Hall and if this is truly all fate has set aside for her. As time goes on and the narrative continues we get to see Elgey rebel and fight against her families conditioning and oppression which I thoroughly enjoyed. And while many will call this a simple romance and coming of age story filled with ghostly additions I have to say for me this book read as much more. At its core is a story about breaking the mold against toxic family traditions and expectations. As someone who has had to endure her own fair share of cycle breaking within my own family this aspect really spoke to me. Simply put this book was a gothic treat filled with great setting of a haunted manor, like able characters, a sweet romance, and of course the ghostly addictions of both friendly and not so friendly spirits made for a page turning read.

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall comes out February 11th, 2025. Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall

A big thanks to the author and publisher for the eARC from NetGalley. The following review is my unbiased opinion.

If you're considering reading or buying this book here are some things to consider before I give my subjective opinion. 🚢

Pacing: Very slow, near-slogging in the first 6 chapters. Then things pick up, then towards the planning phase of the plot things also slow down to allow the characters to gather intel, organize a team, etc. Then the last third picks up pace a ton and things are tense. Loved the middle and end of the book.

Characters: Unique voices even if they were inconsistent. At times Elegy sounds very 19th century and at times she sounds modern day. I would have liked a more consistent voice for her. There are more characters added towards the end and I got major Harry Potter Marauders vibes. Floss and Hugo have some depth to them, and even Fletcher the stepmother is a more nuanced character.

Plot: simple, to the point. After my last eARC this was so refreshing to have a simple main plot with a romantic subplot. The plot is simple, what will Elegy do when she finds out she is betrothed to Hugo for obvious reasons - not telling you that, you'll have to read it yourself! 😜There was a moment where I thought we were treading into Telenovela territory when the MMCAtticuss tells us he's originally from Seattle just visiting his father.

Writing Style: T Kingfisher meets Jane Austen,.. and James Joyce. As humorous as this story was, with ONE LINERS after another.. Y'all, this author is maximalist at heart. So many details in the first few chapters. Almost to the point where me, severe unmedicated ADHDer, was wondering why in the world I needed to know characters' exact outfits down to the fabric choice. Like does it matter a whole lot towards advancing the story? Story is also telling not showing throughout the book. Knee-deep in the FMC thoughts, it seems like the author wants to share so much info on everything she knows about everything.

Tropes 🤡:
- Touch her and pay for it
- Darkening eyes
- Every inch of him

Spice 🔥: Ch 19 2.5/5🌶

Summary: This was a beautiful story. And one that I really enjoyed BUT: You can have a beautiful story that you can picture without providing quite so much detail. I sincerely would like more editing and to not feel like an uneducated new englander for not knowing all the classic French designers or that Sarah Lawrence is lit university for women. FMC Elegy, is in her head so much. Is she going to be as much as the FMC in T Kingfishers Swordheart? Luckily, no. She drives the plot, the plot does not drive her. Though there is a case to be made that without Atticus would she feel so driven. IMO it took too long to meet him and get the story going. I think filling in the backstory on Floss and Hugo and how they met would have been fine through flashback memories interwoven in the present day scenes. Yes I know, that is telling not showing, but we can make a case that's okay to keep the plot moving.

I did spot a little foreshadowing:

He took a copy of Little Dorrit in his hands and gently turned it this way and that to inspect the gilt edging, flipped open the cover, put it carefully back.

THE ONE LINERS Y'ALL The author writes one-liners like she has a knife to her throat. Like lady please, save some for the rest of us.

“Men have extraordinarily bad aim even by daylight.”🤣

Overall yes I would recommend BUT if you are okay with slow start, lots of flowery language and description, and are okay with one less than explicit spice scene plus not a lot of mutual pining.

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a unique romance wrapped in a gothic ghost story.
The pacing at the beginning is a little slow, and the reader is introduced to a lot of characters in a row, making it difficult to keep track of who's who, which I think made the pacing feel a little slower.
The story kicks off with the protagonist and heir to Thorne Hall, Elegy, being issued a challenge to her ailing father to prove that she's capable of managing the spirit collection in his absence. For such an important aspect of the story, I found it difficult to understand Elegy's motivation for accepting this challenge. Elegy doesn't seem to like her father, and he's got less than a year to live at this stage and no other heirs. What's he going to do if she refuses?
I struggled a bit to connect with the voice, but I think people who are looking for that slightly floaty style of modern gothic stories will connect with it more deeply than I was able to.

4.25 Stars

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by J. Ann Thomas first came on my radar after watching a YouTuber I follow list it as one of their most anticipated 2025 new releases. What really sold me on this one was that it was being pitched for fans of Jane Eyre and Starling House, say less!

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a hauntingly atmospheric book that blends Gothic elements, eerie suspense, and a tender romance. From the very beginning I was drawn into Thorne Hall and the characters that inhabited it, both living and dead.

The overall concept of this story was so intriguing to me, the idea of a collection of ghosts bound to a family line. Sure, we’ve seen ghosts bound to a house in the traditional haunted house story, but I personally had not read anything quite like this.

While I came for the Gothic elements, the romance was a true delight. While I did get a bit of insta-love vibes at first, I’d classify this more as an insta-attraction that turns to an appropriately developed romance. The contrast between the blossoming romance with the ghostly horrors within Thorne Hall was *chief's kiss.* Gothic romance done right!

I do feel there were a few aspects of the story that could have been further developed, specifically the collection of ghosts. The ghosts, with their own distinct back stories and personalities, were so compelling, but I wished there had been more development and focus on them. I wanted to see more interactions with Elegy so we could get a better sense of them. Also, there were so many characters, living and dead, that at times it was difficult to keep everyone straight.

Overall, I loved my time reading this. If you are a Gothic romance fan, this is a must read.

***Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

3.5/5

This had a rough start for me, I had a tough time getting into it. But as the story progressed it became hard to put down. I loved the gothic setting, I also loved that the story took place within 40 minutes from where I live.

I really feel for Elegy. Her situation is awful, and she believes that she has no say in anything in her life. She was born with her future already decided. I was so glad as the story progressed that we got to see her realize that she can decide how her future looks, not what her father expects it to be. I’m glad I stuck it out as the ending was very satisfying.

Besides the rough start, I also found it difficult to try and remember who was who as we are introduced to many characters right off the bat. Overall, I enjoyed the story.

Look, I love a good gothic story, and this had so many great elements. A young woman who lives in a haunted mansion with her emotionally distant, abusive father, and insane stepmother who lives in the attic, check. A marriage contract with a man she doesn't love and a new suitor who is an outsider, check. Ghosts who are rotting away and have nefarious plans, also check. But too many of the elements didn't actually fit for me.

I love love love the ghosts in this story. I actually wish there had been more backstory for the ghosts and how they died. The Mourning (one of the ghosts) didn't even have a name which was a shame. Easily the saddest part of the story was how Elegy was basically raised by ghosts and forced to behave as a woman in the Gilded Age. Even Elegy's clothes were from the Gilded Age, she couldn't even wear sweatpants in the comfort of her own room. Even though Elegy is clearly stilted because of her limited interactions with living people, she's such a real character.

The two big issues I had with this story were the location and the songs. At the beginning of the story, the setup makes it seem like it's taking place in England or the UK. I know that if I would have just read the back of the book more than once it would have stuck in my head that this was in New England, but for some reason I kept getting distracted. The second is the songs, I loved their inclusion, but I felt like the explanation for them was flimsy. I felt like the lore should have been built out more around the songs, the ghosts, and the overall mystery of Thorn Hall.

Also I liked the romance, but I don't think it was necessary. I feel like building out the relationships and friendships Elegy had could have been a meatier story, especially with the third act twist.

This was a fun read, but could have been better developed.

gothic atmosphere, morbid spirits, and romance? Yes! I need more gothic romance with ghosts. It was also very atmospheric which I loved.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC.

This is a book where I wish half stars were an option, because then I would rate it 3.5 stars. Overall the book is an average read, but honestly I could see where others may find it closer to a 4 stars read if the issues I had aren’t things that bother you. While the story itself was an amazing gothic mystery book the execution almost had me putting it down a few times wondering if it was worth continuing. In the end I am glad I did because it had an amazing ending. However, it had a very slow, confusing and at times random beginning. Once it gets about 30% in though it picks ups and the more I read the more I got sucked in. The characters had a good growth and life given to them by the author. I found myself liking Atticus and the side characters more than the FMC which did lead to it being harder to really sink into the book for me.

I love gothic fantasy, so when I read the description for this title, I knew it was one I’d want to check out! I have to admit, I was also a bit hesitant about how the modernity would work with everything else that was being promised. And, well, I just personally don’t love contemporary fiction, so there were ways that this could have went quite wrong, potentially. But, while it wasn’t quite the home run that I had hope for, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read!

The book started off on an excellent note, hitting all of the historical and gothic vibes I could hope for! The language was lush and of the time, the splendor glittered, the horror spooked, and the mystery for the ongoing story was perfectly set up. This continued into the modern portion of the book when we first meet Elegy, and through her eyes, we meet the various ghoulish ghosts that make up the manor. I was most surprised here. While many of them were horrific and some of them downright evil, they were also given so much characterization and history that I became quite invested. I even found myself tearing up with some of the descriptions of the child ghosts and the reality of their experiences being trapped in this house.

I also enjoyed Elegy herself. She was an interesting character, being a young woman who is essentially living in a different time period than her contemporaries. Further, her future has always been charted for her, and its one that not only does she not want, but that she feels particularly ill-equipped to take on. The relationship between her and her father was quite toxic in all of the expected ways. However, there were also other relationships (such as the ones between herself and her friends/arranged fiancé and her step mother) that also took interesting twists and turns.

That said, I think the romantic relationship was by far the least successful. The love interest shows up, and it’s pretty much instalust/instalove right from the start. The author does give us a few throwaway lines here and there that this relationship built up more, but it’s all told to us, not shown. This comes in the form of long walks and hours spent talking together before the fire. But we’re not privy to much of this and are simply told after the fact that it happened and that Elegy now feels even closer than ever to him. As the plot progresses and the action picks up, we get to see a bit more of this development on the page, but it was still too little too late for me, as the entire foundation still felt weak.

The pacing itself was also a bit off. The first chapter, as I mentioned, is a banger. And then we meet Elegy and it feels like the story should continue at a decent clip. However, about a quarter of the way in, it feels like the brakes are slammed on, and it takes a long time for the actual plot to pick up again. Much of this time is instead devoted to these “long talks” that we don’t see and the continuation of the already-well-established feud between Elegy and her father figure. It takes quite a while for Elegy to move forward from her passive starting point. And while I think this hesitations is believable, it also made for a bit of a lagging reading experience.

It also feels like the author got a bit lost in the weeds with the blending of the historical and contemporary aspects of the story. I’m not sure if the contemporary setting really added to the story, as it necessitated various characters actively commenting on the oddness of Elegy’s habit of speaking and acting in a way that doesn’t line up with current standards. I’m not quite sure why it couldn’t have simply remained in the past, as the author clearly had a handle on that style of writing and it was the stronger of the two.

Overall, however, I still very much enjoyed this book! If you’re looking for a unique gothic fantasy story, this is definitely one to check out. It was more creepy than I had anticipated, but also more heart-wrenching, in the best way!

Rating 8: Full of shivers, both of the creepy and romantic variety!

Link will go live on The Library Ladies on Feb. 7

My biggest issue with this book is that it was overwhelming. There were far too many characters, and too much happening to really feel settled into this book. I wanted to like it so much but I just never really got into the writing.

I loved this novel. The Gothic atmosphere, the ghost , harsh father and misunderstood stepmother. Every ghost was unique and interesting. Some where terrifying others became surprising despite their appearance and behavior.
The story was well paced and the plot well thought out. Characters where loveable even one one's you're supposed to hate.
Dare I say that this might be a favorite of 2025 already?

Elegy Thorne will one day be responsible for the Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall. Made up of 14 spirits that ancestor Jasper Thorne has hired a medium to summon from the dead, the Spirit Collection is bound to the house and the Thorne bloodline. Power over the Collection passes through the generations. With current master Thaddeus Thorne on his deathbed, his daughter Elegy is next in line to inherit the Collection and be tied to the house forever. While some spirits are kind and docile, many are malevolent and await the time when Elegy becomes mistress; her ability to control the spirits is not nearly as strong as her father's.

An unexpected meeting changes everything for Elegy and makes her think that she can change her life after all.

I was slightly concerned when I saw the tag "horror" attached to this novel. I'm not a fan. After reading, I disagree with that tag. It's a ghost story, to be sure, but so much more than that. It's the story of a family who has passed down the weight of their secrets without sharing the secrets themselves. It's a story of what happens when we live our lives out of duty without allowing ourselves to wonder, "What if?" I very much enjoyed it - it was just the right amount of creepy without descending into what I would term horror. The premise is unique and I was gripped to the end.

I'm bummed I didn't read this sooner! What a fun book!

👻Slow burn
👻Forced marriage
👻Curses
👻Ghost story
👻Forbidden love

A morbid gothic fantasy romance story where the main character, Elegy, has to decide between the only life she's ever known or following her heart. She is a young woman that grew up in a haunted house due to her families curse. She's stuck in the past while the world around her continue to move ahead. She goes about her own life as if she too were a ghost until one day she meets a man who makes her question if she wants to truly live. The old songs were a nice touch and a bit morbid. The plot was well developed and I didn't feel like anything was rushed. The beginning was slightly slow but worth it. I won't spoil anymore. Just read it!

I received an ARC of this book in return for my honest opinion.

This story is sensational!!!!

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a haunting and beautifully written modern Gothic that pulled me in from the very first page. It follows Elegy Thorne, a young woman trapped in a crumbling manor filled with restless spirits…. some are kind, some are malevolent, and all are bound to her family’s legacy. Her life is suffocating, dictated by an abusive, ailing father and a duty to maintain the family’s “Spirit Collection,” a secret and terrifying inheritance that she’s never been allowed to escape.

What makes this story so compelling is Elegy herself. She’s a deeply sad but resilient character who lives in a sort of time capsule…. She dresses in antique clothes, & disconnected from modern life, resigning herself to a future of isolation.

Thankfully… there is a shift in her world…. when Atticus Hart, the son of a contractor working on Thorne Hall, enters her life. Their romance is the definition of slow burn, filled with quiet, yearning moments that felt so genuine. What I loved most is that Atticus doesn’t “rescue” Elegy but instead gives her the courage to imagine a life beyond her family’s suffocating rules.

The atmosphere in this book is pure Gothic magic. Thorne Hall feels alive…. The creaking floorboards! The eerie shadows, and who can forget …. the ever-present…. ghosts….or Spirits…. They create a sense of claustrophobia that mirrors Elegy’s inner turmoil. The ghosts themselves are undeniable unforgettable, ranging from sad to terrifying, and the mystery surrounding their origins had me hooked. The twist at the end genuinely surprised me and tied everything together in a way that was both satisfying and heartbreaking.

There are moments when the formal writing style slows things down, but it fits the mood perfectly. Elegy’s journey from hopeless resignation to quiet strength is deeply emotional, and while some side characters (like her father) could have used more depth, the story as a whole left me thoroughly satisfied.

It’s eerie, romantic, and brimming with atmosphere! This is one of those books that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley & Alcove

4.5 stars

This is such a fascinating premise for a gothic-inspired story. There's a collection of fifteen spirits that reside in Thorne Hall, summoned over many years ago for an unknown purpose, and who bend only to the will of the current head of the Thorne family. Elegy Thorne is the next in line to inherit the mantle of these ghosts complete with all their moody eccentricities, wretched manners, and potentially homicidal tendencies. Yet all she really wants to do is live a normal life, free from the constraints that the initial Thorne patriarch put upon the family to maintain both the manor and the spirits within its walls as if time has stood still. She has resigned herself to this shell of a life until one day a chance encounter with Atticus, the handsome son of a local preservationist, leaves her reeling and considering the possibility of another kind of life. A life filled with love. But how can she make that happen when her own father is near death himself and the balance of power is slowly shifting to her, tightening like a noose around her neck?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book - the plot was rather fresh to me as I've never really experienced a gothic-type of spirit story quite like this. There's shifts in timeline to the past so you can get an understanding of how present circumstances came to be. And once hope is introduced into Elegy's life - just the smallest sliver of hope - it gives her the drive to try and forge a different path for herself. I loved the inner strength that she found over the course of the book, helped by her tiny cohort of friends who never fully understood the depths of her despair yet were willing to do whatever's necessary to help her out of it.

Thanks to NetGalley, author J. Ann Thomas, and Alcove Press for giving me access to a digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by. Ann Thomas is a well-written gothic ghost story filled with intriguing characters that will captivate you and prompt you to reflect on what is truly important in life.

Elegy is a young woman who has grown up in Thorne Hall. Though is raised in an old home, she is never alone, as she has grownup alongside the spirits that inhabit it. Her father is the head of the house and the latest caretaker of the spirits. As part of her family's curse, they must live in the home, maintaining it and watching over the spirits that reside there. Elegy's father is gravely ill, and upon his passing, Elegy will inherit her family's legacy. However, when she meets Atticus, a young man brimming with ideas and modernization, she is faced with a decision she thought possible: her own freedom or her family's legacy. Thus begins her quest to release the spirit collection back to the afterlife, setting both herself and the Spirit's free.

I love a good ghost story, and this did not disappoint. Do not be deterred by the slow beginning pace, as you will miss out on this beautifully atmospheric ghost story. It was well worth the read.

I tried so hard to like this book. I truly thought I would but the more and more I got into it, the more annoying the main character was. I wanted to like her or her romantic partner but i just simply could not.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. An atmospheric gothic tale, with an interesting premise…slightly undermined by inconsistencies that took me out of the story. Creepiness was adequate. Romance was a bit weak. Nothing was inherently wrong with the story or the writing…it just lacked that spark that would have made it great.