I had to put the book down and do the audiobook because this was too slow to slog through. I ended up enjoying the book in the end, but it was much to slow to sit and read.

This had some interesting spooky vibes and moments that kept me intrigued. I liked the setting and the idea behind the story, but it didn’t fully come together for me.

The pacing was a bit uneven, and I found some parts dragging, which made it harder to stay fully engaged. Still, if you enjoy ghost stories with a slow-burn feel, this might be worth a try.

Elegy Thorne lives in the present but exists in the past—trapped in a cursed mansion alongside fifteen very opinionated spirits and a whole lot of eerie ambiance. Think crumbling grandeur, flickering candlelight, and the scent of dried roses and regrets. When the arrival of preservationist Atticus (brooding, alive, and decidedly modern) threatens to shake the dust off her carefully curated life, Elegy dares to dream of something more—of love, of escape, of freedom.

This book is a slow, slow burn. Like, light-a-match-and-wait-for-a-gothic-miracle slow. I love a slow burn so it's worth it for me! The setting is lush and immersive and the spirits are equal parts terrifying, tragic, and weirdly charming.

The pacing might frustrate readers looking for quick thrills, but if you’re in the mood for something atmospheric and melancholic with glimmers of hope? This is it.

A hauntingly poetic tale of legacy, love, and liberation. I recommend :)

was a cute story but I wasn’t super invested and there were points where I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read it anymore. 2 stars seems like it would be too harsh but I feel like this was probably more like a 2.5 stars for me.

Creepy and gothic, I loved Elegy and her atmospherically gothic home. Perfect spooky read for the Autumn. Slow, but stick with it for Jane Eyre vibes.

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a surprise read. I did not know that I would be loving this as much as I did. Elegy is the heir of Thorne House. A house that has a collection of ghost haunting its halls. I loved the characters in this and laughed out loud at the banter. I think that the ghosts were a bit hard to remember who was who. But the descriptions of their injuries and how they died can be a bit gory. It threw me for a loop sometimes, but I liked how the author did not hold that back. I would recommend this book if you wanted something that was a like Thirteen Ghosts that wasn’t so cheesy. The other reviews that I have seen compares this to Bly Manor and I would agree with them.

The gothic vibes of this book were great, but I found that it dragged - the pacing was rather slow and inconsistent. I also think I would have enjoyed it more if the paranormal aspect were the focus, rather than it battling with the romance story, though that is a personal preference.

This was wonderful! I loved the writing style, the characters, the world-building…everything about it was top-notch. I will definitely be recommending this book!

Dnf early
I loved the set up for the novel. I would have loved following how Thorne Hall got its spirit collection and the how the ghosts are depicted are intressting but some of them as well as the main character's father rubbed me the wrong way.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The premise of this story plus the title immediately captured my attention. This book did not end up being what I thought it was however. I did find it interesting if not quirky. The characters and writing style definitely grew on me as the story progressed. There are elements here that remind me of 'Evelyn Hugo' but with ghosts and inheritances. Mild spice present but only like one scene. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Bridgerton, but wants to have ghosts.

I loved the premise of this book, but unfortunately, the execution didn't win me over. The gothic setting is truly fascinating, and the descriptions are vivid, but the characters didn't convince me. I don't know, I found them rather anonymous and superficial, which prevented me from connecting with them. In addition, there is a powerful insta-love in the novel, a trope that I unfortunately can't stand, which made the situation even worse.

I tried this book three times and just could not get into it. The premise sounded right up my ally but it just at times dragged and could just not pick back up. Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The atmosphere was good but just could not connect to the characters which was disappointing.
2 star

I absolutely ADORED The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall. It was dark, it was complex, it was creepy AND spooky and it kept me on my toes. Elegy was an absolutely wonderful character with all her quirks and I loved her relationship with venegful spirit collection. The ghosts are described so horrifically and this book is definitely graphic but it added so much to the story. This book was the perfect gothic ghosty horror read and I think readers are going to love it.

Can a gothic paranormal that’s horrifically graphic also be considered cozy? Because that is still the first word that comes to mind when I think of this genre-blended novel.

Cursed to the eventual fate of having dominion over a whole host of tragically disfigured ghosts that haunt her family home, Elegy Thorne feels trapped by legacy. Until the arrival of an empathetic and charming stranger changes everything. Is there a chance Elegy can escape a life stuck in a haunted house and exchange it for a life of her own?

Not much to say about this tale other than it is both so warm and fuzzy I couldn’t help but grin and diabolically dark and graphic when it comes to the ghosts that follow Elegy and their vengeful natures. A wild contrast that does work, but also fails to make a lasting impression. I would most definitely read more of this author’s work, and I appreciate what she did here, but I was never more than affected in passing rather than deeply feeling for Elegy and her tribulations.

Atticus is a gem, though.

DNF @25%

I was expecting this book to be more interesting and entertaining than it has been by this point. It was boring and I didn't like the writing stye.

The atmosphere was dripping with dark beauty - and I absolutely adored it.
If you are into gothic avibes, restless spirits and forbidden love, then this book is for you!

The story was as hauntingly ratify as the cover. I adored the characters and was enthralled with the story from the first few pages! Very enjoyable

I had a hard time getting into this one. The beginning just didn't hook me. Eventually I did get invested, but I had to push myself to get there. I loved the premise and really enjoyed the take on spirits as being almost zombie-like. The romance was sweet, though I wish it had been a bit more slow burn. Overall, I mostly enjoyed the moody atmosphere of this one. A great spooky season read.

You pick it up expecting one thing, and by the end, it’s given you something entirely different—something better. It knows exactly when to hold back and when to hit hard. When you turn the last page, you’ll feel the weight of it.

2.75* rounded up

I struggled to get into this book. Part of the description of the book is whether Elegy wants to banish the Collection or not, and I'm not a fan of when a main point of the book's description happens more than halfway into the book. It was slow building to that point. Then it definitely sped up. I loved the idea of this book about the twist at the end was great.


Thank you to Netgalley, J.A. Thomas, and Alcove Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.