The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall hits the gates running with a description of a ghost being summoned in a crowded mansion. The supernatural elements of this book are more visceral and in your face than your typical gothic ghost story. Elegy is the heir of Thorne Hall, a crumble mansion haunted by a number of ghosts resurrected by a long ago ancestor who also insisted the house remain locked in time. Elegy's father is on death's doorstep and doesn't believe she has what it takes to control the spirits that run amok in Thorne Hall. Enter Atticus the hot son of the regular contractor who helps fix damage wrought (unbeknownst to most outsiders) by the ghost collection.

The good
The writing is quick and witty
Love the plot - a house with a collection of ghosts
Horror elements - some of the ghosts are genuinely scary

The not-so-good
Romance - not necessarily believable

I would give this 4 stars if it didn't have the romance bits.

A young woman, Elegy, resides in her family's isolated mansion - Thorne Hall, with spirits who are trapped within the hall since the 1800's. After some damage is done to the old manor by a younger spirit Elegy has no choice but to renovate parts of the manor. Elegy finds herself drawn to the son of the handyman hired to fix up Thorne Hall. She finds herself needing to choose between Atticus or staying with the spirits of Thorne Hall.
The first chapter really grabbed me. It made me excited for the remainder. After that, it sort of fell flat for me. The spirits were my favorite part of the book, I found them to be entertaining. Their insults and bickering made the book more enjoyable. I found the love story part of the book sort of dragged it for me. I was hoping for more of a creepy storyline vs the love story it truly was.
This was beautifully written. The plot was interesting. I would recommend this for a gothic romance lover. Not so much for a horror lover.

This will be posted on Goodreads, Instagram, Facebook and my blog.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would initially. It has a slower start and took time to get oriented into the circumstances of the story and characters, but the more I read, the harder I found it to put down. The insta-love sort of romance is far from my favourite but the characters were very sweet and I found them to be quite cute together. The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is pretty unique to other haunting stories I’ve read or seen - ghosts that are still decomposing, can touch you, and are attached to and controlled by a certain family line. Interesting! I enjoyed myself and was rooting really hard for Elegy throughout the whole book. If you like a sort of gothic, romantic, ghostie tale, this one might just be for you! Due to come out February 11 - it makes a great winter read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for providing me the opportunity to read and provide honest feedback ahead of release!

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by J. Ann Thomas is an enthralling gothic novel that immerses readers in its atmospheric setting. The vivid descriptions and intricate details breathe life into the haunting world of Elegy Thorne, making the story both compelling and memorable.
Elegy is a well-crafted protagonist whose journey is not only engaging but also inspiring. Her growth throughout the novel resonates deeply, adding emotional depth to the chilling narrative. This novel is a must-read for fans of gothic fiction and supernatural mysteries. Its eerie charm and strong character development make it an unforgettable read. Highly recommended!

Step into the hauntingly enchanting world of *Elegy Thorne*, where the living and the dead share secrets, struggles, and an eerie legacy. Elegy resides in the mysterious Thorne Hall, a crumbling estate brimming with ghosts bound by secrets of the past. Clad in the finery of another era and under her father's unrelenting rule, Elegy is groomed to become the mistress of not just the house—but its spectral inhabitants.

When her inheritance comes due, Elegy must navigate the dangerous balance between commanding the restless spirits or being consumed by them. It’s a chilling game of wits, heart-pounding suspense, and supernatural babysitting like you’ve never seen before! 👻💀

If you’re curious about what it’s like to babysit ghosts, this book is a must-read. Equal parts spine-tingling horror and compelling storytelling, this is a masterpiece that delivers on every eerie promise. I couldn’t put it down—horror done absolutely *right*! 🌙🖤

OH boy was this a creepy story. It is very grotesque and unsettling. If you like ghost stories or spooky vibes, this is a book you don't want to miss. The book has a slow start but once you're in, you're in! A gothic tale for the win!

Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this. My interest in it has waned, but I may return to it eventually. It seems like a good Halloween read

I really enjoyed the haunting and immersive gothic vibe of this story. The book really came alive for me with all the thoughtful details included by the author.

All the characters felt really fleshed out and whole, which made the book even more enjoyable and I found myself growing fond towards some of these literal ghosts.

Elegy‘s journey was inspirational and I adored her as a main character. I felt seen by her awkwardness towards her crush and was totally in love with the romantic element of the story.
The only negative thing I have to say is that sometimes her actions weren‘t consistent and maybe that was intentional, but it threw me off a little in trying to understand her as a person.

Overall a hauntingly beautiful story about believing in yourself and finding your true self, an achingly tender love story and lots of (very likeable) spirits.

At an extravagant party thrown by Jasper Thorne in 1902, a spirit was summoned. Years later, Elegy Thorne, his descendant, is cursed to live alongside 14 spirits, some friendly, some malevolent, and upon the impending death of her father, she'll be required to control them all. Some horror, some romance, some just weirdness, but overall pretty good. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

3.5 rounded to a 4! I think the gothic ambience is most def there which is a huge plus for me. I’d say it’s def a slow burn and at times kept me wanting or wishing the pace picked up a bit but that could be due to my own low patience at the moment I was reading it! Lol I most def recommend this one for spooky goth vibe lovers

A gripping book, this story pulls you till the very end, I enjoyed reading it. I definitely will love to see more from the author

Most people live for their inheritance. Some get money, some get property, but how would you feel if you inherited all of that plus a collection of ghosts that could kill you?

Elegy lives with her dad and stepmom in their ancestral home of Thorne Hall....along with the spirits that her great great grandfather trapped in the house. To appease the spirits, the house must be maintained to the era of when they were trapped in the house, which was the 1890s. That includes the clothes the living wear, the songs that Elegy sings, and the technology that is used in the house. These ghosts have been a part of Elegy's life since the moment one of them helped deliver her from the womb. Some of them have been her best friends, teaching her children's ballads and how to sew. Some have frightened her, like the ghost who likes to rip off peoples' faces to replace the one he lost. All of them will have to be controlled by her when her father dies, which could be any day due to a sickness. Her human friends understand, but even they don't want to be in the house after dark.

Something happens when Elegy meets the son of the construction worker that comes to fix a leak that flooded one of the kitchens. He makes her feel like she may have a future. However, her father will do whatever is necessary to keep Elegy in line. Will she be able to escape the curse of her ancestry or will she be stuck trying to control the ghosts until she dies?

I really liked this book, but there were a few things that kept me from giving it 5 stars. When we jump from the opening that explains how the first ghost makes his appearance in the house, it says we are in present time. We don't know how far into the present day we have moved. If we could have at least gotten a present year, it would have made it easier to understand the dramatics of having to dress like it was the 1890s. I also was not expecting a ghost story to be spicy. It was a welcome change that led to some funny banter, but I guess that's my fault for not reading the description close enough.

All-in-all, I loved the writing and the plot. I was not expecting the twist and felt that the concept was not one that had been overly done, but quite original. I enjoyed the ghosts interacting with the characters (mainly Elegy) and it was a little reminiscent of Gaiman's Graveyard Book. I can't wait to buy a copy when the finished version comes out.

Thanks to J. Ann Thomas, Netgalley, and Alcove Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An excellent historical fiction novel. Thomas has worked meticulously to create a gothic story with a modern twist, drawing in an audience that loves classical literature and an audience that loves the thrill of contemporary fiction.

Unfortunately it was only after my request was granted that I realised J Ann Thomas is Jamie Thomas. I refuse to read their work after I read The Forest kingdom which is the second in a series. In that work Thomas has the female protagonist instigate sex only moments after there was an attempted rape on her. Since then I have refused to read Thomas's work. I am sorry to have received work that I wont read but I didn't know it was the same author at the time. I wish to thank the publisher anyway.

This was an amazing slow burn romance that will be enjoyed by all gothic fans!

I loved watching the FMC navigate this mansion full of spirits and through the novel grow and become more confident in herself.

Recommended if you enjoy V. Schwab!

Ghost stories aren’t usually my thing, but I found myself enjoying this one. I liked Elegy’s narrative and seeing her relationship with Atticus grow—it felt like a genuine source of hope for her. However, I struggled with her timidity, especially when it came to her father and Hugo, which felt frustrating at times.

The revelation about Dorian being her father raised a lot of questions for me. Knowing what was happening in that house, it was hard to accept that he left her there. None of Elegy’s relationships with the people in her life seemed particularly healthy, which made me even more grateful for Atticus, who actually worked to prioritize her well-being. Sparrow, though, was a sticking point for me. Binding 13 spirits, seeing the torment it caused them, and then continuing to try to call her son back felt baffling and deeply unsettling. That part of the story left me conflicted, though it added to the eerie, morally gray atmosphere of the book.

The writing was definitely a strong point! The descriptions of the house, the ghosts, and even the clothing Elegy was forced to wear were so vivid—it really pulled me into the eerie, oppressive atmosphere. Even when I was frustrated with some of the characters, I could appreciate how well the setting and details were crafted. It added so much depth to the story and made the haunting elements feel even more real.

Will Elegy have the courage to break out of her destined path as keeper of the spirits at Thorne Hall to seek a brighter better future. A nice gothic tale of the courage and self reflection required to break the shackles that bind you to find something better. Each of the spirit in the Hall is just there to make Elegys life miserable. With Atticus, she finds a way out and some sweet romance as well. Decent book although not up my alley.

**Features:**

- A gothic tale with forbidden romance
- Explores themes of toxic traditions, emotional abuse, and personal freedom
- A collection of unique ghosts that can be both malevolent and charming

**Summary:**

Elegy Thorne is a young woman trapped in time. The future mistress of Thorne Hall will be the next in the Thorne family line tasked with caring for the once glorious mansion and its many ghostly inhabitants. Denied of most modern comforts and forced to wear clothes centuries old, Elegy feels just as trapped as the spirits she helps keep hidden. But when one mischievous spirit’s pranking goes too far, it brings Elegy face to face with Atticus. Atticus offers a window into a world of warmth and life that makes Elegy dare to dream of a life beyond the cold walls of Thorne Hall. But with her father’s health declining and a dangerous curse to contend with, can freedom ever truly be hers?

**Thoughts:**

This book really pulled me in with its cold, creepy atmosphere. The ghosts that live in Thorne Hall are corporeal and just as complex in death as they were in life. Where some of them can be kind and charming at times, they can also be mean, destructive, and sometimes even dangerous. We of course get to learn more about each ghostly inhabitant as the story unfolds, but I found them incredibly unique. Despite Elegy’s familiarity with Thorne Hall and the ghosts, you never lose the sense of cold uneasiness whenever Elegy is in the manor. Even before Elegy has fully recognized it herself, we get a real sense of her isolation and it made me really want to root for her.

I went into this book completely blind and fully expected it to focus primarily on breaking the curse on the manor. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find it focusing more on Elegy coming into her own and trying to forge her own path after growing up without a choice. At the beginning, Elegy is so stuck in time that even her speech patterns feel out of place and had me really confused despite a couple mentions of modern technology. That being said, as I continued reading and understood more about Elegy’s world, my earlier confusion felt more intentional and ultimately made her journey more understandable. Atticus and the romance arc seem to mainly be there to help drive Elegy’s personal growth forward, but I was glad it was there nonetheless.

2.5 stars

“The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall” takes place in modern day in the Thorne ancestral home, where a botched seance in the early 20th century left it full of barely-controllable spirits that only answer to the scion of the Thorne family. Elegy’s father is becoming increasingly ill, leaving here with mere months before she will need to fully take over as the keeper of the spirits. But they’re starting to make more and more mischief, and Elegy is feeling trapped by her obligations, just as a handsome stranger moves to town. Atticus is the son of the contractor hired to fix up the Thorne house, and he could not be more different than Elegy, who is not allowed to stray from any traditions that originated after 1902. They must work together with Elegy’s friends to try and banish the spirits so that Elegy can have any hope of living a life that she chooses for herself.
The ensuing chaos of researching malevolent spirits, managing her unstable father, and navigating her first romance should have made an engaging story, but I found it all falling flat. The romance was sweet, but very predictable. The semi-historical writing style was clearly intentional but came across as a little stilted, particularly Elegy’s dialogue, though it was clearly meant to be charming. I did enjoy Elegy’s growth toward independence. While this was by no means a bad read, I was looking forward to finishing it so I could get to something else.

Thank you to Alcove Press for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by J. Ann Thomas is a story of a young woman bound to an antiquated, stifling ancestral home by not only an overbearing patriarch but a collection of ghosts that also call the estate home. When a burst pipe calls little-seen outsiders into the home, the main character is left grappling with both her desires that conflict with her duties and with her attraction to the contractor’s son. This book is very much a spooky, gothic romance. In reading it, I was very much struck by how similar the concept was to UK and US versions of the show ‘Ghosts,’ but with a much darker tone and a through plot of romance and longing. Another review cited the book ‘Starling House’ when listing similar books, and I’m inclined to agree. For fans of star crossed romances from two different worlds, spooky and dangerous crumbling estates, and headstrong main characters struggling with identity, this book may be right up your alley. I certainly enjoyed it, ripping through it in just under a day.

What I loved most about the book was the atmospheric details that the author included. The scenery of every room of the mansion, every outfit, every ghost’s terrifying appearance was rendered in vivid detail. The book really came alive in my mind’s eye, as Thomas very painstakingly created an eerie mansion in the Berkshires, with starkly contrasting visits from the rich and modern friends Floss and Hugo. If you love highly detailed imagery and lots of set dressing, this book is for you.

I also really appreciated how the attraction that Elegy felt for Atticus felt very genuine. It didn’t feel at any point like the characters were just being forced together. She was had a shy crush, an awkward period, and more. It didn’t feel like things were being mashed together to get things going. I really appreciated the way that the author built their relationship in a way that felt engaging and at the same time grounded in general, mutual attraction.

What was slightly less successful for me was the fact that some of Elegy’s traits seemed inconsistent. What she would or wouldn’t know, what she would or wouldn’t do, all of it seemed somewhat inconsistent. It was hard to get a very firm grasp on what her speaking pattern was like, because it did sort of vary at different parts of the book. While there weren’t ever egregiously out of character moments, it at time felt like she wasn’t totally nailed down in her identity. My main qualm with the book was that all of the lore and backstory for the occult happenings, the “promise,” and the other magical elements seemed slapped on the last few chapters. Unlike other elements of the book, the back story didn’t have much foreshadowing or very many elements that were woven into the plot earlier. The presence of characters that would come to be of great importance wouldn’t even be mentioned more than in a single passing earlier in the story until the last 20%. It just felt as if the story was so fleshed out except for connecting some points together.

I think for fans of gothic-influenced romances and spooky but not terrifying haunted houses, this would be a great read. I enjoyed it a lot, especially the descriptions of all of the different ghosts (and there are plenty.) 4/5 stars!