Thank you to netgalley and Henry Holt for an advance copy of this book.

This was a short but impactful example of quirky girl fiction and I couldn't put it down!!

The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis is a short and seemingly simple book, but I can’t stop thinking about it. In Little Nettlebed, gossip spreads like wildfire, especially in the dry heat of summer. So when the village drunk swears he sees the five Mansfield girls turn into dogs, everyone begins to believe him.

This book is absolutely perfect for the summer. The hot, claustrophobic atmosphere steadily built throughout the story, along with my sense of dread. The story has a very strong sense of place—I can perfectly picture the little town alongside the drying river.

The characters bring Little Nettlebed to life. The shifting POVs carefully weave together without ever repeating events, and each character feels real even though we only spend a few chapters with them. I found myself sympathizing with many of the villagers, even as they failed to impactfully help the Mansfield girls. Even Pete at times felt like a product of his circumstances and the society he grew up in more than a malicious actor himself.

The Hounding explores gender norms for both men and women and how society punishes those who don’t conform. Placing the story in a restrictive historical period highlights the contrasts, but the parallels to modern life are obvious. Purvis also sprinkles religious commentary throughout, such as on the intense sway of the church over the community and how faith can be used to justify personal desires.

The story arc might not surprise you if you’ve read the back-cover blurb, but the magic is in the in-between: the setting, the nuanced themes, and the rich character studies. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick summer read that will linger long after the last page.

This was a very readable and darkly disturbing debut. with a good mix of characters- Pete Darling will stay with me for some time!
I enjoyed the little historical details, and although "the crucible" and other stories about independent women not being tamed by men did spring to mind, the author managed to make it her own.
Thank you to netgalley and Henry Holt for an advance copy of this book.

An absolutely gripping examination of hysteria, THE HOUNDING should appeal to a wide variety of readers, but especially fans of quirky literary fiction. This novel is perfectly paced; I really appreciated the shorter length. The author does a superb job of crafting a narrative involving gossip and rumor in a small, close-minded community. The scenes are captivating and incredibly atmospheric. You feel like you are right there with the characters. This all leads up to a perfectly satisfying and juicy conclusion.

If you are a fan of Shirley Jackson, run don't walk!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

This one is for the girlies, but honestly hopefully the men read it and something sticks!

I loved this novel, it was captivating and clever. It felt very english coutntryside, little women/virgin suicides coded, The power of a house full of girls is something I love love love. Can't wait to discuss this one in book club soon.

Thank you Henry Holt for my free copy of The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis — available now!

» READ IF YOU «
🐕 ever felt like a monster for just being yourself
🌾 go rabid for claustrophobic, historical small towns
👁 love a multi-POV tale that's unsettling

» SYNOPSIS «
In 18th century Oxfordshire, there are five young Mansfield sisters. They live on a farm with their nearly blind grandfather, after the loss of their parents and grandmother. When the jilted local ferryman makes an outlandish accusation, the girls will suddenly be in danger—it's a ridiculous claim, that the girls turn into dogs, but for some reason, everyone in the village in keen to believe it...

» REVIEW «
This is a looooovely and unsettling story that has an incredibly well-built sense of tension. I also think that the style of the narrative is a perfect choice: we never have a POV from any of the sisters, just the rest of the villagers, which deepens the sense of the "what if." The men in this town are generally (and unsurprisingly) quick to believe something awful about these five girls that won't give any of them the time of day, which unfortunately makes the book hella relevant, some 300 years later. It's still less dangerous to be a dog than an opinionated girl.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it sure delivers on that creeping sense of dread! I think the ending is absolutely perfect, and I'm so impressed overall with this debut. Can't wait to read more from Xenobe Purvis!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Thank you to @henryholtbooks and @netgalley for this early reader ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This tale painted with allegory was definitely a unique read for me. The story focuses on 5 sisters in a hillside town that spark quite a stir among the townspeople based on an account from the local drunk known to be a little dramatic.

The setting was perfect for this story and the imagery went perfectly with the flow of the story. It was a colorful cast of characters and even though there were a lot to keep track of, they were all individualized so it did not take away from the story flow.

As the reader, you are also left deciding whether or not the “rumor” that spread was true or not. You’re rooting for the sisters but in the back of your mind you’re thinking, “maybe the a rumor is true even though it’s way out of left field.” It’s like the reader is one of the townspeople left to form their own opinion on what the reality may be. Are these sisters just a little odd or are they in fact a pack of dogs?

My only criticism is that this book could’ve been a smidge shorter. From midway to the end, I found myself saying, “ok where are we going with this.” It was a bit repetitive once the rumor was spread but overall it’s a beautifully written piece of literature. You’ll be left wondering, are we better off being a woman that’s a little odd or a dog?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the eARC.

The Hounding read like a fever dream. The setting: hot, dry, and chaotic. The characters: angry, reeling, searching for something. The plot: heavy, weird, warm. I loved every single thing about this book.

This is one of those novels that gets under your skin and stays. Creepy, atmospheric, dark yet fun.. this was a blast to read!

4 1/2⭐️
This was a fantastic debut novel. A mysterious, suspenseful, tale about mob mentality, grieving, love, and family.

I’m really not sure what genre this would fit into. I wouldn’t call it horror exactly. It’s very suspenseful, but it’s not really a mystery. It comes across a little bit like literary fiction. There are supernatural elements, creepiness, and plenty of atmosphere. The writing is beautiful and engaging and was full of great details that brought some of these scenes to my mind vividly. I enjoyed the different POV, especially Joseph and even Pete’s. Temperance was one of my favorite characters. I liked her relationship with Pete. Even though he was obviously a terrible person, she still found something good in him.

What I didn’t like about the book is very minor. There are a lot of things not explained throughout the story that is kind of left up to the reader’s is left ambiguous and mysterious for the sake of the story. I don’t mind some ambiguity and I don’t mind some mystery, but sometimes when there’s too much I feel like I missed something. It’s hard to really explain it without giving spoilers, but it was the only thing I didn’t like about the book.

Despite that I couldn’t stop reading, and I look forward to reading something else by this author in the future.

***Thank you NetGalley, Xenobe Purvis, and Henry Holt & Company for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.***

Rating: 3.5
Format: Physical book
Genre: Historical fiction, speculative fiction, magical realism

I really enjoyed the lush and atmospheric writing and shifting perspectives of this book, but it didn’t end up sticking the landing for me. I liked how Purvis handled the perspectives of characters in the town that orbited the 5 sisters, but by the end I wanted a little bit more characterization and explanation for the sisters and their actions/motivations. They ended up not feeling as vibrant and fleshed out as other aspects of the book, and that meant by the end I didn’t care as much as I wanted to about what was going on and what their fates would be.

I also appreciated how ambiguous the book was for the majority of it (which was kind of ruined by the end). I think it could have been stronger if we actually never knew if the girls were turning into dogs and left it up in the air of who was lying and who was telling the truth.

The different dynamics between the male characters was especially interesting. The way they interacted with each other and the sisters was filled with meaning and parallels to the real world. The exploration of masculinity against the backdrop of the story of these girls was a very strong element to me.

I think this is a good book for lit fic and weird girl lit lovers. It was relatively short and the pacing was excellent - I didn’t feel any dragging or parts that felt like filler. In a lot of ways (some obvious and others more subtle) it reminded me of Nightbitch, which I really enjoyed.

The Houding follows a family of 5 sisters and their blind grandfather. Rumors spread in their village that the girls turn into dogs and wreak havoc on the neighborhood, leading to their isolation and claims that they are unholy. Very quick, easy read, but not lacking depth. I loved Xenobe Purvis' simple but descriptive language and interesting characters. This was an interesting representation of misogyny and how women perceived as outside of society's normal expectations are othered. I would have liked a bit more time spent with the Mansfield girls, but I really enjoyed this overall.

We felt the imprisonment of being a girl…
The Virgin Su!cides

hound
n. 1. a. A domestic dog of any of various breeds commonly used for hunting, characteristically having drooping ears, a short coat, and a deep resonant voice.
b. A dog.
2. A contemptible person; a scoundrel.
3. a. One who eagerly pursues something
b. A devotee or an enthusiast
tr.v. 1. To pursue relentlessly and tenaciously
2. a. To make repeated demands of or subject to persistent criticism
b. To pressure or force from a place or situation

I knew from the first page that I would love this book. I knew after the first chapter that it would be a favorite for the year. I haven’t read The Virgin Su!cides, by Jeffrey Eugenides, but I have seen the movie, directed by Sofia Coppola, several times. It’s beautiful in a very dark and tragic kind of way, ethereal and heavy at the same time. Kinda like Melancholia (another film with Kirsten Dunst), it leaves you feeling deeply unsettled and heartsick. The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis is not nearly as depressing as all that, but similar vibes are present throughout the book. Shadowy, dreamlike, and simmering with dread, The Hounding ferries you between perspectives as the village’s river dries up and the tension builds. But at the heart of the story is the Mansfield sisters, whose minds we never enter. And it’s that line of separation that I feel really drives the point of the book home and makes me love it as much as I do.

Even though we never get the perspectives of the sisters, The Hounding hits that weird/sad girl lit fic sweet spot. It reminded me a little of Shirley Jackson, especially with the mob mentality. Given just the right circumstances, people will find it easier to believe the most outrageous things over the most logical. Girls and women can do nothing at all and still be hated just for existing. The Hounding is a short book, but it blends timely and timeless issues (toxic masculinity, marriage, religion vs. science, THE MALE GAZE, addiction, to name a few) gracefully within an air of mystery and suspense. It ends kind of ambiguously, so if you hate endings like that, proceed with caution. They can be hit or miss for me, and this one hit a note that left me satisfied, but still with ideas to ponder.

Thank you Henry Holt Books for the copy to read and review!

I really loved this one. Full of beautiful prose, excellent character work, and slow-simmering tension. Definitely had "The Virgin Suicides" energy, as promised. Let Girls Be Unsettling 2k25 <3

The village of Little Nettlebed in the 18th century is a hotbed of superstition and misogyny. There is a family of 5 daughters raised free from constraint and a town drunk who is petty and vengeful. Told from the viewpoint of multiple villagers the foreboding of tragedy is apparent. A drought stricken village on edge has only gossip and a tavern for entertainment. Although there may be voices of reason it is much easier to believe the unbelievable about girls who ignore societal norms. Interesting debut novel. If you liked the Virgin Suicides this book is for you. Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan publishing

I'm sad to say that this one didn't really land for me. I wasn't sure where this book was going and felt as though it were kind of meandering for the first half of the book. The second half felt as though it had more direction, but it didn't really pique my interest until about the 80% mark and, by that point, there just wasn't enough time left to get me to a point where I could overlook the rest of it. I wasn't terribly satisfied with the ending and didn't feel much of the intended emotional weight because I never felt like I formed much of a connection to the characters. To me, it was very interesting in concept, but not as interesting in execution. I'm so glad to see so many other people are enjoying it, though, and I think that maybe this is a me problem. I do think it's still worth reading if you are interested because I think there is definitely something there to like, it just didn't work for me! I have never read The Virgin Suicides, but have seen other reviews saying that this book is quite similar. So, if you're a fan of that book, I would recommend reading this one!

An eery and atmospheric, but still quick read, The Hounding is a deeply interesting novel. In one phrase, "I support women's rights...and women's wrongs."

*Thank you to Henry & Holt and NetGalley for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.*

3.5/5

This book was interesting... I definitely liked it! I didn't *love* it? Something fell a bit flat for me. This that DID work for me are the following: the atmosphere was incredibly immersive, the audio narration (I was able to read tandem, thank you to LibroFM!) was wonderful and the narrator fit the vibe of the book in an amazing way, the premise and themes were very intriguing in this book. NOW, what fell flat for me, unfortunately does go hand-in-hand with that last one. Because I do feel like the execution of the premise in this novel didn't hit as hard as I would've liked it to. I saw all of the threads being pulled in the right direction. All the symbolism and social commentary being made was clocked. But there was just something off about the pacing and such in this book that made the message here fall off for me. :/

I still had a good time reading this and there are a lot of people who will read this and it will click for them in allll kinds of ways, so by no means am I writing it off as bad or poorly written, because it's neither of those things. There is so much value in this book and it will be one I pull out to recommend to many people! Just didn't hit for me the way I was expecting, unforch.

This is a gem of a book. A look at a small town at the beginning of a drought which makes hard lives harder. These sisters have more than most and are grieving the loss of their parents and more recently their grandmother. They just don't seem to follow the same rules as the other girls in town. This, of course, brings them attention and suspicion. The tension just grows and grows. This is a lot of story in a small package. Highly recommended.

The cover, title and premise of The Hounding (yes, I am a dog person) drew me into this debut by Xenobe Purvis. A town with strange goings-on, and villagers claiming that sisters are turning into dogs, well I had to know!

What I loved best about this short book of 240 pages, was the increasingly eerie atmosphere and feeling of creeping dread. There are environmental changes that begin happening in Little Nettlebed almost as soon as the story begins, and in turn changes within the inhabitants of this peculiar, insular, country town, as well.

My favorite character was Temperance. She was a flawed, but highly likeable character who doubles as the local barmaid and the town’s conscience. Interestingly enough, we get a pretty good read on most of the main characters of the story, but where The Hounding fell short for me, was in a lack of depth offered in the characters of the five Mansfield sisters. In fact, all of the main characters of the story have the opportunity to give the reader their perspective, but the sisters do not. We make most of our assumptions on the intentions of the girls based on the storytelling of others. While I assume this may have been an intentional stylistic technique of the author, I was left feeling distanced from the sisters. Ultimately, I wanted to hear from those five girls, not just observe them through the eyes of the townspeople.

For me The Hounding was a mixed success. I was interested throughout, enjoyed getting to know the folks of Little Nettlebed, loved the slightly horrific atmosphere, but wanted more from the main subject of the story. Although the author took a creative approach to the age-old theme of girls and women being “less than”, and deserving of what they get when they stray from the norm, the plot and outcome was fairly predictable and left little room for surprise.

Readers who enjoy literary fiction and want to dip their toes into horror might want to give The Hounding a try. This book would be appropriate for YA readers as well as adults, and has compelling subject matter for book club discussions.

3.5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.