This was delightfully weird! It piqued all my interests when I saw it on NetGalley. Gorgeous cover? Check. Medieval? Check. Girls turning into dogs? Sounds weird and fun, check.

I LOVE a good revenge plot. Few things make me happier than reading about an absolutely horrid character getting what’s coming to them. Especially when the character is against a woman just… existing, basically.

This was a very quick read, and it’s hard to provide any real context without giving things away since the story is so short. I do wish some of the characters were a little more fleshed out, except Pete. Pete’s horrendousness is on full display. But I had a great time! A perfect pick going into spooky season. Weird, creepy vibes without the horror.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for an arc of The Hounding. I’ll definitely be getting a physical copy of my own.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this novel!

The Hounding follows a cast of characters in a small town in eighteenth century England during one hot, dry summer. The objects of their attention, five sisters that most of the town find a bit odd and strange, become the focal point of a rumor that spreads, pervading the town and its inhabitants.

There's quite a bit that worked for me here, namely, Purvis's writing. It's languid and the prose itself is beautifully crafted. It fits the tone and "vibe" of the novel well. Purvis also does a great job at building tension as we see the characters become increasingly more tense and agitated as the story progresses.

I thought the novel was paced pretty well, and the progression of the story was effective. It is slow, but in a way that mirrors the story and genre well. It's more interested in exploring the characters and their relationships within this town than having a fast paced plot, which makes sense, though I can see that not working for some readers.

I'm giving this four stars because I do think that it's a well done debut, and I don't think there's much, from a technical standpoint, "wrong" with the story. It tells the story that it wants to tell well.

That said, in terms of how I personally feel about the novel: it's somewhere around a 3.5. I have two main critiques of how the story is told. Firstly, this novel, like so many that have come out recently, wears its inspirations on its sleeves. It is not subtle in what it's taken from The Crucible and The Virgin Suicides and, more importantly, doesn't really do anything interesting as an adaptation. As with TVS, we don't get any POV moments from the girls -- they remain voiceless. A more subversive or interesting adaptation might weave their voices in more actively rather than letting them remain passive objects, where everything we are told about them is imparted and projected onto them from other people (mainly men). (view spoiler)

And, while the writing is well done, it's not subtle. Again, like so many books being released, it feels like the author doesn't trust that the reader will get the point, so characters flat out state what the point is multiple times throughout the narrative. I would have loved to have seen more showing rather than telling, especially because those moments of telling really undercut the tension and atmosphere that the author builds.

I'm interested to see what Purvis comes out with next, because I do think she's a skilled writer, and I hope to see her storytelling grow and develop more in the future.

A short historical fiction that really drove home the perspective of girlhood vs everyone else. It does not matter if the rumors of the Mansfield girls are true as others' opinions will always be thrust upon them. I really enjoyed this read and would love to read more from this author (can't believe this is a debut!)

3.5 - very lovely writing, but there was an incredible amount unsaid throughout the novel… which I suppose could be the point

I have to be honest: when I first saw this book's cover, I was immediately sold on reading it before I even knew what it was about. Fortunately, the premise ended up sounding great, and the story was great as well! My favorite part of this book was Xenobe Purvis' writing, and it makes me keen to see what else she may write! I found the story engaging, if a little predictable, but predictability is not always a huge issue with me if the rest of the story is good. I wanted to like this one just a bit more than I did, but I found the characters and the overall story compelling and it kept me turning the pages. The atmosphere of The Hounding is also one of those that just fits this style of story and its themes, and it's very hard to describe, but I would say the comparisons to The Virgin Suicides are very apt and capture the idea well. Overall, a great read and one I would recommend!

The Hounding is principally the story of five sisters living in Little Nettlebed, a small, quiet town in 18th century England. Their grandmother has recently passed, leaving them to be raised by their grandfather, a farmer who is rapidly going blind. The farm takes on extra help for the haymaking season in the form of Thomas Mildmay, a young man from a far-off village who quickly takes up a brotherly, protective roll towards the younger girls and develops feelings for Anne, the oldest.

In the town, Pete Darling, the drunkard that believes himself blessed by an angel and ferries townspeople across the river for a living, begins to dislike the five young girls who always dress in mourning black, keep to themselves, and refuse to engage with him when onboard his boat. He begins a rumor that spreads like wildfire through the village: the Mansfield sisters can turn into five vicious dogs. As the river dries up and Pete’s impending marriage draws closer, he feeds further into the rumor and his own delusions, recruiting a young boy from the village, Richard Wildgoose, to his cause. Richard’s older brother, sensitive and quiet Robin, is horrified, and must decide when and where he will made his stand.

Purvis’s debut novel strikes the tone of a creeping, crawling rumor perfectly. The atmosphere of the town, the archetypes of characters in the village, the inclusion of water and forest creatures, were all perfect additions that truly made the story come to life. Thomas Mildmay was the most compelling and well fleshed out for me – his drive to protect the girls, his ability to think for himself, and his building of strength to overcome fear were all well written and relatable. I’ve seen this billed as similar to Arthur Miller’s The Crucible – and rightly so.

Can’t wait to see what Purvis writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am obsessed with this book! It was so well written and unnerving like you knew something bad was going to happen but you really didn’t know what. I’m excited to share my review for pub day and add more

It’s summer, the season of strangeness. Strange things are happening in Little Nettlebed, Oxfordshire. The river is drying up, fish are appearing on land, chickens and other small animals are being mysteriously killed, the heat is addling brains.

The five Mansfield sisters recently lost their grandmother and are now living with their nearly blind grandfather and largely running wild on a farm across the river from town. Pete Darling, a ferryman and the town drunk, who believes he once ferried an angel across the river, now sees or thinks he sees the Mansfield girls turn into dogs and disappear on the opposite bank.

The rumor he starts spreads like wildfire, igniting imaginations and fears. Soon others hear the barking and howling despite a few people’s insistence that the Mansfield sisters, all dressed in black, are just normal girls mourning the loss of their beloved grandmother. The town is on edge, including the vicar. Girls have been accused of witchcraft—even killed-- for less. Violence seems inevitable.

The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis will keep you up late at night to learn the truth behind the strangeness and rumors.

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for an advance reader egalley of this page-turning new novel.

This is billed as The Crucible meets The Virgin Suicides and while I've never read the latter in its entirety, from what I do know of that work, the comparison is spot on. Among this quick read's more frustrating points is the lack of the girls' perspective when they seem to be some of the most interesting characters.

This is a purposeful distancing for the reader, of course. This is less a feminist novel and more a story about misogyny. It does a particularly good, if plainfaced, job of illustrating how much misogyny goes hand in hand with toxic masculinity.

The perspectives we do get range from the girls' well-intentioned grandfather to gentle young farmhands grappling with what it means to be a man to the obsessive ferryman who starts the rumors of their transformation and the teetotalling publican's wife who has a begrudging front-row seat to the village men's dramas.

This won't be many folks' cup of tea. It relies on a bit of strangeness that eschews explanation and doesn't follow every possible thread to its fullest conclusion. It is also more historical fiction than horror. Its disturbances aren't creepy, scary, or even suspenseful in the typical way; rather, it cranks up a nail-biting, train wreck kind of tension as this odious mongrel unleashes his anxieties on young women... just because he can.

Add in a sprinkle or two of groupthink and "alternative facts" and we have an unfortunately apt litfic for us edgy weirdos. Pick this for the book club that actually reads the book and wants to talk about it!

A small village is shaken when strange occurrences begin to stir, particularly around a group of girls and an old, tightly woven community. Told through the alternating perspectives of the townspeople, the girls, and a grandfather named Joseph, the story weaves together suspicion, fear, and whispers that quickly grow into something far more dangerous. As unease turns into mass hysteria, the novel explores the ripple effect of gossip and fear in a place where everyone knows everyone.

This was almost a five-star read for me. I’m honestly tempted to bump it up from a 4.5. The beginning was a little slow and had that old-timey, classical writing style that took a few chapters to settle into. But once I found the rhythm, I was hooked. I absolutely loved the rotating points of view, especially how they gave the story a rounded, communal feel while showing just how quickly gossip and paranoia can spread.

The atmosphere felt thick with tension. I haven’t read The Suicide Diaries, and it’s been years since I picked up The Crucible, but that sense of creeping dread and social panic was well done here. Horror-wise, it’s not scary in a traditional sense, but it leans into magical realism with eerie undertones and a haunting mood. The ending is open-ended (not always my favorite), but it fits this story. Still, I wouldn’t have minded a few more answers… and let’s be honest, Pete is the worst.

If you enjoy slow-burn, character-driven folk horror with that classical writing vibe and just enough mystery to keep you turning pages, The Hounding is one to check out. Definitely a great debut to check out!

The Hounding comes out August 5, 2025. Huge thank you to Henry Holt & Co for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books or on Tiktok @speakingof.books

Thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt and Co. for the e-ARC!

This was... interesting? I never read [book:The Virgin Suicides|10956] so I can't compare but I see it mentioned a lot in the reviews.

Without repeating the synopsis, what didn't really work for me was the five sisters characters felt lacking. We don't get any of their POVs nor any resolution at the end.

The antagonist felt like the generic misogynistic drunkard who was hellbent on ruining the lives of some girls because they snubbed his advances, which in 2025 would still be dangerous, but in the era this takes place? That could end in tragedy.

The book read like it could have done with one more round of editing and maybe some more fleshing out—it left me feeling dissatisfied at the end.

This premise is bananas in the best way. And I absolutely love the cover art. What I didn’t love - nearly every character. I wish the reader had more insight or a POV from the girls themselves, instead of these boring men surrounding the girls and alluding to them like they aren’t even there. It created such distance from the most interesting characters, the girls themselves. I struggled to stay engaged with the story, but I have several reader friends who adored this and I loved hearing their perspective. Definitely unique and full of discussion topics, which I appreciate. Thank you for this advance copy.

Oh wow another dumb man who hates women ruining things for women. Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me. I love the sentiment but it was a little too slow paced to hold my attention.

"The Crucible meets The Virgin Suicides in this haunting debut about five sisters in a small village in eighteenth century England whose neighbors are convinced they’re turning into dogs."

Hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric, Xenobe Purvis's debut is destined to become a cult classic. It is reminiscent of The Scarlett Letter with a mob mentality of false accusations. Moving on from witches, five townspeople tell the story from their perspective. The novel is an examination of the dangers of rumors and gossip and how the story continues to evolve and shift from reality. Yet most people are prone to believe the worst of others based on hearsay. The novel begs the question: Is it better to be a girl or a dog? What is a woman's place in society? This is unique and thought-provoking, and I will be thinking about the Mansfield girls and the villagers' treatment of them for a long time.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt and Company, and Xenobe Purvis for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
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DNF// Sadly this book is just not for me— I have tried to sit down and get through this ARC multiple times and I am finally accepting defeat. Truly just think this type of genre is just not my personal taste— but you never know until you try!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

weird girls rise up

This book was so weird and good! We're following five sisters living with their partially blind grandfather after their parents have died. The village they live thinks they are all a little odd, then things escalate when one of the men in the village is convinced they are turning into dogs.

What a weird, almost fever dreamy book. I ate this up and I'm still not sure what was real and what wasn't.

I was instantly intrigued about the book after reading the description and it did not disappoint! In The Hounding, Xenobe Purvis weaves a chilling, atmospheric tale centered on the enigmatic Mansfield sisters, five girls at the heart of the small village’s mounting paranoia. Told entirely through the eyes of outsiders like their blind grandfather, a barmaid, a ferryman, and two young farmhands, this novel builds on a town mystery without ever stepping into the minds of the girls themselves. This added an eerie distance, blurring the line between reality and rumor.

I couldn’t put this book down! It masterfully explores the power of suggestion and the danger of collective fear. It truly asked the question: Is it safer to be a woman or a dog?

The novel brilliantly examines how a single rumor, especially one targeting women who don’t conform, can spiral into full-blown hysteria. It’s a powerful commentary on the way communities police behavior. I found myself angry, unsettled, and completely engrossed chapter after chapter. The town’s willingness to believe that a group of mourning girls who love to play in the dirt might be transforming into dogs felt both unbelievable and disturbingly plausible. Great for book club discussions, this book is one I can see people loving to discuss together.

The Hounding is a haunting and atmospheric read- centered around the five Mansfield sisters told through the perspective of their blind grandfather, the village ferryman, the town bar maid, and two young boys hired by the Mansfields for the hay harvest. Despite being set in the eighteenth century, the language is easy to follow. It does not rely on the headiness of old English to spin a devastatingly beautiful prose. Every single word is deliberate and necessary- creating an all too real sense of dread. The ending leaves us with the heavy question: Is it safer to be a woman or a dog?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for this digital e-arc.*

This was eerie, atmospheric, and so well written. The Hounding reads like a mix of Shirley Jackson and The Crucible, set in a village already filled in superstition and paranoia before the real trouble even begins. When one man claims he saw the Mansfield sisters turn into dogs, the town turns on them fast.

The story is told through multiple villagers’ perspectives, which really drives home how unreliable and biased people can be, especially when they’re scared or just looking for someone to blame. The sisters themselves stay kind of distant, which adds to the mystery and makes the ending hit harder. Whether you think something supernatural is happening or not almost doesn’t matter, it’s more about how fear spreads and how difference is punished.

The writing is beautiful and tense, full of dread and little moments that stick with you. It’s a slow burn, and there were parts where I wished the pacing picked up a bit, but overall, this was such a unique and unsettling read.

Who could walk away from this book cover? The Hounding, the arresting debut by Xenobe Purvis, is a story set during summer in eighteenth century England, in a tiny hamlet. Five motherless girls are given more freedom than is customary, and a rumor takes hold that the girls turn into dogs and wreak havoc on the village of Little Nettlebed.

My thanks go to NetGalley and Henry Holt for the invitation to read and review. This book will be available to the public August 5, 2025.

The Mansfield girls are being raised by their grandparents; their parents are long dead. But now, their beloved grandmother has died as well, leaving them in the care of their elderly grandfather, who is almost blind. It’s not a great summer for anyone else, either; there’s a dreadful drought that affects agriculture, and the riverbed is nearly dry. Then one day, Pete, the ferryman, tells the local gossip that he has seen the Mansfield sisters transform into dogs! Soon the rumor has spread, and others report that they’ve seen it happen, too; everyone wants to get in on the excitement.

The story tells a cautionary tale, not a new one, but a worthwhile one about the way society sometimes victimizes people that are a little different from most. There’s not much by way of character development, but this book is not about character or setting, it is purely plot-based. Purvis is a fine wordsmith, and since I was lucky enough to have both the digital and audio galleys, I found myself drawn into the narrative, first by the text, and then by the audio. Reader Olivia Vinall does a splendid job, and I recommend the audio version for those that enjoy the medium.

My only sorrow is that although this book is engaging, it could have been so much more. There are opportunities here that are left unfulfilled, and the plot twist at the end destroys the message that has been so carefully crafted up to that point. I find it frustrating. This is a good read, but it could have been a great one.

With that caveat, I recommend this book to you.