✨ The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall ✨ is a cozy blend of mystery, magic, and just the right amount of spooky. The story follows a family heirloom (aka a bunch of trapped spirits) that have been tied to the Thorne Hall estate for generations. 👻🏰

Honestly, I went in expecting the usual see-through ghosts creeping around dark corners... but these spirits were way more corporeal — like undead, rotting, super-creepy vibes. 🧟‍♂️ The descriptions of their decaying bodies totally amped up the gothic atmosphere, and I loved it.

The audiobook is on the slow side 🎧, but the narrator really nails Elegy's vibe — super calm, a bit reserved, and always composed. Thomas also does a great job weaving in suspense, humor, and just enough heart to keep you hooked.

It’s definitely a slower read, but if you love ghost stories with a twist (and don’t mind a little creepiness), it’s totally worth picking up! 📚💀

This should have been right up my street. Unfortunately, it did nothing I found novel with the spiritualist movement and the Gothic setting drained away in the wake of characters who I just couldn’t engage with. This one just didn’t work for me, attempt at a Jane Eyre reimagining or no.

Two months ago, J. Ann Thomas released her adult debut, The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall. This modern gothic follows Elegy Thorne, a young woman whose family has managed a haunted estate for over a century. Fifteen spirits are trapped in Thorne Hall, and once Elegy’s father passes, it will be up to her to care for the ghosts and prevent mayhem. But she longs to be free of this place and these spirits, and when she meets Atticus, son of their preservationist, she starts to plan her escape and a life with him instead.

Why I Chose This Book:
This book wasn’t on my radar, but when I saw its cover and comparisons to Jane Eyre and Starling House (two novels I love), I was instantly excited to read it. I love anything gothic and involving ghosts and hauntings. Also the author lives really close to me, and I love supporting local authors.

What I Liked:
- Ghosts and a house stuck in time. Fifteen spirits have been residing in Thorne Hall since the Gilded Age, and the mansion, too, has remained a relic of the past. Nothing about it has been modernized in the last century, and even the clothes Elegy wears must be the wardrobe of her ancestors of the time. I loved the whole atmosphere of this novel.
- Music as a way to soothe and control. While Elegy’s father has his own methods of managing the spirits, her best resource is music. Like everything else, she sings only the oldest songs, especially the Child Ballads. I really enjoyed the lyrics of some ballads included at the end of chapters!
- Plotting her escape. Elegy isn’t content to stay in Thorne Hall, surrounding by spirits, for the rest of her life. But the ghosts can’t be banished and they can’t be left alone. What choices does she truly have? Through getting to know Atticus, though, Elegy starts to believe there is a way forward… and that she absolutely must find it before it’s too late.

Audiobook:
The author narrates her own novel, which is a rare treat! We get to hear it how she intended, and she does a wonderful job of infusing the gothic character of the story. Like Elegy’s century-old style of dressing and speaking, J. Ann Thomas speaks in a formal and regal manner that befits our protagonist. Her intonation is almost haunting, mirroring the spirits bound to Thorne Hall. This was an excellent listen, and I’m so happy I read the book in this format.

Final Thoughts
If you want a modern gothic that’s a little spooky, a little romantic, and a lot of ghostly atmosphere, The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a must-read. The story sucks you in, and if you opt for the audiobook, the story feels especially entrancing. I truly enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more from J. Ann Thomas.

This was the first book that I've read by J. Ann Thomas, and I was quite happy happy. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to review this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Elegy Thorne is forced by her family's curse to maintain her family's mansion in this gothic tale. There are many ghosts living in Thorne Hall, and Elegy sings and uses runes to keep them in check. The ghosts are described in great detail, and there was definitely a bit of gore. I really loved Atticus' character and that he supported her, not trying to pull her out of the past that she was stuck in, but giving her courage to make her own choices.

The ghosts were creepy and nefarious - I loved learning more about how they came to be trapped in Thorne Hall.

J. Ann Thomas' narration of her book was wonderful - the voices were clear and the pacing was well-done.

I received an Audio ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media!

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narrator(s): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes, etc: Haunted House, Forbidden Love, Paranormal
POV: Single, 3rd Person

Brief Summary: Elegy Thorne is expected to maintain Thorne Hall and keep the 15 spirits that live there in check, even if it means sacrificing her own happiness. But when a contractor hired to fix the house brings along his charismatic son, Elegy begins to wonder if there might be a better life for her outside of Thorne Hall’s walls.

Vibe Check: Atmospheric, Gothic, Mournful.

FMC Is: Old-fashioned, resigned to her fate.
MMC Is: Kind, willing to fight for her.
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪

While Reading I: Cried, gasped, raged.

What Kept Me Hooked: The many ghosts and Elegy’s connection with them, the author’s narration.

Room For Improvement: There were a lot of ghosts, so it was hard to keep them straight sometimes.

Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this. It reminded me of The Haunting of Hill House (the show, not the book), which I loved. This was also the first audiobook I’ve ever listened to that’s narrated by the author, and it really made a difference as she knew exactly what tone and inflection she intended. Overall, a great gothic read.

A really intriguing premise and an innovative idea! The writing was also excellent. I did not finish in time but I thoroughly enjoyed what I did read! Really looking forward to finishing this.

Knowing it this book was slower paced going in I think saved it for me. I actually liked the slow pacing with all of the characters. This was a great story, and I can't wait to try out more books by Thomas.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to review this book.

Interesting premise, terrible pacing.

Elegy's family has been responsible for the ghosts living in their home for over a hundred years. Her father keeps her on a tight leash and has overwhelming expectations of her. She has barely any will of her own. The story is about how she gets control back over her life, with the support of the man she falls in love with. Oh, and also getting rid of the ghosts.

The horror scenes are marvelously descriptive, but a bit out of place in what is pretty much a romance novel. Sadly, even the love interest and most of the side characters remained rather flat, with their personalities mostly consisting of 1-2 traits.

The love scenes were empowering and we need these kinds of depictions of relationships where the woman has agency and the man supports that. But I don't really know what made Atticus fall in love instead of just being curious.

The book was read by the author, who has a nice voice and enunciation. While I understand, why the many ballads in the book were not actually sung, I still missed that. The slow reading of them, even several times in some cases, was frankly tiresome.

Around the midpart the story really slowed down, then there was unnecessary drama, hope, more drama, even more drama and some unearned reveals with tragic endings. The interpersonal relationships needed more elaborating before that had any real weight.

And finally, this was the most unnecessarily long epilogue I had the misfortune to encounter. 30 minutes! It's like an entire second chapter in a smalltown cozy fantasy. Too many details about gardening, how they managed their living situation years ago, how the wedding went, etc. I understand Elegy needs closure, but this is really going overboard.

I'm sad I ended up listing so many cons when the elements of the story in themselves are pretty good and some of the ghosts are quite cute and funny and event their backstories are interesting. But I feel like nobody told the author to focus and so she spread her writing thin over all the bits and pieces she wanted to tell instead of letting some of them just stay notes.

Wow, I really thought I wasn’t going to enjoy this book, but it was so enthralling. The ghosts were portrayed as ghosts but living people, and the story of them being summoned and banished was fascinating. I really became teary by the end and was sad to see everybody go. I loved the two main characters bond, but hugo really annoyed me.

First I want to say that who liked the haunting of hill house will love this book, the spirit is much on point with hill house. I got to listen to the audiobook read by the author, and I feel she wasnt the right person to read the book, perhaps I am too spoiled by voice actors and actresses and I am hoping I will get the same kind of reading every time. Another thing I didn’t like that much, was how slow the book was, it was like having a picture painted in front of us and we were seeing each paintbrush of paint drawing in a canvas. Maybe that is what will make you love this book, but for me it was a bit too much.

I will definitely get a written version of the book to read, I think it will make my experience better, but if you like slow telling story that paints a picture on your mind, just grab a copy for yourself because you’ll like it.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media, for the free AAC and this is my honest opinion.

The premise reminds me of the Tv show Ghost with Rose McIver, except the ghosts are darker & more malicious.

What I loved 💕:
💕 it’s an ode to Gothic literature
💕 Our FMC displays emotional strength rather than physical
💕Excellent Ghost Story
💕Discussions around generational trauma

What was not my cuppa tea ☕️:
☕️some scenes were really uncomfortable to read
☕️ limited characterization at times

Ideal Reader ⭐️:
⭐️ Fans of horror movie 13 Ghosts
⭐️ Fans of Gothic Ghost Stories


Trigger/ Content warnings:
‼️Descriptive Gore including child victims
‼️Sexual Assault/Harassment

I love the cover of this book, and I was hoping for a haunting gothic vibe. Perhaps some degree of charm is acceptable, but this felt entirely too whimsical and out of touch for my liking. I am grateful for the opportunity to listen, but I was not able to finish this audiobook.

I am immensely grateful to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my copy.

I absolutely loved this cozy, ghostly gothic story! The concept of being a keeper of the spirits who inhabit the home because of a family curse was delightful. The characters were diverse and so fun! I adored the romance and how I felt transported to the time period. I will definitely be looking forward to more by this author.
The narration was exquisite and very easy to follow. Almost melodic in a sense that enabled me to get lost in the story.

A true genre-blender; I had a hard time pinning down the genre of this one! It’s a fantasy with a strong romance backbone, with a little bit of horror thrown into the mix.

The heroine Elegy Thorne is a quirky and peculiar character. She was raised in Thorne Hall, fully knowing since she was a child that her destiny is tied to the spirit collection. Once her father dies, she inherits the ghosts, and she will stay trapped in this mansion, as it will be her duty to keep them from misbehaving. Because of this, she’s had to give up all her dreams. Her father has her living in the past, with no wifi or easy access to the outside world. The book itself has a historical vibe to it, as Elegy must dress in old-fashioned clothes and has an antique manner of speaking. This introduces quite a bit of humor when she interacts with characters outside of the house, as they’re all living in the modern world. Despite the fact that she has little control over her own life, she’s delightful and sweet. She’s a compelling combination of kind-hearted and naive, all while being accustomed to regularly interacting with horrifying and decomposing ghosts. She’s such a fascinating character!

Atticus is her love interest, and he doesn’t feel quite as well fleshed out. Regardless, he’s a swoon-worthy hero, and I fully understand why they fell for each other.

The plot of the book is compelling, if a little predictable once you realize the story’s strong roots in the romance genre. If you go into this book expecting it to be more of a horror, you’ll be sorely disappointed. But the fantasy elements and worldbuilding are marvelous and the romance is *chef’s kiss*, so you better not complain to me!

I listened to this as an audiobook, and it was read by the author. She captured the essence of the characters and the world she created with masterful perfection. I love listening to audiobooks read by the author, because you just know that they’re putting the emphasis on the right parts and they’re getting the tone just the way they intended. We aren’t distanced from the story by a narrator’s performance of an interpretation of the book, and I feel closer to the story because of it.

All in all, I highly recommend this story if you enjoy a fantasy romance and aren’t afraid of a little gore folded in with the whimsy!

This was such a unique story. A little slow paced but full of gothic atmosphere and morbid spirits. The setting of a crumbling grand estate filled with kind and malicious souls alike stuck in an 1850's-time warp was spectacular and only added to the general atmosphere. The contrast of the modern world and the estate really helped to showcase Elegy's isolation.

The romance in my opinion was where this book fell a tiny bit short. While it was cute, it was very insta-love and felt very thin. There wasn't much to suggest that Elegy and Atticus should be so invested that they should sacrifice themselves for each other. Also, the epilogue, though sweet, served no purpose and was unnecessary in my opinion.

Overall, this is a perfect book to read around Halloween and I'd definitely recommend it

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my audio arc!

The haunting atmosphere and lyrical prose of this audiobook create an immersive gothic experience that lingers long after listening. The writing is rich with eerie beauty, making Thorne Hall feel like a character of its own, steeped in secrets and sorrow. The slow-burning tension builds masterfully, blending ghostly whimsy with the weight of legacy and longing. While the pacing is deliberate, it allows the emotional depth to settle in, making every moment feel significant.​
The author's narration enhances the experience, bringing an intimate quality to the story. Her performance is evocative, capturing the melancholy and quiet intensity of Elegy's journey. Each character feels distinct, their emotions resonating through the careful cadence of the reading. This audiobook is perfect for those who appreciate atmospheric, character-driven gothic tales that blur the line between past and present.

Haunted Mansion and 13 Ghosts

A heir must take care of a collection of 15 ghosts. She is treated like garbage her whole life as she is groomed to take over the ghost collection. She meets a contractor who makes her think that there is a life outside of the mansion.

This book was OK, the middle of the book was horrible. It was the same FMC wants out, ghosts harass her, her father dehumanizes her, and she sneaks out to meet someone. The ending was good as it ties everything together. I skipped/forwarded most of the middle and still managed to know exactly was going on like nothing happened. This book had a lot of potential but it was just SO BORING until the end.

The Spirit Collections of Thorne Hall is a cozy gothic horror romance. I put off this book for a while and I feel like it's because I was worried it would not live up to what I wanted it to be. The ghosts were the high point. I appreciate that they looked as they did when they died even if graphic in some cases. I did feel that the pacing was inconsistent but overall well written. Personally I felt the beginning was harder to get through but the last 25% of the book speed up quite a bit. The romance hit as I stand attraction and we'll balance with the graphic horror bits. The ghost each had their own sorry would have been better if there was more focus on them but overall enjoyable.

Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone wanting to step into Gothic Romance.

This was narrated by the author herself and I'm so glad it was. I could feel the tension so much from her portayal of her characters. The story is focused on a house that holds a collection of spirits and the family that can never leave them for fear of their wrath being unleashed upon the world. Everything about the house, down to the clothes worn by it's living occupents, are original to it's creation. It made this story feel like a period peace while taking place in the present day. I really enjoyed the direction this story took and was pleasantly surprised by the reveal at the end. If you're looking for an interesting and spooky romance this is it!

Facing the ghosts of her family, both literally and figuratively, our sad but plucky heroine navigates old wounds and new sensations in this stunted coming of age tale. The setting is brilliantly macabre and the characters beautifully drawn. I really loved the unexpected moments and humor sprinkled throughout. It did employ a slower pace, but I think that was necessary for the development. Truly delightful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audio copy.