Rating: 2/5 Stars
Pub Date: 2/11
•
I was super intrigued by the cover of this one, so I quickly hit the request from NetGalley before reading the synopsis. I finally skimmed it and figured I would love it but when I started reading i quickly realized that this one was definitely not my cup of tea.
•
This story starts out in the early 1900's then jumps to "present day" which is great, however; I'm not sure what time period the present day is supposed to be because.... The dialogue was just so... Antique. It was just so weird. I was not a fan of how the characters spoke. This also had a huge list of characters which was super hard to keep track of because some were living, and some were dead and if I'm being honest, I really struggled to keep track of who was who. It's also a bit of a slow burn throughout the entire book. There were a few twists at the end that I found to be very interesting and liked where Thomas went with the story!
•
I listened to this one via audiobook and the author J. Ann Thomas narrated it which was super cool. She also was a fantastic narrator for this. I think I really enjoyed the fact she was able to narrate the story EXACTLY how she felt it should go, which made the book flow better. I think that this one would be great as a audiobook/physical book pairing because of how many characters there are.
•
Overall, this wasn't necessarily my cup of tea but I definitely think that there will be people who will devour this one and love it! A huge thank you to NetGalley, J. Ann Thomas and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Elegy Thorne has never known a life free of spirits—both the metaphorical weight of her family’s legacy and the literal ghosts that inhabit Thorne Hall, her ancestral estate nestled deep in the Berkshires. At just twenty-five years old, she carries the immense burden of maintaining this century-old home teeming with fourteen restless spirits. With her father’s health in rapid decline, the full responsibility of managing this eerie estate—and the otherworldly challenges that come with it—falls squarely on her shoulders.

J. Ann Thomas introduces readers to a world where the supernatural and the mundane coexist in fragile harmony, and Elegy finds herself caught in the crossfire. Long resigned to a life of quiet sacrifice, she begins to grapple with her own suppressed desires when a ghostly act of sabotage triggers critical renovations to the house. Enter Atticus, the observant and kind-hearted son of the contractor overseeing the repairs. His arrival stirs something unexpected in Elegy—a deep longing for a life that finally feels like her own. But to achieve that dream, she must confront the spirits of Thorne Hall and send them to their final resting place—a daunting task that could cost her dearly.

Thomas paints an incredibly vivid picture of Thorne Hall, transporting readers into a world as enchanting as it is eerie. Her writing is richly descriptive, creating a lush, atmospheric backdrop that makes the sprawling estate feel like a character in its own right. The story’s blend of historical fiction and supernatural intrigue is handled with skill, offering a narrative that feels both fantastical and deeply human.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its characters. Elegy is a protagonist who feels profoundly real—her struggles, her growth, and her eventual transformation into someone confident and self-assured resonate on a deeply emotional level. Even the ghosts that linger in Thorne Hall feel distinct and well-crafted, each contributing their unique perspective to the story’s unfolding mystery.

If you’ve ever been drawn to stories where the past refuses to stay buried, where the clash between obligation and self-discovery takes center stage, and where every shadow seems to hold a secret, *The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall* is a must-read. Perfect for fans of slow-burn supernatural mysteries with a touch of romance, this book offers an unforgettable escape into a world that is both haunting and heartbreakingly beautiful.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a haunting yet romantic gothic fantasy perfect for fans of Jane Eyre, Starling House, and ghost stories with a romantic twist.

This one was very fun. I loved the haunting, atmospheric setting. The characters were entertaining, and the character development was great. Sometimes, I found connecting to Elegy and the story difficult, but overall, it was an engaging and entertaining novel. The love story was darling, and the pacing was great. The plot and the incorporation of ghosts and magic were fascinating. The ending was beautiful, and J. Ann Thomas’s prose was wonderful. I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun, spooky read, especially during fall or winter!

I enjoyed J. Ann Thomas’s narration very much. It was fun to hear how she imagined the characters’ accents and lines. The emotion and depth she used fit the story perfectly. I highly recommend the audiobook.

Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!

I was excited when I heard the narrator was the author. I love when they narrate as the story gets told exactly how they wanted it to. However it worked until it didn’t.

I did enjoy the story. The idea of a spirit taking care of a house full of spirits sounds Haunted Mansion-esque and I was totally on board for that. After awhile though it becomes hard to keep track of all the characters.

The atmosphere is gothic and real and the author has a wonderful way of making it seem like we are actually standing in the home.

Gothic and creepy, with slow, atmospheric storytelling and a lovely romance full of yearning. I will definitely be recommending this well-written ghost story.

How would you handle things if you were to inherit a collection of spirits?

This is a twist on a ghost story with there being a “collection” that a living family keeps in their home. Are they keeping them for a reason? Are they caring for them? How does one come to have such a collection?

This was a fun and quick read where the world building was quite dark and fun to imagine. The house seemed so vivid in my mind as I was listening; I could feel the creepy sensation of the spirits and see the old fashions that the main character wore.

Each of the spirits had such different personalities and backstories that were told throughout the book. I really felt like things were spaced well for events in the book along with character development. I do of course have some questions, but a lot does get tied up by the end.

The author was the narrator so it came off as she’d most likely wanted to portray the characters and their tones. Her notes after the story about her inspiration and process of writing the story were endearing.

Thank you so much to the author, J. Ann Thomas, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall!

Unfortunately I had to DNF at 33%. The writing style was just a little out of place for me and the narrarator was not helping matters. It was also confusing to keep track of all of the different characters. The premise sounded really good and I was interested in learning about the differnet ghosts in the manor, but it was so slow and when books take almost halfway through them to pick up in the plot I just lose interest too much to stick with it. Thank you for the chance to read it though and I'm sure others will like this, but it was a no go for me.

This book sounded amazing, sadly it didn’t work for me. Firstly, the book is narrated by the author, who seemed uncomfortable reading the wordy, Victorian prose. Finally while a ghost looking after a house full of other ghost’s sounded intriguing, it just became tedious

I will start off by saying that I love experiencing an audiobook narrated by the authors themselves! Thomas has such a captivating voice and the way in which she reads this story felt so lyrical and enchanting it was perfectly suited for drawing me into the atmosphere and emotions, Particularly by the end, I was at the point where I felt so attached to the cast of characters I was nearly in tears, and the connections between Elegy and some of the ghosts within the house has me so curious about everything the book did not tell us. Would have loved more information about the spirits themselves, more details about their backstories etc, but maybe Im just being greedy!

The imagery within the story is so completely atmospheric; how Thomas details each ghost is so vividly descriptive, and the overall blending of both contemporary, historical, and gothic is perfectly placed. The pacing of the narrative is slow, but I found myself glad that it was. This exceeded my expectations massively, and I'm so excited to add it to my Halloween reading list!

This is a hauntingly beautiful gothic world I could quite happily see myself in, and one where I could quite happily stay.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of this audiobook, in exchange for an unbias review.

3 Stars

I loved the writing style—it was beautifully atmospheric and captured the gothic tone perfectly. Thorne Hall was richly described, making it easy to get lost in its eerie charm. The mix of ghostly mystery, family duty, and romance had all the elements I typically love.

However, it just didn’t fully land with me. While the premise was intriguing, I felt a bit disconnected from the characters, and the romance didn’t draw me in as much as I’d hoped.

That said, if you enjoy lush gothic tales with a touch of romance, this is worth a read—it just wasn’t a perfect fit for me.

Thank you, NetGalley & Dreamscape Media, for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Elegy Thorne has been in Thorne Hall her entire life, approximately 25 years as a bird trapped in her cage. She was born there and if her father has his way, she will inherit the house and care for the 15 ghosts trapped within it's walls. Even though the outside world is keeping up with the times and it seems to be a fairly modern world of cell phones, emails, and laptops, Elegy is forbidden from bringing any such technology onto the grounds of Thorne Hall. She wears the same clothes from the 1800's and early 1900's, and is only able to get news of the world through newspapers, her best friend Flossie, and her rare trips to town where the town's people stop and stare at the girl who seems to live in a bygone era.

There is a bit of romance when Atticus, the son of a local contactor, visits Thorne Hall with his dad when the house has had a bit of a kitchen issue. At their first meeting, Atticus and Elegy seem drawn to each other in a really cute way because Elegy is fairly new to having a love interest and Atticus finds her antiquated ways to be fairly adorable and quirky. But the story soon reveals she will have to make a choice between the life she wants and the life she feels is thrust upon her by her family name and obligation to the spirits.

I really enjoyed this book and loved the dark, ominous vibes with the caring nature of Elegy for the souls trapped within the house. Though the story rounds out nicely and it is stand alone, I do wish we could get more from Elegy after the final page is turned. I will certainly be recommending this story to others and do think it could it could ride the line between YA and Adult.

Sadly, this book just didn't work for me. I really couldn't get into the writing style, it was over the top and removed. The distance created by the writing failed to made this book atmospheric or whimsical.
Audiobook production was good but I'm not sure I enjoyed the narrator, though that might also be the writing style.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is definitely for fans of gothic and horror books! I really enjoyed the horror aspect of the ghosts similar to The Haunting of Bly Manor and the love story famous in gothic novels.

The description of Throne Hall and it's residents stuck in time was well elaborated on that I wish I could visit it. I loved how Elegy dressed and talked as if she was living in the Gilded Age in the 21st century. I loved how the ghosts lived in the house and could be seen by everyone not just Elegy adding a creepy factor to the old falling apart mansion.

I really enjoyed this story but it definitely dragged and I was little bored in the middle. I felt that the ghosts were not always distinct to me and I would get confused by some especially since there seemed to be really only 6 main ghosts out of the 15. While everything came together by the end there were still some questions I had about the ghosts and their backgrounds.

I listened to the audiobook and I thought the narration by the author was well done.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

J. Ann Thomas’s The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a captivating blend of mystery, the supernatural, and rich character development, set against the atmospheric backdrop of a historic estate. The narrative revolves around the enigmatic Thorne Hall, a place steeped in secrets and ghostly legends.

From the outset, Thomas skillfully establishes a haunting yet inviting tone that draws readers into the world of the hall. The protagonist, with her compelling backstory, navigates not only the physical space of Thorne Hall but also the emotional and spiritual intricacies that come with it. The author’s portrayal of the estate is vivid, making it almost a character in its own right, full of hidden passages and whispers of the past.

One of the standout elements of the book is its exploration of themes like grief, belonging, and the connection between the living and the dead. Thomas weaves a tapestry of interconnected stories that resonate deeply, inviting readers to reflect on their own relationships with memory and loss.

The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of suspense that keep the reader engaged, while also allowing for quieter, introspective scenes that develop character depth. The supporting cast is equally well-crafted, each with their own stories that intertwine with the main plot, adding layers to the overall narrative.

The writing itself is elegant, with a lyrical quality that enhances the atmospheric feel of the story. Thomas’s ability to evoke emotion through her prose is commendable, making even the most ordinary moments feel significant.

Overall, The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a beautifully written novel that combines the allure of a ghost story with heartfelt human experiences. It’s a perfect read for fans of gothic fiction and anyone who enjoys a thoughtful exploration of the supernatural. Thomas has crafted a memorable tale that lingers long after the final page is turned, leaving readers eager for more. Highly recommended!

I loved the narration on this, it really brought the story to life.