I enjoyed this story much like I anticipated. I was easily enamored and entertained with the world, the plot, and the characters. I loved the authors writing style and character development. I have nothing but great things to say about this book.

The Cathedral of Lost Souls
by Paula Brackston
Pub Date: Nov 11 2025

📖🕯️♥︎ ｡❥｡･:*:･ﾟ☽✧☾｡･:*:･ﾟ❥｡♥︎🕯️📖

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this beautifully atmospheric ARC!
From the first page, The Cathedral of Lost Souls swept me into its evocative, gothic world. I dove in without having read the first book, but Paula Brackston’s storytelling is so skillful that I never felt lost for a moment. This sequel stands confidently on its own—no easy feat—and deserves five full stars for its accessibility to new readers and the seamless way it introduces its lore and characters.
The writing is lush and lyrical, effortlessly conjuring shadowed halls, haunted crypts, and the emotional intensity of Hekate Cavendish’s journey. Hekate is a compelling protagonist who has grown in both magical skill and depth, and the supporting cast is likewise well-developed, with relationships and secrets that kept me thoroughly engaged. The revelations unfold with satisfying suspense, and the atmosphere is deliciously moody—absolutely perfect for fans of gothic mysteries.
By the end, I was left both haunted and satisfied, especially in how the story honors and builds upon what came before.
If you’re seeking a gothic tale with emotional richness, suspense, and elegant prose, Brackston delivers in spades. Highly recommended for readers who love dark, beautiful, and soul-stirring stories.
ARC Review
#TheCathedralOfLostSouls #FiveStarRead #PaulaBrackston #NetGalleyReads #GothicFiction #Bookstagram #MoodyReads #DarkAndLovely

Many thanks again to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Hecate Cavendish is back again to continue the fight against the Embodied Spirits. After losing her fiancé John, her resolve to end this wickedness is more resolute than ever and with help from her father, along with Inspector Winter, and her ghost friends as well, a resolution seems possible. It will take all of Hecate's gifts, will and skill to end the evil that continues to grow and threaten all she loves.

This is the second book in the series. It is a fascinating look at how the main character Hecate is both valued and undervalued due to the Victorian timeframe and society views. The character is often torn between doing the right thing and societal rules. The paranormal aspect is well developed and the evil is presented in a creepy manner. I enjoyed this book and look forward to more escapes with Hecate Cavendish!

This was a great conclusion to Hecate’s story. It was satisfying to see her realize her full potential as a daughter of the goddess. I loved how she continued to learn new things, assembling the pieces of her motley “battle gear” as she went along. The archvillain was suitably sinister, the fight scenes were well done, and the ending worked well.

In both the first book and in this one, I really appreciated that Hecate had her father’s unwavering support. I found it refreshing that both he and the police inspector believed her and trusted her judgment. I also loved the hound!

I do wish there had been more time dedicated to her processing her grief over John and letting him go. I think these emotions should have been explored in more depth. I also wish that the friendly ghost gang had a little more to do in this second book.

All in all, I think readers of the first book will find a satisfying conclusion here. (Also, many of the settings in the book are real places in England; I’d specifically recommend looking up Hereford Cathedral and its chained library, as well as The Fosse.)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for access to an ARC. This book is the second in a series following Hekate Cavendish and her fight against the embodied spirits of the Essedenes. In this book Hekate has grown in her knowledge and skill as a follower of the goddess Hekate and similarly, the author has grown in the depth and connections she gives each character in this book. I felt like this book did a great job of carrying on and finishing out the story from The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish. Although this book can definitely stand alone, I would strongly suggest reading the first in the series before starting this book to have the foundational knowledge of what Hekate is facing, and the characters that both support and oppose her. The story kept me engaged, and the author does a great job at weaving suspense and revelations into the storyline with a satisfying ending.

The Cathedral of Lost Souls by Paula Brackston.
What an incredible story..
Hereford, England, 1881 and Hecate is back with her ghostly friends, fighting the fight, to be rid of the Resurgent Spirits once and for all.

Along with her father and Inspector Winter, Hecate knows she has to finish this.

With the help of the goddess, the Essendenes are finally quieted and stilled. But what chaos they encountered along the way.

Great characters with superb character spacing. I really enjoyed this wonderful story!
I will be recommending this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

After the fire and other important events in book one, Hecate Cavendish is more committed than ever to remove the threat of the Essedenes from Hereford. Now that Inspector Winter trusts her, that makes her work easier. When both she and Inspector Winter notice an increase growth of Embodied Spirits that are reeking havoc all over the community, she knows that she must act as quickly as possible in order to keep those she loves, and the entire town, out of harm's way. A great second book!

I read the first Hecate Cavendish book and enjoyed it very much so thought I would enjoy this one as well. And I did. I did have a little bit of trouble keeping straight all the books that Hecate used for spells and finally just gave up trying to keep them straight and just enjoyed the story.

I have been waiting patiently for the second book with Hecate Cavendish and I was not disappointed.

Hecate is back with her ghostly friends, fighting the fight against the Essedenes, who are ruthless.

After the fire and death of John, she is ready to get back to the library but the Essedenes want her gone. Forever.

With her father and Inspector Winter she is going to have to go to them and finish this.

With the numbers increasing and the violence increasing, it could be more than Hecate can manage, even with the help of the goddess.

Such good characters and this was wonderful!

NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press November 11, 2025

📚 Book Review: The Cathedral of Lost Souls by Paula Brackston

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this hauntingly atmospheric ARC! 🖤

I dove into The Cathedral of Lost Souls without realizing it was a sequel—my mistake, not the author’s. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the narrative stood on its own. Even without prior knowledge from book one, I never felt lost in the story. For that reason alone, this deserves a full ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐—it's rare that a sequel welcomes new readers so seamlessly!

I was fully swept into the storyline, though I did find it a bit quick how the main character connected romantically with someone new. 🤷 Still, it didn’t pull me out of the immersive pace, and the overall reading experience was quick, engaging, and deeply enjoyable.

Highly recommend for fans of gothic mysteries with emotional depth and lyrical writing. Brackston knows how to weave soul and suspense with elegance! 🕯️✨

ARCReview #TheCathedralOfLostSouls #PaulaBrackston #NetGalleyReads #StMartinsPress #GothicFiction #BookRecommendation #Bookstagram #FiveStarRead #MoodyReads #DarkAndLovely

This is the second book in this series. I have not read the first, but found this novel gave enough background information that it can stand on its own.

Cathedral of Lost Souls is a masterfully crafted novel that delivers a suspenseful, heartwarming, and utterly captivating reading experience from start to finish. From the very first page, the author weaves a spell of intrigue and tension that never lets up, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the story unfolds.

What truly sets this book apart is its unforgettable cast of characters—both the living and the dead. Each one is drawn with such warmth and depth that you can’t help but root for them, mourn their losses, and celebrate their triumphs. The relationships that develop across the boundaries of life and death are touching and beautifully rendered, adding layers of emotional resonance to the suspenseful plot.

The pacing is brisk and perfectly balanced, never lingering too long in one place but giving just enough time to savour each twist and revelation. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to devour in a single sitting, yet find yourself wishing it would never end.

Cathedral of Lost Souls is a testament to the power of hope, redemption, and connection—even in the most unlikely of places. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in search of a story that will both thrill and move you. This novel is a true gem and deserves every one of its five stars.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy for me to review.

The second in the Hecate Cavendish series shows how much she has grown in her strength and magical abilities. With the help of a faithful dog, her father and some other worldly allies, she’s been able to beat back most of the creatures trying to take over her city. I would recommend readers or listeners start with the first book in this series to fully comprehend exactly what is happening. As usual, Brackston casts her own spell over readers

This is actually a sequel to another book that I have not read but I will review this one and keep it brief. However this book itself was very good and I am glad that I took the opportunity to read it. The characters and the setting were very drawn out and when I was through I wished there could have been more.
It follows the story of a youbg lady named Hecate who lives in the 19th century. There are people who doubt her abilities but thankfully she has her father to support her along the way.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

This was a good conclusion. Hecate is more comfortable in her abilities and is determined to vanish the resurgents for good. With help from her lost souls, her father, a faithful hound, and the inspector, they have a fight to save their city. Has plenty of ghosts and action to keep the story interesting. Still enjoyed following these characters and I left satisfied with the way the story ended.