A rumor in a small town has the power to divide. Who saw what? Can the word of a heavy drinker be trusted? Was that fleeting glimpse across the field a trick of the light, the power of suggestion, or something far more sinister?

Five sisters, raised by their grandparents, are left in the care of their nearly blind grandfather after their grandmother’s death. Rumors swirl about them: they’re undisciplined, wild, strange…and most disturbingly, there’s talk that they can turn into dogs.

This novel is beautifully written, giving the reader multiple points of view. The pacing is deliberate yet tense, pulling you deeper into the tangled web of mystery and suspicion. The narration was pitch-perfect, giving a voice to each character and enhancing the atmosphere of unease.

It’s a story that left me with more questions than answers, and I’m still thinking about it 2 books later.

🌷Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and author Xenobe Purvis for access to a copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

I listened to the ALC of The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis. This book is set in the 18th century in England in a small town. The people of this town are used to things out of the ordinary happening. Like ravens gathering on the roof of a home in the town and shortly thereafter someone in the home will die. But, this story is about 5 sisters and the town drunk is telling everyone that he has seen the 5 sisters transform into 5 dogs. It reads very much like a fairy tale. The comparison of this book is to The Crucible - and that is easy to understand. The mentality of the neighbors and towns people being afraid of things that seem like witchcraft - things happening that are out of the ordinary are scary. What are the girls? Well, you have to read the story to know. I thought Olivia Vinall did an excellent job with the narration. This book released August 5, 2025. Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC.

“Opinions had a way of gathering and sticking, [he] thought, like lines of ants swarming to honey.”

🎧 Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ALC. The narrator, Olivia Vinall, was terrific and I so enjoyed her tone of voice and the ways it added to the tension and atmosphere of the story.

I have such a soft spot in my heart for stories like this no matter the century they are set in, but a historical setting (this is the 18th) definitely adds to the “enjoyment”. I think maybe it’s because it bolsters the idea that we know to be true— things haven’t changed that much in all this time. Like in the novel, despite the idea of “witches” being a thing of the past, there continues to be a suspicion of those that do not fall-in-line, or meet the expectations of those in power. It’s sad, of course, but also infuriating. This is also a somewhat ambiguous book, though not entirely, and makes use of the device of not letting us hear from the girls directly. This reinforces the idea that they are valued for the assumptions about them, rather than for their own identities*. TRUTH isn’t as important as the feelings, desires, and narratives of others — even an unreliable and/or violent witness, if they are positioned higher in social systems.

I think most women (certainly other groups as well, but to focus on the on-page subject matter and my own experience) have been the victim of a level of silencing from people and structures around them, and have felt the pressure to fit in. Even posts on social media shed a lighthearted take like; “imagine hating me and I’m just [insert wholesome harmless activity here]”. Being seen for who you actually are, getting to tell your own story, being afforded space to be a whole person instead of a vessel for someone else’s expectations should be universal, though clearly as we see across time, and across governments, this is STILL not the case.

This was an atmospheric novel set during a drought-ridden summer. I liked the writing and the town and it’s residents felt well drawn. The claim of “The Crucible meets The Virgin Suicides” is definitely apt. I recommend for fans of witch-adjacent historical fiction and people who enjoy stories that deal with the power of narrative.

*The Virgin Suicides also makes use of this but I cannot compare the two further as it’s been too long since I watched the film or read the book. I should remedy this. But how nice (as both of those are written by men) to read from a woman, about girls. (OMG I footnoted my review, lol)

Calling all lovers of "The Crucible"! This atmospheric 18th-century English work of Historical Fiction is ominous and unsettling enough to question reality within the storyline.

The five Mansfield girls are viewed as being strange in the village of Nettlebed. Some believe they've seen them turn into dogs. Strange creatures wash up dead on the riverbank, ravens gather on the roofs of people that are going to die, and one of the neighbor's chickens end up dead in a perfect circle. Opinions in the village vary. Witchcraft is thought to be waning but something isn't right in Nettlebed. The villagers must tread carefully to protect themselves and the Mansfield girls.

This one is sinister and highly cinematic. There is an eerie presence over the entire book. It is certainly an interesting concept to imply characters turning into dogs. I enjoyed the execution of this idea. It was creative and kept me guessing!

Olivia Vinall was a fantastic narrator for this novel. I was captivated by her characterization choices and the ability to build suspense.

Thank you NetGalley, Olivia Vinall, Xenobe Purvis, and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis completely pulled me in with its dark, atmospheric vibes. It gave The Crucible energy—but honestly, I liked this more. It’s tense, eerie, and beautifully written without being too heavy.

I loved the multiple points of view, it added more depth and added to the feeling of hysterias. I do wish we had at least one chapter from one of the girls’ perspectives. That would’ve made it even more powerful. The writing is rich and poetic, which I really enjoyed, though the plot itself felt a little light in places. I found myself wanting just a bit more story.

Still, it’s a quick and satisfying read that sticks with you. If you like historical fiction with a witchy, gothic feel, definitely check it out.

Whew!! Finished in one day because it was THAT GOOD!

Thank you NetGalley for the free audiobook!

Look at this beautiful cover. It called to me. Perhaps I shouldn't have listened. I appreciate the moral dilemmas presented in this but it was so boring. Nothing really happens until the last 20% and the very last chapter made me so mad. I wouldn't say this is about misogyny as so many people have commented. It's more about society norms, influence, and the power of suggestion. There were expectations, for both men and women, in society during this time. You either fell inline or you were an outcast--someone to be pitied or feared. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced audio copy

Woof.

Where was the horror!?? I found this to be incredibly dull. It’s hard for me to review this book because of how pointless and forgettable it was. At one point, it felt like the same chapter was written over and over again.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. To be honest, I hated it.

I l0ved this book and the audio book narrator! Told from the perspective of several people in the and around the town of Little Nettlebed, it is the story of the five Mansfield sister's. They are orphaned, peculiar, and often thought of as undisciplined, but according to Pete Darling they are also dogs. Or at least they can turn into dogs. Could it be true? Really, girls that can turn into dogs. What will the village think? What about the Vicar? What about the girls themselves.

Read this great story set in a little town full of people who are superstitious, narrow minded gossips. What will you believe about Anne, Elizabeth, Hester, Grace, and Mary? Are they just girls who act out because of all the tragedy they have had or are they really the vicious hounds that the villagers have heard they are?

This was a solid tale of "man gets his masculinity threatened by a strong woman and subsequently ruins her life."

This novel tells the story of the Mansfield sisters, five girls who the entire town of Little Nettlebed is convinced can turn into dogs. Can they actually turn into dogs? Who knows. Through the perspective of other villagers, including a bartender, a boy who works for the Mansfield's, and the very man who first makes the claim that they can turn into dogs, the story gets more and more tense as hysteria takes hold.

I really enjoyed this novel. The descriptions were vivid and, even though you could see where it was headed, I was on the edge of my seat. My only complaints are that the ending felt too abrupt and there was some animal death. If you know me, you know that I can't stand when animal death is used as a plot device. Overall, this was everything I expected this book to be, and I'm so glad it met my expectations.

In addition, the narrator for this book was absolutely perfect. I could listen to her read a grocery list.

Thanks to Macmillan audio for the audiobook. The Houding by Purvis is a historical read that teeters on the cusp of horror and creepy. Are these sisters turning into dogs? Who knows. I loved the narrator.

There is always going to be someone who looks at you annoyed and starts to slender you the moment you do something out of the ordinary. It doesn't matter whether you wore a left shoe on your right foot (or anything as harmless like that) or you decided to behave like a dog. It should be none of their business, but they always feel like they should have a saying in it.

There was one man in this super tiny town to start the gossip about the sisters who were struggling with their grandmother's passing. He said they turned into dogs at night, they killed animals, and they were a menace to society. As gossip started to take over the whole town, the number of people saw sisters transform increased. So does the results of their transformation

I don't know, with the expectations from society maybe it is better to turn into a dog and run away from places that strangles you. I'm sure the whole town would have been okay with girls becoming dogs if girldogs were wearing collars instead of going around freely.

Men, ugh. Like God forbid a girl be different and live her life.

This story takes place in a little farming town in 18th century England. We have the five Mansfield sisters, whose lives are pretty tragic with the death of their parents and Grandmother, now living with only their near-blind Grandfather on his struggling farm. They're a little wild, free and untamed. They laugh loudly, run wild, and are not mild-mannered like the other girls, but they keep to themselves, not bothering anyone. So, of course, this makes the men in town bristle--no more than the local ferryman Pete. Pete, worried about his upcoming wedding and business, insists he has seen these wild girls literally turn into dogs, you know "real bitches". And the rumor catches and spreads like wildfire, because no one likes a female who lives contrary to the norm. 

This book is beautifully written. It's sad. It's infuriating. It's a harsh look at human nature. It's men feeling threatened by girls who are unconventional. It's so many things; so much to get out of it. I do see similarities to The Virgin Suicides, as others are stating, which I love. I'll leave you with this quote, "We went out when we weren't supposed to, we were too free, and this - all of this - is our punishment. It has nothing to do with the idea of us becoming dogs, and everything to do with the fact of us being girls."

This narrative felt somewhat lacking. The brief story left me thinking it required more detail. At times, the story seemed to repeat similar information in a slightly different manner. The narrator's voice in the audio version was pleasant and engaging.

3.5 stars rounded upward.

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.

This was a strange and beautiful read. The book is set in the 1800s but feels very applicable to our world today. I enjoyed following along with the multiple POV's. The book is immersive and the feeling of dread permeates as the town becomes more and more paranoid when it comes to the Mansfield sisters. Olivia Vinall did a great job with the audiobook. I look forward to reading more Xenobe Purvis works in the future.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a Historical Fiction. I read this book by listening to the audiobook, and I found the audiobook clear and easy to understand. I could not connect to any of the characters, and I also could not figure what the book was trying to do or the point of the book. Overall, I found most of the book boring. I just could not get into this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC.

The narrator did a fantastic job with this one. The narrator really had me drawn into the story. I enjoyed reading this book for the most part. The author made a great atmosphere, especially with the unrelenting heat. There are a lot of topics touched upon in this book. I wouldn't nessacarily call this one groundbreaking, but still a very good look at speaking about women's places in society and resistance from society when women push back. I think the pacing slowed down at times, but for the most part I really enjoyed this book. I also love the cover.

Full Disclosure: I have not read The Crucible nor The Virgin Suicides. 😂

The Mansfield sisters live under the care of their blind, newly-widowed grandfather. In a small town filled with whispers, they are either described by their unfortunate temperaments and disagreeable natures. At worst, their neighbors think they can shape-shift, turning into wild dogs at will.

Nothing we see or learn about these girls is directly from the source. The book is written from multiple POVs: their blind grandfather, two boys hired to help him on the Mansfield farm (one of whom is in love with a Mansfield girl), the sour village ferryman who seems to hold disdain for women generally (including his soon-to-be bride), and the town bar maid. What are we, the reader, to believe if witnesses are blinded by something: their love, their hatred, their envy, their own eyes? All we know is that that these women are perceived as dangerous--they can trick you, they cannot be trusted, and, perhaps most importantly, they cannot be tamed.

I found this book to be an engaging quick read and I enjoyed that as the reader, we were a member of the community unsure of what to believe. This book examines less the reality of this family and more the perception of women in general by exploring the power of secrets (they can destroy a family), the dangers of rumors in a small town (they can destroy a community), and the threat of non-traditional girls in a world run by paranoid men (they can destroy the patriarchy). It made me think of Mona Chollet's In Defense of Witches, a non-fiction book about witch trials and accusations that have been made historically against women who do not abide by the rules and expectations of white male power. It may be a bit heavy-handed in its metaphor, but I wasn't put off by that. 3.5-4 stars for me.

Many thanks to Netgalley and MacMillon Audio for the ALC. Opinions are my own. This book's publication date is August 5, 2025.

I REALLY wanted this to be for me, but it just wasn't, This is one of those novels though, where I'm fully confident it's a "me" thing—it's just too historic for MY taste. For that reason I'm rating 4/5.
I did feel the The Virgin Suicides vibes—my favorite part of the entire novel by far! & I commend narrator Olivia Vinall, she did a fantastic job and I think her voice fit the novel perfectly. I'd initially tried this one in print before being approved for the ALC—I'm not certain I would have made it all the way thru this had I not had the audiobook.

Again—I know this is 110% a "me" thing. I'd argue it's an objectively great book—that's just...not for me.

{Thank you bunches to Xenobe Purvis, Olivia Vinall, Macmillan Audio, Henry Holt & Co. and NetGalley for the ALC & DRC in exchange for my honest review.}