For fans of Charlotte McConaghy and Emilia Hart, this haunting story takes the reader on a rollercoaster of foreboding, the supernatural and ever-growing dread for the safety of these young girls.

The author does a phenomenal job of dropping of us into the middle of a family in the depths of grief, solitude and scrutiny from a town full of people who would sooner throw them all to the dogs (pun intended) rather than throw them a bone (haha) or helping hand. Deeply mistrusting, ready to use religion as a weapon and above the idea that these young girls are in the right to control their fancies and independence, we follow multiple POVs and see through the eyes of these individuals that these girls are the objects of their desire, spite and fear. Desire to take something innocent and corrupt it, harm it, ruin it. Spite for their freedom, their naivety, their whimsy. Fear of the unknown, of the supernatural, of brash youth.

I was glued to this book and couldn't stop myself from flying through it as quickly as possible. I found it gripping and the story was spellbinding, the writing was easy-to-follow, expertly paced and the plot development had me "turning the page" more times than I count just to see what was going to happen next. Bravo to Xenobe Purvis, you've earned yourself a super-fan of this reader!

Olivia Vinall knocked it out of the park, once again, with her masterful narration of this novel! I absolutely loved her reading of Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati and this is another example of her spectacular skill when it comes to unique character voices and keeping the reader entranced with her voice.

This book flew to the top of my 'July Favorites' list and is also going on my 'Favorites of 2025' as a whole list as well.

I have to say I was engaged with this book. I was definitely intrigued. The setting feels atmospheric, spooky and mysterious. I felt as if there was a lot that was being spoken, or evil that was lurking just under the surface of the characters. I didn't particularly like any of the characters but I sympathize with several. Others, I was either confused by or just flat out felt they were terrible people. I am giving this novel 3 stars. I almost gave it 2, because I was not exactly satisfied by the conclusion. However, the fact that I was still thinking about it and trying to figure out what actually happened, makes me add a star. Did I "enjoy" the book? No. Was I intrigued? Yes. Confused? A little. Do I fully understand what was going on with the 5 sisters? Definitely not. But I didn't hate it and I almost feel as if a reread is in order, in case I missed something.

This one had a great premise: a creepy little village during the 18th century, five mysterious sisters, rumors of the girls turning into dogs, but the execution just didn’t do it for me. The atmosphere is there, sure, but the story plays out exactly how you’d expect from the synopsis. No surprises, no real tension, just a slow march toward a predictable ending.

The themes around misogyny and being “different” are important, but they’re delivered in a way that leaves me puzzled at whether I didn't understand something that everyone seems to have understood, at least according to the good rating. There are a few eerie moments and some nice imagery, but overall, it felt like the book was trying really hard to say something profound but I don't know what?

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook!

4.25🌟

You know when you're just existing as a woman, and then a man comes up to inform you that you're doing it wrong? (Even though no one asked for his goddamn opinion about anything.) And THEN he insists you're actually a dog who's been barking at night and terrorizing the town?

Exhausting...am I right, ladies?

I had no idea what to expect going into this novel. I've read/enjoyed The Virgin Suicides, but I haven't seen The Crucible (comparisons to both were mentioned in the book description). I had a good time with it, though. It was short and sweet. I managed to listen to the audiobook in one day while doing some chores at home. It was hard to stop listening, because I really wanted to know what the hell was going on. I found it difficult to keep track of all the different characters, as there are five sisters, plus many other named characters who reappear throughout the book.

Olivia Vinall narrated the audiobook. She does an excellent job; her voice is clear and easy to understand.

Recommended for fellow readers of weird girl lit fic.

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded down
this review is for an arc

I liked the overall imagery and the ominous air that the author created in this book, but I struggled to stay invested in the story and felt that the payoff just wasn’t there for me, unfortunately. I will say however that I am not someone who typically reaches for or has total success with the historical fiction genre, so do with that what you will.

This was such a well done debut and audiobook. The writing and narration are so beautiful and atmospheric. The plot is compelling and the setting is very rich and quaint.

From the synopsis, though, I was hoping for more occulty weirdness. I was also hoping to get to know the Mansfield sisters better, but we unfortunately never get to read from their perspective. I understand that in some ways, this book is more about the treatment of the sisters rather than the sisters themselves, but I feel like there was a missed opportunity to center the girls' voices here. Instead, in many ways, Pete Darling becomes the star of the show. I feel like the text really shied away from showing the girls in any kind of negative light, resulting in a message that feels a bit trite (people are overly critical of girls, yes, I was just waiting for the "and...").

Still, despite the rather simple theme, I think the execution was successful. The Hounding is definitely gripping and has a real "classic novel" feel to it.

Lovely. Thought provoking. Engaging. The narrator made me feel smart just listening to her talk. The plot made me quite introspective. Really enjoyed it.

This was really different and done really well. Great narration. Book recommendation for sure. Thank you for the early listen! The Hounding… keeps thoughts lingering.

The Hounding is dark, atmospheric, and beautifully written—I really loved the themes of fear, rumor, and how societies punish those who don’t conform. The setting was so vivid and unsettling it felt like a character in itself. It’s hard to believe this is a debut because the writing is so confident and layered. A haunting and thought-provoking read!

First impressions were solid. I loved the cover. The audiobook was under seven hours, which already made me more open to giving it a shot. And to be fair, the book has a great sense of place. That atmosphere was working for me. The folk horror vibe was there. The creepy rumors surrounding the Mansfield family had me interested. I was in.

But by the 40% mark, it started to drag. The structure really pulled me out of the story. It felt more like a series of vignettes about different town folks than a cohesive narrative. That might work for some, but for me it stunted the momentum and made it hard to stay invested. The message also came off heavy handed, with no real nuance. It started off with potential but slowly unraveled into a slog.

Never read The Virgin Suicides, so I can’t speak to the comparisons, but for me this one just didn’t land. A miss.

I really enjoyed this story, and I thought the narrator did a great job. I thought the prose was very engaging and really brought the assorted characters to life. It felt a bit magical realism/surrealist fairytale, with an edge of darkness to it. And I liked how it was told from so many POV's of people in the village instead of being from the sisters' perspectives. To me this gave the story a unique lens.

My only real complaint was the animal cruelty; I ended up having to skip over the scene with the badger because it was too upsetting for me.

~ ARC provided by NetGalley ~

"The Hounding" by Xenobe Purvis was an atmospheric, historical fiction about five sisters who are being accused of a small English village of turning into dogs. I was initially drawn to this book when it was described to me as "The Virgin Suicides" meets the Salem Witch Trials. Upon reading it, this comparison fits the book. The five sisters live together with their grandfather, who is visually impaired, which adds such an interesting layer to the story. Multiple townspeople have points of view and stories of seeing the girls change, but the one person who is meant to be their protector cannot. The audiobook is a great way to experience this book, but I recommend pairing it with the actual text. There are many characters, who at time don't feel distinct enough, so it would be difficult to keep track of them from audition alone. However, I liked the narrator and it helped me understand the written text more.

I was not expecting this book to grab my attention so fast and for so long until the last sentence.

The Hounding is pitched as The Virgin Suicides meets The Crucible, and I do think it lives up those two books in more ways than I thought but with a feminist edge. It’s important to note that both books mentioned are written by men, and it’s apparent. However, with The Hounding, there are feminist undertones and themes that I thought were handled well, so much so that I much prefer it to the books it was pitched as.

The book centers on the Mansfield sisters, all of which they are accused by their small village to be turning into ‘dogs’. It is an immersive book with stunning and atmospheric writing by Purvis. I found it interesting that the book doesn’t consist the sisters’ point of view, emphasizing the theme of female invisibility much more prominent.

Additionally, there are themes of female empowerment, hysteria and misogyny that are strongly relevant now.

The ending is ambiguous, but I appreciate it! The ambiguity makes the story much more powerful and almost feels cautionary.

Nonetheless, I was incredibly engaged with the story, and the narrator did an extraordinary work!

The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis follows five characters from a small English village in the 1700s as the grow more and more paranoid by the rumor that the five Mansfield sisters are turning into dogs. This novel is so incredible. It is beautifully written and atmospheric. It is one of those rare historical fiction novels that is perfect for the summer due to it taking place during a drought. I loved the characters and for such a short novel it got me so invested in so many of them. I will warn that it does have a lot of characters, it did not bother or confuse me, but I could see that as being a complaint. My only real issue is that I wish it was longer and really built up the paranoia, but when the only complaint was that I wish there was more then you know it was a fantastic book. I do want to note that I have seen this classified as a horror. At no point was a scared or even felt it was eerie at all. This is an incredible novel, but if you go in expecting a horror you would be disappointed. I would say this is an incredible work of Historical fiction with a potential speculative element.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The Hounding is a haunting and atmospheric debut that masterfully blends historical fiction with folk horror, weaving a deeply emotional and thought-provoking tale of five sisters living on the fringes of an 18th-century English village. Told through the perspectives of the villagers rather than the sisters themselves, this narrative choice brilliantly captures the isolating effects of gossip, fear, and misogyny.

Purvis’ prose is lyrical and immersive, perfectly evoking the eerie, superstitious world of Little Nettlebed. The way she explores themes of female defiance, toxic masculinity, and societal fear of difference feels urgent and relevant, even centuries later. The sisters’ story is heartbreaking and compelling, shining a light on how quickly suspicion can turn to cruelty when people fear what they don’t understand.

The rotating viewpoints give the novel a rich texture, though it requires attention to keep track of the many voices. The pacing is deliberate and measured, fitting the mood of the story and allowing its tension to simmer until a haunting and ambiguous conclusion that stays with you long after the last page.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a dark edge and a feminist core, or stories that explore the costs of being different in a conformist world, The Hounding is a must-read. The audiobook narration is excellent, adding layers to each character and enhancing the immersive experience.

This debut is a powerful, unsettling exploration of fear, freedom, and the price women pay for refusing to be silent.

I’m still learning what I do and don’t like to read in the historical fiction genre, but this book sounded super interesting to me so I gave it a chance. I didn’t absolutely love it, but I’m really glad I picked it up!

Xenobe Purvis’ writing is haunting and lyrical, and listening to the audiobook was pleasant. However, I got lost with how many characters there were. Every chapter switches perspective and there were many different names to remember as a reader — it might’ve been more helpful for me to read this physically to keep track of everyone better.

This was not as weird or odd as I expected it to be based on the premise, but I did enjoy Purvis’ descriptions of the quaint town and the people who lived in it.

I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but I left this book feeling underwhelmed. If it hadn’t been so short and to-the-point, I might’ve not finished reading it. Overall though, I enjoyed it enough to finish and I will be keeping my eye out for what Purvis writes next! Since this debut already has such beautiful prose, I’m excited to see how Purvis’ talent blossoms in future projects.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Netgalley, and the author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Review posted to Goodreads 7/23/25.

Review posted to Instagram 7/23/25.

This is one of those debut novels that you just kinda can't believe is a debut. I am not familiar with The Virgin Suicides, so not knowing the source material, I think worked out for me as the story was pretty fresh. It was very reminiscent of The Crucible, small village in the 18th century, lots of world building and heavy on thematic elements. The five sisters are seen with caution and as outsiders. Independent women who don't necessarily bend the knee to the patriarchy and behave in ways that seem pretty normal to a 21st century reader.

The story is told from POV of many in their village, the pub lady, the ferry guy, the fiance. It doesn't go into the POV of the sisters, and personally I believe that is supposed to be because the reader is the sister, seeing the internal dialogue of gossip and fear of someone different. The themes definitely make you think; its a way to think about our sometimes small minds, judgmental nature, how we make assumptions and put up boundaries.

The ending is a bit ambiguous, I really loved the ending.

Audiobook- the narrator aptly uses an accent and uses different voices for different parts, but there are many POV making me want to listen at a slower pace than I typically do (I typically listen at 2.0 but for this I went 1.5)- it is a shorter novel and you can't afford to miss anything by zoning out for a few seconds. Although the book is short, the pacing is even, so when a plot point is introduced it is more subtle than in contemporary novels set in America. The narrator was excellent.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. Book to be published 8/4/25

On the surface this is a weird little book about girls maybe becoming dogs? But really it digs deep into misogyny and how the word of one (drunk) man is worth more than five young women. Odd things are happening in this small town and someone needs to be blamed for it.

I enjoyed the narrator and the pacing of this book though at times it did feel a little too slow. Although the story is focused on the Mansfield sisters, we only ever see/hear about them through other people. We never get a direct POV from any of them and I loved that! It added to the narrative of the townspeople never actually getting to know these young women and going off of gossip and rumors. It gave it that feel of the old saying “children should be seen and not heard” though in this case girls stand in for children.

The ending originally had me going “that’s it?” but after thinking about it it felt extremely full circle. The town had to deal with the consequences of their actions. Really enjoyed this.

This wasn’t what I was expecting, and unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. I enjoyed the narration, but that was about it. The story didn’t hold my attention, and I didn’t feel invested in the characters.

All it takes is one sonofab*tch to stir up an entire village. Grrrr.

The Hounding is a historical fiction novel about five sisters living on a farm in a small village filled with superstitious people. The sisters have been raised by their grandparents after being orphaned and are mourning their recently deceased grandmother. Many of the townsfolk are wary of them because they’re not demure, mild-mannered creatures. Their grandfather has allowed them to run free and wild. They’re a little loud, they laugh freely, and they keep themselves to themselves. So, OF COURSE, that makes some of the local men feel a certain way. One day their grieving is mistaken for howling and rumors spread that they are able to change into dogs. They then get blamed for everything ailing the town.

It’s an infuriating look at human nature but it makes for an interesting read. I loved learning more about these unconventional siblings, their lovely grandfather who fears he’s failed them, and the decent men and boys in the community. There are some beautifully written passages here.

“He and his wife had brought them up as they had brought up their own son with interests and dreams. Perhaps it had been a mistake, he thought. To let them believe they could reach beyond what the world expected of them, the world expected so little.”

If that doesn’t break your heart, I don’t know what will. When compassion and freedom and equality are seen as a flaw/impossibility for some, it allows the dredges of humanity to act on their worst urges.

Anyhow, some terrible things happen here but they’re very much implied and not on the page which was perfectly fine by me because I was absolutely not in the mood to read that kind of explicit detail. I thought during reading, and especially after I finished reading this book, that turning into a dog wouldn’t be the worst thing in their world and also in this one because people can be atrocious.

I see this book being compared to a lot of things, but it kept giving me shades of We Have Always Lived in the Castle and I’m sticking with that mood. Most of it was its own thing and I’m glad to have listened to it on audio. The narrator has a lovely cadence that suited the time period and material.