The Hounding is a clever piece of literary fiction that doesn’t try to mask its allegories. The “horror” here isn’t supernatural, it’s the all too familiar dread of women stepping outside the lines drawn by a patriarchal society. The fear of the Mansfield sisters is never really about witchcraft. It is all about noncompliance. What was missing for me was the perspective of the sisters themselves as we get the pov of villagers. I would’ve loved the chance to hear their voice in the midst of the rumors that traveled throughout the book. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of literary fiction with feminist themes!

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This reminded me more of the Salem Witch Trials than the Virgin Suicides.

There are five sisters in this small down set in an indeterminable era (not modern) being raised by their nearly blind grandfather. Maybe due to personalities, maybe due to their lack of supervision, but the girls run a bit wild. They (gasp) take walks at night, and run around, and speak their mind. The horror.

Of course some man has to get butt hurt about this. And of course he's got to run his mouth and say stuff to get the rest of the town looking at them askance. And become obsessed with them.

The only people who take a minute to think are the publican's wife, a gentle spirited boy, and the hired hand there to help with the mowing season. Everyone else is all "Let's kill the beast!"

I'm sure there's a ton to discuss and digest about the allegorical nature of this story, but even surface level it shouldn't fly over your head.

Tbh this isn't my fav type of read usually but I can appreciate the female rage.

3.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC. All opinions are my own.

Characters: 3/5
Plot: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Narration: 4/5

In a lot of ways, this felt like a reimagined version of The Crucible. There’s something very compelling about the small town drama and the mass hysteria caused by a couple of rumors. The undercurrents of violence and misogyny were very well executed in my opinions. The only reason this isn’t rated higher, is mostly because it doesn’t feel particularly new or unique to me personally. I really wish we got the perspective of at least one of the Mansfield girls, even if it was just one or two chapters, or an epilogue. I understand that the women’s lack of agency and the fact that no one cares to hear them out is the point, but I feel like if the reader had a few scraps of their perspective it would have been much more powerful.

3 stars

This is a great concept and a peculiar (in a good way), quick read (listen, in my case, since I went for the audio and recommend it when and where accessible).

In a small, strange village full of exhausting, patriarchal constructs, it's no surprise that the Mansfield sisters are assumed to turn into dogs rather than just be a little strange or even be sentient (human) creatures. Seems like the obvious answer!

I was engaged throughout this read, but transparently, not that much happens. Despite its somewhat out there central premise, it's an unassuming and mostly straightforward narrative that is giving witchy vibes throughout.

This book shows how women just simply trying to live can be seen as a crime against unhappy men. The writing was so vivid in details and the characters were so fleshed out. I loved how the author wrote the male characters so differently and yet when it came down to it the word of any man was believable over women. This book shows so much human nature and how the ripple effect can affect everyone. I am amazed that this is a debut book. Could be one of my top reads of the year.

THE HOUNDING is a novel likened to The Virgin Suicides and The Crucible that spins beautiful prose with an eerie quality. Ultimately, I couldn't help but think: this novel would not need to exist if women-hating men weren't so prevalent.

Setting: the small British village of Little Nettlebed, sometime in the 18th Century during a scorching hot summer when the Thames River has dried up.

Five orphaned sisters have lost their Grandmother and their sole remaining guardian, an elderly Grandfather is ailing. The young girls, lonely outcasts from the village due to circumstances beyond their control, find themselves renewed spectacles of gossip when slighted zealot reports that he saw the oldest girl turn into a dog. As gossip is wont to do, suddenly all five girls are dogs and being blamed for killing a neighbor’s chickens. The tension ramps up along with the heat and drying riverbed.

This beautifully written novel asks the question: is safer to be a dog in this world of ours, than to be a nonconforming woman?

Excellent narration of the audiobook is provided by Olivia Vinall.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I've been sitting with this book for a few days, and I just have a feeling it is going to be a very popular book this summer. Essentially about the power of girls and sisterhood and the people who want to destroy it. Hot and weird, and relevant without being overly obvious! This book really lives up in it's comparisons to The Virgin Suicides, but it also managed to remind me a lot of Shirley Jackson, which is the highest compliment I can give a book.

More details than I usually give in a book are below, so if you're sensitive to spoilers stop here.

The antagonist in this acts essentially as the personification of an 18th century instagram: an unreliable and self important, ferryman that the whole town has relied on until now. As a last ditch effort to remain meaningful, he starts a dangerous rumor about five sisters. You get this story from multiple overlapping POV's and I'm surprised at how strongly I felt for each of them! I wanted a closer look at the sisters in the same way, but I think being deprived of that added so much to my reading experience. The whole story has the delirious and intangible quality of heatstroke, leaving you feeling thirsty at the end, and for me, wanting more. This was one of my (few) complaints initially, but as I've been sort of chewing on the details over the last few days I've come around to find myself feeling like many of my complaints are actually what made the book work so well. I can't wait for more people to read this and to see how it's received!

The Hounding felt like the Salem witch trials—but with dogs. It’s an unsettling, atmospheric story that explores mass hysteria, patriarchal control, and the ease with which communities turn on women who don’t conform.

While I enjoyed the overall narrative, I found myself wishing we got to know the girls more intimately—their inner lives, their fears, their bonds. Instead, much of the focus is on the vile men of the town and their growing paranoia and cruelty. But maybe that’s the point. By centering the men’s fear and control, the story shines a light on how society often grants agency to abusers while silencing or erasing the women they target. It’s frustrating by design.

A thought-provoking, eerie read especially for those drawn to feminist horror with historical echoes.

The Mansfield sisters are beginning to get quite the reputation in the small town of Little Nettlebed. Talk of them turning into dogs and bewitching men, all heresy, all rumour and speculation. Just because they aren’t jovial or pious and go against the grain, play and speak truth, this rubs one villager the wrong way and as his stories spread and perpetuate fear, their break from convention may be their demise.

Set in 18th century England this stories theme and message is a timeless one. Conformity by women is revered and individuality and difference are met with misogyny and misunderstanding. Purvis explores how the pack mentality can hold so tight to antiquated ideas and how a rumour in face of discomfort can spread like a disease.

Purvis builds tension and unease, we get multiple points of view all circling the rumours, some in defence but mostly we see the build up of fear and fury. It’s allegory done in plain sight and a story despite its historical tag transcends time again and again. I appreciated how relevant this book was while being set in the past, I loved Purvis’ straightforward writing mixed with a strangeness that made the lessons transparent.

What an amazing story. It felt like it was Edgar Allan Poe, Wuthering Heights, and the Hound of the Baskerville’s all tied together. It is a must read for anyone who loves dark stories.