Book Review Genre: Gothic Horror Romance
Disclaimer: Reading is all about exploring new worlds, but this Book Review does not shy away from spoiling specific scenes as this is more of my free-flowing thoughts about a book.
The Analysis:
I did not read book 1 in this duet. The book does a good job of summarizing the events of book 1. There is also sufficient enough curiosity as to how our main couple fell in love for me to pick up book 1 if I wanted. But, let’s book review it. First, follow me on Goodreads.
Here’s The Blurb:
Sophie and Joseph’s escape from Northwood is short-lived. The beast survived, and attached itself to Joseph’s young cousin, Elise.
Garrett writes to beg for their help. Joseph and Sophie travel to meet him at Kensington, a long-abandoned mansion that overlooks a dead town.
The house offers a small hope: its original owner had dedicated her life to researching the monster that possesses Elise. Garrett hopes to find a way to kill the creature without harming his daughter.
But Kensington is a dangerous building. Once the carriage leaves, they’re trapped inside the collapsing walls and forced to confront the horrors within.
Shrouded figures stalk them. Whispers echo through the night. Unmarked graves dot the property.
And the dead are not as restful as they seem…
Cover Critique:
I’ve seen the old covers for this book and this is a thousand percent better. It’s bookshelf worthy. I’d splurge to own a copy. It gives off slightly creepy vibes while staying elegant and mysterious. What anyone would expect from the genre.
Now The Story:
Book Info:
Pages: 246
Author: Darcy Coates
Available: Amazon
In the beginning, I’m meeting a hero, who appears to have fallen in love with the danger of their relationship. We see a man who the character admits has fallen back into the monotony of love and has shown very little passion and thirst for life outside of danger. She was just pushing him to move out of her parent’s home when they were drawn back to the monster house. It gives me pause for the success of their relationship if he can’t love her the way she deserves without the threat of death over their heads. And it’s not that I think he doesn’t love her, just that he can’t show it beyond courting norms after having unleashed the beast the entire time. I’m saying, you can’t then shove it back into the bottle.
Back to the story:
Like a true gentleman, upon receiving his summoning he was intent to go alone. He didn’t want to put his wife in danger. Yet, it was her choice to make. As a result, she followed behind him on the journey, after it was clear that he wasn’t going to give her permission to come. His reaction to this revelation teeters between protective and male chauvinist. He didn’t hesitate to use the norms of the time against her. Ie, I’ll tell your father to lock you in your room and I’ll escort you back because you can’t leave me sight. Like, dial it back sir, she’s an adult, not your child.
But our couple arrives together and their immediately thrown into research mode. Things are looking hopeless and bleak for everyone in the house. No one is getting sleep as it’s imperative to find a cure. And they’re doing this in a house that was burned down halfway in the process of ridding themselves from the last ghost. There is a certain hopelessness in knowing you can never truly be rid of your greatest fear.
Unfortunately, this does very little to bridge the teetering romance between our pair. But this story sings when the ghost really displays his magic. The author dares you to put this easy read down. There are zombies, ghosts, and tumultuous weather. At the very least, this book promises a good read.
The hero’s standoffish behavior is also easily explained. He was wounded by the ghost gravely in a way that he feared would never be cured. It was more prudent for him to pull away and prepare her for the moment when he might not be around. Yet, he was still determined to protect her to the very end.
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Book Review At A Glance:
Recommendation: 4 out of 5
Book Cover Appeal:
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
Story & Narration:
🍓🍓🍓🍓
Romance:
🍓🍓🍓
Character/(s) Personality:
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
