The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox

Available now

Here’s a list of CW from The StoryGraph.

From the Publisher:

With the stroke of a pen, twenty-three-year-old Ivy Radcliffe becomes Lady Hayworth, owner of a sprawling estate on the Yorkshire moors. Ivy has never heard of Blackwood Abbey, or of the ancient bloodline from which she’s descended. With nothing to keep her in London since losing her brother in the Great War, she warily makes her way to her new home.

The abbey is foreboding, the servants reserved and suspicious. But there is a treasure waiting behind locked doors: a magnificent library. Despite cryptic warnings from the staff, Ivy feels irresistibly drawn to its dusty shelves, where familiar works mingle with strange, esoteric texts. And she senses something else in the library too, a presence that seems to have a will of its own.  

Rumors swirl in the village about the abbey’s previous owners, about ghosts and curses, and an enigmatic manuscript at the center of it all. And as events grow more sinister, it will be up to Ivy to uncover the library’s mysteries in order to reclaim her own story—before it vanishes forever.

Reader Friends, this book contains a secret family, a secret library, a secret society, and a magical secret! It’s just secrets on secrets on secrets! I’m a sucker for a gothic romance and one that contains a hidden library with magical powers? Instantly hooked. I listened to this one on audio and the things I did to make sure I could keep listening…my floors were so clean and my house has never been so free of dust.

Fox does an excellent job of crafting one of the most sympathetic and enraging characters I’ve read. Ivy, young, alone, and living in poverty, is like a fish out of water in her new home. She wants nothing more than to spend her days in the hidden library cataloging and reading every book she can reach, but her household staff do everything in their powers to keep her away from her precious books. Unsure of how to truly conduct herself, Ivy is torn between asserting her place of power in the home and her easy-going, non-confrontational nature. At every point that I wanted to shake Ivy for acting so naive and trusting, the author not so gently reminds the reader of the era in which Ivy lives and her lack of agency as a young, single woman. Nearly every character felt like they had their hands tied in some way when it came to protecting Ivy, which was both infuriating and begrudgingly made sense with the story.

I really enjoyed how much Ivy was completely enthralled by her new home and it’s secrets. A former abbey, Ivy’s new home is incredibly large and she is constantly getting lost in newly discovered halls and rooms and there are even hidden passageways! She is hopelessly in love with her Library and immediately wants to share her new-found literary wealth with the rest of the village. It’s pretty hard to get too mad at a character who finds herself newly titled and her first thought is to start a Bookmobile!

For such a charming and magical story, this book is actually quite dark and disturbing. There is some serious gaslighting that goes on and Ivy is placed in some seriously dangerous situations by people who are supposed to care for her so definitely take care when reading this one.

If you want to add this enchanting tale to your library, you can click on the cover above or here for ordering information. I borrowed the audiobook version from my local Library using the Libby app so don’t forget to check if your Library already bought it for you.

This post may contain links, including Amazon Associate Links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The St. Ambrose School for Girls by Jessica Ward

Available now

CW: mental illness, suicidal ideation, gaslighting, murder, child abuse, sexual abuse, self harm, homophobia, bullying. Read with care.

Reader Friends, my favorite author has released a new book that doesn’t include my all-time, hands down, favorite group of fictional people in Caldwell! It left me a little wary but a whole lot of intrigued.

And she left me emotionally wrecked. This book is going to twist you up in so many ways and take you right on back to the emotional roller coaster that is high school. This book tackles some extremely heavy topics like suicide and mental illness and Ward lays out her writing process in her Author’s Note and I felt the care and love she has for her characters. Definitely check the content warnings on this one and I realize how wild it is to love a book that is this dark and heavy.

Oh, and Jessica Ward is J.R. Ward, aka The Warden, author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

From the Publisher:

When Sarah Taylor arrives at the exclusive St. Ambrose School, she’s carrying more baggage than just what fits in her suitcase. She knows she’s not like the other girls—if the shabby, all-black, non-designer clothes don’t give that away, the bottle of lithium hidden in her desk drawer sure does.

St. Ambrose’s queen bee, Greta Stanhope, picks Sarah as a target from day one and the most popular, powerful, horrible girl at school is relentless in making sure Sarah knows what the pecking order is. Thankfully, Sarah makes an ally out of her roommate Ellen “Strots” Strotsberry, a cigarette-huffing, devil-may-care athlete who takes no bullshit. Also down the hall is Nick Hollis, the devastatingly handsome RA, and the object of more than one St. Ambrose student’s fantasies. Between Strots and Nick, Sarah hopes she can make it through the semester, dealing with not only her schoolwork and a recent bipolar diagnosis, but Greta’s increasingly malicious pranks.

Sarah is determined not to give Greta the satisfaction of breaking her. But when scandal unfolds, and someone ends up dead, her world threatens to unravel in ways she could never have imagined. The St. Ambrose School for Girls is a dangerous, delicious, twisty coming-of-age tale that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

This book contains so many of my favorite tropes: boarding school, scandal, mean girls getting what they deserve (not that anyone really deserves murder,) dark secrets, and strong female friendships. All of the characters felt real and fully developed, especially Sarah. You could feel how desperately she wanted away from her home, but also how much she knew she didn’t fit in with the rich girls at the elite St. Ambrose. She was so aware of her mental illness and how tightly she had to keep it in control to guard her secret from everyone. When all of that stress, exacerbated by the horrible bullying from Greta and her girlfriends, leads to Sarah making some very dark and misguided decisions, my heart broke. You could feel how lonely and isolated she felt, even when she was constantly surrounded by her teachers, roommate, and advisors.

This is one of those novels where every character has a dark secret to hide. It seemed like every secret was darker and more disturbing than the last. (Like I said, it’s real doozy of a book!) All of those layers of secrets really added to the impact of the plot twist and made the ending one of the most explosive I’ve read. I absolutely loved it and flew through it in just one sitting.

If you want to add this dark and explosive thriller to your shelf, you can click on the cover above, or here, for ordering information.

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions and mistakes are my own. Like those commas. I never get those right.

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

Available now

I loved The Cartographers. Absolutely, 100%, could-not-put-it-down loved it! It’s a wonderful combination of magical realism, locked room mystery, and family drama. Our main character Nell Young had a falling out with her father nearly a decade ago. Both are cartographers who worked together at the New York Public Library and had been incredibly close until one day, Nell found an old gas station map at the Library and after showing her father, was immediately fired. Fired, by her own father. Now, Nell has received the devastating phone call that her father has died in his office and that seemingly worthless map that ruined Nell’s life is hidden in his desk. Determined to find out why this particular map is important, Nell sets off on a dangerous and unbelievable journey that uncovers long held family secrets and just may lead her to a second chance at happiness.

This is one of those tricky books that I feel describing the best parts ruins the wonderful surprises found within. If you really want to stay spoiler free, just walk away now and read this book. It truly is fabulous. If you don’t mind some very minor spoilers, pull up a chair.

The map that ruined Nell’s life is highly sought after by a mysterious group known as The Cartographers. The maps go for unbelievably high prices online and those that claim to have copies are warned off from trying to sell them. It is through this map that Nell discovers more about her parents’ college days and the events that led to her mother’s death. While trying to discover the significance of the map, Nell adds it to an online database and very quickly, she discovers the devastating consequences of her seemingly benign actions. As Nell tries to continue researching her map, she finds herself calling in one last favor to her ex, Felix, who worked with her alongside her father, before the map incident. What I really liked about these interactions is that Felix and Nell both still have feelings for each other, but it’s far from a smooth transition back into a relationship. They both hold old wounds from their first time together and neither one wants to be hurt again. It all felt very real how they were drawn together and fall apart again throughout the novel.

I struggle with books where flashbacks are heavily used because I find myself getting pulled out of the story. I never felt this with The Cartographers. The story flowed so easily between the two timelines and it never felt unnecessary or clunky. The way the plot is slowly revealed is really well done and I was enthralled from the very beginning.

I absolutely loved this one, highly recommend it, please read so we can talk about all the things!

If you would like to add this wonderful novel to your shelf, you can find ordering information here:

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire by Joy McCullough

Available Now

CW: rape, bullying, intentional misgendering

Many novels have tackled the trauma inflicted upon victims of sexual assault, but this is the first I’ve read that focuses on how the family members deal with that trauma. When a rapist’s guilty verdict lands him no jail time, the Morales family finds their hopes for justice for Nor completely devastated. After an already excruciating public trial, the public backlash against them for “disrupting” the beloved local college team is overwhelming for the entire family. While Nor tries to find some sense of peace and stability at college, Em finds herself obsessed with seeking justice online for her sister. As Em discovers that the wide online support she and her family received during the trial has waned for other victims of crimes, her ability to cope with the trauma becomes more than she can bear. As she spirals out of control with unauthorized columns in the school paper, onlines posts that create an unsafe environment for her sister, and a new found obsession with a legendary French noblewoman turned warrior, Em will push everyone who loves her away. It is only at her very lowest point that Em will find the strength and focus to help her family heal and move forward.

The Morales family felt incredibly real and relatable. Nor and Em’s relationship becomes increasingly strained as Em’s reactions to Nor’s silence make life harder for Nor, triggering a vicious cycle of Nor becoming angry and hurt and pushing Em away. Em parents are at a complete loss over how to handle any of it, both frustrated that they can’t get justice for their daughter and long to move on and go back to being a happy family. They’re an incredibly close family with strong bonds over food cooking. It’s that bond that slowly brings them back together when Em’s new friend Jess begins to spend more and more time at the Morales home. Jess has their own struggles with their family. Parents who are divorcing and possibly moving far apart, coming into their own sense of self and identity, and losing their best friend for the summer to a performance camp. As Em and Jess try to find the balance in their friendship, Em begins to find the way toward mending her relationship with her sister and parents. 

As Em struggles to find a way for her family to heal, which is a burden she has taken on herself, Jess introduces her to a fascinating historical figure and triggers an obsession. Em writes the life story of a fifteenth-century French noblewoman, Marguerite de Bressieux as Jess illuminates the pages. Marguerite’s story is written in verse and the back and forth between the prose and verse was beautiful to read. Em holds nothing back in describing the pain and hardship of Marguerite’s journey, just as McCullough holds nothing back in describing the pain and anguish of the Morales family.
We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire is an incredible story of revenge, trauma, and the bonds of family. It is an unflinching look at how women are treated within the legal system and how misogyny infiltrates our everyday lives. 

If you would like to add this to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post also contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Ancestor by Danielle Trussoni

Available Now

I found this book through a list of gothic fiction, and sorry, I don’t remember who posted it. I have been on a kick of dark, spooky books about creepy houses that exude a feeling of oppression. Mexican Gothic, The Nesting, The Whisper Man have all been recent creepy house reads. The Ancestor checks all those boxes. It’s creepy, disturbing, uncanny, and just outside the realm of possibility that makes you wonder for days later if it’s possible it’s true…

Bert Monte never thought she would find herself the last surviving heir to an Italian Noble family. Bert never knew she had enough family to begin to form that illusion. Shortly before Christmas, alone and estranged from her husband Luca, Bert finds herself holding an envelope that will change her life forever. But, the letter is in Italian which means Bert will need help from her husband’s Italian grandmother to translate. If discovering her family came from noble blood was shocking enough, discovering they were fiercely despised is even more so. 

Now Bert finds a family lawyer at her doorstep informing her of the private plane waiting to take her to her family’s estate in the mountains of Italy. Bert and Luca decide to take the chance that it’s all legit and maybe, just maybe, this could be a fresh start for them. What begins as a glamorous and enchanting vacation quickly turns into a nightmare as Bert is separated from Luca and finds herself stranded at the estate with no way out. 

Within the crumbling walls of the estate, Bert finds a great-aunt by marriage Dolores and a handful of loyal servants struggling to maintain a dark and dreary mansion. It’s through Dolores that Bert discovers the darkest secret of her family’s heritage. Her great-grandmother is alive and it’s Bert’s duty to keep her safe. 

It’s from here that Bert discovers the legends from the village of Nevenero about a monster that roamed the woods hunting for children and stranded hikers. Along with the estate’s secretary, Bert discovers a trove of diaries that tell the tale of her family’s history, their dangerous past, and the threat they pose to those around them.

It’s so very hard to discuss this book without giving away spoilers so know this-it’s a dark and chilling story that fills you with an overwhelming sense of “wrongness.” This family went to a lot of trouble to cover up the existence of Vita, Bert’s great-grandmother, and her entire story is fascinating. The mansion-more like a castle-is full of antiques, unused rooms, winding staircases, and a labyrinth of hallways. It’s also full of family history in the form of diaries and personal papers. Any estate that can hire a private librarian has some major secrets to keep hidden. The staff members also felt like they were compelled somehow to stay loyal to the family. They know what’s going on and for some reason, they stay in that dark and dreary place and it doesn’t feel like it was by choice. It also plays the line of only feeling like it’s one tick off from reality so maybe there’s a possibility that something like this could be true? Maybe? 

I really enjoyed this book. It was one that I devoured during my days of being laid up with my faulty knee and it definitely helped take my mind off the pain. 

If you would like to add this book to your collection of spooky stories, you can find ordering information here:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. 

The Girl in the Witch's Garden by Erin Bowman

Available June 23, 2020

This book does have some discussions of parent illness and death, divorce, and the mother is magically spelled to be mean to children.

This book is absolutely delightful.

When her father becomes too ill to care for her, 12 year old Piper is sent to live with the mother who left her when she was only four. Hurt to find her absent mother has been fostering children, Piper is even more shocked when the children begin speaking of spells and magical gardens. Highly skeptical, Piper is convinced the children are playing a joke on her. But after meeting her mother for the first time in years, she learns her mother not only comes for a long line of witches, but is cold and dismissive of Piper when she learns Piper doesn’t have an affinity for magic.

Hurt, scared, and frustrated that she can’t communicate with her father, Piper spends her days bitter towards her new foster siblings and exhausted by their long list of chores. When Piper joins the children in their search for the secret, and magical, entrance to the dead gardens, she discovers that there is more to the story than she has been led to believe.

Full of mystery and action, The Girl and the Witch’s Garden is a beautiful story of family, friendship, and finding our inner strength.

I really enjoyed this middle grade fantasy novel. Piper is such a complex character that many children will relate to. She has grown up feeling abandoned by her mother and now has a dad with cancer and his treatments aren’t working. Her feelings of abandonment are intensified when she discovers her mother left not only for work, but begins fostering children. Not once has she tried to have a relationship with Piper but she wants one with other children? Piper has so much to deal with in this story and yet still remains strong and determined to make it to the end of the summer and see her father again. When she finds that she does have magical ability, Piper doesn’t use it just for herself, but to help out the children her mother has promised adoption to only if they can give her the secret to the gardens. Piper doesn’t want the other children chosen over her, but she also wants them to have a home.

The magic system is really well done with each child having their own affinity, or special ability. There is a creepy cat that always appears to be spying on the children-cats are creepy so I love that it was a cat. The children have to solve clues and find keys to unlock various parts of the secret garden mystery and it’s all very action packed and full of self discovery.

Sound like something you want to read? Want your own copy? You can get one here:

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.