I found this book hard to review. There were parts that I really enjoyed and found very twisted but then at times it seemed to lose steam. Annaleigh is a woman alone who appears to be strong willed but is easily manipulated by her new masters. I liked her at the beginning but then as she fell under her employers spell I was very frustrated with her but when she realizes what has happened she returns to her strength. I was really hoping for a thrilling ending but it was so blah. I gave it 3 stars because of the parts I was enthralled with but the ending really dropped the rating. It did a disservice to the rest of the book and the characters.

When Annaleigh runs away from her home in London she meets Marcus Twentyman and he offers her a job as a servant as well as the lodging she desperately needs. Marcus lives in White Windows with his eccentric widowed sister, Hester. Upon arrival all seems well and she focuses her energy on being the best possible servant she can be. The longer she stays the stranger the dynamics become in the home until she doesn't even recognize herself anymore.

"Of course he knew I had nowhere to go. I had told him a thousand times - in my words, in my looks, in my need to belong. I felt I had been strong, but he had read a thousand secret signs of my weakness. And I would be punished for it."

I loved watching the transformation of Annaleigh from strong-willed yet naive, then battered and broken, to becoming the courageous and strong young woman I knew she could be. She was such a wonderful character to get to know. This wasn't quite the Halloween read that I was expecting but I have only myself to blame for that. The writing is gorgeous and atmospheric. I almost felt as if I was traveling with them through the Moors myself. In the end I have to say that this was definitely a satisfying reading experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Schuster UK for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my very late review.

I love dark gothic stories, especially when there's a great mystery and the moors landscape as background. I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a review copy. This is my honest opinion.

Fans of Victorian Literature – particularly that of the Brontë sisters – will find much to admire in Sophia Tobin’s The Vanishing. It would be hard to imagine the existence of a newly-written work that so effortlessly emulates the stylings of novels from that period. And yet, Tobin manages to make make her story not only feel fresh, but also amazingly relevant to our modern world.

Like many classic Victorian novels, The Vanishing starts with a young woman on a journey to a distant location in search of employment. Our heroine, Annaleigh Calvert, has been offered a position at White Windows, the home of Marcus Twentyman. Twentyman resides there with his sister, Hester, and two servants – whom Annaleigh is to oversee. Immediately, Annaleigh feels unwary about the strange dynamic within the stately manor.

Following another Victorian trope, Annaleigh encountered a mysterious – yet intriguing – gentleman on her difficult journey to White Windows. That man turns out to be Thomas Digby, and Annaleigh’s entanglement with him will continue for years. Throughout the book, the focus remains on Annaleigh's relationship with the other characters within the novel. Each reader is likely to have a favorite amongst these pairings, but the author imbues them all with complexity and insight.

The storyline of The Vanishing is a slow build, with much of the first half devoted to building ambiance and tone. On the evenings when Annaleigh travels out to the moors in search of her soul and Marcus Twentyman, readers will be easily forgiven for imagining she might bump into Cathy or Heathcliff on her journey. This version of the Yorkshire Moors seems inextricably tied to the setting of that classic doomed romance.

The second half of The Vanishing gains momentum in both plot and the passage of time. The harsh developments in Annaleigh’s life are part and parcel of her maturation into a fully complex character and watching it unfold forever invests readers to her well-being.

To say more is too spoiler-y, but know that Sophia Tobin manages to make Annaleigh’s quandary relevant to modern women without stretching beyond believably within the novel’s time-period. Reading The Vanishing should send new readers back to Tobin’s earlier works. The audiobook version of this tale is well produced and engaging.

I received this from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

When Annaleigh, a foundling who has fled her home in London, finds herself at the remote house White Windows, in service to the Twentymans, she discovers all is not as it seems behind closed doors.

I was disappointed with this book. Gothic, moors, weird houses and their owners. I kept searching for traces of Poe, du Maurier, even Oscar Wilde but everything just fell flat. The characters were one dimensional and the story uninspiring.

2 ☆

I received a kindle version of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.

The story started very slow, but as I read through the first few chapters I started to really like the main character Annaleigh and wanted to know more of her story. Annaleigh doesn't quite fit in any longer with the family that has taken her in and taken care of her the past few years after she developed a bit more of a familial relationship with the son of the family, Kit. She finds work as house servant at the White Windows in an expanse of land that sits in an isolated bog area where connection to the outside world is few and far between. As Annaleigh gets to know the brother and sister that live in the White Windows more and more mysterious personality traits emerge.

I was very intrigued with Annaleigh and many parts of the book, but I found myself getting irritated in a few places because I felt the storyline deviated from one story to another more frequently and didn't tie things together well. By the end of the book, I had lost interest in most of the characters and wanted to know more about why Annaleigh came to where she was.

Overall, I enjoyed the historical detail, the illustrious use of words that the author permeated throughout her book, and the first half of the story but feel as though the third part of the book fell short and lost momentum.

The description of The Vanishing ticks so many of my book boxes, it was practically written with me in mind. I knew I had to read this gothic, atmospheric novel set on the Yorkshire moors, that drew comparisons to Jane Eyre and Sarah Waters. Those are big shoes to fill, and I was very curious to discover whether or not The Vanishing could even come close to filling them. The short answer is no; but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy this reading experience.

Sophia Tobin is clearly familiar with the gothic genre, and she evokes all the characteristics one would expect. There are the eerie moors, the secluded estate, the employee/employer relationship, the unreliable servants, the older female relative, the mysterious painting, and the locked rooms. I can see how some readers would view these elements of the novel as cliché, but as someone who loves this genre, I didn’t mind them. The Vanishing certainly doesn’t break the mold; much of the plot will be familiar territory for most readers.

The writing was less atmospheric than I had hoped, and Tobin relied too heavily on telling instead of showing. I would’ve loved richer descriptions and fuller character development. Certain events did not ring true because we were not given sufficient insight into the thoughts and feelings of these characters. It was almost as if we were missing a few scenes that would’ve better explained their relationships and actions.

Annaleigh is not a particularly memorable protagonist, and many of her choices were not backed up by the text. I get that her background as a foundling caused her to crave love and affection, but her relationship with her employer Marcus developed seemingly out of thin air. I did think the gaslighting and abuse elements were handled well, and I was reminded a tiny bit of Anya Seton’s Dragonwyck and Anne Brontë’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I was very interested in the themes of trust, belonging, and loss of self, but wish that they were explored more fully.

The dramatic tension promised by the flash forward in the opening, was only sustained for part of the novel, before dissipating a little too quickly at the end. Tobin does throw in a few small twists, and I found one of the mysteries to be especially interesting. I was never on the edge of my seat, but I was pleasantly entertained throughout.

If you’re looking for something to satisfy a craving for gothic historical fiction, The Vanishing may fit the bill, as long as you temper your expectations. This is not the crème de la crème of the genre, but it did offer a fun taste of it. It won’t be one I’ll be re-reading, or one that will stick with me for long, but it was one that I enjoyed at the time.

**A huge thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

"From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Silversmith’s Wife comes an “undeniably page-turning (Daily Mail) novel: “Think Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre, but ten times darker…as eerie and gothic as the Yorkshire Moors it is set on” (Stylist).

On top of the Yorkshire Moors, in an isolated spot carved out of a barren landscape, lies White Windows, a house of shadows and secrets. Here lives Marcus Twentyman, a hard-drinking but sensitive man, and his sister, the brisk widow, Hester.

When runaway Annaleigh first meets the Twentymans, their offer of employment and lodging seems a blessing. Only later does she discover the truth. But by then she is already in the middle of a web of darkness and intrigue, where murder seems the only possible means of escape...

Stunning and vividly atmospheric, The Vanishing is thrilling historical fiction for fans of Sarah Waters and Tracy Chevalier."

Gothicy goodness!

I’m going to be straight up and tell you right now that The Vanishing is dark and terrifying. I read it in pretty much one sitting. I started reading it sitting on the couch after dinner last night while SuperSteve was watching television. I took a break midway to brush my teeth, put on my pajamas and climb into bed. I finished at 11:30pm last night. That’s an hour and a half after my bedtime, but I just couldn’t put it down!
I requested this novel to review based solely on the cover. It’s different, it grabbed my attention. I thought it might be a light historical romance. It is not! Be warned, it is full of triggers. There’s rape, drugs and the death of a child within these pages. It started out a little slow, but the description of the moors, and the isolation found there, drew me in. It was probably around 30% of the way in when I realized I was not going to sleep until I was finished with The Vanishing. Even after I finished reading and turned out the light I lay there in the dark wide awake and thinking about Annaleigh and White Windows. I’m immediately buying more books by Sophia Tobin and I highly recommend this novel to anyone who can deal with the aforementioned triggers.

Set in the dreary Yorkshire moors . . . Annaleigh, a foundling raised by a portrait painter, runs from a doomed romantic entanglement to be a servant at White Windows to a brother and sister, Marcus and Hester Twentyman.

Two other mysterious servants warn her not to develop any kind of friendship with the Twentymans, no matter how warm or inviting they seem. Annaleigh soon discovers that Marcus is volatile and tempestuous, often running into the foggy moor at night to be alone. Hester is timid and paranoid, and suffers from crippling headaches.

The beginning of the story is compelling and has all the elements required for a juicy gothic thriller. The darkness and isolation of the moors enhance the creepiness and claustrophobia of White Windows. There is no escape from the house, nowhere to run. The atmosphere is chilling with a constant presence of foreboding.

The second half of the book, however, becomes more unbelievable, and the characters are inconsistent. Their motivations are ambiguous and their reactions are often incongruous with their earlier temperaments. The story is still interesting enough keep the pages turning, but it requires a strong desire to suspend disbelief in order to accept the plot developments. The plot twists left me with a lot of questions, and the inexplicable actions of the characters were distracting.

I always enjoy a spooky tale, and The Vanishing did not disappoint, but other reviewers’ comparisons to Jane Eyre and Fingersmith are too generous. Despite its flaws, if you seek out Gothic mysteries, as I do, The Vanishing is for you.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the advance copy.

One of the most difficult skills to learn in life is discovering who one can trust. I daresay it’s a skill that takes a lifetime to learn, even though some people say they are a good judge of character. Annaleigh Calvert learns this lesson the hard way in Sophia Tobin’s The Vanishing, a gripping thriller set in Yorkshire in 1815. By the end of this book, I had had my socks knocked right off. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started it. And I loved every chapter of it.

The Vanishing opens as Annaleigh makes her way to her new place of employment. She has just been turned out of her home in London by her foster family. She has no one else to turn to to help her make her way in the world, so she takes a position as a trainee housekeeper at a remote Yorkshire country house called White Windows. When she arrives, there are ample clues that things are not right. The master of the house often flies into rages and can only be soothed when his sister dips into her medicine box. There are only two servants and Annaleigh has to get dispensation to hire extra help on laundry days. It doesn’t help that other people are constantly warning her not to trust either the master of the house or the handsome, kind man who all the local girls seem to be in love with.

Novels like Jane Eyre might lead us to trust the troubled Mr. Twentyman. He broods. He clearly has reasons for his inappropriateness. But Mr. Twentyman is a lot more sinister than Mr. Rochester. As the chapters progress, we learn just how far he is willing to go to get what he wants. The tentative expectations the novel set up with its similarities to a Brontë novel go right out the window as the novel gets darker and darker. For all its similarities to those Gothic classics, this book goes places that none of the Brontës would have dared to go.

The Vanishing is a roller coaster. The longer I read, the more I liked it because it kept me guessing. This book is packed with atmosphere and Annaleigh is a fascinating character. I felt like I was riding on her shoulder as she struggles to work out who she can really trust—and who she can love—over the course of this novel. This book was such a great read.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration. It will be released 5 June 2018.

This book shines on every level: sentence after sentence is beautiful and precise. The characters are complicated and sympathetic, the ideas are sweeping and profound, but are never too overt. It’s a rare novel that is as accomplished in its meaning as it is in its storytelling while also succeeding wildly on the language level as well! A novel to lose yourself in and then reflect upon again and again.

The beginning of "The Vanishing" really grabbed me: Who wouldn't love a well-written homage to the likes of "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall"? But by the midpoint I grew frustrated with the characters, who acted in ways that didn't seem at all realistic to me. I'm willing to suspend disbelief but not willing to throw it out the window and run over it with a lawnmower. But if you're looking for a fast Gothic-inspired read, with some interesting details about the running of a Regency household, this might be to your liking.

3 stars--I liked the book. This over-the-top story uses every gothic cliche there is--which is OK with me, since I love them all. The, however, ending seemed a bit lackluster.

The good:
*Take a look at that cover. Amazing. (Though I'm not a fan of the title. I would have preferred it named after one of the houses, perhaps.)
*Setting: The book really captures the isolated, desolate, wild beauty of the moors.
*Early in the book, Annaleigh describes her longing for freedom, and I thought these passages were quite vivid.
*This book gives nods to a lot of great influences: Jane Eyre, of course, but also "The Yellow Wallpaper," Fingersmith, and even Wilkie Collins.

The not-so-good:
*It's hard to like anyone here; the characters seem to lack motivation and/or morals.
*Marcus Twentymen was incredibly tedious, which ruined a lot of the book's appeal to me.
*There's a luridness to this book that lands in sleazy "penny dreadful" territory. This is OK (I love this genre too), but if you're expecting a classy gothic, you're not going to get it.

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

A horror story written in the traditional gothic fashion, set on the moors of Britain. Annaleigh, a servant taking up a new position at White Windows, is told she is naive, and innocent by the men who control her. Throughout the book her strength grows from each hard decision she makes.