Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>The Cloisters</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<u>The Gist</u>

Katy Hays’ debut novel, <i>The Cloisters</i>, is a captivating and atmospheric blend of historical mystery and academic intrigue. It keeps readers on edge from beginning to end. Set primarily within the mystical, ivy-draped walls of <i>The Cloisters</i>, a gothic museum in New York City renowned for its medieval art collection, this novel explores the dark undercurrents of ambition, power, and obsession.

The story follows Ann Stilwell, a young academic who is unexpectedly drawn into the world of tarot cards, ancient manuscripts, and deadly secrets. She lands a summer job at <i>The Cloisters</i>. What begins as an innocent, career-building opportunity quickly turns sinister. Ann finds herself entangled in a mystery that could reshape her understanding of history—and the boundaries of fate.

<u>The Details</u>

Hays masterfully weaves a sense of foreboding throughout the narrative. There are lush descriptions of the cloistered gardens, ancient artifacts, and the secretive lives of her colleagues. Her portrayal of tarot and medieval mysticism adds a layer of intrigue that enhances the novel's allure. It adds more than just a mystery but a cerebral exploration of destiny and free will. The tension between Ann and her enigmatic coworkers is palpable, and the twists that unfold are both surprising and satisfying.

Hays’ academic background enriches the novel, giving it an authentic and intelligent voice. The slow-burn pacing, combined with the richly detailed setting, creates a hauntingly immersive experience. The Cloisters is not just a mystery novel—it’s a deep dive into the human desire to control fate, and the lengths to which people will go to achieve power.

<u>The Verdict</u>

Overall, with its gothic charm, intelligent plot, and carefully crafted characters, <i>The Cloisters</i> will appeal to fans of Donna Tartt’s The Secret History and Alex Michaelides’ The Silent Patient. It's an elegant and absorbing read that marks Katy Hays as an author to watch in the literary world. Highly recommended for lovers of dark academia, historical mysteries, and anyone drawn to stories where the lines between past and present blur in eerie and unexpected ways.

Compared to the other kinds of books of its kind, I didn't find this book hitting all the places I wanted it to.

This book was so predictable that I had to force myself to continue reading it because I found it lacking.

I can not recommend this one.

I live and love for dark academia books. But not this.
Two things were wrong in my opinion:
1- two much was happening
2- while simultaneously nothing was happening

The pacing was too slow. Which I understand sometimes is necessary, but you got to pace up when it is required.
No hate to the author, but it felt like the book was trying too hard to be something and it failed.

Not as much of a mystery as anticipated, we find out fairly early on what the motive for murder is and with such a small cast of characters it's pretty obvious which direction things are headed. The writing is solid but the ending is anti-climatic with a rather predictable twist.

I really wanted to love this one. I enjoy dark academia/Gothic reads and I was totally in the mood for a read like this but I just could not get into it. The pacing felt slow and not in the good way where it builds atmosphere or anticipation or let's us learn more about the characters - it was just the type of slow where your mind wanders from disinterest. I'm also not sure I would even qualify this as Gothic as it had no real sense of place.

Ann travels to New York for her summer, hoping to intern at the MET, but when she arrives she is transferred to The Cloisters. There she is brought into a group of researchers led by Patrick Roland, who are interested in the occult and tarot cards. Ann becomes close with Rachel, the it-girl on the scene to uncover the history of a mysterious tarot deck.

This was a very 'meh' book for me. I found it to be extremely slow and it felt like it dragged so much. I also wasn't the biggest fan of Ann, she was extremely self-loathing and it never got any better. I wasn't the biggest fan of the romance either. The only thing that kept me going was the frenemy situation between Ann and one of the researchers, Rachel. Here I was thinking it might turn into a frenemies to lovers thing, but alas... no. I did think their complicated relationship was the most interesting part of the story. I also kept reading because I was intrigued by the history behind the tarot card.

I'm probably being generous with my 3 stars, but I do really love the cover... :(

I really enjoyed this story of a young art history student, Ann, who obtains a summer job in The Met Cloisters in NYC, researching the history of tarot. (I'm oversimplifying for the purposes of brevity!). There she meets Rachel, her closest work colleague and a bit of an enigma - attractive and charming but also very reserved, their boss Patrick, by turns demanding and kind, and the handsome but potentially dangerous gardener, Leo. Patrick is on the hunt for the last two cards of a historical tarot deck and wants to be able to present about the complete deck at an upcoming conference. They are an interesting and ambitious group (save for Leo, who is happy as a gardener and part-time musician), and as Ann observes the dynamics among them, it is apparent there is more going on than meets the eye. I'm a fan of the "dark academia" genre and this book hit all the right notes. The story was interesting and engaging, the characters were very well-developed, and there were a number of surprising twists! There is a lot of detail regarding the history of tarot, which I admit I tended to skim over at the beginning, but then found more interesting as the book went on. Highly recommend! I will be watching for more from this author in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting book, filled with mystery and suspense. I loved the tarot aspect of the story and would have loved to get more of it. The dark academia portions of the book were the most fascinating and I wish it was the bigger focus of the book, more so then the characters and their relationships.

The story didn’t really strike me as a thriller, and the plot twist could have been done better in my opinion. Some parts were really dragged out and other things could have used a lot more context.

I didn’t really get invested into Ann & Rachel’s friendship, Rachel just irked me from the beginning, Ann’s personality seemed really all over the place and her love interest just seemed like kind of a jerk.

Overall it was a good story, but I wasn’t a fan of the characters.

This thriller kept me reading with all of its gothic mystery and supernatural occult themes. I loved learning about the architecture, and tarot cards, and it was a fantastic whodunnit that kept me guessing until the end. Power and ambition and the lure of friendship all combine to set the main character on a journey of self realization. Definitely recommend this one!

Oh, how I wanted to love this book. A mystery set inside The Cloisters, the gothic museum and garden that is famous for medieval art. A group of researchers with secrets to hide. Add in tarot cards and the seductive power of a mysterious researcher, and the stage is set for creepy, gothic mystery.

But the story fell flat for me. The pacing was slow, and I never felt a connection to the characters or the plot line. I was fascinated by the descriptions of the artwork, and the layout of the facility itself. I just wanted more tension and suspenseful pacing.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my review.

Yes, yes and yes! Brilliant ending! Great levels of historical education, mystery, murder, lying, elitism of academia, questions about fate/destiny and so much more! If you are looking for a happy go lucky book this is not it. Although it’s also not grim dark or gory; it’s just a bit nasty how everyone treats everyone else and there is certainly no loyalty, trust or genuine relationship (of any kind) building. I believe The Cloisters would make a great movie!

The Location
My favourite part of all is that I got to learn about a wicked cool place in NYC that I am stoked to visit when I one day end up there. The Cloisters sound absolutely divine! Historical artifacts, poisonous plants, old old books, and more! I'm tickled to add this location to my top 5 must see places when I visit NYC for the first time. It's exactly the kind of setting that makes you think of intrigue, murder, occultism, and (the overall theme of this book) fate. I can only imagine how cool it is to sit next to a belladonna plant and know that you could consume a couple berries and be in dire peril. Yes I know I'm a bit twisted. (lol)
As an aside: I live in Canada, far from NYC, haven't studied Renaissance history, and never been that far East in USA; so not knowing about this place is not unusual. I bet most people who aren't in this realm of academia, obsessed with the time period, or aren't visitors or residents of NYC know about The Cloisters.

The Tarot Deck
I now, desperately, want someone to make a replica of the 1500s tarot deck described here. I really adored the notes at the back of the book describing and explaining each of the cards according to our leading gal, Ann. It was interesting to see Katy Hays link-up, creating takes or spins, the major arcana to other Greek and Roman references, many we all know so well. This unique deck sounds divine. And yes I checked, it's fictional.
As someone who has studied a bit of Tarot, owns way too many decks, most of which have never even been used (I just love the artwork) I can definitely say that the appeal of the mysticism and occult surrounding the use of the Tarot (as more than a card game) is definitely intriguing. Although I can't help but remind myself that it was created and set-up by humans, so it can only really tell us as much as we already know about ourselves and possible universal outcomes. Thus, (perhaps) limiting it's potential as a true fortune teller. Either way, it's gorgeous and I love the symbolism inherent in so many different interpretations.

Research & Academia
There is no doubt in my mind The Cloisters was well researched and that the author was well educated (she’s got a fancy PhD). I really appreciated that Hays showed the nepotism, favouritism, and elitism of the academia world. Having a best friend who got her PhD I have seen it (almost) first hand and can guarantee you it is nasty and definitely not about who is the best, smartest, or most talented in their field. Instead it’s about who plays the social suck-up game smartest, and I hate that. It was refreshing to see someone from that realm of academia put it on paper and admit to the cliques that happen and how competency is not the only consideration when it comes to placing people on projects, at locations, or into teaching positions.

Characters
I adored and appreciated the development and progression of our leading gal Ann. She goes from a bit naïve and very quiet (but self-aware) to really taking control. A girl outside her element in the bustling city of New York suddenly finds out, not only how hard it is to live in NYC, but also how much stronger she is than she thought. By the books end we've seen Ann's personality completely change (whether for good or bad I'll leave up to you to decide after you read it!). The introspects that are given into why we cling to certain friendships or people are certainly interesting. The idea of proximity being the first, can't be friends with someone if you don't know them. And the second being that circumstances and isolation can make certain friendships or romances seem natural and perfect from where someone stands; but from the outside it can be clear that someone is taking advantage of someone else. It can be so hard to see the webs woven when you're stuck in the middle. I loved how Hays shows this and really brings Ann and the reader around to a viewpoint that starts to change so many preconceived notions from earlier in the story.

Overall
This was a really fun book for me. It was dark at times, had just enough romance to be acceptable (I was so glad this wasn't overdone), and really emphasized the complexity of 'who gets credit when' paradigm that exists in academia. I'm betting, after reading this, the next time you read about someone discovering something historically significant you'll wonder whose shoulders they were standing on! You might also wonder who in your life has caught you in their scheming web. Although I would remind readers that most of the time people are better than what is seen here.
Ultimately, there is a long list of topics that could be discussed out of this book, but I believe the one Hays most wants us to consider is this: Do destiny and fate exist? And if they do are they set in stone, or can they be changed?
I'd highly recommend letting Hays take you on a rollicking adventure (if nothing else) that will have you flipping the pages quickly in anticipation of learning all the secrets entwined within The Cloisters.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

4.25 ish stars

I really enjoyed this story. It was a fun mix of drama, history, art, mystical ideas, suspense, and all kinds of other things. I enjoyed most of the characters, was intrigued by the plot, and was happy with the conclusion. Definitely a win for me.

Toronto's fog this week was the perfect companion to this atmospheric mystery set in a NYC museum.

Ann is a recent grad who didn't make it into any PhD programs, but did end up with a summer job at The Cloisters, one of the museums of the Met. She's struggling with the impact of her father's sudden death, trying to build a life for herself outside of her claustrophobic hometown, and also trying to make a mark in the academic world in her area of study - Renaissance, the occult, and now, tarot cards.

The Cloisters by @heykatyhays is a story about coming of age and settling into our identities. It's also about the power and sometimes darkness of friendship, ambition, and fate.

Thank you @simonschusterca for this book! #gifted

In my opinion, there is nothing sinister, spooky, or suspenseful about this book, which is one of the primary expectations one has after reading the cover blurb. The mystery is just sort of there, with no real sense of urgency or danger. The occult aspect falls flat, never successfully venturing into horrifying. And, perhaps most significantly, the characters are terribly underdeveloped. The protagonist lacks dimension and her intentions are unclear. The author actually exposes her motivations as a twist near the end of the book, but by that point, the reader is likely to find her frustrating and unlikeable. It’s too little, too late.

This book mostly relies on the atmospheric setting of The Cloisters to carry the story, and that just isn’t enough. I’d encourage the author to tighten the plot and raise the stakes to ramp up the tension, add the same level of detail to the occult aspects as she did in describing the setting, and flesh out the characters more thoroughly, as well as drop more significant hints about the protagonist's motivations.

In addition, I find the story takes the "academia" aspect a bit too far. At times, I felt as though I was sitting through a lecture in classical studies. Although the author's knowledge is impressive, I'd suggest she tone that down a bit, as it reads as a bit stuffy.

Katy Hays’s novel is atmospheric and intriguing, exploring the world of divination and curators through the eyes of its protagonist, Ann, who moves to New York City to work at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts but ends up, instead, spending the summer at the Cloisters, a museum of medieval art. As the weeks go by and that she strikes friendships with some co-workers, she starts to discover that the museum holds its secrets and that she may be finding herself in dangerous situations.

It took a bit for the story to pick up, and the many comparisons to Donna Tartt’s The Secret History,may be a bit of stretch, but this is an engaging read nonetheless.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for this ARC.

What should you read if you are a fan of dark academia, unreliable narrators, and mystery? The Cloisters by Katy Hays will tick all of these boxes for you. Add to this an obsession with tarot, a peek into the art and antiquities trade, herbology, and history and you’re all set.

This book follows new graduate Ann who is dying to escape her life following the death of her Father and lands her dream job working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. When she arrives in New York, she rather uncomfortably finds out on her first day, that this job wasn’t going to work out, but then as fate would have it, one of the curators of the affiliated museum: The Cloisters, has just lost a staff member and agrees to take her in. The museum itself is a character in this book and I found myself searching online for pictures, as this is a real museum that specializes in medieval art and is absolutely stunning. The Cloisters offers a dark setting, where the staff we meet are just as shadowy as the many nooks and crannies in the building. The curator who is obsessed with tarot, a charismatic assistant who becomes fast friends with Ann who somehow remains a mystery herself, and a mysterious and irresistible gardener. When the curator ends up dead, no one is innocent and everyone has motive and opportunity. No one is who they seem, and you won’t see this ending coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank to Simon & Schuster Canada, Atria Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This storyline wasn't really what I was expecting. I think I was hoping that this was more along the lines of a paranomal/horror plot, I still enjoyed the book but by no means did I love It. It is more a murder mystery with some complicated characters with hidden motives, along with a jaw dropping twist at the end.
The first 3/4 of the story were very slow for me and I often found my mind wandering away from the pages in front of me.

This book is messed up. I honestly don’t even know what to think l. It wasn’t the best book ever, BUT I couldn’t stop reading it! The intrigue was real, I was super curious, and I needed to know how it ended!

Does that mean I didn’t like it? Not at all. I feel a mix of feelings towards it. What a bag of MESSED UP characters. Even Ann. I’m not even too sure what to think of her. There’s the way she is portrayed, but does ambition get the best of her?!? Rachel has some serious psychiatric problems, for sure. Leo, well, I think Leo is pretty much who he is portrayed to be and there wasn’t too much that surprised me about him. He’s a straight shooter and doesn’t hide who he is and what he thinks. Patrick? I think he is almost the saddest of them all. And holy revelations at different times.

I found the tarot and history bits kind of interesting, although at times it went a bit more in depth than I care about (I understand with it’s relevance to the story.)

An interesting book. Give it a shot, go in with an open mind, and don’t have any specific expectations as they may not be the reality!!!!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada, Atria Books, Katy Hays, and NetGalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Cloisters is an unusual mix of urban fantasy and mystery, centered on the history of divination.

The lead is art history graduate Ann Stilwell, who heads to NY City where she ends up working at a gothic museum/garden renowned for a medieval art collection, the Cloisters. Ann researches the history of fortune telling.

After a suspicious death at the Cloisters, the story builds slowly to its surprising conclusion, when Ann takes action to influence her own fate.