Not downloaded in time to review due to being locked out of NetGalley. Best of luck, and I hope to read this in the future. :)

I'm not sure whether this was a case of 'right book, wrong time' or 'right book, wrong reader' but, despite having all of the ingredients that I look for in a book - a complex female protagonist, some excellent gothic overtones, and more mysterious goings on than you can shake a stick at - I really struggled to finish this.

Kate Griffin's writing is absolutely stunning and I definitely felt as if Fyneshade and the desolate landscape around it really lived and breathed for me. Unfortunately this made the characters, by comparison, feel a little wooden. Main character Marta is, very obviously, an unreliable narrator from the outset so I expected a little distance from her. However I just never really got a sense of her as a person and, as the book went on, that distance became a chasm that, for me, was difficult to bridge. As a result, I found myself becoming increasingly less invested in what was happening to Marta as the book progressed. This is a great shame because the ending has a cracking twist!

Overall, I liked Fyneshade well enough but I just didn't love it as much as I wanted to. Marta is an unlikeable protagonist but, for me, it wasn't so much her likeability as the unbreachable walls around her that put me off. I wanted to understand her just a little better than I did.

Thank you NetGalley for approving me for this book. A good read that I definitely enjoyed and am glad to have been able to read.

As good as it gets.I thought I knew were the story was going about half way through book but boy did it fool me .A governess arrives at a crumbling manor and is not well received by the servants only the house keeper seems to be helpful.There are many secrets at this house that the governess called Marta unrivals but each one takes her deeper into a darker place.Add a child that refuses to talk to anyone,a dark brooding nephew who is not allowed in the house ,and a ending that took my breath away,and you have a book well worth 5 stars

This novel is a gothic tale set in the dark and crumbling corridors of Fyneshade, a mansion filled with unseen masters and silent servants. The protagonist, Marta, is sent to Fyneshade as a governess after her grandmother's funeral. She is tasked with caring for a young charge and soon discovers that the mansion harbors dark secrets and sinister forces.

Marta, however, is no ordinary governess. She possesses a strong will and a mysterious past, making her more than capable of facing the eerie and ominous atmosphere of Fyneshade. The narrative unfolds with Marta uncovering the mansion's secrets, revealing a story filled with deceit, hidden motives, and gothic suspense.

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly can I say that I loved the cover of this book, it was very gothic looking and draws you in, well it certainly drew me in.

Fyneshade is a house that to me felt every bit as much a character in the story, as the characters themselves. An old gothic mansion with lots of corridors, wooden doors to rooms holding secrets and servants keeping those secrets,

Marta receives the job opportunity of becoming a governess to to the young daughter of Sir William Pritchard the owner of Fyneshade. For Marta it couldn't have come at a worse time as it's the day of her grandmother's funeral. However, Marta decides to take the job and is soon an inhabitant along with the staff and her young charge.

As time goes on it's not long before Marta is soon immersed in the goings on in the interior of this gothic property. Will things ever be the same again for the inhabitants of Fyneshade, is Marts more than what they can cope with?

This was an engaging read with some great characters, a plotline that will take you on many twists and turns among it's pages. When you think things may be going one way, you will soon ne taken on a completely different journey.

Why not grab yourself a cuppa ad immerse yourself among Fyneshade and it's many rooms containing secrets.

Absolutely loved this book from start to finish. The writing was stunning and wrapped me in the unsettling atmosphere of Fyneshade. The protagonist was so unlikeable but that was the way it was supposed to be. It actually made the book better and more intense. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Well I’m a little bit speechless. What an absolutely brilliant book from the beginning, right up to the end!

Fyneshade is a hauntingly gothic tale which leaves you unsure of any of the characters’ motives & keeps you guessing right til the end.

It’s true that with all of the characters, the reader is unsure who to trust, who to even like, as they all have their own secrets & are portrayed in such a way that they remain an enigma much of the time.

I found the book slowly crept up to it’s climax which built the tension superbly and had me gripped and trapped within Fyneshade’s gloomy corridors, not knowing where the plot would turn next.

It’s a brilliant piece of historical fiction with supernatural undertones, and I highly recommend for any fans of Jessie Burton, Stacey Halls, or Laura Purcell.

Opening with a quote from one of my favourite gothic novels, Henry James’ Turn of the Screw, Fyneshade by Kate Griffin is a delicious but disturbing gothic tale of greed and manipulation. On the death of her Grandmere , orphan Martha is sent to the estate of the absent Mr William Pritchard to become governess to his daughter Grace. There she meets his son and heir, Vaughan Pritchard recognising in him the very darkness that inhabits her own soul.

Martha our narrator is a sociopath, the perfect anti-hero. Single-mindedly focused on becoming more than her social status dictates, her treatment of her charge Grace is both alarming and triggering but in Vaughan it appears she has met someone who mirrors her wickedness.

The plot was exciting with dark sexual undertones and the stylisation of the writing was fantastic if unsettling gothic literature is what you enjoy. I was anxious that the ending wouldn’t satisfy me, but the authors endnote added a tasty layer of uncanny as you re-examine what you’ve just read.

A mouth-watering piece of gothic literature. In the acknowledgments the author writes of her editor “you are the most forensically brilliant and ghoulishly delightful editor. When I lost my nerve at one point and tried to be “nicer”, you showed me the foolish error of my ways”. I’m here for that!
Thank you to the author and Viperbooks for an advance copy in return for an honest review

‘In a place where many fear to tread,
She is the greatest threat of all…’ - cover tag line.

My thanks to Serpent’s Tail Viper for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Fyneshade’ by Kate Griffin. My apologies for the late feedback.

The protagonist of this Gothic novel is Marta. On the day of her beloved grandmere’s funeral she is advised that her aunt has arranged for her to become the governess to the young daughter of Sir William Pritchard. She journeys to Pritchard's ancient and crumbling house, Fyneshade, in the wilds of Derbyshire. Marta discovers that ten-year-old Grace is practically non-verbal (she appears to have Downs Syndrome) and realises that it will be impossible to teach her.

Marta is not particularly kind to the girl and is quite manipulative. Sir William himself appears to be mysteriously absent. She learns that Vaughan, his son and heir, is forbidden to enter the house. When Marta encounters Vaughan in the nearby woods, she is drawn to him despite the warnings of the housekeeper that he is a danger to all around him.

We quickly become aware that Marta is no innocent. Her grandmother had been regarded as a witch and had taught Marta her art. So she’s certainly a match for the inhabitants of Fyneshade. No further details to avoid spoilers.

I was impressed by this novel and it certainly ticked all the boxes that I look for in an atmospheric Gothic novel. Given that the Epigraph was a quote from Henry James’ ‘The Turn of the Screw’, Griffin appears to have been inspired by that iconic tale.

Marta served as the novel’s narrator and she emerged as a complex, multilayered character. Yes, she was definitely flawed but throughout I was hoping that she would prevail.

Overall, I found ‘Fyneshade’ an excellent read and was immersed from its opening through to the final page. I certainly will be interested in reading more of Kate Griffin’s work.

Excellent read from a great author.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

I was drawn to this book by the brooding, Gothic cover and blurb, then realised whilst reading that it was inspired by Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw – I won’t give away how, but readers of that story will spot the link!

Here the author has cleverly reversed many Gothic mystery tropes, so that the ‘innocent young governess’ arriving at the creepy big house full of dark family secrets appears to be more predator than prey… but you know what they say about appearances and this story is FULL of deception!

I was reminded of classic books like Jane Eyre and Rebecca at first, but as the story unfolded and the characters revealed deeper layers, the story also brought to mind Philippa Gregory’s Wideacre series (but with an even less sympathetic narrator than Beatrice Lacey!)

While I absolutely love the twist of seeing a story through the eyes of a sociopath or villain, it also makes for quite uncomfortable reading. Marta’s attitude and behaviour towards children and animals was particularly disturbing and could trigger sensitive readers.

This has a great setup and builds tension very effectively, with the oppressive atmosphere and devious main character, but doesn’t quite deliver on all of the foreshadowing in the climax of the plot. Still, the twists are well-delivered (even if I saw some of them coming) and fans of the abovementioned Gothic comparators will enjoy this clever new take on the genre.

A dark gothic and atmospheric horror tale that was a bit longer than necessary for me. References all the classic tropes making it a fun read.

A seemingly innocent, but in actuality worldly governesses, ,arrives at the stately home of Fyneshade, to tend to her ingenue pupil, who has knowledge of all its secret passages. But it is fate rather than Fyneshade that outwits governesses Marta….

Book Review: Fyneshade by Kate Griffin

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars

Summary ✒️
In Fyneshade, a place filled with dark and decaying corridors, an unknown master, and silent servants, many would be afraid. However, the narrator is not. On the day of her grandmother’s funeral, Marta learns that she is to become a governess at Fyneshade for the young daughter of its owner, Sir William Pritchard.

Fyneshade is not a peaceful place. Sir William is mysteriously absent, and his son and heir, Vaughan, is not allowed inside the house. Despite warnings from the housekeeper about Vaughan being a danger to others, Marta feels drawn to him. Yet, Marta is not defenseless. She possesses a dark gift taught to her by her grandmother and has her own plans. A family filled with deadly secrets will not be able to stop her.

Review ✍🏻
First, let’s talk about the cover of Fyneshade - it is pure perfection! The cover designer deserves a standing ovation for creating such a visually stunning and enticing image that draws you into the world of this dark and twisted gothic novel. Now, on to the review.

I absolutely loved Fyneshade by Kate Griffin. From the very first page, I was completely captivated by the mesmerizing prose and well-crafted storytelling. The writing in this book is phenomenal, with Griffin’s words flowing seamlessly and effortlessly, creating a mesmerizing and immersive reading experience.

The pacing of the book is spot on, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout. Each chapter ended with a cliffhanger, compelling me to keep turning the pages late into the night. The author skillfully weaves together suspense, mystery, and elements of the supernatural, creating an atmosphere that is both haunting and enchanting.

The setting of Fyneshade is splendidly gothic and exquisitely atmospheric. The dark and crumbling corridors of the ancient house, with its unseen master and silent servants, create an eerie backdrop that sent shivers down my spine. Vivid descriptions brought the house to life, making it feel like a character in its own right.

The plot is intricate and engaging, full of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. I particularly enjoyed the nod to Henry James’s influential supernatural tale, The Turn of The Screw, which added an extra layer of depth and literary richness to the story. Griffin skillfully balances suspense and character development, creating a story that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant.

One of the standout aspects of Fyneshade is its morally ambiguous protagonist, Marta. She is fiendishly flawed, making her a complex and intriguing character to follow. Guided by the dark gift taught to her by her grandmother, Marta is determined to take control of her own destiny. Her actions may not always be morally upright, but they are undeniably captivating.

Overall, Fyneshade is one of the best books I have read all year. It is a perfect read for the upcoming “spooky season” with its gothic atmosphere and chilling secrets. Kate Griffin’s masterful storytelling and compelling characters make this book an absolute must-read for fans of Laura Purcell, Jessie Burton, and Stacey Halls.

I give Fyneshade a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

Wonderfully gothic and deliciously dark this book is everything I love about gothic literature. I couldn't put it down and I love the front cover

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Viper Books for approving me for an ARC of this book.

💀Dark, gothic and very haunting, this is the perfect story to read as the colder nights draw in.

🥀Filled with mystery and intrigue I had constant theories running through my head. Were any of the characters genuine? What secrets were they hiding? I had so many questions but enjoyed watching it slowly unravel.

🌙My favourite aspect of the story was the witchy part. I loved how Marta’s story was linked to the phases of the moon, it certainly set the tone for what was to come.

⭐A creepy house, disturbing characters and a sense of impending doom. What more could you want from an Autumn read?

A fun Gothic novel. I didn't really feel like this did anything new, but I enjoyed getting to know its world and following the characters' quest for revenge!

This is a fantastic piece of gothic fiction that I absolutely loved. Crumbling Manor House, secretive cast of characters, strange happenings, secret corridors. This book had it all and I devoured it.

I don’t think there was a single likeable character in this book. Everyone had their own agendas and were out for number one. Usually if I don’t bond with the main character and want her to come out on top I struggle to enjoy a book but that wasn’t the case here, I was intrigued to see what would happen. I had my suspicions throughout of where things were going and whether Marta would get what she wanted at the expense of all others or whether she had met her match with Vaughan.

This was a slow burn book that had me riveted to my seat, it really felt like it was written in a different era.