I usually prefer gothic fiction on screen than in writing, but this drew me in and...albeit not for everyone, I loved the writing style and it certainly gave off the vibes I was looking for.

absolutely beautiful, haunting story. This book packs incredible world building, swoon-worthy gothic romance, chilling ghosts and intriguing mystery. somewhat predictable, but still filled with wonderful twists and turns.

On paper, this is a book with a lot going for it. The gothic plot, the eerie atmosphere, the haunting mystery, the promise of lush, dreamy writing...

So why did I not connect with one single aspect of this story? I had such a dull and tedious time with it, and I don't know if I should blame myself or the book. Ah well, not every book is meant for every person, and they can't all be winners.

This was a little different than my typical read, but the cover pulled me in. And I'm glad it did!

This is an old-fashioned romance kind of story - the story of a young girl taking the job of governess far from her family home. The mysterious and foreboding ways of the new house make for a slightly spooky read, but in the best way. The ending of the story brought an unpredictable surprise!

I greatly enjoyed this book and the departure from my usual genre. In this case, I'm glad I judged a book by its cover!

This was a quick, enjoyable read. It was very well written and I loved the mystery and atmosphere! I will definitely be reading more by this author in the future.

4.5

What a great read! I sat outside reading all day because I couldn’t put it down. Gothic horror is my current favorite and I’m so glad I read this one. I’ll be recommending it in the store regularly! There was one part in at the end where the secret was revealed and I thought that there were definitely too many pages left for what I thought the story would be. Turns out I loved what came after and should’ve just trusted the author! Loved the ending. Everyone who enjoys gothic horror should move this up on their list.

This was a quick read for me, but it packed a huge punch! With it’s gothic atmosphere and mysterious characters - what is there not to love!? The romance was predictable, but the twist? Yep didn’t see that one coming! But once it was revealed everything made sense!

This book had so much potential! The synopsis drew me in, and I was so excited for a mysterious gothic story! However, it didn’t deliver for me all the way. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but I felt like I didn’t know enough about the characters. I think this was partially intentional to create an ending that packed a punch, but I wanted to feel more for them, and I didn’t.

I felt like the beginning jumped around a lot, and I wasn’t completely following along. Eventually I started to understand where the story was going, but it took a little while to get there. There is a lot of background about Theodora’s family’s home, her deceased father, and her first governess job.

Then Theodora finally arrives at Thorne Manor as the new governess, and the story truly begins. From her first interactions after her arrival, I could feel that something eerie was going to happen. She forms a quick relationship with the daughter, Ottoline, and I really loved their dynamic. But there was something about Ottoline that was just not quite right, and I was dying to know what it was.

After some time in the house, we meet Cassias Thorne who is even more mysterious than his daughter. Wandering the halls at night and constantly asking about his wife or insisting that she’s at the seaside because she’s unwell, I started to wonder what was really going on with him and his wife. Despite his seclusion and overall creepiness, Theodora is instantly drawn to him, but the romance piece of this book was hard to buy into. Reflecting back on their relationship after reading the ending, it all starts to fall into place, but there was still something missing between the two.

Throughout the book, I was constantly wondering what secrets everyone was hiding and what was really going on in their minds. Even the housekeeper had her moments of mystery. In the end, I will admit that I was totally shocked, and I actually loved the ending! It was the best part of the whole book. I was floored and had to take a quick break to process it all. I think if I went back and reread the book, I would have a newfound appreciation of the way the story was building up to the ending.

I think a lot of people will really love this book, and while I enjoyed it, it didn’t hit all the marks for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Quill and Crow Publishing House for the ARC.

Romance and ghosts?! What more can you ask for!

Absolutely feel in love with this book and Cassius!
The romance is predictable but the twist at the end.. I did not see that coming!
Dark and mysterious it makes for a fun, interesting, quick read.
The world building is great and more so is the character development of Thedoras' character. The end packs a punch but its a good one, suddenly everything makes sense.

Oh my god I absolutely adored this.

This book gave everything that it promised and more. Dark, gothic atmosphere with mysterious characters, a perfect spooky read.

There wasn't a boring moment with this book. The characters were wonderfully written, the plot was interesting keeping the reader on their toes and constantly invested. A perfect book for everyone in a reading slump.

Honestly I have no complaints I just loved this so much.

Theodore Corvus works as a governess, and after losing her position, finds work far from home at Broken Oak Manor. Leaving behind a sick grandmother plays on Theodore's mind as do the memories and faces that haunt her.

Caring for little Ottoline Thorne brings her much comfort, and she develops a close relationship with Ottoline's father, Cassius, despite the concerns of the gruff housekeeper.

Someone walks the corridors late at night at Broken Oak and it seems the house is not at peace with its residents. All is not what it seems and what dark secrets lurk in the attic?

4.5 stars and would love to read more by the same author!

This is a quintessential Gothic story. First, the fantastic title brings on all the feels before even starting. There is everything here including romance and ghosts. Theodora is sent to Broken Oaks to be a governess amidst whispers of a scandal at her last placing. At home, she lives in a dilapidated family mansion with her hard-nosed grandmother. However, her new placing brings her joy except for the mysterious events taking place at night.

The atmosphere just drips from the pages. Theodora is a wonderfully believable main character and the romance is not irritating or overdone. The ending was a fantastic twist and I thought it was perfect. Unfortunately, the denouement was too long. I started skipping through it until the final end which was again good in itself. The final chapters would have been better condensed into one.

This gothic, haunted-house-style story is lyrical in its descriptions and I found the writing often remimiscent of Shirley Jackson. Wonderfully eerie and equally unsettling at times, I'd kill to read this book again for the first time!
The dynamic of the households was simple, with a focus on interpersonal relationships and the old manors themselves almost making characters in their own rights.
FMC Theodora is headstrong, logical, and deeply human in her rationalisations - traits I admire especially when interacting with (sometimes overbearing and abusive) Lords. All of the characters had their quirks and with such a small cast, the personalisation was deep and easy for me to fall into. The symbolism especially I just adored throughout, the little lines that made you think on their double meanings.
If you enjoyed the Netflix show the Haunting of Bly Manor, this will absolutely hit the spot for you!

PLOT TWIST! I did not expect to like this book.... selected because of an intriguing title and cover art. Decent dialogue. Fairly short book. I actually liked the hint of mystery... then BAM! Mystery solvedn but not how you expect.

Offered a governess position at Broken Oak Manor, Theodora Corvus sets off to new beginnings, leaving her family home Woodrow behind. Finding a beauty and warmth in Broken Oak she never had in Woodrow, Theodora is instantly attracted to the house and drawn to it's occupants. She soon discovers there is a dark secret hidden in the house and that those within it are not what they seem to be...

L.V Russell sets the tone right off the hop with an overly dramatic and haunting way of describing. It's beautiful writing and quite artistic.

"Winter passed long and slow; it lingered at their hearth as an unwanted houseguest, drawing in the shadows, keeping in the cold"

The pacing is very poetic and just beats into the reader a sense of dread. As I read it I felt as if it was being told to me in whispered tones and soft light, rather than reading it myself. The little sprinkles of sudden sweet moments and dusting of warmth in the darkness is the thing that pushes the story along rather than chacter or action. Also, each chapter starts with a little quote or blurb which is a nice and always welcome in my books (pun intended)

"So, Theodora swallowed her tears, and it was as though they never quite made it to her stomach, instead solidifying around her heart. She could feel it in her chest, the soft thudding of a grief-heavy organ"

Theodora is a very likable character, if a little plain. Coming from a mid victorian (assuming) time she is seen as wild for seeking adventure and for her outspoken mannerisms. Death seems to hover over her through the old, decaying Woodrow house. With a push from her just as old and decaying Grandmother she sets off to a governess position at Broken Oak.

The story is honestly kind of predictable, but the way it's told and the little unique attributes that pop up throughout make it worth reading. I found it a bit slow in the beginning and the story doesn't really pick up until the 70-80% mark. Being only 194 pages it's a quick read that I would use to get back into reading or while in between series

With The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses, L.V. Russell will pull you in and hold you tight until the end. Maybe because I read this while I’d been experiencing thunderstorms and had lost power and thus was reading in the dark with only the light of my e-reader illuminating my room, but this one oozed atmosphere. The characters, setting, storyline, tone it all seemed to come together so perfectly. I found myself thinking about the story well after I’d finished, and that to me is the sign of a good book. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Thanks so much to Quill and Crow Publishing House and NetGalley for the eARC.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-quiet-stillness-of-empty-houses-v-russell-l/1142848203?ean=2940166502858&bvnotificationId=5a50df08-f563-11ed-8a4b-0a52028e4789&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/248662718

The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses is one of the most beautiful gothic stories I've ever read. The lush storytelling presented here lingers long after the last word is read and continues to live in my head even now. I love the twists and dark secrets between these pages and the writing itself is magnificent. Russell has a real talent for writing poignant, heart stirring scenes that flow and intertwine with one another in a truly gorgeous way. I can't wait to read more from this author.

This was exactly the Rebecca-esque Gothic read I was hankering after. Beautiful writing and a decent pace, sent me through the entirety of this book in one sitting. If you’re a fan of Crimson Peak, or looking for a fairly short gothic read, then this is definitely the book for you.

This year I have read more gothic novels than I have in my entire life, and I have another one to add to the list.

The Quiet Stillness of Empty Houses by L. V. Russell is a novel following a governess as she goes to live at Broken Oak Manor following an upset in the previous household she worked at, and from there things just feel off. This book very much gives Jane Eyre vibes. The pacing was kind of slow for the length of the book, and it was slightly difficult to get into. The writing spends a lot of time describing the scenery at the beginning of the book, which was not really for me, but around the 60 page mark, things start to pick up. I will admit, this book took a turn I was not expecting and I appreciated that.

Rating edit: 4.5 stars.

It doesn't happen immediately, but you have this sense of apprehension, a nagging feeling that something is wrong and something is going to happen.

The credit goes to the writing and storytelling. It's a strange book (the strangeness shall remain unnamed). And slow paced, but the writing is so beautiful that I ―someone who's not a fan of slow paced, descriptive writing ―did not mind. In fact I liked the way it evoked an eerie sensation and painted vivid imagery.

I'm impressed with the author's ability to describe the same things in different and equally beautiful manner. However, it did feel a tad repetitive at times. Just a little. The details of Kingsward House could have been cropped to a simple, short narrative, as it doesn't contribute to the story (and I didn't understand a certain thing that happened in that house).

The characterization is good, the conversation engaging; and the settings creepy, particularly that attic. I loved the bonding of Cassias and Theodora ―the protagonists. Theodora is one strong and lovely female protagonist. There are some beautiful lines in their conversation. Ottoline is so adorable. Certain things, at some point, might confuse you a bit, but hang in there, they're all meaningful.

Overall, a wonderfully creepy, mysterious and poignant read. Might remind you of Jane Eyre and Rebecca but it's different. Go for it, if you enjoy gothic/horror/mystery.