I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me access this book!

I honestly thought this might be a 5 star read for me once I got into it and the plot started moving. The cast was interesting, the romance present enough to be exciting without taking away from the main plot, and steady progress into solving the mystery. However, when the author decided to kill off the romantic lead (which really made no sense to me and destroyed any lightness the story had) and then decided that there were be no resolution to the mystery—despite Hecate solving the mystery—I was lost. I have no interest in reading the sequels and wish this had ended very differently. Presumably the other suitor was in the background to sweep into the space left by John and soothe Hecate’s sad heart, despite clearly having several red flags and maybe being an unwitting accomplice to the villain.

I really wanted to love The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish. It had all of the elements of stories I love - mystery, magic, murder. Alas, it feel short for me. I loved the premise of the magical books and the map coming to life, and when all of that first happened, I was really hopeful for the rest of the story. Ultimately, I found myself constantly how many more pages were left. I feel like I'm in the minority, but it just feel like it moved really slow.

The writing is beautiful, almost lyrical at times, and I did enjoy the characters. It simply moved too slow. Again, I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but it was just an okay read for me.

Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had a complicated relationship with this book. There were aspects I adored, but overall it wasn't compelling to me.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱:
▪️Victorian England (my favorite time period to read about)
▪️Strong, smart, daring, bookish female lead
▪️Haunted library (yes, please!)
▪️Haunted cathedral (also yes, please!)

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲:
▪️Story wasn’t compelling to me, sluggish
▪️Took a long time for the story to pick up speed
▪️Formal language (I’m usually a fan of upper crust, formal language, but this time it felt overdone)
▪️Ending wasn’t impressive (didn’t realize it was a series going in)

This book should have been an absolute hit for me based on my reading preferences, but it took me weeks to get through it. I was hoping for a great spooky October read, but this one missed the mark for me. It’s not a bad story (many people have raved about it and I’m glad to see that), it just didn’t work for me.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an eARC of this book which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This book feels like an invitation to walk into the eerie and unknown, yet somehow it feels oddly comforting, like a shadow that whispers secrets. The book isn’t just haunting by name—it’s haunting in its atmosphere and its effect on you. Hecate’s story combines mystery with a subtle emotional depth, hinting at lost loves and unsaid goodbyes. It’s a ghost story at its core, but it’s also a reminder of how memories have the power to haunt us in beautiful ways.

Very (too!) long with slow pacing, but an incredibly abrupt ending! This book would have really benefited from a cutdown in length, as the idea for the story was great and the writing was enjoyable. It was hard to stay focused in the middle and I longed for more snappy writing that moved us along the plot.

Paula Brackston has done it again!
This author really knows how to set the atmosphere, and write a great witchy story! I’ve loved all her books, and this one is no exception. I can’t wait to know what happens next!!

The writing in this book was really good as was the character building but the plot really lacked. It could have been drastically shortened which would have made it more enjoyable.

Reading this was a breath of fresh air, Paula Brackston did a great job piecing together Hecate’s spiritual connection to the goddess herself. I was enthralled from the first chapter and could not put my kindle down! I can’t wait to read her other works and more adventures in this new series!

I loved John’s character and everything he did for Hecate, making her believe love could be real and pure. I fell in love with Brother Michael and the other friendly souls. I found it so sweet to know that Solomon is named after a sweet boy who will be immortalized in this book now. I cried tears after reading the acknowledgments for that little snippet alone!

Hecate goes through so much in the man-led world and I was so happy she had the patience to deal with the unfair treatment and foolish remarks made by some of the male characters. I hope she can be more in tune with her actual power and what she can harness in follow up books, but overall great writing that just felt like a nice cozy blanket during winter. Thank you to NetGalley, Paula Brackston and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC.

This was the first Paula Brackston I've read but I loved it from beginning to end. The writing was excellent, the character development was lovely, and I had a good time from beginning to end. It did move a bit slower than I would've liked but that's my own preference. I will definitely be reading more by Paula Brackston in the future.

England, 1881. Hereford cathedral stands sentinel over the city, keeping its secrets, holding long forgotten souls in its stony embrace. Hecate Cavendish speeds through the cobbled streets on her bicycle, skirts hitched daringly high, heading for her new life as Assistant Librarian. But this is no ordinary collection of books. The cathedral houses an ancient chained library, wisdom guarded for centuries, mysteries and stories locked onto its worn, humble shelves. The most prized artifact, however, is the medieval world map which hangs next to Hecate’s desk. Little does she know how much the curious people and mythical creatures depicted on it will come to mean to her. Nor does she suspect that there are lost souls waiting for her in the haunted cathedral. Some will become her dearest friends. Some will seek her help in finding peace. Others will put her in great peril, and, as she quickly learns, threaten the lives of everyone she loves.

While the cover is very eye catching the story was unnecessarily long. As this was the first in a series it was a lot of info dumping that didn't help move the plot along. I enjoyed the support Hecate received from her father in her pursuits and the overall plot was entertaining I think there was some work that could be done on condensing the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

Overall I enjoyed this historical mystery. I enjoyed Hecate's character the most as she is bookish and untraditional in her views and wants. I also enjoyed the scenes with Hecate and her father the most in the storyline. I did find my attention wandering quite a few times though as some bits got a bit slow. I had to put it down several times and then go back to it. And then the ending didn't really resolve anything. Not sure if I'll continue this series or not.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book.

I enjoyed the story and the haunting aspect but the ending fell flat and I feel like I’m left with an incomplete puzzle.

# The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish
# 9/30/2024 ~ 10/2/2024
# 3.0 / 5.0

**3.5 stars**

Though I recognize the name Paula Brackston, this is my first book of hers I’ve read. This was a decent historical supernatural mystery. I might read the next in the series and I’ll definitely read another book by the author.

What I liked: it was the beautiful cover that drew me to this book at first glance. Hecate and her friends and family. The characters were fully realized including the ghosts. I loved the cathedral setting and especially the ancient library. I loved the Hecate (the goddess) angle with the cameo, the museum visit, etc. That was a unique aspect to the story as well as the ancient map.

What I did not like: sigh…there were a few things. The pacing could have moved along better, it was around 20% I think before Hecate even gets to the cathedral. Also it was a bit too long and could have used a little more editing. The mystery started in this book had no ending which I understand now that I’ve finished that that must be the storyline for the whole trilogy. Admittedly if I’d known when I requested this from NetGalley that it was going to be a trilogy I’d never have requested it but it wasn’t labeled as a series.

Will I continue with the series? Probably. I just hope the pacing moves along better with the next book.

**Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.**

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish!

1881: Hecate has just gotten her dream job as Assistant Librarian at Hereford Cathedral and she proudly bicycles her way to work everyday. Even the head librarian's sexist attitude and overall grumpiness does not deter her from her joy at being amongst the books. But one day the fabled Mappa Mundi, a medieval world map depicting mythological beasts from all different fables around the world, begins to move and Hecate's entire worldview is forever altered. As Hecate finds love and an entirely new world, will the evil creeping into Hereford ruin her new life?

This book was so much fun! Hecate is a great main character and her relationship with her dad is so awesome! I could have done without the love triangle but it didn't distract that much from the story so I'm not put off by it. This book is the slightest bit spooky but then has such lightness by the creatures on the Mappa Mundi. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!!!

I'm sorry to say I stopped reading this around 40% through. I wanted to love it, but I was so incredibly bored by the story that I had to force myself to read it. This story has an intriguing premise, and I love the setting, but I think I wanted just a little more excitement to happen earlier in the story. Also, at times, the writing felt very "and then I woke up. And then I did this. And after I did this"...if that makes sense.

Ultimately, I really wanted to enjoy this story, and most likely it was a case of the right story for the wrong reader! I would definitely try more of Ms. Brackston's work in the future, and I wish her every success.

Loved this. I’ve really enjoyed everything by this author. She’s an autobuy author for me. I love how every one of her stories is completely different from the others but you can still feel she’s the author. A very strong voice - one I really enjoy.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston is a delightful mix of historical fiction and supernatural mystery that’s sure to charm readers. Set in 1881 England, the story follows Hecate Cavendish, a spirited young woman who takes on the role of Assistant Librarian at Hereford Cathedral's ancient, chained library. Right from the start, you can feel the cozy yet eerie atmosphere as Hecate discovers her ability to see and communicate with ghosts. The cathedral, with its secrets and ghostly inhabitants, becomes a character in its own right, making you want to explore every shadowy corner alongside Hecate.

Brackston's writing is engaging and vivid, pulling you into a world where adventure and whimsy abound. Hecate is a relatable protagonist, balancing spunk with maturity, and her relationships with both the living and the dead add depth to the narrative. While some plot points may stretch your imagination a bit, the overall experience is enchanting. If you’re looking for a cozy read with a touch of magic and mystery—perfect for curling up with on a chilly evening—The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is definitely worth adding to your reading list!

I really enjoy reading Paula Brackston especially her magical realism books. I really like Hecate Cavendish and her story. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.