🗝️ The Goddess Hekate
🗝️ Hereford Cathedral
🗝️The Chained Library and The Mappa Mundi
🗝️ Victorian England
🗝️ Spiritualism, necromancy, cannibalism
The Exorcist meets The Conjuring Universe meets Night at the Museum and The Mummy.
This book has everything just like grandpa described the Princess Bride!!! Romance, Bridgertonesque social rules/seasons, IT scary, Discovery of Witches magic. Simply glorious.

I am a huge fan of Paula Brackston. This book didn’t disappoint. Her characters come to life. Her writing style it’s perfect. Although I prefer her Witch books This book deserves five stars as well. Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for providing the advanced copy to

Oh boy, was this book slow. You would think with ghosts, malevolent spirits, possession and ancient tomes the pace would have been quicker, but you would be wrong. Hecate is dull as dishwater and had more chemistry with her bike than either love interest. The “big” battle and cliffhanger just fizzled out.

It seemed like the author was using this book to set up a series, and didn’t really create a compelling narrative for the first book. It definitely did not make me want to read any subsequent books.

This is my first novel by Paula Brackston and I loved it. Historical fiction, magic, twist and turns... everything I love in a novel.
A great read

I don't believe my review would benefit the author at this time as I am not in a place to review it.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendishby Paula Brackston follows a young woman in 1881 as she starts her career as an Assistant Librarian at the Hereford cathedral There she starts to notice things that really don't make sense to her. She see people throughout the cathedral that she can only see and hear. While she forms friendships and bonds with them, learning why they haven't moved on. When the crypts are broken into and now Hecate with the help her father Edward, Reverand John, and the detective on the case to find a solution to the situation at hand. Thank you to both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for letting me an advanced copy of this book. This book is perfect if you are a Hester Fox fan!

Thank you so much Paula Brackston and NetGalley, for approving my request for this ARC, I have never read from this author before so I had no expectations.

An 18th century setting complete with a gothic cathedral, strong but thoughtful bibliophile main female character, ghosts, romance, ANNND A LIBRARY! The perfect set up right!? Even though the story was good, for some reason I had to continuously take latte breaks. It could have been because the pacing of the story was so relaxed. I needed more excitement. a bit of a faster pace, and closure. This book has an amazing father daughter relationship represented which made my heart sing, a proposal, a possession, and an exorcism but no real resolve. It ended to quickly and left me wanting, but I am reminded that this is book 1 of a series..so that is kind of par for the course.

With all of that being said, I fell in love with Hecate and will be continuing on with the series find out what happens next.

This is another amazing book from Paula Brackston, If I was a writer this is the type of book I would aspire to write!

As a young woman growing up in the Victorian era, Hecate is nothing like other girls. Most are prim and proper, aspiring to marry well and climb society's social ladder. Hecate is the opposite, eccentric and inspired by her father's success in archeology, wants to work. Specifically as the assistant librarian of the local Hereford Cathedral. The historic library is home to the chained library, filled with ancient tomes, some that may prove dangerous. While working there she discovers the truth of her namesake, she can see ghosts and help them. When the Cathedral's catacombs are desecrated and there is no apparent suspect, Hecate sees the side that others cannot. Knowing only she can help to catch the dangerous culprits, with the help of her newly discovered powers and friends. This dangerous ancient evil will test her strength and resolve, but like her namesake, Hecate shall prevail but at what cost?

The historical touches such as the bicycle, the length of a woman’s skirts and society’s status all add to the beautiful writing and character of this book. I love that it has the opposite of a proper lady and that of an intelligent hard working young girl striving for her own future. This is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers St. Martins Press for this Wonderfull digital ARC! Thank you to Paula for writing such an amazing book!

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. Hecate was both strong and intelligent. I loved her relationship with her father, and also with her best friend. But what I really enjoyed was the setting and the history. It left me wanting to learn more about the Hereford Cathedral.

On the other hand, I did find it to be a rather slow read, and the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying. That said, I will probably give the next book in the series a try.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

"The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is book one in New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston's new, magic-infused series about Hecate Cavendish, an eccentric and feisty young woman who can see ghosts.

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."

Books that are chained for reasons other than theft have always intrigued me...

This book started strong. Hecate is a likable character who is bookish and headstrong. Somewhere in the middle of the story, things got muddled and it ended with a whimper. The storyline starts out very interesting but it just lost me along the way.

Let me start by saying Paula Brackston is one of my favorite authors. I have read and enjoyed all of her books. However, "The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish" just didn't do it for me. I will however read the next book in this new series to see if it gets better.

I have never read anything from this author and not sure that this author is for me.

I struggled through the book of what i read and i just couldn't finish it. It was hard to follow, the plot was difficult to figure out and just found that it was not engaging to keep reading.

I was so excited to read it but hope that others find it good to read.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s press for this eARC in exchange for a free and honest review.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish is the first book in the Hecate Cavendish series. Hecate Cavendish is a strong willed young woman trying to navigate her need for independence in the England of 1881. The kicker is she can see ghosts. This becomes evident as she begins her exciting new role in the library of Hereford Cathedral and makes fast friends with the resident spirits. With both her living and since passed friends Hecate must race to vanquish a great darkness before it can hurt anyone else.

I really had high hopes for this one. Summary alone this book should have had me hook line and sinker but it just kind of fell flat. Overall I just had the hardest time getting wrapped up in the story and at points found it easy to just pause and start scrolling TikTok. The premise was great and checks all my boxes. Strong Female Character, Victorian England, and ghosts! But execution was less gripping. I had incredibly hard time following some of the plot and honestly just never cared for the characters. Then to end without answering any of the main questions.

Negatives aside I think the world development was great and has a very solid foundation for potential stories. Also I am always a sucker for some society romance. It was very apparent that this story was very well researched and let to beautiful backdrop and the feeling like I truly knew the Hereford Cathedral.

Overall while slightly disappointed I am positive there are multitudes of readers who find this book just their cup of tea and I think I will be trying book 2. Just maybe checking it out from the library or listening to the audiobook.

The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston is a complex magical story with Hecate right in the middle of it all. Sometimes she understands, sometimes she is just getting her footing and sometimes like the reader she is plain dumbfounded by it all. Becoming assistant librarian is a wonderful career choice for this daring, intelligent, young woman. Perhaps not the most likely candidate in this male ruled Victorian Era but one she has the full support of by her father.

The story begins at a slow pace but since much is needed to be understood that is okay. It is also the first book so the ending is not exactly a conclusion more of this is where all is at now. I would have liked a better ending. Yet this author has you wanting more to see Hecate and what happens next.

I am such a huge fan of the author, Paula Brackston, and have read everything else she’s written, at least once. But I confess that THE HAUNTING OF HECATE CAVENDISH just didn’t work for me. I struggled to read it and did not finish. It moved very slowly and I kept having to begin again. The plot was difficult to discern. I found I just couldn’t muster the energy or interest to start yet again and see if I could engage more with the story. Apparently, of all the author’s work, this one is not suitable for me and I am greatly disappointed. I’m sure it is my limitation as a reader and I apologize. I received my copy from the publisher.

Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Hecate Cavendish series. I got this on ebook through Netgalley to review.

Thoughts: DNF. Got about 15% of the way through this one and just couldn't keep reading it. It is beautifully written, but soooo boring. I had been wanting to read a book by Brackston for some time. I had "The Winter Witch" and "The Silver Witch" on my list to read but kept putting off reading them. I was excited to see this come up for review on NetGalley and grabbed a copy of it after reading the synopsis...which sounded right up my alley. I don't know if this book is similar to the others Brackston has written when it comes to pacing, but if it is, then Brackston just isn't the author for me. I prefer a faster pace and more action in my novels.

At 15% of the way in, we had seen Hecate go to work at the library twice and watch some cows with her brother. The writing flows beautifully, but is very dense, and nothing happens! I keep finding myself coming up with anything to do rather than sitting down to read this...even folding the laundry seemed like a treat compared to struggling through this.

I do think Hecate has potential as a character. She has a lot of the characteristics that I love in a heroine; independent, smart, striving against convention. I have nothing against her as a character and think some of the other characters introduced were intriguing as well. However, the characters were just completely weighed down by the lack of story and the dense language surrounding them.

Maybe at some point, when I am in a more patient mood and want to read some beautiful meandering writing, I will pick this up again. I am giving it 3 stars because I feel like I didn't get far enough in to provide fully informed feedback. However, I do feel that I had strong enough feelings about this that I do need to review what I did read.

My Summary (3/5): Overall this was really slow but beautifully written. I think a lot of the characters had promise, but the story was so boring and moved so slowly that I dreaded sitting down to read this. Reading is a fun escape for me and a way to entertain myself in my downtime...so sticking with a novel like this when I am actively disliking it (and am not learning something from it) is just not a thing I have time to do. This also put me off of Brackston as an author; I am not sure if her other novels are this slow, but I probably won't be picking any of them up any time soon because I am just not a fan of this slow deliberate style.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 23, 2024
Paula Brackston, author of “The Little Shop of Found Things” series, returns with another magical, bookish, enchanting read with “The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish”.
Hecate Cavendish has been offered her dream job as an assistant librarian at Hereford cathedral. An unusual offer for a woman in 1881 to be sure, and Hecate does not want to ruin her oppourtunity. She spends her days in the dark and musty library, refurbishing books and other historical items back to their original glory. It isn’t too long until Hecate begins to see strange figures lurking around the old cathedral, and when the crypt in the cathedral’s basement is vandalized, and its caskets opened, Hecate begins to wonder what other secrets the old cathedral holds.
“Haunting” is a book about books and old libraries, combined with demonic possession and supernatural entities and somehow, Brackston brings all three of my favourite things together in an engaging read.
As the protagonist, Hecate is relatable and outgoing, yet seen as a non-conformist and outlier to those around her and it was easy to find some of myself in Hecate. Hecate’s connection to the dead brings about all sorts of ghosts that lurk around the old cathedral, but being a female in her era makes it a challenge for Hecate to investigate the strange goings-on. There are multiple characters, both alive and dead, that Hecate tangles with, but it is not difficult to follow all of the intricate plot connections. Keep in mind, all of your questions won’t be answered as, like most of Brackston’s novels, this one is also the first in a series.
“Haunting” is well- written, humorous in parts and heartbreaking in others, and I was instantly hooked. “Found Things” was my first series by Brackston, and it was her creativity that initially turned me on to her as an author. After reading “Haunting”, I don’t see this changing and I will be waiting for the second novel and more of Hecate!

Set in the 1800's England. Young Hecate Cavendish gets a job as a librarian in Hereford cathedral. This library is not like most libraries. It holds ancient scriptures, the Mappa Mundi and it is also home to some very special souls. Within a few days of starting her job, the crypt in the cathedral has been robbed. All of the tombs have been disturbed and all of the bodies are gone. Did someone break in or did something break out? The story is well written and it does keep your interest. You go between late 1800 England and mid 1800 Egypt. We learn why her father named her after the Goddess of the Witches. The characters are very lovable. Hecate is a young woman ahead of her time refusing to conform to the box society is putting her in. She is a great character and I hope her story continues in other books. The supporting characters, Brother Michael, Lady Rathbone and Corporal Gregory all have their own stories that add to the saga. Think of Night at the Museum but in a cathedral. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

"The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish" was my first book by Paula Brackston. Several friends have recommended that I read her books so I was excited to see this on NetGalley and jumped at the chance to read and review. I have read books with magical themes and bits of fantasy and thought I would enjoy this book.  

I would rather not put down a book, the story or the author simply because I didn't connect with the genre. If this is the type of book you enjoy reading then I say give it read. Unfortunately, this book was not a hit for me.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion.