The person in charge of designing the book covers for Paula Brackston knows how to hit their mark. Beyond the cover, I really enjoyed this start to the Hectate Cavendish series. I will look forward to picking up the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. It's the perfect cozy read for the fall. The setting and timeline of this book is well suited for the plot. As one who loves to travel, the author did a fantastic job of immersing you into the locations. Any book that has settings in UK and a library already has me hooked. This book moved a little slow, but I appreciated that because it gave it time to really get to know the characters in the story and added depth. The adventure was perfect for a first book of a series and I am looking forward to what comes next. I want to thank St. Martin's Press and Paula Brackston for the advanced copy for an honest opinion. I'm ready for the next installment.

I have read four other books by the author, the Xante books, and loved them, but I could not get into this book. It is very original, but could not hold my interest. Sometimes a book just doesn't work for a reader, and that was the case for me.

I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

As a huge Paula Brackston fan... I loved this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Hecate. She was a pleasure. Story started a bit slow but it picked up it's paced and flowed at a good pace. The end just seemed so abrupt.

Thank you to Netgalley, St Martin's Publishing Group and Paula Brackston for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish.
This is my honest and unpaid review of the book. Despite seeing this author's work all over the place and wanting to read her books, this was the first one I finally did! I really loved the originality of the supernatural element that is woven throughout the story. The setting in Hereford Cathedral has now made me want to add it to my travel list on my next UK trip. I even looked up pictures to see what the chained books looked like. I loved the characters and the history in this novel. I sure am hoping there will be more books after this one? I'll also be picking up this author's other books in the meantime.

🗝️ 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.