The Haunting of Hekate Cavendish is the newest witchy mystery from Paula Brackston, featuring ghosts, old books, and goddess magick.

Hekate Cavendish is Hereford Cathedral's newest Library Assistant, tasked with sorting and cataloguing its ancient books in the chained library. Home to rare tomes full of arcane secrets, it is the Mappa Mundi, a medieval world map full of fantastical beasts that has Hekate's curiousity piqued. When malevolence begins to grip the cathedral, it will be up to Hekate and her treasure trove of knowledge located in the library to put a stop to the evil that has its sights set on her and those that she loves.

I absolutely loved this story. The storyline was original and satisfied my fantasy dream of working in an ancient library. Hekate Cavendish made the perfect heroine in this supernatural tale, with her independence, courage, and passion for knowledge on full display. I really enjoyed the ways the author incorporated the Hekate mythology throughout the story with keys, serpents, darkness, and apparitions moving the plot along. The occult nature of the story was the perfect accompaniment to the library and its mysterious contents which were both characters in this bibliophilic adventure. It was not only the bits of magic that made this story entertaining, but it was the relationships between Hekate and her family and friends that helped to ground the story in love and loyalty, so that Hekate occupied a liminal space between the seen and unseen worlds throughout the book, each demanding so much from her.

It appears that this book is the first in a new series which I cannot wait to read. I almost think that this book would have worked wonderfully as a stand alone novel as well, but the cliffhanger and unanswered questions at the end of the story requires a second book to unlock the secrets that remain.

If you like stories about ancient libraries and hard to solve mysteries, featuring a fiercely independent heroine, look no further than The Haunting of Hekate Cavendish, you will not be disappointed.

"The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish" by Paula Brackston takes readers to England in 1881, where Hereford Cathedral looms over the city, holding its secrets and embracing long-forgotten souls. The protagonist, Hecate Cavendish, is an eccentric and spirited young woman who can see ghosts. She navigates the cobbled streets on her bicycle, headed for her new position as Assistant Librarian at the cathedral.

This is not an ordinary library; it houses an ancient chained collection of books, preserving wisdom and stories for centuries. The centerpiece is a medieval world map that hangs near Hecate's desk. Little does she know that the people and mythical creatures depicted on the map will come to mean a great deal to her. Moreover, she discovers that the haunted cathedral holds lost souls—some of whom become her dearest friends, some seeking peace, and others posing threats that endanger the lives of those she loves.

Paula Brackston, a New York Times bestselling author, weaves a tale of magic, mystery, and the supernatural, creating a world where the past and present collide, and where the haunted corners of the cathedral hold more than just books. "The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish" promises an enchanting and atmospheric journey through a world where the boundary between the living and the dead is thin, and where the past reaches out to shape the present.

1881, Hecate Cavendish is not your ordinary woman. She wears her skirts shorter so she can ride her bicycle and she works as an Asst Librarian at a cathedral instead of sitting at home learning how to nab a husband. It is at the cathedral, where Hecate makes discoveries about herself including the ability to see and talk to ghosts. This leads her into some scary situations but she has friends along the way that help her.

This is my first book by the author and I wasn’t prepared for how much I would enjoy it. I liked all the characters, Hecate is a very determined character and not afraid to tackle her fear. I loved the relationship between Hecate and her father, he not only was supportive but believed and encouraged her which to say in 1881 was something. My only complaint about the book was the ending. Just when you thought things would be solved, the book ended. I thought maybe I didn’t download the entire book but nope just ended. I understand the author wanting to continue the series but honestly, the ending could have been written differently to accommodate.

An extremely unique novel that blends historical fiction with magical elements and a strong heroine. Hecate has all the pressures that a young woman in the late 19th century must deal with such as finding a husband. However Hecate's dad has been very supportive of her love of learning and helped her get her own job as a librarian assistant at the cathedral. While there, Hecate discovers that she has an unusual ability; she can communicate with ghosts. What follows is an incredible story filled with mystery, and many magical elements as Hecate tries to discover who is behind the dark forces before they hurt the people she loves.

I loved that this book featured a well educated woman who was confident and strong. She also was supported by the people around her and they did not dismiss what she was thinking and feeling. This is extremely rare especially in historical fiction books set in the late 1800s. I also love a book that has magic in it especially when the main character can do something that others are not able to do. A delightful start to this series and I can't wait to read more.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Um wow this is so fun! Just sad I didn’t get to read it during spooky season!