Fantastic gothic horror novel ! Our FMC is following in her fathers footsteps as a Lamplighter, and when creepy things begin to happen, she is blamed.

I feel really mixed about this. Currently catching up to my arcs so I will give a more detailed review in the future!

Lamplighter is very slow paced and I tend to not enjoy those books because they cause me to lose interest. This book however kept me interested just enough to keep reading. The characters where frustrating to read about, which also made them feel more real?

If this books pacing was beter it would've been perfect

I sincerely apologize--I don't know what happened, but my original review didn't post! I enjoyed THE LAMPLIGHTER quite a bit, but agree with other reviewers that it's more YA than MG. It's a lot of fun, though, and will be a good read for kiddos who like romance and historical fiction.

This felt more like middle grade than YA while I was reading. However I did thoroughly enjoy, it reminded me of Erin Craig’s house of salt and sorrows at times

The atmosphere of the book is effective and spooky and evocative, though I sometimes personally struggled with truly placing the settings. We're on a port/wharf, but also there's groves of trees and a nearby forest and tons of walkways that people just walk right off "into the fog".

I wanted to like Tempe but while I thought that some of her actions and decisions were relatable or perhaps admissible in the situations she found herself, I grew weary of her almost constantly making Very Poor or Purely Stupid decisions time after time. I cheered for her when she finally made the move to take some initiative, both dealing with the issue at hand and also her relationship with Josiah but it was frustrating to no end because it was always too little and far far too late.

I especially was aggravated by her skirting around the issue with Gideon and the past sexual abuse in regards to her sister, because literally her sister wants to marry this guy and Tempe repeatedly lies or hides the truth from her sister. We're not talking about sharing a violent kiss/manhandling with some stranger for conversation, we're trying to prevent a very unhealthy relationship for OUR SISTER. Probably not a good time for lies and mistruths that make things seem better than they really are and additionally DO in fact make us look delusional or at best untrustworthy because we keep changing the story.

On that note, she lies and changes her story a bajillion times even for the townspeople and the local authorities (Henry being one of them) and that was annoying because though she always is doing it for the right reason and has good intentions, she comes across as very untrustworthy and incapable of telling the truth, which in turn causes more issues for her down the road because, ope, no one wants to listen to her. And then it all gets pinned on the fact that she's a female. Do I think there's some rampant misogamy in this town?? Heck yes, but don't ADD to the problem by making dumb decisions and lying so they all struggle to believe you.

I know this is (gothic) horror adjacent and that genre just loves lack of explanation but I would have appreciated understanding the villain(s) of the story better and how they came to be what they were, so to speak.

Where this truly truly lost me was the ending. While it was a gutsy move on the author's part with this ending, it didn't win out for me.

Chilling story, slow burn. But we’re given lots of description and story telling to paint this gothic horror painting in our head as we read. I loved this story, kept me on the edge of my seat. Took a little to get into but it was well worth the slow burn.

actual rating: 3.5 stars

the lamplighter by crystal j. bell is a haunting, atmospheric read that captures your attention from the first page and doesn’t let go. set in the eerie, fog-filled whaling village of warbler, the story follows temperance, a young woman who takes on the role of the town’s lamplighter after her father’s mysterious death. in this town, the lamplighter is not just a caretaker but a symbol of safety, yet the villagers are quick to question temperance’s ability to fill her father’s shoes, especially when young girls start disappearing under her watch.

the character dynamics are one of the strongest elements of this book. bell does a fantastic job of creating a mix of characters, from the sympathetic to the downright unsettling, keeping readers on edge as they try to figure out who can be trusted. the town itself feels almost like a character, with its misty atmosphere and dark secrets, making it easy to imagine being caught in its web of mystery and danger.

the pacing is great, building up tension and unease as temperance struggles to clear her name and protect her family. the suspense is thick, and the twists keep you guessing, especially when it comes to the fates of the missing girls and the true nature of the infamous warbler figureheads.

as for the ending, i’m torn. after finishing it, i had to go back and reread the final chapters a few times to process what had just happened. while it’s definitely shocking, i’m not sure if it felt entirely satisfying or if it left too many loose ends. regardless, it’s one of those endings that will definitely stick with you and spark conversation.

overall, the lamplighter is a gripping and eerie historical fiction novel that’s perfect for fans of suspense and dark mysteries. the setting, characters, and atmosphere are all top-notch, and if you’re looking for a spooky story with a bit of historical intrigue, this is one to check out.

The writing and description in this book was absolutely sensational, however, I did struggle a bit getting through the book but I think it was my mindset at the time of reading the book.

I'll definitely re-read this book again to see if it was my mood because the writing was very good.

While I initially liked the concept of this book, I found the execution to be a little lacking. I felt like we spent too much time with the MC's daily life and not with the actual mystery. The ending was also a let down.

A concisely written novel that rewards the reader for paying attention... which isn't hard in this deeply atmospheric thriller/horror novel. Not my usual genre, but I felt my breath racing right along with Tempe as she navigated a sometimes beautiful, sometimes maliciously dark world that reminded me in parts of Jane Eyre (a personal fave.) Will be returning to this one when the spooky season rolls around once more.

I liked this book, but did not love it... the writing was exceptionally good and it's probably what kept me going. The topics it dealt with (mentioned in the TWs) were sometimes too in your face and they were heavy, but the plot was nice and it was an original premise which I liked.

I unfortunately did not enjoy this book enough to finish it. I appreciate the opportunity that was given, thank you!

A seaport Town where whalers come to purchase “lucky” figureheads. A female lamplighter haunted by her father’s suicide and burdened with the care for of her mute mother and younger sister. A fog that creeps in nightly to this town and hides the sinister disappearance of townsfolk and sea folk alike.

I’m not sure how to start this review. I enjoyed this book and also it was too much.

The similes in the writing were over the top. Everything had to be or feel like something else. I don’t mind similes used sporadically, like seasoning. But these were on every page.

Also, I am assuming the time period was In the 1800’s New England and I just did not felt like the dialogue was way too modern for that time period. It wasn’t authentic. The atmosphere. Yes. The language as well as some of the interactions with people, no.

I did enjoy the main character, Temperance as well as the mystery although I figured out part of it early on. This book went somewhere I didn’t expect it toward the end and was darker than I thought. I liked that. But also didn’t since it didn’t end how I expected or wanted it to. But I suppose it ended how life ends much of the time. Inevitably and without happy endings.

Since this is the authors first work, I will watch for more from her and read more from her. She has promise.

I rated this 3.5 stars. I can’t give it a four so will be rounding down to a 3.

QUOTE: “Regret and guilt are fierce scavengers”

What a dark, dark young adult novel. This will not leave you feeling good at the end.

Tempe and her sister Pru are two teenage girls in an era when women weren't allowed much of anything. After their father dies and their mother goes into a fugue state, the two girls are left to pick up the pieces, with Tempe given the unusual allowance to take over her father's job as the town lamplighter each night, saving her family from destitution.

Her role is immensely important as there is an unusual fog that takes over the town every night, and over the years many people have disappeared in it.

I can't say much more without giving it away, but Bell does essentially reveal all halfway through, making the rest of the story a tense cat and mouse hunt as poor Tempe does everything she can to prove what's really in the fog - not that anyone will believe a silly girl.

The ending is rough, emotionally. I was not prepared for how dark this book would be, there are no happy endings in this world. But wow, what a well-written story. Seriously, well done in atmosphere and characterizations. I really enjoyed it, even if I need to surround myself with fluffy puppies and kittens for the next week after finishing it.

this artwork for the cover is absolutely stunning. Though I'm not sure I'll ever get around to reading it.

You *need* this story in your life! Imagine a moody, 19th-century village called Warbler, where Tempe’s job is to keep the lamps burning and protect everyone from a creepy fog—something her father used to do, but it's rare for a woman. When villagers start vanishing, everyone turns on Tempe, and now she’s got to prove her innocence, keep her family safe, and figure out who (or what) is behind it all. Crystal spins this dark and twisty tale with characters you’ll love and a setting that’s somehow cosy *and* spine-chilling. You’ll be hooked and flipping pages till dawn.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Flux for access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

what's it about? ⬇️

When Temperance found her father's body, the small whaling town of Warbler was left without a lamplighter to light up the inky darkness of the night, and so Temperance took over the position, keeping in mind her father's old saying: "It's an honor to bring light to the dark." And though the town has it's doubts about trusting a woman, let alone a teenage girl, with this responsibility, she is good at her job and takes it very seriously.

The darkness of the island has long been known to lead outsiders astray in the mist that travels down from the depths of the woods, but one night when two lamps have gone out on her second check of the town, Temperance chooses not to report the outages and her ability to perform in her position is brought into question by the town council when a local girl is discovered to have gone missing in the mist as well--a far more rare curse that hangs over the island. And as she is dragged deeper into the dark history of the island, Temperance begins to question the suddenness of her father's death and to look at his old teachings and advice much more closely.

Between searching for evidence that the missing girl is still out there somewhere, proving her own innocence, solving the mystery of her father's death, researching the haunting 'lucky' figureheads that have been Warbler's greatest staple, and continuing to care for her mother who has not spoken since her husband's death and her little sister who is unknowingly stepping deep into the dangers of the island, can Tempe juggle it all and still come out on top? Or will she end up six feet under?

my thoughts? ⬇️

The Lamplighter has got to be one of my favorite examples of slow burn creeping horror that I've come across in a long time. Warbler is a truly terrifying town to call home between the thick, cloying mists and the heavy darkness, and it has always been the lamplighter's job to bring light to the dark, to be sure the lanterns are there to guide the people of Warbler safely back to their homes in the night. And despite her grief and her trauma, Temperance is determined to save not only herself and her family, but also the rest of the town from whatever darkness haunts them.

She was a brave, kind, responsible character, and at the same time had real flaws that were allowed to be showcased front and center, and there's nothing I love more than a flawed heroine. And speaking of flawed characters with the right intentions, Tempe's father's story as well as her mother's and her little sister's were so incredibly written and well incorporated into the story, and Tempe's love story was so heart wrenching and beautiful.

The book also had so many crazy twists and turns and played so much with gross, terrifying body horror while never becoming too grotesque or outlandish, and all of the magic made perfect sense with the world Crystal J. Bell worked so hard to create.

Honestly, I think this book is one I'll revisit in the future and that will stick with me for a long time to come. I will take 10,000 more historical horrors just like it, please.

trigger warnings ⬇️

death of a parent, murder, violence, death, blood, gore, body horror, plant horror, fire/fire injury/fire death, grief, misogyny, sexism, gaslighting, sexual harassment, sexual assault, pedophilia, adult/minor relationship, mental illness, grief, suicide, suicidal thoughts, child death, confinement.

Okay so this is a complicated one. I’m going to give this one a 3.5 with the 0.5 deducted for the ending. I hate an open ended ending and this one just was unsatisfying. I feel like we never learned if the objects in the story could be recovered (I’m being vague because of spoilers). That was such a huge question that I NEEDED answered. I also don’t love a story where it relies on women constantly being gaslit by every single person they know including other women. I wish Tempe had at least someone on her side.

That being said, I really did like this book. I would classify this as folk horror which is some of my fav horror. I loved the small town whaling village setting with the constant in the story being the lamp posts. The characters were all pretty vibrant and each one unique. I liked Tempe even if she made some very questionable decisions sometimes. I would recommend this to people I like Small Favors by Erin A. Craig. Very similar vibes from the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of the book so I can provide an honest review.

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.

I got this to do a book review on my blog, I ended up DNFing this book, it sadly was not for me. The blog went up as a promo.