This is a slow burn, but it’s so worth it. It was as if I were in a seaport in the 1800s, and it’s clear the author has put a lot of time and effort into accuracy.
The ending blew me away. I’m still reeling.
I’m a sucker for a story with hints of horror and mythology, and this story delivers!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lovely, lovely writing. Utterly gorgeous. Four stars for the prose alone—this book was like a movie, every word vivid and atmospheric. Without giving too much of the plot away (think tree spirits and sirens with a murder mystery blended in), it's also one of the most unique, fascinating fantasy books I have read.

I adored the idea of it, I really did, but the execution? It fell very flat. I loved the plot but it became very difficult to separate it from the ridiculousness of the characters at a certain point (50%). The fmc, Temperance, makes stupid choice after stupid choice after stupid choice, and it's the *same* stupid choice each time. She chooses to withhold critical information from every other character in an attempt to "protect" them, and then acts surprised when they don't understand her motivations. And they also happen to end up very *unprotected,* (dead) to say the least, because she's not giving them the necessary information. Now, in Tempe's defense, her sister, Prudence, is depicted as a patriarchy princess who would burn her family alive for a husband, and thus wouldn't trust a word coming from her mouth. However, this bit occurs much later in the book, and Prudence is fairly normal at the beginning, so I don't understand why not tell her anything? Not only is Tempe uncooperative, her lies/half-truths/whatever stories are immensely condescending and aggravating—unfortunately the opposite of whatever a silvertongue is, which makes me side with the patriarchy princess here.

Full disclosure here, Temperance was sexually assaulted. I don't believe she is required to disclose that to anyone against her will, but to make up some story about consensually kissing the assaulter and being rejected in an attempt to protect her sister's feelings??? She should have said something of equal weight, or at least that he was a thief or something so that Prudence could take the accusation seriously. How is hiding an abuser's identity protecting anyone??? Especially when said abuser is to be your sister's husband??? Tempe constantly makes illogical decision after illogical decision, and as I'm writing this review, I'm coming to dislike her even more.

The character ages were something else that threw me off. Temperance is 18-19, and Prudence is 16 (which honestly explains their immaturity so perhaps I should be less harsh). Why are they getting married?? Why are they considering marriage?? Women in the 1800s (and since they mention Austen, I'm assuming this is mid-1800s at that) got married between the ages of 20-22. Not only are these two considering marriage (or being forced to consider marriage, in Tempe's case), so are all the other girls their age. When Prudence becomes a mother at 17-18, all her friends are also mothers. i don't understand it. I suppose historical accuracy isn't something you look for in a fantasy book, but if it affects the characters' personalities to this point, I can't not mention it.

Another thing that felt off was the discussion on feminism, which was very in your face and preachy. I've never been against discussion of women's rights in fantasy, but the word choice was very modern and did not seem at all anything women in the 1800s would say. Especially not these specific women in the story, because these are some of the most male identified women in fiction I've come across. (With the exception of Tempe, actually. Her only good quality.)

To summarize: If the author came out with a poetry collection, I would be more than interested in reading, but this book was not for me.

"This is my life. Warbler is my home. Who am I to let women be harmed when I can do something about it?
Even if that means becoming a monster myself.
I'm my father's daughter, after all. [...]
There is an evil in Warbler, and I am the only one who knows about it."

First, there was a cover. A dark and mysterious, beautifully drawn cover, full of mist, roots, darkness and mysteries. It caught my eye. Enchanted me with its atmosphere. Couldn't pass the opportunity to check what story it hides.

And then, there was a story.
A story about a town near water, with great boats and not great people. A town inhabitet by evil and darkness, full of flaws, mistakes and fear. They walk through streets boldly, because Warbler is their place on Earth. No justice awaits for them, as they are the ones setting the rules.
Is there a place, in such world, for a young woman craving equity?

"The Lamplighter" is neither a happy nor bright story, but hells on Earth – it's a fucking good one. It's supposed to be YA horror, but I genuinely believe it could proudly stand at first place of adult category. The dread, the Gothic, the chills. You cannot make this up. I was served and satisfied, fall in love with Warbler's ghost tale, just to gladly have a heart broken, shattered and scattered through the orchard ground later. It's so good. I can't even find my words.

I live for such books.

a quick, atmospheric spooky little book that i devoured in one sitting. perfect for readers who want to dip their toes into the horror genre.


many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Dziękuję NetGalley za egzemplarz do recenzji 😊

Temperance przed czterema laty tragicznie straciła swego ojca. Została razem z młodszą siostrą oraz matką, która popadła w apatię. Dziewczyna podejmuje się fachu zapalaczki latarń - ważnego zawodu w ich nadmorskim miasteczku, które nocami spowija mgła tak gęsta, że pochłania wszystko... włącznie z tajemnicami.
Książka została oznaczona jako young adult i chociaż bohaterka jest postacią młodą, to cały klimat, sposób w jaki została napisana - nie ma tutaj nic typowo młodzieżówkowego. Początek jest ciężki do przejścia, ponieważ mamy dość ciekawy zarys, ale równocześnie do tego zapowiadanego w opisie zniknięcia dziewczyny z miasta, ciężko jest dobrnąć. Gdybym jednak nie była zaintrygowana i chętna na dowiedzenie się, czy czytam wyłącznie fikcję historyczną ubraną pod płaszcz dreszczowej tajemnicy, czy może jednak jest w tym niebezpieczna nuta magii, pewnie porzuciłabym miasto Warbler samemu sobie.
Tempe jest bohaterką-męczennicą. Bierze wszystko na swoje barki, skrywa cały ból głęboko w sobie, troszczy się o mamę i siostrę i najchętniej sama by zrobiła każdą, najmniejszą rzecz. Niepomna jest na rodzinę oraz Josiaha, swojego chłopaka. Do ostatka zachowuję się jakby była tylko ona przeciwko światu. Widzimy też dlaczego tak jest oraz dlaczego tak miało zostać, dlaczego jej tajemniczość tak mocno obróciła się przeciwko niej...

Idealne połączenie "Toksycznych dziewczyn" oraz "Ruiny" w historycznych ramach. Nie jest to książka idealna, ale kończy się intrygująco, co jest dużym plusem.

Thank you to Crystal J. Bell, North Star Editions, Flux, and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own~ This review will be posted on my NetGalley and Goodreads accounts. Review published 11/27.

The Lamplighter is an atmospheric, bone-chilling, and character driven story that grabs you from the very beginning and does not let go until the end. This book was very very hard to put down. The story follows the main character, Temperance, as the town lamplighter who is following in her father's footsteps after his untimely passing. Soon however, things in the town start to fall apart as girls go missing and Temperance is blamed for them. This book has a wide array of characters, both lovable and also very creepy. The author does a really good job of making you question who exactly is the culprit. The descriptions for the town and environment were so realistic it was very easy to place myself in the town and follow along with the main character. I am 50/50 on the ending of the story. After I finished it, I reread it again two times to make sure that's what I read. I think the ending will shock readers in a good way. The Lamplighter is a great book that pulls you into the story and holds onto you through every mysterious and terrifying event. If you're looking for a spooky book tied in with historical fiction this book is for you.

Wow, this was scarier than I thought it was going to be.. There's this constant undercurrent of dread and chills right up to the end and the world felt so familiar yet so refreshing scary at the same time. I can see that this will be a hit for ya readers and even adult horror fans because this has a bite to it.

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley

Trigger warning for mentions of SA and suicide.

Crystal J. Bell’s The Lamplighter is a 19th century horror set in a whaling town. There is atmospheric worldbuilding that feels true to the time period and setting, specifically relating to the use of whale oil and the dock setting.

The novel opens with Temperance, our main character, seeing her father’s ghost hanging from a lamppost, and features discussions suicide and how survivors of assault experience doubt or do not know how to talk about their experiences. Everything is handled respectfully while also not being afraid to showcase the messier parts of these very real lived experiences, such as not trusting the words of a man who committed suicide even if he is your father.

Gideon is the perfect representation of the kind of predator who everyone believes cannot possibly be a bad person because he’s charismatic and knows how to manipulate people around him. Gideon’s interest in the sixteen year old Prudence, Tempe’s younger sister, is quite creepy and rooted in the age-old desire for control.

The foreshadowing was quite well-done and I was able to predict what happened, but that is a sign of good craft. I would much rather read a book when I have the pieces to draw my own correct conclusions than to be served a twist where even rereading the book several times, I am still confused. The use of figureheads throughout the novel was also quite interesting and worked well with the story and setting.

I think this is the kind of book teens do need because seeing discussions around SA and suicide is one way for people to become educated in the topics while also helping survivors and people struggling with their mental health or in very difficult situations find things that speak to them and give them the courage to speak out and say something that will protect others or will help them.

I recommend this to readers who want to give teen horror around these themes a try. I do not recommend this to readers who have firm boundaries around these topics for their own mental well-being. In either case, I strongly recommend that readers exercise self-care when reading.

I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions!

This story is about a girl named Temperance (weird name choice, but okay!) taking on the role of the town's lamplighter after her dad is found hanging from one of those same lampposts.

Now, Temperance is not only trying to prove herself every day for this job as it doesn’t sit well with the town that such an “important roll” is being done by a woman, but also scrambling to keep her mother and sister afloat, mind you. Adding some more drama to the mix, things get wild when a girl disappears after a couple of lamps go out, putting our girl in the hot seat.

The plot thickens as more people vanish, revealing secrets about the village's famous figureheads and even her own dad. The suspense builds as our girl battles skepticism and her family's doubts. and well as Temperance questioning whether to spill the village's dark secrets or keep quiet and risk it all. (Me, personally? Let them all burn.)

The pace is good and the characters are interesting enough, but sadly, the story was not for me. I could not connect with Temperance and therefore, did not care much about the story.

It was chilling and nervewrecking and I just love it!
I love the setting (in a way it felt steampunk / gaslamp sort of vibes) and the unique theme. LOVE all the characters and the whole plot and the story telling--honestly everything. That ending broke me tho ughhhh it was fitting but also did I wish for another ending? yes. It was perfect ending for the story tho.
OVERALL IT WAS SO GOOD.

The narrative transports the reader to a 19th-century whaling village of Warbler, where the young protagonist, Temperance takes on the role of a lamplighter after her father's mysterious death, leaving her to care for her mother and younger sister. The inexplicable disappearances that takes place in the town leads her to discover frightening details about her father and the well-known Warbler figureheads, but her concerns are disregarded by everyone. She is forced to follow her conseience out of desperation and must choose between speaking up and risking losing her and her sister's disappearance or turning a blind eye.

This is an absolute must-read for those who enjoy fantasy, myth, horror, and gothic literature, the plot is compelling and distinctive, although the story moves a little slowly at first, it gets more complex with each chapter and keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I wish there had been more of this story after it ended.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Beautifully written, this atmospheric horror novel will keep you guessing until the last page.

A slow burning story set in the 19th Century with a protagonist whose problems and worries echo that of young women today.

Temperance—Tempe for those close to her—inherited her father’s job after he killed himself. Problem is, no one around thinks that having a woman as the town’s lamplighter is much of a good idea. For Tempe, being the lamplighter is a source of both pride and constant worries, particularly since her family—a disable mother and younger sister—would become destitute without it.

Things are already difficult enough without adding to the mix the disappearance of Molly, a local girl; the constant presence of Gideon, the creepy woodcarver; and the gossip of Benjamin, the town’s drunk.

As Tempe fights to keep her job while investigating what happened to Molly, she comes to discover that perhaps carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders alone is not the best idea, but how to explain to Josiah, her boyfriend, or Pru, her sister that what has been happening in Warbler goes beyond the border between the normal and the supernatural? How to explain to others, without sounding like she has lost her mind, that there’s something in the fog, something evil?

This is not a fast-paced story, but one where every word counts and must be slowly relished. The descriptions are evocative and chilling at times. The characters flawed but also painfully life-like, moving through the story with strong steps.

If you enjoy gothic horror, you’ll like this one.

The creepy streets of Warbler wove its way into my heart as soon as I started reading. Tempe is such a loveable and brave heroine, readers of YA should absolutely become enthralled with this story.

Excellent work by Bell. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

"The Lamplighter" by Crystal J. Bell is a gripping historical fiction with elements of horror that transports readers to the nineteenth-century whaling village of Warbler.

Warbler is known for its lucky ship figureheads, but it also harbors a dark secret—people mysteriously disappear into the nightly fog. When Temperance's father is found hanging from one of the lampposts, she takes on the responsibility of the lamplighter, a position synonymous with safety and protection. However, as a woman in a role traditionally held by men, Tempe faces skepticism and resistance from the town.

As she grapples with her new duties, a girl goes missing after two lamps go out, putting Tempe's ability to provide for her family at risk. Hindered by the authorities who question her competence, Tempe unravels unsettling truths about the famous Warbler figureheads and her own father. Despite her warnings of a lurking monster, the village remains indifferent, even her own family. Tempe must confront despair, follow the light, and decide whether to look the other way or risk speaking out, potentially dooming herself and her sister to join the ranks of the lost.

"The Lamplighter" promises a tale of mystery, danger, and the struggle for survival in a village haunted by shadows and secrets. The historical setting, combined with elements of horror, adds depth and atmosphere to the narrative. Tempe's journey is one of resilience and determination as she navigates a town reluctant to accept her in a role that challenges societal norms. This book is sure to captivate readers who enjoy historical fiction with a dark and mysterious twist.

In "The Lamplighter", a Young Adult Horror & Mystery written by Crystal J. Bell, we follow the story of Temperance, a young woman trying to solve the kidnapping of two girls in her eerie hometown, while trying to provide for her young sister and mother by being the town's only lamplighter. The story shows how she tries to battle hardships, loss, love and misogyny, while discovering unsettling truths about the town's famous figureheads that attracts sailors all over the world.

Crystal J. Bell wrote this story so well that Tempe's loss and spiraling became my own. I devoured this book 2 days in a row, while even at work, because I was so captivated by it. The details of the town were so beautifully described, and Tempe's persona resonated so much with mine. She is an icon for all women, the way she put her family and work over everything else, even though no one supported her simply for being a woman.

The fantasy elements of the book left me speechless. Not going to lie, I was expecting more of it, but in the end they completed the book in a good way. It left me craving for more, not believing what I was reading. But, as a stand-alone is more than enough. Crystal J. Bell gives all the details that were needed for a beautiful epilogue.

All in all, I love this book, rating it 5 stars, and I recommend it from the bottom of my heart. Temperance has a place on my hall of fame heroines.

"The Lamplighter" is a ya mystery historical standalone, with horror overtones, written by Crystal J. Bell.

A quaint little whaling village of New England? Ship figureheads as fascinating as they are eerie? An insidious fog that swallows everything as evening falls? A young lamplighter tasked with keeping the streetlights lit and safe? People mysteriously disappearing on foggy nights? How could I resist these premises?! I couldn't, in fact I jumped right on this book! And what a fascinating read it turned out to be! I was captivated by the lyrical prose, the haunting setting, the dark story and the tormented characters. In my opinion, it is a slow story, with little action, which focuses a lot on descriptions and feelings. Interactions are rather limited, dialogues short, while reflections and observations of the protagonist abound. It is not a simple, light and funny book, but rather it is dark, distressing and at times frustrating, characterized by the presence of long chapters. I personally enjoyed it a lot, but it depends on tastes!

The story takes place in the 19th-century whaling village of Warbler, in Connecticut. A quaint and isolated location known for its lucky figureheads, the harbor, and the fog that envelops everything at dusk. A place where sailors disappear into thin air, abandoning their ships, where the inhabitants from time to time vanish without a trace. A town full of rumors, whispers and legends, which tell of ghosts of tormented sailors and other darker creatures roaming in the mist. An closed, at times oppressive environment, lit by the steady and sure presence of the street lamps and the lamplighter in charge. I loved this setting! Mysterious, eerie and grim, it captured me with its vivid images! The author managed to portray village life really well, the only seemingly sleepy atmosphere, the fog that slips ominously and devours everything.

The plot revolves around the figure of Temperance (or Tempe), a lamplighter who is in charge of turning Warbler's lampposts on and off, making sure they are all working. Initially the book follows her patrols in the middle of the night, until one girl disappears after two lampposts go out, setting off a series of unpredictable events. As mentioned above, this is not a fast-paced or paced story, but it is one that becomes more and more oppressive, distressing, as the mystery deepens. Partly because of the nefarious situation and partly because of the villagers, who are often truly despicable in the way they relate to Temperance, as a young woman in an era where women were not well regarded. I admit that at some moments I felt really angry and sad, so much so that I struggled to continue reading, although I still enjoyed it.

I loved Tempe, the protagonist and only pov in first person! Tempe is an 18-year-old girl who occupies the position of lamplighter in the village of Warbler after her father, the previous lamplighter, hanged himself from one of the lamp posts. Tempe lives with her beloved younger sister Prudence and her mother, who following the death of her husband has sunk into total apathy, trying to take care of them. She is a determined, brave and loyal girl, accustomed to relying only on her own strength. A resilient person who has learned to face difficulties head on and loves her job. I became very fond of her and on more than one occasion I wanted to hug her!

The rest of the secondary characters, some more and some less, were almost all unpleasant to me. Even the sister and the mother, with their attitude, irritated me. Which is fine, I found it consistent with the story and the era depicted.

All in all, it is a book that I enjoyed a lot and recommend to lovers of the genre!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book cold, not knowing what it was about, and I'm so glad I did! It was historical fiction with a really unique mythology that I won't get into here. Besides that incredibly unsettling mythology, I also loved Tempe's (the main character's) independence and determination. The author does a nice job of grounding Tempe's outlook and behavior in the context of the era, too (it didn't feel like a book where you'd think 'why does a character in the 1800s have the beliefs of a modern feminist?' in a jarring way. it felt authentic and organic to the story).

Thank you for the publisher for providing me with an arc through NetGalley !

I was so excited about this and it did not disappoint ! I love atmospheric books which was why I'm happy I found another one so soon after "A study in drowning" ! I can feel Tempe's frustration at not being heard or believed and it seeped into me because how can you make anyone believe the unbelievable and why do things always work out for evil people like that? I felt her desperation, I kept waiting for the tables to turn because silly me wants things to go Tempe's way when I picked this up knowing fully well they probably won't.

The worst thing is trying to prevent something bad by all means and it ends up happening anyway but the ending was great ! It left me hoping for more hopefully out of this story. Everyone will love this once it's out in the world !

4.25 stars

The whole atmosphere of this book was fantastic. It’s got the dark woodsy vibe that I love.

After her father’s death, Tempe picks up the torch (pun intended) and fills his shoes as the lamplighter. It’s a renowned role as it’s considered one of the more prominent ways of protecting this whaling village from the thick murky fog that rolls in at night.

Tempe is a resilient young woman, taking on not only her role as lamplighter, but also now being solely responsible for her mother, her sister and their home, in her father’s absence. I loved her strong will and tenacity.

Lamps go out and people start to missing and the state of her competency is called into question. Many think that lamplighter is no job for a woman and her ridicule is belittling in this blatant display of misogyny. But, Tempe is having none of it.

Trying to figure out the truth, Tempe learns some terrifying town secrets and uncovers some incredibly strange things in the woods. She won’t stop until those responsible are stopped, no matter who they are.

There was this perfectly paced horror element in The Lamplighter that I found eerie and unsettling. This was such a fun reading experience!

In a quaint 19th century whaling village, a girl seeks to expose the dark truth behind missing villagers at the risk of the lives of everyone she loves... assuming anyone will listen to a female in the first place.

A chilling tale about trust and the difficulties of getting your voice heard. Full of atmosphere and danger as mysterious as the touch of the ever-creeping fog!

The village of Warbler is famous for its lucky ship figureheads resembling sirens—and infamous for people disappearing into the cloying nightly fog and never being seen again. In this murky world, the lamplighter position is synonymous with safety and protection. A position Temperance assumes when her Da is found hanging from one of his lampposts. Though Tempe proves competent, the town is still hesitant for a woman to handle this responsibility, then a girl goes missing after two lamps go out. Tempe’s ability to provide for her mother and younger sister hang in the balance as she scrambles for answers. As more villagers vanish under her watch, like the Greek Cassandra, Temperance's warnings of a monster are ignored, even by her own family.

This story will leave you thinking about the ending long after you close the book!