I uploaded my review to Goodreads. I will upload it to Amazon on publication day.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Crystal J Bell for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Lamplighter coming out May 21, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’m obsessed with this book! I thought it was really dark and mysterious. I loved the atmosphere of the small whaling town. The sea always brings an element of the unknown to stories. She’s a strong character with a tragic backstory. It felt real though and true to the time. I think it was cool they let her take over her father’s position as a lamplighter. I think the characters were complex. There are some real villains. There were a couple things near the end of the book that weren’t my favorite. I had hoped it played out another way. Some of her choices were questionable. I’m not sure why she didn’t trust her sister more. But overall, I loved it. Some of the twists were insane. I would definitely read more books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark historical mysteries!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC! This book was very suspenseful and I loved the setting and characters. I got sick of Temperance biting her lip and “tasting copper,” however; she seemed to do it in nearly every chapter!

THIS COVER -- are you kidding me? I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this one drew me in immediately. Reminiscent of the covers of books I spent my summers with growing up, though not at all reminiscent of the contents, as I was a scaredy cat until college.

You've heard of cozy mysteries and cozy fantasy. Well, I did not know that horror could be considered cozy as well until reading The Lamplighter. The setting of Warbler was nestled perfectly between creepy and cozy, a testament to Bell's world-building ability.

For anyone who loves a spine-tingling mystery or a powerful female lead, "The Lamplighter" is a must-read. As mentioned above, Bell has created in Warbler a place that despite the tingle up your spine as you read, you will want to return to again and again.

This was an eerie, atmospheric, just incredible YA gothic horror and I loved it so much. The spooky, sentient setting and the quiet female rage had me hooked from the very beginning. Even with the slower pace of the story, every chapter still kept me so on edge and so invested I physically couldn’t stop reading. I thought I had the big twist all figured out, only to have twist after twist keep coming right up until the devastating-but-satisfying end.

I wish I could have rated this higher. The overall atmosphere of the town was well described, but it took 60% of reading the book before anything really happens. It is a very slow burn and I feel the author takes too much time with the main character's inner dialogue. There is a lot of speculating and it is repeated. The last half of the book the intrigue amped up and I quite enjoyed it. I don't typically pick up YA much anymore as most of the time not only can I not relate, but I find the characters insufferable. Temperance was not that, thankfully. Our main character had to grow up fast as the sole provider for her family and I liked that she knew how to maneuver in the world of men. The author did a great job at capturing that time period and think that she definitely has talent. I do look forward to more from this author.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was not for me and it was a DNF. I had a really hard time getting into the story or connecting with the characters. The writing style was just a bit too wordy and it was just hard for me to read.

I hope others love this one but I just couldn’t get into it.

Review has already been posted on Instagram under the handle @Prosepander, and will be posted on GoodReads and Storygraph on 5/12/2024. One can find the links to these reviews in the Added Links section.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After her father’s untimely suicide, Temperance has taken up the mantle as Warbler’s sole lamplighter; providing guiding light to the town of Warbler as mysterious and treacherous fog consumes the sleepy town every night. When girls start to go missing in the mist, and the proper authorities are of no use, it’s up to Temperance to shed light once again. The Lamplighter by Crystal J. Bell is a story about asking for help and trusting those you love.

Usually, I’m not a consumer of Young Adult Fiction, but I found myself pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Lamplighter. Bell is very talented at building the suspenseful atmosphere of Warbler in the fog, and there were moments where I genuinely jumped. Additionally, Bell takes great care to put equal value to the different expressions of femininity Temperance and her sister (Yes, this is a dig at TV Arya and Sansa).

I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say the way the novel wrapped up made me wonder who exactly Bell was writing The Lamplighter for. There are persistent themes of sexism that go along with the time period of the setting, which add to the dread of the story, but the end seems to be a cautionary tale- but for who? For women who keep their secrets to themselves, or is this a story for men to read so they can better make connections between the misogyny of then and now?

Crystal J. Bell's debut novel, set in the mysterious village of Warbler, delivers an enthralling blend of mystery, cozy horror, and an eerie atmosphere. As Temperance assumes the role of lamplighter following her father's enigmatic demise, she finds herself amidst a flurry of disappearances and escalating suspicions. With superstitions abound and time ticking away, Temperance embarks on a journey to unravel the town's dark secrets before it's too late. Bell's seamless storytelling keeps readers guessing at every turn, making this young adult horror a gripping and thoroughly enjoyable read, regardless of age. Brace yourself for a bone-chilling tale that will both thrill and intrigue until the very end. Special thanks to Crystal J. Bell and NetGalley for the hauntingly wonderful eArc copy!

Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

In this very atmospheric and immersive dark fairy tale, Temperance has the honor to bring light to the dark of the whaling village of Warbler. The title of The Lamplighter belonged to her father once, but as the oldest daughter she takes on the job proudly after his passing. As the village is surrounded by fog and darkness once the night approaches, Tempe literally incorporates the meaning of protection and safety as she lights the lampposts around Warbler.

But having a young woman with such an important title is extremely frowned upon and after the disappearance of a local girl, Temperance's job and competence are put to the test. Desperate to keep being the Lamplighter and provide for her small family, Tempe will stop at nothing to prove herself worthy and to make herself heard. She'll also face a heartbreaking challenge to protect her younger sister against someone who's done her harm in the past, someone who only wants to take advantage of their dire situation.

I was so happy to get the arc for The Lamplighter, it was a novel I was dying to read and I'm happy to say it did not disappoint.
The true horror within the story is how women are treated and how easy it is to the villagers to cast aside anything Tempe has to say. This is a very dark and sad tale about a young girl trying to make a difference in a world that doesn't want to give her a chance.
Her frustrations are very well described on paper, as well as her suffering and, even so, her refusal to give up.

I was blown away by this book. There’s no other way to put it. The building tension? The mystery? The ending?? I can’t speak highly enough of it. It’s made me rethink how I rate books entirely because this is a 6-star read for me. 🤣
Tempe was such a relatable character to me: she works hard, trying to fill her father’s shoes, but despite all that she does, she doesn’t feel like she fits in with her mother and sister - not to mention the rest of the town. And she makes mistakes! She owns up to them when she can, but she does make mistakes. And boy, the consequences??
The spooky New England village vibes, the hidden motives of those in the town, and the gorgeous writing that brought it all to life… It all worked for me! I can’t wait for you all to read this one.

Gothic horror steeped in mist and mystery. Why are women disappearing in the seaside village of Warbler? Why does no one take the word of the Lamplighter, Tempe seriously?

Tempe has taken on the role of lamplighter for the village after her father’s tragic suicide. She lights the lamps in the fog but sees and hears things no one believes.

A tale of feminine rage and women believed to be unreliable and hysterical. I enjoyed this story of one woman fighting her personal and professional demons. The monster is one man or is it all the men?

When I started this book I’d been in a bit of a reading slump, but I finished this book in a single day, that’s how much I was gripped by the story! I couldn’t put it down, I kept saying to myself “just one more chapter” because I was desperate to know what happened.

The book is a mix of genres, combining horror, mystery and historical fiction, and they all work brilliantly together. The historical setting sets the creepy atmosphere early on, and even before it’s revealed there is a sense that there is something uncanny going on.

It took a few chapters to settle into the story and the pacing, but once it got going there was no way I was getting off this train! There were also really strong feminist themes, which I particularly enjoyed, as the different female characters fought for their own agency and place in the world. I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say that I found it chilling!

Overall this was an atmospheric, absorbing read, filled with unexpected turns.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

The Lamplighter is an amazing debut novel. The mystery and myths create an unsettling atmosphere that’s full of surprises. I absolutely loved the historical setting, a seaport called Warbler. The writing is descriptive and totally transportive. In terms of pacing this book is a slow burn and this provided a cozy reading experience. Saying that the story is far from cozy and definitely lives up to a YA horror. The ending is immaculate and really worth it. There are various themes that are explored, such as abuse, feminism and family ties. I liken the book to The Doll Factory. Definitely one I will recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC. A beautifully atmospheric read but so tragic I was devastated by how this one goes. So if you're looking for a book with a happy end, this is not the one for you. I think this was a solid debut there are a few minor pet peeves of mine that I didn't enjoy such as how the younger sister is portrayed (and often how we are portrayed in books that annoys me) I also didn't totally believe the relationship between Tempe and Josiah but it wasn't the focus of the story so it was something I could let go. This book brought out a lot of feminine rage in me because the whole premise surrounds a female lamplighter in a world where the men in her town just don't take women seriously and no one will listen to her. It's not even necessarily feminine rage because no other women even support her with what is happening so it's relatable in the sense that when you desperately want people to see how awful someone is and no one will take you seriously, it's infuriating and I think Bell captures that feeling and struggle of Tempe's character throughout the book extremely well.

Set in the era of women being oppressed The Lamplighter is a job that is meant for men. Temperance's father has always had this position after making his way from Ireland he created a job for himself in Warbler. He keeps the lamps lit in the dark, he guides the way for others. One morning though Tempe finds her father hanging from one of his beloved lampposts. In order to make ends meet she assumes her position and all is well until for the first time in years a young woman goes missing on a blustery night. Somehow 3 of the lamp posts blew out that night and Tempe didn't report it or the scream that she thought she may have heard. Now everyone is questioning her ability to be The Lamplighter. Gideon comes to her defence as he is the ship carver in Warbler and highly sought after for his custom Sirens.
Tempe has a history with Gideon one that makes her shy away from him and question all of his motives especially with the memory of her fathers voice telling her to stay away from Gideon.
Her sister has done well keeping the home no matter how rundown it is and caring for their mother who may as well have died when their father did. All she does is sit and live within her own mind. But when Pru recieves a letter from her secret admirer asking to finally meet she is taken aback when she realizes that Gideon is in fact the man that wants her sisters hand in marriage.
Something in Warbler is not right, from the fog and the woods that seem to be sentient, to women being the only ones to disappear. Tempe refuses to believe the old myths that its the spirits coming to take those whos lives they covet. Something else is happening and it has something to do with Gideon she can feel it in her very being.

#TheLamplighter by #CrystalJ.Bell is a fantastic book that I found interesting. It is not a fast paced book but reading it all the way through is extremely satisfying. Its not often that a book catches me off guard and ends in a most unusual way but this one does.

I want to thank #Netgalley for the chance to read #TheLamplighter by #CrsytalJ.Bell in return for a fair and honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend and I can’t wait to buy a copy for myself 🙂

Rating 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all, I want to say that the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

The Lamplighter was quite an interesting book. If you like historical books mixed with horror and mystery, this one might be for you.

The characters are quite complex, their actions could be unexpected or even just bad ideas from time to time, but they do think they are doing what's best and usually their motives are explained. The main antagonist is simply gross and scary, with no remorse, but I guess that makes sense since he's being what he is.

As the book progress you'll get hopeful, but as the ending gets closer, a sentiment of dread grows bigger. Things just don't seem to work for Tempe and nobody in that town is actually helpful in any important way. And I have to say (slight spoiler) the ending won't be what you expect or hope for.

All in all, the book was good enough for me to keep reading and to keep me curious. It is not my genre of choice so that says something.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion

I’m afraid I have to DNF this after three attempts. The writing and prose are incredibly pretty and atmospheric. However, there are too many elements in the plot itself that feel off and disengaged to me. Even the handling and presentation of the themes (feminism, sexual assault, misogyny, pedophilia—to name a few) was poor and lackluster. I see the vision, but the execution fell flat.

Thank you Netgalley and Northstar Editions for the ARC! :> This review is also published on Goodreads at May 6, 2024.

Firstly, I would like to take the time to thank Netgalley & North Star Editions for providing me with a digital copy of The Lamplighter. While I am incredibly grateful, the thoughts I will be sharing about this book are completely my own and are my honest opinions based on my reading experience.

Starting with the positives, I think The Lamplighter was wonderfully atmospheric and the author’s inclusion of descriptive language made everything feel super lush. I can understand how some people might be pulled into the book from all of the eerie fog and mystery.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I found myself at various times, frustrated by the lack of communication between characters and it prevented me from truly getting invested in The Lamplighter. I also found a lot of relationships to be lacking (ex: Josiah & Tempe). As the reader you’re constantly told about how much they care for one another but the emotional connection wasn’t really present (at least in my opinion). Additionally, I found the villain to be quite obvious from the start of the book which made it difficult for me to stay engaged with the story. The various deaths that occur had absolutely no emotional impact on me and the ending left me unsatisfied. That being said, I’m sure there are some readers out there that will really enjoy The Lamplighter. However, before you consider picking the book up (or recommending it), please look up the trigger warnings (there are depictions of predatory behavior and assault, etc).

This chilling novel takes place in the whaling town of Warbler, Connecticut, where people routinely go missing in a mysterious, ever-present fog. Our protagonist, Temperance, lights the lamps to keep people safe at night, having taken the place of her father who committed suicide a few years before. When her younger sister Prudence announces that she wishes to marry local woodworker Gideon, a man who once assaulted Temperance, she is thrown into the regional mystery of missing women and set upon a dark path herself.
On the plus side, this book is nuanced, posing moral and ethical questions about autonomy, our relationship to the environment, revenge, and justice. However, I found Tempe a very frustrating protagonist, and not just because her name is also a city in Arizona. She is too wrapped up in her own musings about Pru being forced to grow up too fast to actually listen to the words Pru is saying and the things that are important to her. She also vents her frustrations too harshly on Josiah, her own love interest, in a relationship that there is absolutely no reason to root for, which causes some later events to fall flat.
This story centers on extremely important topics: sexual assault, women not being able to exist safely in the world, women not being able to report assaults without being dismissed, and consequences of enablers of assault chief among them. However, each of these points were hammered home within an inch of their lives to the point where it really felt like Bell didn’t trust her audience - YA audiences are certainly capable of understanding these issues without having them so blatantly explained every other chapter. The setting to me as someone who grew up on the New England coast also seems…not like the New England coast. There’s a very specific energy to seaside towns here and this book solidly missed the mark on vibes.
All this to say this book is certainly not a bad read, but it wasn’t my favorite either.