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

It's an honor to bring light to the dark.

In the sleepy whaling village of Warbler in New England, Temperance Byrne has taken over her late father's duty as the town's lamplighter, keeping the villagers safe at night in the near-impenetrable fog that hangs heavy over the town. Sure, sometimes foreign whalers go missing in the fog, but eh, nothing to do about that, they probably just decided to skip out from a hard life at sea, right? Until a young woman goes missing.

The dark atmosphere of The Lamplighter is so delicious, and I was intrigued from the very beginning. The sad circumstances of Tempe's family makes it clear why her job and duty as the lamplighter is important to her, so her anxiety to keep her job and independence is understandable – and when things start to go wrong, through both her own actions and the actions of a more malignant entity hidden in the fog, her increasing desperation is extremely gripping and completely hooked me.

I had a very good time with this read, and the only reason I didn't give it a full five stars is that, since it's a YA horror, I really wish Bell would've leaned more into the eldritch horrors of the woods and the fog, instead of focusing almost solely on the human monster in Warbler (even if said monster had a connection to the surrounding forest). I feel like that relationship and that potential wasn't fully realised, which is a shame – after all, the mysterious fog and strange woods surrounding Warbler are undoubtedly what fuel the dark and gloomy atmosphere of the book.

If you like YA horror that explores the unsafety of young women from monsters hidden in plain view, a nature twist, and a book without a neat and happy ending, then this book is definitely for you!

The Lamplighter is an atmospheric speculative novel set in a 19 century New England whaling town, where our very unfortunate heroine worked at lighting gas lamps so people don't go missing in the eternal fog of her town.

This was a very promising premise that immediately drew me in... but sadly it didn't work for me.

The over descriptive style of the writer kept pulling me out of the story. The language is pretty, but not being personally very interested in the musicality of language, I found myself bored and skipping through pages without actually missing anything. I think atmosphere doesn't need that much detail to be clear and gripping. I will add that I read a lot of classics, not only fluff, in case you are wondering. But I found a lot of the description didn't really serve any purpose and in fact took away from the possible tension as it clogged down turning point moments.
I think the editor could have cut a lot out of this book and made it shine.

I sadly can see this book ending up unfinished on a lot of nightstands, not because it is bad, but because it isn't very gripping. A shame.

This was a spooky tale of one woman's search for her father and then accused when girls start to go missing. I could not put this book down! The cover sucked me in but the story stuck with me long after I finished. Will probably buy the hard cover for my shelf trophies.

Haunting and dark, THE LAMPLIGHTER by Crystal J. Bell takes you down a twisting, foggy lane through the woods, full of twists and anchored by sibling love.

#environmentalistvillain #killhumansplanttrees #stopclimatechange

In all seriousness, I very much enjoyed this creepy horror story. I think "chilling" is a perfect adjective, not just for how it created a fear that crept slowly into my bones, but for the atmosphere. It takes place in fall/winter in a small Connecticut port town and has all of the cold, foggy ambiance that comes with that.

I loved Temperance's sister. The true hero, maybe? The villain was also 10/10. Threatening both just because of what he was and did, but also because he was such a wealthy, established, respected man in the town and could do no wrong in the eyes of others.

What I enjoyed less was the MC Temperance and her relationships with others. I genuinely think she was part of the problem. She could never word things right and then would blame others for how they reacted. I'd agree with her thoughts, but then when she actually tried to verbalize them I was just like...really... that's the best you got...? "They're not listening to me because I'm a woman" yeah maybe partly? but stop blaming that for everything. You're also not making any sense when you talk, shut people down, and honestly are untrustworthy a lot of the time. I genuinely don't think anyone would believe you! The women in town don't either and you can't blame sexism for all of them! I'd be angry with you too if I were your bf or your sister! Temperance was also COMPLETELY WORTHLESS during the climactic scene. Just stand there girl, go on give us nothing.

That ending though! Yikes! As I said before, chilling.

Thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions for the ARC!

THIS NEEDS TO BE ON YOUR TBR RIGHT. NOW. This is a 19th-century horror story filled with rage, loss & sisterhood. I was captivated from start to finish; the writing is horrifyingly beautiful & it sucks you into this world of despair so effortlessly. I was right there with Temperance (our beautiful lamplighter who I loved sm it hurts 😭). I was cheering on our lamplighter every step of the way & loved the dynamic between the sisters. As for THAT ending…. I am in absolute denial. I just can’t accept what happened 😩✋- please tell me there’ll be another book 🥹?! If you love historical horror & liked A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid - you’ll love this. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5.

Thank you Flux for the ARC via NetGalley

Temperance is the lamplighter for the whaling town of Warbler in Connecticut. She took over the job after her father was found hanging from a lamppost, and she’s proud to do her familial occupation, driving away the insidious, creeping fog in order to keep her friends, family, and neighbours safe. When a girl goes missing on her watch, and it comes out she didn’t report lamps going out nor a scream she heard, her livelihood—and thus the survival of herself, her younger sister Pru, and her withdrawn mother—is threatened.

This book is WILD. I absolutely loved the monstrous creature--I can't go into it here because of spoilers, though I've gone a little more in-depth on Goodreads. I felt it was such a neat idea, and it really intrigued me as a concept.

The story is so atmospheric and sinister; I wish I was reading this in autumn because it would be absolutely perfect to devour in October. There were times when I didn’t want to pick it up and keep reading because I was too on edge wondering what would happen next!

I did have a couple negatives, though, and they were:

-I get things were harder for women than it was for men, but every few pages Tempe would reflect on how things weren’t fair for her as a woman, or how she wasn’t given grace as a woman, or how she wasn’t believed because she’s a woman, or she’s viewed as being irrational because she’s a woman. On one page it says “I am merely a woman who must follow commands because how could I know better than he?” And then two pages later we get “A man can make mistakes. A man can change his mind. A woman? No. If she makes a mistake, she is unfit. If she changes her mind, she is fickle.” I got it the first few times; it started to grate after awhile and it just kept coming up repeatedly. Thankfully in the last third or so of the book it dropped off.

-On the same note of the time period: the people of this village were rather casual with one another for the 19th century, weren’t they? I get girl friends who were teens possibly calling one another only by their Christian names, but I can’t imagine men going around calling women by their first name, let alone nicknames, like Tempe for Temperance. That seems awfully forward.

I was mulling what to give to this book for the above listed problems as well as the fact that Tempe was fairly maddening as a character. She set herself up for failure with a whole lot of poor choices, alas.

I think taking everything into account—even with Tempe being a main character you want to shake—I’d give it four stars. I just loved the ending! I also can’t help but admire the creativity that went into the evil haunting this small town. It’s very spooky!

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tempe lives in Warbler, a whaling village set in the early 19th century where she has inherited her father’s post after his untimely death. While those around her do not like the idea of a woman filling in her father’s shoes, Tempe goes on to become a lamplighter, hoping to keep her mother and sister safe from the unknown that lies within the fog outside of town.

A must-read for those who love Gothic Fiction!

The title and cover captured my interest. Thank you NetGalley and North Star Editions for this ARC,

I made quick work of this gloomy, spooky, atmospheric read.

Temperance Byrne is the town's lamplighter, and she is struck in the middle of accusations of the disappearance of a girl from their foggy town.
Temperance is fantastic protagonist during a time where women didn't have the rights we have today.

The writing and world-building were truly exceptional!

Holy Shit. Sorry, I know that's not exactly how you're supposed to word a professional(ish) book review. But I genuinely have no other words. Holy. Shit.
For the girlies (gender neutral) who are all about the fall vibes (and love spooky season), this book was written for you. It's a slow-burn horror novel set in the 1700's (or 1800's, I'm not quite sure), in a town with mysterious fog. To guide the townspeople home (and avoid people going missing) there's a lamplighter. Filling in the position previously occupied by her father (who tragically committed suicide) Temperance Byrne is fighting misogyny and lighting those lamps. We stan a girlboss. But when girls start going missing, the lamps aren't the only things Tempe is trying to illuminate in Warbler (sorry, these puns were just too good to not use.). It's definitely slow at times, and again, a verrrryyyy slow burn, but so so so worth it!
Tempe is a great character, full of light (sorry) and fire, fiercely loyal to her family and protective of her job. She takes on too much in the way that older sisters do, but she's truly an icon and we must stan her.
I won't talk too much about other characters for fear of spoilers, but everyone here is hard to trust and suspicious. In hindsight the answer to the mystery is obvious, but this book is so good at making you question yourself--i did not have getting gaslit by the queen of lighting gas lanterns on my bingo card, but here we are. The ending is satisfying in an unsatisfying way though, so brace yourself! (And light a candle).
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!:)

Lamplighter follows Temperance, a young woman tasked with lighting oil lamps in the town of Warbler. Each night, it is Temperance's job to ensure the town's safety as the fog sets in and shrouds the small whaling village in mist. Attempting to fill her late Father's shoes, she understands the vital role she plays within the town, as Warbler is known for people disappearing into the fog without a trace.

When young women start to go missing, Temperance's capabilities are scrutinised and she begins to worry how she will provide for her house-bound mother and younger sister, Prudence. Prudence gains the attention of an older (bleghhh) respected town member by the name of Gideon. Gideon is known for his famous siren figureheads, which are highly regarded and sought after in the sailing community. However, this is not the reason why he has Temperance's attention, no. Her late father's warnings to stay far away from the dangerous man see Temperance being hesitant to grant Prudence and Gideon her blessing.

Bell's poetic prose and use of imagery paints a haunting, moist + woody (by that I mean there's lots of water, fog and wood lmao) picture that is an impressive debut novel. The eloquent use of imagery creates an atmospheric, gothic setting that has you questioning your sanity; wondering if the fog itself is alive; if Temperance is being crushed by the weight of her grief and responsibilities; or if there is indeed a killer at large.

Okay, look!!! ngl... I did not expect my (first-ever!!!!) ARC to hit! YA? Yep. Gothic? Gorg. Horror? Delish. Hating on sexist men + The Patriarchy? HELL YEA. If you enjoy any of these—this book hits the spot.

After reading, I’m feeling exactly how I want to—gobsmacked, depressed, spooked, loving women, hating on men, and wanting to dismantle the stupid, f*cking patriarchy!!! I did not have 'consider taking up wood carving' or yearning for my lover across the seas on my post-read bingo card, lmaooo.

I enjoyed the paranormal aspect of this story and the teeny-tiny subplot of romance, seen with the likes of Josiah (ilysm Josiah). I don't know if I was just so engrossed with the story that I did not see the various plot twists coming, but I am truly devastated on all accounts LOL.

So yeah, ig I do have a bone to pick with Bell, on a couple of things in that conclusion... my chest and gut PAINED me and ngl I sat in silence for a while staring into the void, lolllllll (in saying that, I do recommend this book fasho for all my YA lovers)

I'm already hoping we will see where the story will continue with Prudence—because if there is one thing I can get around, it's is a group of women who love to read and have a strong distrust of men! YTG

LOVEEED THIS. The atmosphere that was created was so spooky and captivating!! I couldn’t stop reading this and finished it so quickly. The whole plot kept me on my toes.

In the gloomy whaling village of Warbler, an eerie fog haunts the night and is blamed for the disappearances of townspeople and visiting whalers. Temperance Byrne, the town's lamplighter, gets caught in the middle of accusations and daring acts following the disappearance of a local girl, sending her life into a spiral as she strives to uncover the mysterious disappearances.

Crystal Bell's "The Lamplighter" was an absolute joy to read. It was my first dip into the gothic genre and I couldn't have asked for a better introduction. The world building gave way to thrilling twists and betrayals that left me saying "just one more chapter".

Despite its beauty in storytelling and the world it built, I would have loved to see more of the relationship between Josiah and Temperance as well as Tempe's mother and her character. For me, the fleshing out of these relationships and characters would have allowed me to connect more with them and produce a bigger reaction to the novel's climax.

Thank you so much to North Star Editions and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy!

Crystal Bell has written a humdinger of a gothic novel. The stage is set in the whaling village of Warbler that happens to have a seemingly malicious fog. It has a lamplighting heroine who is ready to fight the patriarchy and give the devil his due, so to speak, but things aren’t always as they seem nor do plans turn out the way she plans them.

The pacing of the book is slow at times. It doesn’t reveal too much too soon, but does a fine job of putting one on the edge of their seat at the end. I do believe that the author could have developed the characters a bit more and given a bit of background to the ‘why’ of the creature, but all in all it is a very satisfying read.

I think it will sit well with any fan of the gothic genre and linger in one’s mind a bit after reading it. Now, where is my lamp and my chisel?

Many thanks to North Star Editions | Flux and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

This was an eerie and gothic tale with plenty to keep the reader gripped from beginning to end. completely sucked me into the story and kept me there until the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an unbiased review!

WOW! What a book! For my first ever horror book, I am blown away by this! I never thought I would like this genre but I am so glad I was given a chance to try it out because I ate this book up!

While the start of the book was a bit slow for me and I think could have had a bit more action to it, I thought the rest of the book was very well paced and kept me on my toes every chapter! The author really puts an emphasis on community and not putting all of the burden on yourself in trying times which is a beautiful message that I think we all often need to be reminded of. And as more secrets and hidden truths are revealed, our main character, Tempe, learns that she had people in her corner all along and shouldn’t have let herself bear all of these responsibilities at such a young age when she had so many people who loved and supported her.

The fantasy elements and gothic environment was so beautifully described that I felt like I was physically in this seaport every time I opened the book. The author has an excellent way with words in imagery and I was entranced with it all. And oh man I cannot WAIT for everyone else to read this book so I can talk about that ending! My heart was wrenched and filled and broken and mended again all within the last 50-ish pages! It was an ending I will likely never forget and I’m so grateful again to have had the opportunity to read an early copy of this book!

Whether you’re new to this genre, or it’s one of your go-to’s, I think anyone could enjoy this thrilling and beautiful journey through Warbler and am giving this book a 4.25 stars! (Also, reading the About the Author, I learned the author went to Colorado State University which is my Alma mater as well, so loved reading a book written by a fellow Ram! 😍)

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=3? | 😘=2 | 🤬=1 | ⚔️=5 | 15/16+

summary: lamplighter girl lives in small seaside town in vague late-19th century Connecticut and people go missing and there’s a mystery and a really really scary monster!!

thoughts: so. I liked the ending—one of those well-executed ambiguous horror wrap-ups—but the protagonist was... stupid?? and everyone in her town was also very stupid????? there were so many frustrating moments, but not in a tantalizing way, just in a way that made me want to bash their heads in. however! the Big Twist around halfway through is fantastic—such a creepy concept for a monster.

"For she is the lamplighter, after all. Maybe she will show others to look for the light rather than the dark".

I didn't think I was able to feel so much anger and frustration until now when I read the lamplighter. The lamplighter brings light, to show the way, but even lamplighters fall victim to the fog in warbler. I don't think I will ever not think about this book. Temperance and Josiah have my heart 🫶🏽.

This is definitely a slow pacing book, but it’s worth the wait! The last few chapters just hit you with the reality of how tragic everything really is. It’s definitely a bittersweet ending.

I loved how strong Temperance is and the amount of love she’s has for her family. Even after all that her sister Pru said to her she still believed that Pru was the light to a world of darkness. I hated Pru so much, she was naive and blind, it showed that she was still just a kid. But at the end of it all Pru’s and Tempe’s love for each other is stronger than anything.

The lamplighter is about dealing with the loss of a parent. The bonds you have with people and the strength it gives you. Trying to protect your loved ones and in doing so losing a bit of your self. It’s overall an amazing story and worth all the anger and sadness I felt while reading it.

Thank you NetGally, the publishers and Crystal J. Bell for the eARC.

I really enjoyed this mysterious and haunting story, "The Lamplighter." The atmosphere was simply haunting and I felt like someone was peering over my shoulder throughout my entire read. The small town on the harbor was a really cool setting, especially with the historical context.

I found the main character, Tempe, to be so darling and so fascinating. Her struggles with womanhood and the many obstacles in her way--the truly horrific stuff too, oh my, she was such a strong character. God, that were some horrific moments. Emotion poured onto those pages.

I wish Pru knew the truth, but by the end of the novel it does seem she has some sort of semblance of understanding. I also hope this is a standalone novel--I like an obscurefiid ending, one where we don't quite know if everything is going to be okay. What a cool ending by the way.

I kind of lost a bit of belief in the novel with the supernatural stuff--maybe if it was even more exaggerated at the beginning and created less of a realistic world, it would've been more believable? Otherwise, super interesting twist and good ending.

“𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙧, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩.”

Coming May 21st, 2024!!

The Lamplighter by Crystal J Bell instantly drew me in with its cover art. I don’t normally read many YA books these days but I’m glad I gave this one a chance. I’m a big fan of horror and mystery blended into a historical setting and this one delivered for me. It’s a bit of a slow burn but the mystery, time period, world building and characters keep you guessing and wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and recommend picking it up!

It’s a beautifully written, atmospheric and eerie debut young adult novel that takes place in the 19th century whaling village of Warbler. After her father dies, Tempe assumes the role of the lamplighter. (A position normally held by men) Tempe is tasked with keeping the lamps within the village lit in order to protect the villagers from an unnatural fog. But when villagers begin to go missing, Tempe is blamed, and must fight to prove her innocence while also protecting what remains of her family and uncovering the monster behind the disappearances.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Fluxbooks for the e-arc for an honest review!