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!

Tempe took over his father's profession after his death. Unfortunately, clichés die hard, and not everyone sees favorably on a woman who is responsible for lighting the city's street lights, a very important position... so when Molly disappears, the crowd does not hesitate for a second to point the finger at Tempe... Juggling between his duty and the investigation into the disappearance of the young girl, Tempe will discover dark, strange, and unnatural secrets...

The atmosphere of the novel is very heavy: we feel the coastal town, the suspicious villagers, the fog, and the unease that it causes. Some passages are chilling and don't particularly make you want to find yourself in Tempe's place... ^^"

In short, a read between horror and gothic, perfect for fall! ^^

3.7 stars

I enjoyed the book with the whole plot about mystery in a mystic town and the disappearance of some girls, giving a flicker of magic in it. As for the characters, I liked them all but not that much especially the main character, Temperance. She's brave but kind of selfish in some ways, even though I know she cares about her family a lot. Despite all of that, there is some lack in the plot like no exploration of Gideon's past when there is a part where Tempe already questions about that. This also happens in that part of mysterious magic. Plus, the ending was a little bit of a cliffhanger because I thought this was a standalone but it maybe turns out to be a series(?). Overall, it was a good experience reading this especially since they're talking about feminist topics too and I appreciate a lot about that.

The Lamplighter by Crystal J. Bell

“Little-girl dreams of fairy-tale princes and respect are so easily shattered by reality.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First off, thank you @fluxbooks and @netgalley for the advanced reader copy of The Lamplighter.

Now let’s get into this review because I LOVED this book!

And here’s why

1. Bells atmospheric writing and gripping prose complemented the eerie scene of this book so well. I was grasped from the beginning and could not put it down.

2. The world building was well balanced with the plot. The details were woven into the story with a natural fluidity and the author does a great job of playing with the readers senses.

3. The main theme of the novel is deep rooted misogyny and the complete ignorance of those who do not experience it. This theme was very well executed and developed, in my opinion. Often we see this idea implanted into a story without any thought, explication, or exploration but Bell doesn’t shy away from these conversations.

4. Oh my god that ending was freaking fantastic! It was what I was hopping for but I was not expecting it because it was dark and not what you usually get in YA horror novel.

So why only four starts and not five?

The secondary characters really needed more development, especially the love interest, Josiah. I found his character to be very superficial, cookie cutter, and kinda like a wet rag. The other secondary characters could have used a bit more as well, such as Temp’s (our main character) sister Pru, her Mother, and Henry the constable. But the lack of development is the lost obvious with Josiah. I just wanted a little more depth with them.

Overall though, I thought this was fantastic! If you are a fan of dark, historic horror, I cannot recommend this one enough!

4/5

Started on 28/03/24
Finished : 01/04/24

ARC was provided by NetGalley.

I pick up this story for the cover and title. It truly didn't disappointed me.
I was a bit afraid of the horror theme because I'm not a fan of the genre, in movies. BUT, I have to say the suspense made it more interesting.
I hate comparing books but it truly made me think of "a study of drowning" but more woody to say the least.
The beginning of the story was a bit too slow and long for me but necessary to really but the suspense and the story into the rightful mood.
I loved Temperence's character. She is too ahead of her society and the most human character of this book. I can't believe what happenned to Josiah's character I was truly heartbroken.

4.5 stars -- The Lamplighter follows Temperance, a female lamplighter in a coastal 19th century town called Warbler. The town is plagued by thick, nightly fog and Tempe keeps the fog at bay by ensuring that her light posts are lit and gleaming, though everyone knows that to venture into the fog spells a premature death. But when Tempe starts piecing odd events in town together, she will come face to face with horrors she could never have imagined.

This book felt like an American gothic/folk horror fever dream (I read it in basically one day and couldn't put it down). I liked the atmosphere and how the town was depicted. I felt the autumn air, could smell the ozone of the fog, and I couldn't escape the sense of dread and tension that permeated the chapters. As a reader, I hurtled towards the inevitable conflict and then was shocked and shocked some more by the events that transpired. Some of the twists I could guess, others I didn't (especially the last two chapters).

Essentially, the writing was engrossing and I needed to know what was going to happen, even though every character in this made the worst possible choice, every single time. The ending? I had to read the last two chapters again just to make sure that I didn't hallucinate it because I was not expecting that. I am a big fan of female rage in media, though, and this book has that in abundance. I also enjoyed the climactic fight scenes and everything to do with the fog, the forest, and the trees.

Overall, I think this book is well-written, engrossing, and full of atmospheric horror that will fill you with dread. It was a very unique and very distinct YA horror novel that I think will resonate with a lot of readers who want to be immersed in the horror genre. Crystal Bell is definitely a horror author to watch out for based on this debut.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Flux books for the advanced readers copy. This did not affect my review in any way.

This book caught my eye with the cover and synopsis. It sounded really creepy and intriguing. I was enjoying the atmosphere of the sea side village and the mysterious fog. Unfortunately I dnfed this at 35%. I was getting bored of the mc's daily life with these vague hints of something more sinister with no clues as to what that sinister thing was. I wasn't enjoying the family dynamics and this vague encounter with the other male character, which turned out not to be as bad as it was presented.

I'm a ship with no tail wind, stagnant and helpless on the great ocean
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review
~3.75 stars rounded up ~
The protagonist of our story, Temperance (better known as Tempy) is the town lamplighter, after the death of her father, and in this small port village set in the 19th century, there is doubt of her competence to do her job and more so after the disappearance of a girl in town. Temperance is determined to discover what is happening, even if she fears that the fog has made her go crazy or that the villagers will believe the same.
Women are capable of creating human life. It is a power that even the most misogynistic man can recognize and value. Without women, there can be no sons. No daughter. Men certainly play their part well. But they do not grow and support that life with their own bodies.
This book starts so beautifully, the prose is lush and demands attention to every last word. The pacing of the story is very stagnant at times, with the middle dragging along, but when the plot is plotting, the deep-rooted horror that sits in your stomach is palpable. However, I felt that the side characters were extremely one-dimensional, the constable behaved like a stereotypical constable, and the designated mean girl in town was mean to Temperance, but overly flirty with men. The atmosphere achieved unknown creepiness, but familiar comfort at the same time, which added to that feeling of distrust of what was going on, and that things may not be as they seemed at first glance which definitely adds to the overall vibes of the book that I adored.
Overall, I definitely recommend this book if you love young adult horror, or are even trying to submerge yourself in the horror genre and want a horror book that will evoke anxiousness as to what will happen next, and force you to feel the discomfort and fear that the characters feel on page.

2.5 rounded to 3 "atmospheric" stars

"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.
incompetent."

first and foremost, the writing in this book is absolutely beautiful. the author has a talented gift with her words. i saw that other reviewers said the lamplighter felt atmospheric, and i agree. the way she weaves them made me feel like i was transported to warbler myself—experiencing being enveloped by the constant fog, feeling watched and claustrophobic, as i followed temperance on her journey. the book was incredibly slow at first, but i did not particularly mind it because i felt like the pacing fit the story. it slowly draws you in, and once it picks up its pace, it moves very fast.

temperance was not an easy character to love. while i wanted to root for her, she did not always make the best decisions—in fact, most of her decisions were just poorly made, point black—so i became increasingly frustrated with her as the book progressed. it did not help that her mistakes were extremely costly because they did not just cost her; they cost literally everyone in her life. i had to constantly remind myself that she was a traumatized eighteen-year-old girl, and her actions read as such. after sleeping on it, i realized that it wasn't temperance—it wasn't her fault. not really. she was just destined to be doomed by the narrative. this is not a criticism of the way the narrative is set, but rather the world temperance was living in. she never had a chance.

there was a sense of hopelessness and complete futility as i slowly went through 80–90% of the story and then, the ending. i think that is why i couldn't give this book a higher rating because i am the kind of person who needs a huge pay-off after being put through hardship and pain—something i don't think i got out of the lamplighter. however, i know this book will definitely find an audience once it debuts. the writing is way too good to not have people falling in love with it. will i ever pick another book by this author? the answer is unequivocally yes.

ᡣ𐭩 i received an advance reader copy from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review ᡣ𐭩

amazon review will be posted on the release date.

Temperance is the Lamplighter in a costal whaling town on the east coast of the States; a job she inherited after her father's death five years ago. When Tempe finds two of her lamp posts mysteriously dark and a young woman goes missing, she's quickly under scrutiny from the people of her town who never thought she should have the position in the first place. Determined to keep her job, Tempe works to uncover the truth before more people can go missing, and the first thing she must do is look into the motives of the villagers around her.

The premise of the book is fantastic, but I struggled with the execution. The suspense was lacking for a book marketed as a horror novel, and I found the characters difficult to root for. Temperance is quick tempered, judgmental, and often on a high horse, but I could've looked past it if it weren't for how often she lied. Her lies, or sometimes omission of truths, consistently make her life more difficult either because they're quickly discovered or because they box in what she's able to tell the people around her. She could've chosen anyone (her sister, her bestfriend, the constable) to confide in from the beginning, but instead she keeps everything to herself even after it's bitten her in the behind.

I found the age difference between Pru and Gideon disconcerting, and the characters in the book barely acknowledge it. Even when Temperance tries to dissuade Pru from the relationship (very poorly I might add), their age difference isn't even one of the details brought up for debate.

The end of the book was satisfying, and I wish more of the book had the pacing and atmosphere we had in the last 20%.

Thank you do NetGalley and North Star Editions for the chance to read and review this novel!

An extremely atmospheric book, the details of the surrounding environment are fantastic and make for quite a spooky read. This book also touches on gender inequality and affirms that girls can indeed do everything that boys/men can, if not better!

trigger warnings for this book: sexual assault (alluded to?) but not graphic, graphic physical assault, predatory men in general. very brief description of corpse.

incredibly poignant and exquisitely written. the prose is a feast for the eyes- even if it is a little heavy sometimes. the beginning lagged slightly, and i couldn't get past the first 20% for a couple days, but the middle and ending paid off. trust me when i say i was destroyed by that twist at the end. bell, you are brutal for this. i don't think i'll recover- they could've had it all :(

temperance. where to start? i love her character. headstrong, determined to bear the weight of the world on her back without needing anyone at all. when i say the world, i mean HER world: her mother, her sister, and their little cottage. some days it's too hollow to call a home, but it's all they have left of their father- so temperance fights to protect all that is dear to her, even if it comes at her own detriment. she is a wholly family oriented person, career driven because work is what keeps food on the table, but inside she's splintering. following the rapid disappearances of several women in her town, tempe is driven to investigate. it's her job on the line, and she'll do whatever necessary.

side characters i liked: pru. she was a little annoying at times, but i get where she's coming from. in the end, she's a girl who cares for her sister, trying to hold together the remnants of a family. she really didn't get a chance to grow up at all before she was thrust into position as her mother's primary caretaker. because of that, i get most of her reasoning and why she does and says what she does- even if it did irk me.

tempe and pru's mother lacked depth for me. i sympathised with her for sure- i think bell does a phenomenal job at evoking emotions from the reader, mostly helped with her magnificent prose- but aside from the occasional line or scene about her being almost comatose, i didn't really see much of her. her reveal would've hit harder if we had seen some memories of her old self with tempe and pru, being the woman she used to be etc.

now- my gripes with this book. i mentioned several times i adore bell's prose in this, but sometimes i feel as if it works to her detriment more than anything. the first 20% of this book very nearly made me doubt if i could finish this, and i almost never dnf anything. her writing is magnificent, but when she's writing the most lengthy sentences about the most mundane of things it throws people off. this is why the first 20% of the book felt so slow to me even though this is a very short book and pacing is not slow at all, particularly at the 50% mark and beyond. this is my major issue with the book, and i was going to rate this maybe a 3.5 before the twist (spoiler!) about josiah like. blew my mind and i just sort of sat there and stared for approximately a hundred and twenty seconds. bell, you've wrecked my cognitive abilities, i hop you are proud. (positive) the ending half of the book definitely redeems itself- ten times better than the first half.

i liked this a lot. thank you so much for the arc! i will definitely be watching out for more of bell's works in the future (please write some poetry, your prose is very lovely.)

I absolutely LOVED the atmosphere of Warbler. There's nothing like a gloomy, foggy, seaport town to set you on edge. The writing made me feel like I was there!

I also really enjoyed the feminist aspect to the story too. Temperance may be one of my favorite female characters in YA that I've read about!

Main character,Temperance, gives a relatibility in her powerful work ethic, tangible doubts, & dedication to her family.

World-building is hauntingly beautiful.
Strolling amist an 1800s Whaling town under the constant shroud of fog.
Watching are the scrutinizing eyes of townsfolk and an eerie figure hidden amist the shadows. This setting allowing you to be immersedly spooked.

It gives you a story crafted in the darkness and devoid of light except in the presence of a strained sisterhood.

Big thanks to North Star Editions and NetGalley for this ARC.

The cover and blurb of this book drew me in immediately. <i>The Lamplighter</i> is a deeply atmospheric historical fantasy with horror elements-- exactly my cup of tea! It follows Temperance, who inherits the position of lamplighter in her small coastal village after her father's death. When a girl goes missing in the night fog Tempe's light is supposed to ward off, her livelihood is made precarious and she takes it upon herself to solve the mysteries of the night.

This story was simply lovely. It gripped me from the very start with its amazing atmosphere and mystery. It has very strong character building and the development arc of the protagonist is a rare gem in YA fantasy. The structure was very good and succeeded in shocking me with some of the twists in the mystery plot, which is unusual for me.

I was let down by the prose in places. Though I do think for the most part it was very fitting for the story, some parts really made me wince. Something else in that vein was the very heavy-handed treatment of the themes of feminism. I understand this is basically a staple of the genre, but it was too on the nose for me in this historical fantasy. On that note, there are some scenes in here that seem like thinly veiled metaphors for sexual assault. Quite a few of them actually, so read with caution.

Unfortunately, I was not very invested in Tempe's romance with Josiah, but I think this doesn't take away from the experience of the story, especially later on. What I mean is, the romance subplot (if you can call it that) won't give you butterflies, but it will do what it was intended to do.

The thing I loved most about this book was the ending, which I won't spoil. For me, it felt appropriate and earned, even though it was very unexpected.

So 4 stars for this lovely book. I will be getting a copy for my own collection on release. I mean, look at that cover!

*I received an ARC through Netgalley, this in no way affected my review*

In this story we follow Temperance as she tries to uncover what is happening in her village as girls are starting to go missing, while she’s also struggling to keep her family afloat.

I don’t read much horror, but I must say this book really delivered on the atmosphere. The places and eerie vibe were described very well and I was on the edge of my seat at certain points.

But I struggled a lot plot-wise. I feel like the blurb already gives away very much and there really wasn’t much of an ‘aha!’ moment when the big plot twist happened, unfortunately.

Also hated the ending.

This was a DNF for me. I could not get into it at all and am sad I couldn't enjoy it as much as others.