August 30th, 1797… Agnes Eliza Tulloch, née Burness, is still THE stranger on the island of Eynhallow. She married 'into' the island, so to speak, when she was just 17. Now, about 12/13 years later, she is still the stranger on this Island where only 4 families live, including hers.
And that's not the end, our 'Lamb' is 1.93m tall and strong as an Ox, which makes her even more of an outsider to almost everyone.

Despite her status and the time she lives in, she's not just literate BUT rather well-read thanks to her father. Unfortunately though, she was pushed into marriage by the intrigues of her stepmother and a lot of sweet-talk by widower Tulloch.
Leaving behind her Jamie in Kirkwall.

Agnes loves her children... and her best/only friend Katie, a non-Islander just like her. However, her life is difficult on this barren, cold Island. Every day is filled with toil and drudgery. Her daily work cumbersome and hard, even though her oldest living child, Grace, tries to help her Mother wherever she can.
What's sad about it most, is that her husband Robert doesn't make her life any easier, rather on the contrary now that she's bound to him.

In my eyes this Book is quite a lot about Agnes and how she was never able to do what's right for her without ending up with a more disastrous outcome.
The author has woven all the other characters very well into the story with our main character Agnes. Even Victor, although I'm still not sure if he had planned a 'certain thing' from the beginning as it played out later, or if it all happened in the End just by cruel coincidence and due to her Curiosity.

Agnes undergoes a transformation in this story from the obedient Eve to the emancipated Lilith. The whole thing has only one catch in my opinion, the transformation comes too late for our Heroine.
A fact that honestly saddened me as a woman while I was reading the book.

From the last quarter on, the book was more Women's Fiction than (Gothic-)Horror... but that was absolutely fine with me, as this book was gorgeous.

I felt a lot of sympathy for Agnes and for Katie, as welll as for their children.
I couldn't stand any of the male islanders, except for Tom, they were obnoxious and opressing idiots.

The atmosphere, apart from a few beautiful moments (The children and Daisy), was very gloomy and desolate.
To say, that I was shocked by the extreme turn of events at the End would be an understatement. Well done!

Thank you for gifting me as a reader with the lovely Daisy and Dickie and at the same time How dare you to the Author. (He'll know why…)

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓, 𝑮𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒄 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅/𝒐𝒓 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏'𝒔 𝑭𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏.

5 stars, but I wish I could give it even more.

Wow, Tim McGregor does it again. This is my 2nd book by him, and I can't wait to read more, I think he's definitely a favourite author for me now.

This is a historical gothic horror with a new twist on a classic story. It started of slow, but the pacing picked up quickly, I think I knew early on that this was going to be a book I love. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, which is bleak and dreary. The writing was phenomenal. It was as if I was there alongside Agnes looking out into the water, experiencing the strong bitter winds, and watching the darkness that looms in her home. Usually, I'm able to guess/predict where a story is going to some degree, but this totally took me by surprise.

And the ending. Oof. McGregor took my heart and squeezed it tight. I had to sit there for a while just thinking about it. Haunting.

Read this if you love: Frankenstein, historical horror, gothic horror, retellings, isolation, remote settings, island settings, and monsters.

Many thanks to Netgalley for sharing a digital copy for me to read and also to Raw Dog Screaming Press for sending me an ARC. As always, opinions are my own 🤘🏻💀🤘🏻

ORKNEY ISLANDS, 1797 – Agnes Tulloch feels a little cheated. This windswept place is not the island paradise her husband promised it to be when they wed. Now with four young children, she struggles to provide for her family while her husband grows increasingly distant.

When a stranger comes ashore to rent an abandoned cottage, Agnes and the other islanders are abuzz with curiosity. Who is this wealthy foreigner and why on earth would he come to Eynhallow? Her curiosity is soon replaced with vexation when her husband hires her out as cook and washerwoman, leaving Agnes with no say in the matter. Agnes begrudgingly befriends this aristocrat-in-exile; a mercurial scientist who toils night and day on some secret pursuit. Despite herself, she’s drawn to his dark, brooding charm. And who is this Byronic stranger sweeping Agnes off her feet? His name is Frankenstein and he’s come to this remote isle to fulfill a monstrous obligation.

Review:

Eynhallow is more than a place. It is a state of mind, a word that conjures up desolation and loneliness. The latest by master scribe Tim McCregor with a placement in the Frankenstein canon. Over two centuries ago, a teenaged Mary Shelley sat down to pen one of the finest works of the Gothic ever written and left an indelible mark on science fiction and horror forever. McGregor follows her footsteps to deliver a book that does her legacy all the justice.

Agnes is a housewife living on Eynhallow with her husband and children, a miserable existence on a barren rock that is far from the paradise she was promised. Everything changes when a stranger arrives on the island; a handsome, brooding man whose name is Frankenstein. From the start, McGregor plunges the reader into Agnes’s head and presents her as a true gothic heroine; unfulfilled and longing for more, but irrevocably drawn to danger.

Then the stories takes its twists and nothing will be the same again. McGregor gets into the pure horror of Eynhallow; the horror of isolation, of losing oneself and changing forever. Maybe for the better, but also perhaps now and being unable to understand the difference but enjoying it all the same. Agnes deserves her freedom and will stop at nothing to claim the independence she warrants even if she must buy it in blood.

Nothing is spared in turning this sordid tale into a twisted retelling and sequel to Frankenstein. McGregor fiendishly subverts expectations and then keeps going in the best ways. Every word has a precise point and the story continues to haunt long after many of the characters in it have withered to dust.

A triumph. Paraphrasing the good doctor himself in the film: This story is indeed alive.

As if life isn’t hard enough, caring for four children and a husband who hates her on an isolated island, Agnes is forced to work for the mysterious stranger who moves into the haunted abode on Eynhallow.

This book is masterfully written for the perfect gloomy vibe; picture a rainy beach day. This is the perfect book for the salty feminists out there. The strong female protagonist has you rooting for her to have one easy day. I will say, this is the kind of book you read when you’re in a certain mood.

As always, check the triggers. There is a lot of pregnancy/baby stuff that’s hard to handle, but it’s set in the 1800s so it’s not exactly like medical science was up to snuff.

I very much enjoyed this mysterious Gothic story! The writing was atmospheric and I found myself totally absorbed in the lore!

"You think I will love you because I was created to do so? ... Should I faint with gratitude because you are willing to love me in all my wretchedness?"

Thank you to Raw Dog Screaming Press (@rdspress) and @NetGalley for the ARC!

3.75 stars

I was intrigued by this book because it sounded like a very different take on Frankenstein and his monster - and it is! In Eynhallow, a tiny island in the Orkney archipelago (Scotland), we follow Agnes through her provincial life as mother to four and wife to a temperamental man. Bored with her life and with little company, she longs for something to happen.

One day a visitor appears out of the blue and occupies an abandoned cottage. He is aloof and possibly mad, but that doesn't stop Agnes's husband from offering her up to work as the newcomer's housekeeper. Resentful at first, Agnes does her duty but slowly grows to care for the stranger. He is mysterious, prone to bouts of joy and despair, and shows an attraction to her that she's not used to.

While it is no mystery to the reader who the man is when he introduces himself as Victor Frankenstein, Agnes holds out hope that he could be her salvation. But anyone who's read the novel knows that no good comes from being associated with the Icarian figure.

The beginning of the book lagged a little for me and the pacing felt odd, with Agnes's life before Victor giving us a good scope of the scenery and setting up for some ghost stories. However I did get tired to Agnes's inner monologue being stunted by her fourth-wall breaks and think that there could have been a better way for the author to transition from scene to scene.

I'll have to ruminate on the ending a little more. Like I said, there is no happy ending when you collide with Frankenstein, but I may need to re-read the original novel to maybe accept where we ended up. Overall, Agnes's story doesn't necessarily contradict much of the canon and is an interesting piece of "What Happened While Victor Worked on His Promise to the Monster."

I'd recommend this to fans of Shelley's work, especially since I'm interested to hear what others have to say about the way things played out. Agnes serves as an imperfect narrator and a complex woman to read about, so maybe my thoughts are just that I wanted better for her in the end.

Let me know what you thought!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Wow.

That's really the first comment that I have for this book, and it will sum up the rest of my review too. This book is absolutely devourable - it has perfect tone and cadence, and it is so perfectly crafted I barely know where to begin with the review. I inhaled this book like nothing else, and I am still thinking about it (and think I will be for a long time yet).

I will admit when I found out about the Frankenstein angle that I thought the book was ruined. It was a total surprise for me, and I didn't think I would enjoy it at all. I am pleased to admit I was completely wrong. This book pulled out all the stops, and culminated in a perfect swansong of gothic horror. I cannot praise this book highly enough, particularly the ending, and the looping in of an actual location and the Frankenstein story with old myth and legend - it was absolutely gorgeous. This book was a perfect gem.

I usually hate subplots with any kind of romance in them too, but this book included one that I actually felt empathy about, and it was written so beautifully I don't even know where to start. I really did love that facet of this book too, which is particularly rare for me.

This book holds such a lovely balance of bleak and enjoyable. The characters are wonderfully formed and full people, and I honestly cannot praise the author highly enough. I can't wait to read more from McGregor, and you best believe I recommended this book to my fellow horror friends the second that I finished it.

I'll be seeking out a hard copy of this one the minute it comes out for my shelf - straight to the five star section.

It's a gothic horror tale that takes place in the Orkney Islands of Scotland in 1797. Agnes and her four children live on the island, struggling to survive off the sea while dealing with her unpleasant and abusive husband. There are only four families living on the isolated island. The arrival of a mysterious outsider who wants to rent a neglected croft causes speculation about his motives. Agnes' husband volunteers her to take on the responsibility of cooking and cleaning for the new renter, much to her dismay. As she becomes more familiar with this new man, strange and terrifying events start taking place.

I couldn't put this book down! The author excels at making you feel like you're a part of the story. I could sense all that Agnes went through. I am a fan of authors who build authentic worlds, featuring vibrant characters and real-world conflicts intertwined with elements of fantasy. It's a challenge to come across Creature Feature books that truly terrify.

Many thanks to @TimMcGregor1 @RDSPress & @netGalley for a review copy.

[4.5 Stars]

A really enjoyable, atmospheric gothic tale. All the characters were well-rounded despite the shorter length of the book and my intrigue was high the whole time.

Personally, I don't think the last few pages were necessary, but I understand why they were included.

If you liked Frankenstein (or even if you didn't) I would recommend giving this one a go!

I was excited when I requested and received an advance reader copy of Eynhallow from NetGalley. I received a free digital copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

I studied Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in university and I love other gothic fiction authors like Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, and H.P. Lovecraft. When I read the synopsis for Eynhallow and saw that it was a revisitation of Frankenstein I wanted in!

The narrator, Agnes Tulloch, lives on the island of Eynhallow, which is a real place in Orkney, Scotland. The tiny village of Eynhallow is bleak, foggy, and windswept. The atmosphere is described so vividly that you can feel the dampness in your bones. The bright spots in Agnes’ life are her precious children and her one best friend, but aside from that, her life has been rough until now, and she hopes for an opportunity to change her circumstances. When the mysterious Victor Frankenstein arrives on the island, we wonder whether he will be a blessing or a curse for Agnes.

The main characters in Eynhallow are fully fleshed out. It is easy to get caught up in Agnes’ joys and fears for herself and the ones she loves. In the typical gothic novel style, the monstrous and grotesque elements of the story are described in just enough detail to allow one’s imagination to roam. The themes of ambition, isolation, and arrogance, that Frankenstein was famous for, are some of the main themes in this novel, too.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to gothic horror fans. I hope that you make yourself a strong hot toddy and read it on a dark and rainy night.

Even though we are warned in the prologue that the island has been abandoned and only allowed visitors once a year, we quickly forget this as we are caught up in the first person narrative of Agnes, the main character.
Eynhallow brings all the horror I would expect, but it was also full of suspense and family drama. It is interesting to read another perspective of the well-known Frankenstein story, but it is through empathy and sympathy with Agnes that the work really shines.
Horror and sadness fought for top billing in the last quarter of the novel as we continue to experience events through Agnes' eyes, and it is this that makes this a five-star read for me.

Agnes leads a very dreary life on an isolated Orkney island in the late 1700s. Married to a selfish and mean man, and raising their four children the best she can while living in abject poverty, her joys in life are far and few between.

One day, the island’s twenty inhabitants are shocked when a gentleman from the Continent comes to stay for the season on the tiny island. The mysterious man moves in to a decrepit cottage, and introduces himself as…..Victor Frankenstein.

I loved the atmosphere of this book. The isolation of being stuck on this island, surrounded by the rough sea. I also loved the character of Agnes, who was resilient, and did the best she could under the circumstances. It’s a very compelling and well-written novel.

Absolute shocking out-of-nowhere home run of a story, EYNHALLOW takes the lore of Frankenstein and his creature to new heights by tying them to an island with its own unique history. Set towards the end of the 18th century, EYNHALLOW is also the name of the island in Orkney where the story is set and, as rich as the world building and locale visuals McGregor introduces you to, very little will prepare you for the downhill rollercoaster the last third of the book roars you down.

Much of EYNHALLOW is historical fiction, but with a contemporary feel to it. Our protagonist, Agnes, is surrounded by folk that belong in the 1790s, yet she and her children have a very contemporary thinking and feel to them, enough that a reader can connect and even relate to as they navigate their relationships. The relationship between Agnes and Victor struggles with improbability as much as the question as to why the dice would not fall into place like this in the first place? The pages turn even faster as the obvious gives way to the real question as to what’s next for Agnes? Eynhallow, the book and the island, never let up. If there was one key takeaway, it’s that EYNHALLOW could have been 100 pages longer to spread the shock and awe of the later pages, and there would still be plenty of momentum for a real hit.

Tim McGregor has written a real good story here, one I recommend, and can see as a potential series. You cannot help but root for Agnes and her kids (her husband, Mr. Tulloch, well…), they have been written with such care. If you are a fan of Frankenstein’s monster, EYNHALLOW will be the first book on my lips to recommend as a follow up.

This was a solid novel. I was sucked in from page one and I did not leave disappointed. I'm weary with retellings, but this stood on its own while also respecting the source material. It's incredibly well written, without being too simplistic or pretentious. I definitely wouldn't mind picking up a physical copy of this and will be looking out for this author in the future.

This blew me away. What a great story. Fantastic writing and a plot that actually surprised me while reading. Unexpected but well done. The ending was a tough pill to swallow but I expected no less after reading the whole book. Honestly the writing was so good I just can’t stop thinking about it.

Thank you to Tim McGregor, Raw Dog Screaming Press, and NetGalley for the eARC of Eynhallow - a beautifully bleak reimagining of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

The lyrical prose of this novel made it an absolute joy to read, regardless of the horrors it was describing. I've never seen anything quite like it and don't know if I will again. Stunning and well deserving of 5⭐️ by anyone's standards.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Eynhallow.

I'm always up for horror and the premise of Eynhallow was intriguing so I was pleased my request was approved.

It's 1797 and Agnes Tulloch isn't living her best life. The Orkney Island is a desolate place filled with stark beauty and deep loneliness for a woman, wife, and mother of four.

She's not married to the love of her life and finds herself lost in daydreams especially when gazing at the sea as she struggles to provide for her children.

When a stranger comes to the island, Agnes and the locals are buzzing with excitement and gossip. Soon, Agnes is drawn to this peculiar, intelligent man who is hiding a dangerous secret.

But what will this relationship cost Agnes?

This is an atmospheric retelling of Frankenstein but with a twist, featuring the Bride. Kind of.

The writing is beautiful and sad, describing the islands in its natural beauty but also the painful isolation, the lack of friends and family as Agnes has always been an outsider, in her own family and now on this island.

She's not a local and she feels like it in more ways than one.

The author does a great job capturing the fear and terror of Agnes after her transformation, though I wished the author had elaborated more on the transition from human to creature.

I would have liked more exposition on Victor, further development of the relationship between Agnes and Victor, as it felt too fast, which I get since the novella is less than 200 pages.

This is my first book by the author but it won't be the last!

To start, I absolutely loved this novel. Devoured it. I didn’t realize it was a Frankenstein retelling because I had just seen the author and had to have it. I loved The Wasps in the Ice Cream. This author is now an auto buy for me,

The writing style is captivating. The storytelling keeps you wanting more. I would’ve read this in one night if I didn’t need sleep.

Loved!

I went into this blind, enchanted by the cover and trusting the author. I loved the writing, the plot, the characters, the setting, and, of course - the iconic creature and its creator. The mere name of "Frankenstein" gives me chills. And it was a nice surprise to find out afterwards that Eynhollow is a real place off the north coast of Scotland, with its own folklore. The writing is to be admired: it combines gritty realism with a claustrophobic atmosphere, to create a well-paced narrative with a very strong ending. Admittedly, not much happens: the story takes place in between Victor Frankenstein's exploits and does not really change much in the original novel. But McGregor shows a side of the story well worth exploring: heavy on emotion, grief and regret, it allows a glimpse into both Frankenstein and his "monster" otherwise unavailable. The real treat, however, is the female lead herself: her story is very simple, her life very familiar, but McGregor's stellar storytelling skills turns it into an absolutely immersive tale that pits science and motherhood against love and violence. Highly recommended!

Wow. This book was nothing short of amazing. I already know it will be in my top ten for the year.

Eynhallow follows Agnes Tulloch, a resident of the small and desolate island of Eynhallow. Agnes struggles to get through her days with her abusive husband and taking care of her four children. One day, a wealthy stranger arrives on the island and rents out one of the abandoned cottages on the island. This causes a stir among the four families that live there. Who is this man? When Agnes’s husband unwillingly volunteers Agnes to be his cook and washerwoman, Agnes eventually befriends the stranger, changing her life forever.

Every single character is beautifully created and has so much depth, especially Agnes. The novel being through her POV, you get to know her so intimately, feeling like you are looking through her eyes every step of the way.

It is so beautifully written, it feels like I’m reading classic literature. I think mostly because of the historical accuracy of the novel itself. The language matches how someone would talk during the 1790s, as well as how a woman would think and act based on the culture of that time period.

The setting is creepy, depressing, mysterious, dark, yet has a certain beauty to it. It enhances the entire plot, making the story all the more terrifying and heartbreaking.

I know one thing for sure; I’m a new fan of Tim McGregor and will be reading more of his work.