I loved the premise, but I just couldn't get into the story. It was slow paced, and I couldn't bring myself to get caught up into the narrative.

The idea of the story was fantastic and on paper I should have really enjoyed it. I loved the two sisters scamming the wealthy and finding themselves in a real medium situation. However, the story didn't push forward very quickly and at times I felt it was repetitive with the dual POV. I was a little bored here and there.

This is not my usual genre but I wanted to try it and was not disappointed. What an interesting world with unique and engaging characters

I understand Spitting Gold is set in the 1860s, but the narration and dialogue still came off a bit stiff to me. I was hoping to be pulled into a fast-paced scheme, and that wasn't really the case here. I wish there had been more plot or tension to keep me hooked.

This had such a good idea for a premise but the writing just did not deliver. Both protagonists were very unlikable and by the end I just really didn’t care what happened to anyone.

I won't be reading this. I've tried multiple times and haven't gotten into it. Thank you though for the opportunity. If I read it in the future I will come back and change this review.

I really, really wanted to love Spitting Gold but I am sad to say that it didn't totally work for me. The good: the prose is lush and the setting is richly detailed. I loved the premise of the estranged sisters and their seance business. However, the novel ultimately fell flat. I thought the optimistic ending was unlikely and not totally earned, and I also was frustrated by how easily obstacles were tied up by the final pages. It felt like Sarah Waters-lite, and I was expecting a French version of Affinity.

SPITTING GOLD is a wonderfully duplicitous and layered gothic tale filled with love, loss, and family. Lowkis beautifully wove together a con with countless twists and very human emotions that arise while dealing with the power families can have over each other.

What I loved about this book was the dynamic of Sylvie and Charlotte. There are obviously years of family dysfunction and complex relationships, but the thread of family bonds pulls them together. And yes, they are going to do one more con. However, the way the author unravels the story and begins to reveal various deceptions occurring by not only the sisters but the marks themselves, is done in a way that brings you right into the thick of it.

With an atmospheric writing style, Lowkis brings her characters to life and puts them in a compelling and darkly entertaining plot. SPITTING GOLD has humor, heart, and fabulously conceived scheming. And the historical setting made this tale just that much better.

A different historical mystery against the backdrop of two sisters difficult relationship. I enjoyed the fake mystic and shams of the time. While billed as a readalike for fans of Sarah Waters the polish wasn’t there, but I did enjoy it. Perfect to binge on a cold weekend. Readers looking for LGBTQ content should look elsewhere this is a small point of the plot.

I was hoping for a little bit more from this book, but I'm honestly not sure what. It had everything I love - magic and an interesting historical setting - but I just could not connect with these characters.

It was an interesting tale and though the genre isn’t only I gravitate towards, it was well-written.

This was such a fun read! I struggled getting into this book, I think because historical fiction just isn't my thing, but was excited by the spiritualist aspect and thankfully pushed through as I ended up loving this story. With themes focused on family, sisterhood, and loss, set in Victorian French society, this Sapphic novel showed up with a lot of heart. Rated 4.5/5, but rounded down to a 4, simply because I don't think it was quite a 5. Pleasantly surprised by this one. Look forward to future work from this author. Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy to enjoy.

Spitting Gold is set in the 19th century in Paris where two sisters work as mediums or are they con-artists? Sylvie has left the life and is married to a wealthy and influential Baron but when her sister Charlotte appears on her doorstep she is pulled back into the life for one last con.

I really enjoyed this story. Both Sylvie and Charlott were likeable characters flaws and all. The story is a mystery but there were a lot of comical parts throughout. I also enjoyed the historical elements and references. If you like plot twists, good character dialogue and family drama this book is for you. 4 stars. Highly recommend. Thank you, NetGalley and Carmella Lowkis for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Spitting Gold by Carmella Lowkis!

I feel like this is pretty aptly rated at 3.5 stars. I did like the story overall. There was a mystery and a plot that gave me Agatha Christie vibes. I think what made this less enjoyable for me was that the excessive detail made it drag a bit. This mostly occurred because the first half was in one sister’s POV and the second was in the other’s. A lot of the same events were recounted just from their perspectives. While I understand to a degree why this was done, I still think some parts could have been left out the second time through or just given in slightly less detail. This choice though kind of made me lose some interest until the very end. I enjoyed the sapphic romance in this but absolutely wished her sister wouldn’t have been so annoying about it. I know the time period was a lot different, but it made me kind of hate her character even with the ending. The events of the end were interesting though!

"Spitting Gold" is aptly titled, named after a fairy tale story told to two young sisters of 19th century Paris, setting up their sibling rivalry - the good sister and the bad sister. Except, with the brilliant storytelling of debut novelist Carmella Lowkis, the reader (this one, at any rate) was seemingly at a loss for most of the story as to which sister was the good one and which the bad.

Until the 'retirement' of the sisters two years ago, the family business was spirit divination - creating seances for rich patrons seeking to contact their dead relatives. Now the sisters are estranged, one having married up and away into an elegant society lifestyle, and the younger struggling to pay the bills and care for her dying father.

The story is told in two parts, each section living the same events, but through the eyes of a different sister, with completely different insights into what exactly is happening as the ghostly mystery and family secrets are slowly revealed. Having stayed for a time in both sisters' heads, I can honest say that I preferred Florence's character to the Mott sisters. But that took me a while, as my sympathies were tugged first in one girl's corner, then in the other. But, all in all, it was quite an entertaining ride!

A 3-star read, +1 for debut novel goodness!

I wanted to like this book, a lot, because it had all the right ingredients for me. However, the pace was so slow I couldn't finish. I felt there was too much going on, and nothing at the same time.

Spitting Gold tells the story of love, romance, family, loss, humor, and a number of twists. Relationships are not always the easiest to grow and rarely, if ever, does that happen in a linear fashion. Many families have at least some degree of dysfunction in them and in this storyline there is also family dysfunction. Not only that, but (as too often happens) there is secrecy and deception among the sisters.

I thought the characterization was done well and that they were very realistic. Sylvie and Charlotte are estranged sisters who haven't talked to each other in years., so when Sylvie gets a call and subsequent house visit from her sister, she has deep concerns that something from her past will be revealed. Naturally, I wondered right away what she was so concerned about. She's now a baroness and worried about her position in society and what her husband might learn of her past that would put him in a precarious situation. When Charlotte tells her that their father is ill and she's low on money, she tells Sylvie they need to do one last con...very curious now! I won't, however, spoiler it for those who read my review.

The sisters each had their own POV in which to tell their side of the story and they were very unique. Each sister had a very different logic for why she did what she did. Very interesting and fun to watch unfold.

This is a gothic mystery about two sisters, Sylvia and Charlotte, who are spiritists. Set in Paris in 1866 they were raised to help others contact the dead. There are many twists and turns and it kept me guessing. The dark atmosphere and seances make this a perfect read for fall. 3.5 starts rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me smiling to myself at several points. The writing is very good, and I loved the world building of historical Paris. This book was more mystery than I was expecting, but that is a plus for me. I enjoyed the characters. I thought they were well-rounded and their choices made sense within the plot. Overall an enjoyable read!