One of my favorite books from last year was B.R. Meyers' A Dreadful Splendor, so I was thrilled when this book was announced! The Third Wife of Faraday House read like a mix of Jane Eyre and Crimson Peak. I loved these stories because they were character driven, all three of the main characters were strong and independent. Emeline is the opposite at the beginning. At first I wasn't able to stomach Emeline because she was so superficial and naive, to the point of distraction. But as the mystery of Faraday House starts to unfold, Emeline is able to grow as a person and I found myself rooting for her! Meyers is a master at atmosphere so the ✨️vibes✨️ were immaculate. The Third Wife hit just the right amount of the classic beats of gothic literature to create the right amount of suspense. The eerie seclusion, ghosts, and madness kept me flipping the pages even though it wasn't as original as Meyers' first book.

I was expecting to enjoy this book a lot more, but I just could not find myself interested in reading it. I kept picking it up, reading a few pages, putting it back down. This went on for days. The heroine comes off as almost unreasonably immature, and I felt like the gothic, melodramatic vibe was laid on way too thick. It was almost reading like a satire rather than a serious historical mystery, and the romance was barely noticeable. In addition, the story felt off-kilter and didn't flow well. I absolutely adored the first book and fully expected this one to be of the same caliber, but it definitely lacked the spark the first one had. I'll definitely give the author another try in the future, but this book was a major miss for me.

I think I'm really starting to enjoy Gothic Fiction. This novel was eerie and at times made me scared to read at night. While nothing too extreme happens, the suspense is constant and kept me at the edge of my seat. Some of the twists were a bit predictable, but the overall storyline was very compelling. I was immediately drawn in by Emeline's quest to solve the house’s mystery and found myself rooting for her the entire time. Her character arc is beautifully done, and I loved the strength she gains by the end of the novel. I read the last 40% of the book in one sitting as the pace really picks up with lots of discoveries and action. Although the ending felt a little rushed and slightly out of place with the storyline, I still appreciated how each character's arc was concluded. The epilogue was a great touch that I absolutely loved. I would definitely recommend this book and can't wait to explore more from this author! ❤️

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Orphaned Emeline Fitzpatrick is desperate to be free of her guardians, the very strict Shackletons and to begin a new life with her love, Lieutenant Frederick Fletcher in Bermuda. But when she is caught in a compromising situation with Frederick, her guardians quickly arrange her marriage to a man of their choosing, widower Captain Graves and she is sent away, with hopes that her Lieutenant will rescue her. When Emeline arrives at Faraday House, she soon learns that the captain’s second wife, Georgina, though gravely ill, is not dead! Emeline with the help of Georgina, the cold, but intriguing Reverand Pellerine and some supernatural intervention, is determined to discover the truth of Faraday House and just maybe find her own HEA.

I was so excited to read this book, I love a good gothic romance and was really looking forward to this book after reading the blurb. Then I started it and realized that it is written in the First-Person Narrative, I hate FPN. Then as I continued reading, it became obvious that this story is definitely more mystery than romance, but it has a strong gothic feel, and the mystery was well plotted albeit slow moving. I personally find it hard to connect with characters in the first person, so I struggled with this book, but lovers of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights will probably enjoy this story more than I did. Overall, it was a decent read with a happy ending. Not a book I would read again, but if you like gothic mystery with a dash of supernatural and don’t mind FPN, you will probably enjoy this book.

3 stars

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. *

The Third Wife of Faraday House takes place in the early 1800s in a distant, lonely, and isolated place. Emeline Fitzpatrick, who is intended to be the third wife of Captain Graves, has lost her parents, and she is "adopted" by a couple in Halifax who care for her but seem happy enough to send her off to Faraday House to marry the unknown Captain Graves. The setting of this book and the characters who surreptitiously try to control and poison Captain Graves' dying second wife are pure gothic fixtures.

There are dangerous graves and pits dotting the land around Faraday House that may even be more treacherous than simple graves, and were it not for the kind pastor, Reverend Pellerine, Emeline may well have ended up in one of them. She befriends Georgina, Captain Graves' dying second wife, and Emeline realizes fairly early on that the Claytons, a couple who have been at Faraday House for 10 years, are certainly anything but kind and helpful. Hettie, another servant at the house who is smitten by the Reverend Pellerine, is also a bit suspicious. There are plenty of recondite plot twists that involve Emeline and Georgina, and babies, alive and dead, also play a part in the plot.

The Third Wife of Faraday House certainly has gothic twists although they seem somewhat less sophisticated than those in a number of books by the Bronte sisters or by other female writers of the period. The plot is fairly fast moving, and there are many challenges to be met by Emeline and Georgina who are trying to save their lives in this frightening atmosphere. Or, this book can be compared to Vathek, Frankenstein, or the Castle of Ortranto.

Thanks to William Morrow and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

I loved this author's previous book, A Dreadful Splendor, so this was one of my most anticipated reads of the summer. It did not disappoint. I loved this one, too!

Gothic, ghostly, and gripping, I was hooked from the start. The suspense and mystery had me eager to uncover the dark secrets of Faraday House. The world-building and writing are immersive and descriptive without slowing down the twisty story. It is so atmospheric that Faraday House is a character in itself, and I could vividly picture the dark and foreboding manor and its surrounding grounds. It's the kind of place that ghosts haunt and makes locals believe in rumors of a curse that causes the wives there to die young. A sense of isolation permeates the setting and the narrative, adding to the emotion, foreboding, and suspense. Against this haunting backdrop, there is mystery, betrayal, and romance.

Told in the single POV of FMC Emeline, who is naive, quick-witted, and kind-hearted, the story features well-drawn characters who will make you wonder who among them can be trusted. The story also has feminist themes, which Emeline embraces, and her character shows increasing growth and courage throughout.

I had a hard time putting this down. The mystery kept me guessing. I loved the setting and the supernatural elements, and the ending was satisfying. Myers will now be one of my autobuy authors. If you're like me and enjoy eerie but not terrifying stories, this would make a great addition to your Fall tbr. And this cover--stunning!

Thank you to William Morrow Books and Netgalley for the gifted review copy.

Edgar Award winning B. R. Myers returns to a supernatural gothic landscape for her new novel set in Nova Scotia in 1816. After the death of her parents, Emeline Fitzpatrick lives in Halifax with her guardians, Judge and Mrs Shackleton. She’s young, impressionable, naïve, impractical, and has no wifely skills besides her natural beauty. She does, however, have a strong independent streak and, against all sensible judgement, engages in a flirtation with a naval lieutenant, who promises he will whisk her off to Bermuda and make her his wife. To escape the furor that ensues, the Shackletons orchestrate a hasty marriage to Captain Graves, an older man whose two previous wives have died in childbed. Emeline is summarily shipped off to Faraday House, a drafty, neglected manor on a lonely island, cut off by the tides. Emeline is far from welcome and discovers, to her horror, that Captain Graves’ second wife, Georgina, lies at death’s door, attended by the enigmatic Reverend Pellerine. As her affection and fears for Georgina grow, Emeline vows to help her, but who can she trust?

Her future husband is haunted by the Faraday curse in which wives die young; the maid is haughty, rude and over-familiar; and the house and groundskeepers are one minute congenial, the next ill-mannered and unhelpful. Hostility oozes from them all, creating a confusing chain of events where it’s no easier for the reader to figure out who is trustworthy than Emeline. She encounters strange and frightening goings-on; is led through vivid dream sequences by ghostly apparitions; the piano plays itself; blood drips from the ceiling. Over the months, Emeline’s sheer stubbornness and refusal to be cowed become the making of this once naïve girl. The ending is a little too creative, but the writing style, settings and characters are expertly woven into a creepy, atmospheric, hard-to-resist package.

Title: The Third Wife of Faraday House
By: B.R. Myers

Genre:
Fictional, Warmly Gothic, Mystery, Suspense

Red Flags:
Loss, Murder, Foster Care, Abuse
(Reads similar to YA, Recommended for 16+)

Favorite Quotes:
“Love is not envious. It comes from a place of wanting to share, to make someone else as happy as they make you. It never fades but intensifies with time.”

“How cruel that something of little value cost you so much.”

“We are all prisoners of our fears.”

“The most beautiful thing about you is the one thing no one can see.”

Summary:
Tragedy strikes Emeline Fitzpatrick, as a young child, when she unexpectedly loses both her parents. She is taken in by The Shackleton's, who become her guardians in Halifax. Emeline is completely smitten for the British Navy Lieutenant Fredrick. After a ruinous set of circumstances, Emeline must quickly depart Halifax or dishonor her name and reputation. She is given two choices, move to the convent or accept an offer of marriage from the wealthy Captain Graves who is mourning the illness of his second wife, Georgina. Which choice will Emeline make? Will she be forced to marry? or will she forgo her chance with the Lieutenant and go the the convent?

Review:
Serendipity…a happy accident, that is how I would describe my experience reading “The Third Wife of Faraday House.” I rarely read fantasy, gothic novels, or really anything with ghosts. I needed a break from my normal realistic and historical fiction, so I thought I would try B.R. Myers. I’ve read great reviews about her other novels, she has a way with words. “The Third Wife of Faraday House" was unexpectedly engaging, spooky, and startling. I fell in love with the protagonist Emeline, she is clever, quick witted, and brings a piece of humor to the chilly story. The plotline is fast paced, and includes deeply weaved characters who are individually portrayed with their unique importance to the chain of events. I very much enjoyed this novel, and lost track of time while reading it. I highly recommend it! It gets five stars from me.

Highly recommended, if you enjoy:
-a shorter version of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
- Inheritance by Nora Roberts
- A weirdly, cozy gothic novels
- Other novels by B.R. Myers

Look for the release on August 20, 2024!

Thank you B.R. Myers, William Morrow Publishing, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#Thethirdwifeoffaradayhouse
#Brmyers
#williammorrowpublishing
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#netgalleyreviews

The Third Wife of Faraday House is a deliciously gothic, horror/thriller that is rife with complex characters and a harrowing narrative.

I thought it would be a cozy gothic thriller, but it was lush with dark imagery and chilling supernatural encounters. What a gothic nightmare, reminiscent of Crimson Peaks (one of my favorite movies).

Émeline Fitzpatrick, ward of the Schackletons has been groomed to be a beautiful wife, marry into wealth and run a household. Her love for lieutenant fletcher is forbidden by her adoptive parents, whose wishes Émeline disregards.

When Émeline is caught in a compromising position with lieutenant Fletcher for all the ton to see she is shipped off the the manor of Captain Graves to be married after the impending death of his second wife, Georgina. Faraday House is located on an island off the mainland, and is know by townsfolk for its “curse” and mysterious deaths of those who stay within its walls.

Émeline quickly notices the secretive demeanor, and unpleasant quality of those who work within Faraday House. Captain Graves seems well enough of a prospect, but nonetheless she is waiting to be rescued by her true lover Lieutenant Fletcher, before he sails off to Bermuda.

As she spends more time at Faraday, it becomes most apparent that there is warranted suspicion.

This book has a perfect mix of horror, romance, gothic chills, and supernatural happenings. I loved this so much. What a page turner!

PITCH: Jane Eyre meets Miss Havesham from Great Expectations

A dark Victorian tale that is more mystery than romance. The book evokes feelings of Jane Eyre but with more character development. A strong female friendship comes to the front of the story, eventually. Some tension will keep you reading.

4 Stars

This book was so eerie and spooky in such a perfect way and I honestly had a hard time putting it down.

Gothic romances are having a come back and some are great while others are lacking. This book nailed the genre. We have a spooky remote island with a house that is fully of secrets and mysteries. We have a cast of characters that we don't know if we can trust and are often leaving us confused on if they are good or bad. We have a swoony man that is a mystery in and of himself AND he has a perfectly lovable four legged companion. AND we have the young and sometimes naive heroine who is put through the wringer and forced to break out of her chrysalis to not only save her life, but also the lives of those around her. Gothic fiction in its best form.

The pacing was sometimes a bit off, but I will say that I opened this book up at 10 pm and flew through the first 1/3 of the book and had to force myself to put it down so I could FINALLY get some sleep. Then throughout the middle, as we are trying to figure out what is happening at this house and on this island, I was still drawn in, but it didn't feel as urgent and was sometimes a bit repetitive. BUT THEN THE ENDING. I swear the last 1/3 of the book was much like the first 1/3 and I FLEW through it. I could not put it down and was desperate to know how this whole story was going to wrap up.

Basically, what I'm trying to convey is that this is actually a good piece of gothic fiction with a perfect dose of romance and I highly recommend reading it!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed B.R. Myers’ first Gothic mystery, so I was open to trying more from her. The Third Wife of Faraday House is similar in style to her prior book, and it drew me in with its atmospheric writing and evocative depictions of setting. The parallels with prior Gothic classics like Jane Eyre and Rebecca are obvious, particularly with the secret wife, although Myers crafts an original story with these familiar tropes.
Emmeline is an interesting main character, and I admire her compassion and determination in this situation to the ailing Georgina, even if the situation is not quite what she expected. She is a tad naive, but it worked in the context of the genre and its conventions.
While classified by the publisher as a romance, I didn’t necessarily get strong romance “vibes.” The romance between Emmeline and the reverend is sweet, but it’s by no means as prominent as other elements of the plot.
The mystery plot is engaging, and while the pacing was a bit slow at times, especially at the beginning, the second half in particular excited me. Twists and turns abound, and I wondered how it would all pan out for the characters.
This was a fairly enjoyable read, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for a Gothic mystery.

The Third Wife of Faraday house is a gorgeous historical Gothic that hits all the classic tropes while still giving them a unique twist!

Emeline agrees to marry a man she’s never met after a public scandal. Believing the man she truly loves will come and rescue her before the wedding, she’s whisked off to his strange manor on a remote island. But when she gets there, an unexpected surprise might ruin all her plans.

I adored the creepy atmosphere, the unique twists and the ghostly presence. I couldn’t put this book down! I was dying to know what happened next! I highly recommend for all fans of classic Gothics!

A book after my gothic heart! I grew up reading my mom's Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holts and this brought me right back to those hot summer days getting lost in a grandly decaying house perched precariously on a clifftop.

This book had me turning page after page. I could not believe what I was reading. The suspense had me biting my nails. Even after finishing the book, I am still in shock. I was not expecting all of these revelations. There were so many angles throughout the book, and I still couldn’t figure out the culprit. At the end of it all, I really enjoyed the book. It was based in the early 1800s, and has the suspense factor to drag you in. There were many times I yelled out,” Tell me already!”. I am here to tell you, just you wait, it will all come together. Such a great read and definitely worth being your next book. Suspense, thriller, romance, betrayal, loss, found family…this has it all.  

My last parting note is that you may think you know what’s going to happen, but you really don’t. Read it to find out ! You won’t regret it. 

Check out my TikTok/Insta for more on this book🫶🏻
@katlikesreadingbooks

#TheThirdWifeofFaradayHouse #NetGalley

First, thank you to Net Galley and William Marrow for this advanced copy!

After a scandal threatens to destroy Emeline’s reputation, the only option she has left is to marry Captain Graves. A man whose two previous wives both died in childbirth. Once she arrives at Faraday House, Emeline quickly learns that things are not as they may seem, and that the second Mrs. Graves is actually still alive.

This was such an interesting read!! With similarities to both Jane Eyre and Rebecca the story unraveled like an onion revealing a little more as the story went. It truly felt like we were discovering things along with Emeline.

The relationship with Georgiana, the 2nd wife, was honestly my favorite part of the story. The way their bing grows as the story progresses and the way thy lean on each other was such smart storytelling on the authors part.

The story moved well and kept me guessing the whole way. The ending was such a suprise but in such a good way. This was such an enjoyable book.

Thank you again NetGalley and the publishers for this book.

This novel has the elements of an Austenesque air about it. But instead if occurring on the wild moors of the Old Country it is set on the broody mercurial shores of Nova Scotia.
Emeline is in trouble, in more ways than one. She’s dispatched to marry Captain Graves who has already lost two wives. However, all is not the truth that she has been told about the Captain, his wives, and the house.
I sniffed out some of the truth early on and I waffled in my feelings toward Emeline from smiles to scowls.
I felt sympathy for the Captain, Esther, and Georgina.
My favorite character was the lovable Moses who saved the day and stole many scenes.

I love gothic romance so I jumped at the chance to read this book. I really liked Emeline! She walked into Faraday House and yes she was naive but she is such a brave and caring person. I felt like we really see her grow as she struggles to figure out what is actually going on at Faraday House.

I loved the setting for this book (Canadian Manor) and I thought the author did a great job making me feel like I was there!

The spooky parts aren’t too scary (more creepy than anything.) I thought this story was a good mix of mystery and suspense with a light sprinkle of romance. If you love stories that will keep you guessing I would recommend checking this book out!

✨What to Expect:
🥀Gothic Romance
💙Historical Fiction/Mystery
🔍Will Keep You Guessing
🫣Suspense & Thrills
👻Spooky Time

3.5 ⭐ rounded up

I love a spooky house story! Interesting setting, a fun cast of characters, and a story that kept me guessing until the end. I could have done without the over-explained inner thoughts and at times the characters' dialogue didn't really match the time period. There was great suspense though, and the dreams really added to that creepy factor you want in a book like this. This would be a great book club read for spooky season!

Emeline Fitzpatrick is desperate to leave her guardians’ home in Halifax, Canada. Not only is she wildly in love with a naval officer, Emeline also chafes at the restrictions of (the very appropriately named) Mrs. Shackleton. The sooner her dashing lieutenant can whisk her away to Bermuda, the better. Readers can probably guess from the title that things will not go to plan for our young heroine. The Third Wife of Faraday House, by B.R. Myers, is full of surprises for Emeline and for us.

After a social disaster at a ball, in which Emeline is caught in a clinch with her lieutenant, Mrs. Shackleton kicks her own plans to get her ward hitched into high gear. As everyone in Halifax knows about Emeline’s indiscretion, Mrs. Shackleton and her husband arrange for Emeline to be married to the mysterious Captain Graves. All Emeline knows about her new fiance is that he has already had two wives and that they both died in childbirth…except, that turns out to be a lie. The second Mrs. Graves is still alive, if not well. She is expected to pass any moment now.

The atmosphere of Faraday house would be unbearably awkward if it wasn’t so sinister. Captain Graves is more concerned with getting married—and conceiving an heir to his property—than with his ailing (but very much alive) wife. The servants, Mr. and Mrs. ???, are even more worrisome. And then there are the dreams. On her first night, Emeline starts to have strange dreams about the first Mrs. Graves. The mysteries at Faraday House pull Emeline in. This is where the book hooked me; I found Emeline a much more engaging protagonist once she stopped thinking about the remote possibility of rescue by her lieutenant and started to pay attention to the possibly deadly situation at Faraday House. (Emeline’s naivety about this officer is a little frustrating. He’s clearly a cad.)

There was a jarring pair of anachronisms that threw me out of The Third Wife of Faraday House* but, except for these, I really enjoyed this Gothic tale of surprises. Readers looking for a bit of an escape—and who don’t mind the odd anachronism or Emeline’s early cluelessness about a man who is only interested in getting into her pantaloons—will have fun with this one.