I was really intrigued by the synopsis of this book. I mean, who wouldn't want to be able to cocoon yourself in silence temporarily when the world got to be too loud?

For me, this book was just ... meh. I thought the main focus was going to be on the silk and its effects on the people around it. It really wasn't. This book is mostly about Henry trying to get Sir Edward's attention.

The middle of the book could have been cut out completely, especially the "romance" that sprung up out of the middle of nowhere. You've had maybe 3 interactions with this person and now you tell them you love them? Barf. The big action scene at the end couldn't come fast enough and I honestly didn't care who lived or died at that point. The VERY end of the book, though, made me mad. THIS WHOLE TIME!? Oh heck no. To top it all off, the author obviously didn't want to stop writing this book because it went on and on and on and on....

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

This is a story about loss and grief, about taking things that don't belong to you and forcing the consequences upon another. Part description of Imperial greed, part gothic horror, this is a delightful bit of historical litfic. And spiders... can't forget the spiders.

The prose found within this novel is delicious!! Exquisitely descriptive and lush, you'll feel as if you've fallen through the pages and landed amongst the Ashmore-Percy silk empire. Do take care to recognize any strange sensations or lack of lucidity... it's probably nothing.

Following Henry Latimer, a poet forced into saleswork and mourning the loss of his wife and infant child, we witness a spiralling descent into glittering madness. The beauty of sounds layering and multiplying into a dizzying crescendo mask the rot of Telverton but only just. Scratching below the surface Henry begins to find all manner of horrors and must decide if a distraction from his grief is worth its cost.

Beginning each part of the book, we follow the journal of Sophia Ashmore-Percy. Witnessing her falling in love and subsequently removed from its source by her moody and controlling husband James. Without her and her willingness to interact with the Grecian people he stole from, the spiders he longed to find would never have been in his grasp, yet all he cares for is the slight upon his pride. A beacon of industry and Imperial theft, reading these sections and how Sophia views her husband offer a different glimpse at the family's legacy.

Our dual leads both experiencing the glamor and glitz of a beauty outside the environment in which they're accustomed and having a queer awakening was a delight to read. What is a choice and what is an obsession-inducing madness?

Fair warning this book is period accurate and thus incredibly unkind to those with hearing difficulties. Philomel is a perfectly capable child, yet those around her tend to treat her as if she's broken for failing to speak aloud. If, and understandably so, such descriptions are beyond what you can bear perhaps skip this story. As someone with several relatives with hearing difficulties, I know I struggled with these passages myself. Shout out to Miss Fielding for doing her damnedest to make the rest of the cast realize how wonderful Philomel is though!!

Additionally fair warning there is an on page miscarriage, for those sensitive to such things. The husband is exceptionally cruel during this event and invalidates his wife's pain. Considering the characters involved this wasn't a surprising chain of events, but I do know that this can be a really intense trigger for some people. Another woman dies in childbirth and haunts both her husband and the narrative with her passing.

The Silence Factory follows two characters from different timelines, Sophia who searches for a rare spider on an island that produces silk with odd qualities, and Henry, a business man living decades later who is set to help a a young girl with her deafness. He ends up getting wrapped up in her family's business of producing the silk.

The concept of the story immediately grabbed my attention and the author does a good job in creating an ominous and haunting atmosphere. The writing is very detailed, but for me it was too verbose. It took away from building any momentum in the story. The pacing of the book just felt off. I didn't form a connection with any of the characters nor did I really care for them. I was hoping for a spooky story to start the season, but unfortunately this wasn't it.



Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to read the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was an interesting read. It was well written, the prose was lovely, the concept and story lines were unique. It jumps between the current time period and the main character’s involvement with the proprietor of a factory and his daughter to the origination of the factory in the past from the POV of founders wife. A few trigger warnings of abuse, neglect, and child loss are worth noting. Over all I enjoyed this book.

The Silence Factory ix a gothic historical fiction book with elements of mystery and the Victorian era. This book follows two timelines. One follows Sophia Ashmore-Percy and her husband, James, who is searching for a rare spider on a Greek island in 1820.
The other storyline takes place decades later, and follows Henry Latimer who is sent to Sir Edward’s Ashmore-Percy’s house, to cure the man’s daughter, Philomel, of her deafness. Henry quickly becomes entranced by the silk of the spiders, and its fascinating ability to silence the outside world. As he gets pulled deeper into Sir Edward’s business, the more sinister aspects of the silk begin to slowlyreveal itself.
For me, the plot moved a little too slow for my liking, so I had a hard time getting into the story, However, as always, Bridget Collins absolutely delivers on the gothic, dark, and eerie atmosphere.
Thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for the e-arc!

When I saw the synopsis for the story, I was really intrigued. I’ll admit, I don’t read a lot of historical fiction, and in the beginning, I had to keep reminding myself that I was in fact reading historical fiction. I was taken aback by the period appropriate ableism and how Philomel was described, and Henry’s expectations of her. It definitely did not make me like him, at all.

Furthermore, he seemed enchanted by Sir Edward, whereas I just found him rude and haughty. When Henry defended his business after overhearing a conversation, instead of being thankful or appreciating the gesture, Sir Edward just scolded him. I just didn’t like or root for any of the central characters.

With that being said, I do think one of the strong points was the atmosphere. It was gothic and creepy and foreboding. I loved that and it was a highlight for me. I did also like the fantasy elements of this story, and for the most part, the plot kept me interested.

Overall, a very solid read. I think people who read historical fiction on a regular basis and enjoy it more will find enjoyment from this book. As someone who doesn’t, it was still a solid read and I don’t regret reading it. I just think it took me a bit of getting used to in order to immerse myself. Based on this book, I am interested in checking out the rest of the author’s work.

This was a solid 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for me. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this eARC.

THE SILENCE FACTORY is a very well-written historical novel with gothic undertones. The author expertly evokes the time period, and I enjoyed her use of language and evocative sensory details. I slightly preferred Sophia's POV chapters, but Henry's were good too. As the story progressed, I was a little overwhelmed with everything that's going on. It seemed at times like the author just threw everything in plot-wise versus having a more controlled or streamlined approach. I would have preferred a tighter narrative, and with some editing the length could easily have been pared down. However, I did ultimately enjoy the story. Others have commented on the frustrating characters, but that didn't necessarily bother me. The overall theme here is greed, and the author does a good job of weaving that into the complex story. I look forward to digging into this author's backlist and will definitely read her next book.

Thank. you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-galley; all opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was immediately drawn into a hauntingly beautiful narrative that explores themes of memory and identity. Collins' lyrical writing style creates a vivid atmosphere, immersing readers in a world where silence speaks volumes. The characters are well-crafted and evoke a deep sense of empathy, making their struggles and triumphs resonate.
However, there were moments when the pacing felt uneven, with certain sections dragging on while others rushed through crucial developments. I found the underlying premise intriguing but somewhat convoluted, which occasionally pulled me out of the story.
Despite these minor setbacks, the emotional depth and rich imagery kept me engaged, making it a rewarding read that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

set in 19th century England,a magical fabric will take away the pain of a mundain life. Though, nothing is quite so simple. with the power of this magical fabric worn over the head, comes great consequnces. This was such a wonder unique read. I loved it!

While I was immediately drawn in by the Gothic elements, this did not deliver a truly captivating or unique reading experience. I did enjoy Henry’s character, although he gets drawn into the world of a charming businessman and quickly loses himself. The reveals at the end made me angry and sympathetic.

I just couldn’t get it out of my head that this was similar in a lot of ways to The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. Once I made that connection I couldn’t help but measure it against that story, and this one came up lacking.

My favorite part by far were the journal entries from the wife of the man who originally brought these special silk spiders back to England. Her story was touching and did feel magical.

I'm giving this 3 stars just because I liked the writing style and unique premise, but the rest didn't work for me.
I didn't like or connect with any of the characters. They had no depth at all. I think my favorite parts were the diary entries. They explained how the stuff going on in the other time-line came to be and that was interesting.
If you're looking for a creepy book with Gothic vibes, give this a go. It just wasn't for me.

3.5 stars
I enjoyed this unique historical fiction story. I knew about silk worms but didn’t know about silk spiders! I found the topic very interesting. That said, I didn’t always like the back and forth POVs. The silk tied the stories but it took a while for everything to come together for me.

I loved the Binding and the Betrayals by Bridget Collins and I was so very excited for The Silence Factory, however I do feel a little let down.
I enjoyed the gothic and historical feel to the story and the two timelines were both equally as interesting to me, but the character relationships lacked the build up to make them believable. Which in my opinion took away from the characters themselves. So I was only really left with characters to dislike or be indifferent towards. Just when I thought Henry’s character was going to make better choices he continues to long for the bad ones even knowing that they’re wrong/harmful.
Then the open ended mess that I have found that I enjoy in her books also seemed too open in this story so that the reader feels like there is no closure as everything is up in the air with possibilities.

I don't always reach for historical fiction but the cover of this book really intrigued me and the story lived up to that. This historical mystery which follows two timelines kept me engaged throughout and I enjoyed seeing the story unfold.

A few years ago, I read Bridget Collins’ The Binding and, while I found the beginning a bit difficult to get into, by the time the first big twist hit, I was hooked. Though her other novel, The Betrayals has been sitting in my TBR pile for a few months, when a chance to read her newest novel The Silence Factory arose, I leapt at the chance (and put The Betrayals on the back burner for a little longer). In The Silence Factory, Collins explores themes of grief as well as a variety of abusive and exploitative relationships and dynamics in society from colonialism to sexism to treatment of the working poor. Sympathetic characters help to demonstrate how easily some of those lines can blur when someone we admire or love proves to be selfish and manipulative. The understanding of human psychology that Collins wields through her characters is thoroughly engaging throughout, weaving a mesmerizing tale that doesn’t necessarily give the reader (or her characters) what they think they want but provides a resolution that might actually be more satisfying.

It’s been a few months since Henry Latimer’s beloved wife, Madeleine died in childbirth and he continues to muddle through work as an aurist in his father-in-law’s shop in London, fashioning hearing-assistance devices. When Sir Edward Ashmore-Percy appears in the shop for a meeting, the two seem to share a certain melancholy and Sir Edward leaves Henry with a sample of incredible silk woven in his factory in Telverton – woven from special spiders, one side absorbs sound entirely while the other seems to emit eerie echoes, distortions of the noise around it. Mesmerized, when the opportunity arises to travel to Telverton to see if anything can be done for Sir Edward’s deaf daughter, Henry jumps at the chance to learn more. While stumbling through the impossible task, Henry inadvertently impresses Sir Edward on a different front and is hired to help him market the incredibly expensive silk. Though Henry’s imagination runs wild with possible applications for the product, the more time he spends in Telverton, the deeper he falls under Sir Edward’s spell, even as he learns about the drawbacks and horrifying potential of the silk and those who might to wield it.

Interwoven through Henry’s story are excerpts from the diary of Sir Edward’s aunt who was instrumental in finding the spiders whose webs are used to create the silk in his present. Her diary is used to show one of the many manipulative relationships in the novel as well as the racist colonialism of the era. One thing Collins does brilliantly in her novels is to weave her fantasy elements into the fabric of recognizable periods of history – in this case, the industrialism and colonialism of the 19th Century. The spiders and their silk are used to highlight the power imbalances of that period. Those who can afford to buy the silk would reap the benefits of the silence it provides on their side of the fabric while the other side of the silk echoes, distorts, torments those exposed to it – in effect, the rich and powerful are even more deaf to the miseries suffered by those on the wrong side of it while simultaneously making their problems worse.

The way that Collins manages to capture sensory experiences on the page is incredible. The impact of her fantastical spiders and their webs impact more than just the sense of hearing as their webs distort and play tricks visually too, gaslighting those who encounter them in a way that parallels the gaslighting and manipulation of the more abusive characters in the tale. In many ways, it makes those on the receiving end even more susceptible to the manipulation because they know better than to trust what their senses tell them.

Having finished The Silence Factory, I’m even more eager to finally pick up The Betrayals… but once I’ve read that novel, I’ll be stuck waiting for the announcement and publishing of Collins’ next new work so I’ll probably try to hold out a little longer first (although, I can always re-read The Binding to help get me through the wait for another new novel).

God, what a cover.
I was going to say that I didn't totally dislike this book, but that would be a lie because I did--I did completely dislike this book. The writing was very purple, very flowery and verbose, and I just couldn't sink my teeth into it. I tend to stay away from books with flowery writing for a reason. I was also just sort of confused the whole time? I felt like my copy had started right in the middle because while I love being thrown into the story, I don't like being thrown in like that. The book, because of the writing and the pacing, was just a true slog to get through. I really skimmed past the like 55% mark, I'm not going to lie. This just really, really wasn't for me. I didn't even hear about the author being a TERF until after I had already attempted to slog through this, so while my feelings of this book don't reflect that awful revelation, I still didn't like this book. I can see where people who are super into history, or people who really like that flowery writing style, will enjoy this. It just really was not my cup of tea. At least the cover will look pretty on displays in my library.

I received this ARC on the books release date. I’ll read the finalized copy as opposed to the ARC for this reason.

Happy pub day to this eerie, gothic historical fiction!

This is my first but definitely not last read from Bridget Collins.

This is told through two perspectives and two generations: the "founders" of the silk factory -- James and Sophia -- who found the famous spiders on a Greek island and stole them for financial gain. James has grand visions of using their powerful silk to create an empire of fames and riches, despite his wife's attachment to the women of the island and her gut feeling that taking the spiders from their natural habitat is wrong.

Decades later, their nephew Sir Edward is squandering their legacy. The factory is in severe debt and troubling stories about worker injuries continue to surface. Young audiologist Henry is invited to the family estate to try and help his young daughter, Philomel, regain her hearing but is instead instantly seduced by the call of a higher purpose and the potential to have a real role in this company. Having recently lost his wife and daughter, he is naturally drawn to the idea of a fresh start. He pointedly ignores warnings that things are not right here to spin beautiful stories about the potential usages for the silk. But Sir Edward is mercurial and fickle with his affections, always leaving Henry afraid of being dismissed.

Well written and creepy! I only wish we had gotten more of Sophia's POV because her voice resonated more with me and felt like her storyline was left unresolved. But such is always the way with women's
accounts in history!

I’d like to thank my mother for having passed down curiosity as a genetic trait because the amount of books I finished only because I was curious about their ending… immeasurable.

Unfortunately, this one was not one to hold your breath for.
This doesn't mean it was bad, don't get me wrong, but the premises are simply too good for a story that, in reality, is not that astonishing.

Two greedy, evil men kidnap sacred spiders for their interests, but end up broke and with their reputation ruined because karma is a bitch.
There's no curse, no ghosts, not a enough good reason to overlook child labour nor sexism, and the shocking truths are not that shocking when you remember who these characters are - again, they are all bad and I'm so glad two out of three died.

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins is a spellbinding story of gothic suspense about a powerful family, the magical and dangerous silk their fortune is built upon, and the exploitative history they are desperately trying to hide.
What an incredible concept and a compulsively readable story-line!
A well written, compelling tale that takes the reader on a journey that is filled with danger, magic, characters that are vivid and a wonderfully authentic adventure.

Thank You NetGalley and William Morrow for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!