The Estate is a tense, atmospheric mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Jost’s writing builds a creepy, suspenseful vibe that makes for a thrilling experience.

Book Review: The Estate by Sarah Jost

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I just finished The Estate by Sarah Jost, and wow, what a ride! From the moment I cracked open this book, I was hooked. The cover itself is stunning, hinting at the magical and mysterious journey that awaits inside.

The story follows Camille Leray, an art historian who has made a name for herself surrounded by lavish works of art and selling pieces worth millions. But there’s a twist: Camille has a supernatural gift that allows her to step into the world of any artwork, bringing others along with her. Sounds intriguing, right? Well, this power comes at a price, as Camille soon discovers when her career takes a nosedive due to her reckless use of her abilities.

Desperate to regain her reputation, she receives an unexpected offer from the enigmatic Maxime Foucault, who owns a magnificent estate in France. He needs help authenticating some statues from a mysterious artist whose vanishing act has baffled art historians for years. This seems like Camille’s golden opportunity to redeem herself and maybe even win over the man she's always wanted.

However, as Camille delves deeper into the Foucaults’ world, things start to feel off. The grandeur of the chateau contrasts sharply with the darker elements lurking within its walls. The novel weaves in themes of luxury and greed, making it clear that Camille is not just battling her own demons but also those of the Foucault family. The suspense builds as she navigates this treacherous terrain, constantly teetering on the brink of losing everything she holds dear.

I loved how the author sprinkled elements of Arthurian legend throughout the narrative; it added a layer of depth that kept me engaged. The pacing is spot-on—this is truly a page-turner filled with unexpected twists and turns. I found myself racing to uncover what would happen next, and let me tell you, it was hard to put down!

Overall, The Estate is a captivating blend of magic, mystery, and dark academia that explores the thin lines between reality and imagination. If you’re looking for a story that will keep you guessing until the very end, I highly recommend giving this one a read!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This book totally surprised me and I was pleased. I loved the dash of magic this book had. I am not huge on fantasy, but this time it totally worked. The only thing that I wish this book had was strong character development!

The Estate is The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by way of Maestra with some Neverworld Wake thrown in for good measure. Since those are some of my enduring favorites, that’s high praise. There might even be a dash of Saltburn thrown in for good measure to keep it interesting. Camille is a disgraced art historian who specializes in the works of a little known female sculptor, working at a major auction house harbors a secret - she can enter the world of any piece of art using her mind. When she makes a spectacle the night of the auction for one of the artist’s best known works, claiming that the sculpture is not an authentic work, and inadvertently pulls a bystander into the world of the work with her when she is unable to resist the pull, she’s left disgraced and without a job. Falling further and further into despair, driving herself nearly mad wondering how her gift went so wrong and rethinking everything she knows about the artist, she receives an invitation - Maxime, an enigmatic aristocrat with whom she has a past, requests her presence at his sprawling French estate to use her powers to authenticate some previously undiscovered works by the sculptor. Arriving at the estate, she is pulled deep into the mystery of not just the artist, but the family. But something isn’t right, and Camille’s gift proves to be a weakness, her once powerful gift prone to manipulation and deception. As she begins to lose her grip on reality, Maxime reveals more and more of his secrets and true colors, and it becomes a battle of the wills not just for the right to tell the artist’s story, but for Camille’s sanity and reputation. With carefully doled out clues and well-paced plot, The Estate reads like Neverworld Wake with the scheming and suspense of TFAoJW and Maestra and The Secret History… readers who enjoyed any of these books are sure to devour this as well.

I really enjoyed this book. Sarah Jost did an excellent job with her writing style. I think the characters, story line, and description were all well done. I absolutely loved that this was a gothic theme novel with hidden secret powers. I couldn't stop reading! I can't wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this for others to read.

Thank you Net Galley ARC, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Sarah Jost

I really liked the setting of this book in a beautiful estate in Brittany, and the concept of this book was right up my alley. The main character, Camille, is an art historian and has a special gift. I loved the magical and fantasy elements that were throughout. I was unlike anything I’ve read and that hooked me. Maxime’s character was intriguing to me as well, and how the mystery eventually unfolded. Overall I thought this was very well written, and I enjoyed it.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and the author for an advance copy to read.

This is a book I really enjoyed. I mean it has art and magic and mystery… I was in a little bit of book heaven.
I loved the French setting of this one and became completely immersed in the place, which is always important for me. I also loved the the art and magical elements. This book has a lot going on, maybe a little too much and I did become a bit confused from time to time. But then I would figure it out and was once again immersed in the mystery and magic of the art world. I was surprised by this book in a wonderful way. It surprised me. I enjoyed this unusual book.

Thank you to Source Books Landmark and NetGalley for this arc.

Camille Leray has worked hard to become an art expert and auctioneer specializing in French sculpture. Now, on the eve of what should be her biggest triumph, she’s about to risk losing everything. She’s recently become convinced that Rob Burton, her boss at Courtenay auction house, is about to put a fake on sale. Though everything points to Courtenay being in legitimate possession of Night Swimming, a previously undiscovered sculpture by the legendary artist Constance Sorel, Camille is just as certain that the piece was not actually made by Constance. What’s ironic is that it was Camille’s own meticulous research that seemingly proves the authenticity of the sculpture’s provenance.

Rob refuses to delay the sale without concrete evidence, forcing Camille to take extraordinary measures. Her attempt at stalling the sale backfires, and she soon finds herself unemployed. Salvation appears in the form of Maxime Foucault, the brooding Frenchman Camille has been quietly obsessed with for years. He offers her a residency at D’Arvor, his family’s ancestral estate in Brittany, where Constance herself once lived.

Camille is both thrilled and wary. The job promises to be lucrative, with Maxime’s proximity being an added draw. Most tempting of all, however, is his confession that he has several more of Constance’s sculptures hidden away. If Camille can authenticate them for him, it will re-establish her reputation in the art world.

But Camille has a secret:

QUOTE
Fine art is more than the sum of its parts. It’s more than catalogues raisonnes, dates that fit the story, gallery archive, sales records, materials and pigments, even skills. Art comes to life in those flashes of human connection; it is a mini-portal from the viewer’s soul into an artist’s world. To connect with art, to allow it to speak to you deeply, is a spiritual, if not supernatural, experience.

And for me, it is even more so.

Since I was little, I have been able to enter the world of art. As if by magic. When I tap into a piece, I’m able to visit the world of the artist’s mind when they created it. For a little while, I can walk into their internal, to me very physical, landscape, made of the memories and feelings they poured into that specific piece.
END QUOTE

While Camille has told very few people about her abilities for fear of being laughed out of her own profession, Maxime has long had an inkling of what she can do, due to their shared and checkered past. Unable to resist her attraction to either him or to Constance’s work, Camille agrees to take on the job.

Things are weird from the very start of Camille’s stay in Brittany, from the shifting identity of the woman who belatedly picks Camille up from the train station to the unusual family arrangements at D’Arvor itself. But the sculptures, as Maxime promised, are breathtaking. They certainly feel more like Constance’s work than Night Swimming did. The more Camille immerses herself in them, however, the more she realizes that there are layers of mystery to be uncovered at D’Arvor, both in the present and in the very distant past. Constance’s troubled life and death had long puzzled and titillated both gossips and historians. With these sculptures, Camille may finally have the key to unlocking the truth about the tormented artist and revealing it to the world:

QUOTE
The excitement of this discovery is linked to the last years of Sorel’s life and the mystery surrounding them. The recognition she accessed during her lifetime was mainly due to her close association with [the more famous sculptor] Boisseau, and after their separation she seems to have slipped quietly into oblivion; her death is recorded by a private doctor in Rennes, in 1923, and the location of her burial wasn’t identified until a few years ago. To this day, nobody knows how she went from a confident, assured artist living in a castle to an anonymous body in a pauper’s grave.
END QUOTE

Modeled after the real life of the legendary artist Camille Claudel, Constance Sorel’s story is one that resonates, especially after our heroine Camille finally comes to her senses and realizes that all women, including herself, are deserving of autonomy and authenticity. Author Sarah Jost took pains to portray Camille as a difficult, damaged woman in order to imbue her struggle with making good choices feel all the more realistic. Sympathizing with Camille as she figures out how to do the right thing can feel tedious at times, but The Estate’s ultimate message of self-acceptance and female solidarity is wonderfully affirming. It also gave this reader a deeper appreciation for art, sculpture and the fascinating, heart-breaking story of Camille Claudel herself.

She stood in the middle of the gallery, studying the sculpture in front of her. Its lines were sharp, its angles harsh, the ominous aura surrounding it overtaking every one of her senses. Something wasn’t right with this piece.

The Estate is a thriller following Camille, a woman working in the prestigious art world. Camille has a special gift when it comes to observing and appraising art… a power that sets her apart from everyone else.

While this is marketed as a thriller, I would categorize it as a literary suspense with magical realism instead. It’s not your typical thriller, but instead explores the darkness in the art world and the emotion artists can evoke with their work. I found myself immersed in this story and even with the incorrect marketing, I still found it to be a good read. I didn’t always love the decisions the main character made, but the exploration of friendship and the love found in that type of relationship really made me connect with the characters in the end.

If you like books dealing with art/artists, magical realism, suspense with a romantic aspect, and a haunting atmosphere… then I’d recommend trying this one.

Many different topics evolve in this book and are equally given due. It is an intriguing plot with suspense in every chapter. I was left guessing right up until the end. Sarah Jost has written an unraveling mystery I would recommend to any avid reader.

The Estate is a dark magical thriller set in the world of art in France.

Camille is a well-known art specialist and auctioneer. She specializes in French sculpture and has studied Constance Sorel's work extensively . Sorel is thought of as just a muse for the better-known Bouisseau, but Camille is determined to make her a household name as well.

Camille has a gift - she can enter the world of any art piece she chooses. She can see what the artist put of themselves in the work. When a new Sorel piece is discovered, Camille enters the piece and thinks it is a fake. She accidentally pulls someone else in with her, and the woman is hospitalized. Camille is fired and goes home to regroup.

A collector and member of the French art world, Maxime, invites her to his estate to authenticate some Sorels they have. She has met him a few times before, once in their childhood, when she first learned of her gift. He lives near the Arthurian landmarks, and the sculptures he found are from that mythology. They don't feel quite right either, but soon Camille is enmeshed in the estate where Maxime and his family live, and their history. Sorel lived there once, with Maxime's ancestors, and Camille loses herself in her story. What happened to her here?

This book will keep you guessing and uncertain about what is real, what is right, and what Camille should do. I didn't want to put it down!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

Thank you so much Sourcebooks Landmark for the gifted e-arc.

I was sold on this one by the cover and synopsis and the fact that this is compared to THE CARTOGRAPHERS which is a favorite book of mine.

Sadly, I just couldn't get into it and struggled with this one. I wish I had something better to say and hope this is a success!

This book is out now!

I think I'm still wrapping my head around this work of speculative fiction that takes place in the art world and is part Discovery of Witches and part #metoo movement. This book requires you to extend your belief, but if you can the payoff is very satisfying.

Camille is an art world wunderkind. She helps her clients make exorbitant amounts of money through their art sales. Her superpower? She can actually transport herself into the art and project the artist's emotions and feelings. Camille has been able to keep her hidden talent in check until she comes across what she believes to be a forgery of not just any artist, but an artist for whom she has long held an obsession. One slip of her carefully placed mask has Camille ostracized from the world on which she has built her whole life.

Enter Maxime, a man from Camille's past that she has lusted after. He invites her to his chateau in France- the place where Camille's beloved artist created the sculptures she has long studied, including the sculpture she tanked her career over, Night Swimming. Not only is there an offer of the chance to be close to Maxime, there is an opportunity to further understand what drove the passion behind Night Swimming- and maybe find the actual piece itself. What Camille is pulled into is larger than herself and puts her in a damned if you do and damned if you don't position, where- surprise, surprise- the men hold all the power.

I enjoyed the overall theme of the novel and the references and inside peeks inside the art world. I had trouble connecting with Camille when she dove into the pieces of art as I couldn't really visualize what the author was portraying. I know this is likely a me issue and not a writing issue, which is why this book won't be for everyone. But if you can take the deeper meaning from the book and you are a lover of art, you will find this a propulsive and satisfying read that will live rent free in your mind for a while.

Thank you, Sourcebooks, for providing me with a complimentary copy of The Estate in exchange for an honest review.

Camille has worked tirelessly to achieve success in the art world as an expert in her field. She possesses a unique gift: the ability to immerse herself in artwork and perceive the emotional and mental state of the artist behind it. Camille has studied Constance Sorel’s work extensively and is considered an authority on her art.

At a work presentation featuring The Night Swim for sale, Camille shocks her colleagues by declaring that the piece is merely a copy, not an original by Constance. This outburst costs her her job.

Soon after, Camille is invited to Maxime’s estate—a place that holds sentimental value for her mother and evokes childhood memories for Camille. Maxime has discovered artwork he believes to be Constance’s and asks Camille to authenticate, appraise, and prepare the pieces for sale. Camille agrees to stay at the estate for a few weeks to take on this intriguing project.

The plot of this story is fascinating, with an eerie and dark atmosphere that adds a lot to the reading experience. I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the book. However, I felt that some parts dragged and didn’t fully hold my interest. Additionally, I struggled to feel a strong connection to Camille at times.

Overall, I found the book engaging and would recommend it to readers who enjoy atmospheric stories with intriguing mysteries.

Art historian Camille Leray has done well in her career at an upscale auction house as a specialist in French sculpture. She has been singularly focused on the work of an artist named Constance Sorel, who is mostly known as the “muse” as a more famous male artist named Boisseau. Camille is passionate about, almost obsessed with, Sorel’s work and aims to bring more attention to her.

When a statue thought to be Sorel’s lost masterpiece is found and put on sale at Camille’s auction house, she loses her job when she makes a scene about it not being Sorel’s. She can’t share one vital piece of information that makes her reaction make sense: Camille has a gift of sorts, which allows her to enter a piece of art and see its past, feel emotions about it, know about those who created it or owned it. This secret gift has given her a lot of advantages in her work, but now it has ruined her career.

When she gets the opportunity to go to a gorgeous old estate in France to assess statues that may have been sculpted by Sorel, Camille jumps at it. It could save her career.

What complicates matters, at the same time as making the opportunity more enticing, is who owns the estate: the family of Maxime Foucault. She has been fascinated by Maxime for years and hoped for a relationship with him. Now she will be staying at the old chateau with him as she does her work.

It seems that she could achieve everything she had ever wanted: prestige, wealth, love with a man she has admired. But things are not as they seem at the estate. Camille will have to be very careful as she navigates layers of secrets and temptations.

The Estate has many of the elements that satisfy me in a book: a gothic feel, mystery and secrets, intrigue, magical realism, references to Arthurian legend (the chateau is in Brittany, near the forest of Broceliande). I enjoyed the book and how the elements came together. I found myself talking to our heroine, urging her to do or not do certain things, because the stakes were high. I’m not sure I loved all of it (and some didn’t quite work the way I wanted it to or thought would be best), but it was overall a good read.

DNF :( I just could not get into this one. I think Kindle made it challenging because the formatting was bit off at times. The premise still sounds interesting and I would definitely try again in the future, however, in this moment, this book wasn't for me.

Unfortunately this book captured my attention but wasn’t able to keep it. I was not a fan of the storyline or characters. Thank you for the advanced copy

This book started out really good like so good I stop adulting for a few hours but the book fell apart for me in the middle.

The main character Camille annoyed me and it got worse and worse as things went on. I didn't really like any of the characters to be honest. I thought the ending might save it... It didn't. I thought the writing quality was decent but it seemed like it was trying to sensationalize where it didn't need to and it didn't sit well with me.

I felt less may have been more here and was a bit disappointed in the end.

3 stars

After sitting on this review for a while, I just can't rate this any higher. It falls squarely into the art thriller category with books like The Goldfinch and The Berninin Bust, but the repetitive writing and unnecessary romantic aspect really took away from the already difficult to follow storyline. Throw in the paranormal aspect and I'm out.

The Estate is all about the art world but with suspense, an intensity and some magical powers. A woman, fired from her job as an art historian, returns to a French chateau she visited as a child, to help the owner appraise some sculptures by a famous artist who disappeared. Or so she thought. First of all, she has magical powers and can immerse herself into the art and the artists. Second, there is drama and suspense in the chateau that sucks her in. This book was so different than my norm and I found myself fully immersed into the story. Reality and imagination were blurred, secrets were revealed and I was guessing the truth until the very end.