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.

This was one of those very slow burn books that inevitably loses me. I found it difficult to really get into and to stick with.

However, I'm just not the right reader for this book. I know others will find it perfect for them.

As always, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm giving it 3⭐️ because I know it has a good plot, and I wish I could've stuck with it.

I tried hard to get into this story but just couldn’t. I wasn’t able to connect with the characters although I was intrigued by the plot. For me it was the flow of the story that felt off. Also wasn’t a big ban of the MC. Still would recommend others give it a shot but it wasn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Set mostly in 2018 at D’Arvor Castle in Brittany, France. Camille Leroy is a French Sculpture Specialist who has a special interest in Constance Sorel. Constance Sorel produced some famous works of sculpture before she died in 1923, and Camille has helped verify works sculptured by Constance.

Camille has a special skill where she can experience a connection with a piece of art and feel what the artist was feeling at the time the art was produced.

Camille is invited to stay at D’Arvor Castle in Brittany to assess some sculptures that are believed to have been works created by Constance Sorel.

I loved the descriptions of D’Arvor Castle and the way Camille experienced the feelings of an artist.

This was about artists, supernatural experiences, secrets and family relationships/

I had very mixed feelings while reading this one. I found myself quite bored at times, but intrigued enough to keep going. The concept was definitely unique and interesting, but also quite odd at times. I just had to find out where the story was going. I am glad I stuck it out, as I enjoyed the ending. Overall though I’m not sure it’s one I would recommend.

This is the telling not showing Final Boss. I thought the premise was interesting, but the amount of info dumping would have gotten the author eviscerated in a college intro to creative writing class. The writing style and overall atmosphere reminded me of Deborah Harnesses' Discovery of Witches, especially in the slow burn nature of both plot and romance. I enjoy stories that explore complex family dynamics in an enclosed location - the titular estate provided a great staging group for the slow familial implosion. However, the telling now showing piece seriously grated on my reading experience, and I can't say I'd recommend this to others bothered by this particular conceit.

Sarah Jost very convincingly combines themes involving art, obsession, class, and gender politics within a speculative mystery in THE ESTATE. The book takes place in two timeframes, current and several generations past. In modern day London, Camille Leray, an expert on the sculpture of a woman artist from the past, spectacularly flares out. While in the midst of a breakdown, she is invited to a castle to authenticate some sculptures. The castle, and the family who owns it, have ties to both Camille and the suspected sculptor. What Camille finds, as she falls under the spell of the castle's owners and occupants, is a darkly dangerous plot to use her talents in the service of greed and social striving of the aristocracy.

Camille's talent is the ability to truly get into the minds and worlds of artists whose work she analyzes. There's a bit of fairy tale to the plot, but it's more darkly gothic than lightly magical. As Camille confronts the consequences of familial trauma and male misogynistic dominance, she further develops her skills as a means to protect herself and others.

This is a complex mystery with strong characterization and an almost palpable atmosphere. The plot is compelling, the characters well developed, the setting transportative, and the integration of art fascinating. I found this hard to put down and will definitely be watching to see what Jost brings us next.

Art historian Camille Leray has spent her career surrounding herself with fineries and selling pieces worth millions. But she harbors a secret: she has the ability to enter the world of any piece of artwork, and she can take others with her. But tapping into history comes with great risks. And someone has been watching, someone who knows about her magic, and her mistakes...

After Camille ruins her career and reputation by misusing her powers, she vows to get her old life back. So when Maxime Foucault, an enigmatic aristocrat who owns a sprawling French estate, enlists her help in authenticating the statues of a mysterious artist, whose disappearance she has been trying to solve for years, she knows this could be her chance to turn her career around and get the man she's always wanted.

But something isn't right about the family and the grand chateau they inhabit, and as Camille gets sucked into its walls, she finds a world of luxury and greed that causes her to risk losing herself, and everything she has ever known.

The premise is something I've never read before. Unfortunately it was hard to get into the story. The present tense narration didn't work for me.
The.story is creative but I'm not the right reader for it.

The Estate by follows Camille Leray, who is an art historian who has sold art for millions. She holds a dangerous secret, though. She can enter the pictures and take people with her. Someone has been watching that wants to destroy her. She is fired after she misuses her magic. After a few weeks of wallowing, she is contacted by a man from her past to go to her families estate and evaluate a few sculptures. Her past is not what it seems.
This was a very highly entertaining and atmospheric novel about the nature of art. This was a very suspenseful and creative story, and I could see all the fictitious works of art in my mind. I was very impressed and would definitely recommend it.💕

The premise is a good one but the plot lacked the ability to sustain interest. It was too dull and drawn out. There was something missing. The writing is good but I was bored. It was slow and trudging.

If it started with the writing halfway in the book, it might have made for an interesting read. It was hard categorising this- it had elements of magic, mystery and suspense.

But it had certain elements which may appeal- thriller, Arthurian legend, supernatural, gothic and horror.

What it lacked at the beginning it made for halfway into the plot and that ending was totally unexpected.

If you like mysteries with elements of magic then you should try this.

If you are a fan of magical realism and the world and intrigue of Art, then this may be the book for you. However this is not my normal genre and I had trouble connecting with Camille(I found her annoying) and the confusing and disjointed storytelling.

My rating 2.75 out of 5

Read this if you like:
-magical realism
-historic, sprawling French Chateau setting
-getting lost in art
-the glamorous, intriguing and sometimes questionable Art world
-mystery mixed with some twists
-flowery, descriptive prose

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this eARC that will be published November 19 2024.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eARC of The Estate. All opinions in this review are my own.

I wanted to love this one because of its historic chateau setting and the ability of the main character to go into the artwork, but unfortunately it wasn't for me. It is such a shame because I loved Five First Chances by the same author. I never felt fully invested in this one.

Thank you Sourcebooks for my #gifted copy of The Estate! #TheEstate #SarahJost #sourcebookslandmark #bookmarked #sourcebooks

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐭
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 - 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐰!

3.5★

This was my first time reading a book with magical realism elements that also had suspense and dark academia elements. The main character, Camille, is an expert at art and appraisals and has the ability to enter the world of her paintings. After Camille misuses her powers and ruins her career, she makes a promise to her old life back. But when an aristocrat from a French estate asks for her help with the statues of an artist, she knows this could be the chance she needs to prove herself and boost her career. But deep down, Camille knows something doesn’t seem right, but Camille finds herself getting sucked in to a world where she is about to lose everything she has ever known.

I struggled a bit to get into this book. Camille was a bit unlikable but other than that, there was nothing that was really glaring or unlikeable about the book. It just wasn’t my typical read. I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy books with darker themes.

Posted on Goodreads on November 24, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around November 24, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on November 24, 2024
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This had an interesting though very confusing concept. I was intrigued if not confused for most of the book. I did enjoy reading it.

“Now I know that there is art everywhere, open to everyone…Without art we are empty shells.”

This is a DNF for me. I just couldn’t get into it.

Some reasons:

Camille’s character is difficult to get to know, and even more difficult to like. Lots of repetitive introspection, written in very flowery, dramatic prose.

She’s a lovestruck, simpering fool over a man she barely knows.

The magical realism aspect felt more weird than intriguing.

I wasn’t connecting with any of it.

That being said, this might be exactly the right story for you, so give it a try if the premise appeals to you.

*Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley.*

3.5 stars. I loved the unique concept of this book; however, it was too abstract and chaotic for me to fully grasp what was happening throughout the story. Despite this, I enjoyed the beautiful prose and imagery that was packed into Sarah’s writing. I would recommend this book if you’re an artist or if you’re searching for a plot that diverges from the typical fantasy novel.

Finished. Should have been a DNF.

A lot of times I found not understanding what was happening. Reality, or imagination. Ant it wasn't in a good way, where someone is loosing their mind and you're left wondering if you're in someone's lost mind. It was just unclear writing. The story was over repetitive with constantly pining over a man, that showed zero worthiness of that pining besides being rich and handsome. Was it just pure attraction? No idea. I skimmed the last 25% of the book, and missed nothing just reading certain conversations. It was predictable, and the magical realism did zero for the intrigue of this book.

Not my style, not my book. Thank you to the publisher for a review copy. All opinions are my own.

Wow! What a book - i wasn't sure what to expect but am very impressed - in my opinion, it is very well written and it drew me in right from the start. I couldn't put it down. It is difficult to categorize this novel into a certain genre, because it has so much: mystery, thriller, adventure, horror, fantasy, legends, romance... and probably more! Totally loved it, and had a great, satisfying ending!

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

THE ESTATE by Sarah Jost held a lot of intrigue for me - our main character can go into art and she also ends up in the throes of a mysterious, aristocratic family that she has prior history with - color me curious 👀

However, I felt the story to be missing quite a bit of tension and the plot ultimately didn’t seem to go anywhere. As much as I love a slow burn, this one was a slog to get through and I didn’t find the magical realism strong enough to carry the whole story.