This was a solid 3.5 read for me. What started with a ghost story quickly had my head spinning. I was riveted by the different turns this book took. The different dates in the novel definitely confused me (I spent a good 40% of the book thinking the current events were taking place in the 2000s, not 1970s) I did love all the background Clark provided for our antagonist. I did not expect the way the ending went and it fell a bit flat for me. Overall, this spooky book will definitely stay in the back of my head next time I hear some flies or step into the woods.

Whoa! This was a tome. I mean, geez! If you're going to read this, prepare yourself as it's no easy feat. The first part was enthralling. It starts in the action. Ghosts and haunting abound. A heart-pounding horror. Parts two and three could gave been condensed, and should have been dispersed throughout part one to break it up as flashbacks. Part four was utterly boring. So, this book is quite the toss up, and still needs a lot of work.

A stunningly engrossing Horror novel of Cult, Sorcery, Revenants, Family Dysfunction, Acrimonious Divorce, stacked against Patriotism, Conscience, Family Devotion, Romance, Love, Dedication, THE LEGEND OF MILDRED WELLS weaves from contemporary New England back to New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the 19th century, seamlessly interweaving time periods as author Michael Clark delivers implacable and hair-raising Horror that chills bones and leaves readers stunned and breathless. Not a short read, but not one moment or one page did I lose interest: the story was part of my life for the duration, and I am still pondering it (and still chilled!)

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

What I didn't realize when I first chose this book, was the massive size of it. Still, excited to get my very first ARC, I dove in.

Part One was a delightful read, and I absolutely devoured it in one night of binge-reading. The characters don't waste time arguing whether or not ghosts are real, and the haunting starts immediately. The scares were really good at first - especially the staircase scene in the beginning, that gave me chills! Part One is a fun, eerie horror novel with a interesting story, likeable characters, and well-written horror.

Part Two and Three was a different story entirely, though still interesting. We go back in time to relive Mildred's history, and find out just why she is the way she is. Though not as enthralling, I still enjoyed it. We get a good cult story with some new characters, though it definitely could've been shorter imo.

Part Four.... I'm sad to say you lost me about halfway through. The horror aspects of this have all but disappeared, though I'm sure they pick up again later, I found myself skimming and then eventually skipping whole pages before realizing this one was going to be a DNF. I'm only 66% through this book, and I've been reading for endless hours for the last few days already.

This feels like a story that doesn't know when to end.

((Tiny spoiler: Especially since we know at the end of Part One that Mildred is, of course, not gone, I found myself just waiting for the story to come full circle. I also really disliked Simmons, and not in the fun way.))

The intro to this book states that the story used to be even LONGER, which I can hardly believe. It was also apparently published as a trilogy originally, but was lumped into one genre-hopping tome because "sequels don't sell as well". Don't get me wrong, I LOVE how the author knows this story and his characters inside and out, but you could tell this story in much fewer words.

TLDR: Part One is an excellent horror novel, but the story lost its way and lost my interest. If the 'books' were ever separated again, I'd probably pick up the first part as a fun Halloween re-read.

The house itself is very creepy and Mildred makes for a compelling and complex haunting but the book feels a little disjointed and overlong. Some of the best and scariest moments happen at the very beginning of the book. Overall, I’m glad I read it but I don’t know if it’s a trip I’d recommend to anyone but diehard haunted house fans.