The Spirit Collection of Throne Hall is a truly captivating tale of forbidden love, restless haunting spirits and self-discovery. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves paranormal, historical fiction and romances. I would love to own the physical copy of this book.

The tale follows Elegy, a young woman, who was forced into a life revolving around the fourteen spirits bound to the Thorne Hall mansion. A bleak life full of century old decaying house fittings, out-dated mannerisms and old moth-eaten attire. Until one particularly naughty spirit wreaked havoc in the kitchen and reinforcements were called. The family's trusted preservationist (AKA repair man) brings his son, Atticus and instantly Elegy and Atticus are captivated by each other. The story follows Elegy's internal and external battles of choosing between her duty to Thorne Hall and her desire to follow her heart and leave it all behind.

This book is unlike any other book I've read. I was truly captivated at the level and expertise in which the spirits were portrayed and how the events of the story played out. I really enjoyed the physical descriptors and features the spirits had; it was unexpected but added to the thrill of the book. Especially all the uncertainty and unpredictable behaviour the spirits possessed. I enjoyed getting to know the individual spirits personalities and backstories; however, it was a little difficult to keep track of all of them and I often found myself backtracking to try and remember who exactly they were. I did also find myself wanting to see a little more connection between Elegy and the spirits, especially ones she was closer to. I believe it would have made the ending slightly more impactful. In regard to the Epilogue, it was nice and cute to read, however it felt unnecessary, and I would have preferred to go without or perhaps not so far into the future.

Elegy and Atticus. I loved their bond and their connection. The small interactions and the denial. The angst. I was on my toes and could not stop reading. I was vying for them from the start. It was such a beautiful and captivating tale; however, I would have liked to see a little more building and connection as I personally was getting 'INSTANT-LOVE' vibes. I would have loved to see/read about small in-between moments, where I would be shown the love and connection, they have. Rather than being told about it.

I've rated this book 3.75 stars as it was a little confusing to read to begin with which made it hard to get into the book and I, personally, was left wanting to see more in-depth connections and relationships throughout. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Slow moving at the start but so worth it to push through! I really enjoyed this spooky fall book! I love a good gothic setting and this did not disappoint. Lots of ghosts and twisty turns. Will be recommending to my fellow spooky readers.

Elegy Thorne lives at Thorne Hall amongst many ghosts. She lives speaking and dressing like a woman from another era. Her father insists upon this. As the lady of the house Elegy will inherit Thorne Halls ghosts when her father passes away. She will have to learn to master them before they master her.
If you want to know what babysitting ghosts is like this is the book for you. I really loved this book so much it's definitely horror done right!

The amount of names for the living people and the ghosts were confusing at first but over time, and with personality descriptions, it became easier. A little slow at first but it felt very atmospheric and I love a good ghost(s) story. I liked the addition of the songs and lyrics as well.

To be honest, I almost DNF’d this. (I was so stoked when I got the arc on Netgalley too.) The beginning was slow and the amount of ghosts was almost overwhelming. Dude…am I happy I stuck with it. It did get better. With its modern gothic atmosphere and a slow burn romance that paid off BIG TIME oh, and all those side characters really did get easier to keep up with. It kind of reminded me of Crimson Peak at times!

Modern Gothic done well is difficult to find; outstanding modern gothic is exceedingly rare. The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is surprising in that while the expected broody manse, haunting spirits and sinister vibes are all well and accounted for, J. Ann Thomas turns this story into a memorable one by including found family, a slow burn romance, and even some spice. The cast of characters is long; I’ve seen some complaints about this, but I had no issue keeping up, because all of their personalities are so fleshed out. I will say the first third tends to be slow, but the atmospheric writing, along with a main character you’re rooting so hard for (and a romance that’s so slow burn and hot), and the side quests all hold your attention. The ending is surprising but brings the appropriate resolution to what is a wonderful story about letting go to find the love we all deserve. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and thanks to Alcove Press for the advance readers copy. I will be adding the hardcover edition to my
shelf when it releases February 2025.

I found this book really slow to start, but based on other reviews, I stuck with it and was pleasantly surprised! It was beautifully written, very atmospheric. I was hoping for Crimson Peak vibes and was not disappointed. Will definitely be purchasing this when it releases in the real world!

this was absolute PERFECTION. it serves the most perfectly atmospheric read and the spooky vibes were top notch as someone who’s trying to get into the fall mindset!!!! i loved everything about this gothic story and the writing was positively gorgeous. i 100% recommend this one!!!!

I really hate to DNF a book but I had to with this one. I just did not enjoy reading it enough to finish

I have this weird habit where I DNF a book if it fails to get my attention by the 15% mark. The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall, with it’s slow pace almost made me put the book down for good, and yet something told me to stay for the ride. And I am glad that I did.

Elegy Thorne is bound to Thorne Hall and its fourteen spirits by blood, honor, and a promise made more than a hundred years ago by her ancestor. When Atticus Hart arrives and shakes up Elegy’s frame of mind, hope blooms within her as she fights against the curse wrought upon her bloodline.

Elegy’s characterization was by far the strongest point of the novel. Her simultaneous want for freedom and her acknowledgement that she can never have it is at the core of her being and all the decisions she makes. Her stalwart determination in the face of grim circumstances is a product of her grisly upbringing and it all ties in to the story.

Her relationships however, are a bit lacking. After all, there are several (living and dead) to which she has an established connection with. But even if I did think that we could have spent more time building deeper relationships, I still found myself misty eyed as I ended the book.

This book contains a lot of descriptions of architecture and fashion, both of which lends to the modern gothic atmosphere of the story. I, at times, found myself at a loss when trying to picture the grandeur of it all, but I still found myself fully immersed in the story.

There is a lot to take in with this book, especially with such a wide range of characters to keep track of. From Elegy’s ancestors, the Collection, Elegy’s friends both new and old, there is much to remember and much to be read about. I often found myself losing interest at the amount of infodumping that came after a character was introduced. I spent a lot of time reading and re-reading passages because I could not make heads nor tails of the prose or dialogue or descriptions. But at the end, it still lent itself to the story.

Overall, I am happy with my decision to finish this book rather than shelving it. Though I do have to say for future readers: stick with the book until the 35% mark!

What if your family inheritance was a collection of more or less murderous ghosts that you had to keep in check so that they didn't hurt the world? What if that kept you locked in a decaying manor, away from all changes, from any modernity, because change angered the undead...
The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a fantastic gothic novel, amazingly well written and exceedingly atmospheric. I enjoyed it a lot despite some clumsiness and a couple of plot-holes.
I did not think the last chapter was necessary at all, I would have vastly preferred not to have it, but I enjoyed all the rest so much, I won't complain too much. Though it did lose the book 1 star, I really disliked the implications of that resolution.
This was a fresh stand alone take on gothics and I recommend to anyone who likes "All the Murmuring Bones", "The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt" or "Mexican Gothic".
Elegy was a lovely character to follow and all the gothic feels shone bright.

The fantastic opening drew me in immediately! The number of ghosts was a bit excessive but I loved that they ranged from friendly and mischevious to downright malevolent. The real, physical threat they posed, as well as the uncertainty around when they would be released from the father's control was nerve-wracking and made the book hard to put down. I only had a couple of issues. Elegy's personal evolution included quite a bit of unnecessary stubbornness which, at times, made her rather unlikeable. The other aspect was her friends and the 'real world' outside Thorne Hall. They were quite jarring in comparison with the wonderfully gothic atmosphere elsewhere, but I suppose that's unavoidable when setting it in present day and so is a reflection of my preferences, rather than a shortcoming of the book.

UGH. YES. A gothic masterpiece that gave me Crimson Peak vibes. Atmospheric, well-written, with forbidden romance, I LOVED IT!

I nearly had to put this one down and call it a DNF, but I'm so happy that I stuck with the story.

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall starts very slow, with the plot a bit stagnant, and it was hard to keep track of all the characters. After all, the total amount of spirits in Thorne Hall is fourteen. But the writing was incredibly atmospheric, and the details of fashion and architecture were brilliant. I was immersed within the first few chapters even though I didn't understand what was happening yet. Roughly at the 30% mark is when the plot started to progress.

Elegy was a fantastic FMC to follow along with and had a charming personality. The supernatural elements were captivating, and I especially loved the addition of the canny. The scenes I enjoyed the most were when the ghosts appeared or when Elegy was with Atticus. I didn’t care much for her friends, Floss and Hugo, as these relationships didn’t seem believable.

Eventually, it was easier to identify which ghost was which, but still, the story would have been more impactful if additional time had been spent distinguishing the unique relationships Elegy had with each of them. A better understanding of their connection with one another would have drawn out a more emotional reaction from the reader regarding the plot twist, which was my favorite part of the story and left me utterly stunned.

Lastly, I want to mention the epilogue–oh my! That is EXACTLY how you do an epilogue. I felt at home, hopeful, and appreciative of the small things. I’ll leave it at that to avoid spoilers.

Very slow moving and had a hard time with the amount of characters and the cussing in the novel, normally would not be a issue for me but I was thinking this was a YA novel which could cause some issues for others.

*The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall* by J. Ann Thomas is a captivating and atmospheric read that will draw you into the eerie world of Thorne Hall. Nestled in the Berkshires, this grand estate is home to fifteen restless spirits, bound to its walls since the Gilded Age. Elegy Thorne, tasked with preserving the mansion and its haunted history, uses ancient folk songs to keep the spirits in check. But when a mischievous child spirit begins causing chaos, everything changes.

Enter Atticus, the lively and modern son of the family’s trusted preservationist. His arrival ignites something in Elegy—a longing for freedom and a life beyond the walls of Thorne Hall. Torn between her duty and her heart, Elegy embarks on a journey to uncover the secrets of the spirits and find a way to release them, and herself, from the mansion’s grip.

J. Ann Thomas has woven a spellbinding tale full of century-old secrets, peculiar magic, and a blend of both whimsical and deadly spirits. The writing is rich and immersive, making Thorne Hall come alive in your mind. The tension between Elegy’s duty and desire adds an emotional depth that makes her story even more compelling.

This book is the perfect read for the spooky season, with its haunting atmosphere and mysterious charm. It’s a story that will keep you hooked from start to finish, and I can’t wait to add it to my shelf!

#TheSpiritCollectionofThorneHall #NetGalley

Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the arc of this work!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a fascinating take on a gothic novel but brought up to date. The vivid language used by the author was powerful in painting a picture of Thorne Hall. The dichotomy of the bright modern world to the darkness and dreary Thorne Hall was well done. I appreciated Elegy’s character and the depiction of strength being inside and not always physical. Like any Gothic novel it was slow but I don’t see it as a fault more as a note on the work. Thomas created a rich world of characters that I would recommend to any lover of spooky thoughtful works.

A beautifully written modern gothic story. This is truly perfect for fans of Bly Manor! I have been searching for a book with this exact premise and vibe for so long and was excited to get my hands on the ARC. I read it in two days!
I loved the atmosphere and vibe the most. I read this while listening to a playlist of leaves in the wind on my noise cancelling headphones and it enhanced the experience I had while reading so much! There were many times where I was so spooked I had to take a break.
The characters were haunting in the best way and felt rich and complex. I felt for their situations and some of the characters I wish had more page-time.

My only complaint really was the pacing. I think this book could have been edited down about 50 pages or the author could have sped things up plot wise. But once the story gets going, it was hard to put down.

It took me a little while to get into the book as there is a lot of characters and history introduced. After the 30% mark the pacing picked up a bit and it started to get my attention.

I would say it’s absolutely not a horror but it’s a gothic story with a small romance plot. It’s has a more original plot than most romance books have these days and I would definitely recommend it to people that want a good fall read.

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a richly told gothic tale in the lines of The Haunting of Blye Manner and Crimson Peak. How far will one woman go to survive? What is she willing to sacrifice in order to preserve her family's legacy? A tale laden with ghosts, mysteries and mayhem, you won't want to miss this haunting tale.