**Review of *The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall* by J. Ann Thomas**

*The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall* by J. Ann Thomas is a gothic fantasy that enchants readers with its atmospheric storytelling, blending elements of forbidden love, family curses, and restless spirits. Set against the backdrop of an enigmatic mansion frozen in time, this novel offers an eerie yet captivating tale for fans of stories like *Jane Eyre* and *The Haunting of Bly Manor*, while also weaving in its own unique magic.

The story follows Elegy Thorne, a young woman bound to the Thorne family estate—a grand mansion in the Berkshires that is both her burden and her prison. For years, Elegy has been tethered to her family’s curse, using ancient folk songs to keep the spirits of the mansion's past silent. The spirits, trapped since the Gilded Age, are a constant presence in her life, and her duty is to preserve the mansion exactly as it was—no matter the personal cost. The haunting atmosphere of Thorne Hall itself is a character in its own right, with its time-frozen halls and restless spirits creating an unsettling, yet beautifully rich, setting.

When a mischievous child spirit wreaks havoc, Elegy’s life is disrupted by the arrival of Atticus, the charming and modern-minded son of the mansion's preservationist. His energy, vision for the future, and undeniable chemistry with Elegy awaken a long-suppressed longing for freedom and independence. The budding romance between Elegy and Atticus is one of the novel’s most compelling aspects, offering a bittersweet tension between her duty to her family’s legacy and the desire for a life beyond the walls of Thorne Hall.

Elegy is an intriguing protagonist, torn between the weight of her family’s curse and the possibility of a life that she never thought she could have. Her internal struggle makes her journey one of deep emotional resonance, as she seeks a way to free herself—and the spirits—from their endless confinement. The emotional stakes are high, not only for Elegy but for the spirits who are trapped in the mansion, each with their own secrets and desires.

The novel's exploration of forbidden love adds another layer of complexity, as Elegy’s feelings for Atticus are not just about romance but also represent a yearning for self-determination and freedom from the shackles of tradition and obligation. The question of whether she will follow her heart or her duty becomes a central theme, with Elegy’s growth as a character offering readers a powerful and relatable emotional arc.

The ghosts themselves are a fascinating part of the novel. Some are whimsical and tragic, while others are more sinister, and their individual stories add depth and mystery to the plot. The presence of magic—both in the form of the ancient folk songs that bind the spirits and the peculiar enchantments surrounding the house—further enriches the gothic atmosphere. The slow unraveling of secrets about the Thorne family’s past and the mansion’s curse keeps the reader hooked, as Elegy delves into the history of the estate in hopes of breaking the cycle.

*The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall* is a beautifully atmospheric and haunting novel, blending mystery, romance, and a touch of dark magic. The setting is richly detailed, the characters are complex, and the plot is full of twists and revelations that will keep readers turning the pages. J. Ann Thomas masterfully creates a world where the boundaries between the living and the dead blur, and the choices of the living have far-reaching consequences. If you enjoy stories about forbidden love, family secrets, and spectral hauntings, this novel will captivate your heart and haunt your dreams long after you've finished reading. Highly recommended for fans of gothic fiction and those who crave a bit of mystery with their romance.

Perfect for spooky season! Enjoyed the twists and stories wrapped up in this one. Lots of suspense and intricate weavings with the plot.

This is very slow paced but not in a bad way and I liked the atmospheric, gothic feel to it. There's a balance between a more modern and more old-fashioned feel because while the story is set in modern times, you feel as if the mansion is suspended in time.
I had the impression that the "spirits" of Thorne hall would be ghosts but they were more like zombies which I honestly didn't love.
I liked the striking difference between the cold of the mansion and the warmth/safety of Atticus's apartment.
I wish the romance had been developed more. It was sweet but it was very much insta love and I think it would have had potential. And I liked Elegy, Atticus felt very one dimensional.

3.5 stars for The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by J. Ann Thomas.

I received an advance ebook copy from netgalley.

Secrets, ghosts, an old (haunted) manor, and some romance too. This story was a fun Gothic tale.

Many characters. Interesting and sad back stories.

The reason for a lower star rating; it's a bit of a slow story. There are lots of characters, so many names to remember and that made it a bit confusing for me. But, still a fun read.

If you like horror, ghost stories, and a touch of uncomplicated romance, this book is for you.
Thomas does a wonderful job creating the creepy gothic atmosphere and I particularly enjoyed the description of historical clothes that Elegy is forced to wear and the attention to language. The mansion is spooky, the weather is stormy when needed, and the supporting characters are written with care and complement the story.
I don't care much for romance novels in general, but the romantic part of the story was not too cheesy and did not take away from the main conflict (the fourteen ghosts in various degrees of decay and malice).
I honestly did not expect to like the book this much, but it truly is a great read. The novel is inclusive, very well written, and delivers on all fronts.

Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for sharing an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

DNF @ 20%

I just wasn't really feeling this book. I really wanted to like it; I loved the concept and the writing was smooth and easy. I thought there were some really clever ideas in it and I was intrigued by it. However, I just found the whole thing way too slow, and it just didn't capture my attention well enough. I don't think this is a bad book however, and I think a lot of readers would enjoy it. It just wasn't for me, I'm afraid.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Thorne Hall has a secret. Within its crumbling walls full of past splendor live not just the few remaining members of the Thorne family, there are also fifteen restless spirits bound to the Thorne line. Much to the current Thorne patriarch's disappointment, Elegy is the only heir and it will be up to her to control the more destructive and delay impulses of the spirits after he passes. Elegy has no other choice than to live as if she is another one of those spirits and has accepted that this will be her life. Until a handsome stranger walks into her home and makes her start to question is her doomed fate truly is the only way forward.

It took me a bit to fully get into the story because Thomas does too good a job of highlighting how incredibly hopeless Elegy's life is. She is trapped by the collection in a house with an emotionally abusive father, his bitterly crazy second wife, and spirits who (mostly) have no goodwill toward her. Unable to even leave the house for more than a few hours at a time or to at least have someone to talk to about it.

It takes a lot to get Elegy interested in even considering more in life and it's a testament to the writing that you believe she's been conditioned to think that way. The relationships she has are all complex in how even the people who know the truth and should be there to support her are mostly just accepting that she's out of luck. This is why Atticus is such a perfect match for her despite being her complete opposite. Even beyond the romantic way that they're pulled toward each other, the way he's set on supporting and helping her no matter what is fantastic.

I would have rated this a full 5 stars and loved it if it weren't for that bleak beginning, acknowledging that it's so good once we get past the depressing bits and it wouldn't be as enthralling if it weren't for those. It does become completely unputdownable somewhere around the halfway point and provides some excellently memorable scenes, it's just that getting past the bleakness took an effort.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the enthralling read!

This book felt more like a gothic romantic mystery than a horror novel. That being said, the story was entertaining with a great cast of characters, including the main character Elegy and the many spirits bound to Thorne Hall and the Thorne family. This was a fabulous ghost story laced with the family curse and magic, and the author did a great job narrating her story.

If you can get past the very slow beginning you might enjoy this book, I personally did not. It was definitely gothic and had some romance but other than that I really didn't care for it. I was bored and confused during the first half and then the second half started to pick up but it wasn't enough for me to say it was a good book. The only thing this book had going for it was how atmospheric it was.

I really loved this gothic historical fantasy debut about Elegy Thorne who has been trapped living in her family's estate and tasked with keeping the 15 spirits collected there over the years happy and contained. When a young spirit causes enough mischief that an outsider needs to be called in to restore areas of the house, Elegy meets his son, Atticus and starts to long for a life of love and freedom. This was a haunting story of love, magic, family secrets and love triumphing over evil and I gobbled it up. It was great on audio and I can't wait to read more from this author! Highly recommended for fans of authors like Hester Fox. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

J Ann Thomas presents The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall, a gothic fantasy where ghosts are the burden of the Thorne family. Elegy Thorne is the most recent Thorne to be named heir to the family curse, trapped in Thorne Hall to keep the spirits compliant and calm. Some of the spirits are more whimsical where others could be potentially deadly. When Elegy finds herself falling into a forbidden love, she becomes desperate to escape her cursed fate.

This book is slow. It has a contemporary setting, but everything within the confines of Thorne Hall is deliberately kept as it was in the 1890s. The phrase "frozen in time" has come up, and, unfortunately for me, also describes the pacing. I waited to be able to listen to the audiobook (narrated by the author) and was able to proceed forward more happily that way. Otherwise, I may have DNFed due to sheer impatience.

I don't know that I realized that most of the story would have a contemporary setting, and found myself wishing for the historical one. This story was likened to Starling House, and I agree. In that same vein, I will compare it to A Study in Drowning, though I will emphasize this book is not intended for a young adult demographic. All of these books happened to achieve the same rating from me, in part because I can recognize that they're good, but were somewhat of a mismatch with me personally. I did not particularly like Elegy as a character, as I found her a bit docile and meek for my personal preferences. Even as Atticus brought out her desire for more... well, I'm not a huge fan of that aspect of her character either. Yes, she always wanted a change, but her blossoming relationship seemed to be the push for action. I can absolutely see where people would enjoy these characters, but it was a miss for me.

Wishing J Ann Thomas much success with the release and hoping this book finds its audience.

An updated and unique twist on your classic haunted house. I must say I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all the spirits and their quirks.
I was not expecting the twist at then at all which was a pleasant surprise.
This book really does have it all: romance, horror, mystery, found family and magical realism all rolled in to one story of a woman becoming who she was meant to be.
4.5/5 stare for me.
I received an arc of this title, all opinions are my own.

the opening scene of this was really good--fun, mysterious, and haunting. these elements carried throughout the rest of the book, but i think the 'romance' aspect of this gothic romance was significantly less interesting than the actual spirit collection of thorne hall. i liked the variety of ghosts, and i liked elegy's anachronisms, and i liked thomas's prose [very witty, very fun] but all of the interesting complexities of thorne hall meant that the romance just paled in comparison. atticus was a very convenient, neat bundle of solutions to all of elegy's problems--even though she has a lot of agency in her story, and he exists as "handsome support", i couldn't help but feel like he was a little too perfect in the end. honestly, he felt like a cozy fantasy protag slotted into a gothic plot--a little out of place in this book against other extremely flawed characters. i am also not the biggest fan of when a love interest is the only one sticking up for the main character against their friends and family, who have wronged the mc or misunderstood them for years [only because i feel like it plays into the exact scenario mentioned towards the end of this book, where a character only falls in love with the first person they meet who's new to their environment and it gets into this whole born sexy yesterday thing]. after a whirlwind of undead murder victims and this big rotting house, i didn't really find the same comfort in atticus's cozy sweaters and floral-decorated reading sessions that elegy did--i just felt kind of bored. i hope j ann thomas writes books leaning more towards the gothic side of things in the future. 2.75/5 stars.

J.Ann Thomas’ The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is an atmospheric novel following a young woman named Elegy who lives in a mansion occupied with ghosts—The Collection and is the future mistress of Thorne Hall.

The biggest downfall of the novel would be the opening of the book. It was a struggle to get immersed in the narrative. However, I pursued on and enjoyed the story more once the plot had gotten moving.

As for the characters, most of them are well-rounded in the sense of understanding their motivations and what they want out of it. The romance between Elegy and Atticus is sweet and is written well.

[Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.]

At the turn of a century, Jasper Thorne employed a family of mediums to conduct a ceremony to collect and trap ghosts, resulting in, over the years, fifteen ghosts haunting the halls of the large house in the Berkshires. Along with the fifteen ghosts came a responsibility to control them, which each Thorne patriarch through the years has had to learn to do and pass on the responsibility to the succeeding generation.

In the present day, Elegy Thorne lives her days in the house, learning to live with the ghosts, and waiting to take on the family legacy. One strange quirk of the Thorne legacy also entails preserving the house in its early 1900s look and feel, including the lack of present day garb and technology.

Elegy's father Thaddeus is ailing, and Elegy is anxious and worried for when he dies, and passes the ghosts' management on to her. While successful at keeping most at bay, the oldest of the ghosts constantly threatens her with what he'll do once she's responsible for the lot of them.

After one of the ghosts causes a flood on the main floor of the house with consequent damage, Elegy hires contractors, one of whom she is immediately attracted to, Atticus. The attraction is mutual, and despite restrictions necessitated by the family responsibility, Elegy finds herself pursuing the man, and considering another, different course for her life.

I loved the tone of this book, and the audiobook (I went back and forth between text and audio), which felt a little like reading and listening to a story with the heightened feel of a 1930 or 1940s Hollywood movie. Elegy's formal phrasing, and the omniscient narration only reinforced this idea in my head.

The pacing is a little slow, but not annoyingly so. In fact, I liked the way author J. Ann Thomas built up the gothic, claustrophobic feel of Thorne Hall, and the fear of what will happen once Thaddeus dies.

Elegy is well characterized, with everything about her seemingly set in the early part of the 1900s, even while she looks forward and hopes for a different life. I loved her love of gardens, and the idea of growing things, working in the dirt, and visceral pleasure this gives her, something her constrained and frankly rather horrifying life does not provide.

I was a little less certain of Atticus, likeable though he is. We see everything from Elegy's point of view, so her attraction and its reasons are credible, and though she's pretty, I was not 100% certain why he fell for her. But, their romance is the impetus Elegy needs to begin searching for a way out of her legacy.

The ghosts vary from kind of cute and tragic, to terrifying, and Thaddeus never feels anything but controlling and cruel, much like the oldest ghost in the house.

There are sufficient twists to keep things interesting right to the end, and the epilogue provides a satisfying wrap up, though it has a different feel to the rest of the story, primarily as it feels so sun drenched compared to the darkness of Thorne Hall. Not a problem, just a totally different, and necessary tone.

I totally enjoyed the author's narration in the audiobook, as she captured the feel of the past century for a story set mostly in the present day.

Thank you to Netgalley, Alcove Press and Dreamscape Media for these ARCs in exchange for my review.

I LOVED this book.
We follow Elegy, who lives in a mansion with many ghosts and she has to adapt to the ghosts in her personal life in the way she dresses etc.

The atmosphere is wonderfully creepy, and the ghosts themselves even more so. They all have their own personalities and quirks and whilst I found some charming in a creepy and eerie sort of way others were terrifying.

The plot and pacing felt perfect, and I loved the writing style.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Gothic ghost stories with well developed characters and mystery.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the Arc. All opinions are my own and I am leaving a review voluntarily.

A young woman, Elegy, is forced to live with ghosts in her crumbling family mansion. Crumbling and frozen in time, the macabre staging post of a collection of spirits unable to move beyond. Elegy must face her inherited legacy and decide between a modern love and the price of a future she only dares to dream of.

I struggled getting into this book. I would say, stay with the book close to the halfway mark. The world building is lavish and the use of flowery sentences, rich in era-appropriate language choices contributed to the overall Gothic atmosphere. The juxtaposition of Edwardian expectations and modernity at the gates was tricky however, it is very cleverly done. I took a good couple of chapters figuring out who was a spirit and who was “real” and how this would all pull together.

I don’t think this fits neatly into a horror genre. Yes, it is spooky, creepy, paranormal and romantic. The love interest, Atticus, provides a vehicle for Elegy to grasp what she wants from life. He certainly reads between the lines and allows Elegy to feel safe and whole. Elegy herself has such a steep character growth she left all others in her shadow. I reminded myself time and again that this is a story of not only inheritance, but of forging your own future free of the weight of legacy.

I found Thaddeus grotesque. The abusive nature of his relationship with the women in the house was abhorrent.

3.5-4*
With thanks to the author, J. Ann Thomas, Alcove Press and Netgalley for an eARC to read ahead of publication.

The spirits were the best part of this gothic and eerie read!

The pace of the book felt a bit off/inconsistent and despite the intriguing characters and fantastic world building, it was just missing something for me. I do however feel like the vibe of this during the fall/halloween season may hit different. I did enjoy it and would read more in the world or from the author.

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall was a quirky read.

Thorne Hall is host to the “Collection”. A collection of 14 lost souls that haunt the manor and the Thorne family. Elegy Thorne is the latest “caretaker” of the collection, reluctant caretaker that is. Elegy has been raised by her emotionally distant father to take over the home and the collection of ghosts that inhabit the manor. Keeping the ghosts in line is a herculean task. Due to the constraints of the family trust, Elegy is required to live life like it is the early 1900’s when the collection was first summoned, she had to dress in late 19th cerntury, early 20th century clothing, She has to run the house as if it is still that time period with a skeleton staff that refuses to spend the night. Her entre future is laid out before in endless servitude to the Collection, or is it? Can Elegy find the means to break away from her inheritance at Thorne Hall and make a meaningful life for herself?

This book to me felt like a cross between 13 Ghosts and the Haunting of Hill House, though the ghosts overall were not as homicidal, (though some could be).

Thanks to Netgalley, Alcove Press and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC.

I thought this book was really enthralling. At first I wasn’t sure as it seemed to take place in an earlier time (it said present day but I think the isolation of the main character and the house made everything feel centuries old). This isn’t an issue you just not something I was expecting when I first picked up the book. However I was hooked when we were introduced to the “collection”.