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.

I really enjoyed this story, it was a concept that I hadn't read previously and didn't fully know what to expect from it.

Elegy is the current resident of Thorne Hall and is preparing to one day become the master of the homes collection of spirits. That would be daunting enough if she didn't also have to live her life as it things hadn't changed much from the spirits first arrival in the 1890's. This aspect I wasn't expecting but the author does a great job of using language to show the difference between those who grew up in Thorne Hall and the rest of society they interact with.

When Elegy meets Atticus all things change - does she need to continue living as her relatives before her were forced to or can she entertain her own free will and for once in her life make a decision for herself.

At time I found the pacing a little slow and cumbersome with the writing used, but I'm glad I stuck with it and finished the novel finding it one of the most original story ideas I've read this year.

Thank you to Netgalley and J.Ann Thomas for the ARC copy of The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall to read in exchange for an honest review.

The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is unlike any book I have previously read. J. Ann Thomas has created a dark, intriguing, and haunting world at Thorne Hall. She excelled with her vivid descriptions of the manor and the ghosts. The pacing of the book was initially slow, but gradually picked up after a few chapters. Once getting through the beginning, I became very intrigued. I lost sleep needing to know what was going to happen.

I enjoyed reading this book. Thomas has a wonderfully unique story and a new twist on ghosts. There were some ghosts that I wish had been more present throughout the story so I could become invested in them, such as Hester or Calliope. I feel that the ending would be felt more emotionally by the reader if there was an attachment developed for the ghosts that were important to Elegy.

Elegy and the ghosts are well developed characters with unique personalities. The ghosts are who held my interest the most. I was invested in Elegy and her character arc. Atticus, Floss, and Hugo, I was not invested in.
Floss and Hugo are presented as Elegy's closest friends.Their relationship with Elegy seemed nonexistent and if it was present, felt forced. I do not feel they contributed to the overall story in any meaningful way. There wasn't enough back story given for the reader to feel the friendship.

My main complaint is the use of foul language. One particular curse word was used overly too much throughout the book. I did feel the use of this language detracted from the story. While the dialogue of Elegy was well written and fit her character perfectly, I found the dialogue of the support characters lacking. The support characters had a limited vocabulary and didn't seem to have much to say even when Elegy turned to them for support.

I will be recommending The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall on GoodReads and Amazon. I feel it will be a wonderful spooky read for the fall season. I would rate this book 5 stars if the dialogue were improved and the support characters better developed. Overall, The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a worthwhile read. I will be looking forward for more books from J. Ann Thomas.

An intricately woven modern gothic tale that will give you chills and shock you with its twist. The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall is a modern day classic for the gothic genre with characters that are complex and well-developed. Each part of this story, and each character, fits perfectly into the story that J. Ann Thomas created.

This author is definitely one I will read more of! Great read!