First off, I loved the atmosphere. Everything seems shrouded in mist and mystery.

There was quite a bit of character shifting. We start out with Nadine and Jonathan in modern times, this shift to Olivia and Grant in early 1900’s, then Shelley and Mick in the 60’s. Several points of view and time lines.

My favorite timeline/pov was Jonathan. He seemed a so utterly confused with everything supernatural and was just there to make sure Nadine was ok, whether she was going crazy or not.

The Stones of Landane by Catherine Cavendish is a tale of romance and destiny, steeped in tension and uncertainty.

Let’s dive in!

My Thoughts on The Stones of Landane by Catherine Cavendish –
When a couple, Nadia and Jonathan, take a trip to Landane, it seems like it’s going to be a quiet stay as Nadia shows Jonathan around. While Nadia says she’s been there before, it soon becomes known that she doesn’t keep visiting just for the cozy stay at the local inn. There’s a local attraction that she can’t stay away from.

The longer they stay, the weirder things get.

With time, the couple finds themselves desperate to leave. But are they sucked too deep into the current of terror already or will getting out of town remove them from danger?

Of my gosh! I so love stories that have character and time jumps! The characters that we got to meet here were all so interesting. I was so sad when we’d move from one character to another, only because of wanted more from the character I was just with! But that sadness was short-lived as I was excited to see what was to come with the next character.

The oddities begin pretty early on, which helps to set the tone, and the storyline progresses in such a fun slow burn. Overall, this story has such an unsettling feel to it. And of course, because it’s Catherine, you can feel the weight of every scene. Whether that’s the warmth of the bar at the in, the pot-thick air of the festival, or the musty and earthy caverns.

My Favorite Passages from The Stones of Landane –
A narrow, carpeted staircase took us to the upper floor, where uneven floors creaked when you so much as looked at them and protested when you put your foot down.

He left me to my thoughts and the remains of my beer. I made short work of the Bud. but my thoughts remained as tangled as a plate of spaghetti carbonara.

Vicki’s lips moved. The words came out a fraction after her mouth uttered them. The bizarre effect made Shelly’s flesh creep. The words themselves did nothing to dispel her feeling of dread.

The woman in front of me opened her mouth and let out a sound that reminded me of a murder of crows. Maybe it was her version of laughter. It sounded to me like the gates of hell had just been flung open.

Outside the summer sun blazed but the cathedral provided a cool, calm place of solace and reflection. The crypt was another case entirely. Here it was as if winter had suddenly descended. I almost expected to see icicles hanging off the gargoyles.

My Final Thoughts on The Stones of Landane –
I’m all in for anything Catherine writes! I had an amazing time with this one. The slow build of dread was perfectly paced and incredibly impactful.

Keep an eye out for this one! The Stones of Landane publishes from Flame Tree Press on January 14, 2025!