I got 102 pages into this before deciding to give up. It's too pretentious with little to no plot. It started off good, but got boring fast.

I had a tough time with this book. I felt that the young girl was too young to be experiencing life with the group she hung with. She had been isolated all her life. The family is too strange. I am left with no desire to know more.
Thank you, NetGalley. I am certain this book will appeal to others, but not me.

This was a tough read for me. The description sounded interesting, and I was trying to branch out from my typical genres, but I had a hard time getting through this. It was pretty slow and couldn’t hook me. I lost motivation early on to keep reading - it felt like a chore.

I enjoy first person narration. This style was great, however her being a pre-teen through most of it and not getting her name made it a little hard to connect. I really enjoy historical storylines too, but it just got really in the weeds and felt too textbook for my leisure reading time. There was a lot of family drama and dysfunction, but I liked those parts. FMC relationship with her gramps was nice to see after the neglect and absence of her parents.

I liked the gothic regency horror vibes and the writing was really beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

I received a free copy of the ebook, Letters from the Dead by Isabella Valeri, from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, so Letters from the Dead by Isabella Valeri totally pulled me in. It’s this dark, gothic story about a girl from a powerful, messed-up family who gets sent away after uncovering some creepy secret. Years later, she’s forced back into that whole world—think arranged marriages, family drama, and a ton of things left unsaid.

It’s moody in the best way, super atmospheric, and kind of haunting. Some parts felt a little mysterious or vague, but honestly, that added to the vibe. If you’re into slow-burn, emotional stories with dark elegance and old secrets, you’ll really like this one.

WOW! This book was incredible. I started it the same day I finished it because the storyline dug its claws into me and did not let go till I finished it. The story of Isabella and all the terrible things she had to endure made me feel deeply for her. I just wanted to envelope her in hugs and tell her everything was going to be all right. I was shocked this was a debut book because I felt like Isabella Valeri had been writing for years. A well written book full of mystery, suspense and intrigue. I cannot wait to read more of Isabella's writing. Bravo job, Isabella!

Isabella Valeri's Letters from the Dead, is a gothic thriller that delves into the intricacies of old money, family secrets, and personal identity. Set against the backdrop of a secluded Alpine estate, the story follows a young heiress whose sheltered upbringing is disrupted by the discovery of a centuries-old manuscript. This revelation leads to her abrupt exile to an American boarding school, which seemed a bit extreme to me, but then she returns to confront the very family that cast her out, unveiling a web of betrayal and hidden agendas. This was a very slow paced book that goes into in depth historical descriptions that at times were very tedious. It's got some good suspense and drama for an author's first novel, but I had a hard time plowing through all the detail. When you find out what the big secret is, it doesn't seem that big of a deal. I think if the author had spent more time on character development and less on the historical detail of the time, I might have found it more enjoyable. It was well written, and a solid entry into the gothic genre.

I feel like this book could ave been much better. The premise sounded so good but it really fell short. I was bored through most of this book and really with it hadn't focused so much on history, which I love if told the right way. At times the story would drag on and I wasn't sure what I was reading or if I even wanted to finish the book. I did push through and once done it was one that could have really been better, a little history and more character development so you feel connected with them. Thanks NetGalley for a chance to read this book.

“Letters from the Dead” is by Isabella Valeri. This book is really difficult from to review for a number of reasons. I looked at other reviews to try to get some help - and the reviews tend to be rather scattered. The main character - unnamed like the main character in “Rebecca” - is eleven (or so) at the beginning of the book. For the first good half of the book she’s eleven or twelve, on the family’s estate learning history (some her family, some European, some war tactics). Then she reads something she shouldn’t (which didn’t seem that awful to me) and is sent away (to America - horrors!) to boarding school year-round. While there, the book picks up its pacing with interactions with classmates and roommates. While some of the book felt underhanded machiavellian (or maybe in-your-face machiavellian), it felt like not a lot happened and then a lot happened, but at the same time not a lot did - which feels odd to say about a nearly 500 page book. I didn’t know that this was going to be the first of a new series, which helps explain the rather open ended ending. Family dynamics are always complex - and this book felt like it was a coming of age one (and it is) mixed in with gothic horror (setting of the estate) mixed in with dysfunctional family (minus the FUN in dysfunctional). I found myself thinking, at times, that this book was like playing chess (something I’ve tried learning beyond the basics) - the author was always a step ahead of me. For example, while I liked the history lessons, I found myself skimming a bit, then realized later than some of that skimming should have been reading instead. Overall, 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 because the next book sounds interesting - what is next for our heroine?

What an interesting premise for a story! This debut sends a young heiress into a world of hidden secrets when she uncovers a family mystery. After being exiled, she returns years later to confront her enemies and risks unraveling everything her family has worked to protect.

3.5 Stars

A young heiress from an estate in the Alpine foothills has lived a sheltered life, as the youngest daughter in a European family that can be traced back 15 generations. Left to her own devices most of the time, she finds herself discovering family secrets that no twelve year old should uncover. As her grandfather notes her growing curiosity, he brings in a tutor to guide her education. But as more secrets are revealed and the questions of family succession come into play, she is mysteriously sent away to an all girls boarding school in the United States. Years pass with no contact from her family, and now in her 20s, she is ordered to return home, and face the unknown plans her family has set in place, to secure her role in the long line of their dynastic control.

Letters From the Dead is a well-written story of powerful families and the machinations of holding on to that power throughout each new generation. I enjoyed the mystery behind the FMCs family, and the doubts that her grandfather has for her father as the next in line as the family’s patriarch. It sets up a great storyline of family drama and intrigue, and brings some interesting questionable characters into the mix.

I was most invested in the relationship between the FMC and her grandfather. They had a heartwarming relationship, since she was mostly neglected by her parents, in a be seen and not heard household. While the family presents a polished front to the outside world, there are secrets and betrayals that makes the FMC a pawn among her family, without knowing fully what secrets are being kept from her.

While I did enjoy the book’s premise and following the life of the FMC, I did have some problems with the story. The FMC is twelve years old throughout 65% of the book, and I found that made it hard for me to stay connected to her as a character. From the situations she found herself in, I felt like her age progression should have taken place faster. Also, the book is set in the early 1990s, but because of the behavior, mannerisms, and speech of the family, it felt like the story was in the late 1800s, early 1900s. I just found myself having a hard time reconciling the setting, throughout the book.

I did enjoy the pacing of the latter part of the book, once the FMCs time at boarding school ended. This was a much longer read for me, at 11 days, and I think some shortening and editing of the first 65% would have made a big difference in the pacing and holding my interest in the story.

The book does end on a cliffhanger, and I am definitely interested to see where the story goes in the next book, now that the FMC has reached adulthood. If you love stories with family secrets, historical references, wealth and power, and a sense of mystery, then I would recommend reading Letters From the Dead.

It was good. But not for me really. I appreciate receiving this book nd I will look for more from this author. Thank you netglley

The premise behind this book is so interesting and got me really excited to read. However I left the book feeling a bit lost and kind of bored. There's a lot of extra history thrown in the story as well as longer stretches without any drama. I would consider this a genre bending read. There are parts of historical fiction, mystery, and family drama. I appreciate the advanced copy from Netgalley and Atria. I'm hopeful I can go back into this story when I'm I'm a different mood and try again. For now, it didn't hit the mark.

The novel follows a young girl, raised in the opulence of her family's sprawling Alpine estate, who is blissfully unaware of the dark forces that threaten her lineage. Her insatiable curiosity leads her to unearth a priceless text shrouded in mystery, one that threatens to unravel long-held secrets and ignite a battle for succession within her family.

When she is unexpectedly whisked away on a private jet to an elite all-girls boarding school in the United States, her life changes irrevocably. Fast forward a decade, and the protagonist, now in her twenties, faces a shocking turn of events: her bank accounts are frozen, and she is summoned back to her affluent but empty existence. As she grapples with the implications of her family’s plans, including an arranged marriage, the tension heightens when she begins to unearth the horrific act that led to her exile and confronts her most formidable foe—her own father.

The author deftly constructs a narrative rich in intrigue and emotion, drawing readers into the protagonist's world and capturing her evolution from a sheltered girl to a determined young woman seeking the truth. The shadowy nature of familial loyalty versus personal autonomy is explored through layers of betrayal and power dynamics, making for a compelling read.

A particularly poignant quote resonates deeply: “Sometimes, the greatest battles we face are not against the enemies outside, but against the loyalties that bind us within.” This line encapsulates the internal conflict of the protagonist as she navigates her family's expectations and her desire for independence.

With its well-paced storytelling and intricate character development, Letters from the Dead keeps readers engaged from beginning to end. The exploration of dark family secrets and the protagonist’s quest for self-identity create an emotionally charged atmosphere that lingers long after the final page is turned. Readers will find themselves eagerly anticipating the next installment of this thrilling saga, drawn in by the promise of revelations yet to come.

I’m afraid I didn’t finish this, merely flicked through to see how it ended. The underlying story was eerie and atmospheric but I found it got lost in the all the historical war knowledge the author injected into the book. It was very old fashioned and timeless. I just couldn’t connect with it at all. I have given it 3 stars because it was well written and I know others will enjoy the read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Unfortunately, I like the idea of this book more than the actual book itself. It was beautifully written, and I loved all of the folklore and backstory that was involved in it, however, the story itself was lacking for me. Also, it took a really long time for me to even be interested in what I was reading.

This novel is exactly what I like! It's a little similar to Donna Tartt's The Secret History in the second half, but I prefer the first half which is at this bizarre estate of an extremely wealthy German/Austrian family. The way the main character has been brought up is like a 19th century princess even though it's the 1990s. The tension between her and her oldest brother, the sadistic and predatory Augustin, filled the novel with dread. I was quite interested in her parents and grandfather, a little less so in the professors who also live there. I've a weakness for arcane historical lore so I was in my element in that section. The Connecticut and New York chapters moved well and had some humor, especially when she fights back against boarding school bullies who have no idea what they are dealing with! I am happy to see this novel at a major publisher after being pounded to dust by domestic thrillers and World War II heroines. I would love to read the whole series.

Letters from the Dead is a Gothic style novel with ponderous prose, heavy on the family history of the female main character who isn't named, which I found incredibly frustrating and made her hard to have feelings about. I felt the author was trying to impress us with her knowledge of history and large words, rather than the story itself. I made it about halfway through and realized I just didn't care enough about anyone in the book to bother finishing it when I had so many potentially enjoyable books on my TBR to read. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I struggled with this book and found it to be boring, despite the promising premise. It centers on a young heiress who has never left her family’s estate, but is then exiled after seeing something she shouldn’t have seen. The story is told in the first person and we never actually get the protagonist’s name, which left me somewhat disconnected from her.

The first half (ish) of the book goes really deep into history with which I was not familiar- it felt like I was reading an assignment for school and I found it rather boring, though I did enjoy our protagonist’s dynamic with both her teacher and her grandfather. I didn’t really understand why she had to be sent away- what she saw didn’t really seem like a big deal. The book picks up pace when she is in New York but again, I felt like not much actually happened. Finally, I just didn’t understand the epilogue at all and feel like I clearly missed something that left me unsatisfied when I was finished.

Overall, while this is beautiful writing it was a little too deep into history and too light in action/suspense to work for me. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I began this book with a certain idea of how it would proceed. The blurb tends to create these thoughts, and I happen to rely on summaries or blurbs to guide my reading experience. In this case, I feel that said blurb described an entirely different book than what I read. The languid plot moved minutely from one event to the next, drawing out conversations and exposition to an extent even I could no longer comprehend. Often what happened was a sequence that took twenty or more pages could have been condensed to a page. This is not to say the book or writing are not of quality. It’s clear Valeri is well-versed on the topics covered in the book, and writes settings extremely well. Unfortunately this does not counteract entirely how the plot was extended such that the blurb did not accurately sum up what it entailed. It had immense potential, and I wish I could provide more positive feedback.

I couldn't put this book down. Intrigue, family politics and dynamics, and insanely rich and powerful family history is told in Letters from the Dead. If you like stories about insanely rich families with dark histories, this book is for you. The way the author wove the past in with the present as we read about events long ago is masterful. The tension and constant dread of the future hangs in the air and the atmosphere is heavy with anticipation of what's next.