Fyneshade: A Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of 2023

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Fyneshade is a Victorian style gothic novel that is full of mystery and intrigue that I throughly enjoyed and pleased my little black heart. A SUNDAY TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK OF 2023 * 'A gloriously foreboding Gothic tale' - HEAT 'A thrillingly dark page-turner' - MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Marta is Jane Eyre's black-hearted alter ego' - THE TIMES Many would find much to fear in Fyneshade's dark and crumbling corridors, its unseen master and silent servants.

The atmospheric writing cleverly twists and turns as we are drawn deeper into the story, and as she uncovers more about the family and the house. I was born in the City at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, within the sound of Bow Bells - so I really am a true-born cockney! On the day of Grandmere’s funeral, Marta discovers that she’s being sent north to Derbyshire and Fyneshade to act as Governess to Sir William Pritchard’s daughter. Thank you Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.Now the woman in this novel is Jane Eyre if Jane Eyre had joined forces with the mad wife in the attic. Although I felt strong Rebecca vibes, the book was inspired by The Turn of The Screw which is now high on my must read list. Having met the ousted son of the missing owner, she devises a plan to use him to get what she wants. Its imagery and intense sense of foreboding far surpasses any other gothic novel I have read in recent years.

If the reader is initially sympathetic of Marta’s plight, her emerging nastiness and cruelty might alter that a little, but by then it’s hard to look away. She was calculating and ruthless and I kept wondering until the very end who was the real villain of this story.

Marta as a main character and narrator is a head strong woman, who is capable of many things, ruthless and cunning being her main attributes. This book really had me questioning a lot of things about Marta’s character and I had no idea whether or not I should be rooting for any of the characters in this one. There’s an old house stuffed with secrets and darkness, there’s eerie plinky plock music floating down the corridors, a governess named Marta, the woman of the house who is not who she seems and some weyward children to boot. Still, the twists are well-delivered (even if I saw some of them coming) and fans of the abovementioned Gothic comparators will enjoy this clever new take on the genre. There’s something about a creepy house with a cast of mysterious, untrustworthy characters that always appeals.

While I absolutely love the twist of seeing a story through the eyes of a sociopath or villain, it also makes for quite uncomfortable reading. However, she uses none of the finess of Jane and more of the unpredictable actions of Bertha to get what she wants.Firstly, I’m a huge sucker for anything even remotely gothic, so I knew I had to read this as soon as I heard it compared to one of my all time fave novels, Jane Eyre—If Jane had been a witchy, calculating social climber eager to get her hands on the grand (but crumbling) manor. Our narrator sets herself up with witchy family credentials and a history of wickedness but that doesn't really get acted out for us - and I could see the end coming whereas her prediction skills are shown to be useless.

The author has crafted Marta so convincingly that the character raises antipathy from most readers judging by the reviews.

m sure when I reread it then I’ll have changed my mind about the ending, and then I’m pretty sure I’ll change my mind again. As holidays are rare things in my life, that can mean I sit on a longed for book for ages sometimes. The descriptions of the household are detailed and gothic and certainly add to mystery surrounding the family.