Spooktober Reads

Happy Spooktober, Readers!

October is one of the best months of the year for readers who, like me, enjoy books with a haunting, gothic tone. In previous years, I've published booklists featuring great October reads. You can see those here and here. This year, I decided to put together another list of books that embody that Autumnal chill.

Note:
* indicates that Top Shelf Text received a physical title from the publisher. All opinions are my own!

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See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt* // A fictional account of the Lizzie Borden murders and one that will definitely give you chills. I knew nothing about this infamous case before reading. This novel tells what happened after the bodies were discovered. Warning: it's a little bit gruesome and not for squeamish readers.

Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber* // If you're a fan of true crime podcasts like Serial, you'll want to add this to your list. A podcast features a closed case, questioning whether the verdict actually reflected the truth, but this time the story is told from the perspective of the family at the center of the crime. In addition to being a suspenseful story, this one also gave me pause and prompted me to wonder how the people on the other side of true crime podcasts feel about the sensationalized attention.

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware* // This is one that I haven't picked up yet, but when I read  The Woman in Cabin 10, I was totally sucked in to the twists and turns and I'm expecting the same from this one.

The River at Night by Erica Ferencik* // Another one that I'll be reading this season. This one follows a group of friends trying to survive the Maine wilderness after a whitewater rafting accident. Fun fact: when we were seniors in high school, I coordinated a trip to the Penobscot River in Maine for whitewater rafting. The water levels were unusually high that season, every single one of our boats flipped, and I vowed it would be my last time rafting. I'm expecting this one to bring back some memories!

Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore* // From Goodreads: "A magically inspiring tale of a man who is reincarnated through many lifetimes so that he can be with his one true love: Death herself." I just recently received this one in the mail and I'm really looking forward to diving in. (Plus, that cover.)

Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan* // This was one of my favorite thriller reads over the summer. It's intense, literary, and totally twisty. You can read my review here.

The Fifth Doll by Charlie N. Holmberg // This is a good pick if you're not into gruesome stories. You can read my review of it here, but I'll say it's just slightly creepy, but also so imaginative.

A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas // Earlier this year I recommended this series if you're a fan of Deanna Raybourn. I love the fall feel of this novel -- and the second one (just recently released) is even better than the first! (And yes, you do need to read them in order.)

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman // I don't know how I had never even heard of this novel until this year. It may be 20+ years old, but I loved the story of the Owens family. Highly recommended if you like tales of witches -- this one is more magical realism than fantasy, but so, so, good.

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman* // And if you loved Practical Magic, you'll love this prequel, which is coming out next week. (Stay tuned for a giveaway here!) I thought this one was even better than its predecessor, but both are 100% worth reading.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber // If you liked The Night Circus, I'd recommend this one. It's young adult and not the most sophisticated, but I loved the magical elements, the world building, and I'm already impatient for the second in the series.

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters // I read this one a few years ago, but it's perfect for this time of year. If you like stories about the spirit realm, you'll enjoy this one. It takes place in 1918, when America has fallen to its knees in the heat of the Spanish Influenza and a raging war. 

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman // This is another one that's good if you're not a fan of gruesome tales. It's hard to describe the story itself, but if you like Neil Gaiman or are wanting to read his work for the first time, I'd recommend this one.

The Fortune Teller by Gwendolyn Womack* // I just finished this one last week and it was a great escapist read for me. It follows a woman named Semele who's called to evaluate a rare collection of antique artifacts. Within the collection, she finds an incredibly rare manuscript written by a fortune teller in the time of Cleopatra. The fortune teller's writing is inexplicably tied to Semele, and soon Semele finds herself in danger. If you're a fan of past/present narratives and books like The DaVinci Code, I think you'll like this one.

Whispers Beyond the Veil by Jessica Estevao // I read this over the summer and just picked up the second in the series (just released last month). It has elements of mystery, the supernatural, and a Victorian setting that I just love.

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What are you reading (or recommending) this month?

Review: The Witchfinder's Sister

{image via Goodreads}

Normally, I wouldn't be reading a witch-centered tale at this point in the year; I prefer to read this type of story in the fall, when the crunching leaves and cool wind outside put me in the mood. I couldn't wait, however, to get my hands on this new release from a freshman author, if only to see if I should recommend it for this year's great October reads list. The Witchfinder's Sister is a tale of witch-hunting in 17th century England, a time in which the slightest betrayal of propriety could mark a woman as under the influence of the devil.

The story follows Alice Hopkins, a woman who is forced to move from London back to her hometown of Manningtree after the death of her husband. Alice arrives, hoping that her fractured relationship with her brother can be healed as she will be forced to rely on his hospitality for the foreseeable future. Matthew accepts Alice into his home but he has undergone a change since the siblings had last seen each other. He has grown into a serious man, extremely private and outwardly judgmental of those who do not follow the Bible's teachings. Alice soon realizes that Matthew is doing more than just judging others -- he is taking careful notes, preparing himself for a venerable witch-hunt. 

For a debut novel, this was very well written. The details were obviously well-researched, and I had no trouble putting myself into the setting of this book. For me, it's weakness was in the plot. I felt that it was awfully drawn out, and I found my interest waning until I hit the 70% mark -- that's when I started to feel invested in the story. The pace makes sense considering the setting -- there wasn't much sudden action back in the 1640's -- but some of the most interesting history behind the book didn't come in until that last 30%, and I found myself wishing that our protagonist could have spent less time pacing her room and more time in the action. My second qualm was in the character of Alice, as she was always deferential and even when she tried to stand up to the men in her life, she never actually followed through. Historically, her behavior makes sense, as she wouldn't have had many options when it came to supporting herself, but her character felt weak to me and I found myself disappointed in her tendency towards hiding away rather than standing up for herself and others. 

I found the history behind the story really interesting -- Matthew Hopkins was a real figure in history, a man responsible for the death of over a hundred women whom he accused and persecuted for witchcraft. This all happened before the infamous trials in Salem and yet it's not nearly as well known. I live next to Salem (and teach there, too) and though I had heard of the trials in England I had no knowledge of the scope of Hopkin's impact. For those interested in this period of history, I would recommend this story even with my dislike for its protagonist. To me, this feels like a book that wasn't quite right for me as a reader but has the potential to be a favorite for others.

This title will be released on April 25, 2017.

Bottom-Line Rating: 3/5

Title: The Witchfinder's Sister

Author: Beth Underdown

Publisher: Ballatine Books

Price: Pre-order for $19.04 on Amazon

ISBN: 0399179143

Format: E-book

Source: Net Galley

Note: Top Shelf Text was provided with a copy of this text by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

6 More Great October Reads

You probably don't need me to reiterate the fact that I love fall, but I'll say it again anyways.

I am head over heels for this season.

First of all, that crazy heat has left us. It was a pretty hot and dry summer here in New England, so I am relishing the cool breeze.

Second, everything is pumpkin flavored (I'm a fan), leaves are crunchy and beautiful, and Halloween is just around the corner. Fall is also my favorite season for reading, because it's still warm enough to read outside, but you can elect to cozy up with a sweater or blanket. 

If you're looking for a good book to start off your autumn reading list, seek no further! You can find 10 great October reads in my original post, plus a few more reads below!

Conversion by Katherine Howe // I rarely read young adult fiction, but I sought this out at the library because it's by one of my favorite local authors. Seriously, if you like books that are well suited for this time of year, start with her The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. This one follows a group of teenage girls who attend a prestigious private school on the North Shore of Boston. When a mystery illness breaks out among the students, the events become strangely reminiscent of The Crucible and the Salem Witch Trials that inspired the play. Since I'm currently teaching in Salem (yes, that Salem), I loved that local connection and trying to solve the mystery of what was really going on with the students.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier // This is a classic work of gothic fiction, but I only recently picked it up because it's been recommended for those who enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale, one of my all-time favorites. It's the story of a young woman who lives a tedious life as a companion to an obnoxious American woman. They're on holiday in Italy when the narrator (who, strangely enough, is never named) meets a gentleman widower. She's whisked away to his gorgeous estate, and there finds herself haunted by the ghost of his late wife, Rebecca. This one doesn't have a huge scare factor, but there's an excellent twist and a general, creepy sensation throughout.

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry // I read this over the summer, but I felt while reading that it would make a great autumn read. Brunonia Barry is another local author whose work I adore. This one is about a young woman recently returned to her hometown (you guessed it, Salem). There's a strange element of magic woven throughout the plot in the form of lace reading, which was (and is) a real trade that some practice as a form of fortune telling. I don't want to give anything away, but as I read I couldn't help but think something wasn't quite right with the story as it was presented. All I can say is that the final pages had me yelling, "Wait, what?!?!?" I always love a good twist.

The Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston // I read this last fall and loved it. You can read my full review here.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs // I read this years ago when it first came out, but I'm going to attempt to rapidly re-read it before seeing the movie (opening September 30th). I would say that peculiar is a particularly fitting word for this book, as the title suggests. It features strange, antique photographs (which the author collected before coming up with the storyline), an alternate universe, children with supernatural gifts, and a nightmarish evil force. All great components for an autumn read, wouldn't you say? 

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Stay tuned next week for a list of the books that I'm coveting for myself in October!

Happy Reading!

-Madeleine-

Review: The Witch's Daughter

{on Goodreads}

Paula Brackston is now high on my list for favorite authors of fantastical historical fiction (my new genre name for fantasy that's steeped in rich historical detail). The first thing that caught my eye was the cover -- for a person whose two obsessions are books and shoes, they sure nailed it on the head for me with this one. The Witch's Daughter is the story of Elizabeth (Bess) Hawksmith, a young girl living with her family in Bathcombe in the early 1600's. Bess's family is struck by the plague, leaving only Bess and her mother alive and well. The villagers fear the disease, and soon bring in a witchfinder, whose duty is to locate the witch who brought the plague to their small village. The witchfinder settles on Bess's mother, and Bess is mortified. Her own mother, a witch? Impossible. But it's true. After Bess sees her mother hanged for her alleged crimes, she escapes into the arms of a powerful sorcerer named Gideon, who transforms Bess into his equal. Fearing her newly dark nature and incredible powers, Bess escapes and plunges into a centuries-long game of cat-and-mouse with Gideon. 

When we next meet Bess, she's living in modern day England as Elizabeth, an eccentric and lonely woman who sells tinctures at artisan markets. She meets a young girl, Tegan, whose admiration for Elizabeth prompts the two to start a relationship as witch and apprentice. Elizabeth tells Tegan the story of her many lives: as a surgeon in the Victorian era and a nurse during the war, and how Gideon has managed to find her in each of those roles. We hear about the heartache and loss that come with Bess's incredible powers, and this was what made me fall in love with her character. 

Brackston wrote Bess as headstrong, as brilliant, devoted to healing and with strong morals, but mostly she wrote her as a flawed, ordinary human (albeit with amazing supernatural powers). That made her heartache that much more potent and made the danger posed by Gideon seem all too real. The villain in this story, Gideon, gave me stronger chills than most because his vengeance was steeped in desire, and that made him all the more dangerous and terrifying. Tegan had to have been my least favorite character, but I'll admit it was because of her immature behavior, which was actually appropriately written. The thing that I loved most about this story was that it could have easily felt like a cheesy fantasy novel, but the historical detail made it rich and sophisticated. Brackston did an excellent job jumping between eras; I fell easily into the different time periods and had no trouble picturing the scenes in my mind as I read. The book reminded me of my favorite October read from 2014, and I've already put several of Brackston's other novels on my library list.

Bottom-Line Rating: 5/5

Title: The Witch's Daughter: A Novel

Author: Paula Brackston

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books, 2011

Price: $10 on Amazon

ISBN: 978-1250004086

Format: Paperback

Source:  Public Library