lachesisreads's reviews
1422 reviews

Carmella Lowkis’s Spitting Gold is an engaging gothic debut that weaves together themes of sibling rivalry, deception, and the supernatural, all set against the evocative backdrop of 1860s Paris. The premise- two estranged sisters joining forces for a final con as spirit mediums - immediately grabbed my attention, and the story offered plenty of twists and turns to keep me invested.

At the heart of the novel is the dynamic between Sylvie and Charlotte. Sylvie, who is now a baroness trying to distance herself from her dubious past, and Charlotte are flawed and fascinating, driven by desperation to save their father. Their uneasy partnership is one of tension and unspoken resentments, creating a compelling exploration of sisterhood under pressure.

Lowkis captures the eerie, theatrical world of spirit mediums beautifully, particularly in the performances Sylvie and Charlotte stage for the de Jacquinot family. These scenes are richly described, full of suspense and dark humor, and they set the stage for the story’s more chilling, unexplainable events. As the sisters find themselves caught between their tricks and something potentially real, the tension builds steadily toward an unsettling climax.

The novel’s structure, however, did not work for me. The story shifts from Sylvie’s perspective in the first half to Charlotte’s in the second, and while this change allows for deeper character exploration, it also repeats parts of the plot, bogging down the momentum. I found myself wishing for tighter pacing to maintain the novel’s sense of urgency.

At just under 300 pages, themes like familial trauma, class divides, and sapphic romance are touched on but not fully explored, and the supernatural elements are interesting, but ultimately were not given the necessary scope to fully shine. 

But since this is a debut novel, I am convinced Lowkis will grow into her potential from here on out. Spitting Gold is an atmospheric and entertaining read that I'd recommend to fans of gothic fiction and historical mysteries. 

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opininos here expressed are my own. 

Liane Dillsworth's House of Shades is a gothic historical drama that blends themes of resilience and identity. Set against the backdrop of Victorian London, the story traces the experiences of doctress Hester Reeve, who has been offered a life-changing commission. But arriving at Tall Trees, she soon discoveres that not all is as it seems and dark secrets await. 

Dillsworth’s prose is richly descriptive, bringing to life the grime and glamour of the era in equal measure. Every detail feels painstakingly researched. The characters, too, are complex and compelling. 

That said, the pacing was occasionally too slow, and I thought the novel suffered from mis-marketing to tap into the popular genre of pseudo-historical haunted house gothic novels - it seems to promise a dark, mysterious, gothic tale centering around a possibly haunted house, but the story that unfolds is merely historical, about the secrets of the family that lives there. As such, the book did not quite meet the expectations I had going in, and I have to admit that I was partly a little bored of the story. 
And while this is a personal preference and does therefore not influence my rating, I also do not enjoy the kind of historicising novel that uses a thoroughly modern heroine and puts her into a corset and frock to push a feminist message before a Victorian background. Your mileage here will vary. 

Aside from that, House of Shades is a well-written novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction with a (very) light touch of the gothic and spunky heroines. Liane Dillsworth has a keen eye for human vulnerability and a talent for crafting a story that is both gripping and emotionally resonant. 

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House for a free copy in exchange for a free review. All opinions here expressed are my own. 

Just not for me.