Author: Hester Fox
Publication Information: Graydon House. 2023. 320 pages.
ISBN: 1525819569 / 978-1525819568
Book Source: I received this book through NetGalley free of cost in exchange for an honest review.
Opening Sentence: "The bricked her up on Saint George's Day."
Favorite Quote: "I've come to realized that my memories are precious, even the bad ones."
The listing for this book has the subtext "haunting historical fantasy romance". The Yorkshire moors are the atmospheric setting for this book. Blackwood Abbey is home to a magnificent library. For reasons unknown, Ivy Radcliffe finds herself its heir and owner. There are many who feel she should not be. There are some who reserve judgement. However, are any of them who they say?
The "haunting" comes from the stories people tell of the estate, its previous owners, and its history. The "historical" comes in through the background of the area as told through the evolution of this estate. The "fantasy" comes in through the manuscripts of the library and through the strange happenings therein. The fantasy element grows through the characteristics associated with the inheritors of the library. The "romance" comes in through those who call the estate home while Ivy is new to the manor and in need of friends.
I have read several books by Hester Fox. This one draws me in with "library" in its title and as a main feature of the book. "Ivy had always cherished books for the stillness they allowed in a world that values fast, unforgiving progress regardless of the human expense; there was a magical link between words on the page and the vivid images that simultaneously unfolded in her mind." The idea of the power and magic of books appeals to me. The idea of the knowledge of eras gone by brought forward through its writers appeals to me.
That being said, the practicality in me protests at the main character's approach to her inheritance. Ivy is at a crossroads in life and financially. She finds that she has inherited an estate. Although the estate is in disrepair, it is nevertheless an estate. The inheritance comes with stipulations. Yet, Ivy, upon her arrival at the estate seems caught up in trivialities. She appears to have no interest in and makes no attempt to investigate the extent of the estate, its financial status, its potential, or her ability to use this as a substantive way to change her life.
Why is the main character shown as not capable of such independent thought or action? The romances - both real and not - seem to take over the story. In that way, this book is much more the romance than historical fiction, fantasy, or even the story of a strong female character.
Don't get me wrong, it's a fun story. However, the story of a strong woman dealing with an unexpected inheritance - material and psychic - can be just that without reliance on romance to see it through.
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