Wakenhyrst

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I liked the authors note at the end of the book that explains where she got her ideas from – which bits of the story came from history and which bits came from her life or were inspired from somewhere that she had visited. It's horrifying in its depiction of hell, and Edmund wants nothing more to do with it despite his historical significance.

Wakenhyrst’ by Michelle Paver – We Women of Horror ‘Wakenhyrst’ by Michelle Paver – We Women of Horror

The plot was moving along rather slowly to show all the incidents throughout Maude's childhood that ultimately led to the end we already know about from the beginning of the book.With crisp, gray skies and roads strewn with leaves just outside the window, there’s no better time than autumn to read Gothic novels. I have been reading quite a lot of Gothic Fiction novels of late and finding my joy in most of them but Wakenhyrst just didn’t create the suspense or tension I was expecting. It has everything I love about the genre: dramatic location, mystery, folklore and beautiful writing style. This cleverly written suspenseful historical really gives a great sense of the Time period with the fascinating journal entries help drive the narrative.

Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver - review: some sinister

There is a prelude set in 1966, when Maude Stearne aged 69 looks back on the childhood when the novel is set. Wakenhyrst fits into her oeuvre perfectly, with its atmospheric tale of Maud Stearne, the reclusive occupant of Wake’s End, a dilapidated house in the Fens. It is never revealed what his mental problem was, I don't think they had a diagnosis for it in 1914, but it is obvious he's completely narcissistic, maybe schizophrenic, but best guess neurosyphilis. The narrative then goes back time to Maud's childhood, her close relationship with her mother, and her devotion to her father, Edmund, at least at the beginning.Paver definitely seems to be the go to author during the spooky season as this gothic Edwardian mystery is just as compelling as her ghost stories. Hounded and harried at Wake's End, Maud allows access to her father's notebooks which she has managed to keep secret till now. I haven't read too many such mysteries to be able to judge this in comparison so maybe my buddy-reader is right in saying that it ticks off all the boxes but brings nothing new.

Wakenhyrst | A Review - House of Cadmus Wakenhyrst | A Review - House of Cadmus

But alternating this with a 3rd person narrative through the PoV of his eminently sane, though enraged, daughter Maud removes any sense of ambiguity.Mix of history, fantasy, horror, as the cover rightly says 'a masterfully creepy gothic thriller'(The Bookseller).