The Garden of Bewitchment

December 16, 2019
Cavendish (The Darkest Veil) draws from the best conventions of the genre in this eerie gothic novel about a woman’s sanity slowly unraveling within the hallways of a mysterious mansion. In 1893, twin sisters and aspiring authors Claire and Evelyn Wainwright leave their Yorkshire home for a reclusive life on the expanse of England’s moors. Their retreat is disrupted when a strange toy turns up inside their new house: a miniature mansion surrounded by a beautiful garden. Entranced by the toy, Claire believes herself to be able to enter its halls and gardens and becomes increasingly possessed by its ghostly inhabitants. As Claire loses her grip on reality, Evelyn tries to uncover the truth behind the dollhouse and free her sister from its power. Though numerous red herrings create unnecessary confusion, Cavendish successfully maintains the suspense as she dives into the intricacies of her carefully-constructed world. Fans of gothic tropes will appreciate the atmosphere and intensity of this horror tale.

January 1, 2020
A few decades after the Bront�s became literary sensations, sisters Evelyn and Claire Wainwright prepare to take possession of a new house in the Yorkshire moorlands. The Wainwrights plan to devote more time to their own literary creations, but Claire's claims of seeing the deceased Branwell Bront� fill her sister with alarm. Evelyn's unease spikes higher after the discovery of the Garden of Bewitchment, a toy landscape that brings with it terrifying visions and inexplicable happenings. Well-rooted in classic gothic traditions, the novel doesn't furiously spill the blood like most modern horror, but it maximizes its unique advantages. The setting in particular seems well-drawn. Plotting is also a strength, though it takes a while to reveal its novelties. The book's twists might seem predictable to some readers, but they will be thrilled to learn that their assumptions were wrong by the novel's conclusion. An atmospheric and gently scary tale that will appeal to horror fans and Bront� enthusiasts alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)