#gothic book

[theboarsbride]

TBWH open to beta reading🌙🐺🦴

OK guys!!! My Edwardian Gothic werewolf romance novella THE BONES WE HAUNT is open for beta reading!

Just some quick notes to consider if you'd like to beta read:

A summary of TBWH can be found in this post.

Current word count for the project is ~37.5k words, and this is still a rough-ish draft (draft II).

Trigger warnings: gore, animal death (off-page death, on-page aftermath), body horror, brief suicide mention (off-page), mention of murder of a child (off-page).

I am just mostly looking for general thoughts - good and bad! Feel free to rip it to shreds lol. I need other eyes to look at it that aren't mine so I thought this would help! If you're interested, please feel free to DM me or comment on this post!! I can either DM a Google Doc link or I can send one via Discord.

But yeah!! If interested, please let me know!! THANKS A MILLION IN ADVANCE!!!!

[rjavenuru]

Paint it Black flashback. Two weeks exactly until Gothic Life is released into the wild. Can... not... wait...!

[lucidmagic]

First Book Read of the Year (1/30/2023)

Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn

4.25/5

[List of some trigger warnings: angst, parental death, self-harm (on page), depictions of depression, depictions of agoraphobia, death (off and sort of on-page), some blood, horror, dead bodies (old and fresh)]

Utterly beautiful and thought-provoking prose in a character-driven, slower-paced story about loneliness, loss, curses, and trust set in an atmospheric, gothic Schloss. Along with a romantic slow-burn subplot (main plot?) of the sapphic variety of course. I could not put this book down once I read it. I only stopped when my temples were aching from lack of sleep. Definitely recommend it if you don't mind a slower-paced narrative with little to no plot, instead focusing on characters and the unlying mystery of the Witch and the strange castle. It could have been longer, by about forty or fifty pages, and have more scenes stretched out instead of sometimes telling us what happened than showing, especially between Mina (the MC) and the Witch. I have other smaller criticisms, but that requires spoilers and a bit more context I don't want to type out. Otherwise, Bitterthorn is an (almost) cozy story perfect for a weekend read.

Next on the list to read: The Misadventures of an Amateur Naturalist by Ceinwen Langley

[missmoonillustration]

FINALLY show the finished book cover for- Ofherbsandaltars 'The Nostalgia Project Vol 1: Millennium Gothic" This book cover has meant so much to me not just because it's my first ever published piece of work, but also because I'm such a huge fan of Dorian's work and the Nostalgia Project as a whole. I'm so, so, SO excited to get my hands on a physical copy. Thank you so much Dorian for this opportunity, it truly means the world to me. (The picture first used here are just mockups)

[corvidacryptida]

Some appreciation for one of the books I bought yesterday.

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 1/5

Book Blurb:

Set in a foreboding Gothic mansion and infused with the heightened paranoia and creeping horror of novels like Catherine House and Crimson Peak, a spine-chilling debut historical thriller from a fresh voice in the genre that will leave you questioning who, or what, you can trust . . . including your own sanity.

England, 1840. Orabella Mumthrope spies an unexpected visitor in her uncle’s parlor. Scruffy in appearance yet claiming to be the scion of a fabulously wealthy family, Elias Blakersby declares a deep desire to make Orabella his wife. The orphaned daughter of a white man and a Black woman—an outsider with no fortune or connections—Orabella never expected to marry. But her uncle has many debts, and Orabella, curious about the seeming devotion Elias bestows upon her, agrees.

The new bride is quickly whisked away to Korringhill Manor, the Blakersby family estate, and far from everything she knows. Expecting splendor, Orabella is shocked to find decay, skittish servants, and curt elders. But her kind new husband’s loving touch, promises of a happy life together, and his assurances she’ll never want for anything soothe her concerns.

Yet there is a darkness deep within this house. Rooms are locked or hidden away, and the walls seem to thrum with secrets. Orabella can never venture outside unattended; she spends her days having tea with a catatonic sister-in-law and evenings at Elias’s side, dutifully hosting lavish dinners. The darkness soon begins to engulf her, too. Becoming dizzy and drowsy after dinner, she falls into a fitful sleep filled with macabre dreams, and is awakened by blood-curdling screams in the night. In the morning she rises from her bed covered in mysterious bruises. Confused and terrified, she begins to question where her dreams end and reality begins. The longer Orabella stays in this place, the more she loses parts of herself . . . how long until she no longer exists?

Midnight Rooms is a sweeping saga with supernatural undertones set in Victorian England. Vibrating with tension, richly atmospheric—haunted by ghosts, guilt, and familial bonds—it is an electrifying story that will linger in your dreams.

Review:

A new bride, a strange house, and a husband that is hiding something much darker about himself and his family...Orabella us a poor girl living with her aunt and uncle is suddenly proposed to by Elias, a man from an extremely wealthy family. Orabella is the daughter of a white man and a black woman, someone with no fortune or connections. She never expected to marry... but with her uncle's debts she is thrust into the marriage mart. Orabella finds herself drawn to Elias's strange devotion to her, his want of her. Yet when she is brought to Korringhill Manor, everything begins to crumble around her. The manor might have splendor... but there is decay all about it. it also does not help that Elias's strange family resides there as well. Orabella begins to notice just how strange everything is around her, from her door being locked at night, her never being allowed to be alone, the off hand comments, the wine that drugs her... and her seeing foxes and death at every turn. Then there is the strange relationship between Elias and his beautiful sister Claresta.... and Orabella begins to realize that this marriage might just kill her if she doesn't find a way to escape Korringhill Manor. This book honestly just gelt like a lesser Crimson Peak. I really wanted to like it because I adore Crimson Peak, but while Crimson Peak actually had a likable protagonist and the twist was fun... in this one it just felt a bit meh. Orabella just is not likable at all, the entire time you are reading the book you just want to shake her and tell her to stop just accepting being drugged, being manhandled and just accepting all the things around her. Also the story feels kind of like a fever dream, it's never really clear and it just doesn't blend itself well enough so that you as the reader can see the distinction and feel like: oh yeah she's going through it and this is what is happening. The book feels like it drags on for a bit and honestly that ending upset me so much. Are you for real? It feels like it's still missing an entire ending chapter. Honestly you would be better off just watching Crimson Peak than reading this, at least that ends better and you dont feel like you've wasted your time. If you like gothic horror with incest, cults, and an unreliable narrator, maybe you'll have a better time with this than I did.

Release Date: July 2, 2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Amistad for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[thelibrarysghost]

✶ The Alchemy of Moonlight by David Ferraro ✶

• Goodreads • Author • Released 5/30/23

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBTQ+, Retellings, Gothic

This book is a perfect embodiment of the vibes of Sleepy Hollow (the Tim Burton film) and old-school creature flicks like The Wolfman!

We follow Emile, an orphaned 17-year-old marquis who is in hiding awaiting his 18th birthday in 6 months. The goal is to lie low so his wicked aunt can't use nefarious ways to steal his fortune before he is of age to claim it for himself. The plan is pretty fool-proof and he plants himself as a servant in the Montoni family household to wait the 6 months out.

What Emile doesn't realize, however, is that by putting himself with THIS specific family, he has also become an unwilling party in the dark, dangerous and disturbing series of events to come.

This book is so incredible and exactly my type of style. From the gothic scenery and setting, the eerie mystery and mildly disturbing events, to the delicious love "triangle" between Emile, Henri (red) and Brams (grey). I just couldn't put it down! I was eager for every new chapter to unravel more of the mystery of what was going on and to see if our dear Emile would be able to keep himself safe from what was lurking in the night. I found myself completely enamored with all of the main characters and had moments I was stressed out, worried, angry and even happy. It really was a rollercoaster lol.

🎧 The audiobook is extremely well done. The narrator has a wonderful voice that gives life to all the individual characters and really sells the chill throughout the book.

If you're a fan of Sleepy Hollow or stories/themes that have that classic Victorian era gothic gloom, then this is the book to read! It's YA so it does hold back in some areas, but I don't think that takes away from the enjoyment of it at all!

Please check the TW for your safety/comfort before reading ♥

✶ Read more of my reviews on my Goodreads, or follow me on my Bookstagram for more frequent and up-to-date updates!

[gazrgaley]

I'm slowly making a bio book for my characters in the Warm-blooded Vampire series. right now I only have 5 of the character's bio along with some art. I'll slowly be adding them as the appear in the books. (right now its only my art, but i will put fan art in if that is something anyone wants)

Also, I'm trying to keep spoilers out. (focusing on things that happens before the story starts)

[vtgbooks]

Tim Burton MELANCHOLY DEATH OF OYSTER BOY 1997 Vtg Gothic Book Vtg Tim Burton

[daily-spooky]

[ur-daily-inspiration]

[ethanmaldridge]

THE GOBLIN

A short comic about a mysterious creature living with the monks of a secluded abbey.

I made this comic five years ago, and it's still probably one of the most personal things I've written.

If you'd like to support more of my comics, consider preordering my new graphic novel, THE PALE QUEEN, wherever you get books.

[thrifteddivacup]

Dracula by Bram Stoker

[whereshadowslive]

Source: Pinterest

[zegalba]

Yoshitaka Amano: Gashu Illustrations Art Book (1996)

[mediashadowreads]

[ARC REVIEW] TWO TWISTED CROWNS BY RACHEL GILLIG

Book info ⭐ Name: Two Twisted CrownsAuthor: Rachel GilligRelease Date: October 17th 2023Edition: Ebook ARCPages: 368Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Gothic, Magic Synopsis: Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last, and most important one remains to be found: The Twin Alders. If they are going to find it before the Solstice and cure the kingdom of…