My Five Word TL:DR Review: Simple.  I loved this book.

I love stories of the fae but confess that I’m sometimes disappointed when they fail to shine, show their difference or stick their heads above the parapet.  I recently fell for Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde’s fae stories which I highly recommend and now I think I’ve found another story of the Others that delivers on so many levels.  This is definitely not a Disney version of the fae and I loved it.

Gorse is a period piece.  Set in Cornwall of 1786 this is a time of very mixed beliefs.  The church was trying to get a firm grip on people and shake the superstitions out of them and at the same time the Others and their Keepers were not totally ready to relinquish their hold.  That’s a very quick overview for a story that pretty much throws you straight into the mire.

What I loved about this.  The writing is gorgeous.  The entire story is steeped in atmosphere and intrigue.  The setting jumps off the page.  Bogs, moors, flowers, patches of beauty followed by the grim and ethereal.  There’s a feeling of cold grubbiness, of strife, of bitter recriminations and murder all shrouded in mist and shadow. And, slowly but surely, the body count is stacking up.

There’s a mystery here but not in the traditional sense.  And you really do have to bear with the storytelling because there is some set up here – but, I loved it all.;

The characters, Nancy and Pel, the dog Pat and the horse Selkie.  I fell for them all with their secrets and lies, their steadfast loyalty and courage.   Let’s also not forget the fae, those cheeky little critters that are full of mischief and danger, living in the rafters and dusty corners, tending the hearths and helping out generally when treated right and then the more dangerous Others that dwell below, The Hunt and their King.  There is much danger in these pages but it’s tempered by the beautiful writing and the love that grows for the characters.

These are savage and desperate times.  Crowds are easily driven to frenzy with mobs baying for blood and our characters have their work cut out to stay alive – in fact there is much death amongst these pages.

On top of this there’s the whole split world, Cornwall and beneath.  Startlingly similar and yet dramatically different.

I had such a good time with this. History meets folklore.  It’s not particularly fast paced in the first half but this isn’t a criticism.  I loved the set up, getting to know the world and the mystery that’s taking place in the pages.  It’s deliciously dark, full of intrigue and ends with a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come next.  I can’t wait.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4.5 of 5 Pisky stars