Review: House of Splinters by Laura Purcell
8 October 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Horror, House of Splinters, Laura Purcell, Review
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Return to the Creepy Cutouts
I absolutely loved The Silent Companions so was really excited to hear about House of Splinters which once again brings to us the creepy wooden characters that haunted the first book.
House of Splinters is a prequel to The Silent Companions and takes us back to the remote country estate known as The Bridge. This time we get to explore a little more of the ancestors whilst taking a closer look at the current inhabitants and their own haunted pasts.
I love a gothic tale and House of Splinters really delivers on that score. A somewhat rundown mansion with secrets a plenty and an unnerving amount of wooden ‘companions’. Moving into The Bridge with her husband Wilfred and their two children is a dream come true for Belinda Bainbridge. She is finally able to step out from her mother’s shadow and take up a position in Wilfred’s ancestral home. Unfortunately, the untimely death of Wilfred’s father remains something of a mystery but the two are determined to make a home at the Bridge. Wilfred tucks into the estate’s accounts, which are a little sadder than he had realised, and Belinda tries to take up various projects – such as transforming certain aspects of the garden – although with little success.
Added to this is the appearance, from the attic, of a number of wooden ‘companions’ that Belinda’s son Freddy takes a real shine to.
Once again Purcell manages to create atmosphere and tension with apparent ease. The story incorporates a number of current issues that add to this giving a feeling of escalation as the local villagers become incensed with the new owner. Added to this is the constant talk of ‘curses’ and the dreadful history attached to the mansion which gradually bring a feeling of hysteria to the current occupants. And then throw in the sudden and unexpected appearance of another family member.
What I really enjoyed with this. I love the ‘companions’. I feel like Purcell has come across something so creepy with these wooden characters. She seems to have tapped into our innate fear of puppets, dolls, and the like with these ‘dummy boards’ that were actually really popular in past times, although nobody really knows their real purpose – perhaps for decoration, perhaps as a deterrent, maybe even to make a home seem lived in and less lonely (hence ‘silent companions’). Whatever the reason these are chilling to say the least and give the Bridge an extra creepy vibe as they seemingly pop up all over the house when least expected. Their eyes and expressions sometimes seem to move or appear more sinister – they really are nightmare inducing. Added to this and heightening their ‘creep factor’ is that Freddy seems to have made friends with one of the companions. This really adds to the haunted vibe, I couldn’t help thinking of The Shining and the little boy who can see and hear all manner of scary things. Shivers!
I really enjoyed House of Splinters. It took turns that I really didn’t expect, it briefly touches on local issues and history that bring a more reality based explanation to some of the events but at the same time it infuses the story with doubt and creepiness soaking it with a feeling of pervasive dread. I was literally willing Belinda to scoop up her children and run.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4 of 5 creepy companion stars
Moonstone by Laura Purcell
20 May 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, fiction, Gothic, Laura Purcell, Moonstone, Romance, Werewolves
My Five Word TL:DR Review : I Wanted to Love It
Well, I had mixed feelings about requesting this book because it is YA and to be fair YA rarely works well for me as I have too many questions along the way. But, I do so love this author and I thought if anyone can write a winning YA it could be Purcell so I couldn’t resist. So, pinch of salt time, I’m not the target audience for this book and it could very well work wonders for younger readers. I would also say that this is packed with glorious writing and the author’s trademark gothic atmosphere.
This story is told in two timelines by Camille. Camille has been sent away for a cooling period following a scandal that has impacted on the family in a negative way. She’s been sent to live with her godmother Rowena and her daughter Lucy. Lucy suffers from a mystery illness that the whole household revolves around. When I say the ‘household’ this is quite different from what Camille is used to, no servants here. This is a working farm and Camille is expected to muck in. The only other person is Bridget who is something of an apothecarist herself and a dab hand at knocking up concoctions for Lucy’s ailments.
Rowena has ran away from a violent marriage and is effectively in hiding. She lives almost like a recluse and Bridget is their connection to the local village. Of course there is much gossip about the family, particularly as Bridget visits the local apothecary on a frequent basis, often purchasing items that are highly toxic.
The timelines jump between Camille’s time on the farm and then takes us forward to Camille, once again reunited with her family but suffering herself from a terrible illness.
My feelings about this book.
I loved that the story is set in the Regency period, it really plays into the plot, particularly Camille’s obsession with gothic novels which were all the rage during the period.
The setting of the farm was really well done. Rowena’s family had an old hunting lodge which is nestled in the forest. A foreboding stone structure with creeping ivy and crenellations poking out through the tree tops.
The writing is lovely, which is exactly as I expected. Purcell creates fantastic atmosphere and a wonderful sense of foreboding.
What didn’t work so well for me.
Well, firstly, there’s the whole issue of keeping Camille in the dark about Lucy’s condition. It was so obvious as a reader what was going on and yet Camille, with her fantastic imagination, was unable to piece things together and in fact went off on totally the wrong tangent. Personally, given the danger of the situation it surely would have been more sensible for Rowena to share with Camille what was really going on. As it was, the secrecy and veiled conversations simply led her to keep digging and causing much more of a nuisance than was necessary.
Camille was a little bit shallow. She questions things all the time and yet things that are really as plain as the nose on your face she fails to pick up on. It was a bit frustrating, like she was willfully ignorant. And some of her actions were infuriating.
There are two potential love interests here but for me both lacked any sort of chemistry.
The ending felt rushed and a little bit incredulous.
I realise that this comes across as very negative and it pains me to write such a review for a favourite author but even with the wonderful setting and gorgeous writing this one just didn’t work for me.
Again though, I’m not the target audience, I had misgivings in the first place and I think I should have stuck with my gut feelings. YA rarely works for me, it simply fails to answer my need for information. And, to be honest, I felt like Purcell’s wonderful storytelling ability was shackled by the restraints that writing in this bracket placed upon her.
Anyway, I will still avidly await Purcell’s next work.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating
2.5 of 5 stars
Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
19 May 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Booking Ahea, Books, Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Cherie Priest, Cinderwich, Fantasy, Genevieve Cogman, Laura Purcell, Moonstone, Scarlet, Sunday Post, Weekly wrap up
I’m trying to get back into the habit of doing a round-up of the week just completed and also take a look at my plans for the forthcoming week. I rather got out of the habit of doing so but I would like to reinstate this type of post as I feel it keeps me on track. So, I’m linking up to The Sunday Post over at Kimberly’s Caffeinated Reviewer. Without further ado:
Books read this week:
So, update on the stomach bug. Still not 100% unfortunately but I’m a lot better than I was so at least I seem to be on the mend. In terms of reading this week. I read Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman, this is the first in the Scarlet Revolution series and is one of my Beat the Backlist books from last year. I enjoyed this, it was light and charming and a good start to series. I have number two waiting to be read and hopefully will make a start this week. I also picked up and completed Cinderwich by Cherie Priest which I really liked and already reviewed (link below). Finally I picked up Moonstone by Laura Purcell. This is Purcell’s foray into YA. I enjoyed the writing for this one and it is packed with the author’s trademark gothic style but I didn’t love it as much as her adult books. Finally, I’ve made a good start on Hell for Hire by Rachel Aaron which is shaping up into what I hope will become a new UF that I love.
Complete Hell for Hire by Rachel Aaron and then pick up Hera by Jennifer Saint and Elusive by Genevieve Cogman.
- The House That Horror Built by Cherie Priest
- Cinderwich by Cherie Priest
- The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins
- The September House by Carissa Orlando
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
- When She Was Good by Michael Robotham
- Lying Beside You by Michael Robotham
- Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman
- Moonstone by Laura Purcell
The Friday Face Off : The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell
26 April 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Friday Face Of, Laura Purcell, The Whispering Muse
Today I’m returning to the Friday Face Off, originally created by Books by Proxy). I’ve missed these for the past few months and so would like to get back to comparing covers (and hopefully I will be updating this page with a new banner. This is an opportunity to look at a book of your choice and shine the spotlight on the covers. Of course this only works for those books that have alternative covers (although sometimes I use this to look at a series of books to choose a favourite). . So, if you have a book that has alternative covers, highlight them and choose your favourite. If you’re taking part it would be great if you leave a link so I can take a look at what you’ve chosen.
This week my book is one by a favourite author. The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell. This is one of my favourite authors – I’ve loved everything I’ve read so far. Here they are:
My favourite this week:
I love this image and the subdued colours. I feel like this perfectly fits a gothic read.
Which is your favourite?
Join me next week in highlighting one of your reads with different covers.
Best of the Best
1 January 2024
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Best of 2023, Best of the Best, Danielle Valentine, Elodie Harper, Josiah Bancroft, Laura Purcell, Louisa Morgan, Mark Lawrence, Richard swan, Robert Dinsdale, T Kingfisher, Tananarive Due
As with previous years at the start of each year I take a look back over the past twelve months and choose my top ten books. This year, without dwelling too much upon things, was something of a shocker for me due to family matters and my reading and blogging was forced to take a back seat. I didn’t read for probably about three months and my blogging came to a complete stop. Fortunately, later in the year I got myself back on board. This past year I’ve read just shy of 80 books – which is probably the least amount of books I’ve read for years – but, I’ve had some fantastic reads and so choosing ten books was still difficult. But here goes:
***
The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell
I love Laura Purcell’s writing, she is the queen of all things gothic and The Whispering Muse is another great novel in which she comes into her own.
Set in the theatre this is a dark and atmospheric read. It revolves around five key plays that reflect the story as it progresses. It’s a tale involving plenty of drama, unholy deals that come at a price, jealousy, ambition and tragedy.
***
A House With Good Bones by T Kingfisher
T Kingfisher is a relatively new to me author but I’m enjoying her work very much. In fact Nettle and Bone was on my ‘best of’ list last year.
This is a Southern Gothic horror that manages to temper the creepy horror elements with a good dose of humour and brings us a wonderful central character who has a great outlook on life.
***
The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan
This is the second book in the Empire of the Wolf series. The Justice of the Kings is the first book in the series and is a fantastic start. Fortunately, this second in series doesn’t suffer from middle book syndrome. This is a rollercoaster of a ride emotionally, the characters continue to impress and the story is packed with treachery and surprise. I highly recommend this series and can’t wait to jump into the third instalment.
***
The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence
Mark Lawrence is one of my favourite authors. I’ve read all of his series and it’s absolutely astonishing to me that he keeps on producing such amazing books. To be honest I’d be hard pressed to pick a favourite book or series but I would say that The Book that Wouldn’t Burn is a serious contender for the crown.
This first in series is without doubt a masterpiece. It blew me away. The whole story is so overwhelmingly clever and gripping. The tension is off the charts and the long story in play is just brilliant.
***
Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine
Delicate Condition is a psychological thriller with a surprise twist. I was a little bit hesitant about picking this one up initially and so I’m really happy that I made the right choice – it would have been such a shame to miss out on this one.
This really was a very absorbing read. The main protagonist seems to suffer a constant string of ‘things’ or mishaps that for the most part seem coincidental or imaginary. The author throws in plenty of red herrings along the way and the tension is really cranked up as the conclusion goes into complete overdrive. A compelling read with a twisted ending.
***
The Hexologist by Josiah Bancroft
My first book by this author – and definitely the kick in the pants I need to go back and pick up his Babel series!
The Hexologists is a Victorian inspired world bursting with invention but at the same time still playing host to some wonderfully fantastical creatures. The imagination at play is superb and the writing – I am speechless. This is a book for lovers of intricate and exquisite writing. The detail is almost decadent and the style has clever flourishes and little snippets that make you want to wallow around and reread the page you’ve just read. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. It’s heartwarmingly cosy in parts, fiendishly clever in others and full of wonderful concepts that lovers of fantasy will be able to soak themselves in.
***
Once a Monster by Robert Dinsdale
I absolutely loved this book – of course I did (doh), otherwise it wouldn’t be on my list!
The story is exquisite, the writing is mesmerising, the characters are amazing. It gave me the goosebumps (good goosebumps these!), it filled my eyes with tears and the ending was magical.
Seriously, when I read the description for Once a Monster I was a little unsure, I do like a good period story, especially anything Victorian, on top of that I am loving my greek mythology retellings – but, you know, the two seemed to make unlikely playmates. How wrong I was. Put simply I requested this because I’ve read and enjoyed two books already by the author and so I just thought ‘what’s the worst that can happen, really? Maybe I won’t like it, it’s not the end of the world.’ As it happens, not only was it not the end of the world but I adored this book. Dickens meets the Minotaur. A story filled with good and evil, bravery and villainy sitting cheek by jowl with the impossible search for answers and finding oneself all whilst holding such fragile hopes alive and kicking. This is a story where actual monsters might not necessarily be the real monsters of the piece.
***
Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper
Temple of Fortuna is the stunning conclusion to the Wolf Den series. I absolutely loved this series and I have my fingers and toes crossed that this is a world that the author will return to (perhaps from a different pov). One can but hope.
What a journey Elodie Harper has taken us on here, every book has contained different aspects from the tense start in the infamous Wolf’s Den where we first met Amara to her precarious rise in fortune that eventually sees her escape the Den to this final episode where she has become established as a courtesan in Rome with an influential patron.
***
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
The Reformatory is without doubt one of the most powerful stories that I’ve read so far this year. An absolute tempest of shock, horror, unbridled emotions and abject terror. And then, there’s also the ghostly elements of the story to take into account. Yes, for me, the most horrifying aspect to this particular story was not the haints of tortured boys but the historical facts that this tale is grounded upon. What a story. I mean, literally this story made me want to cry, it made me feel outraged and the final chapters had my pulse racing imagining all the many disasters that felt inevitable. A difficult but totally absorbing read.
***
The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird by Louisa Morgan
The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird is a beautifully told mystery circulating around the lives of two women who are both trying to escape something. An unusual ghost story that took me in a direction that I didn’t expect and was emotionally incredibly satisfying. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Books and travelling with Lynn 