The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston

Book Description

England, 1881. Hereford cathedral stands sentinel over the city, keeping its secrets, holding long forgotten souls in its stony embrace. Hecate Cavendish speeds through the cobbled streets on her bicycle, skirts hitched daringly high, heading for her new life as Assistant Librarian. But this is no ordinary collection of books. The cathedral houses an ancient chained library, wisdom guarded for centuries, mysteries and stories locked onto its worn, humble shelves. The most prized artifact, however, is the medieval world map which hangs next to Hecate’s desk.

Little does she know how much the curious people and mythical creatures depicted on it will come to mean to her. Nor does she suspect that there are lost souls waiting for her in the haunted cathedral. Some will become her dearest friends. Some will seek her help in finding peace. Others will put her in great peril, and, as she quickly learns, threaten the lives of everyone she loves.

Review

Have you ever picked up a book that immediately draws you in, wrapping you into its spooky, gothic embrace? The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish by Paula Brackston did just that for me.

The novel sweeps us away to 1881, where we meet the vibrant Hecate Cavendish, the new Assistant Librarian at the Hereford Cathedral. Fair warning; this novel is a departure from Brackston’s usual fare. Instead of following a witch, our protagonist, Hecate, is “witch-adjacent”. But while she’s not a witch herself, she’s certainly surrounded by the supernatural… including dangerous books.

Honestly, I’m already a sucker for novels about books and libraries. But when you add in dangerous books?

*Swoon*

Like many of Braxton’s novels, Hecate’s story is not just about facing supernatural challenges. The character’s personal growth, while subtle, was well done. I found watching her grow and become more confident (within the confines of the setting’s societal expectations) incredibly satisfying.

Location, Location, Location

In The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish, Brackston’s talent at world building is on full display. Hereford Cathedral, with its ancient chained library and medieval world map, is the perfect spooky backdrop for Hecate’s supernatural adventures.

Brackston’s atmospheric descriptions pulled me right into the eerie, enchanting world she’s created. Its delightful blend of historical fantasy and gothic mystery, packed with ghostly encounters and ancient secrets, kept me turning pages late into the night.

While reading, I couldn’t help compare The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish with The Librarian of Crooked Lane by C.J. Archer. Both novels offer magical, book-centered narratives set in 19TH century England. However, I found The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish a darker tale, leaning more towards a gothic fantasy with a focus on ghostly encounters and ancient secrets.

Hecate Cavendish and the world she comes from (along with the promise of future books in the series!!) hooked my imagination. If you appreciate novels featuring history, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural, you may enjoy The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish.

Content Warning

Cannibalism, Death, Gore, Murder, Necromancy

The header photo is a composite image. Base image by Nenad Spasojevic on Unsplash