Book Review: Fyneshade by Kate Griffin

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“​​Many would find much to fear in Fyneshade's dark and crumbling corridors, its unseen master and silent servants. But not I. For they have far more to fear from me . . .”

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When Marta’s grandmother dies, she learns she’s to be shipped off to Fyneshade, where she’ll act as governess to Sir William Pritchard’s young daughter, Grace. Upon her arrival, however, Marta finds the estate dim, crumbling, and swarming with secrets; Sir William mysteriously absent; Grace different from what she expected; Sir William’s son, Vaughan, forbidden from entering the house; and the servants strange and unfriendly.

Far from sweet, vulnerable, or innocent, Marta is a distinctly icy and unfeeling anti-heroine. She’s drawn to Vaughan, who emanates the same darkness she harbors inside, disregarding the housekeeper’s warnings and embarking on a self-serving plan employing the occult skills she learned from her grandmother. But what of the conflicting stories and black mysteries overshadowing the family? Should Marta be afraid, or is she the real threat?

Fyneshade is a foreboding gothic novel with a unique and intensely unlikable protagonist whose experience, ability, deviance, lack of empathy, and questionable morals make for a tense and captivating read. And despite initially exuding low-key Victorian Psycho vibes, Fyneshade’s character and storyline never reach that level, nor do they possess the feeling and punch (the unfettered rage) that so define the other story. Marta comes across almost as an automaton, making her a difficult person to connect with, empathize with, and root for, which is supremely chilling and effectively establishes her as a black-hearted sociopath.

The witchcraft component is unexpected (and, at times, bizarre), while the gothic elements are sublime: the shadowed, secretive manor with a sealed-off wing, secret passages, scandalous secrets, and fraught history; a shrewd, outsider protagonist who undertakes illicit, self-serving activities under cover of night; a horrible man who lies, uses, manipulates, and abuses; perverse sibling/familial relationships; characters who are “othered” and don’t belong; and hints of ghostly/supernatural presences. Unforeseen twists and turns, including a deliciously shocking end reveal make for a singular tale fans of the genre will relish.

🖤Amanda

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