Review: Wakenhyrst

4 stars. Absolutely wonderful! This is a super refreshing piece of horror that takes a ton of familiar and beloved Gothic elements and weaves a beautiful, textured, spooky tapestry. It's sort of three stories in one, with Big Themes such as guilt, oppression, religion, secrets, coming-of-age, patriarchy, and rage. There's a bit of a mystery but this book is definitely more about the journey - the slow build, the creeping dread, the eerie setting, the rising tension - than the answers. I loved it.

A young girl, Maud, lives with her parents in a large manor house in Suffolk. Her mother is constantly with child, and her father is rigid, repressive and strict. After her mother passes, Maud is left lonely and finds comfort in the nature and beauty of the nearby Fens. But something stirs in the reedy green depths... something old but not forgotten, something that will trigger a reckoning, changing the lives of Maud and her father forever.

There's a whole lot wriggling around and among the many layers of this story. It reminded me of O Caledonia a bit. Maud's father seemed a bit cartoonish to me at times, but I think that's because I can't quite grasp that that's sincerely how men treated women back then. It made his comeuppance all the more satisfying. And I really, really loved the character of Maud. As a stubborn grudge-holder myself, I couldn't help but admire the way she sharpened her resentment into the nastiest of blades. I felt for her and rooted for her. 

It may not be the scariest of horror novels, but it's very atmospheric, and it scratched the itch for me. (And I'll admit, I jumped a few times seeing shadows walking the dog at night after reading.) I couldn't put it down, and like I said - refreshing! A very unique tale. It felt well-researched, and I loved the bits about history and art history and the glimpses of the town and the superstitions and folklore. I recommend it.

Wakenhyrst on: Amazon | Bookshop.org | Goodreads