Book Review: The House on Blackstone Moor

The first thing that struck me about this novel was the unique character voice. Rose literally transported me to another place and time. She comes across as a living, breathing essence that leaps off the page and beckons you forward, inviting you to come sit and stay a spell between the pages with her. This is not easy to accomplish, nor is it something that can be taught. Carole mastered this art with a finesse that makes writing look easy. I guarantee Rose will draw a reader in if given a mere page or two.

The plot starts off with a bang. Carole wastes no time thrusting her audience into a tense, terrifying situation. Rose finds her family slaughtered around her and has no recollection of what happened or why. She’s immediately whisked off to a mental asylum, which in itself would be unnerving enough, but the author has her own brand of horror in store.

We’re cast back into early London times, when these places harbored true acts of evil. Back before regulations and rights, asylums truly were a playground for the evil and depraved. My heart pounded faster as I wondered what would happen to Rose between these walls. Throughout the entire novel, there is a pervading sense of doom that mounts with every page—one the reader cannot escape any more than our ill-fated protagonist. It feels like every character we meet is one that cannot be trusted, yet Rose, in her innocence is steeped in kindness and despite the tragedy surrounding her, still maintains a trusting heart.

Perhaps that is part of the lure, for the reader can always feel the constant push and pull, the underlying battle between good and evil that occurs just below the surface of every page.

The House on Blackstone Moor is a novel rich with mystery, horror, and suspense. The evil shrouding Rose’s past, and her dark family secrets are revealed bit by bit, like tantalizing bread crumbs for the reader to follow. Unlike a lot of novels, Gill does not make it easy to guess what lurks around the corners. Instead, she lulls the readers into feeling comfortable with their assumptions, only to rip those illusions away. Nothing in this book is quite as it seems, from the doctors Rose encounters, to her employers at Blackstone Manor and the children she governs.

The novel really picks up the pace, as does the intrigue once Rose begins her journey at Blackstone. The descriptions of the Manor and its grounds were rich and lavish. It is a place the reader can easily imagine, and one they won’t soon forget. Nor are the characters she meets.

Inside these walls, the plot thickens, the mystery grows, and eventually it blossoms into forces so evil, even Rose struggles to comprehend. She’s confronted with the ghosts of her past, hunted by powerful forces of darkness, and tempted with the bittersweet pangs of forbidden love…a love that may very well be the death of her.

Carole Gill did an excellent job blurring the lines between good and evil, reminding us that as with human nature, not everything can be defined in terms of black and white. Sometimes the lines are blurred and become hazy shades of grey—especially when it comes to matters of the heart. I won’t ruin the outcome by telling you who, but I will say this book had terrifying characters and ones that will make you smile. I guarantee it will make you take a moment to question yourself and all that you may have believed.

I was on the edge of my seat when I finally learned what was happening to Rose and why…and again when the story came out about who and what Eve, the children, and Louis were. Way to go author! This was heartbreaking and riveting all at once. Louis, with his dark good looks and seductive manner…the children who are such an endearing part of this tale, and serve to pull the reader in as much as they do Rose…Eve with her tragic mistakes, and  Echo who is a truly delicious nemesis worthy of the chills he elicits. I hope we see more of him in the future. The scenes where he arrives to battle and inflict misery are truly harrowing!

Fallen angels, vampires, demons, mystery, love, torment, and unspeakable evil—both of this world and beyond: this book has it all. It’s a fine example of gothic horror that kept me on the edge of my seat. Carole does a great job balancing setting, plot, and character development and I’m eagerly looking forward to purchasing the sequel. I invite you to take a look and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

You can purchase her work HERE

For more of Carole and her work, follow her here on Twitter and visit her official author's blog. 

~Best wishes always~

Almost there . . .

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! And to those of you who don't celebrate this time of year, I hope you had a fantabulous weekend, just the same. *smiles*

We're almost through the first decade of the new millennium. It's a strange feeling, knowing that so much has already changed on both a personal and global scale, and I'm sure the next ten years will bring about even more growth. Some of the changes have been welcome advances, and others not so much. But whatever the case is, change is inevitable. Might as well embrace it!

As usual, I find myself winding down after the holidays and looking back with that whole "year-at-a-glance" mentality. I've grown as a person, become a little kinder and more patient when it comes to others and their short comings. I mean, even as awesome as I am, have  a few. Even my outlook on writing has matured, going from hobby to . . . well . . .whatever it is that this new path will bring. I have faith though.

I know it's time, but I think 2010 finally forced me to grow UP. Even if just a little bit.

If you're anything like me though, you find yourself looking back at some of the not so good things about the past year--the struggles, the failures, the hardships, and looking at the calendar with just a wee bit of hope. I think somewhere deep down, we all look at the upcoming year and tell ourselves this will be the one . . . the one where things get better for us, or easier somehow. We count down the days and tell ourselves "almost there."

I'm not big on making resolutions, but I am big on hope.

I hope 2011 brings you all that you dreamed of and more. I hope this is the year all of your dreams come true. Don't forget though, that regardless of the struggles and hardships we think we are facing, no one can make those dreams come true but you. Work hard and strive---never stop reaching for those stars.

I'm going for the moon.

And now a little vampire humor, just to make you laugh. I apologize to all you Twilight fans. I've got nothing against Edward, or the series. In fact, I enjoyed reading them...but Eric Northman will always be the one who makes me smile:

~Best wishes and happy writing!~
Adriana