The Curse of Morton Abbey delivers a gothic and smart spin on a classic yet tells a unique and triumphant story of the power of love. Its slightly spooky and atmospheric tone contrasts with its brighter elements and themes to deliver a vivid and emotional depiction of loyalty.
Vaughan is a formidable heroine who comes into her own with agency and an unexpected romance. As she spends time at Morton Abbey, she finds the friendship she needs: gradual and insightful with Nicholas, fast and joyfully with Joe. I loved experiencing the twists and surprises through her POV and seeing how she learns love can conquers all.
Morton Abbey is a character all its own, with threatening, mysterious noises and secrets hinted at by the household and nearby town. It is scary to Vaughan for those reasons, but it is all the more portentous as a place where she is challenged to confront herself: her physical flaws, her mental capabilities, and her emotional vulnerability.
I really like the way The Curse of Morton Abbey considers the scenario of the classic The Secret Garden with grown-up leads and draws out the element of sacrifice with some influence by Brontë’s Jane Eyre. This novel has a different feel than Harwood's previous ones -- it is more mysterious than her Edwardian romance titles. Reading this book makes me appreciate her skill in storytelling all the more with her versatility and voice still carrying a heavy dose of feminism in the context of the era yet drawing out tones fitting of its gothic setting.
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A tale of deceit and unconventional love
Will she be able to see past all the false pretenses…It is sure, this book has very much a taste of the stories of my youth, the house with its secrets and shadow, the reclusive protagonist, the unsettling servants, the described plain but clever heroine and the deceit.Everything for a good read with some spookiness.It is described as The Secret Garden meets Jane Eyre, and yes it could be described as such, except the protagonists are not children but full grown persons, damaged by their past and much flawed.And as the story is told in the first person, we follow this adventure from the unique point of view of Vaughan.Vaughan is so much more than her fragile appearance let picture, Nick out of spite called her a crippled spinster. And while she might limp and was unmarried, she is no bitter woman. She just reprioritized her needs and wants. She was told all her life she was the plain Jane of the family, the youngest and the least provided with charms and beauty of all the five Springthorpe daughters. Why maybe had she been indulged by their father, allowed to follow him in his study and offices.As the mainly prospects expected for a young women are rather seen as out of her reach, Vaughan has found solace in her father’s business, but now he is no more, she refuses to be the spinster aunt, she wants to strike on her own but the simple fact of being a woman is like a “no” to any of her request, until she found a way to avoid specifying her sex.So when she is handed the means to prove her worth, she is not one to back down, she will prove she is capable, organized and reliable. And she is even more.Courageous to not run crying or fainting when noises, shooting and attempts to scare her could have, she is determined to stay and accomplish the job she has been hired for.Upon her arrival, she has to deal with the “glumlyness” of the place, the hostility of the inhabitants, the absence of her employer but the unsettling presence of his brother Nicholas Spencer. Hopefully she has encountered a kind of an allied In Joe, a man who alleviates a bit of her loneliness, as Mr Spencer is much hostile to her presence.Vaughan is in for the adventure of her life, she won’t walk away the same sheltered naive woman she was before, her sanity, loyalty and heart are to be tested, for her to determine the edges she can walk by, the tenets she stands by and if can she follow and trust her chest organ.So as the noose tighten, true motives, sins and real characters are to be revealed when the masks fall.Whom can she trust as no one is whom it seems.If one this is certain, it will not be my last read by the author, she created the perfect read for a cosy afternoon with the right dose of gloom, chillness, creepy characters plus a sweet romance.5 stars𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2021
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2021
It is sure, this book has very much a taste of the stories of my youth, the house with its secrets and shadow, the reclusive protagonist, the unsettling servants, the described plain but clever heroine and the deceit.
Everything for a good read with some spookiness.
It is described as The Secret Garden meets Jane Eyre, and yes it could be described as such, except the protagonists are not children but full grown persons, damaged by their past and much flawed.
And as the story is told in the first person, we follow this adventure from the unique point of view of Vaughan.
Vaughan is so much more than her fragile appearance let picture, Nick out of spite called her a crippled spinster. And while she might limp and was unmarried, she is no bitter woman. She just reprioritized her needs and wants. She was told all her life she was the plain Jane of the family, the youngest and the least provided with charms and beauty of all the five Springthorpe daughters. Why maybe had she been indulged by their father, allowed to follow him in his study and offices.
As the mainly prospects expected for a young women are rather seen as out of her reach, Vaughan has found solace in her father’s business, but now he is no more, she refuses to be the spinster aunt, she wants to strike on her own but the simple fact of being a woman is like a “no” to any of her request, until she found a way to avoid specifying her sex.
So when she is handed the means to prove her worth, she is not one to back down, she will prove she is capable, organized and reliable. And she is even more.
Courageous to not run crying or fainting when noises, shooting and attempts to scare her could have, she is determined to stay and accomplish the job she has been hired for.
Upon her arrival, she has to deal with the “glumlyness” of the place, the hostility of the inhabitants, the absence of her employer but the unsettling presence of his brother Nicholas Spencer. Hopefully she has encountered a kind of an allied In Joe, a man who alleviates a bit of her loneliness, as Mr Spencer is much hostile to her presence.
Vaughan is in for the adventure of her life, she won’t walk away the same sheltered naive woman she was before, her sanity, loyalty and heart are to be tested, for her to determine the edges she can walk by, the tenets she stands by and if can she follow and trust her chest organ.
So as the noose tighten, true motives, sins and real characters are to be revealed when the masks fall.
Whom can she trust as no one is whom it seems.
If one this is certain, it will not be my last read by the author, she created the perfect read for a cosy afternoon with the right dose of gloom, chillness, creepy characters plus a sweet romance.
5 stars
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses
A tale of deceit and unconventional love
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2021
Will she be able to see past all the false pretenses…Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2021
It is sure, this book has very much a taste of the stories of my youth, the house with its secrets and shadow, the reclusive protagonist, the unsettling servants, the described plain but clever heroine and the deceit.
Everything for a good read with some spookiness.
It is described as The Secret Garden meets Jane Eyre, and yes it could be described as such, except the protagonists are not children but full grown persons, damaged by their past and much flawed.
And as the story is told in the first person, we follow this adventure from the unique point of view of Vaughan.
Vaughan is so much more than her fragile appearance let picture, Nick out of spite called her a crippled spinster. And while she might limp and was unmarried, she is no bitter woman. She just reprioritized her needs and wants. She was told all her life she was the plain Jane of the family, the youngest and the least provided with charms and beauty of all the five Springthorpe daughters. Why maybe had she been indulged by their father, allowed to follow him in his study and offices.
As the mainly prospects expected for a young women are rather seen as out of her reach, Vaughan has found solace in her father’s business, but now he is no more, she refuses to be the spinster aunt, she wants to strike on her own but the simple fact of being a woman is like a “no” to any of her request, until she found a way to avoid specifying her sex.
So when she is handed the means to prove her worth, she is not one to back down, she will prove she is capable, organized and reliable. And she is even more.
Courageous to not run crying or fainting when noises, shooting and attempts to scare her could have, she is determined to stay and accomplish the job she has been hired for.
Upon her arrival, she has to deal with the “glumlyness” of the place, the hostility of the inhabitants, the absence of her employer but the unsettling presence of his brother Nicholas Spencer. Hopefully she has encountered a kind of an allied In Joe, a man who alleviates a bit of her loneliness, as Mr Spencer is much hostile to her presence.
Vaughan is in for the adventure of her life, she won’t walk away the same sheltered naive woman she was before, her sanity, loyalty and heart are to be tested, for her to determine the edges she can walk by, the tenets she stands by and if can she follow and trust her chest organ.
So as the noose tighten, true motives, sins and real characters are to be revealed when the masks fall.
Whom can she trust as no one is whom it seems.
If one this is certain, it will not be my last read by the author, she created the perfect read for a cosy afternoon with the right dose of gloom, chillness, creepy characters plus a sweet romance.
5 stars
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses
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Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2021
