I think ‘contemporary historical gothic (possibly horror) fiction by British women’ could be one of my favourite genres too. Hurray to them. Though I don’t read enough of them. I can’t believe I’ve not read Laura Purcell yet. Though I can’t believe I didn’t know you had a channel and how fab it is. I might start The Silent Companions tonight as there’s a thunderstorm due. I’m going to start calling my past myself shady history’ from now on. My Mum loved Wakenhyrst. I have the new Bridget Collins and am very excited for it. Definitely think you’ll like the Halls and MacNeal.
I wouldn’t change your name for the category at all. It’s perfect. I have recently fallen into these after The Binding, which I also thought was remarkable. I read one of the Laura Purcell’s and have the other two waiting for me. I’m excited by this list as there are books that I didn’t know about, but am ordering from the UK now. (Your covers are just so much better!) I find that while I usually despise horror, during this pandemic, it’s almost cathartic to have an emotion release of all the pent up anxieties I’m feeling through this genre. I’m also finding super emotional Kdramas offer me the same opportunity to focus some of that energy on something that is specific and not my life, if that makes any sense at all? Anyway- great list. Thank you.
So glad you also thought The Binding was remarkable! And yeah, the UK does usually get the best covers. I'm always grateful for that! I couldn't agree more about finding distractions right now. My health anxiety is through the roof and trying to find cathartic and absorbing stories is definitely the secret to getting through this!
It is "The Doll Factory" by Elizabeth Macneal that brought me here -- excellent book. I also really enjoyed "Bitter Orange" by Claire Fuller, not so historical, but very close to this niche little category that you love. Thanks for these great recommendations.
This video is fantastic! I can't believe I've never read or even come across Laura Purcell so far given that 'Gothic-y Wuthering Heights-y' historical fiction is one of my favourite genres. I ordered all three of her books you mentioned and I'm super excited to get into them. Have you read The Animals of Lockwood Manor ? It's a recent-ish one and it's great.
I love this genre along with my favourite world lit. I enjoyed Wakenhyrst a lot. Do let us know what u thought about it in your next video for gothic historical horror fiction 😊⚘
This is my exact favorite niche of books! Thank you so much for these recommendations! I was only getting bread crumbs in my personal researching and from general videos on gothic horror. Thank you!!!
Thanks, Tanya! As an ex-high school teacher, I'd always wished I had become a librarian instead. I hope the job is as wonderful as I've romanticised it to be.
I don't read a lot of gothic fiction, especially set in the 19th and 20th centuries. Although, I'm reading Rebecca right now, and it makes me want to branch out. I might check out a couple of these!
I think The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal would fit in great here as well as Melmoth by Sarah Perry which I think gets underrated after the Essex Serpent, and also the Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave which I read recently. I loved the Corset I need to get to more of her books. Loving your excitement of this genre whatever its called.
I have The Doll Factory ready to go! And I've actually read Melmoth and didn't get on with it, unfortunately. I liked The Essex Serpent but didn't click with Melmoth, despite it sounding like it would be exactly my thing. I also just remembered I do also have The Mercies so I'll get to that asap!
The Binding.... I started it...got angry ...how long does it take to open a door! Jesus! Even Resident Evil is more fun and I was scared of the game. Companion one and Watchmaker are on my list, still. I liked the blurb and loved the cover.
Im so glad I stumbled upon this. This has to be one of my favorite genres. I have a hard time explaining what I love so I always say “ You know like the movie A Pale Blue Eye or Crimson Peak or the show Dracula”. It’s a genre but also a aesthetic for me. Beautiful and tragic.
Another great video, keep them coming! :D I need to get to all of these, love this genre. And whenever someone mentions Wuthering Heights, I'm sold already haha. I LOVED the Binding so much!!!!
I'm exactly the same. Compare a novel to Wuthering Heights and I'll rush out to buy it the same day. The Binding is now one of my absolute favourite books!
I’ll give Laura Purcell another try. I read ten pages of The Corset and didn’t like it all. There were so many missed opportunities to lure the reader in with good, atmospheric writing. It was poorly written to me. I had no reason to read on, I’m afraid. As a huge, Du Maurier fan, I can’t see any comparison between the two writers. Her books literally grab me by the throat. 😁 thanks for all the recommendations, I’ll be looking at them all.
THE ADJECTIVES YOU JUST USED WHEN DESCRIBING "THE SILENT COMPANIONS" BY LAURA PURCELL----- YESSSSS!!! ALL OF THOSE ADJECTIVES, AND INGREDIENTS YOU SAY SHE INCLUDED- TOTALLLLLLY WHAT I WAS SEEKING WHEN I CHECKED OUT YOUR CHANNEL!!
That gothic comfort world you that you love and share about here, is exactly the world I was seeking when I checked out your channel! I'm SOOOO excited to have found your book review! I read all the time as a child, but 7 years ago, was diagnosed with ADHD (I'm 47 now), and though I've had a longing to get back to reading for leisure, the ADHD makes it so challenging for me to get PAST my thought process roadblocks and just DO it. I finally read a few books last year, the first one being, "The Woman in the Mirror" by Rebecca James. She's not British, she's Australian, but I can't express how much I adored this book. It goes down in my heart as possibly my favorite book I've ever read. I was sad when it was over, and thirsty for more books of a similar genre. I really enjoyed the presence of a witch in the story. I'm not interested in *anything* related to the occult, so that aspect of witchcraft isn't my cup of tea (I'm Christian!)- but I adore the romanticism- the haunting she does of a present-day family or house because of heartbreak she endured centuries earlier, sightings of said witch in the distance in her black dress as she stands where the sea breaks against the shore and gives the viewer who just saw her a sudden fright, the thick sense of suspense and terror not knowing what will be encountered when another character descends the mansion steps to the cellar and proceeds to try and enter the locked room, etc. None of what I've just said is stated in a very prolific way, but you get my point. Next, I'd found "The Coffin Path," by Katherine Clements, which was also amazing, so amazing I had to email her and ask a question about what happened to one of the characters, since in the story, she had left it for the reader to imagine on their own. I love being THAT invested in a story and its characters! After that, I found it very difficult to find a book review channel that would introduce me to more books like those. Every Google or RU-vid search offered suggestions for Gothic romance, but seemed to leave the prospect of ghosts and witches out of the picture, which was disappointing to me- not exactly what I was looking for. I'm not usually a fan of vampires, EXCEPT Bram Stoker's Dracula, because of the profound romantic overarching them of that story; I ADORE the movie, but haven't read the book yet. I also did enjoy reading The Witching Hour years ago, as well. So if there are undertones of eeriness, suspense, and above all- ROMANCE, especially the bittersweet/beautiful but tragic pain of either unrequitted love, or love that was experienced once but lost since by some turn of events, and I want to soak up as much as I can. I agree with you, these sorts of gothic novels DO create a rich eerie cozy atmosphere I want to live in as well. REALLLLY excited to read the novels you share about here, and what better time to start than with Autumn right around the corner!
So late to the party, but I just stumbled across your channel. I was literally looking up "contemporary gothic novels." I would say that's a truly legitimate description. Love this list, and would also suggest Eve Chase
You had me at "The Binding is a masterpiece!" I totally agree and I have yet to convince anyone to read it. And I haven't read any of these others (yet) so I will be immediately adding them to my list! Oh and also that you love unlikeable characters. Such a paradox... and very relatable. --Nat
Unfortunately, since I put this video out, it has come to light that Bridget Collins seems to hold some transphobic views, so I'm not going to be reading or covering her books in the future. It's a shame because I really did love The Binding with all my heart!
