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Bride of Pendorric
Favel Farrington meets Roc Pendorric on the idyllic Mediterranean island of Capri, where she was raised and lives with her father. Roc sweeps her off her feet, taking her from her home by an emerald sea to the ancient family home of the Pendorrics, in Cornwall. His sister and her family await them with open arms, welcoming young Favel. She is the much anticipated Bride of Pendorric, a name that amuses and flatters her.
The castle is beautiful in its way, but the atmosphere is foreboding. Roc's twin nieces begin watching her carefully; even the stones in the courtyard seem to have eyes. On the walls hang portraits of two other Brides of Pendorric—one of them Roc's mother—who died both young and tragically. Favel's fear increases as Roc seems to be growing more and more distant. Has her courtship and marriage been just a deception?
Soon Favel can no longer dismiss as accidents the strange things happening to her. Someone is trying to kill her and she must confront the very real dangers that surround her.
The castle is beautiful in its way, but the atmosphere is foreboding. Roc's twin nieces begin watching her carefully; even the stones in the courtyard seem to have eyes. On the walls hang portraits of two other Brides of Pendorric—one of them Roc's mother—who died both young and tragically. Favel's fear increases as Roc seems to be growing more and more distant. Has her courtship and marriage been just a deception?
Soon Favel can no longer dismiss as accidents the strange things happening to her. Someone is trying to kill her and she must confront the very real dangers that surround her.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1963
197 people are currently reading
2312 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Holt
373 books1,378 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 306 reviews
March 8, 2017
3.5 stars, rounding up. So we've got a rechristened Retro Reads GR group (for early- to mid-20th century nostalgic type reads, mostly historical fiction with some mysteries and romances mixed in), and there's an upcoming buddy read of Victoria Holt's Mistress of Mellyn in about two weeks. It sounded kind of fun to me, and I found a big fat omnibus volume of Holt gothic romantic suspense novels on Abebooks:
$4 for the hardback of all four novels, and no shipping charge. Score! It arrived in the mail yesterday and I was having a really hard time not jumping the gun on the Mistress of Mellyn BR (I may or may not have read a few chapters). So to distract myself from that one, I opened up Bride of Pendorric, and read the whole thing last night (it's only a couple of hundred pages in this book).
It's a pretty classic novel of the gothic romance type, published in 1963 and set in that era. 18 or 19 year old Favel Farrington lives with her widowed artist father on the island of Capri. A 32 year old British man, Roc Pendorric, visits their studio and sweeps Favel off her feet, marrying her a few weeks later in a whirlwind romance. When Favel's father mysteriously dies while swimming in the ocean, Roc takes Favel back to his Cornwall mansion, Pendorric.
Roc and everyone else in the area have a habit of calling Favel the latest Bride of Pendorric, and the ominous story soon comes out: some Pendorric brides have died young, and there's a legend that each Bride will haunt their home in turn, until the next young bride dies. Favel is a practical person, so she shrugs it off, or tries to. But soon dangerous accidents (OR ARE THEY?) start to happen, and Favel has no idea who she can trust. And her husband has pretty clearly been keeping some major secrets from her...
This is one of the better Victoria Holt novels I've read. She's not a great writer, for my money: she too often tells the story rather than showing it (I never felt any real romantic tension between the main characters), and the pace can get a little plodding. But she's good at building up the suspense, and you feel the confusion of the heroine.
I wasn't fond of the large age gap between Favel and Roc, or his occasionally high-handed ways, though you see that kind of thing a lot in these older gothic romances. The mystery here was predictable in one sense but not in another: I spotted the villain early on, but Holt gets points for a late twist that I only saw coming a couple of pages before the big reveal. I've seen this kind of thing in a couple of other mysteries, but this book was written earlier.
Recommended for those who like retro gothic romances.
$4 for the hardback of all four novels, and no shipping charge. Score! It arrived in the mail yesterday and I was having a really hard time not jumping the gun on the Mistress of Mellyn BR (I may or may not have read a few chapters). So to distract myself from that one, I opened up Bride of Pendorric, and read the whole thing last night (it's only a couple of hundred pages in this book).
It's a pretty classic novel of the gothic romance type, published in 1963 and set in that era. 18 or 19 year old Favel Farrington lives with her widowed artist father on the island of Capri. A 32 year old British man, Roc Pendorric, visits their studio and sweeps Favel off her feet, marrying her a few weeks later in a whirlwind romance. When Favel's father mysteriously dies while swimming in the ocean, Roc takes Favel back to his Cornwall mansion, Pendorric.
Roc and everyone else in the area have a habit of calling Favel the latest Bride of Pendorric, and the ominous story soon comes out: some Pendorric brides have died young, and there's a legend that each Bride will haunt their home in turn, until the next young bride dies. Favel is a practical person, so she shrugs it off, or tries to. But soon dangerous accidents (OR ARE THEY?) start to happen, and Favel has no idea who she can trust. And her husband has pretty clearly been keeping some major secrets from her...
This is one of the better Victoria Holt novels I've read. She's not a great writer, for my money: she too often tells the story rather than showing it (I never felt any real romantic tension between the main characters), and the pace can get a little plodding. But she's good at building up the suspense, and you feel the confusion of the heroine.
I wasn't fond of the large age gap between Favel and Roc, or his occasionally high-handed ways, though you see that kind of thing a lot in these older gothic romances. The mystery here was predictable in one sense but not in another: I spotted the villain early on, but Holt gets points for a late twist that I only saw coming a couple of pages before the big reveal. I've seen this kind of thing in a couple of other mysteries, but this book was written earlier.
Recommended for those who like retro gothic romances.
January 4, 2009
This was the first gothic romance novel I ever read -- in 7th or 8th grade -- and I'm giving it a "5" because I loved it so much at that time! It was a transitional book for me, an adult romance/mystery after having read all the Nancy Drew series and Scholastic book selections for young readers, etc. If I were to read it again now, I might not feel the same way; so I probably won't! Why meddle with a good memory? All the books we read add something to our minds, and surely lead us on to other books that will be important in further stages of life, so it's all good.
November 29, 2018
The ultimate gothic classic! Madness, secrets, crypts, suspicious husbands, cliffs and moors... it never gets old.
November 26, 2025
"There are some people who mold themselves on old cliches."
Victoria Holt, Bride of Pendorric
3.5 stars.
Bride of Pendorric seems a popular read but I'd never read it before and it looked interesting. I liked it but did not love it.
But it was a a good creepy read! Part Historical romance, part Gothic, somehow this book slipped by me .
My favorite aspect to this book was not the mystery which is rather predictable. What I loved was the lush atmosphere, the rich imagery and the Historical elements.
I also found it to be.. well..creepy..very much so..the way a good Gothic is supposed to be. As I said it is pretty predictable but it does not lack for creepiness. There is one scene where the main character gets locked inside a ..well..I am not going to say..LOL. But suffice to say that was pretty chilling.
All in all, this was a fun read. I have not read many of Holt's books but think I should probably read more as I have a feeling I'd be a fan.
SPOILERS:
The twist you may figure out..it isn't the most difficult to figure out but it is still very well written how it plays out and I was engrossed
I would give this a strong 3.5 and recommend it to people who love Historical or Gothic (or both) fiction.
Victoria Holt, Bride of Pendorric
3.5 stars.
Bride of Pendorric seems a popular read but I'd never read it before and it looked interesting. I liked it but did not love it.
But it was a a good creepy read! Part Historical romance, part Gothic, somehow this book slipped by me .
My favorite aspect to this book was not the mystery which is rather predictable. What I loved was the lush atmosphere, the rich imagery and the Historical elements.
I also found it to be.. well..creepy..very much so..the way a good Gothic is supposed to be. As I said it is pretty predictable but it does not lack for creepiness. There is one scene where the main character gets locked inside a ..well..I am not going to say..LOL. But suffice to say that was pretty chilling.
All in all, this was a fun read. I have not read many of Holt's books but think I should probably read more as I have a feeling I'd be a fan.
SPOILERS:
The twist you may figure out..it isn't the most difficult to figure out but it is still very well written how it plays out and I was engrossed
I would give this a strong 3.5 and recommend it to people who love Historical or Gothic (or both) fiction.
February 16, 2016
It is hard for me to be objective about this book and to keep from comparing it to Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca since it is so obviously inspired by it. I just couldn't take it seriously. Way over the top, heavy-handed, and ridiculous, with that cliche dumb as a post heroine who refuses to see what is staring at her in the face, and a so-called hero who spends so much time away from the action that he truly seems more ghost like than the departed Barbarina (that name!), the malevolent spirit who torments the newest bride of Pendorric. I like my gothic novels just fine but this was about as haunting and evocative as an episode of Scooby Doo.
October 29, 2018
I think that some of you Gothic lovers out there will love this one. I did not love this or even like it much. This took me ages to get through. It had so many characters and just a lot of information dumps here and there that didn't work for me. Also the main character, Favel (yes that's her name) was uber frustrating since she just tra la las during most of this book though she believes someone is out to kill her.
"Bride of Pendorric" is about a young woman who marries a random guy (Roc Pendorric) that shows up to her father's studio to buy some paintings. Favel and her father live somewhere off the coast of Italy getting by with him selling his art after the death of her mother.
The beginning of this book reminded me a bit of the beginning of "Rebecca". You don't really get why the main character is so obsessed with the man she comes to contact with (Roc in this case instead of Max de Winter). Roc is painted as a gambler, just like Favel's father, and so I was puzzled why she would even consent to marry this guy. He doesn't seem charming at all just tall and dark. This being a Gothic book though, Favel and Roc do marry and then her father mysteriously dies while swimming (after going off with Roc). Favel and Roc eventually return to England to live specifically in Cornwall, where Pendorric stands.
The subject of twins comes up a lot in this one. Roc is a twin, his sister Morwenna still lives at Pendorric with her husband Charles and their twin daughters Hyson and Lowella. And of course Roc's dead mother was a twin. We find out through other characters about Roc's father and what a philander he was (man cheated with everyone it seemed that lived nearby) and Favel starts to worry that the man she knew for like a month may be similar to his father. Good job caring about these things now. There are mysterious neighbors, relatives, a governess and a nurse. I can't say much about these characters besides to say that they were all just a bit too bland and underdeveloped. I still didn't like Roc through the majority of this book.
There are way too many twists in this book to even make sense of most of them. The flow was awful too.
I usually like the Cornwall setting, but besides hearing about the moor here and there, no place stood out. I think Holt hoped that Pendorric would be up there as much a famous house like Manderley or even Shirley Jackson's Hill House. It just didn't live up to that for me.
The ending gives you an information dump via a diary that just happened to be there for Favel to read and know all. I just laughed. Reminded me of Holt's "The Secret Woman" where all is revealed via a letter.
"Bride of Pendorric" is about a young woman who marries a random guy (Roc Pendorric) that shows up to her father's studio to buy some paintings. Favel and her father live somewhere off the coast of Italy getting by with him selling his art after the death of her mother.
The beginning of this book reminded me a bit of the beginning of "Rebecca". You don't really get why the main character is so obsessed with the man she comes to contact with (Roc in this case instead of Max de Winter). Roc is painted as a gambler, just like Favel's father, and so I was puzzled why she would even consent to marry this guy. He doesn't seem charming at all just tall and dark. This being a Gothic book though, Favel and Roc do marry and then her father mysteriously dies while swimming (after going off with Roc). Favel and Roc eventually return to England to live specifically in Cornwall, where Pendorric stands.
The subject of twins comes up a lot in this one. Roc is a twin, his sister Morwenna still lives at Pendorric with her husband Charles and their twin daughters Hyson and Lowella. And of course Roc's dead mother was a twin. We find out through other characters about Roc's father and what a philander he was (man cheated with everyone it seemed that lived nearby) and Favel starts to worry that the man she knew for like a month may be similar to his father. Good job caring about these things now. There are mysterious neighbors, relatives, a governess and a nurse. I can't say much about these characters besides to say that they were all just a bit too bland and underdeveloped. I still didn't like Roc through the majority of this book.
There are way too many twists in this book to even make sense of most of them. The flow was awful too.
I usually like the Cornwall setting, but besides hearing about the moor here and there, no place stood out. I think Holt hoped that Pendorric would be up there as much a famous house like Manderley or even Shirley Jackson's Hill House. It just didn't live up to that for me.
The ending gives you an information dump via a diary that just happened to be there for Favel to read and know all. I just laughed. Reminded me of Holt's "The Secret Woman" where all is revealed via a letter.
November 28, 2015
Victoria Holt had clearly swotted up on
&
before writing this doom laden account of a young girl's infatuation & marriage to an older man. After her father's unexpected death, Roc whisks Favel from Capri to Cornwall where she is terrorised by the legend of the Brides of Pendorric.
While reading I found Favel's constant unease surprising in one so young (nineteen) but she was completely on her own & married to a man she barely knew. So I'm cutting her some slack.
A major weakness for me was that I didn't find Roc appealing - neither the description of his physical appearance or his (generally distant) behaviour. & there were far to many characters to keep track of & a lot of them didn't add much to the story.
The ending felt forced & rushed, but I loved this book as a teen so I'm giving it a charitable 4*
&
before writing this doom laden account of a young girl's infatuation & marriage to an older man. After her father's unexpected death, Roc whisks Favel from Capri to Cornwall where she is terrorised by the legend of the Brides of Pendorric.While reading I found Favel's constant unease surprising in one so young (nineteen) but she was completely on her own & married to a man she barely knew. So I'm cutting her some slack.
A major weakness for me was that I didn't find Roc appealing - neither the description of his physical appearance or his (generally distant) behaviour. & there were far to many characters to keep track of & a lot of them didn't add much to the story.
The ending felt forced & rushed, but I loved this book as a teen so I'm giving it a charitable 4*
September 18, 2025
Halloween Bingo 2025
I read a lot of Victoria Holt's novels when I was a teen, long ago now. My mom got me hooked, as she really enjoyed them. It is interesting to reread them as a woman in my 60s—my perspective has changed (not a surprise).
I believe I was initially captivated by these romances because Holt's main characters were young women with limited experience and a lot of naïveté. This describes me at that age and it gave me hope that someday I would find a man who would see my worth. I never did, but I now know that I am far happier on my own than I would be in a marriage.
Holt's plots are very repetitive. Not necessarily a bad thing--after all I love Ilona Andrews and their novels also have many repetitive elements. If you find a pattern you like, it's fine to stick with it. However, the Andrews' heroines are not shrinking violets. They are competent women who love their men but don't need them to survive. I think that's what I react to now when I read Holt. Her heroines are clinging vines, needing a relationship to rescue them and give their lives meaning.
We change as we age. I can still enjoy a Holt novel if I read fast and don't over-analyze, but I much prefer modern, competent women characters.
I read this book for the Gothic square of my Halloween Bingo card.
I read a lot of Victoria Holt's novels when I was a teen, long ago now. My mom got me hooked, as she really enjoyed them. It is interesting to reread them as a woman in my 60s—my perspective has changed (not a surprise).
I believe I was initially captivated by these romances because Holt's main characters were young women with limited experience and a lot of naïveté. This describes me at that age and it gave me hope that someday I would find a man who would see my worth. I never did, but I now know that I am far happier on my own than I would be in a marriage.
Holt's plots are very repetitive. Not necessarily a bad thing--after all I love Ilona Andrews and their novels also have many repetitive elements. If you find a pattern you like, it's fine to stick with it. However, the Andrews' heroines are not shrinking violets. They are competent women who love their men but don't need them to survive. I think that's what I react to now when I read Holt. Her heroines are clinging vines, needing a relationship to rescue them and give their lives meaning.
We change as we age. I can still enjoy a Holt novel if I read fast and don't over-analyze, but I much prefer modern, competent women characters.
I read this book for the Gothic square of my Halloween Bingo card.
June 6, 2009
Eking out a living with her widowed father in his art studio on the island of Capri, Favel is swept off her feet by visitor Roc Pendorric and they are married, although her happiness is marred by the sudden death of her father. Upon arrival at Roc's Cornwall estate, Favel learns of the legend of the Brides of Pendorric - married into the family for their money and die mysterious deaths at a young age and then destined to haunt the halls until another bride dies and takes her place. Not surprisingly, things soon begin to go bump in the night - is it possible that the ghost of Roc's mother really does haunt the home? Is Favel destined to be the next Bride of Pendorric to die and haunt the mansion, or is something more sinister involved?
As Favel begins to experience unusual accidents she begins to wonder about her husband Roc. Did he really fall in love with her or was there an ulterior motive? How did he happen to show up at their studio in Capri? Just a coincidence or did he know her father beforehand? What about the three former lovers of Roc? Do they want Favel out of the way? Or is it Favel's sister or one or her two young daughters? Who is the mysterious wealthy old man in the large estate who takes an uncommon interest in Favel?
Packed with plenty of mystery and intrigue, as well as the appropriate gothic spookiness of Cornwall and those ever present mists (let alone getting locked in that old tomb with all those caskets - yikes!), this tale should keep the reader guessing until the very last page. While Holt isn't quite up to the perfection that is Du Maurier, she's still a gifted storyteller and fans of that classic "romantic suspense" genre might want to check this out.
As Favel begins to experience unusual accidents she begins to wonder about her husband Roc. Did he really fall in love with her or was there an ulterior motive? How did he happen to show up at their studio in Capri? Just a coincidence or did he know her father beforehand? What about the three former lovers of Roc? Do they want Favel out of the way? Or is it Favel's sister or one or her two young daughters? Who is the mysterious wealthy old man in the large estate who takes an uncommon interest in Favel?
Packed with plenty of mystery and intrigue, as well as the appropriate gothic spookiness of Cornwall and those ever present mists (let alone getting locked in that old tomb with all those caskets - yikes!), this tale should keep the reader guessing until the very last page. While Holt isn't quite up to the perfection that is Du Maurier, she's still a gifted storyteller and fans of that classic "romantic suspense" genre might want to check this out.
March 20, 2015
Favel was a lovely heroine, if a little unsure. And I am not surprised that she was so unsure, how can you not be when people don't tell you what's happening? And what was she to do with so many little things destroying her peace? From two twins set on her becoming one of The Brides to accidents happening a little too soon after the others for comfort and being locked in a crypt, something is afoot and it's enough to craze the most stable of us.
There were three sets of twins. Three. Try figuring out who's who. Barbarina and Debora, Barbarina's set, Pedroc and Wenna. Then Wenna's set, Hyson and Lowella. Hyson and Lowella were the hardest to tell the difference between, because they played each other so well.
PG Throughout the book it is suggested that there are "Ghosts" haunting the manor, there are no ghosts as something more human is at work... A few swears and all of a sudden at the end of the book Favel suddenly begins smoking and it's treated as if that was what she always does.
August 2, 2020
This is probably the 2nd or 3rd book by Victoria Holt that I am reading even though I love Gothic romance genre but somehow Victoria Holt's books has not captured my interest as much as all the other authors in this genre. I can still go back to read Phyllis A Whitney's or Mary Stewart's books anytime with utter glee and rapture and I think it's mostly my fault because Ms. Holt's Bride of Pendorric was absolutely delightful if one loves reading these kind of books. But there was an element of spark missing so it was making me feel bored rather than happy with the usual large mansion, creepy atmosphere, distant husband and menace around the heroine milieu.
Read
February 13, 2018So many sets of twins and such a cliched way of combining twins and suspense narratives *sigh*
April 10, 2017
Recently, I've decided to revisit cherished writers and well loved books of the past; Victoria Holt, and the genre of 'gothic suspense/romance is one of many on my list. The Bride of Pendorric is a reread for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed my new endeavor. The book did not disappoint; many gothic elements are well presented. The looming estate in Cornwall, a cast of colorful and deceitful characters, a romantic intrigue with the hint of a ghostly presence and of course, underlying dark currents run steadily through this wonderful novel.
September 25, 2012
I loved it. It was amusing, but also it was suspenseful. There were a few heartwarming moments, like with the old Lord Polhorgan (is that it?). Ok, here's the summary:
Favel marries Roc Pendorric, and goes to live with him and his sister, Morwenna and nieces, Hyson and Lyson. There is a legend surrounding the place that the last Bride (Roc's mother, Barbarina) haunts the quadrangle and will kill the next bride so she can rest in peace at last. After a while, she makes a few friends like Lord Polhorgan But she begins to wonder about Roc's faithfulness and love, due to his previous romances, Dinah Bond, Rachel Bective and Althea Grey. There is also the doubt about a boy sharing resemblance to the Pendorrics. Favel has many awful experiences, including being locked in the Grave vault. (yikes!) She is saved, however, by Deborah, Barbarina's twin sister.
The ending turns out to be surprising. How could I have expected that? TELL ME! I recommend you march yourself over to a second hand bookstore or Ebay and buy Bride of Pendorric. Now go!
Favel marries Roc Pendorric, and goes to live with him and his sister, Morwenna and nieces, Hyson and Lyson. There is a legend surrounding the place that the last Bride (Roc's mother, Barbarina) haunts the quadrangle and will kill the next bride so she can rest in peace at last. After a while, she makes a few friends like Lord Polhorgan But she begins to wonder about Roc's faithfulness and love, due to his previous romances, Dinah Bond, Rachel Bective and Althea Grey. There is also the doubt about a boy sharing resemblance to the Pendorrics. Favel has many awful experiences, including being locked in the Grave vault. (yikes!) She is saved, however, by Deborah, Barbarina's twin sister.
The ending turns out to be surprising. How could I have expected that? TELL ME! I recommend you march yourself over to a second hand bookstore or Ebay and buy Bride of Pendorric. Now go!
March 9, 2017
I enjoyed it! Review to follow.
July 24, 2011
I first read this in Jr. High because I wanted to, not because I had to. I picked it up again just to see if I still liked Holt's writing.
Yes. I did. Mostly, as an adult, I liked it because intimacy behind closed doors and in spite of what the cover hints at, it focused on the characters in the story, not their hormones (Hooray!). In fact, the husband is gone much of the time on business and I got the feeling he was 'in the way' of what Holt wanted to do with Favel.
This time through I picked up on at least one oddity: the main character Favel's smoking habits. Not that I wanted more of it (just the opposite), but it felt like the habit was added later or as an afterthought, just to give the character something to do. The book just didn't need it.
It was still a good story, though I could guess the ending (I had forgotten most of this book) and had the villan picked out before the ending, but I figure that is just because they had to write in such a controlled way back then.
Yes. I did. Mostly, as an adult, I liked it because intimacy behind closed doors and in spite of what the cover hints at, it focused on the characters in the story, not their hormones (Hooray!). In fact, the husband is gone much of the time on business and I got the feeling he was 'in the way' of what Holt wanted to do with Favel.
This time through I picked up on at least one oddity: the main character Favel's smoking habits. Not that I wanted more of it (just the opposite), but it felt like the habit was added later or as an afterthought, just to give the character something to do. The book just didn't need it.
It was still a good story, though I could guess the ending (I had forgotten most of this book) and had the villan picked out before the ending, but I figure that is just because they had to write in such a controlled way back then.
August 21, 2020
This was such a good gothic romance/mystery. Favel was more sensible than most of the Gothic heroines and the atmosphere of the house and the town Pendorric was in was described really good. I could not solve the mystery until the 90% mark which is impressive considering the book had cliches. But the cliches were inserted into the book professionally.
I would advise this book to mystery lovers because the Favel and Roe's romance is not the main story in the book.
I would advise this book to mystery lovers because the Favel and Roe's romance is not the main story in the book.
December 20, 2014
I read this book many years ago as a young girl and I remember loving it. It is written in the 1st person point of view and is categorized as a gothic romance. One of my favorite genres from that time of my life.
did-not-finish
August 18, 2025Not for me. I had enjoyed some of Dorothy Eden and Andre Norton's gothic suspense novels and thought I'd try Victoria Holt, but this is not a book I care to continue. The heroine needs to GTFO, like right now. Stop seeing your father's death as an accident!
February 13, 2015
In Bride of Pendorric, young Favel is swept off her feet by the handsome Roc Pendorric when he visits her father's studio on the island of Capri. Shortly after their marriage, her father dies unexpectedly and in order to distract her from her grief, Roc takes her home to the Pendorric mansion in Cornwall. She is warmly welcomed by Roc's family and the villagers, who enthusiastically call her "the Bride of Pendorric", and at first she is able to dismiss the tales regarding a family curse that leads to an early death for the Pendorric brides. Despite her love and affection for Roc, Favel quickly begins to feel suspicious of those around her and begins to distrust not only Roc's fidelity, but also his possible murderous intent.
I have a major weakness for gothic romance novels and the fact that I've just now discovered Victoria Holt totally baffles me. Bride of Pendorric is everything a gothic romance should be. My favorite component of novels like these is almost always the setting, and that remains true in this book. Pendorric is an old mansion overlooking a rocky coastline in Cornwall and there are also scenes in a moor and an old mausoleum. I love the eerie quality that these types of places add to an already dark and foreboding plot. There is also a great romance here that is full of plenty of suspenseful moments and distrust, but also a fair share of chemistry. I also love it that I thought I had it figured out, but ended up being totally wrong. I'm still pleasantly surprised by the ending. Bride of Pendorric is more than a romance. It's also part murder mystery, part ghost story, and part thriller, and is definitely going to be enjoyed by fans of this genre.
I have a major weakness for gothic romance novels and the fact that I've just now discovered Victoria Holt totally baffles me. Bride of Pendorric is everything a gothic romance should be. My favorite component of novels like these is almost always the setting, and that remains true in this book. Pendorric is an old mansion overlooking a rocky coastline in Cornwall and there are also scenes in a moor and an old mausoleum. I love the eerie quality that these types of places add to an already dark and foreboding plot. There is also a great romance here that is full of plenty of suspenseful moments and distrust, but also a fair share of chemistry. I also love it that I thought I had it figured out, but ended up being totally wrong. I'm still pleasantly surprised by the ending. Bride of Pendorric is more than a romance. It's also part murder mystery, part ghost story, and part thriller, and is definitely going to be enjoyed by fans of this genre.
January 5, 2021
The ultimate gothic romance! Every element is there: the haunted castle, the weird noises, the ghost, the sinister lord of the manor, and the innocent young heroine. In fact, it felt so stereotyped that I thought I could predict the ending. But I fell miserably short, and I only started catching on when the heroine was nearly caught in a deadly trap. But this is Victoria Holt, after all, and you know she couldn’t have become a best-selling author by killing off her heroines. So don’t worry, and don’t panic. Just relax and enjoy the story!
January 13, 2023
Releer a Victoria Holt me lleva de vuelta a la edad del instituto y a las compañeras con las que compartía sus libros. Buenos tiempos. Me sigue encantando. Sus historias son todas parecidas y a la vez distintas. Fáciles de leer, con la mezcla perfecta de intriga, romance y un poco de ambiente gótico. La he vuelto a disfrutar.
dnf
June 9, 2021DNF at 15% - I never found a way into the story and the writing was also not for me. I really wanted to like it since I love a good gothic novel but Victoria and I weren't meant to be.
March 5, 2025
Що вам потрібно знати — я купляла цю книгу наосліп. Єдине, що я знала (і що мене дійсно підкупило) так це примітка «готичний роман». Серйозно, я готова зʼїсти будь-що, де є цих два слова.
Коротко, про основне:
19 річна Фейвел, корінна Кіпрянка виходить заміж за Рока, привабливого парубка, який подорожуючи завітав до майстерні її батька, вирішив прикупити декілька його робіт, а в результаті набув дещо набагато цінніше — кохання🥰.
Одружившись, Рок забирає свою молоду дружину до Туманного Альбіону, адже в родинному маєтку Пендорікків вже зачекалися на нову Наречену. Адже як гласить легенда будинку, кожна нова Наречена Пендорікка має замінити попередню в смерті, аби та спочивала з миром.
Молода Фейвел не вірить в усі ці забобони… але чи надовго її вистачить, особливо коли їй починає здаватися, ніби її власний чоловік приховує щось життєво важливе від неї?
Попереджаю: на початках книга може здаватися нудною (принаймні для мене це так і було), але після 30% книги, сюжет дійсно починає рухатися, й коли я побачила «Епілог», то не могла повірити, що це вже кінець.
А сам епілог… ну блін. Ми ніби й отримуємо всі відповіді на ті питання, які повставали під час читання, але це було сухувато. Мені хотілось би зовсім іншого, але що є, то є.
Ця книга не зовсім про романтичні стосунки, а сам чоловік Фейвел ніби відходе на другий план під час читання. Тут більше про саспенс: тривогу, напруженості та усвідомлення, що «щось» ось-ось станеться. Те саме «щось» я не вгадала, до речі.
Як не намагалася, які б найабсурдніші теорії я не набудувала, тільки під кінець я нарешті зрозуміла, що насправді тут відбувається.
Не можу сказати, що це must-read, але й не скажу, що це якась поґана книга. В ній точно є свій шарм🤍
Коротко, про основне:
19 річна Фейвел, корінна Кіпрянка виходить заміж за Рока, привабливого парубка, який подорожуючи завітав до майстерні її батька, вирішив прикупити декілька його робіт, а в результаті набув дещо набагато цінніше — кохання🥰.
Одружившись, Рок забирає свою молоду дружину до Туманного Альбіону, адже в родинному маєтку Пендорікків вже зачекалися на нову Наречену. Адже як гласить легенда будинку, кожна нова Наречена Пендорікка має замінити попередню в смерті, аби та спочивала з миром.
Молода Фейвел не вірить в усі ці забобони… але чи надовго її вистачить, особливо коли їй починає здаватися, ніби її власний чоловік приховує щось життєво важливе від неї?
Попереджаю: на початках книга може здаватися нудною (принаймні для мене це так і було), але після 30% книги, сюжет дійсно починає рухатися, й коли я побачила «Епілог», то не могла повірити, що це вже кінець.
А сам епілог… ну блін. Ми ніби й отримуємо всі відповіді на ті питання, які повставали під час читання, але це було сухувато. Мені хотілось би зовсім іншого, але що є, то є.
Ця книга не зовсім про романтичні стосунки, а сам чоловік Фейвел ніби відходе на другий план під час читання. Тут більше про саспенс: тривогу, напруженості та усвідомлення, що «щось» ось-ось станеться. Те саме «щось» я не вгадала, до речі.
Як не намагалася, які б найабсурдніші теорії я не набудувала, тільки під кінець я нарешті зрозуміла, що насправді тут відбувається.
Не можу сказати, що це must-read, але й не скажу, що це якась поґана книга. В ній точно є свій шарм🤍
July 27, 2023
Victoria Holt was one of my Big Three intros to classic, gothic romantic suspense along with Phyllis Whitney and Mary Stewart. I devoured her huge backlist as a teenager and pretty much loved it all. It has been many years and many twists in my reading taste since I picked up one of her books and when I spotted Bride of Pendorric re-released in audio, I was curious to revisit a world Victoria Holt was superb at creating.
Bride of Pendorric was not one I remembered at all, but I was struck when I started listening by the familiar vibes of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Not exactly and milder, though the scope was just as broad with its atmospheric settings and situations, mysterious events and the legend of the tragic Pendorric Brides. The almost naïve and innocent young heroine in a whirlwind romance and marriage to an older worldly, and slightly jaded man who kept big secrets and a brooding house and household back home. Oh yes, it definitely had delicious Rebecca overtones and I was all in for that.
This was written in the 1960’s as a current romantic suspense. My first read was in the 80’s and it felt ‘classic’ then. Now, after reading and listening to books with an even much greater time gap, I really felt like I was listening to a classic and a time long gone. Favel’s gentle persona and Roc’s overbearing behavior reflected the times and the isolated feeling needed for such a gothic story to work its wiles on the heroine and her own temperament doing the rest.
The story builds a setting and a feeling which includes all the characters surrounding Favel when she swiftly marries Roc after her father’s death and goes home with him to discover there is something wrong and still going on at Roc’s home in Cornwall. Though gentle, there is a quiet strength to Favel that she discovers as she faces it all even the possibility that her own husband may be a villain. I loved the moderate thrills and chills that come from her investigation and road to discovery.
Henrietta Meire was a new to me narrator. She was a great match for this story that is told from Favel’s point of view. She voiced the cast of characters well and she caught the tone of each scene and the buildup of the story fabulously.
Revisiting a book years later can be a chancy thing, but I loved Bride of Pendorric and now I have a thirst for more along the same vein and from the same author. Those who like milder, but no less atmospheric gothic romantic suspense should snatch this one up.
I rec’d the audio from Tantor Audio to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart July 19th.
Bride of Pendorric was not one I remembered at all, but I was struck when I started listening by the familiar vibes of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. Not exactly and milder, though the scope was just as broad with its atmospheric settings and situations, mysterious events and the legend of the tragic Pendorric Brides. The almost naïve and innocent young heroine in a whirlwind romance and marriage to an older worldly, and slightly jaded man who kept big secrets and a brooding house and household back home. Oh yes, it definitely had delicious Rebecca overtones and I was all in for that.
This was written in the 1960’s as a current romantic suspense. My first read was in the 80’s and it felt ‘classic’ then. Now, after reading and listening to books with an even much greater time gap, I really felt like I was listening to a classic and a time long gone. Favel’s gentle persona and Roc’s overbearing behavior reflected the times and the isolated feeling needed for such a gothic story to work its wiles on the heroine and her own temperament doing the rest.
The story builds a setting and a feeling which includes all the characters surrounding Favel when she swiftly marries Roc after her father’s death and goes home with him to discover there is something wrong and still going on at Roc’s home in Cornwall. Though gentle, there is a quiet strength to Favel that she discovers as she faces it all even the possibility that her own husband may be a villain. I loved the moderate thrills and chills that come from her investigation and road to discovery.
Henrietta Meire was a new to me narrator. She was a great match for this story that is told from Favel’s point of view. She voiced the cast of characters well and she caught the tone of each scene and the buildup of the story fabulously.
Revisiting a book years later can be a chancy thing, but I loved Bride of Pendorric and now I have a thirst for more along the same vein and from the same author. Those who like milder, but no less atmospheric gothic romantic suspense should snatch this one up.
I rec’d the audio from Tantor Audio to listen to in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart July 19th.
October 8, 2014
This spine tingling mystery, keeps you turning the pages, as you get deeper and deeper into this book. There's no turning back now. Favel doesn't know who to trust. She's married Roc Pendoric, a mysterious man that she has fallen in love with and married, but when her father mysteriously drowns, Favel know that Roc is not telling her something. Roc takes her back to Pendoric as his new bride, where she discovers everyone is waiting for a new bride to take the place of the old bride of Pendoric, who haunts Pendorrc until a new bride arrives to take her place so she can rest. This book will keep you spell bound, as you try to unlock the mysteries and secrets about Pendoric and the people who live there. I loved bride of pendoric because it kept me in suspense. In the book you think that you are heading in one direction and then out of nowhere something twist that makes sense of a previous mystery but adds a new one. you begin to have more and more questions. I couldn't put this book down because just as I was waiting for a question to be answered, it was, but only after leaving another question to be answered. The whole time I was trying to figure out if Roc really loved her, and was faithful to her or was he lying to her, and if so why? Or even worse, is it him that is trying to kill her? All of these things keep you guessing for the entire book, and you won't find out until the end!
April 2, 2016
Gothic Mystery Wrapped Around a Romance
Like most of Holt’s historical romances, I assume this one was set in the Victorian era but it takes place mostly in Cornwall. Favel Farrington was living with her artist father on the beautiful Isle of Capri when Roc Pendorric from Cornwall came into their studio one day and swept Favel off her feet.
Roc was a charmer from the beginning and soon they were wed, but the day was overshadowed by her father’s drowning death. Once Favel and Roc arrive at the ancestral home of the Pendorrics on the coast of Cornwall, Favel discovers the family legend of the “Bride of Pendorric”, where one who died became a ghost until replaced by another. And the last one, Roc’s mother, Barbarina, died young in a terrible accident. Supposedly she haunts the east wing of the estate.
There are some surprises in this story, one is a truth Favel learns when she befriends an old man living in the neighboring estate, a self-made man who takes a liking to Favel. It’s a truth hidden from her by her new husband.
While Favel is falling in love with Cornwall, accidents begin to happen that threaten her life. She begins to wonder if someone isn’t trying to kill her. With Roc having so many female admirers, Favel begins to wonder if one of them wouldn't like to take her place.
The ending may be a surprise but Holt did her best to string out the great reveal.
Like most of Holt’s historical romances, I assume this one was set in the Victorian era but it takes place mostly in Cornwall. Favel Farrington was living with her artist father on the beautiful Isle of Capri when Roc Pendorric from Cornwall came into their studio one day and swept Favel off her feet.
Roc was a charmer from the beginning and soon they were wed, but the day was overshadowed by her father’s drowning death. Once Favel and Roc arrive at the ancestral home of the Pendorrics on the coast of Cornwall, Favel discovers the family legend of the “Bride of Pendorric”, where one who died became a ghost until replaced by another. And the last one, Roc’s mother, Barbarina, died young in a terrible accident. Supposedly she haunts the east wing of the estate.
There are some surprises in this story, one is a truth Favel learns when she befriends an old man living in the neighboring estate, a self-made man who takes a liking to Favel. It’s a truth hidden from her by her new husband.
While Favel is falling in love with Cornwall, accidents begin to happen that threaten her life. She begins to wonder if someone isn’t trying to kill her. With Roc having so many female admirers, Favel begins to wonder if one of them wouldn't like to take her place.
The ending may be a surprise but Holt did her best to string out the great reveal.
August 29, 2010
Victoria Holt was an incredibly prolific writer, writing under several pseudonyms - most prominently Victoria Holt, Jean Plaidy, and Philippa Carr. Victoria Holt was her pseudonym for writing Gothic romance and these books are wonderful and old-fashioned and fun to read. I remember staying up all night at my Mississippi grandmother's house when I was in high school reading The Legend of the Seventh Virgin and loving every minute of it. I've also read The Mistress of Mellyn although I thought it was just okay. I grabbed this one because I'm reading books published in my birth year and I'm glad I did.
This was great fun! The plot obviously owes a lot to Rebecca, although to Holt's credit her heroine is much less whiney and annoying than Du Maurier's - I never once had the desire to smack her around. The Cornish setting combined with mysterious and dangerous happenings, family surprises, sexy nurses and governesses with husband-stealing on their minds, and (I kid you not) evil twins - this makes for lots of Gothic fun and some chills and thrills. Great escapist reading.
This was great fun! The plot obviously owes a lot to Rebecca, although to Holt's credit her heroine is much less whiney and annoying than Du Maurier's - I never once had the desire to smack her around. The Cornish setting combined with mysterious and dangerous happenings, family surprises, sexy nurses and governesses with husband-stealing on their minds, and (I kid you not) evil twins - this makes for lots of Gothic fun and some chills and thrills. Great escapist reading.
October 15, 2017
Gothic novels are my thing, and I'm a big fan of Victoria Holt. Bride of Pendorric was a nice surprise -- family secrets, paintings of unfortunate brides, twins (twins run in the Pendorric family) - including the identical pair nicknamed Hy and Lo, nieces of Favel's new husband. This book kept me guessing, with plots and twists throughout. Very long chapters (only 7 chapters!), but I was engrossed by this story, and by the Pendorrics, who live in an incredible castle, that is almost like a character itself...
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