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The Stones of Landane
A mysterious, psychological thriller from the ever-enthralling Cat Cavendish
‘Fear her now, fear the queen,
As in her stone she reigns supreme…’
When Jonathan agrees to accompany his girlfriend, Nadia, on a trip to Landane, he imagines a short relaxing break in the countryside. But he quickly discovers that Nadia isn’t just drawn to the ancient Neolithic stone circle, she is obsessed by the megaliths. One in particular holds a fascination for her. Within hours, her personality begins to change, and it isn’t long before Jonathan starts to fear for her sanity.
Reaching far back into the past and up to the present day, those same stones have demonstrated powers beyond reason and, as Jonathan’s girlfriend becomes increasingly distant from reality, some of the ghosts of the past begin to reappear.
Now it isn’t only Nadia who is in danger.
‘Fear her now, fear the queen,
As in her stone she reigns supreme…’
When Jonathan agrees to accompany his girlfriend, Nadia, on a trip to Landane, he imagines a short relaxing break in the countryside. But he quickly discovers that Nadia isn’t just drawn to the ancient Neolithic stone circle, she is obsessed by the megaliths. One in particular holds a fascination for her. Within hours, her personality begins to change, and it isn’t long before Jonathan starts to fear for her sanity.
Reaching far back into the past and up to the present day, those same stones have demonstrated powers beyond reason and, as Jonathan’s girlfriend becomes increasingly distant from reality, some of the ghosts of the past begin to reappear.
Now it isn’t only Nadia who is in danger.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 14, 2025
5 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cavendish
41 books424 followersHello, my name's Catherine Cavendish and I write suspense novels, novellas and short stories of the ghostly, haunted, creepy kind that include supernatural, paranormal, Gothic and other, related themes.
THE STONES OF LANDANE is out now from Flame Tree Press - When Jonathan agrees to accompany his girlfriend, Nadia, on a trip to Landane, he imagines a short relaxing break in the countryside, but he quickly discovers that Nadia isn’t just drawn to the ancient Neolithic stone circle, she is obsessed by the megaliths. One in particular holds a fascination for her. Within hours, her personality begins to change, and it isn’t long before Jonathan starts to fear for her sanity. All too soon he realizes, it isn't only Nadia who is in danger
My other novels from Flame Tree Press are:
THOSE WHO DWELL IN MORDENHYRST HALL - Evil runs deep at Mordenhyrst Hall… When Grace first sets eyes on the imposing Gothic house, she is struck with an overwhelming sense that something doesn’t want her there. Her fiancé’s sister heads a coterie of Bright Young Things whose frivolous lives hide a sinister intent. Simon, Grace’s fiancé, is not the man she fell in love with, and the local villagers eye her with suspicion that borders on malevolence.
Her friend, Coralie, possesses the ability to communicate with powerful spirits. She convinces Grace of her own paranormal gifts – gifts Grace will need to draw deeply on as the secrets of Mordenhyrst Hall begin to unravel.
THE AFTER-DEATH OF CAROLINE RAND - Alli is caught between fantasy and reality, past and present, in the life of a famous singer from the 1960s and soon learns that evil infests the once-holy building she called
home. Before long, Alli's fate will be sealed, and she will learn about her role in the after-death of Caroline Rand. It begins with a chilling greeting: "Welcome to The Columbine, Miss Sinclair. You are expected."
DARK OBSERVATION - is published by Flame Tree Press. In the dark days of war-torn London, Violet has more to fear than bombs. From deep within the Earth, demonic forces are rising.
IN DARKNESS, SHADOWS BREATHE. Carol and Nessa are strangers with one thing in common, they are in the hands of an entity that knows no boundaries and crosses dimensions - bending and twisting time itself - where danger waits in every shadow
THE GARDEN OF BEWITCHMENT. Historical haunted Gothic horror set in the wilds of the Yorkshire moors - pure Bronte country - with a Bronte theme.
And - THE HAUNTING OF HENDERSON CLOSE. Ghostly horror set in Edinburgh's Old Town.
THE CROW WITCH AND OTHER CONJURINGS is my first short fiction collection and is out now from Weird House Press.
My novellas THE DARKEST VEIL, COLD REVENGE, MISS ABIGAIL'S ROOM, THE DEMONS OF CAMBIAN STREET, DARK AVENGING ANGEL, LINDEN MANOR, THE DEVIL INSIDE HER and THE SECOND WIFE are published by Crossroad Press.
My novels THE DEVIL'S SERENADE and SAVING GRACE DEVINE have also been released in new editions by Crossroad Press, as has my novel of the Lancashire Witches - THE PENDLE CURSE.
I live with a long-suffering husband and a delightful black cat who has never forgotten that her species used to be worshipped in ancient Egypt. She sees no reason why that practice should not continue. Who am I to argue?
When not slaving over a hot computer, I enjoy wandering around Neolithic stone circles and visiting old haunted houses.
THE STONES OF LANDANE is out now from Flame Tree Press - When Jonathan agrees to accompany his girlfriend, Nadia, on a trip to Landane, he imagines a short relaxing break in the countryside, but he quickly discovers that Nadia isn’t just drawn to the ancient Neolithic stone circle, she is obsessed by the megaliths. One in particular holds a fascination for her. Within hours, her personality begins to change, and it isn’t long before Jonathan starts to fear for her sanity. All too soon he realizes, it isn't only Nadia who is in danger
My other novels from Flame Tree Press are:
THOSE WHO DWELL IN MORDENHYRST HALL - Evil runs deep at Mordenhyrst Hall… When Grace first sets eyes on the imposing Gothic house, she is struck with an overwhelming sense that something doesn’t want her there. Her fiancé’s sister heads a coterie of Bright Young Things whose frivolous lives hide a sinister intent. Simon, Grace’s fiancé, is not the man she fell in love with, and the local villagers eye her with suspicion that borders on malevolence.
Her friend, Coralie, possesses the ability to communicate with powerful spirits. She convinces Grace of her own paranormal gifts – gifts Grace will need to draw deeply on as the secrets of Mordenhyrst Hall begin to unravel.
THE AFTER-DEATH OF CAROLINE RAND - Alli is caught between fantasy and reality, past and present, in the life of a famous singer from the 1960s and soon learns that evil infests the once-holy building she called
home. Before long, Alli's fate will be sealed, and she will learn about her role in the after-death of Caroline Rand. It begins with a chilling greeting: "Welcome to The Columbine, Miss Sinclair. You are expected."
DARK OBSERVATION - is published by Flame Tree Press. In the dark days of war-torn London, Violet has more to fear than bombs. From deep within the Earth, demonic forces are rising.
IN DARKNESS, SHADOWS BREATHE. Carol and Nessa are strangers with one thing in common, they are in the hands of an entity that knows no boundaries and crosses dimensions - bending and twisting time itself - where danger waits in every shadow
THE GARDEN OF BEWITCHMENT. Historical haunted Gothic horror set in the wilds of the Yorkshire moors - pure Bronte country - with a Bronte theme.
And - THE HAUNTING OF HENDERSON CLOSE. Ghostly horror set in Edinburgh's Old Town.
THE CROW WITCH AND OTHER CONJURINGS is my first short fiction collection and is out now from Weird House Press.
My novellas THE DARKEST VEIL, COLD REVENGE, MISS ABIGAIL'S ROOM, THE DEMONS OF CAMBIAN STREET, DARK AVENGING ANGEL, LINDEN MANOR, THE DEVIL INSIDE HER and THE SECOND WIFE are published by Crossroad Press.
My novels THE DEVIL'S SERENADE and SAVING GRACE DEVINE have also been released in new editions by Crossroad Press, as has my novel of the Lancashire Witches - THE PENDLE CURSE.
I live with a long-suffering husband and a delightful black cat who has never forgotten that her species used to be worshipped in ancient Egypt. She sees no reason why that practice should not continue. Who am I to argue?
When not slaving over a hot computer, I enjoy wandering around Neolithic stone circles and visiting old haunted houses.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 17, 2025
A very entertaining yarn.
The Stones of Landane was my first Catherine Cavendish. It did not disappoint. It in fact engaged, intrigued, and
The book starts with Jonathan going with his girlfriend Nadia to the “Stones of Landane,” a British landmark similar to its more famous cousin, Stonehenge. Nadia is excited to share her childhood and young adult fascination with the monument stones and the structures around it, some of which tourists are not allowed to enter.
They arrive. They get settled at a pub. They head over to see the stones.
Then it gets bizarre.
Jonathan sees stuff that can’t possibly be real and Nadia’s behavior is starting to freak him out.
That’s the backdrop. I can’t say a whole lot without giving away spoilers but this book was a wild ride. I found it engaging in that I learned a lot about these stone formations in England and that there is a LOT to know and even MORE that is unknown. But it had elements I didn’t expect and twisty-turny events that kept me (repeatedly) guessing and thinking and theorizing until the end unfolded and I STILL didn’t see the end coming. I love it when a book manages to do that.
I look forward to more of Catherine Cavendish’s work. 4.5/5
The Stones of Landane was my first Catherine Cavendish. It did not disappoint. It in fact engaged, intrigued, and
The book starts with Jonathan going with his girlfriend Nadia to the “Stones of Landane,” a British landmark similar to its more famous cousin, Stonehenge. Nadia is excited to share her childhood and young adult fascination with the monument stones and the structures around it, some of which tourists are not allowed to enter.
They arrive. They get settled at a pub. They head over to see the stones.
Then it gets bizarre.
Jonathan sees stuff that can’t possibly be real and Nadia’s behavior is starting to freak him out.
That’s the backdrop. I can’t say a whole lot without giving away spoilers but this book was a wild ride. I found it engaging in that I learned a lot about these stone formations in England and that there is a LOT to know and even MORE that is unknown. But it had elements I didn’t expect and twisty-turny events that kept me (repeatedly) guessing and thinking and theorizing until the end unfolded and I STILL didn’t see the end coming. I love it when a book manages to do that.
I look forward to more of Catherine Cavendish’s work. 4.5/5
February 13, 2025
Historical Haunting Mystery!
Small backstory:
This book follows three timelines: 2023, 1900 and 1967
The 2023 timeline follows Nadia and Jonathan as Nadia loves the Stones of Landane and wants to share her passion of the stones with Jonathan but Jonathan soon learns that Nadia's obsession with the stones do not seem healthy for her mentality.
The 1900 timeline follows Olivia and Grant as Olivia meets Grant on an archaeology quest with a team from Cambridge University that are interested in studying the stones, but Olivia's father is not happy with her being on an archaeological team as he thinks the stones have an evil influence on people.
The 1967 timeline follows Shelly and Vicki as they want to attend the Summer of Love festival but things become weird as they have odd dreams and do not know what is behind them, but when there are disappearances is when things go awry and they both wonder if it is attached to the stones.
That is probably more than a small taste but I had to give a small backstory for each timeline to give an idea of what is in store with the mystery of the stones. If you want to know more and are intrigued by these backstories then go grab this book and let the author take you into a magical mystical mystery of haunting suspense!
Thoughts:
Once again I found myself captured by author Catherine Cavendish as she took me on a mysterious journey into the fictional world of Landane.
The timelines of all three back stories for the characters goes into a deep depth of history with the stones and what happens when the characters are among the stones.
Interesting enough the stories of the characters might be fictional but the history of the stones are real as there is such a place that does exist.
Another great book by this author filled with haunting tones, suspense, and mysteries. Giving this book four "Magical Mystical Mystery" stars!
Small backstory:
This book follows three timelines: 2023, 1900 and 1967
The 2023 timeline follows Nadia and Jonathan as Nadia loves the Stones of Landane and wants to share her passion of the stones with Jonathan but Jonathan soon learns that Nadia's obsession with the stones do not seem healthy for her mentality.
The 1900 timeline follows Olivia and Grant as Olivia meets Grant on an archaeology quest with a team from Cambridge University that are interested in studying the stones, but Olivia's father is not happy with her being on an archaeological team as he thinks the stones have an evil influence on people.
The 1967 timeline follows Shelly and Vicki as they want to attend the Summer of Love festival but things become weird as they have odd dreams and do not know what is behind them, but when there are disappearances is when things go awry and they both wonder if it is attached to the stones.
That is probably more than a small taste but I had to give a small backstory for each timeline to give an idea of what is in store with the mystery of the stones. If you want to know more and are intrigued by these backstories then go grab this book and let the author take you into a magical mystical mystery of haunting suspense!
Thoughts:
Once again I found myself captured by author Catherine Cavendish as she took me on a mysterious journey into the fictional world of Landane.
The timelines of all three back stories for the characters goes into a deep depth of history with the stones and what happens when the characters are among the stones.
Interesting enough the stories of the characters might be fictional but the history of the stones are real as there is such a place that does exist.
Another great book by this author filled with haunting tones, suspense, and mysteries. Giving this book four "Magical Mystical Mystery" stars!
December 22, 2024
What a treat and what a fantastic story!
The story immediately reminded me of my favourite (and terribly terrifying!) TV series from my youth, The Children of the Stones. It is by far the scariest children's TV series ever made.
I lived in the Downs for a while - with Wiltshire within easy reach - so I often visited the stone monuments. I have also travelled to the Hebrides, where there are many standing stones. Like me, people have been fascinated by the magic emanating from these mysterious stones for centuries.
I found Nadia and Jonathan's story the least interesting, and Jonathan as a character not very likeable. He is always annoyed by things. How can you complain about the impossibility of parking in old British medieval towns, or taking the bus? And leaving the light on when someone is sleeping? And I know it could be down to my age, but calling a pub owner by his first name would be inappropriate and considered rather rude.
I found this first piece a bit weak in style, and the abundant use of adjectives distracting, as if the writer was trying too hard to evoke a mystical, hallucinatory atmosphere.
I also felt that a lot was thrown at the reader in the beginning, there was hardly any room to build up the story slowly, gradually it got a lot better, and by the second time frame, I was completely glued to my Kindle and immersed in the story.
I found the mention of Erik von Däniken odd and out of place with the rest of the story, but the author was forgiven for mentioning the Tardis. >):!-
I liked the part with Olivia and Grant best, the secret language of flowers and the rise of spiritualism. I liked both characters, and Nadia's bewilderment when she noticed the resemblance in the photograph in the mausoleum was a brilliant twist.
This story, although picked up a little later in the narrative, could have been a tad longer in my opinion.
I found the folk horror part really sublime, yet I found the ending a bit rushed. Would love to read more from this author.
Highly recommended! 4 stars. For fans of folk horror.
The story immediately reminded me of my favourite (and terribly terrifying!) TV series from my youth, The Children of the Stones. It is by far the scariest children's TV series ever made.
I lived in the Downs for a while - with Wiltshire within easy reach - so I often visited the stone monuments. I have also travelled to the Hebrides, where there are many standing stones. Like me, people have been fascinated by the magic emanating from these mysterious stones for centuries.
I found Nadia and Jonathan's story the least interesting, and Jonathan as a character not very likeable. He is always annoyed by things. How can you complain about the impossibility of parking in old British medieval towns, or taking the bus? And leaving the light on when someone is sleeping? And I know it could be down to my age, but calling a pub owner by his first name would be inappropriate and considered rather rude.
I found this first piece a bit weak in style, and the abundant use of adjectives distracting, as if the writer was trying too hard to evoke a mystical, hallucinatory atmosphere.
I also felt that a lot was thrown at the reader in the beginning, there was hardly any room to build up the story slowly, gradually it got a lot better, and by the second time frame, I was completely glued to my Kindle and immersed in the story.
I found the mention of Erik von Däniken odd and out of place with the rest of the story, but the author was forgiven for mentioning the Tardis. >):!-
I liked the part with Olivia and Grant best, the secret language of flowers and the rise of spiritualism. I liked both characters, and Nadia's bewilderment when she noticed the resemblance in the photograph in the mausoleum was a brilliant twist.
This story, although picked up a little later in the narrative, could have been a tad longer in my opinion.
I found the folk horror part really sublime, yet I found the ending a bit rushed. Would love to read more from this author.
Highly recommended! 4 stars. For fans of folk horror.
abandoned-ship
December 28, 2024I really wanted to like this but DNF at chapter six. Reads like someone fed Children of the Stones into ChatGPT.
The writing is flat and painfully amateurish; the main character has as much dimension as a paper doll and even the interesting premise doesn't make up for the lack of craft.
Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to early read.
The writing is flat and painfully amateurish; the main character has as much dimension as a paper doll and even the interesting premise doesn't make up for the lack of craft.
Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to early read.
January 21, 2025
A beautiful folk horror set in the British countryside with gothic vibes and mystery abound.
I loved this book so much as the constant addition of new information and new characters made sure I was never bored, but on the contrary increasingly gripped by the mystery surrounding Landane and its stones.
There are different timelines and point of views in this novel, taking the reader by surprise and adding more depth and confusion to the plot that thickens the more the pages flow.
The author perfectly creates a sense of foreboding and mystery around these stones and the characters, leaving the reader confused as to what is happening and wondering if the protagonists are just marionettes or active players.
I loved how I also felt the confusion the characters felt around the stones, and the dread of feeling the loss of control, of their grip on reality.. The author manages to give life to the feeling of “losing it” through the protagonists’ vicissitudes, where they find themselves in weird places, not knowing how they got there and experiencing different timelines, all the while being in the dark as to why. Although, always feeling something amiss and dark presences all around.
This is one of the best examples of quiet horror I’ve read so far and I did have some chills, especially because I hate the thought of losing control of my mind and not being aware of my actions.
I have to say though that I wasn’t satisfied at all by the ending and it felt massively anticlimactic. I was so excited by all the build up in the story, and I expected a bit more from the ending. This is my opinion though, and I 100% recommend this read, especially for fans of folklore and quiet horror full of atmosphere and mystery.
Thanks to the author, Flame Tree Press and Random Things Tours for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
I loved this book so much as the constant addition of new information and new characters made sure I was never bored, but on the contrary increasingly gripped by the mystery surrounding Landane and its stones.
There are different timelines and point of views in this novel, taking the reader by surprise and adding more depth and confusion to the plot that thickens the more the pages flow.
The author perfectly creates a sense of foreboding and mystery around these stones and the characters, leaving the reader confused as to what is happening and wondering if the protagonists are just marionettes or active players.
I loved how I also felt the confusion the characters felt around the stones, and the dread of feeling the loss of control, of their grip on reality.. The author manages to give life to the feeling of “losing it” through the protagonists’ vicissitudes, where they find themselves in weird places, not knowing how they got there and experiencing different timelines, all the while being in the dark as to why. Although, always feeling something amiss and dark presences all around.
This is one of the best examples of quiet horror I’ve read so far and I did have some chills, especially because I hate the thought of losing control of my mind and not being aware of my actions.
I have to say though that I wasn’t satisfied at all by the ending and it felt massively anticlimactic. I was so excited by all the build up in the story, and I expected a bit more from the ending. This is my opinion though, and I 100% recommend this read, especially for fans of folklore and quiet horror full of atmosphere and mystery.
Thanks to the author, Flame Tree Press and Random Things Tours for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
December 11, 2024
*
Three different points of time; the early 1900s, the late 1960s and the present are all connected by six people and the stone circle of Landane.
Catherine Cavendish weaves a tale full of suspense, building tension and secrets. The eeriness of events and revelations slowly build up to the final explosion, which left me with more questions. I am hoping that there will be a continuation of the story with a sequel! So many questions!
*Thank you to Catherine Cavendish, Flame Tree Press, and Book Sirens for the advance copy of this thrilling book.
Three different points of time; the early 1900s, the late 1960s and the present are all connected by six people and the stone circle of Landane.
Catherine Cavendish weaves a tale full of suspense, building tension and secrets. The eeriness of events and revelations slowly build up to the final explosion, which left me with more questions. I am hoping that there will be a continuation of the story with a sequel! So many questions!
*Thank you to Catherine Cavendish, Flame Tree Press, and Book Sirens for the advance copy of this thrilling book.
February 2, 2025
The Stones Of Landane by Catherine Cavendish, after reading the after death of Caroline rant I cannot believe I didn’t immediately go to this author’s catalog and read more of her books and when I saw this one on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it and although the two books Share themes, they’re very different from each other with Nadia and her boyfriend visiting the stones of land Dane due to Nadia‘s obsession with the stone monuments, something she has enjoyed since she was a child but on this visit, things go a lot further than they ever have before. I don’t want to give anything away that wasn’t in the summary. Just know if you like fever, dream type stories, and time slip novels then you definitely will love this book. My favorite thing about it is once you’re reading it you think it’s going to be about one thing and turns out to be about something totally different all of it being awesome. I am definitely going to invest some time and money in Miss Cavendish’s catalog because she really writes books I absolutely enjoy. #NetGalley, #FlameTreePress, #CatherineCavendish, #TheStonesOfLandane,
Read
January 27, 2025DNF - 66%
Read
January 28, 2025DNF
Too much lovey dovey crap and not enough thriller crap.
Too much lovey dovey crap and not enough thriller crap.
January 16, 2025
From the moment they met, Jonathan met Nadia Gale have shared a deep and intense attraction. Sometimes love at first sight works, and sometimes it even feels preordained. While they share many experiences and personal interests, it takes some time before Jonathan can tear himself away from his work to indulge his lover’s fascination for the Neolithic standing stones in Landane. However, better late than never …
Or so Jonathan believes until the couple arrives at the small community, sees the many mysterious relics from a bygone age, and witness the changes they make in his girlfriend. Her personality alters, hardening a bit, and her obsessions rise to the surface just a little more. She talks about strange hidden histories as though they were not whispered theories but realities.
The longer they remain, the more they see, and the more stories Jonathan hears from concerned but friendly local pub owner (and Nadia’s confidant), Ken, the more concerned he becomes. However, there is no escaping the lure of Landane and its ancient mysteries. Whether he wants to or not, Jonathan has become ensnared in a situation that reaches back long before he was born, connecting him to an archaeological dig from the beginning of the twentieth century as well as a music festival that came to the area in the late 1960s.
In each of those periods, someone with an uncanny resemblance to Jonathan got mixed up in the supernatural truths behind the region’s eerie folklore. Will Jonathan be the next victim of the supernatural forces’ agenda, or will he discover the truth and put a rest to the strange purpose behind the stones?
Catherine Cavendish is the reigning queen of gothic horror, and it’s always a pleasure to read her new releases. The Stones of Landane arrives on bookstore shelves and eReaders in little over a week, and it offers another enjoyable excursion into Cavendish’s quirky and unsettling fictional worlds. The book is a welcome return to strange country where time is not quite constant, evil lurks underneath the ground, and even trusted companions can harbor ancient secrets and schemes.
For this work, Cavendish employs characters across three different timelines, whose stories will ultimately converge. A majority of the book is concerned with a contemporary setting with first person narratives told either from Jonathan or Nadia Gale’s perspective. There is also a meaty section involving privileged Olivia Anstruther defying her parents’ wishes and pursuing archaeological interests by joining a dig around the Neolithic stones near Landane. There, she will discover romance with young academic Grant Ford and together they will discover an aspect of the mysteries unknown to their future analogs. As well, there is a sequence set in the region during the trippy 1960s, which follows normally reserved Shelly Sullivan and her bestie Vicki Donald to Landane for a music festival. There they will learn about the sinister side of local folklore.
The character names suggest a deliberateness and cleverness on the part of the author. Nadia in particular has a surname which recalls that of another fictional character who is blown from her humdrum normal world into a far stranger one. While Nadia’s path is not the same as Dorothy Gale of The Wizard of Oz, she is nevertheless due to participate in an otherworldly adventure involving great and powerful beings, a masculine one that seems benignly aligned with humanity’s fortunes and a feminine one that seems opposed to their best interests.
As in previous Cavendish works, characters are not necessarily trapped in their own timeline. The mystical power of Landane seems to thin the walls of space-time, allowing characters to move backwards through time and interact with residents of the past. However, these indulgences are not prolonged, and the information gleaned is not always reliable since the supernatural forces have been present in the region from its earliest days. However, this adds some science fictional touches to the gothic horror. As well, this offers a nod to the Dark Shadows program (namechecked in the text during the 1960s sequence), which featured a plot where one of the characters was send back in time for several episodes. It’s a subject that has fascinated the author previously, appearing in different ways in both The Haunting of Henderson Close and The After-Death of Caroline Rand, and here it offers the readers a more rounded picture of what is happening, giving us more details than the characters quite know how what to do with. However, it really does play up the gothic horror theme of eternal conflict between light and darkness, another subject the author explores throughout her novels.
Cavendish’s descriptions and plotting are often cinematic in nature. We see the situations and characters clearly enough that her stories unfold like a good film or television program in the mind’s eye theater. However, the author is not afraid to give us glimpses of her characters’ rich internal lives, allowing us to understand their dreams and dreads, their desires as well as their needs and the conflicts that arise when these things butt heads.
With the challenge of three periods to write in, Cavendish nevertheless gives each sequence a temporal sense of its own character. Olivia shares some interests and outlooks with both Shelly and Nadia, but the three characters nevertheless remain distinct. The times they come from are very different in terms of expectations, requirements, and allowances for women, and those differences have clearly shaped these characters. Of the periods, the 1960s is the one that feels most lived in and overflowing with telling, personal details that make the time come alive. The other sections are well wrought and given enough detail to remain distinct from one another, but there’s a special spark in the way Shelly and Vicki talk about rock bands, drugs, sex, and other parts of their worlds that has a little special magic to come alive. This may be due to the research Cavendish did for her earlier book The After-Death of Caroline Rand, which has great sequences set during that period, but the way the characters talk and behave suggests a more personal influence that simple research.
Readers looking for a gory good time should probably seek their thrills elsewhere. Cavendish’s work is closer in spirit to the 1970s era horror films coming out of the UK, where suggestion and the uncanny are far more prevalent than shock, where the blood that does get shed is of a notably different color or texture than found in real life. The threats to mind and soul are much more thoroughly explored in The Stones of Landane than physical violence and its results. This is moody, atmospheric, and builds to a conclusion that, while not as happy as what we might find in a Dean Koontz book, is nevertheless not a downer, hopeless experience.
Catherine Cavendish offers another glimpse into an uncanny world where supernatural powers use mankind as their pawns, and only rare individuals can deny and defy them. With The Stones of Landane, the author delivers a gift of a novel, exploring a gothic horror adventure as it unfolds across over a century, through three distinct timelines and central character pairings. The novel is an intriguing one, rife with big ideas and cinematic plotting, and well-drawn characters. Mixing the cosmic and folk horror elements along with the stuff of classic gothic horror, Cavendish offers a rich stew of fright fiction elements that is satisfying but will also leave readers ready for the next helping.
Or so Jonathan believes until the couple arrives at the small community, sees the many mysterious relics from a bygone age, and witness the changes they make in his girlfriend. Her personality alters, hardening a bit, and her obsessions rise to the surface just a little more. She talks about strange hidden histories as though they were not whispered theories but realities.
The longer they remain, the more they see, and the more stories Jonathan hears from concerned but friendly local pub owner (and Nadia’s confidant), Ken, the more concerned he becomes. However, there is no escaping the lure of Landane and its ancient mysteries. Whether he wants to or not, Jonathan has become ensnared in a situation that reaches back long before he was born, connecting him to an archaeological dig from the beginning of the twentieth century as well as a music festival that came to the area in the late 1960s.
In each of those periods, someone with an uncanny resemblance to Jonathan got mixed up in the supernatural truths behind the region’s eerie folklore. Will Jonathan be the next victim of the supernatural forces’ agenda, or will he discover the truth and put a rest to the strange purpose behind the stones?
Catherine Cavendish is the reigning queen of gothic horror, and it’s always a pleasure to read her new releases. The Stones of Landane arrives on bookstore shelves and eReaders in little over a week, and it offers another enjoyable excursion into Cavendish’s quirky and unsettling fictional worlds. The book is a welcome return to strange country where time is not quite constant, evil lurks underneath the ground, and even trusted companions can harbor ancient secrets and schemes.
For this work, Cavendish employs characters across three different timelines, whose stories will ultimately converge. A majority of the book is concerned with a contemporary setting with first person narratives told either from Jonathan or Nadia Gale’s perspective. There is also a meaty section involving privileged Olivia Anstruther defying her parents’ wishes and pursuing archaeological interests by joining a dig around the Neolithic stones near Landane. There, she will discover romance with young academic Grant Ford and together they will discover an aspect of the mysteries unknown to their future analogs. As well, there is a sequence set in the region during the trippy 1960s, which follows normally reserved Shelly Sullivan and her bestie Vicki Donald to Landane for a music festival. There they will learn about the sinister side of local folklore.
The character names suggest a deliberateness and cleverness on the part of the author. Nadia in particular has a surname which recalls that of another fictional character who is blown from her humdrum normal world into a far stranger one. While Nadia’s path is not the same as Dorothy Gale of The Wizard of Oz, she is nevertheless due to participate in an otherworldly adventure involving great and powerful beings, a masculine one that seems benignly aligned with humanity’s fortunes and a feminine one that seems opposed to their best interests.
As in previous Cavendish works, characters are not necessarily trapped in their own timeline. The mystical power of Landane seems to thin the walls of space-time, allowing characters to move backwards through time and interact with residents of the past. However, these indulgences are not prolonged, and the information gleaned is not always reliable since the supernatural forces have been present in the region from its earliest days. However, this adds some science fictional touches to the gothic horror. As well, this offers a nod to the Dark Shadows program (namechecked in the text during the 1960s sequence), which featured a plot where one of the characters was send back in time for several episodes. It’s a subject that has fascinated the author previously, appearing in different ways in both The Haunting of Henderson Close and The After-Death of Caroline Rand, and here it offers the readers a more rounded picture of what is happening, giving us more details than the characters quite know how what to do with. However, it really does play up the gothic horror theme of eternal conflict between light and darkness, another subject the author explores throughout her novels.
Cavendish’s descriptions and plotting are often cinematic in nature. We see the situations and characters clearly enough that her stories unfold like a good film or television program in the mind’s eye theater. However, the author is not afraid to give us glimpses of her characters’ rich internal lives, allowing us to understand their dreams and dreads, their desires as well as their needs and the conflicts that arise when these things butt heads.
With the challenge of three periods to write in, Cavendish nevertheless gives each sequence a temporal sense of its own character. Olivia shares some interests and outlooks with both Shelly and Nadia, but the three characters nevertheless remain distinct. The times they come from are very different in terms of expectations, requirements, and allowances for women, and those differences have clearly shaped these characters. Of the periods, the 1960s is the one that feels most lived in and overflowing with telling, personal details that make the time come alive. The other sections are well wrought and given enough detail to remain distinct from one another, but there’s a special spark in the way Shelly and Vicki talk about rock bands, drugs, sex, and other parts of their worlds that has a little special magic to come alive. This may be due to the research Cavendish did for her earlier book The After-Death of Caroline Rand, which has great sequences set during that period, but the way the characters talk and behave suggests a more personal influence that simple research.
Readers looking for a gory good time should probably seek their thrills elsewhere. Cavendish’s work is closer in spirit to the 1970s era horror films coming out of the UK, where suggestion and the uncanny are far more prevalent than shock, where the blood that does get shed is of a notably different color or texture than found in real life. The threats to mind and soul are much more thoroughly explored in The Stones of Landane than physical violence and its results. This is moody, atmospheric, and builds to a conclusion that, while not as happy as what we might find in a Dean Koontz book, is nevertheless not a downer, hopeless experience.
Catherine Cavendish offers another glimpse into an uncanny world where supernatural powers use mankind as their pawns, and only rare individuals can deny and defy them. With The Stones of Landane, the author delivers a gift of a novel, exploring a gothic horror adventure as it unfolds across over a century, through three distinct timelines and central character pairings. The novel is an intriguing one, rife with big ideas and cinematic plotting, and well-drawn characters. Mixing the cosmic and folk horror elements along with the stuff of classic gothic horror, Cavendish offers a rich stew of fright fiction elements that is satisfying but will also leave readers ready for the next helping.
March 18, 2025
4.5 stars (rounded up), spoiler free review
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved this book! Cavendish has a unique writing style. The book was unique from other thrillers (please forgive using the word unique twice in a row) and had alternating narrators and timelines. I often find books that have alternating timelines or narrators cumbersome to follow, but Cavendish laid the story out in a way that made it easy. It’s a subtle thriller, the whole time I was reading there was a sense of eeriness and unsettling vibes. I pride myself on figuring out the twist usually halfway through a book, but was nearly done before I put the pieces together. Once I did it was clear how many small details added up to provide the big picture. Proper foreshadowing that doesn’t give away the twist is difficult, and I was impressed once I got to the end. I was invested in all of the characters, not just the main characters but the side characters as well, which I’m not often in this genre.
The reason I give the book 4.5 stars instead of 5, is because I feel like it needed more. There were two side characters in particular whose motives weren’t entirely clear, and the ending felt rushed. I personally think thrillers should show not tell important story lines, but the last few chapters felt like we were being told a lot of the information that had been foreshadowed, and it could have simply been shown to the reader without much more in the way of extending the length of the book. This is a mild criticism however, because there weren’t loose ends and I still enjoyed the ending.
Overall I would highly recommend this book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved this book! Cavendish has a unique writing style. The book was unique from other thrillers (please forgive using the word unique twice in a row) and had alternating narrators and timelines. I often find books that have alternating timelines or narrators cumbersome to follow, but Cavendish laid the story out in a way that made it easy. It’s a subtle thriller, the whole time I was reading there was a sense of eeriness and unsettling vibes. I pride myself on figuring out the twist usually halfway through a book, but was nearly done before I put the pieces together. Once I did it was clear how many small details added up to provide the big picture. Proper foreshadowing that doesn’t give away the twist is difficult, and I was impressed once I got to the end. I was invested in all of the characters, not just the main characters but the side characters as well, which I’m not often in this genre.
The reason I give the book 4.5 stars instead of 5, is because I feel like it needed more. There were two side characters in particular whose motives weren’t entirely clear, and the ending felt rushed. I personally think thrillers should show not tell important story lines, but the last few chapters felt like we were being told a lot of the information that had been foreshadowed, and it could have simply been shown to the reader without much more in the way of extending the length of the book. This is a mild criticism however, because there weren’t loose ends and I still enjoyed the ending.
Overall I would highly recommend this book!
January 14, 2025
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Stones Of Landane' by Catherine Cavendish.
This may be the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely will not be my last! What an absolutely unique, mesmerising and page turning Gothic horror!
I will start by saying that this isn't my usual choice of book so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the storyline but I was fascinated by the cover and synopsis and was looking forward to trying it out and I am very pleased to say I absolutely loved reading it!! If this is not usually the sort of book that you would pick up then do not let that put you off, expand your reading genres and give this book a try!! My initial impression of the book would have been more of a history point of view rather than the chilling gothic novel that it is so if you are a lover of horror, ghost stories and/or mysteries then this is the perfect book for you so pick it up and give it a read!! I am so pleased that I did and cannot wait to get stuck in to the rest of Catherine's books especially if this fantastic one is anything to go by!! In this absolutely gripping page turner Catherine takes us on a time travelling journey and transports us to Landane in the "present" year of 2023, to the past year of 1900 and in between to the year 1967!! We begin by meeting Nadia and Jonathan who are a couple on a break together in Landane where Nadia wants to show Jonathan the stones of Landane which she is obsessed with. They are staying at The White Hart and Nadia shows Jonathan the stones but not long after Nadia starts acting strangely. Why is Nadia so obsessed with the stones and what is she hiding? We are then transported to the year 1900 where we meet Olivia who is from a wealthy and respected family. Olivia wants to become an archaeologist and when she discovers that a Professor and a team from Cambridge University are planning on a study, resurrection and reconstruction of the stones of Landane Olivia is determined to become part of the team. Olivia lives next to the church where the rector and his family, including his son Grant lives. Olivia has feelings for Grant and when she discovers he is helping the team with the stones they begin to get closer. However, Olivia's father has forbidden she is left alone with Grant and is not happy about her working on the site either and Grant's Father the Rector believes the Stones are evil. Will Olivia be able to continue to help work on the Stones and is the Rector right about the Stones? The next time leap takes us to the year 1967 where we meet Shelly and her friend Vicki who are determined to join the Summer Of Love Festival in Landane although Shelly's family would never allow it. They manage to go and meet up with other festival goers including Mick who Shelly takes a fancy too and Davy and Vicki hook up. However when some of them share the same strange dreams and then when the lead singer Petra from Petra's Magic Garden starts singing about Trenorjia things go from bad to worse. Where did Mick disappear too and what happened to Petra? Well, you will just have to pick up your copy of this page turning book today to find out for yourselves and I can guarantee you will not regret it! You may even discover a new favourite author like I have!! With a storyline ram packed with gothic settings, chilling mysteries, evil, death, tragedy, secrets, romance, ghosts and so, SO much more what on Earth (or could it be Hell?) more could you ask for?? Catherine does an absolutely superb job of weaving together not only multiple timelines but also multiple perspectives to create this absolutely wonderful, multi-layered, intriguing and action packed storyline!! It is one of those fantastic books that it does not matter where or when you read this book as Catherine will deliver you to Landane where you will see the Stones yourselves at the turn of a page!! While reading this I ended up doing some of my own research into Stone Circles and ended up learning more myself along with the fantastic information Catherine has included in her Afterword which includes several stone circles that i would definitely love to visit myself. I love it when a book takes me on a journey of research myself as I love learning new things and I found some of the information I discovered fascinating and I'm looking forward to reading even more about it after I have finished this review! I am definitely looking forward to reading more books by this incredible author!! I genuinely could not put this book down and ended up completely devouring it in one sitting of a few hours as I just had to know what was going to happen next!! I thoroughly enjoyed the multiple storylines and characters which Catherine managed to weave together beautifully to create a fantastic and addictive story that kept me hooked throughout! Catherine's fantastic evocative writing skills ensure each and every one of the characters along with the locations come to life in front of your eyes. I loved learning more about each of the characters and watching their relationships and friendships change and develop from the beginning to the end. I also loved the twists and turns and there was so many that I would never have seen coming! It is getting harder and harder to surprise me after reading so many books but Catherine managed it hook, line and sinker with those bombshells!! I really cannot wait to read more books by her to see where her absolutely brilliant imagination and fantastic storytelling skills takes me next!!
Congratulations Catherine on what is guaranteed to be a hugely successful book!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books!!! Here is to your next success and welcome to my favourite author club 🥂
Overall an absolutely unique, addictive, action packed, gothic, creepy one of a kind book filled with history, ghosts, mystery, twists and more that will keep you turning the pages until you have devoured it in a couple of hours!!
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Review for 'The Stones Of Landane' by Catherine Cavendish.
This may be the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely will not be my last! What an absolutely unique, mesmerising and page turning Gothic horror!
I will start by saying that this isn't my usual choice of book so I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the storyline but I was fascinated by the cover and synopsis and was looking forward to trying it out and I am very pleased to say I absolutely loved reading it!! If this is not usually the sort of book that you would pick up then do not let that put you off, expand your reading genres and give this book a try!! My initial impression of the book would have been more of a history point of view rather than the chilling gothic novel that it is so if you are a lover of horror, ghost stories and/or mysteries then this is the perfect book for you so pick it up and give it a read!! I am so pleased that I did and cannot wait to get stuck in to the rest of Catherine's books especially if this fantastic one is anything to go by!! In this absolutely gripping page turner Catherine takes us on a time travelling journey and transports us to Landane in the "present" year of 2023, to the past year of 1900 and in between to the year 1967!! We begin by meeting Nadia and Jonathan who are a couple on a break together in Landane where Nadia wants to show Jonathan the stones of Landane which she is obsessed with. They are staying at The White Hart and Nadia shows Jonathan the stones but not long after Nadia starts acting strangely. Why is Nadia so obsessed with the stones and what is she hiding? We are then transported to the year 1900 where we meet Olivia who is from a wealthy and respected family. Olivia wants to become an archaeologist and when she discovers that a Professor and a team from Cambridge University are planning on a study, resurrection and reconstruction of the stones of Landane Olivia is determined to become part of the team. Olivia lives next to the church where the rector and his family, including his son Grant lives. Olivia has feelings for Grant and when she discovers he is helping the team with the stones they begin to get closer. However, Olivia's father has forbidden she is left alone with Grant and is not happy about her working on the site either and Grant's Father the Rector believes the Stones are evil. Will Olivia be able to continue to help work on the Stones and is the Rector right about the Stones? The next time leap takes us to the year 1967 where we meet Shelly and her friend Vicki who are determined to join the Summer Of Love Festival in Landane although Shelly's family would never allow it. They manage to go and meet up with other festival goers including Mick who Shelly takes a fancy too and Davy and Vicki hook up. However when some of them share the same strange dreams and then when the lead singer Petra from Petra's Magic Garden starts singing about Trenorjia things go from bad to worse. Where did Mick disappear too and what happened to Petra? Well, you will just have to pick up your copy of this page turning book today to find out for yourselves and I can guarantee you will not regret it! You may even discover a new favourite author like I have!! With a storyline ram packed with gothic settings, chilling mysteries, evil, death, tragedy, secrets, romance, ghosts and so, SO much more what on Earth (or could it be Hell?) more could you ask for?? Catherine does an absolutely superb job of weaving together not only multiple timelines but also multiple perspectives to create this absolutely wonderful, multi-layered, intriguing and action packed storyline!! It is one of those fantastic books that it does not matter where or when you read this book as Catherine will deliver you to Landane where you will see the Stones yourselves at the turn of a page!! While reading this I ended up doing some of my own research into Stone Circles and ended up learning more myself along with the fantastic information Catherine has included in her Afterword which includes several stone circles that i would definitely love to visit myself. I love it when a book takes me on a journey of research myself as I love learning new things and I found some of the information I discovered fascinating and I'm looking forward to reading even more about it after I have finished this review! I am definitely looking forward to reading more books by this incredible author!! I genuinely could not put this book down and ended up completely devouring it in one sitting of a few hours as I just had to know what was going to happen next!! I thoroughly enjoyed the multiple storylines and characters which Catherine managed to weave together beautifully to create a fantastic and addictive story that kept me hooked throughout! Catherine's fantastic evocative writing skills ensure each and every one of the characters along with the locations come to life in front of your eyes. I loved learning more about each of the characters and watching their relationships and friendships change and develop from the beginning to the end. I also loved the twists and turns and there was so many that I would never have seen coming! It is getting harder and harder to surprise me after reading so many books but Catherine managed it hook, line and sinker with those bombshells!! I really cannot wait to read more books by her to see where her absolutely brilliant imagination and fantastic storytelling skills takes me next!!
Congratulations Catherine on what is guaranteed to be a hugely successful book!!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books!!! Here is to your next success and welcome to my favourite author club 🥂
Overall an absolutely unique, addictive, action packed, gothic, creepy one of a kind book filled with history, ghosts, mystery, twists and more that will keep you turning the pages until you have devoured it in a couple of hours!!
#TheStonesOfLandane #CatherineCavendish #FlameTreePress #flametreepublishing #RandomThingsTours #RandomTTours
@CatherineCavendish @FlameTreePress @flametreepublishing @RandomThingsTours @RandomTTours
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January 28, 2025
Initially drawn in by the creepy vibes of the front cover - I loved the whole concept of this read and couldn't wait to dive on in.
It's been a while since I've read a book with past lives regression elements and this totally fascinated me - along with the spiritual setting creating the perfect backdrop.
I really liked Jonathan and Nadia as characters and felt that underneath the strange happenings, they were relatable from the start.
I liked that although Nadia had felt that connection to the stones since an early age - it was only now that she had found Jonathan, that it was becoming apparent why?
The story jumps back and forth through time as we meet others connected with the stones.
I don't feel that we fully explored these characters' stories - but this somehow felt fitting to the whole vibe of the storyline.
Although a fictional story, I can totally get behind the ideas in this and love the folklore involved here.
This is definitely something I'd love to read more of this year.
A great read, packed with mystery which kept me invested from start to finish.
Loved the creepy vibes throughout and would love to read more by this author in the future.
It's been a while since I've read a book with past lives regression elements and this totally fascinated me - along with the spiritual setting creating the perfect backdrop.
I really liked Jonathan and Nadia as characters and felt that underneath the strange happenings, they were relatable from the start.
I liked that although Nadia had felt that connection to the stones since an early age - it was only now that she had found Jonathan, that it was becoming apparent why?
The story jumps back and forth through time as we meet others connected with the stones.
I don't feel that we fully explored these characters' stories - but this somehow felt fitting to the whole vibe of the storyline.
Although a fictional story, I can totally get behind the ideas in this and love the folklore involved here.
This is definitely something I'd love to read more of this year.
A great read, packed with mystery which kept me invested from start to finish.
Loved the creepy vibes throughout and would love to read more by this author in the future.
January 31, 2025
This is the first of Cavendish’s books I’ve read but I will say that I will be diving into her back catalogue now. The Stones of Landane has both folkloric and gothic horror vibe which I really enjoyed. The atmosphere was fantastic and really keeps you in the mystery. I loved the tie to others throughout the past leading up to Nadia and Jonathan.
I obviously won’t spoil the plot but its safe to say I could not put this one down at all. I loved the character shifting and how the story was told through different timelines and characters. I didn’t find the horror explicit but rather more creeping and growing with the plot which I really enjoyed. A must read for fans of gothic and folklore horror.
As always thank you to Random Things Tours and Flame Tree Press for the copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.
#CatherineCavendish #TheStonesOfLandane #RandomThingsBookTourd #RandomTTours #BookTourReview #BookReview #FreeReview #AdPR #Gifted
I obviously won’t spoil the plot but its safe to say I could not put this one down at all. I loved the character shifting and how the story was told through different timelines and characters. I didn’t find the horror explicit but rather more creeping and growing with the plot which I really enjoyed. A must read for fans of gothic and folklore horror.
As always thank you to Random Things Tours and Flame Tree Press for the copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.
#CatherineCavendish #TheStonesOfLandane #RandomThingsBookTourd #RandomTTours #BookTourReview #BookReview #FreeReview #AdPR #Gifted
January 27, 2025
I was initially drawn to this book thanks to the tagline on the front - “Why is Nadia so obsessed by the ancient stones in a secluded village? And who are the ghosts who start to appear?”
The book follows Nadia and Jonathan, a couple, as they embark on a trip to historical Landane standing stones.
Nadia feels a deep connection to the stones, one in particular, and has done since a young age. Jonathan just wants to keep her happy but as their visit goes on, it’s clear that Jonathan is more connected than he believes!
This book has everything you want in a gothic horror - past life regressions, ghostly apparitions, folklore and magical elements.
I do wish some of the characters were more fleshed out, but overall, I really enjoyed this and read it in one sitting!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book follows Nadia and Jonathan, a couple, as they embark on a trip to historical Landane standing stones.
Nadia feels a deep connection to the stones, one in particular, and has done since a young age. Jonathan just wants to keep her happy but as their visit goes on, it’s clear that Jonathan is more connected than he believes!
This book has everything you want in a gothic horror - past life regressions, ghostly apparitions, folklore and magical elements.
I do wish some of the characters were more fleshed out, but overall, I really enjoyed this and read it in one sitting!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
February 27, 2025Nadia is obsessed with Landane. Her boyfriend, Jonathan cannot figure out why she keeps coming back year after year. Even stranger is her visit to two huge stones, especially the Surgeon's stone. Jonathan is plagued with bizarre dreams and is worried about Nadia whose personality keeps changing. Jonathan also finds out that their lives are entwined with people who lived in Landane in the past especially Olivia and Grant in the 1900s and Shelly and Mick in 1967 who look exactly like Nadia and Jonathan and these people had some connection to the stones, too. Is there something magical in those stones or are they portals leading to another world? An enthralling fantasy which is scary and describes events which defy explanation. I like the description of Landane with its mysterious aura of beauty and shadow.
January 15, 2025
Cat Cavendish the Queen of beguiling gothic horror is back with another captivating novel soaked in atmosphere and suspense.
The story takes us across three timelines and intertwines a fantastic story of six people who all find themselves connected to the monolithic Stone of Landane.
Narrated from several POV, Cavendish delights with a slow burning ghost story of fictional folklore, fantasy and romance.
A thrilling read perfect for the cold winter nights. Thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Cavendish in the near future.
The story takes us across three timelines and intertwines a fantastic story of six people who all find themselves connected to the monolithic Stone of Landane.
Narrated from several POV, Cavendish delights with a slow burning ghost story of fictional folklore, fantasy and romance.
A thrilling read perfect for the cold winter nights. Thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Cavendish in the near future.
March 26, 2025
Excellent historical fiction with a great supernatural twist, this "sort-of" multi-generational novel focuses on monoliths in Great Britain and the powers within them. Most enjoyable. It tells a similar story from the viewpoints of characters whose lives are several generations apart and does it extremely well.
February 10, 2025
A captivating novel that has supernatural overtones as well as good characters. The draw of standing stone that's told in different timelines. A well plotted novel hooks you in and won't let you go, highly recommend. thanks to Flame Tree Press and Netgalley for this review ARC
December 26, 2024
A great book, really enjoyed reading it.
January 13, 2025
The Stones of Landane is a folklore-esque ghost story based around a stone circle located in the fictional town of Landane. It is a relatively slow burn, though I did quite enjoy this aspect. The chapters were a bit longer than my personal preference though! There were some elements of past lives, or ‘soul twins’, meaning doppelgangers of the main character, Jonathan appeared at various points throughout a history linked to the town.
I actually really liked Jonathan as a character, his continual bafflement at all the strange spiritual goings on when visiting Landane with his girlfriend, Nadia, was endearing and relatable. Nadia had been drawn to the town, and particularly the stone circle since she was a child, and tried to visit frequently in her adult life, but it was only after she began a relationship with Jonathan that she really began properly exploring the reason for this calling that she felt.
The story jumps back in time to both 1900, when the ‘Surgeon Stone' was erected from a fallen position and returned to it's original state, and from 1967, when a Free Love Festival descended on Landane. While I enjoyed these trips back in time in the story, I didn't quite get the relevance, particularly of the 1967 hop, as it didn't really feel necessary to get to the ending, and I was left a little unsatisfied by not fully knowing the stories of these past characters. It was almost like we were told two half stories within main story, and there were elements of time travel that were simply addressed with an ‘ah, as I suspected…’ but no real further reasoning or explanation as to why, particularly Shelly (1967 character), was introduced and was able to appear in both 1900 and 2023. Her story needed more depth I feel.
All in all this was a good read, if you're interested in folklore this will probably be for you, baring in mind that it is fictional, not based on any actual folklore that I'm aware of, or that my brief googling could find. But personally I felt like I was left a little wanting by some of the supporting characters.
I actually really liked Jonathan as a character, his continual bafflement at all the strange spiritual goings on when visiting Landane with his girlfriend, Nadia, was endearing and relatable. Nadia had been drawn to the town, and particularly the stone circle since she was a child, and tried to visit frequently in her adult life, but it was only after she began a relationship with Jonathan that she really began properly exploring the reason for this calling that she felt.
The story jumps back in time to both 1900, when the ‘Surgeon Stone' was erected from a fallen position and returned to it's original state, and from 1967, when a Free Love Festival descended on Landane. While I enjoyed these trips back in time in the story, I didn't quite get the relevance, particularly of the 1967 hop, as it didn't really feel necessary to get to the ending, and I was left a little unsatisfied by not fully knowing the stories of these past characters. It was almost like we were told two half stories within main story, and there were elements of time travel that were simply addressed with an ‘ah, as I suspected…’ but no real further reasoning or explanation as to why, particularly Shelly (1967 character), was introduced and was able to appear in both 1900 and 2023. Her story needed more depth I feel.
All in all this was a good read, if you're interested in folklore this will probably be for you, baring in mind that it is fictional, not based on any actual folklore that I'm aware of, or that my brief googling could find. But personally I felt like I was left a little wanting by some of the supporting characters.
January 13, 2025
Jonathan accompanies his girlfriend Nadia to Landane, and she's drawn to the ancient Neolithic stone circle there. The more time she spends there, however, the more she begins to change.
We start with Nadia and Jonathan, and both are affected by the stone circle there. Dreams seem only too real, they see ghostly figures and seem to move through the area as if they already know it, especially Nadia. Then we see other couples in two other timelines that are tied to the circle, and they have similar reactions to the stones. It's in one of these story threads that we learn about the forces of dark and light that predate druids and seem to be focused on the stone circle. Once we learn about that, the story takes on a more sinister cast, and the people are caught up in a primordial battle between light and dark that uses the spirits of people as pawns.
I found this story creepy but not quite as horror-filled as some of her other novels. Maybe there's less death and destruction or bloody sacrifice, but there is still the future of the world hanging in the balance. I needed to know how that balance fell at the end, and that kept me drawn into the story. The ending itself felt a bit rushed, especially in comparison to some of her other novels.
We start with Nadia and Jonathan, and both are affected by the stone circle there. Dreams seem only too real, they see ghostly figures and seem to move through the area as if they already know it, especially Nadia. Then we see other couples in two other timelines that are tied to the circle, and they have similar reactions to the stones. It's in one of these story threads that we learn about the forces of dark and light that predate druids and seem to be focused on the stone circle. Once we learn about that, the story takes on a more sinister cast, and the people are caught up in a primordial battle between light and dark that uses the spirits of people as pawns.
I found this story creepy but not quite as horror-filled as some of her other novels. Maybe there's less death and destruction or bloody sacrifice, but there is still the future of the world hanging in the balance. I needed to know how that balance fell at the end, and that kept me drawn into the story. The ending itself felt a bit rushed, especially in comparison to some of her other novels.
March 23, 2025
Right. So it’s Catherine Cavendish so we know it’s going to be spooky and creepy in spadefuls. That there may also probably be some time jumps--in fact here’s three timelines--a connection with the past and above all else a place of dark mystery, therefore it’s a good idea to read it with the lights fully on. Either that or during the day. Seriously, like the ancient stones, this book stands there quietly--I won’t say innocuously, don’t be silly---reveal too much too soon and the story is lost after all, instead of building slowly with all kinds of small happenings, encounters--even photographic ones--that aren’t quite right somehow. Things you know all this will lead to a greater, probably devastating conclusion. You want to say to the characters, Johnathon especially, ‘Get out of there now, run, don’t look back and don’t come back.’ But where would be the ‘fun’ in that? It’s as if Catherine Cavendish is playing with a reader in the best possible way. Like the absolute mistress of the genre she is, in fact. For those who like this kind of horror story, set in beautiful old countryside locations teeming with history, mystery and old folk tales, this one is very much for you.
January 27, 2025
This was a book that has left me still wondering what was real and what was not…
An eerie gothic horror story, set in Britain which always makes it feel a little more authentic for me (being British myself). Told through multiple time lines and POV’s which sometimes was at times was a little difficult for me to keep track of - adding confusion and spiralling thoughts trying to figure out what was relevant information and what it all meant. I sometimes felt like I was losing it just as much as the characters in the book were! However, I’m pretty sure this was the authors intentions. There was lots going on in this storyline and that kept me reading from start to finish and eager to find out more. I enjoyed reading about the folklore that was woven throughout and it definitely creeped me out a bit!
I feel like I would’ve liked more from the ending and that the book had so much more potential for a more exciting and dramatic ending than it had…
However, I did overall very much enjoy reading this story and will definitely read more from this author in the future.
An eerie gothic horror story, set in Britain which always makes it feel a little more authentic for me (being British myself). Told through multiple time lines and POV’s which sometimes was at times was a little difficult for me to keep track of - adding confusion and spiralling thoughts trying to figure out what was relevant information and what it all meant. I sometimes felt like I was losing it just as much as the characters in the book were! However, I’m pretty sure this was the authors intentions. There was lots going on in this storyline and that kept me reading from start to finish and eager to find out more. I enjoyed reading about the folklore that was woven throughout and it definitely creeped me out a bit!
I feel like I would’ve liked more from the ending and that the book had so much more potential for a more exciting and dramatic ending than it had…
However, I did overall very much enjoy reading this story and will definitely read more from this author in the future.
February 10, 2025
Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with a copy of this book for review!
The Stones of Landane is a book about a couple drawn to a circle of stones in the south of England, and the weird events that happen to them and the people they're connected to in the past through the magic of the stones.
This is a book that should have been right up my alley, since I like fantasy like this. But Cavendish fails on every level to create a coherent story that is engaging and gripping. There is no real depth or exploration of the two "gods" that are at war beyond relying on the tired "light versus dark" (even making the female god the "bad" one is a tired trope at this point). The main characters are cardboard cutouts with no growth, and the FMC was annoying AF, while the MMC was just a wet dishrag of a pushover. The side characters, who actually *had* some character, were little more than afterthoughts, which was a shame, because this book could easily have been two times as long, spent time developing the story and the characters, and I would have liked it all the better.
The only thing that this book had going for it was the fact that it was a fast read, and I was able to breeze through it with ease. Such a shame!
The Stones of Landane is a book about a couple drawn to a circle of stones in the south of England, and the weird events that happen to them and the people they're connected to in the past through the magic of the stones.
This is a book that should have been right up my alley, since I like fantasy like this. But Cavendish fails on every level to create a coherent story that is engaging and gripping. There is no real depth or exploration of the two "gods" that are at war beyond relying on the tired "light versus dark" (even making the female god the "bad" one is a tired trope at this point). The main characters are cardboard cutouts with no growth, and the FMC was annoying AF, while the MMC was just a wet dishrag of a pushover. The side characters, who actually *had* some character, were little more than afterthoughts, which was a shame, because this book could easily have been two times as long, spent time developing the story and the characters, and I would have liked it all the better.
The only thing that this book had going for it was the fact that it was a fast read, and I was able to breeze through it with ease. Such a shame!
October 26, 2024
The Stones of Landane by Catherine Cavendish is a tale of romance and destiny, steeped in tension and uncertainty.
I’m all in for anything Catherine writes! I had an amazing time with this one. The slow build of dread was perfectly paced and incredibly impactful.
The oddities begin pretty early on, which helps to set the tone, and the storyline progresses in such a fun slow burn. Overall, this story has such an unsettling feel to it. And of course, because it’s Catherine, you can feel the weight of every scene. Whether that’s the warmth of the bar at the in, the pot-thick air of the festival, or the musty and earthy caverns.
Keep an eye out for this one! The Stones of Landane publishes from Flame Tree Press on January 14, 2025!
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/the-s...
I’m all in for anything Catherine writes! I had an amazing time with this one. The slow build of dread was perfectly paced and incredibly impactful.
The oddities begin pretty early on, which helps to set the tone, and the storyline progresses in such a fun slow burn. Overall, this story has such an unsettling feel to it. And of course, because it’s Catherine, you can feel the weight of every scene. Whether that’s the warmth of the bar at the in, the pot-thick air of the festival, or the musty and earthy caverns.
Keep an eye out for this one! The Stones of Landane publishes from Flame Tree Press on January 14, 2025!
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/the-s...
July 29, 2025
The Stones of Landane is a chilling psychological thriller steeped in ancient mystery and atmospheric horror. Catherine Cavendish masterfully weaves past and present as Jonathan’s idyllic countryside trip with his girlfriend Nadia takes a sinister turn. Drawn obsessively to a Neolithic stone circle, Nadia begins to unravel—haunted by forces older than memory. Cavendish’s signature eerie prose and escalating tension create an immersive sense of dread, where the stones themselves feel alive, watching, waiting. With spectral echoes from history and a creeping loss of control, the novel explores the thin veil between sanity and madness. The Stones of Landane is an intelligent, slow-burn horror that grips with psychological depth and supernatural suspense, perfect for fans of folk horror and cursed landscapes.
February 1, 2025
This is a story that will have you wondering what is ,or is not, real in the lives of Nadia and Jonathan as they visit Landane. Though the vast majority of the story centres around Nadia and Jonathan for reasons you will find as you read the book , it also takes you back in time to 1900 with Olivia and Grant and 1967 with Shelly and Mick. This is definitely a story of gothic horror that will have you squirming in places and the pull of the stones and apparitions will pull you in to a world, or worlds you may, or may not wish to explore.
My only gripe with the book is that it is written by an English author, printed and produced in the UK and yet we have American spellings of certain words e.g. colour and favourite, which really does bug me.
My only gripe with the book is that it is written by an English author, printed and produced in the UK and yet we have American spellings of certain words e.g. colour and favourite, which really does bug me.
November 12, 2024
First off, I loved the atmosphere. Everything seems shrouded in mist and mystery.
There was quite a bit of character shifting. We start out with Nadine and Jonathan in modern times, this shift to Olivia and Grant in early 1900’s, then Shelley and Mick in the 60’s. Several points of view and time lines.
My favorite timeline/pov was Jonathan. He seemed a so utterly confused with everything supernatural and was just there to make sure Nadine was ok, whether she was going crazy or not.
There was quite a bit of character shifting. We start out with Nadine and Jonathan in modern times, this shift to Olivia and Grant in early 1900’s, then Shelley and Mick in the 60’s. Several points of view and time lines.
My favorite timeline/pov was Jonathan. He seemed a so utterly confused with everything supernatural and was just there to make sure Nadine was ok, whether she was going crazy or not.
February 11, 2025
There were parts I really liked and there were parts that seemed to over complicate themselves and leave me a littLe confused especially towards the end. There was no clear explanation which is sad as I loved the connections to the past. I guess im just left a little confused. I didn’t find Nadia and Johnathan very interesting either they seemed a little dull compared to those that came before them.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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