Eye of Athena

by Holly Knightley

The Tell-Tale Heart meets American Psycho.

The year is 1826, the atmosphere is insanity, the place is Richmond, Virginia. Edgar Allan Poe’s muse is not his best friend’s sister or the beautiful servant Athena, but his best friend who whispers to the dead. Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous stories spring from the deranged mind of one soul, Kenneth Dahl. This is his story.

As Kenneth Dahl returns to the shadows of his once-familiar home, he's not alone. Voices, whispers from the dead that twist reality, gnaw at his sanity. Newly Released from the confines of a psychiatric hospital, he thought he could outrun the past clawing at his mind. But as he steps over the threshold, he confronts a chilling his battle has only just begun.

Kenneth Dahl harbors a secret communion with the a mercury mirror, where he hears secret whispers both divine and profane. In its silvery depths, he seeks solace, but finds only the twisted labyrinth of his consciousness.

Kenneth tiptoes on the razor's edge between sanity and madness. Each creak of the floorboards, each flicker of light, fuels his paranoia, feeding the duality that threatens to consume him whole. Can he distinguish friend from foe, reality from illusion, when his very identity fractures with every heartbeat?

Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2024

Reviews

[BONNIE SMITH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio edition of Eye of Athena in almost one full sitting. The only thing that interrupted me was an hour of two of socializing yesterday.

The storyline and the narrator will suck you in so completely,...you can feel the cold air on Kenneth's Dahls face, the goosebumps forming on his skin, and at some point- the whispers only he can hear.

Today I am walking around a little jumpy, do I hear things?? Am I avoiding mirrors... you bet.

The timing of the plot twist is oh so perfect, and this might be Holly Knightley's most atmospheric work yet.

If you love Edgar Allen Poe and books that make you look over your shoulder for days after... go grab this one.

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐ rounded to 5
I think this is the best story I read by Holly Knightley! Her skills shine in this gothic novel inspired by Edgar Allan Poe.

If you’re a Poe fan (as you should) you’ll appreciate both the plot, the characters’ arc and the atmosphere, full of all the juicy gothic details anyone would want. We’re in 1826 and we follow the story of the Dahl family, especially Kenneth and his twin sister and his descent into a nightmare that stems from his mind, but does it?

As I said, I loved the atmosphere Holly managed to create, the perfect dark, ghastly manor vibe with all the elements of a mysterious plot. What I also appreciated was the focus on mental health, shining a light on how detrimental it can be when mistreated and abused. How I felt for Kenneth as he tries to come to terms with his personality and the customs of that time was heartbreaking. My love for him grew and grew with every page.

I felt the narrator gave life to the characters beautifully, letting the bleak atmosphere bleed through my earphones, with an emphasis on his interpretation of Kenneth, which I found very apt.

Whilst the plot unfolds and we get to know the characters and Kenneth’s mental health history in the first part, the last part has lots of action and a twist I didn’t see coming, that enhanced the horror and tragedy of this family.

If you love Edgar Allan Poe and want to experience a beautiful and mysterious gothic story, this has it all!

Thanks to the author for the audiobook and this is my honest opinion.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 🌟

EYE OF ATHENA by
Holly Knightley

I freaking loved this Poe-ish Story
Edgar Allen Poe, Kenneth Dahl, 1826, sanity, Insanity, paranoia, supernatural, haunting, gripping, spooky, atmospheric gothic horror, mystery, suspense, well-written characters.
I could go on and on!!
Holly knocked it out of the park with this one!
Just when you think you know what's happening and you have it figured out... bam.... plot twist... you suddenly realize that you know nothing...
I'm pretty good at guessing what's coming but not here, Holly got me this time.
Full of trickery of the mind, or maybe just my mind. That's yet to be determined.
The plot twist even has plot twists!! Like what?!
My only critique, I wish it was longer...

Thank you Holly for another banger.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kellie Stephenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW!! I haven’t read something this twisty in ages! The whole time I was reading, I kept trying to figure out what was going on. There were some things that I THOUGHT I knew… but I truly didn’t see that coming 😱

[Ransom's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take about a plot twist! I had no idea when or how the twists were coming but when they did I was shocked! I very much enjoyed this read!

[Jeffrey S. Kuehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye of Athena by Holly Knightley
Received as an ARC
Kenneth Dahl returns from the asylum. He heard voices from within the family mansion. He’s reunited with his twin sister and a new servant girl Athena.
He returns the cellars and family vault gazing into an old mirror for answers. A unique version of the fall of the house of usher with a young Poe friend of Ken and sister Sissy.
Interweaving his time at the asylum to “learn” to suppress his feelings and voices.
His family ghosts or not trying to make Ken insane when others might just be.
A great tale of lies, greed, manipulation, and more.

[Lola Jansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!
After reading Riley house and the killing tree I just had to read more of hollys books! The cover of this one already really spoke to me and the blurb has me sold.
Really good read!! Unique, twisted,, haunting and with a writing style that feels like watching a movie. Speaking of movies this would make a wicked movie/series!
Can’t wait to read more of this author, definitely recommend!

[Lyndsey Gollogly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so so good and beautifully written. A very atmospheric story with some interesting characters, a very gothic horror story. Would highly recommend.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[AMBER CLARK]

An Edgar Allen Poe-esque Edgar Allen Poe. A tale of mystery and suspense. One in which you won't be able to guess the ending. I enjoy reading twisted tales and if you do too then this is the book for you.

[Brianna Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! I was on the edge of my seat the entire read. Pure perfection!

[Honey Dy · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝑻𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒆, 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒔- 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍.𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒅 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕...𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒅𝒐 𝑰 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎

I am totally OBSESSED with this story! It was so beautiful, so haunting, and just how a gothic horror novel should be, and Holly did such a great job.

For anyone that is familiar with Edgar Alan Poe's work either his short story or poetry, then you'll be familiar with his themes of death, regret, lost love as well as his most common one, plunging into insanity. This novel, inspired by works of edgar, is heavily based on these themes, and I couldn't get enough.

Holly's writing style is highly adaptable to any genre she chooses to write, and her writing style for Eye of Athena was just perfect. The premise was original, and I absolutely loved how the story was told from Kenneth's pov the entire time, making it more personable, almost like I was also experiencing this similar journey into madness.

Although It had a bit of a slow start, it didn't take long before it picked up the pace, and I definitely started to get what the hype was all about, and that TWIST...PHWOAR!!! WHO would have thought a mirror would be someone's connection between reality and insanity? That is absolutely insane!!!

The relationships Kenneth has with a young Eddy A Poe, his twin sister sissy, the new maid Athena, his dad, and his grandma added so much depth to the story, and I loved how mysterious all the characters in this book were.

This novel had such a classic gothic feel, with rich, descriptive writing that created a haunting atmosphere for me.

✨️✨️Ideal for: Gothic horror fans, readers who enjoy psychological suspense, and those who love Edgar Allan Poe-inspired stories

[Claressa Hallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

After spending the last several years at a psychiatric facility, Kenneth Doll is finally reunited with his twin sister at their home - Doll House.  Despite his desire to return to life as it was, Kenneth is still hearing the voice of the faceless woman.  Will Kenneth succumb to the insanity his father claims plagues him, or will he inherit his ancestral home and live the life he chooses?

I adored the setting of this novel - a gothic Victorian estate in the early 1800's with a haunted vibe.  The detail given about the home built a foreboding atmosphere which really drove home the horror of the story.  

I love Kenneth.  He is a tortured soul - wanting to be seen as beautiful and feminine like his sister but being pressured to be the "Doll man" his father expects.  His love for his sister is so evident and truly beautiful.  I loved the bond that was displayed between the siblings.

Athena was a wonderful character.  Trusting, caring, and compassionate - she saw Kenneth for who he was and had no expectations for him to be anyone but himself. 

I love Edgar Allen Poe, so the nod to him in this supernatural suspense thriller was perfection!  Holly's adoration of his works comes through clearly and I really enjoyed that he was a character in the book, not just inspiration for the story.

In true Holly fashion, there are twists, turns, and shocking revelations in store for the reader.  I highly recommend this full length novel in either physical or audiobook format!

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very atmospheric and reads just like something by Edgar Allan Poe!

There were just so many plot twists and so much symbolism in this story, it was outrageous! From Kenneth Dahl’s best friend, Edgar Allan Poe, to the ravens and the light blue eye and the sanitarium. I could see Edgar Allan Poe’s writing in each and every page of this story. I really did feel sorry for everything Kenneth went through in the sanitarium. Reading this was really creepy and something I have the feeling is not going away any time soon either, but will remain with me for a long, long time. I really just did not see that ending either! I still say Holly Knightley is the queen of horror. Long may you reign!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very atmospheric and reads just like something by Edgar Allan Poe!

There were just so many plot twists and so much symbolism in this story, it was outrageous! From Kenneth Dahl’s best friend, Edgar Allan Poe, to the ravens and the light blue eye and the sanitarium. I could see Edgar Allan Poe’s writing in each and every page of this story. I really did feel sorry for everything Kenneth went through in the sanitarium. Reading this was really creepy and something I have the feeling is not going away any time soon either, but will remain with me for a long, long time. I really just did not see that ending either! I still say Holly Knightley is the queen of horror. Long may you reign!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay....what did I just read and why do I feel like I need to check my mirrors now?!

This book is what happens when The Tell-Tale Heart and American Psycho share one very unstable brain cell. The year might be 1826, but the vibes? Utterly timeless madness.

Kenneth Dahl is basically the embodiment of “It’s fine, I’m fine, everything’s fine”....except the floorboards are whispering, the mirrors are plotting, and his sanity packed up and left three chapters ago. Every page had me gripping the book like it might start talking back.

The writing? Sharp as a scalpel. The atmosphere? Straight-jacket chic. And the descent into madness? Chef’s kiss—it’s like watching a car crash in a gothic candlelit room, and you can’t look away.

[KUSU · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the atmosphere in this book. It had me hooked, even if I wasn't sure what was going on the first few chapters. I feel like maybe some more time should've went into the setting. I enjoyed seeing the story through an untrustworthy narrator. You really have to pick on clues the whole book, but the ending was still not what I expected. I wish it was a bit longer, just to give more attention to the supporting cast. I also would've liked to see some part's of Kenneth's personality explored further.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Micki-D · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was a good little gothic tale with a hauntingly eerie storyline that held my interest the entire, it was twisty and you have to follow the trail of breadcrumbs as it goes to try and piece it together. The end twist yes 🙌

“The thorn is symbolic of sin and hardship. The rose is the living embodiment of pain and pleasure. What a pity a rosebush has more thorns than flowers.”

“I was never really insane except upon occasions when my heart was touched”

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my teacher friends knows the author. This is a solid 3.5 for me. It had a bit of a slow start, but I loved it once it picked up speed. It’s also missing a key to the Poe stories it references. Many young adults will miss the connections.

I loved Knightley’s writing style. It fit exactly with the time period. The ending was actually a little too fast. I wanted to relish the shock longer.

[Stephen Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted, cunning, eerie, and physiologically thrilling. This read is full of trickery, a complicated phycological plot for the thrill seeking reader. Like Poe, every detail had been gracefully contemplated leaving you perplexed. A good read, no pun intended.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this!. I've always been a huge fan of anything Poe related so this really interested me. It is worth the read! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Timothy Frandsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book! The story and writing kept me turning pages when I should have been doing something else.

The authors imagination is incredible.

I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an odd gothic story and I am still not sure what happened with the different characters and who was responsible. Probably not for me but glad I gave it a go.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up because I needed an E title for my read the alphabet challenge and it was fiiiine

[Becky Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author. It was fairly good, maybe a little simple in parts, but overall was enjoyable.

Im giving it a 4 star review.

Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good storyline. Good characters. Definitely a work of wonder. The ending is worth the read. There is a good amount of references to a great story in the story.

[Joan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story starts like a teen romance. The twists have twists within more twists. The beginning was fair. I really enjoyed how this book wrapped up.

[R. Jacob Honeybrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Read!

Holly Knightly delivers again in this psychological gothic tale that kept me guessing until the last page.
My dude, Eddie Po, even makes an appearance!

[EmilyK Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Thank you to the author and BookSirens for an advanced copy of this book. As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.**

A wonderfully eerie storyline that held my interest the entire time. The writing style fits the era and you get enough breadcrumbs to keep you reading. I wasn't particularly spooked while reading, but there is a nice twist at the end (though I still don't fully understand what happened - could be user error!).

This book did get me interested in Poe's poetry and I loved researching all the interconnecting relationships with characters mentioned. Truth can be scarier than fiction! A solid 3 stars and an enjoyable read.