Dove in an Iron Cauldron

by Hadas Knox

1850, Hudson, New York — As America teeters on the brink of civil war, the spiritualist movement casts an eerie spell over a divided nation.

Fleeing the Irish famine, May Connally seeks peace, but her husband’s betrayal forces her into Hudson’s shadowed corners. There, her gift for speaking with the dead becomes both a fragile salvation and a dangerous curse. Known as “the pretty little spiritualist,” May’s growing fame draws believers and skeptics alike—none more determined than Clement Stoker, a conductor on the Underground Railroad, bent on exposing her as a fraud.

When their worlds collide, May and Clement are pulled into a web of secrets, betrayal, and forbidden desire.

As May faces the threat of the asylum—and ghosts from the past—her gift may be the only way to save Clement’s life. But will it set her free, or bind her in darkness forever?

Dove in an Iron Cauldron is a sweeping historical romance where love, redemption, and the supernatural collide, confronting the repressed desires and identities that Victorian society sought to bury.

Paperback

First published March 31, 2025

Reviews

[Gretchen Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a remarkably self-assured debut novel that immediately immerses you in the world of the Hudson Valley in 1850. We see it first through the eyes of May, a young woman escaping the Irish Potato Famine with a husband who does not love her and a gift for communicating with the spirits of the dead, which may save or condemn her. Her point of view is woven in with other characters’, including a local prostitute with a passion for reading and an upstanding young Quaker with ties to the Underground Railroad. There is romance, lovely and tender and yearning, but also deeply compelling female friendships (something that, for whatever reason, few authors seem to get right), complex and evolving characters, and lots of inner strength. The world is vividly imagined, the setting in place and time in fascinating, and the writing is both clear and poetic. Highly recommend, for something not quite like anything you’ve ever read before!

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never write reviews for anything. I typically just use Goodreads to build my own TBR list, but I wanted to write a review to support the author Hadas Knox. I had been following her on Instagram for a while before she released her debut Dove in an Iron Cauldron. She is such a sweet human and deserves all the love and praise she is already getting.

I was excited for this book the moment she began talking about is release. I was anticipating a fall read with Victorian era ghosts, the grey frigid streets of 19th century New York, and the craze of the spiritualist movement. While I got all three of those things, what I wasn't expecting to receive was a story filled with characters whose stories touched on challenges I related so deeply with. May's search for belonging and definition of "home", Clement's struggle with his past clouding his judgements of the present and hope for his future, and Rudyard and Olivia's grappling with identity and self-expression.

Olivia in particular felt like a kindred soul. There was a quote from the book I wrote in my journal because I resonated so deeply with it as an artist and writer:

"She was a poet, not a storyteller. May could craft grand sweeping tales that had inspired Olivia to want to tell her own. But Olivias gift was different. She wasn't meant for arc's and endings. She thrived in fragments, in glimpses in images that flickered like candlelight - half formed but alive. Sometimes there are no heroes, no journeys, no transformations. Sometimes there is just a wild, cherry-red stirring that turns to black ink. A perfectly manicured hand reaching within, pawing at a secret world even if no one else will ever understand it".

It's been a long time since I found a book where I connected with the characters so deeply. I'm looking forward to reading more from Hada's in the near future!

[Kelly Lynn Gottfried · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like a candlelit chamber hidden deep within a stone castle gentle on the surface, yet forged in quiet suffering and resolve beneath. Dove in an Iron Cauldron tells a story of endurance rather than spectacle, of a woman shaped by pressure rather than hardened by cruelty.

Knox writes femininity with reverence. The heroine is not loud, not brash, not armored in bravado she is soft, watchful, and enduring, and that softness becomes her strength. There is something deeply historical in its spirit: a reminder that women have always survived not by becoming iron themselves, but by remaining dove like within iron worlds.

The prose is restrained and thoughtful, letting emotion simmer rather than shout. Themes of faith, captivity, obedience, and inner resistance are woven delicately, like embroidery done by lamplight subtle, purposeful, and devotional. This is not a romance of indulgence, but of discipline and quiet longing.

I especially loved how the story honors patience and moral strength in a time when heroines are often written to dominate rather than endure. This book understands that softness is not weakness it is refinement.

A solemn, feminine read for those who love historically inspired stories, spiritual depth, and heroines who survive without surrendering their womanhood. 5/5 ⭐️’s I REALLY hope to see more from @hadas.knox this was beautifully done.

[Wayne Bromiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading "Dove in an Iron Cauldron" by Hadas Knox. You could say that the book is a romantic story set in the late 1800's and follows the story of an Irish immigrant named May who just happens to have the gift of speaking with the spirits of those that have passed on. Possibly not one I would have picked up after reading the synopsis of the book but so very happy that I did. First of all,
the story of the characters immediately grabbed me and drew me in, not wanting to put the book down and wanting to know what happens next. Second, the author has written some incredibly beautiful prose that just touches your heart and strikes the chords of truth. Then, the story reminded me of life lessons that seem to be forgotten in these turbulent times. Things like acceptance, tolerance, understanding, compassion and kindness. Everyone has a history and back story and emotional scars that we may not know about. Maybe simple everyday kindness is something each one of us needs to practice. Yes, the book is a romance story, but it also has some great lessons from the heart and soul of the author that show through and are guaranteed to shine. Dove in an Iron Cauldron

[Roe Tell-Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one needs to be in the library of anyone who collects Catskills region folklore and fiction but it certainly is not a niche work, not in the slightest; rather, this is masterful example of what a novel can and should be. The town of Hudson, circa 1850, is itself a minor character in this novel, and a charming one (and if you know Hudson, it's a delight to immerse yourself in its younger self). But the novel as a whole is remarkably well crafted, with perfect pacing to keep a reader turning pages, characters you are definitely going to bond with, prose that is readable and poetic at once, and a solidly fascinating set of themes to dwell on. With characters moving in and out of emigration, famine, the Spiritualist movement, prostitution, slavery, love, and Quakerism, the reader feels their way through questions of cages and wings well summed up in the title, and yet, the vibe is romance with a twist of fantastic and supernatural. It's that rare balance of meaningful and fun, of well crafted and precisely placed, that makes this absolutely a delightful read for anyone and I think now top of my list for novels to gift to reader friends.

[Fawn Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging ensemble of complex characters tumultuously collide in 1850, Hudson, NY.

Enlightening to the history of this period, the characters deal with immigrant stigmas, the Spiritualist movement, sex work, slavery, Quakerism, women's autonomy, and coming out. The two main characters both deal with being on the fringe of society (one being from the Irish Traveler community and the other being mixed race). There is slow burn, forbidden romances and also wonderful friendships.

I might take off half a star for it being a bit long and overly introspective in some parts, but I enjoyed the interplay of characters and felt like it all paid off. The poetic title is indicative of the writing, which is often quite beautiful and nuanced.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the unique privilege of reading this book just before it was published, and I was absolutely transported by the story and prose. Hadas is so comfortable and in control of her storytelling, and while I’m personally not naturally drawn to historical romances, I’m obsessed with magical realism and love how she weaves her magic throughout the novel. I also know for a fact that her stories are extensively researched, so I suddenly found myself learning more than a few things about Irish and American history. I recommend this book wholeheartedly, and I hope Hadas continues to have success because I know she has a lot more to say and give.

[Giada Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of reading this beautiful book before it was published, and just cannot speak highly enough of Hadas Knox as a writer. Her prose can barely be contained within the container of "prose;" there is nothing prosaic at all about it. It's pure poetry—in-breath catching and out-breath releasing—dangling the reader over a precipice and then swiftly pulling them back to safety. Her ability to transport us to a magical version of this strange, dark yet exciting moment in American history and wind us through a beautiful, tragic and hopeful romance of equals-yet-opposites is exquisite, and makes this book a pleasure to read, through and through.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeously written debut novel!
I fell in love with the gritty victorian atmosphere, supernatural twists and the deeply human characters. Even though it is set long ago, the author tackles the social injustices of the time with such profound wisdom, wit and love, proving kindness and acceptance goes alot further than we think and surpasses time and conditions. Reading this not only gave that cozy transport a good historical novel does, but also made me feel right here in this time too, inspired and connected.
I look forward to what the author creates next!

[Taylor]

I don't read very much historical fiction, as fantasy is more of my go-to genre, but this was a lovely read, and lovingly written. I look forward to seeing what else Hadas puts out into the world for us to read.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the joy of seeing this story develop, and what captured my interest instantly was the prose - flowing with vivid imagery, and penned with a light touch. I connected with May as a protagonist, and the other main characters feel just as real. We are taken through the Hudson Valley, from a farmhouse where family is found in kinship and kindness instead of blood, to a brothel where sisterhood is found in a group of lovable female characters. This debut is from the heart, and I cannot wait to hold the physical book and keep it on my shelf as a treasured favourite.