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The Fourth Wife
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas meets “Sister Wives” in a deliciously chilling, darkly romantic, historical gothic horror with a feminist slant, as a young Mormon woman is haunted by a malevolent presence in the decrepit Salt Lake City mansion she shares with her new husband and his other wives…
Hazel Russon’s life in 1882 Utah territory is defined by three things: the Mormon church, polygamy, and the men who control both. She knows she’s supposed to suppress her sinful dreams of a monogamous life with her sweetheart, and her desire for the freedom to play her beloved piano. Every Mormon woman’s duty is to live obediently and meekly, devoted to her husband and her calling as a sister wife. Her eternal salvation depends upon it.
Commanded to become the fourth wife of a man she’s never met, Hazel is relieved that Jacob Manwaring is attentive and handsome. However, she is shocked to discover that instead of living separately as is custom, all of Jacob’s wives and children live in the same house—a large, dilapidated manor that inexplicably fills Hazel with dread.
Despite Jacob’s tenderness, Hazel senses dark secrets and resentments among her sister wives. She hears strange music, sees blood oozing from the very walls, and glimpses apparitions that grow more terrifying every day. And as her nightmares worsen, Hazel can’t be sure if she has more to fear from the living—including her mysterious husband—or from a sinister presence that seems to animate the house itself . . .
Drawing on little-known Mormon folklore and the author’s own polygamous ancestors, this fascinating, suspense-filled historical novel debut is by turns darkly romantic, spine-tingling, and wholly unforgettable.
Hazel Russon’s life in 1882 Utah territory is defined by three things: the Mormon church, polygamy, and the men who control both. She knows she’s supposed to suppress her sinful dreams of a monogamous life with her sweetheart, and her desire for the freedom to play her beloved piano. Every Mormon woman’s duty is to live obediently and meekly, devoted to her husband and her calling as a sister wife. Her eternal salvation depends upon it.
Commanded to become the fourth wife of a man she’s never met, Hazel is relieved that Jacob Manwaring is attentive and handsome. However, she is shocked to discover that instead of living separately as is custom, all of Jacob’s wives and children live in the same house—a large, dilapidated manor that inexplicably fills Hazel with dread.
Despite Jacob’s tenderness, Hazel senses dark secrets and resentments among her sister wives. She hears strange music, sees blood oozing from the very walls, and glimpses apparitions that grow more terrifying every day. And as her nightmares worsen, Hazel can’t be sure if she has more to fear from the living—including her mysterious husband—or from a sinister presence that seems to animate the house itself . . .
Drawing on little-known Mormon folklore and the author’s own polygamous ancestors, this fascinating, suspense-filled historical novel debut is by turns darkly romantic, spine-tingling, and wholly unforgettable.
305 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 814 reviews
July 29, 2026
A domestic thriller set in 1880s Utah, centered around a polygamous Mormon family. Sister Hazel is devoutly religious. She has dedicated her life to obedience and hard work, without having much opportunity to be herself and do things she loves like play piano. She is in love with Elijah but is forced into a polygamous marriage with Jacob to fulfill her duty as a Mormon wife.
Hazel's new husband Jacob brings her to his home where his other three wives also live. It is traditional for wives to live separately so this immediately adds to the unsettling atmosphere. If Jacob isn't creepy enough, his home is. It feels dusty, creaky, and trying to send a message. There is a spooky piano in the attic, no one knows how it got there. The tension among the sister wives was great and one of my favorite parts of the book.
It becomes evident that the house has a dark history. The reveals come very slowly. There are new anti-polygamy laws that Jacob is trying to avoid. In spite of the community being openly against polygamy, Jacob and his wives including Hazel still see it as their duty to fulfill their God's commands. Jacob leaves for a while to avoid questioning. This removed one of the greatest sources of tension from the story. I really wanted more religious questioning, and to be shown the gradual process of losing one's faith. The patriarchal oppression is so suffocating, yet the sister wives remain devout in their beliefs. When Hazel finally determines it is time to renounce Mormonism, the revelation comes very suddenly. I did not get a sense of Sister Hazel's inner struggle with her faith because she was so stuck on being devout until suddenly she wasn't. I would have loved to see this process explored more intimately.
Elijah re-enters the scene which was another favorite part of the book for me. Both think they were betrayed by the other but still have feelings. Jacob was hiding Elijah's letters to Hazel. Unfortunately Gothic husband Jacob re-enters the scene. No one wanted him back, but he is back with even more predatory instincts.
Some of the visual moments of gothic tension were my favorite parts of this story. Overall the pace was so slow, with the reveals coming too late or just not enough. With some stronger characterizations, this may have been okay, but Hazel and Jacob's characters were not explored deeply enough besides their faith. More characterization could have increased the tension for some of haunted scenes, and provided more motivation for Hazel's choices.
This is a domestic thriller with an interesting historical backdrop. I can't say I've read many books with Mormon characters. I was very drawn to this premise. Unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to take a break from domestic thrillers in general. The few I've read recently have not been the most exciting in spite of the interesting premises that keep pulling me in. There were some great gothic moments but overall was lacking in connective tension.
Hazel's new husband Jacob brings her to his home where his other three wives also live. It is traditional for wives to live separately so this immediately adds to the unsettling atmosphere. If Jacob isn't creepy enough, his home is. It feels dusty, creaky, and trying to send a message. There is a spooky piano in the attic, no one knows how it got there. The tension among the sister wives was great and one of my favorite parts of the book.
It becomes evident that the house has a dark history. The reveals come very slowly. There are new anti-polygamy laws that Jacob is trying to avoid. In spite of the community being openly against polygamy, Jacob and his wives including Hazel still see it as their duty to fulfill their God's commands. Jacob leaves for a while to avoid questioning. This removed one of the greatest sources of tension from the story. I really wanted more religious questioning, and to be shown the gradual process of losing one's faith. The patriarchal oppression is so suffocating, yet the sister wives remain devout in their beliefs. When Hazel finally determines it is time to renounce Mormonism, the revelation comes very suddenly. I did not get a sense of Sister Hazel's inner struggle with her faith because she was so stuck on being devout until suddenly she wasn't. I would have loved to see this process explored more intimately.
Elijah re-enters the scene which was another favorite part of the book for me. Both think they were betrayed by the other but still have feelings. Jacob was hiding Elijah's letters to Hazel. Unfortunately Gothic husband Jacob re-enters the scene. No one wanted him back, but he is back with even more predatory instincts.
Some of the visual moments of gothic tension were my favorite parts of this story. Overall the pace was so slow, with the reveals coming too late or just not enough. With some stronger characterizations, this may have been okay, but Hazel and Jacob's characters were not explored deeply enough besides their faith. More characterization could have increased the tension for some of haunted scenes, and provided more motivation for Hazel's choices.
This is a domestic thriller with an interesting historical backdrop. I can't say I've read many books with Mormon characters. I was very drawn to this premise. Unfortunately, I think I'm going to have to take a break from domestic thrillers in general. The few I've read recently have not been the most exciting in spite of the interesting premises that keep pulling me in. There were some great gothic moments but overall was lacking in connective tension.
August 6, 2026
Welcome to the sprawling grounds of Manwaring Manor, where Linda Hamilton hosts a haunted house of horrors filled with an amalgamation of religious trauma, paranormal phenomena, and sacrilegious self-awakening in her debut gothic horror novel, The Fourth Wife.
Hazel arrives at Manwaring Manor shrouded in shame and heartbreak. It’s 1879 in an isolated Utah territory. Hazel’s fate has always been predetermined by the Morman Church, and she has been programmed to be sweet, meek, and silent—the definition of a good Mormon woman and wife. But Hazel has her own sinful desires of pursuing love and pouring herself into her music, but those coveted freedoms were never meant to be. Hazel is married off to an enigmatic, handsome stranger she’s never met and as the fourth wife of Mr. Jacob Manwaring, she is understandingly apprehensive about meeting her new sister wives. Her welcome to the household is anything but comforting or expected, but her new husband is loving and endearing and affectionate, at complete odds with her strange interactions with the other wives. She grapples with a growing sense of dread that something isn’t quite right within the new confines of her pleural marriage. Darkening Hazel’s prospects even further, the house seems almost…alive. As disturbing incidents around the house increase, reality will begin to degrade and Hazel cant be sure of who—or what--- to believe in anymore. The manor house certainly has its own haunting history to tell and Hazel must find the clues she needs to expose the horrific secrets buried deep within the sacred bindings of marriage before its too late. The fear of eternal damnation might be feeding blind faith and obsequious submission but Hazel will quickly grasp that she’s already living out her own hellish existence and salvation lies only within.
This eerie tale has obviously been summoned from the pages of Rebecca, one of my very favorite gothic classics!!! I LOVED this book, and I devoured it in a single afternoon! It checks all the boxes—a sentient house, suffocating dread, an abominable villain (Jacob gives me the absolute ICK!), crippling isolation, and vengeful spirits. I really loved Hazel’s multifaceted character transformation: her initial silent questioning slowly burned into simmering outrage, then eventually roared into outright defiance. Love to see it. I think it is so meaningful that the author pulls from her own family history with polygamy, shedding light on the real-life horrors that plague this way of life far too often. I would say I had a basic understanding of Mormonism, but I learned a good bit on the origins of the Mormon faith just by reading this book, which I found incredibly interesting and very satisfying for my own morbid curiosity. This is an automatic book rec for fans of immersive gothic horror such as Mexican Gothic or The Hacienda.
Hazel arrives at Manwaring Manor shrouded in shame and heartbreak. It’s 1879 in an isolated Utah territory. Hazel’s fate has always been predetermined by the Morman Church, and she has been programmed to be sweet, meek, and silent—the definition of a good Mormon woman and wife. But Hazel has her own sinful desires of pursuing love and pouring herself into her music, but those coveted freedoms were never meant to be. Hazel is married off to an enigmatic, handsome stranger she’s never met and as the fourth wife of Mr. Jacob Manwaring, she is understandingly apprehensive about meeting her new sister wives. Her welcome to the household is anything but comforting or expected, but her new husband is loving and endearing and affectionate, at complete odds with her strange interactions with the other wives. She grapples with a growing sense of dread that something isn’t quite right within the new confines of her pleural marriage. Darkening Hazel’s prospects even further, the house seems almost…alive. As disturbing incidents around the house increase, reality will begin to degrade and Hazel cant be sure of who—or what--- to believe in anymore. The manor house certainly has its own haunting history to tell and Hazel must find the clues she needs to expose the horrific secrets buried deep within the sacred bindings of marriage before its too late. The fear of eternal damnation might be feeding blind faith and obsequious submission but Hazel will quickly grasp that she’s already living out her own hellish existence and salvation lies only within.
This eerie tale has obviously been summoned from the pages of Rebecca, one of my very favorite gothic classics!!! I LOVED this book, and I devoured it in a single afternoon! It checks all the boxes—a sentient house, suffocating dread, an abominable villain (Jacob gives me the absolute ICK!), crippling isolation, and vengeful spirits. I really loved Hazel’s multifaceted character transformation: her initial silent questioning slowly burned into simmering outrage, then eventually roared into outright defiance. Love to see it. I think it is so meaningful that the author pulls from her own family history with polygamy, shedding light on the real-life horrors that plague this way of life far too often. I would say I had a basic understanding of Mormonism, but I learned a good bit on the origins of the Mormon faith just by reading this book, which I found incredibly interesting and very satisfying for my own morbid curiosity. This is an automatic book rec for fans of immersive gothic horror such as Mexican Gothic or The Hacienda.
October 13, 2025
If Sister Wives had a mid-life crisis and decided to move into the Murder House from American Horror Story, this would be the result. And honestly, I’m not entirely mad about it.
Linda Hamilton serves up a gothic horror set in 1882 Utah, and the true horror isn't the ghost, it's Jacob Manwaring, the husband. Our main gal, Hazel Russon, is wife number four, which is already a nightmare scenario before she even steps inside the dilapidated mansion where she has to live with three other women and a man who thinks having four wives is a personality trait. Hazel’s dreams of playing the piano are considered sinful and her new home? It's basically a monument to patriarchal repression, and it's understandably ticked off.
The vibe here is fantastic. The historical context of polygamy provides a genuinely unsettling backdrop, and the atmosphere of the crumbling manor is oppressive. You can practically smell the dust, the resentment, and the spiritual dread coming off the pages. The sister wives themselves were my favorite element, all side-eye and simmering resentment, making me wish the ghost would just skip the theatrics and start hosting mandatory, brutally honest group therapy sessions.
However the book struggles a bit to balance the jump-scare-worthy paranormal activity with the dense exploration of 19th-century religious trauma and sometimes the pacing drags like a tired funeral procession, which is the main reason I docked it some. When the house is being actively malicious, it's brilliant, but sometimes the plot pauses for a very long lecture on duty, and I found myself wishing Jacob would accidentally trip down the massive, spooky staircase just to move things along.
Overall it’s a decent concept, wonderfully creepy atmosphere, but the horror and the historical fiction felt like they were arguing over who got the biggest slice of the plot pie. Recommended if you like your period dramas with a side of "maybe this mansion needs an exorcist, or maybe just a competent marriage counselor."
Linda Hamilton serves up a gothic horror set in 1882 Utah, and the true horror isn't the ghost, it's Jacob Manwaring, the husband. Our main gal, Hazel Russon, is wife number four, which is already a nightmare scenario before she even steps inside the dilapidated mansion where she has to live with three other women and a man who thinks having four wives is a personality trait. Hazel’s dreams of playing the piano are considered sinful and her new home? It's basically a monument to patriarchal repression, and it's understandably ticked off.
The vibe here is fantastic. The historical context of polygamy provides a genuinely unsettling backdrop, and the atmosphere of the crumbling manor is oppressive. You can practically smell the dust, the resentment, and the spiritual dread coming off the pages. The sister wives themselves were my favorite element, all side-eye and simmering resentment, making me wish the ghost would just skip the theatrics and start hosting mandatory, brutally honest group therapy sessions.
However the book struggles a bit to balance the jump-scare-worthy paranormal activity with the dense exploration of 19th-century religious trauma and sometimes the pacing drags like a tired funeral procession, which is the main reason I docked it some. When the house is being actively malicious, it's brilliant, but sometimes the plot pauses for a very long lecture on duty, and I found myself wishing Jacob would accidentally trip down the massive, spooky staircase just to move things along.
Overall it’s a decent concept, wonderfully creepy atmosphere, but the horror and the historical fiction felt like they were arguing over who got the biggest slice of the plot pie. Recommended if you like your period dramas with a side of "maybe this mansion needs an exorcist, or maybe just a competent marriage counselor."
August 11, 2026
4☆
Yes, this tale has a ghost. Yes, the house is haunted. In fact, the house is it's own very scary character. And finally, there is an unreliable female lead. However....
The real horror of this novel is the treatment of women within the misogynistic, bigamist Mormon cult of the late 19th century. To know that this type of treatment and teaching continues today within the FLDS cult is stomach turning. In the epilog Hamilton states, "Women were frequently traded, gifted, coerced, or manipulated into plural marriages."
Hamilton wrote a Mormon Gothic, her words, not mine. This story does have some chilling, scary moments. It is filled with unlikable characters and broken women. It is also full of feminine rage. It is a story that will remain with me.
Favorite Words:
"Although this story is Mormon, at its heart it's a feminist manifesto for all women who've ever been in an abusive relationship, who've struggled with a religious doctrine that harmed them, or who've felt that they had to be someone they weren't in order to be safe in a patriarchy."
Yes, this tale has a ghost. Yes, the house is haunted. In fact, the house is it's own very scary character. And finally, there is an unreliable female lead. However....
The real horror of this novel is the treatment of women within the misogynistic, bigamist Mormon cult of the late 19th century. To know that this type of treatment and teaching continues today within the FLDS cult is stomach turning. In the epilog Hamilton states, "Women were frequently traded, gifted, coerced, or manipulated into plural marriages."
Hamilton wrote a Mormon Gothic, her words, not mine. This story does have some chilling, scary moments. It is filled with unlikable characters and broken women. It is also full of feminine rage. It is a story that will remain with me.
Favorite Words:
"Although this story is Mormon, at its heart it's a feminist manifesto for all women who've ever been in an abusive relationship, who've struggled with a religious doctrine that harmed them, or who've felt that they had to be someone they weren't in order to be safe in a patriarchy."
April 17, 2026
The Fourth Wife is a haunting historical story set in 1882 about a heartbroken young woman who marries a man who gave me some serious Bluebeard vibes early on.
But a man killing wives and accumulating new ones isn’t the focus of this book. Though this man does accumulate wives, it’s because he’s allowed to do it by his religion even if it’s illegal. Hazel is a young woman with impossible dreams of marrying her love and playing her piano but instead she’s forced into a plural marriage with three other sister-wives and their offspring because men rule over all positions of authority and she’s been born into this hell. The Fourth Wife explores her life with these women in his creepy moldering manor as he dips in and out doing whatever the eff he wants to do.
Toss in some terrible nightmares/visions, some secrets (yes! my favorite), and possibly a ghostly presence because things always need to get worse. I listened to this book as an audio ARC (thanks author, publisher & Netgalley) and can’t share some of the quotes about these Mormon “rules” for womenfolk that pissed me off but know that they include making yourself sweet and amenable and small while the men just do whatever. Repulsive.
But a woman can only take so much . . .
This book took a very long time to get to where it eventually got. The middle is filled with slightly eerie events as the wives maneuver around each other going about their chores and trying to survive. Some of the wives are friendlier than others but I didn’t find any of them off-putting or hateful. If you have patience you’ll be rewarded with the secrets and the rage that boileth over. I enjoyed it all very much even when it was making me crazy mad.
The narrator does a great job with all of the characters and never threw me out of the story. I’m thankful there were only four wives because my brain would’ve been hurting. Four was a good number for the book but not for reality. Who do these men think they are, ffs? Ugh. Anyhow, I recommend both the story and the audio version.
But a man killing wives and accumulating new ones isn’t the focus of this book. Though this man does accumulate wives, it’s because he’s allowed to do it by his religion even if it’s illegal. Hazel is a young woman with impossible dreams of marrying her love and playing her piano but instead she’s forced into a plural marriage with three other sister-wives and their offspring because men rule over all positions of authority and she’s been born into this hell. The Fourth Wife explores her life with these women in his creepy moldering manor as he dips in and out doing whatever the eff he wants to do.
Toss in some terrible nightmares/visions, some secrets (yes! my favorite), and possibly a ghostly presence because things always need to get worse. I listened to this book as an audio ARC (thanks author, publisher & Netgalley) and can’t share some of the quotes about these Mormon “rules” for womenfolk that pissed me off but know that they include making yourself sweet and amenable and small while the men just do whatever. Repulsive.
But a woman can only take so much . . .
This book took a very long time to get to where it eventually got. The middle is filled with slightly eerie events as the wives maneuver around each other going about their chores and trying to survive. Some of the wives are friendlier than others but I didn’t find any of them off-putting or hateful. If you have patience you’ll be rewarded with the secrets and the rage that boileth over. I enjoyed it all very much even when it was making me crazy mad.
The narrator does a great job with all of the characters and never threw me out of the story. I’m thankful there were only four wives because my brain would’ve been hurting. Four was a good number for the book but not for reality. Who do these men think they are, ffs? Ugh. Anyhow, I recommend both the story and the audio version.
October 30, 2025
3.25 🌟
Thank you, Netgalley and Kensington Publishing, for the ARC of The Fourth Wife!
When I read the summary, I was immediately sold! (Little fact about me, I'm very intrigued about everything Mormon/LDS). So when I read that this was a little horror book with polygamy at the forefront, I was instantly down. I let out a little yelp when I received the approving email from Netgalley 😅
So yeah, as you can see by my rating, I was a little bit disappointed. The story wasn't bad at all! Don't get me wrong. I just think that I understood a lot about the reference because of all the documentaries I have seen about LDS. I felt like the descriptions about the faith were lacking, and there could be a little more information about the faith in that time period. There is one scene where they touch the subjects about the sacred garments, but just by name. There's no discrip, no back story, and no information.
I felt like there could be a lot more depth to it.
The horror elements were so fun! I'm very glad I read this story during the Halloween season 🖤
The plot was okay. After a few chapters, I guessed the ending at about 95% accuracy.
The writing is very easy to follow! The suspense was just right!
So, overall, it was a fun story, but I also felt a little letdown.
Thank you, Netgalley and Kensington Publishing, for the ARC of The Fourth Wife!
When I read the summary, I was immediately sold! (Little fact about me, I'm very intrigued about everything Mormon/LDS). So when I read that this was a little horror book with polygamy at the forefront, I was instantly down. I let out a little yelp when I received the approving email from Netgalley 😅
So yeah, as you can see by my rating, I was a little bit disappointed. The story wasn't bad at all! Don't get me wrong. I just think that I understood a lot about the reference because of all the documentaries I have seen about LDS. I felt like the descriptions about the faith were lacking, and there could be a little more information about the faith in that time period. There is one scene where they touch the subjects about the sacred garments, but just by name. There's no discrip, no back story, and no information.
I felt like there could be a lot more depth to it.
The horror elements were so fun! I'm very glad I read this story during the Halloween season 🖤
The plot was okay. After a few chapters, I guessed the ending at about 95% accuracy.
The writing is very easy to follow! The suspense was just right!
So, overall, it was a fun story, but I also felt a little letdown.
October 1, 2025
Set in Utah in the 1870's, we meet Hazel. Newly married to Jacob in the Morman faith, she comes to a new home as the Fourth Wife. A house that likes silence and calm, even moods. A house with ghosts and an oppressive mood.
Firstly, the 'gothic' tension in this house is perfect. Not really terrifying, more subtle than that? This house feels heavy and unsatisfied in its nature.
As the tale unfolds, we learn why the house has its unsettling feel.
Add onto that the tension within the house placed upon it by the four wives, who all have their own problems with their faith in the Mormon church.
Based upon quasi facts concerning polygamy, this author weaves a tale that feels like it portrays the reality of poly marriage along side the ficticious thoughts of the women involved. This was a really interesting read.
Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this.
Firstly, the 'gothic' tension in this house is perfect. Not really terrifying, more subtle than that? This house feels heavy and unsatisfied in its nature.
As the tale unfolds, we learn why the house has its unsettling feel.
Add onto that the tension within the house placed upon it by the four wives, who all have their own problems with their faith in the Mormon church.
Based upon quasi facts concerning polygamy, this author weaves a tale that feels like it portrays the reality of poly marriage along side the ficticious thoughts of the women involved. This was a really interesting read.
Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this.
April 6, 2026
2.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in return for a voluntary and honest review.
I honestly was expecting a lot more horror aspects and female rage from this book but we didn't really get much until the last 20% of the book. At first I was really anticipating it being a sentient haunted house but as you read on you find there's a lot more at play - it definitely gave motivation to read on!
I really enjoyed the narration - at the start of the book you can really hear Hazel's naivety and you can kind of hear as she hardens after being enlighted by some of the information she finds throughout the plot.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in return for a voluntary and honest review.
I honestly was expecting a lot more horror aspects and female rage from this book but we didn't really get much until the last 20% of the book. At first I was really anticipating it being a sentient haunted house but as you read on you find there's a lot more at play - it definitely gave motivation to read on!
I really enjoyed the narration - at the start of the book you can really hear Hazel's naivety and you can kind of hear as she hardens after being enlighted by some of the information she finds throughout the plot.
August 3, 2026
「 my thoughts 」
4⭐️ holy schmoly i was not expecting to love this. the story was so intense and interesting, and it had so many different genres all in one even though i had originally thought it was only a horror book. the action and ROMANCE was amazinggg i’m so happy!! the ending was perfect i literally don’t think anything should’ve been changed or could’ve gone better. it was such a powerful story about breaking free💗
4⭐️ holy schmoly i was not expecting to love this. the story was so intense and interesting, and it had so many different genres all in one even though i had originally thought it was only a horror book. the action and ROMANCE was amazinggg i’m so happy!! the ending was perfect i literally don’t think anything should’ve been changed or could’ve gone better. it was such a powerful story about breaking free💗
March 23, 2026
Huge thank you to NetGalley for the advanced recording of this book!
Let me start by saying that if I hadn’t been given this as an ARC, it would have been a DNF at 30%.
So many things about this book didn’t work at all. It was compared to The Hacienda (which I LOVED!) categorized as horror (which it 100% was not), and described as “gothic horror” which it also was not.
Let me start by saying horror, particularly gothic horror, is my favorite genre, and I read a great deal of it. This book had a weak plot to be generous. It slogged on going nowhere with nothing remotely horror, gothic (just because a book has a ghostly spectre doesn’t make it gothic!), or suspenseful and intriguing about it. Not a single character was likeable. Nothing was done to endear you to any single character which is super problematic to me. When I, as the reader, figure out every single “twist” and I use that word quite generously, ages before the main character, there is a huge problem. And this only caused me to dislike the weak main character even further.
I feel like the author was going for the whole “burn the patriarchy” idea, which I’m here for!! The problem was it was so poorly executed, that all it did was focus on the oppressor, with very little liberation, even at the conclusion of this novel. I also should have counted how many times the phrases “my dear” and “darling” were used because it was so annoying and redundant.
The cover is stunning. The concept was great. Unfortunately for a reader quite acquainted with gothic horror, this didn’t tick a single box for me.
Let me start by saying that if I hadn’t been given this as an ARC, it would have been a DNF at 30%.
So many things about this book didn’t work at all. It was compared to The Hacienda (which I LOVED!) categorized as horror (which it 100% was not), and described as “gothic horror” which it also was not.
Let me start by saying horror, particularly gothic horror, is my favorite genre, and I read a great deal of it. This book had a weak plot to be generous. It slogged on going nowhere with nothing remotely horror, gothic (just because a book has a ghostly spectre doesn’t make it gothic!), or suspenseful and intriguing about it. Not a single character was likeable. Nothing was done to endear you to any single character which is super problematic to me. When I, as the reader, figure out every single “twist” and I use that word quite generously, ages before the main character, there is a huge problem. And this only caused me to dislike the weak main character even further.
I feel like the author was going for the whole “burn the patriarchy” idea, which I’m here for!! The problem was it was so poorly executed, that all it did was focus on the oppressor, with very little liberation, even at the conclusion of this novel. I also should have counted how many times the phrases “my dear” and “darling” were used because it was so annoying and redundant.
The cover is stunning. The concept was great. Unfortunately for a reader quite acquainted with gothic horror, this didn’t tick a single box for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley.
I didn't know anything about the Mormon faith so this was really new for me.
The house itself felt like another character in this story and I really liked that. The atmosphere was creepy I got scared a few times.
I knew Elder was lying about his son not wanting to be with her anymore! I felt so bad for Elijah when he showed up to talk with her!
Her husband is a psychopath. I really felt bad for the wives and how he treated them !! And when he went into hiding he manipulated Hazel to control her movements. Jacob and Elder are the worst !!
I knew he wouldn't give her family her letters so he could isolate and control her! Also I was so scared when he showed up again.
I loved the plot with sister Abigail !!! I was shocked I didn't expect that at all !!
Honestly Flora was so annoying like just stop talking for a minute. And I was so mad with Prudence when she brought Jacob backkk but at the same time I feel bad for her cause she lost her baby.
I liked the ending with Abigail and her sister. And I almost cried when she was gonna stay in the house with her while it burned down.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
I didn't know anything about the Mormon faith so this was really new for me.
The house itself felt like another character in this story and I really liked that. The atmosphere was creepy I got scared a few times.
I knew Elder was lying about his son not wanting to be with her anymore! I felt so bad for Elijah when he showed up to talk with her!
Her husband is a psychopath. I really felt bad for the wives and how he treated them !! And when he went into hiding he manipulated Hazel to control her movements. Jacob and Elder are the worst !!
I knew he wouldn't give her family her letters so he could isolate and control her! Also I was so scared when he showed up again.
I loved the plot with sister Abigail !!! I was shocked I didn't expect that at all !!
Honestly Flora was so annoying like just stop talking for a minute. And I was so mad with Prudence when she brought Jacob backkk but at the same time I feel bad for her cause she lost her baby.
I liked the ending with Abigail and her sister. And I almost cried when she was gonna stay in the house with her while it burned down.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2026
In late 19th-century Utah, Hazel is young and in love. Her beloved is overseas on a Mormon mission, but she trusts he will return and marry her. That’s until an elder in her church gives her bad news. She will be married, but not to the man she loves. She is to become the wife of an older man—joining his three others.
At first, marriage isn’t so bad. Though much older, her new husband is handsome and kind, and his rural home has more than enough space for the growing family. But Hazel soon realizes something is supernaturally wrong with the home…and her husband isn’t so kind after all.
I really enjoyed this book. I like that the author drew from her own Mormon heritage to create a very unique work of horror. The way the story was told did feel a bit YA, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. This wasn’t a favourite but it was a fun, breezy read. This would be a good one to read in one sitting on a rainy day!
Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to an eARC of this book!
At first, marriage isn’t so bad. Though much older, her new husband is handsome and kind, and his rural home has more than enough space for the growing family. But Hazel soon realizes something is supernaturally wrong with the home…and her husband isn’t so kind after all.
I really enjoyed this book. I like that the author drew from her own Mormon heritage to create a very unique work of horror. The way the story was told did feel a bit YA, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. This wasn’t a favourite but it was a fun, breezy read. This would be a good one to read in one sitting on a rainy day!
Thank you to the publisher for giving me access to an eARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Growing up in Utah (though not Mormon myself) means learning about the Mormon pioneers/settlers during Utah history lessons. Having Mormon friends and neighbors also means that I know more than most will going into this book. But don't despair! There is plenty of detail to teach you what you don't know. The author draws from her own family history and experience with Mormonism (and the author's notes are fabulous). I think she does a good job illustrating just how hypocritical and emotionally abusive living as an 1800's Mormon woman could be.
I liked Hazel's character a lot. She genuinely tries to get along with her sister wives while being the chaste and pure woman she was taught to be. Living all together in one house escalates tensions, and it seems no matter what Hazel does there is at least one wife who disapproves. Being the newest wife is hard enough on its own without Hazel's two other problems: panic attacks and spiritual hauntings. She desperately tries to hide from the ghost who is haunting her and negatively affecting her already poor mental health, lest she be labeled as under the devil's influence. The author did a good job at writing a character who is suffering and lonely.
This book, in my opinion, should be treated as historical fictional with some elements of horror and the supernatural. I think some readers could be disappointed if they're expecting more from the horror. That's not to say that it's without violence and gore. The gothic house vibes were done very well. If you don't like horror at all I do recommend some caution. Pacing wise, the middle felt slower to me that the first and last chapters were, but I didn't mind too much. The ending was quite enjoyable!
I'm grateful to NetGalley for a chance to read this advanced copy. Thank you!
I liked Hazel's character a lot. She genuinely tries to get along with her sister wives while being the chaste and pure woman she was taught to be. Living all together in one house escalates tensions, and it seems no matter what Hazel does there is at least one wife who disapproves. Being the newest wife is hard enough on its own without Hazel's two other problems: panic attacks and spiritual hauntings. She desperately tries to hide from the ghost who is haunting her and negatively affecting her already poor mental health, lest she be labeled as under the devil's influence. The author did a good job at writing a character who is suffering and lonely.
This book, in my opinion, should be treated as historical fictional with some elements of horror and the supernatural. I think some readers could be disappointed if they're expecting more from the horror. That's not to say that it's without violence and gore. The gothic house vibes were done very well. If you don't like horror at all I do recommend some caution. Pacing wise, the middle felt slower to me that the first and last chapters were, but I didn't mind too much. The ending was quite enjoyable!
I'm grateful to NetGalley for a chance to read this advanced copy. Thank you!
2026
January 6, 2026Halloween TBR
📖 Thank you to Goodreads and Kensington
📖 Thank you to Goodreads and Kensington
March 25, 2026
*Listened to through NetGalley*
I had an okay time with this one,the pacing felt a little slow for me. I also think if you’re not super familiar with Mormonism, especially the stricter side of it, not Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, you might miss some of the references. Joseph Smith gets mentioned a lot, and if you didn’t already know he was a prophet and THE GUY in Mormonism, you’d probably just assume he was some other important church figure. Things like special garments are only briefly brought up too. I kind of wish the book had gone a bit deeper into that world so it didn’t feel like some readers were being left out.
The horror elements were fun, and I always love a haunted house moment, but parts of it felt a little predictable. Hazel also got on my nerves a bit. I wouldn’t call her dumb, but she definitely missed things that felt really obvious. Maybe that was meant to show how trusting she is with her husband, but it was still kind of frustrating to read.
That said, I still enjoyed it! The narrator did a great job giving each of the wives their own voice, which really added to the atmosphere and made everything feel more immersive.
I had an okay time with this one,the pacing felt a little slow for me. I also think if you’re not super familiar with Mormonism, especially the stricter side of it, not Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, you might miss some of the references. Joseph Smith gets mentioned a lot, and if you didn’t already know he was a prophet and THE GUY in Mormonism, you’d probably just assume he was some other important church figure. Things like special garments are only briefly brought up too. I kind of wish the book had gone a bit deeper into that world so it didn’t feel like some readers were being left out.
The horror elements were fun, and I always love a haunted house moment, but parts of it felt a little predictable. Hazel also got on my nerves a bit. I wouldn’t call her dumb, but she definitely missed things that felt really obvious. Maybe that was meant to show how trusting she is with her husband, but it was still kind of frustrating to read.
That said, I still enjoyed it! The narrator did a great job giving each of the wives their own voice, which really added to the atmosphere and made everything feel more immersive.
April 30, 2026
Ok, I thought this book would be a lot scarier than it turned out to be based on the synopsis . However, it did deliver on the eeriness, discomfort, and psychological dread.
Really interesting to have a historical Mormon narrative/perspective, and I loved how the author developed and related to the tale. I wish we would’ve gotten more of the other wives’ history and POVs.
A totally unique historical book- can we call it gothic LDS fiction?
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, the narrator, and RB Media for a copy!
Really interesting to have a historical Mormon narrative/perspective, and I loved how the author developed and related to the tale. I wish we would’ve gotten more of the other wives’ history and POVs.
A totally unique historical book- can we call it gothic LDS fiction?
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, the narrator, and RB Media for a copy!
August 16, 2025
This novel which is set to release next year is truly an interesting work of art. Not only does it explore the topics of polygamy and the mormon faith but it also deals with some supernatural elements as well. I will admit I wasn't sure what I was going to expect when going into this novel but I really enjoyed how it turned. The plot and the characters were truly on point.
In the nineteenth century we are introduced to Hazel who has grown up in the Mormon faith so she knows what is expected of her. However she is in love with Elijah who is also of the same faith but they believe that marriage should be between just the two of him. Soon after Elijah goes away a marriage is arranged for Hazel. She marries a man named Jacob who already has three wives and various children.
However, shortly after Hazel moves into the house strange things start to happen. She experiences horrible vivid nightmares. One of her sister wives displays some peculiar behavior and it seems like there is something evil in the house. Worse of all is a secret that her husband is keeping from her. Will Hazel be able to uncover the truth without losing herself in the process?
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.
In the nineteenth century we are introduced to Hazel who has grown up in the Mormon faith so she knows what is expected of her. However she is in love with Elijah who is also of the same faith but they believe that marriage should be between just the two of him. Soon after Elijah goes away a marriage is arranged for Hazel. She marries a man named Jacob who already has three wives and various children.
However, shortly after Hazel moves into the house strange things start to happen. She experiences horrible vivid nightmares. One of her sister wives displays some peculiar behavior and it seems like there is something evil in the house. Worse of all is a secret that her husband is keeping from her. Will Hazel be able to uncover the truth without losing herself in the process?
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Slow burning but a beautiful reflection of women having to bend at the will of man in order to survive, please him and a god they believed in.
I'm never much of a fan of religion in horror but this one paints a melancholy story of one woman being forced into a life that she never wanted in order to obey the way of life and religion she believed in.
This is a subtle and spooky fight for survival. Paranormal or psychological? You'll have to read it to see.
I'm never much of a fan of religion in horror but this one paints a melancholy story of one woman being forced into a life that she never wanted in order to obey the way of life and religion she believed in.
This is a subtle and spooky fight for survival. Paranormal or psychological? You'll have to read it to see.
August 12, 2026
Forget fanged creatures and knife wielding maniacs, true horror is Mormonism in the 1800's. 😨
Hazel is in love with Elijah and Elijah is in love with Hazel. Unfortunately for both their Mormon upbringing casts a shadow over their dreams of a future. When Hazel is beckoned by Elijah's father to meet with him she is devastated when he informs her that Elijah is no longer interested in her and that he has found a better suited partner for her in Jacob Manwaring. She'll be his fourth wife and she will want for nothing as he has an abundance of wealth and can easily provide for his entire family.
Hazel's heart has been shattered but she has no choice but to marry this stranger.
Upon arriving at Jacob's manor she discovers that it is run down and over grown. It's a picture of decay and hardly the luxurious home she'd been promised.
Abby, Flora, and Prudence are now her sister wives.
Abby seems wild and secretive hardly the picture of a devoted Mormon wife. Flora is abrasive and cold. Prudence is heavily pregnant and seems sweet enough but Hazel has her reservations. Something is off and the house itself seems to have a mind of it's own.
"Plural marriage isn't the refiner's fire to press us into diamonds. It's the hellish lie that crushes us into powder beneath men's feet."
I don't know how I missed this one on NetGalley but thank you to Libby for having a copy available.
This was a really well done gothic horror novel and Hazel was a beautifully rendered sympathetic character which made it easy to root for her. She feels shame for her independent mind and wants to conform but every day it becomes harder and harder for her to hide her true self. Meanwhile her thoughts of Elijah and her love for him will certainly condemn her to hell.
Religious horror, feminist rage, and a love story. What more could I ask for?
I don't want to say much more in fear of spoiling the mysteries of this novel. I can only tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend this to any fan of gothic horror. 4 stars!
Hazel is in love with Elijah and Elijah is in love with Hazel. Unfortunately for both their Mormon upbringing casts a shadow over their dreams of a future. When Hazel is beckoned by Elijah's father to meet with him she is devastated when he informs her that Elijah is no longer interested in her and that he has found a better suited partner for her in Jacob Manwaring. She'll be his fourth wife and she will want for nothing as he has an abundance of wealth and can easily provide for his entire family.
Hazel's heart has been shattered but she has no choice but to marry this stranger.
Upon arriving at Jacob's manor she discovers that it is run down and over grown. It's a picture of decay and hardly the luxurious home she'd been promised.
Abby, Flora, and Prudence are now her sister wives.
Abby seems wild and secretive hardly the picture of a devoted Mormon wife. Flora is abrasive and cold. Prudence is heavily pregnant and seems sweet enough but Hazel has her reservations. Something is off and the house itself seems to have a mind of it's own.
"Plural marriage isn't the refiner's fire to press us into diamonds. It's the hellish lie that crushes us into powder beneath men's feet."
I don't know how I missed this one on NetGalley but thank you to Libby for having a copy available.
This was a really well done gothic horror novel and Hazel was a beautifully rendered sympathetic character which made it easy to root for her. She feels shame for her independent mind and wants to conform but every day it becomes harder and harder for her to hide her true self. Meanwhile her thoughts of Elijah and her love for him will certainly condemn her to hell.
Religious horror, feminist rage, and a love story. What more could I ask for?
I don't want to say much more in fear of spoiling the mysteries of this novel. I can only tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend this to any fan of gothic horror. 4 stars!
November 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC! All thoughts are my own!
🎉 Publication Date: 31st of March 2026 🎉
🤍 Tropes 🤍
✞ Faith - Mormonism
♀♂♀ Polygamy
🫂 'Wife/Sisterhood'
💚 Jealousy/Possessiveness
🖤Dysfunction Family
🤥 All the Secrets and Lies!
🩷 Romance
💔Lost Love
🦇 Haunted House
🕯️Gothic House Vibes
👻Ghost
🗡️Revenge
⚠️ Warnings ⚠️
╰➤ Polygamy
╰➤ Mormonism
╰➤ Anxiety/Panic Attacks
╰➤ Abuses of Power
╰➤ Loss of a Family Member - including Stillbirth
╰➤ Indoctrination
╰➤ Arranged Marriage
╰➤ Explicit Sexual Content
╰➤ Death
╰➤ Domestic Violence
╰➤ Emotional Abuse and Manipulation
╰➤ Swearing
╰➤ Murder
╰➤ Thoughts of Suicide
This books had great vibes. I love a haunted, Gothic house and the new element of a big polygamous family living there was a really good mix I thought. Ever since I watched the series Big Love years ago I have had an interest in Mormons and how an earth their families function/don’t function! This book is written from a Mormon woman’s perspective who is in a polygamous marriage, so just to make you aware of that going into the text. Hazel (FMC) is heavily indoctrinated with this world view, which I personally found fascinating, if not at times deeply disturbing. The writing is really great with regard to how the FMC is thinking.
The FMC comes from a polygamous home but she doesn't seem that interested in getting into a polygamous marriage herself. I really felt a lot of sympathy for Hazel. She suffers with anxiety attacks and constant fear. She feels out of place within her society and is worried that she is unlovable and a failure. Her panic attacks are described as the devil attacking her. She is ashamed of her struggles with this and I think the writer did such a great job with her.
There are some truly tragic things that happen to Hazel but if you are interested in Mormon society this would be a great book to try out. I know I will definitely be keeping a look out for further books from this author.
Can only recommend!
Thanks all for reading!
🤍🤍🤍
🎉 Publication Date: 31st of March 2026 🎉
🤍 Tropes 🤍
✞ Faith - Mormonism
♀♂♀ Polygamy
🫂 'Wife/Sisterhood'
💚 Jealousy/Possessiveness
🖤Dysfunction Family
🤥 All the Secrets and Lies!
🩷 Romance
💔Lost Love
🦇 Haunted House
🕯️Gothic House Vibes
👻Ghost
🗡️Revenge
⚠️ Warnings ⚠️
╰➤ Polygamy
╰➤ Mormonism
╰➤ Anxiety/Panic Attacks
╰➤ Abuses of Power
╰➤ Loss of a Family Member - including Stillbirth
╰➤ Indoctrination
╰➤ Arranged Marriage
╰➤ Explicit Sexual Content
╰➤ Death
╰➤ Domestic Violence
╰➤ Emotional Abuse and Manipulation
╰➤ Swearing
╰➤ Murder
╰➤ Thoughts of Suicide
This books had great vibes. I love a haunted, Gothic house and the new element of a big polygamous family living there was a really good mix I thought. Ever since I watched the series Big Love years ago I have had an interest in Mormons and how an earth their families function/don’t function! This book is written from a Mormon woman’s perspective who is in a polygamous marriage, so just to make you aware of that going into the text. Hazel (FMC) is heavily indoctrinated with this world view, which I personally found fascinating, if not at times deeply disturbing. The writing is really great with regard to how the FMC is thinking.
The FMC comes from a polygamous home but she doesn't seem that interested in getting into a polygamous marriage herself. I really felt a lot of sympathy for Hazel. She suffers with anxiety attacks and constant fear. She feels out of place within her society and is worried that she is unlovable and a failure. Her panic attacks are described as the devil attacking her. She is ashamed of her struggles with this and I think the writer did such a great job with her.
There are some truly tragic things that happen to Hazel but if you are interested in Mormon society this would be a great book to try out. I know I will definitely be keeping a look out for further books from this author.
Can only recommend!
Thanks all for reading!
🤍🤍🤍
March 9, 2026
Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for this ARC.
This book is gothic thriller at its finest!
I really enjoyed Hazel’s journey of discovery and independence throughout the book. I found it very interesting to see life through a perspective that isn’t always portrayed well, that of a young Mormon woman.
The story shines a light on the many faults of our generally patriarchal society, but it also focuses on oppressed women rallying together to defeat their “evil”.
Very captivating story, I can’t recommend this enough!
This book is gothic thriller at its finest!
I really enjoyed Hazel’s journey of discovery and independence throughout the book. I found it very interesting to see life through a perspective that isn’t always portrayed well, that of a young Mormon woman.
The story shines a light on the many faults of our generally patriarchal society, but it also focuses on oppressed women rallying together to defeat their “evil”.
Very captivating story, I can’t recommend this enough!
October 26, 2025
This one pulled me right in. The atmosphere was haunting, the writing beautiful, and the gothic tension built perfectly from start to finish. I loved the mix of historical detail and horror, and the author did an incredible job capturing the eerie mood of the house and the unease between the sister wives. Hazel’s story was heartbreaking and powerful, and I couldn’t look away as everything slowly unraveled. Dark, haunting, and beautifully written. This one completely delivered.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Here is a thing about me: I'm very interested in Mormonism. Through the years I have consumed a tone of ex-mormon content online so when I read the blurb for this book I immediately requested it.
I was, in fact, not disappointed. Even without my knowledge of the Mormon church, the book did a great job explaining it without actually info dumbing and I generally found the writing extremely good. Add some classic gothic horror and three women united and you have a story entirely tailored to my tastes.
Hazel, the main character, is going through some shit in this book and I really enjoyed both her voice and her journey to finding agency. The other wives are also distinct and compelling characters.
My favorite part was how irrelevant Hazel's romance with Elijah actually was. I'm all for women saving themselves.
I was, in fact, not disappointed. Even without my knowledge of the Mormon church, the book did a great job explaining it without actually info dumbing and I generally found the writing extremely good. Add some classic gothic horror and three women united and you have a story entirely tailored to my tastes.
Hazel, the main character, is going through some shit in this book and I really enjoyed both her voice and her journey to finding agency. The other wives are also distinct and compelling characters.
My favorite part was how irrelevant Hazel's romance with Elijah actually was. I'm all for women saving themselves.
April 21, 2026
4⭐️
The Fourth Wife follows our protagonist Hazel as she leaves her family home to become Jacob Manwaring's fourth wife. Hazel is no stranger to polygamy. She is one of several siblings of not only her mother's other children but her "aunt"'s, her father's second wife. She has personally seen what polygamy does to a family, the strains it puts on finances, and the isolation that is inherent within the Mormon community. Hazel was hoping this would not be her life as she and her childhood sweetheart, Elijah, have promised each other that they will be each other's only spouse. However, when Elijah's father, the Elder Crowther, tells her her duty is not to marry his son but to be a plural wife for one of his esteemed members, Jacob Manwaring, Hazel reluctantly agrees. When Hazel arrives at the dilapidated Manwaring house, she is immediately greeted by women who are less than thrilled she is there and a presence that starts to give Hazel vivid nightmares. Something is wrong at Manwaring house. As Hazel becomes more involved with her sister wives and their lives, she starts to get the sinking suspicion that not all is as it seems, especially when it comes to Jacob Manwaring and his first wife Abigail.
My thoughts:
I don't want to give away too much, but this was definitely a fun, creepy read. I found Hazel a likeable protagonist. She was a young woman who had dreams and aspirations and it was interesting to see how a religion can strip that away from you, especially if you are a woman. I liked that the story mostly focuses on the lives of these women, trying to navigate marriage to the same man, yet being left alone for a large amount of the time. The haunted house aspect was fun, but not too gruesome for normal readers. I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy for review. My opinions are my own.
The Fourth Wife follows our protagonist Hazel as she leaves her family home to become Jacob Manwaring's fourth wife. Hazel is no stranger to polygamy. She is one of several siblings of not only her mother's other children but her "aunt"'s, her father's second wife. She has personally seen what polygamy does to a family, the strains it puts on finances, and the isolation that is inherent within the Mormon community. Hazel was hoping this would not be her life as she and her childhood sweetheart, Elijah, have promised each other that they will be each other's only spouse. However, when Elijah's father, the Elder Crowther, tells her her duty is not to marry his son but to be a plural wife for one of his esteemed members, Jacob Manwaring, Hazel reluctantly agrees. When Hazel arrives at the dilapidated Manwaring house, she is immediately greeted by women who are less than thrilled she is there and a presence that starts to give Hazel vivid nightmares. Something is wrong at Manwaring house. As Hazel becomes more involved with her sister wives and their lives, she starts to get the sinking suspicion that not all is as it seems, especially when it comes to Jacob Manwaring and his first wife Abigail.
My thoughts:
I don't want to give away too much, but this was definitely a fun, creepy read. I found Hazel a likeable protagonist. She was a young woman who had dreams and aspirations and it was interesting to see how a religion can strip that away from you, especially if you are a woman. I liked that the story mostly focuses on the lives of these women, trying to navigate marriage to the same man, yet being left alone for a large amount of the time. The haunted house aspect was fun, but not too gruesome for normal readers. I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy for review. My opinions are my own.
March 22, 2026
A big thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for this eARC! 4,5/5⭐️
For me, this book was the perfect collision of Gothic horror, historical fiction, and religious trauma, and Hamilton pulled it off beautifully. The atmosphere is immaculate, and the way the story handles religious indoctrination (and specifically how suffocating and complicated it is to escape that mindset) is handled with real care and nuance. The horror leans unsettling rather than explicit; there are a few jump-scare moments, but what lingers are the scenes where you genuinely can’t tell whether what’s happening is real or whether someone’s mind is playing tricks. That uncertainty is deeply effective. Worth knowing going in: while this is rooted in the actual history of the Mormon church, the author did take some liberties, and the historical fiction element is firmly in the driver’s seat when it comes to genre.
The FMC becomes the fourth wife of a man who is, at the very least, a narcissist and, at worst, a psychopath. What follows is a masterclass in navigating impossible relationships, both with her husband and with her sister wives. Her inner world is rendered so precisely that I was completely absorbed, and I genuinely did not see the plot twist coming despite the red flags that were absolutely there. My only mild frustration was with the attitudes of the sister wives at times, though honestly, that might just be a sign of how well-written they actually were.
For me, this book was the perfect collision of Gothic horror, historical fiction, and religious trauma, and Hamilton pulled it off beautifully. The atmosphere is immaculate, and the way the story handles religious indoctrination (and specifically how suffocating and complicated it is to escape that mindset) is handled with real care and nuance. The horror leans unsettling rather than explicit; there are a few jump-scare moments, but what lingers are the scenes where you genuinely can’t tell whether what’s happening is real or whether someone’s mind is playing tricks. That uncertainty is deeply effective. Worth knowing going in: while this is rooted in the actual history of the Mormon church, the author did take some liberties, and the historical fiction element is firmly in the driver’s seat when it comes to genre.
The FMC becomes the fourth wife of a man who is, at the very least, a narcissist and, at worst, a psychopath. What follows is a masterclass in navigating impossible relationships, both with her husband and with her sister wives. Her inner world is rendered so precisely that I was completely absorbed, and I genuinely did not see the plot twist coming despite the red flags that were absolutely there. My only mild frustration was with the attitudes of the sister wives at times, though honestly, that might just be a sign of how well-written they actually were.
September 23, 2025
Real rating: 4.5 stars, rounded down
As you’ve probably guessed from my frantic additions to my TBR that all include Mormon polygamy - no, I am not reconsidering my relationship structure, I am simply academically curious.
So, what is The Fourth Wife? It is the telling of one young woman’s short marriage to Jacob, a Mormon polygamist in the 1870s, in the advent of the Mormon faith and polygamous practice. Young Hazel is whisked away to be with Jacob after hearing terrible news about her lifelong crush on his mission. While Jacob isn’t what she pictured her husband would be, he’s still charming, kind, and loving - with a large house and plenty of money for her to feel at home. That is, until the day of her marriage when she finally visits Jacob’s house for the first time, and discovers that things are not what they seem…
I loved the supernatural element to this story. I usually roll my eyes a bit when they’re incorporated into these types of historical fiction novels (ever the realist I guess), but it was incorporated slowly and hauntingly that I first wondered if it was simply one way of the novel showing Hazel’s inner thoughts and feelings. Not quite! I also appreciated that the story was not very predictable. Yes, Hazel is obviously struggling and so are the other wives and something has to give, but you’re not quite sure where this tension is going to become untenable.
The only negative for me was Hazel’s anxiety at points in the novel. The author herself states that she characterized her as overly anxious about her piety, worthiness, and spirituality to demonstrate her own feelings in the LDS church, but sometimes it just really ground my gears. This is coming from someone who is overly anxious as well. I’m sure my inner thoughts would probably also read terribly in a novel, but the reactions to certain situations infantilized Hazel a little bit and I wanted to be on her side. Thankfully, much of that disappears when the going gets good in the story.
A unique spin to a unique culture that I will probably read again at some point, or at least, read all the other Mormonism-adjacent novels that are on my TBR list now.
As you’ve probably guessed from my frantic additions to my TBR that all include Mormon polygamy - no, I am not reconsidering my relationship structure, I am simply academically curious.
So, what is The Fourth Wife? It is the telling of one young woman’s short marriage to Jacob, a Mormon polygamist in the 1870s, in the advent of the Mormon faith and polygamous practice. Young Hazel is whisked away to be with Jacob after hearing terrible news about her lifelong crush on his mission. While Jacob isn’t what she pictured her husband would be, he’s still charming, kind, and loving - with a large house and plenty of money for her to feel at home. That is, until the day of her marriage when she finally visits Jacob’s house for the first time, and discovers that things are not what they seem…
I loved the supernatural element to this story. I usually roll my eyes a bit when they’re incorporated into these types of historical fiction novels (ever the realist I guess), but it was incorporated slowly and hauntingly that I first wondered if it was simply one way of the novel showing Hazel’s inner thoughts and feelings. Not quite! I also appreciated that the story was not very predictable. Yes, Hazel is obviously struggling and so are the other wives and something has to give, but you’re not quite sure where this tension is going to become untenable.
The only negative for me was Hazel’s anxiety at points in the novel. The author herself states that she characterized her as overly anxious about her piety, worthiness, and spirituality to demonstrate her own feelings in the LDS church, but sometimes it just really ground my gears. This is coming from someone who is overly anxious as well. I’m sure my inner thoughts would probably also read terribly in a novel, but the reactions to certain situations infantilized Hazel a little bit and I wanted to be on her side. Thankfully, much of that disappears when the going gets good in the story.
A unique spin to a unique culture that I will probably read again at some point, or at least, read all the other Mormonism-adjacent novels that are on my TBR list now.
March 31, 2026
Content warning: Domestic abuse, old timey sickness, realities of pregnancy, religious indoctrination
This is a gothic that could be only be made in America. Centering on the beliefs of the Church of Latter Day Saints, the titular wife Hazel thought she was getting a monogamous happily ever after and finds herself in a nightmare of polygamy and plural marriage. The house holds secrets, as does its inhabitants. Hazel knows she needs out, but the strictures keep her options in check.
The transgression here is in the depiction itself. Dissent is discouraged especially from women, and I think this book was really brave in showing the complexity of what personal agency can look like in such a stifled environment. What worked for me most was how Hazel’s belief system slowly unravels as more of her immediate personhood is threatened, and not just the hypothetical that is her soul. Hamilton keeps the reader close in Hazel’s POV, especially in sexual situations where she’s wrestling with how hard it is to be a good wife. While this isn’t a story about the four wives uniting to defeat the monsters in the house, it is very much about woman-centered survival. It’s up to the reader to determine who is the real villain at the end of the day, and the elegance with which Hamilton invites the reader into the line of questioning really works.
This is a gothic that could be only be made in America. Centering on the beliefs of the Church of Latter Day Saints, the titular wife Hazel thought she was getting a monogamous happily ever after and finds herself in a nightmare of polygamy and plural marriage. The house holds secrets, as does its inhabitants. Hazel knows she needs out, but the strictures keep her options in check.
The transgression here is in the depiction itself. Dissent is discouraged especially from women, and I think this book was really brave in showing the complexity of what personal agency can look like in such a stifled environment. What worked for me most was how Hazel’s belief system slowly unravels as more of her immediate personhood is threatened, and not just the hypothetical that is her soul. Hamilton keeps the reader close in Hazel’s POV, especially in sexual situations where she’s wrestling with how hard it is to be a good wife. While this isn’t a story about the four wives uniting to defeat the monsters in the house, it is very much about woman-centered survival. It’s up to the reader to determine who is the real villain at the end of the day, and the elegance with which Hamilton invites the reader into the line of questioning really works.
January 16, 2026
The plot follows a Mormon young lady, Hazel, living during the earlier days of Mormonism, 1800s. As a woman she’s expected to marry, have children, and obey. She is waiting for her sweetheart to return from his mission when she learns he doesn’t want to be with her when she returns after all. With her future in disillusion, she ends up becoming the 4th wife of a wealthy polygamist, Joseph. Thus follows a gothic tale of the wives, Joseph, and the mansion that appears to have a life of its own.
It sounds like it’s going to be great- we have yearning of young love, female oppression, and rivals in romance - a combination that sounds right up my alley!!
And yet, the execution was disappointing. I couldn’t care less about the characters, I had no imagery of what they looked like besides the first wife who we heard over and over again that she had long red hair. We learned nothing about their history. We had a federal agent who was looking into Joseph for bigamy, and just never showed back up again??
Idk. This book was simply.. not good.
It sounds like it’s going to be great- we have yearning of young love, female oppression, and rivals in romance - a combination that sounds right up my alley!!
And yet, the execution was disappointing. I couldn’t care less about the characters, I had no imagery of what they looked like besides the first wife who we heard over and over again that she had long red hair. We learned nothing about their history. We had a federal agent who was looking into Joseph for bigamy, and just never showed back up again??
Idk. This book was simply.. not good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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