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Mariella: A gripping dark Gothic novel set in Georgian England
A dark Gothic novel set in 1780s England. An anti-heroine pursues her twisted ambition and dangerous desires, to a backdrop of vampires, poisoned cups and ruined towers.
Mariella Vangard is beautiful, ruthless, and longs to be independent. After her parents’ stagecoach is attacked by a sinister highwayman, Mariella and her three sisters are forced to live with distant relatives. Yet their new abode appears haunted, with mysterious night-time visitations and unexplained deaths.
Occult expert Edward Vinehart is called in to deal with the darkness that stalks the grounds. But when he and his brother are revealed to be heirs to a vast fortune, the Vineharts fall prey to Mariella’s dark designs.
With the help of her disreputable and poisonous friend Mrs Roe, Mariella embarks on a crusade to secure the fortune for herself, determined to destroy anyone who gets in her way.
Winner of the Literary Titan Gold Award
What readers are saying about Mariella:
"Really enjoyed this, it was so well written and the descriptions so vivid. I couldn't put it down." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reviewer
"The story is very intense and I love the twists of it. Every page keeps you gripped and you want to find out more! Highly recommended if you are into gothic novels." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reviewer
"Imagine if Bram Stoker, Sheridan Le Fanu, Jane Austen, and Georgette Heyer had a lovechild, and that offspring wrote a Gothic novel... That novel would be Mariella. Read it and shiver." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads reviewer
"Such a great story! It has everything and uses it well. Mariella is quite the character and I love that she's so smart and not just one of the sweet belle type, I really like her... mostly, she's definitely a character lol. Highly recommend this book!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads reviewer
"I loved the Georgian setting of this book, with a gothic twist and not to mention vampires! I especially enjoyed reading the second part, which gets very dark as Mariella’s scheming reaches new heights - I couldn’t put it down." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads reviewer
"I don't always read novels, but of all those I have read only a handful stand out, such as, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Interview with the Vampire, The Vampyre in Europe by Montague Summers and stories from Edgar Allan Poe. In my opinion I regard this book as highly. It kept me hanging on throughout wanting to know each outcome of events. I won't give anything away, but I love this style of writing. As a historian myself, I loved the descriptive facts of the 18th Century and the poetic descriptions throughout." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reviewer
Mariella Vangard is beautiful, ruthless, and longs to be independent. After her parents’ stagecoach is attacked by a sinister highwayman, Mariella and her three sisters are forced to live with distant relatives. Yet their new abode appears haunted, with mysterious night-time visitations and unexplained deaths.
Occult expert Edward Vinehart is called in to deal with the darkness that stalks the grounds. But when he and his brother are revealed to be heirs to a vast fortune, the Vineharts fall prey to Mariella’s dark designs.
With the help of her disreputable and poisonous friend Mrs Roe, Mariella embarks on a crusade to secure the fortune for herself, determined to destroy anyone who gets in her way.
Winner of the Literary Titan Gold Award
What readers are saying about Mariella:
"Really enjoyed this, it was so well written and the descriptions so vivid. I couldn't put it down." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reviewer
"The story is very intense and I love the twists of it. Every page keeps you gripped and you want to find out more! Highly recommended if you are into gothic novels." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reviewer
"Imagine if Bram Stoker, Sheridan Le Fanu, Jane Austen, and Georgette Heyer had a lovechild, and that offspring wrote a Gothic novel... That novel would be Mariella. Read it and shiver." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads reviewer
"Such a great story! It has everything and uses it well. Mariella is quite the character and I love that she's so smart and not just one of the sweet belle type, I really like her... mostly, she's definitely a character lol. Highly recommend this book!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads reviewer
"I loved the Georgian setting of this book, with a gothic twist and not to mention vampires! I especially enjoyed reading the second part, which gets very dark as Mariella’s scheming reaches new heights - I couldn’t put it down." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads reviewer
"I don't always read novels, but of all those I have read only a handful stand out, such as, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Interview with the Vampire, The Vampyre in Europe by Montague Summers and stories from Edgar Allan Poe. In my opinion I regard this book as highly. It kept me hanging on throughout wanting to know each outcome of events. I won't give anything away, but I love this style of writing. As a historian myself, I loved the descriptive facts of the 18th Century and the poetic descriptions throughout." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reviewer
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2025
About the author
Jonathan Kind
2 books6 followersI write Gothic fiction, inspired by Gothic classics and the rugged beauty of remote landscapes and ruins.
Mariella is the first in the Blood & Roses dark gothic historical series, set in the Regency period with vampires. And I'm currently working on a 1920s cosy mystery.
My early years were spent in Cornwall, then I grew up near Cambridge. I studied for two English literature degrees, in Bangor and London. I love to travel and have lived abroad, including periods in Kenya, Germany and India.
Now I live with my partner and two cats in northwest Wales. When not writing, you can find me roaming the mountains and coast nearby, gathering inspiration for my next novel.
Mariella is the first in the Blood & Roses dark gothic historical series, set in the Regency period with vampires. And I'm currently working on a 1920s cosy mystery.
My early years were spent in Cornwall, then I grew up near Cambridge. I studied for two English literature degrees, in Bangor and London. I love to travel and have lived abroad, including periods in Kenya, Germany and India.
Now I live with my partner and two cats in northwest Wales. When not writing, you can find me roaming the mountains and coast nearby, gathering inspiration for my next novel.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 23, 2025
Gripped from the first pages!
A gothic dark romance tale that I found perfect for the winter months. The style of writing made me reminiscent of Daphne Du Maurier's works, with the gothic undertones and the digestible, gripping storylines. Thoroughly enjoyed following Mariella, witnessing her character development, dark and twisted moments taking me by surprise. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you with a yearning hunger for more!
A gothic dark romance tale that I found perfect for the winter months. The style of writing made me reminiscent of Daphne Du Maurier's works, with the gothic undertones and the digestible, gripping storylines. Thoroughly enjoyed following Mariella, witnessing her character development, dark and twisted moments taking me by surprise. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you with a yearning hunger for more!
November 7, 2025
I was completely hooked by this first in series. I didn’t think gothic novels or mentions of vampires would be for me, but the story was gripping, and I’m so glad I decided to read outside my usual genres.
Mariella was a character I was both rooting for and loathed all at the same time. As her evil took new heights, I couldn’t help but care deeply for Edward and the others, but still want the freedom and happiness Mariella set out for in the first place. I was never sure how it would end!
I liked it so much I continued reading the preview for the next book, Vinehart, which I was pleased to see is a new continuation of the story with the characters I’m now so invested in. Looking forward to the release!
The cover is also so beautiful, it makes a great gift for friends.
Mariella was a character I was both rooting for and loathed all at the same time. As her evil took new heights, I couldn’t help but care deeply for Edward and the others, but still want the freedom and happiness Mariella set out for in the first place. I was never sure how it would end!
I liked it so much I continued reading the preview for the next book, Vinehart, which I was pleased to see is a new continuation of the story with the characters I’m now so invested in. Looking forward to the release!
The cover is also so beautiful, it makes a great gift for friends.
August 18, 2025
I loved the Georgian setting of this book, with a gothic twist and not to mention vampires! The vampire scenes interspersed with the main plot are chilling and brilliantly written, I wanted to find out more about this character.
I especially enjoyed reading the second part, which gets very dark as Mariella’s scheming reaches new heights - I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read the next one when it’s released and find out what happens next!
I especially enjoyed reading the second part, which gets very dark as Mariella’s scheming reaches new heights - I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read the next one when it’s released and find out what happens next!
October 19, 2025
Such a great story! It has everything and uses it well. Mariella is quite the character and I love that she's so smart and not just one of the sweet bell type, I really like her...mostly, she's definitely a character lol. Highly recommend this book!
October 9, 2025
Imagine if Bram Stoker, Sheridan Le Fanu, Jane Austen, and Georgette Heyer had a lovechild, and that offspring wrote a Gothic novel... That novel would be Mariella.
A wicked little book in every sense of the word -- I kept waiting for the novel's eponymous protagonist to find some shred of moral decency, but (spoiler alert!) she just kept getting worse and worse. Absolutely, deliciously depraved. Read it and shiver.
A wicked little book in every sense of the word -- I kept waiting for the novel's eponymous protagonist to find some shred of moral decency, but (spoiler alert!) she just kept getting worse and worse. Absolutely, deliciously depraved. Read it and shiver.
June 30, 2026
Mariella, by Jonathan Kind, is a Gothic novel set in late Georgian Britain, following Mariella Vangard after a violent supernatural attack leaves her family ruined, orphaned, and dependent on reluctant relatives. What begins as a story of sisters trying to survive poverty and scandal soon widens into a darker tale of vampires, ambition, marriage, betrayal, and moral decay. At the center is Mariella herself, a woman who is not simply haunted by evil but increasingly drawn toward it.
I liked how patiently the book lets its darkness gather. Kind leans into the pleasures of the Gothic genre: ruined churches, moonlit roads, locked rooms, family secrets, and danger that feels both physical and emotional. The atmosphere is rich without becoming too heavy, and the historical setting gives the horror a sharper edge. These characters live in a world where women have few good choices, where reputation can be a prison, and where money is often as frightening as any monster. That makes Mariella’s choices more interesting, even when I found myself recoiling from them.
I also appreciated that Mariella isn't softened too much for the reader. She can be clever, wounded, practical, selfish, and chilling, sometimes all within the same stretch of story. That makes her difficult company, but never dull company. The novel is candid about hunger, not just for blood, but for security, status, control, and escape. The plot moves with the sweep of a melodrama, full of reversals and heightened emotion, but it feels right for a Gothic novel. It has that candlelit sense that every desire has a cost, and sooner or later the bill will be brought to the door.
I recommend Mariella to readers who enjoy Gothic fiction with strong historical texture, morally complicated women, family drama, and vampire horror that is more seductive and tragic than purely gruesome. It's not a cozy read, and it doesn't offer an easy heroine to cheer for. But for readers who like their Gothic novels stormy, strange, and emotionally tangled, this one has a strong pull.
I liked how patiently the book lets its darkness gather. Kind leans into the pleasures of the Gothic genre: ruined churches, moonlit roads, locked rooms, family secrets, and danger that feels both physical and emotional. The atmosphere is rich without becoming too heavy, and the historical setting gives the horror a sharper edge. These characters live in a world where women have few good choices, where reputation can be a prison, and where money is often as frightening as any monster. That makes Mariella’s choices more interesting, even when I found myself recoiling from them.
I also appreciated that Mariella isn't softened too much for the reader. She can be clever, wounded, practical, selfish, and chilling, sometimes all within the same stretch of story. That makes her difficult company, but never dull company. The novel is candid about hunger, not just for blood, but for security, status, control, and escape. The plot moves with the sweep of a melodrama, full of reversals and heightened emotion, but it feels right for a Gothic novel. It has that candlelit sense that every desire has a cost, and sooner or later the bill will be brought to the door.
I recommend Mariella to readers who enjoy Gothic fiction with strong historical texture, morally complicated women, family drama, and vampire horror that is more seductive and tragic than purely gruesome. It's not a cozy read, and it doesn't offer an easy heroine to cheer for. But for readers who like their Gothic novels stormy, strange, and emotionally tangled, this one has a strong pull.
December 2, 2025
A great read for anyone who enjoys twisting, fast-paced Gothic novels or vampire stories. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the landscape and settings which were beautifully written, and the intriguing character dynamics. Jonathan has captured an authentic voice for this period, and Mariella is such a fascinating character - dark, strong-willed and determined. Will be looking forward to seeing where the story goes in book two!
October 14, 2025
What a read! I've always enjoyed vampire stories, both traditional and more contemporary, and this one delivered on all counts. Mariella is a sophisticated, gothic tale about the terrible consequences of unadulterated ambition that will take you right back to the origins of the genre while subverting your expectations at every turn.
The novel follows Mariella, eldest of four sisters, who proves herself quite the antihero from the very beginning. Devious and determined to carve her own fate in a society that undervalues women at every turn, she begins a downward spiral that will lead her into irreparable danger. The way this story was structured was really interesting, with an appropriate slow-burn of Mariella's descent into darkness that feels both believable and inevitable.
All in all, a masterful debut from Jonathan Kind. I can't wait to read the next one!
The novel follows Mariella, eldest of four sisters, who proves herself quite the antihero from the very beginning. Devious and determined to carve her own fate in a society that undervalues women at every turn, she begins a downward spiral that will lead her into irreparable danger. The way this story was structured was really interesting, with an appropriate slow-burn of Mariella's descent into darkness that feels both believable and inevitable.
All in all, a masterful debut from Jonathan Kind. I can't wait to read the next one!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews