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Ophelia
After a brief stint in Italy working under a master painter, Lawrence Stoner returns to America in search of something more. Drawn to the wild coast of Maine, she takes up residence in a seaside hut, hoping to secure a commission from one of the wealthy summer elites.
When she’s invited to dine at the widely-feared Ashmore Hall, Lawrence is immediately captivated by its enigmatic and reclusive mistress, Ophelia Aldane. The locals whisper their warnings, and the number of dead continue to rise, but Lawrence finds herself hopelessly ensnared in Ophelia’s web of allure.
As those closest to her begin to fall prey, Lawrence feels Death drawing nearer with every passing day. At the risk of more than just her soul, Lawrence must make a stand and peer back into the darkness.
Set amid the glittering excess of the Roaring Twenties, Ophelia is a gothic tale of forbidden desire, deadly beauty, and a hunger that consumes all.
When she’s invited to dine at the widely-feared Ashmore Hall, Lawrence is immediately captivated by its enigmatic and reclusive mistress, Ophelia Aldane. The locals whisper their warnings, and the number of dead continue to rise, but Lawrence finds herself hopelessly ensnared in Ophelia’s web of allure.
As those closest to her begin to fall prey, Lawrence feels Death drawing nearer with every passing day. At the risk of more than just her soul, Lawrence must make a stand and peer back into the darkness.
Set amid the glittering excess of the Roaring Twenties, Ophelia is a gothic tale of forbidden desire, deadly beauty, and a hunger that consumes all.
414 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2025
1 person is currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
S.M. Namkoong
1 book6 followersS.M. lives in New York City and writes whenever she has a spare moment. Ophelia is her self-published debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 10, 2025
I enjoyed this novel. Parts of it were slow, and I’m not sure I liked some of the plotline decisions, however I still walked away from this one very glad that I read it. This novel was very atmospheric and had some excellent vibes; I don’t know if I would call it horror but certainly unsettling-spooky-mystery-something. I found it compelling. I am rounding up to get this rating, but I think I am comfortable with it and I will be looking for more from this author.
Rating: A- / 5-Stars
Highlights:
-Great vibes.
-This novel got my attention early and made me want to keep reading. I needed to know where it would go, and how it would end!
-I liked how the characters knew that [the creature] (or something similar) exist, as opposed to it being some brand-new thing. Zombie movies/shows bother me for this reason as we waste a lot of time watching the characters figure out what’s going on even though we already know.
-I liked the old-school style for how [the creature] operated throughout the novel. There are a lot of different takes on this lore through literary history, and I appreciated the angle that this novel used. That statement probably means nothing to most people, but if you read the book, you will get it. The way the story progresses is a lot more atmospheric and builds considerably more tension compared to the alternative.
-In all honesty I don’t know how I feel about this novel, particularly the ending, but I felt a lot so I consider that a win.
Nitpicks:
-This novel moves sloooooow in the beginning. I think the first 1/3 felt like an introduction. It was good, and I see the relevance to the story, but I think this could have been edited to be something that flowed a bit better.
-I don’t know if I like the ending?
-A few parts were confusing. If you don’t read the blurb (I didn’t) then you have no idea when the book takes place until certain details are dropped partway through. I got time-period whiplash, lol.
-There is an epilogue that you can download from the authors website. Firstly, I hate it when they make you go elsewhere for the epilogue. That said: I think I liked the novel more without the epilogue, which is something I have never said before!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
Rating: A- / 5-Stars
Highlights:
-Great vibes.
-This novel got my attention early and made me want to keep reading. I needed to know where it would go, and how it would end!
-I liked how the characters knew that [the creature] (or something similar) exist, as opposed to it being some brand-new thing. Zombie movies/shows bother me for this reason as we waste a lot of time watching the characters figure out what’s going on even though we already know.
-I liked the old-school style for how [the creature] operated throughout the novel. There are a lot of different takes on this lore through literary history, and I appreciated the angle that this novel used. That statement probably means nothing to most people, but if you read the book, you will get it. The way the story progresses is a lot more atmospheric and builds considerably more tension compared to the alternative.
-In all honesty I don’t know how I feel about this novel, particularly the ending, but I felt a lot so I consider that a win.
Nitpicks:
-This novel moves sloooooow in the beginning. I think the first 1/3 felt like an introduction. It was good, and I see the relevance to the story, but I think this could have been edited to be something that flowed a bit better.
-I don’t know if I like the ending?
-A few parts were confusing. If you don’t read the blurb (I didn’t) then you have no idea when the book takes place until certain details are dropped partway through. I got time-period whiplash, lol.
-There is an epilogue that you can download from the authors website. Firstly, I hate it when they make you go elsewhere for the epilogue. That said: I think I liked the novel more without the epilogue, which is something I have never said before!
Thank you to the author and publisher for the free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
December 10, 2025
4.25 ⭐️. 2🌶
I went in to this book blind. I knew it had vampires but not much else. Let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were a lot of throw back vibes to other books or styles. I'm talking shades of Carmilla, The Great Gatsby, and Dracula.
This vampire is not like the common Eastern European archetype, which was refreshing view. They're more of the Asian folklore with different aspects. I truly enjoyed the camaraderie between LJ and Augie, Patrick, and Edwin. you can feel the love and friendship that exists.
Ophelia, the thrall she gets over LJ all while being an alternate viewpoint to the dilemma of the times which is during prohibition. She's evil but you kinda get where she's coming from.
LJ's viewpoint is that of the Midwestern outsider ,who experiences life whether it was in Europe or on the Liberal east coast through that lens. I sometimes wanted to shake the character. Her naivety is ever present.
All in all, I found this book entertaining and will definitely check out another from this author.
I would like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity. My views and opinions are my own.
I went in to this book blind. I knew it had vampires but not much else. Let me tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were a lot of throw back vibes to other books or styles. I'm talking shades of Carmilla, The Great Gatsby, and Dracula.
This vampire is not like the common Eastern European archetype, which was refreshing view. They're more of the Asian folklore with different aspects. I truly enjoyed the camaraderie between LJ and Augie, Patrick, and Edwin. you can feel the love and friendship that exists.
Ophelia, the thrall she gets over LJ all while being an alternate viewpoint to the dilemma of the times which is during prohibition. She's evil but you kinda get where she's coming from.
LJ's viewpoint is that of the Midwestern outsider ,who experiences life whether it was in Europe or on the Liberal east coast through that lens. I sometimes wanted to shake the character. Her naivety is ever present.
All in all, I found this book entertaining and will definitely check out another from this author.
I would like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity. My views and opinions are my own.
January 11, 2026
i wanted to love this, but unfortunately, the pacing weakened my enjoyment and interest. the lesbianism is great, it's just a shame about everything else, which reads like a first draft, not a published novel.
thank you to netgalley for the arc!
thank you to netgalley for the arc!
September 28, 2025
Set in Maine in the height of the 1920's, Ophelia encapsulates the turmoil and excitement of the period in a sapphic vampire horror story. I really enjoyed the pacing of this book, there was just the right amount of suspense for the bigger and more gruesome scenes to stand out.
I really liked Lawrence as a character: strong-willed, romantic and sometimes understandably naive to what happens. I found the pacing of the 'love story' unforced and beautifully doomed. The effects of vampirism on their relationship and the blind lovesickness was really well done especially when dealing with obsession and love as similar yet separate entities.
The landscape of Maine coast gave the book the perfect gothic air. The sharp cliffs and the crashing waves paired perfectly with the story. The side characters drifting in and out of the story felt really well placed and I really enjoyed scenes with Grita, Edwin, Augusta and Patrick (or any of the other characters!!).
The ending perfectly wrapped the novel and I didn't feel cheated or as if the author didn't make it realistic (well as if vampires can be realistic lol).
This is the perfect spooky read for Halloween and really made me want to get back into horror or more vamp novels!!
This is my first ARC review and thank god it was such a good book!!
I really liked Lawrence as a character: strong-willed, romantic and sometimes understandably naive to what happens. I found the pacing of the 'love story' unforced and beautifully doomed. The effects of vampirism on their relationship and the blind lovesickness was really well done especially when dealing with obsession and love as similar yet separate entities.
The landscape of Maine coast gave the book the perfect gothic air. The sharp cliffs and the crashing waves paired perfectly with the story. The side characters drifting in and out of the story felt really well placed and I really enjoyed scenes with Grita, Edwin, Augusta and Patrick (or any of the other characters!!).
The ending perfectly wrapped the novel and I didn't feel cheated or as if the author didn't make it realistic (well as if vampires can be realistic lol).
This is the perfect spooky read for Halloween and really made me want to get back into horror or more vamp novels!!
This is my first ARC review and thank god it was such a good book!!
dnf
November 1, 2025dnf at 54%. i really tried with this as the story is intriguing and i really want to know what happens, but the writing is rough around the edges and the pacing is very inconsistent and i’m struggling to continue on. i think this needs a lot more editing. it’s very wordy and has issues with staying consistent (for example, lawrence says she has a strong constitution for exercise and never gets sweaty, and then only a few pages later she gets sweaty and out of breath just from walking up and down a row of houses). i love a wordy and flowery novel, but unfortunately a lot of the wordiness in this just feels unnecessary and even at times takes away from the lovely descriptions by bogging them down. i liked lawrence at times but found her a very passive main character who just seems to go along with everything and never make any real decisions. of course, this might be intentional, and maybe all would be revealed if i kept reading, but i find it hard to care about her or anything that’s happening to her when even she doesn’t seem to care. i’m excited to see what s.m. namkoong writes in the future because the premise of this is very interesting and i’m sure her writing will only improve, this one just wasn’t for me
dnf
October 28, 2025
DNF in Chapter 2.
The prologue was lovely and eerie….however, it felt like what came after was a draft . I think with some heavy rounds of editing, less focus on describing minor/irrelevant details, and fixing the way the author introduces characters, that this story can really flourish. Unfortunately, as it stands I do not feel compelled to read on.
The prologue was lovely and eerie….however, it felt like what came after was a draft . I think with some heavy rounds of editing, less focus on describing minor/irrelevant details, and fixing the way the author introduces characters, that this story can really flourish. Unfortunately, as it stands I do not feel compelled to read on.
October 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
NO SPOILERS
Ophelia is a story about a painter who moves to Bar Harbour. She’s invited for dinner with the mysterious lady of Ashmore Hall. Locals have warned her that the house may be haunted or cursed, but she decides to go anyway.
I ADORED this book. I was telling my friends and family about it before I even finished. Namkoong writes in a way that makes you feel like you’re in the story with the characters. It’s one of those books that’ll have you screaming at the characters and throwing your kindle across the room at 2am. As I was reading, I was noticing things and reading between the lines, trying to predict what would happen next. I thought the ending was absolutely perfect (but I would’ve loved another chapter to see what happened with some of the side characters). I actually couldn't believe that this was Namkoong’s first book. Whatever she publishes next, I’ll be first in line to read it.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It has romantic elements to it, but it’s not a “romance” book. If you like a slow burn mystery novel, read this. If you like historical fantasy or paranormal themes, read this. If you like books that have you pinning red string to the wall, READ THIS.
It comes out on October 20th and I cannot wait to make my friends read it so I can talk about it with other people. If you read this book, MESSAGE ME so we can talk about it lol
NO SPOILERS
Ophelia is a story about a painter who moves to Bar Harbour. She’s invited for dinner with the mysterious lady of Ashmore Hall. Locals have warned her that the house may be haunted or cursed, but she decides to go anyway.
I ADORED this book. I was telling my friends and family about it before I even finished. Namkoong writes in a way that makes you feel like you’re in the story with the characters. It’s one of those books that’ll have you screaming at the characters and throwing your kindle across the room at 2am. As I was reading, I was noticing things and reading between the lines, trying to predict what would happen next. I thought the ending was absolutely perfect (but I would’ve loved another chapter to see what happened with some of the side characters). I actually couldn't believe that this was Namkoong’s first book. Whatever she publishes next, I’ll be first in line to read it.
I cannot recommend this book enough. It has romantic elements to it, but it’s not a “romance” book. If you like a slow burn mystery novel, read this. If you like historical fantasy or paranormal themes, read this. If you like books that have you pinning red string to the wall, READ THIS.
It comes out on October 20th and I cannot wait to make my friends read it so I can talk about it with other people. If you read this book, MESSAGE ME so we can talk about it lol
December 12, 2025
Give me any variation of toxic lesbian vampires and I eat it up every. single time.
It's been over a week since I finished it, and I am still thinking about these two if that tells you anything. (aka you need to put whatever book you're reading down right now and pick this one up)
Adding the roaring 20s as a setting for this deliciously toxic romance somehow manages to make this book even that much better, which I really didn't think was possible. To me, the setting brought a fresh new look at a plot that has been done over more than once. This led to the book feeling like a brand-new story yet also retaining the feeling of coming home to what you already know and love.
With these FMC's I feel like readers go through the 10 phases of grief as if they were on a never-ending roller-coaster through this entire book. But like in an enjoyably psychotic way. Their personalities were unapologetically theirs and stayed unique I loved the secondary characters with all my heart, and I was so glad that they were such a important and highlighted part of the story, instead of feeling like cardboard cutouts just sitting in the background.
It's been over a week since I finished it, and I am still thinking about these two if that tells you anything. (aka you need to put whatever book you're reading down right now and pick this one up)
Adding the roaring 20s as a setting for this deliciously toxic romance somehow manages to make this book even that much better, which I really didn't think was possible. To me, the setting brought a fresh new look at a plot that has been done over more than once. This led to the book feeling like a brand-new story yet also retaining the feeling of coming home to what you already know and love.
With these FMC's I feel like readers go through the 10 phases of grief as if they were on a never-ending roller-coaster through this entire book. But like in an enjoyably psychotic way. Their personalities were unapologetically theirs and stayed unique I loved the secondary characters with all my heart, and I was so glad that they were such a important and highlighted part of the story, instead of feeling like cardboard cutouts just sitting in the background.
January 2, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!
I went into this for toxic 1920's vampire yuri and was NOT disappointed. What a dangerously accurate depiction of a toxic relationship. I thought the friend group and the secret organization could have been developed a bit more -- as it was, they read as background Great Gatsby characters and not much more, though I did really like spooky grandpa.
I went into this for toxic 1920's vampire yuri and was NOT disappointed. What a dangerously accurate depiction of a toxic relationship. I thought the friend group and the secret organization could have been developed a bit more -- as it was, they read as background Great Gatsby characters and not much more, though I did really like spooky grandpa.
December 14, 2025
3.75
"Ophelia's nude form appreared to be in motion, emerging from a place of hiding within a secret garden. Just like the snake that slithered out in Eden, Ophelia appeared suddenly, equally as beautiful and captivating as her surroundings."
There are some books where you only see what the author wants you to see, and everything else is left in the dark. This book falls into that category. The author leads us through a naive main character, slowly bringing certain elements into the spotlight to make readers aware, while leaving the rest shrouded in mystery. While reading, I found myself completely engrossed in Ophelia and the mystery surrounding her.
Summary: The book begins with Lawrence placing an advertisement stating that she is looking for work. She is a painter with experience working under a master painter in Italy. As she goes about her life, she makes friends along the way and learns about the mystery of Ashmore. Despite numerous warnings, she accepts an invitation to dine at Ashmore and is later commissioned to paint a portrait of Ophelia, the mistress of Ashmore.
Meanwhile, the death toll keeps rising, and all fingers point toward Ashmore. Lawrence, however, being the one closest to it, ignores the warnings and earnestly focuses on her work and on getting to know Ophelia. When the deaths become personal, she can no longer ignore the danger and must make a decision: escape Ophelia’s snare or sink even deeper into it.
Writing: Written in the third person with a single POV (Lawrence) over 425 pages, the author weaves an engrossing story filled with chilling vibes and carefully concealed mysteries. The writing raises the hair on your arms with its gruesome scenes and beautiful descriptions. There are also a few jump scares that I absolutely loved as a reader.
Plot: Although the major plotline has been explored before, much like in Dracula, where the main character enters Dracula's domain and becomes trapped; it was the mystery of Ophelia that roped me in. The author never lays all her cards on the table. For the majority of the story, it is only hinted that Ophelia is not entirely human, we never fully learn why there is an immediate pull between the two women, or what they truly are to each other. We never fully see the extent of Ophelia’s capabilities. The story is so engrossing and entertaining that I almost forgot how little background we receive about several characters, which ultimately makes the book an intriguing discussion piece full of “whats” and “whys.”
Characters: The book features a wide variety of characters, but as mentioned above, we don’t see much of their backgrounds or motivations. I would have loved more insight into Edwin’s past, Patrick’s and Augusta’s motivations, and what made them behave the way they did. The focus of the book lies on the slow degradation of the main character under Ophelia’s charm. Ophelia is often described as a snake, while Lawrence is someone who, though not entirely unwilling, becomes fully caught in her snare. Even the cover art reflects this dynamic.
My only issue with Lawrence was that some of her mid-early decisions were questionable. However, since the book hints that their meeting was inevitable, this becomes more redeemable.
Recommendation: If chilling atmospheres, slow psychological torment, jump scares, and unexpected twists are your type, and if you like watching a story take on a sinister shape under a careful author’s hand, supported by beautiful descriptive writing, then you would definitely enjoy this book.
"It's a terribly lonely thing to be alive. We only really know ourselves, don't we? It sounds like I'm just afraid of being misunderstood, and maybe that's a big part of it, but I think I'm mostly afraid of being forgotten. I'd like very much to be remembered. It's such a terrible tragedy, I think, to be alive and then forgotten about entirely." She paused a moment...
Thank you to the author and publisher for the free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
"Ophelia's nude form appreared to be in motion, emerging from a place of hiding within a secret garden. Just like the snake that slithered out in Eden, Ophelia appeared suddenly, equally as beautiful and captivating as her surroundings."
There are some books where you only see what the author wants you to see, and everything else is left in the dark. This book falls into that category. The author leads us through a naive main character, slowly bringing certain elements into the spotlight to make readers aware, while leaving the rest shrouded in mystery. While reading, I found myself completely engrossed in Ophelia and the mystery surrounding her.
Summary: The book begins with Lawrence placing an advertisement stating that she is looking for work. She is a painter with experience working under a master painter in Italy. As she goes about her life, she makes friends along the way and learns about the mystery of Ashmore. Despite numerous warnings, she accepts an invitation to dine at Ashmore and is later commissioned to paint a portrait of Ophelia, the mistress of Ashmore.
Meanwhile, the death toll keeps rising, and all fingers point toward Ashmore. Lawrence, however, being the one closest to it, ignores the warnings and earnestly focuses on her work and on getting to know Ophelia. When the deaths become personal, she can no longer ignore the danger and must make a decision: escape Ophelia’s snare or sink even deeper into it.
Writing: Written in the third person with a single POV (Lawrence) over 425 pages, the author weaves an engrossing story filled with chilling vibes and carefully concealed mysteries. The writing raises the hair on your arms with its gruesome scenes and beautiful descriptions. There are also a few jump scares that I absolutely loved as a reader.
Plot: Although the major plotline has been explored before, much like in Dracula, where the main character enters Dracula's domain and becomes trapped; it was the mystery of Ophelia that roped me in. The author never lays all her cards on the table. For the majority of the story, it is only hinted that Ophelia is not entirely human, we never fully learn why there is an immediate pull between the two women, or what they truly are to each other. We never fully see the extent of Ophelia’s capabilities. The story is so engrossing and entertaining that I almost forgot how little background we receive about several characters, which ultimately makes the book an intriguing discussion piece full of “whats” and “whys.”
Characters: The book features a wide variety of characters, but as mentioned above, we don’t see much of their backgrounds or motivations. I would have loved more insight into Edwin’s past, Patrick’s and Augusta’s motivations, and what made them behave the way they did. The focus of the book lies on the slow degradation of the main character under Ophelia’s charm. Ophelia is often described as a snake, while Lawrence is someone who, though not entirely unwilling, becomes fully caught in her snare. Even the cover art reflects this dynamic.
My only issue with Lawrence was that some of her mid-early decisions were questionable. However, since the book hints that their meeting was inevitable, this becomes more redeemable.
Recommendation: If chilling atmospheres, slow psychological torment, jump scares, and unexpected twists are your type, and if you like watching a story take on a sinister shape under a careful author’s hand, supported by beautiful descriptive writing, then you would definitely enjoy this book.
"It's a terribly lonely thing to be alive. We only really know ourselves, don't we? It sounds like I'm just afraid of being misunderstood, and maybe that's a big part of it, but I think I'm mostly afraid of being forgotten. I'd like very much to be remembered. It's such a terrible tragedy, I think, to be alive and then forgotten about entirely." She paused a moment...
Thank you to the author and publisher for the free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
October 7, 2025
Content Warnings;
Please read with caution & read the content warnings carefully.
~Thank you, the author, S.M. Namkoong, for the free Arc of this book. I'm leaving this review voluntarily.~
Tropes;
🖤🍷𝓥𝓪𝓶𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓼
🍷🖤𝓡𝓸𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓣𝔀𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓮𝓼
🖤🍷𝓗𝓾𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝓕 𝔁 𝓥𝓪𝓶𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓮 𝓕
🍷🖤𝓜𝓸𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓖𝓻𝓮𝔂 𝓜𝓒𝓼
🖤🍷𝓢𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓱𝓲𝓬 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓢𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂
🍷🖤𝓖𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓬 𝓣𝓪𝓵𝓮
🖤🍷𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓬𝓴
🍷🖤𝓢𝓹𝓸𝓸𝓴𝔂 𝓗𝓸𝓻𝓻𝓸𝓻
🖤🍷𝓓𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓵𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓪𝓾𝓽𝔂
🍷🖤𝓞𝓫𝓼𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷
🖤🍷𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓬𝓮𝓭 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝔁𝓲𝓶𝓲𝓽𝔂
🍷🖤𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🖤🍷𝓒𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓯-𝓗𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻
This is a dark romantic, sapphic vampire story set in the roaring 1920s. A standalone and a gothic horror, perfect for the season of Halloween!
Lawrence's character is so likable; she's quite romantic at heart and innocent at times, strong-minded, too, in various situations. Ophelia is the mysterious and magnetic owner of the believed haunted house. Her character is darkly beautiful, luring Lawrence in a twisted world of passion and betrayal. We meet intriguing personalities she encounters along the way on her journey, each bringing their own auras and perspectives.
I especially love the gothic aura the book gives. There's a certain allure about it. The descriptions are beautiful, making the imagery vivid in my mind's eye. The mystery, tension, and suspense are thrilling. Writing style is captivating because it's very well done and flows smoothly without it being choppy. The plot-line is deep with an anamoured lovesick kind of obsession, which, to be honest, I personally live for! It's crazy and dark and bewitching. I just wish there was a little more spice, albeit I did enjoy it, it was delicious. Ophelia's pacing is perfect for me, and it didn't drag at all - kept my attention from start to end. The ending is heart-breaking and dramatic. The Prologue ends on a twist that I didn't expect. I love it.
Mini rant: The ending has me spiraling. My heart is aching. My mind is buzzing. My body is calm yet fidgety. The way chapter twenty-five ends makes me want to throw my Kindle out the window! THE F*CK. And then the way the Epilogue ends gives me hope. I am in two minds. I'm full of sorrow... AND relief. I need a strong coffee. What a plot-twist at the end!
Out of Fives;
🍷🖤𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓: ✨✨✨✨✨
🖤🍷𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆: 🔥🔥🔥
🍷🖤𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆: 🥀🥀🥀🥀
🖤🍷𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚: 🔎🔎🔎🔎
🍷🖤𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒚: 🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️
🖤🍷𝑮𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒄: 🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑
🍷🖤𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: 💋💋💋💋💋
🖤🍷𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔: 🖤🖤🖤🖤
🍷🖤𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅: 🩸🩸🩸🩸
🖤🍷𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
🍷🖤𝑩𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔: 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
🖤🍷𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔: 🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲
🍷🖤𝑺𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆: 🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
🖤🍷𝑶𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒂 𝑭𝑴𝑪: 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
🍷🖤𝑳𝒂𝒘𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑭𝑴𝑪: 🩶🩶🩶🩶🩶
🖤🍷𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆: 🎬🎬🎬🎬🎬
🍷🖤𝑷𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳
🖤🍷𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
🍷🖤𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈: 🌍🌏🌍🌍🌏
🖤🍷𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅: 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪/𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆.
🍷🖤𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆.
🖤🍷𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 430.
🍷🖤𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔: 27 (𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆 & 𝑬𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆).
🖤🍷𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝑭𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓, 𝑮𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒄 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆.
🍷🖤𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆: 20 𝑶𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒓 2025.
🖤🍷𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅: 𝒀𝒆𝒔.
🍷🖤𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Please read with caution & read the content warnings carefully.
~Thank you, the author, S.M. Namkoong, for the free Arc of this book. I'm leaving this review voluntarily.~
Tropes;
🖤🍷𝓥𝓪𝓶𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓼
🍷🖤𝓡𝓸𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓣𝔀𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓮𝓼
🖤🍷𝓗𝓾𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝓕 𝔁 𝓥𝓪𝓶𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓮 𝓕
🍷🖤𝓜𝓸𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓖𝓻𝓮𝔂 𝓜𝓒𝓼
🖤🍷𝓢𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓱𝓲𝓬 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓢𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂
🍷🖤𝓖𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓬 𝓣𝓪𝓵𝓮
🖤🍷𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓬𝓴
🍷🖤𝓢𝓹𝓸𝓸𝓴𝔂 𝓗𝓸𝓻𝓻𝓸𝓻
🖤🍷𝓓𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓵𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓪𝓾𝓽𝔂
🍷🖤𝓞𝓫𝓼𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷
🖤🍷𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓬𝓮𝓭 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝔁𝓲𝓶𝓲𝓽𝔂
🍷🖤𝓜𝓸𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🖤🍷𝓒𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓯-𝓗𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻
This is a dark romantic, sapphic vampire story set in the roaring 1920s. A standalone and a gothic horror, perfect for the season of Halloween!
Lawrence's character is so likable; she's quite romantic at heart and innocent at times, strong-minded, too, in various situations. Ophelia is the mysterious and magnetic owner of the believed haunted house. Her character is darkly beautiful, luring Lawrence in a twisted world of passion and betrayal. We meet intriguing personalities she encounters along the way on her journey, each bringing their own auras and perspectives.
I especially love the gothic aura the book gives. There's a certain allure about it. The descriptions are beautiful, making the imagery vivid in my mind's eye. The mystery, tension, and suspense are thrilling. Writing style is captivating because it's very well done and flows smoothly without it being choppy. The plot-line is deep with an anamoured lovesick kind of obsession, which, to be honest, I personally live for! It's crazy and dark and bewitching. I just wish there was a little more spice, albeit I did enjoy it, it was delicious. Ophelia's pacing is perfect for me, and it didn't drag at all - kept my attention from start to end. The ending is heart-breaking and dramatic. The Prologue ends on a twist that I didn't expect. I love it.
Mini rant: The ending has me spiraling. My heart is aching. My mind is buzzing. My body is calm yet fidgety. The way chapter twenty-five ends makes me want to throw my Kindle out the window! THE F*CK. And then the way the Epilogue ends gives me hope. I am in two minds. I'm full of sorrow... AND relief. I need a strong coffee. What a plot-twist at the end!
Out of Fives;
🍷🖤𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓: ✨✨✨✨✨
🖤🍷𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆: 🔥🔥🔥
🍷🖤𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆: 🥀🥀🥀🥀
🖤🍷𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚: 🔎🔎🔎🔎
🍷🖤𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒚: 🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️
🖤🍷𝑮𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒄: 🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑
🍷🖤𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: 💋💋💋💋💋
🖤🍷𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔: 🖤🖤🖤🖤
🍷🖤𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅: 🩸🩸🩸🩸
🖤🍷𝑻𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
🍷🖤𝑩𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔: 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
🖤🍷𝑬𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔: 🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲
🍷🖤𝑺𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆: 🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
🖤🍷𝑶𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒂 𝑭𝑴𝑪: 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
🍷🖤𝑳𝒂𝒘𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑭𝑴𝑪: 🩶🩶🩶🩶🩶
🖤🍷𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆: 🎬🎬🎬🎬🎬
🍷🖤𝑷𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⏳⏳⏳⏳⏳
🖤🍷𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
🍷🖤𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑩𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈: 🌍🌏🌍🌍🌏
🖤🍷𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅: 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪/𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆.
🍷🖤𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔: 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆.
🖤🍷𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 430.
🍷🖤𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔: 27 (𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆 & 𝑬𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆).
🖤🍷𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝑭𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓, 𝑮𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒄 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆.
🍷🖤𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆: 20 𝑶𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒓 2025.
🖤🍷𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑰 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅: 𝒀𝒆𝒔.
🍷🖤𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
October 31, 2025
Ophelia" by S.M. Namkoong is a gripping Gothic story that draws you into a dark and emotional world. The novel takes place during the Roaring Twenties on Maine’s rugged coast, blending a vivid historical setting with eerie paranormal twists. It brings together high-society intrigue and the risks of obsession in a way that feels both fresh and intense.
The real strength of this story is its characters. Lawrence Stoner stands out as a complex heroine. She is strong-willed and romantic, but her naiveté about the dangers of Ashmore Hall makes her relatable and imperfect. Her interest in the mysterious Ophelia Aldane drives the main conflict.
The relationship that develops between the two leads showcases a masterclass in slow-burn tension. The pacing of their fated connection feels entirely organic, intensely engaging, and ultimately doomed. This narrative illustrates love as a high-stakes gamble, leaving the reader hopelessly entwined with Lawrence's journey. Additionally, the supporting cast is exceptionally well-developed; every character, even those you might despise, feels unsettlingly real and fully fleshed out, which significantly contributes to the emotional weight of the story.
The author skillfully constructs a consistent and immersive world around Ashmore Hall, making the high cost of obsession palpably clear. For readers in search of a compelling sapphic dark romance that evokes an angsty, paranormal version of "The Great Gatsby," this book hits every mark.
I highly recommend this novel, but readers should be considerate of the numerous and legitimate trigger warnings, as the book delves deeply into dark themes and intense emotional turmoil. While I appreciated the quality of the writing and the captivating journey, the sheer emotional darkness and consistent level of angst make this a challenging read for me, preventing it from being an effortless 4-star book. Nevertheless, it is undeniably a powerful and excellent work.
The real strength of this story is its characters. Lawrence Stoner stands out as a complex heroine. She is strong-willed and romantic, but her naiveté about the dangers of Ashmore Hall makes her relatable and imperfect. Her interest in the mysterious Ophelia Aldane drives the main conflict.
The relationship that develops between the two leads showcases a masterclass in slow-burn tension. The pacing of their fated connection feels entirely organic, intensely engaging, and ultimately doomed. This narrative illustrates love as a high-stakes gamble, leaving the reader hopelessly entwined with Lawrence's journey. Additionally, the supporting cast is exceptionally well-developed; every character, even those you might despise, feels unsettlingly real and fully fleshed out, which significantly contributes to the emotional weight of the story.
The author skillfully constructs a consistent and immersive world around Ashmore Hall, making the high cost of obsession palpably clear. For readers in search of a compelling sapphic dark romance that evokes an angsty, paranormal version of "The Great Gatsby," this book hits every mark.
I highly recommend this novel, but readers should be considerate of the numerous and legitimate trigger warnings, as the book delves deeply into dark themes and intense emotional turmoil. While I appreciated the quality of the writing and the captivating journey, the sheer emotional darkness and consistent level of angst make this a challenging read for me, preventing it from being an effortless 4-star book. Nevertheless, it is undeniably a powerful and excellent work.
January 7, 2026
3.5 stars. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I love a Carmilla inspired story and it's exactly what drew me to Ophelia, despite having never read Carmilla. It's a relatively long book, yet I went through it faster than I expected. It takes the main character, Lawrence, a long time to meet Ophelia, longer than I expected it would, but I do appreciate the things the author was setting up in those parts before they truly meet. The story has a good core, and I was interested in the way side characters were involved in the story, giving it a subplot that I wasn't expecting.
While reading, it felt like certain things remained vague, maybe because Lawrence herself doesn't know or understand everything, or maybe as a way to pull the reader further in. However, having finished the book, I still feel like I have unanswered questions, or things I'm wondering about. Without giving too much away, two examples of that are 1) the rules of vampirism in this universe (the big picture is clear, but there were elements to Ophelia that I wasn't sure if are vampire things or not) and 2) how much of what Lawrence feels for Ophelia is genuine (and whether genuine or not, is it even love at all).
To continue that 2nd point, I feel conflicted about Lawrence. We get quite the clear picture of Ophelia, and yet it felt like at certain scenes there wasn't enough inner monologue for me to understand if Lawrence's choices were her own, or why they were made at all. It sometimes felt like she was just doing things, and I wished we were in her head more because it felt almost automatic (which maybe is a choice, but it didn't always feel clear).
Because of my uncertainty about certain aspects of vampirism and the relationship, the ending surprised me, but not in a bad way. Again, I appreciate that the author didn't go with the obvious way of telling a story like this.
I love a Carmilla inspired story and it's exactly what drew me to Ophelia, despite having never read Carmilla. It's a relatively long book, yet I went through it faster than I expected. It takes the main character, Lawrence, a long time to meet Ophelia, longer than I expected it would, but I do appreciate the things the author was setting up in those parts before they truly meet. The story has a good core, and I was interested in the way side characters were involved in the story, giving it a subplot that I wasn't expecting.
While reading, it felt like certain things remained vague, maybe because Lawrence herself doesn't know or understand everything, or maybe as a way to pull the reader further in. However, having finished the book, I still feel like I have unanswered questions, or things I'm wondering about. Without giving too much away, two examples of that are 1) the rules of vampirism in this universe (the big picture is clear, but there were elements to Ophelia that I wasn't sure if are vampire things or not) and 2) how much of what Lawrence feels for Ophelia is genuine (and whether genuine or not, is it even love at all).
To continue that 2nd point, I feel conflicted about Lawrence. We get quite the clear picture of Ophelia, and yet it felt like at certain scenes there wasn't enough inner monologue for me to understand if Lawrence's choices were her own, or why they were made at all. It sometimes felt like she was just doing things, and I wished we were in her head more because it felt almost automatic (which maybe is a choice, but it didn't always feel clear).
Because of my uncertainty about certain aspects of vampirism and the relationship, the ending surprised me, but not in a bad way. Again, I appreciate that the author didn't go with the obvious way of telling a story like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
♥︎ 𝐀 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞 ♥︎
A story of:
🩸 An Obsessive Vampire
🩸 Forced Proximity
🩸 A Morally Grey Main Character
🩸 Set in the 1920’s
🩸 A Sapphic romance
🩸 Small Town Vibes
My Thoughts:
I love a vampire re-telling especially one that is filled with gothic vibes and forbidden love. I still watch The Vampire Diaries now (at 43 years old 🫣) … This story drew me in instantly. I loved the small-town vibes and the dark ominous house that everyone avoided and how strange things started to happen when the lamps burned. The 1920’s setting during prohibition added another level of intrigue for me. As you would expect from a gothic tale, there were some darker parts to this read, but I was drawn to this grittiness. The mystery surrounding the house, the enigmatic mistress, and the secretive housekeeper kept me guessing. I found Ophelia mesmerising. An extremely morally grey character that I couldn’t help but like. I could understand why Lawrence was so taken with her, but at the same time Ophelia’s temper was extremely temperamental, so the story was quite tense in places. The ending was beautifully tragic and sad but also suggested a lingering feeling that’s open to interpretation.
At the heart, this was a tragic love story which was quite poetic in places.
There was a fair bit of repetition in the wording, but I was able to ignore this because I was so intrigued to see where the story went.
Overall, an engaging read. For lovers of a dark, gothic read with a morally grey character.
♥︎ 𝐀 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞 ♥︎
A story of:
🩸 An Obsessive Vampire
🩸 Forced Proximity
🩸 A Morally Grey Main Character
🩸 Set in the 1920’s
🩸 A Sapphic romance
🩸 Small Town Vibes
My Thoughts:
I love a vampire re-telling especially one that is filled with gothic vibes and forbidden love. I still watch The Vampire Diaries now (at 43 years old 🫣) … This story drew me in instantly. I loved the small-town vibes and the dark ominous house that everyone avoided and how strange things started to happen when the lamps burned. The 1920’s setting during prohibition added another level of intrigue for me. As you would expect from a gothic tale, there were some darker parts to this read, but I was drawn to this grittiness. The mystery surrounding the house, the enigmatic mistress, and the secretive housekeeper kept me guessing. I found Ophelia mesmerising. An extremely morally grey character that I couldn’t help but like. I could understand why Lawrence was so taken with her, but at the same time Ophelia’s temper was extremely temperamental, so the story was quite tense in places. The ending was beautifully tragic and sad but also suggested a lingering feeling that’s open to interpretation.
At the heart, this was a tragic love story which was quite poetic in places.
There was a fair bit of repetition in the wording, but I was able to ignore this because I was so intrigued to see where the story went.
Overall, an engaging read. For lovers of a dark, gothic read with a morally grey character.
November 25, 2025
Thanks to S.M. Namkoong for a free copy of the e-ARC!
Just as I was looking for another gothic novel to read, I came across Ophelia. Its description caught my interest, so I decided to apply for an ARC. Namkoong does a great job at setting the atmosphere throughout the book, making Ashmore eerie yet alluring.
The characters are a mix of likeable and not-so-likeable. Ophelia herself has a mysterious charm at first but becomes a classic abuser. Because of how elusive she is, it's hard to grasp her motivations. She's obsessed with LJ but I'll never understand why it had to be her. Likewise, I don't know how LJ fell so madly in love when Patrick and Augusta treated her with the same kindness/hospitality as Ophelia when they first met. It felt like the only difference was Ophelia's beauty. Perhaps I'm just not the right audience. LJ disappointed me with her choices and didn't have much of a personality either. However, I did enjoy reading about her painting process and how the final portrait of Ophelia turned out. The trio were my favourites, and I had hoped LJ would The book dragged on until the final burst of action at the end. Ms Hettle was an interesting character, and I wish we could have gotten more of her story.
The writing could have gone through a few more edits as well. I encountered various typos and awkward phrasings that threw me off/broke my immersion at times.
Overall, if you like good atmosphere, gothic queer stories, or toxic romances then give it a try
Just as I was looking for another gothic novel to read, I came across Ophelia. Its description caught my interest, so I decided to apply for an ARC. Namkoong does a great job at setting the atmosphere throughout the book, making Ashmore eerie yet alluring.
The characters are a mix of likeable and not-so-likeable. Ophelia herself has a mysterious charm at first but becomes a classic abuser. Because of how elusive she is, it's hard to grasp her motivations. She's obsessed with LJ but I'll never understand why it had to be her. Likewise, I don't know how LJ fell so madly in love when Patrick and Augusta treated her with the same kindness/hospitality as Ophelia when they first met. It felt like the only difference was Ophelia's beauty. Perhaps I'm just not the right audience. LJ disappointed me with her choices and didn't have much of a personality either. However, I did enjoy reading about her painting process and how the final portrait of Ophelia turned out. The trio were my favourites, and I had hoped LJ would The book dragged on until the final burst of action at the end. Ms Hettle was an interesting character, and I wish we could have gotten more of her story.
The writing could have gone through a few more edits as well. I encountered various typos and awkward phrasings that threw me off/broke my immersion at times.
Overall, if you like good atmosphere, gothic queer stories, or toxic romances then give it a try
October 21, 2025
Beautifully written and completely unpredictable
I honestly didn’t expect to love Ophelia as much as I did. It starts off feeling like your classic gothic setup — mystery, old wounds, all that — but it quickly becomes something so much more personal and emotional. The characters are what really make it shine.
Lawrence is one of the most interesting protagonists I’ve read in a while. She’s messy, thoughtful, sometimes hard to read, and that’s exactly what makes her feel real. She’s not the typical tragic heroine or someone you can neatly label. Every decision she makes feels honest, even when it’s uncomfortable. I love that the story never tries to make her perfect; it just lets her be human.
What I appreciated most is how this book completely dodges clichés. Just when you think you know where it’s going, it turns a corner and surprises you. The writing is gorgeous, lush but not overdone, and the atmosphere pulls you right in. I found myself rereading lines just because they hit so hard.
By the end, I wasn’t ready to leave these characters behind. Ophelia feels fresh and timeless at the same time - a story about people rather than plot twists, and about emotion rather than drama. It’s one of those books that quietly gets under your skin.
If you love character-driven stories and want something that breaks the mold, this one’s for you
I honestly didn’t expect to love Ophelia as much as I did. It starts off feeling like your classic gothic setup — mystery, old wounds, all that — but it quickly becomes something so much more personal and emotional. The characters are what really make it shine.
Lawrence is one of the most interesting protagonists I’ve read in a while. She’s messy, thoughtful, sometimes hard to read, and that’s exactly what makes her feel real. She’s not the typical tragic heroine or someone you can neatly label. Every decision she makes feels honest, even when it’s uncomfortable. I love that the story never tries to make her perfect; it just lets her be human.
What I appreciated most is how this book completely dodges clichés. Just when you think you know where it’s going, it turns a corner and surprises you. The writing is gorgeous, lush but not overdone, and the atmosphere pulls you right in. I found myself rereading lines just because they hit so hard.
By the end, I wasn’t ready to leave these characters behind. Ophelia feels fresh and timeless at the same time - a story about people rather than plot twists, and about emotion rather than drama. It’s one of those books that quietly gets under your skin.
If you love character-driven stories and want something that breaks the mold, this one’s for you
October 21, 2025
If you like the Roaring Twenties and would like a sapphic vampire story set in this era, this book is for you.
The scene setting by S.M. Namkoong is beautiful, you do get a real feel for the era and the Bay.
*This is just my opion of the era the story was so well set in, not the writting, the writting is incredible and I can not stress that enough*
Sadly it turns out I enjoyed Baz Lurman's The Great Gatsby because it was directed by Baz Lurman and not becasue I like the 1920's era, so this book just wasn't for me. The characters were well written and felt exactly as I have been made to believe people in 1920's behaved, but this style of upper class, delicate women who sit around the house, drinking, smoking and giggling at the slightest thing does not appeal to me. There were some attention grabbing parts of the plot, I just wished there had been more of these parts in the story.
If S.M. Namkoong writes any modern storylines I would be very interested to read these as the scene setting was brillant; it's just the 1920's I have no interest in.
A beautiful first novel and I am looking forward to seeing what S.M. Namkoong writes next.
Thank you S.M. Namkoong for the chance to read this very immersive story, I am sorry it turns out I do not like the era it was set in.
The scene setting by S.M. Namkoong is beautiful, you do get a real feel for the era and the Bay.
*This is just my opion of the era the story was so well set in, not the writting, the writting is incredible and I can not stress that enough*
Sadly it turns out I enjoyed Baz Lurman's The Great Gatsby because it was directed by Baz Lurman and not becasue I like the 1920's era, so this book just wasn't for me. The characters were well written and felt exactly as I have been made to believe people in 1920's behaved, but this style of upper class, delicate women who sit around the house, drinking, smoking and giggling at the slightest thing does not appeal to me. There were some attention grabbing parts of the plot, I just wished there had been more of these parts in the story.
If S.M. Namkoong writes any modern storylines I would be very interested to read these as the scene setting was brillant; it's just the 1920's I have no interest in.
A beautiful first novel and I am looking forward to seeing what S.M. Namkoong writes next.
Thank you S.M. Namkoong for the chance to read this very immersive story, I am sorry it turns out I do not like the era it was set in.
October 15, 2025
Holy hell!
This book is much longer than my usual reads, but when I say I couldn’t put it down, I genuinely mean that. I may have taken a nap and gotten right back into it lol.
If you’re looking for a dark and angsty, sapphic Gatsby meets the paranormal vibe, this will be right up your alley!
The way this author is able to make a mammoth length novel feel like it’s over in the blink of an eye is honestly amazing. The pacing was spot on. Imagery and detail was perfection (good balance of it without it feeling like it was dragging along). And honestly I was worried when I opened it and saw the page count, but not one section of this book dragged or felt necessary.
Beware of the trigger warnings because they are legit there for a reason and plentiful. I don’t read a massive amount in the darker/ angsty categories now a days, but I really enjoyed this!
Thank you so much for the advanced copy for free. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily. Honestly, even writing this review, I fully know I am going to be thinking about this novel for a while, and it will most likely be one I come back to when I’m in an angst mood.
This book is much longer than my usual reads, but when I say I couldn’t put it down, I genuinely mean that. I may have taken a nap and gotten right back into it lol.
If you’re looking for a dark and angsty, sapphic Gatsby meets the paranormal vibe, this will be right up your alley!
The way this author is able to make a mammoth length novel feel like it’s over in the blink of an eye is honestly amazing. The pacing was spot on. Imagery and detail was perfection (good balance of it without it feeling like it was dragging along). And honestly I was worried when I opened it and saw the page count, but not one section of this book dragged or felt necessary.
Beware of the trigger warnings because they are legit there for a reason and plentiful. I don’t read a massive amount in the darker/ angsty categories now a days, but I really enjoyed this!
Thank you so much for the advanced copy for free. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily. Honestly, even writing this review, I fully know I am going to be thinking about this novel for a while, and it will most likely be one I come back to when I’m in an angst mood.
November 22, 2025
3 stars!
I enjoyed this book and the process of reading it, i found it to be a quick but interesting read. I mean lesbian vampires need i say more? But i did have a few minor issues with this book.
Firstly, i enjoyed our characters even though our MC was very naive. The little friendship group in this book, although it developed maybe too fast, warmed my heart. I also loved how some of the characters were already familiar with vampires and the occult. The small town setting was very enjoyable and added to the spookyness. And finally, ophelia’s character was very well written in my opinion, even though she was terrible i couldn’t help but fall into her trap a little. So what if she’s the devil rick, at least the devil has a job!
However, i found the time setting to be very confusing, going into this i knew it was set in the 20’s but i didn’t get that vibe at the beginning of the book it seemed a little confused itself. The pacing took me out a little as i found it to be super fast paced at some points and then the complete opposite at others.
Overall, enjoyable and i would recommend this book if you liked carmilla.
I enjoyed this book and the process of reading it, i found it to be a quick but interesting read. I mean lesbian vampires need i say more? But i did have a few minor issues with this book.
Firstly, i enjoyed our characters even though our MC was very naive. The little friendship group in this book, although it developed maybe too fast, warmed my heart. I also loved how some of the characters were already familiar with vampires and the occult. The small town setting was very enjoyable and added to the spookyness. And finally, ophelia’s character was very well written in my opinion, even though she was terrible i couldn’t help but fall into her trap a little. So what if she’s the devil rick, at least the devil has a job!
However, i found the time setting to be very confusing, going into this i knew it was set in the 20’s but i didn’t get that vibe at the beginning of the book it seemed a little confused itself. The pacing took me out a little as i found it to be super fast paced at some points and then the complete opposite at others.
Overall, enjoyable and i would recommend this book if you liked carmilla.
October 20, 2025
I received the ARC for Ophelia and was so glad to be able to read this early.
An amazing historical horror, it took a concept most people are well acquainted with- vampires- and took an interesting spin on it, adding touches of dark queer romance and setting it in the 1920's America.
Lawrence was an interesting mc, I really enjoyed learning about her past and reasonings for her actions, seeing how she interacted with Ophelia and others. I also loved reading her painting process (I am also an artist so I liked feeling connected in that way). I was able to fall in love with most if not all the characters, even if they rarely appeared. They were written with charm and personality to remember them.
The story itself was tense and heartbreaking (in a good way). A great mix of horror and thriller. Not a lot of romantic parts but I actually preferred it that way for this book.
The time skip with the ending especially was a shock I did not expect it! Made it very enjoyable for me. Overall, this is definitely a book you should read if you love Vampires, Historical 1920's Settings, Lesbian Romances, and the Macabre.
An amazing historical horror, it took a concept most people are well acquainted with- vampires- and took an interesting spin on it, adding touches of dark queer romance and setting it in the 1920's America.
Lawrence was an interesting mc, I really enjoyed learning about her past and reasonings for her actions, seeing how she interacted with Ophelia and others. I also loved reading her painting process (I am also an artist so I liked feeling connected in that way). I was able to fall in love with most if not all the characters, even if they rarely appeared. They were written with charm and personality to remember them.
The story itself was tense and heartbreaking (in a good way). A great mix of horror and thriller. Not a lot of romantic parts but I actually preferred it that way for this book.
The time skip with the ending especially was a shock I did not expect it! Made it very enjoyable for me. Overall, this is definitely a book you should read if you love Vampires, Historical 1920's Settings, Lesbian Romances, and the Macabre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2025
Ophelia is a captivating gothic thriller that immerses readers in the opulent yet ominous world of the Roaring Twenties. S.M. Namkoong skillfully balances atmosphere, suspense, and character intrigue, drawing the reader into Lawrence Stoner’s perilous journey. The novel’s tension is palpable from the first encounter at Ashmore Hall, building steadily as the deadly consequences of desire and obsession unfold.
What makes this story particularly compelling is its intricate character dynamics. Ophelia Aldane’s enigmatic allure and Lawrence’s fascination create a rich psychological tension, heightened by the mysterious deaths and whispered warnings surrounding the estate. Namkoong’s prose evokes a sense of time and place with precision, while the gothic elements the isolated coastal setting, the luxurious yet menacing Ashmore Hall amplify the suspense.
At its core, Ophelia is a story about the seductive danger of beauty and obsession, where every choice carries weight and every step may lead closer to death. It’s a thrilling, atmospheric read that lingers long after the final page.
What makes this story particularly compelling is its intricate character dynamics. Ophelia Aldane’s enigmatic allure and Lawrence’s fascination create a rich psychological tension, heightened by the mysterious deaths and whispered warnings surrounding the estate. Namkoong’s prose evokes a sense of time and place with precision, while the gothic elements the isolated coastal setting, the luxurious yet menacing Ashmore Hall amplify the suspense.
At its core, Ophelia is a story about the seductive danger of beauty and obsession, where every choice carries weight and every step may lead closer to death. It’s a thrilling, atmospheric read that lingers long after the final page.
October 17, 2025
I received this as an arc read and it honestly blew me away.
Ophelia is a tragic love story, showcasing the depths of an obsessive relationship and extreme gaslighting. The way the author captured those feelings was truly incredible and so heartbreaking. The characters are compelling and relatable and they have such a feeling of found family.
This reads like a classic and I mean that in the best way. The story was easy to imagine as you read and the pace was quite nice. Nothing felt rushed or left out. The attention to nuance is so lovely it lets you really get immersed into the story.
This book had me in a roller coaster of emotions, and the finale was so tragic and heartbreaking I teared up reading it. This is truly about being human, to feel and to love and the want to be loved in return. The need to be accepted and seen.
I would highly recommend this book to readers of gothic horror and classic fiction. This was a very beautiful tale I won’t soon forget.
Ophelia is a tragic love story, showcasing the depths of an obsessive relationship and extreme gaslighting. The way the author captured those feelings was truly incredible and so heartbreaking. The characters are compelling and relatable and they have such a feeling of found family.
This reads like a classic and I mean that in the best way. The story was easy to imagine as you read and the pace was quite nice. Nothing felt rushed or left out. The attention to nuance is so lovely it lets you really get immersed into the story.
This book had me in a roller coaster of emotions, and the finale was so tragic and heartbreaking I teared up reading it. This is truly about being human, to feel and to love and the want to be loved in return. The need to be accepted and seen.
I would highly recommend this book to readers of gothic horror and classic fiction. This was a very beautiful tale I won’t soon forget.
November 13, 2025
Ophelia is one of those stories that quietly pulls you in and then refuses to let go. I loved the haunting atmosphere and the way the author blended emotion, mystery, and that slightly eerie, delicate tension throughout the book. The writing is beautiful and immersive, and I found myself really connecting with the main character and her inner world.
The pacing is steady, the tone is moody, and the plot has just enough twists and emotional depth to keep you invested the entire way through. It felt lyrical but also unsettling at times — such a unique mix.
Overall, this was a captivating and beautifully written read. I really enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend it to readers who love atmospheric, character-driven stories with a touch of darkness.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.
The pacing is steady, the tone is moody, and the plot has just enough twists and emotional depth to keep you invested the entire way through. It felt lyrical but also unsettling at times — such a unique mix.
Overall, this was a captivating and beautifully written read. I really enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend it to readers who love atmospheric, character-driven stories with a touch of darkness.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.
October 4, 2025
Great Kickoff to Spooky Season! if you enjoy any Vampire lore with a gothic vibe, spooky houses and of course sent in Maine dive into this great novel. This gave me Carmilla vibes with an updated narrative set in the Roaring 20's (which I loved) . I am all in for a sapphic Vampire story! our MFC Lawrence is trying to carve a life out as a starving artist with a few secrets of her own . She meets the mysterious owner Ophelia, of a rumored haunted house and is quickly drawn into her world of desire, lies, death and something far darker than Lawrence bargained for. Along the way we meet some great side characters the befriend Lawrence and try to warn of the dangers that may await her if she continues down the path she has chosen. I received this ARC novel and totally devoured it. I usually like a little more spice but the tension and yearning was there and very well written ! highly recommend this Gem !
October 21, 2025
I genuinely loved this book. As someone who appreciates time periods, supernatural elements, romance, and thriller - I did appreciate the plot, author's tone, and cared for the characters in general but the time I settled into the book. The first few chapters did an ideal job immersing the reader into the story's world and time era, although it did take me a few chapters to really invest into the story. It's over four hundred pages but I flew through the last two hundred on my e-reader over the span on 24 hours, literally taking it with me on the go. Had me questioning how the conflict would resolve until the very last paragraph! Curious to read other bodies of work by this author in the future.
October 14, 2025
So grateful for this ARC!
It took me a few chapters to really get into this, but once I was, I didn't want to put it down! I loved the characters, and felt this was a perfect read for October.
I really enjoyed the characters, though I did feel that our main character somewhat backpedaled in her personality. She went from super independent to a bit codependent, and though that's needed for the plot, it's a bit annoying. I also felt some of the patterns around the earlier deaths were more or less forgotten or like things mattered less once we found out about the murderer.
The ending was excellent, and the epilogue was the perfect end to a scary story.
It took me a few chapters to really get into this, but once I was, I didn't want to put it down! I loved the characters, and felt this was a perfect read for October.
I really enjoyed the characters, though I did feel that our main character somewhat backpedaled in her personality. She went from super independent to a bit codependent, and though that's needed for the plot, it's a bit annoying. I also felt some of the patterns around the earlier deaths were more or less forgotten or like things mattered less once we found out about the murderer.
The ending was excellent, and the epilogue was the perfect end to a scary story.
October 23, 2025
3 stars. Wasn’t terribly written or anything. The writing was really good and the author does a good job with the atmosphere of the story but I never got into the story like I wanted. I had trouble focusing as I found the pacing to be glacially slow and it just didn’t hold my attention and the characters never pulled me in so I had a hard time caring about anything that was going on. I would be interested in reading something else by this author but as for this particular book it just wasn’t for me.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 28, 2025
Thank you to the author for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ophelia drew me in right away and is a suspenseful read for fans of vampires, The Great Gatsby, and an unbreakable bond sealed by fate. Lawrence is a young painter who moved to Bar Harbor after studying abroad. She quickly makes some new friends, but also is summoned to do a painting for the mistress of a house nobody dares to go near. The more Lawrence learns during her work, the harder it is to leave. When seeing the truth behind the loss and danger to her own life, she has to make a tough choice. The ending was a true shock for me, but well worth the read.
Ophelia drew me in right away and is a suspenseful read for fans of vampires, The Great Gatsby, and an unbreakable bond sealed by fate. Lawrence is a young painter who moved to Bar Harbor after studying abroad. She quickly makes some new friends, but also is summoned to do a painting for the mistress of a house nobody dares to go near. The more Lawrence learns during her work, the harder it is to leave. When seeing the truth behind the loss and danger to her own life, she has to make a tough choice. The ending was a true shock for me, but well worth the read.
October 29, 2025
I really enjoyed this as a Gothic tale, it had that atmosphere that I was looking for from this type of book and enjoyed that it had a message to it. I was invested in Lawrence and Ophelia's tale and how the storyline was used for the price we pay for obsession. I thought the characters worked well in this universe and had that dark romance concept that I wanted in this type of book. S. M. Namkoong wrote this perfectly and I hope to read more from the author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 23, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and S.M. Namkoong for the ARC!
I loved how hauntingly quiet this book catches you! The atmosphere was wonderfully done, and each emotion and sense of eeriness made me so immersed into the writing. The pacing and plot were at a comfortable place and the story was so emotionally investing that really made you feel unsettled.
I will say there were parts of the story that felt a bit slow, so some might be a bit impatient with those scenes, but personally, I really loved how it took time to slow down at times and let the plot develop.
I loved how hauntingly quiet this book catches you! The atmosphere was wonderfully done, and each emotion and sense of eeriness made me so immersed into the writing. The pacing and plot were at a comfortable place and the story was so emotionally investing that really made you feel unsettled.
I will say there were parts of the story that felt a bit slow, so some might be a bit impatient with those scenes, but personally, I really loved how it took time to slow down at times and let the plot develop.
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