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Moonstone
From award-winning bestseller Laura Purcell comes her YA debut, MOONSTONE, a sparkling, chilling gothic romance with real bite… Following a scandal at Vauxhall pleasure gardens, Camille is sent away to her reclusive godmother, who keeps a strict watch over her and her own sickly daughter, Lucy. Camille must stay away from everything she has known until the scandal is forgotten, keeping strictly to the small farmhouse in the woods. Away from the corsetry and curtsies of polite society, Camille finds herself surprisingly…free. She is also strangely drawn to Lucy, a pale, fragile girl who dreams of stars, but has never left the farm. Yet as Camille and Lucy grow close and cross forbidden boundaries, the fine balance of their woodland home begins to death stalks between the trees, claw-marks rake the doors and the moon rises to the song of a creature Camille has never heard before. Camille begins to realise her godmother was holding more than unladylike behaviour at bay… Perfect for fans of Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Silvia Moreno Garcia, MOONSTONE is the spooky and seductive new YA from the award-winning, SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of THE SILENT COMPANIONS, Laura Purcell.
279 pages, Paperback
First published May 23, 2024
46 people are currently reading
2523 people want to read
About the author
Laura Purcell
17 books3,318 followersLaura Purcell is a former bookseller and lives in Colchester with her husband and pet guinea pigs.
Her first novel for Raven Books THE SILENT COMPANIONS won the WHSmith Thumping Good Read Award 2018 and featured in both the Zoe Ball and Radio 2 Book Clubs. Other Gothic novels include THE CORSET (THE POISON THREAD in USA), BONE CHINA and THE SHAPE OF DARKNESS (2020)
Laura’s historical fiction about the Hanoverian monarchs, QUEEN OF BEDLAM and MISTRESS OF THE COURT, was published by Myrmidon.
Her first novel for Raven Books THE SILENT COMPANIONS won the WHSmith Thumping Good Read Award 2018 and featured in both the Zoe Ball and Radio 2 Book Clubs. Other Gothic novels include THE CORSET (THE POISON THREAD in USA), BONE CHINA and THE SHAPE OF DARKNESS (2020)
Laura’s historical fiction about the Hanoverian monarchs, QUEEN OF BEDLAM and MISTRESS OF THE COURT, was published by Myrmidon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
July 26, 2024
Ms Purcell's writing always draws me, and I could not resist the temptation when I saw her latest novel and requested it despite a little red bulb signalling YA. I am definitely not the target reader, being well above this age group, and unfortunately, I was unable to enjoy this book as much as I wished.
On the positive side, this gothic romance has all attributes: an isolated heroine, a mystery behind an illness, a villain etc. The downside is only on my side entirely, namely, not being able to connect with characters in any way and predicting what awaits me as a reader.
*Many thanks to Laura Purcell, HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
On the positive side, this gothic romance has all attributes: an isolated heroine, a mystery behind an illness, a villain etc. The downside is only on my side entirely, namely, not being able to connect with characters in any way and predicting what awaits me as a reader.
*Many thanks to Laura Purcell, HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
October 16, 2025
Laura Purcell cannot convince me her past books weren't all fruity as well. Only lesbians can be that iconic.
Camille arriving to a candy shop:
''Nah, girl, I can swim''
Camille arriving to a candy shop:
''Nah, girl, I can swim''
April 13, 2024
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Deep sighs at this one...It physically pains me to write this review because I don't enjoy writing negative reviews at all. It's why I'm so picky with what ARCs I request and what books I read, in general. However, this was a pure disappointment that honestly baffles me a lot.
The main character is Camille, and she's the farthest from a relatable and smart character. She's so self-centered that she dismisses all warning signs and the one thing that she's curious about, she doesn't bother looking into it.
And I'm afraid I didn't get the promised "chilling gothic romance with real bite". Chilling gothic perhaps was the atmosphere *at times*. Romance, however, I just didn't feel it. Sure, they were sort of pulled to each other, but I didn't feel any romantic vibes. In fact, I didn't feel anything at all....
The plot wasn't there? I kept reading and reading, hoping that something of substance and of note would happen, but nothing really pulled me in. The "big" plot twist at the end wasn't really big (not for someone who did see all the warning signs) and since I didn't care for any character, I didn't care about the ending, either.
I'm just so confused about this book. The cover is stunning, and the SE will be even prettier, but the story and its journey to publication confuses me.
And again, I reiterate, writing all this pains me. I mainly read ARCs and I take pride and honor out of this. I am honored that publishers approve me, and I do not take it for granted. However, if I wrote anything else in this review, it'd be dishonest.
Deep sighs at this one...It physically pains me to write this review because I don't enjoy writing negative reviews at all. It's why I'm so picky with what ARCs I request and what books I read, in general. However, this was a pure disappointment that honestly baffles me a lot.
The main character is Camille, and she's the farthest from a relatable and smart character. She's so self-centered that she dismisses all warning signs and the one thing that she's curious about, she doesn't bother looking into it.
And I'm afraid I didn't get the promised "chilling gothic romance with real bite". Chilling gothic perhaps was the atmosphere *at times*. Romance, however, I just didn't feel it. Sure, they were sort of pulled to each other, but I didn't feel any romantic vibes. In fact, I didn't feel anything at all....
The plot wasn't there? I kept reading and reading, hoping that something of substance and of note would happen, but nothing really pulled me in. The "big" plot twist at the end wasn't really big (not for someone who did see all the warning signs) and since I didn't care for any character, I didn't care about the ending, either.
I'm just so confused about this book. The cover is stunning, and the SE will be even prettier, but the story and its journey to publication confuses me.
And again, I reiterate, writing all this pains me. I mainly read ARCs and I take pride and honor out of this. I am honored that publishers approve me, and I do not take it for granted. However, if I wrote anything else in this review, it'd be dishonest.
March 25, 2024
This is probably more around a 2.75 ⭐️ but I don’t feel like rounding it up.
This is one of those books where the entire plot would be avoided if the characters just sat down and had one honest conversation. My god, I don’t even know what this trope is called. It’s not exactly the miscommunication trope, it’s more so the anti-communication trope?!
I think this novel started off well. There’s scandal, there’s drama, there’s a mysterious cottage in the woods with a trio of strange women…the plot was set up wonderfully.
I really did hate on how this book relied on keeping Camille in the dark for the whole story to be able to unfold. What I hate even more is how I wish keeping Camille in the dark made sense. Camille was brought there to be a friend and offer companionship to Lucy, yet this is something she cannot do as she’s always been kept away due to not knowing what Lucy’s illness in. And she can’t know because it will put her in danger. But not knowing puts her in danger as she doesn’t know the risks and therefore, many times, walks quite gleefully in to the risks. Sometimes with ignorance, sometimes with purpose (she wants the truth, dammit!).
Ultimately I didn’t really like how this story executed its plot and how things ended up happening. I did not like the twists and turns and often wished the story would take itself in a different direction.
Ultimately, despite the easy and sometimes atmospheric writing, this book was a massive miss for me. It just did not meet my expectations and then kept disappointing them.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Magpie for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review
This is one of those books where the entire plot would be avoided if the characters just sat down and had one honest conversation. My god, I don’t even know what this trope is called. It’s not exactly the miscommunication trope, it’s more so the anti-communication trope?!
I think this novel started off well. There’s scandal, there’s drama, there’s a mysterious cottage in the woods with a trio of strange women…the plot was set up wonderfully.
I really did hate on how this book relied on keeping Camille in the dark for the whole story to be able to unfold. What I hate even more is how I wish keeping Camille in the dark made sense. Camille was brought there to be a friend and offer companionship to Lucy, yet this is something she cannot do as she’s always been kept away due to not knowing what Lucy’s illness in. And she can’t know because it will put her in danger. But not knowing puts her in danger as she doesn’t know the risks and therefore, many times, walks quite gleefully in to the risks. Sometimes with ignorance, sometimes with purpose (she wants the truth, dammit!).
Ultimately I didn’t really like how this story executed its plot and how things ended up happening. I did not like the twists and turns and often wished the story would take itself in a different direction.
Ultimately, despite the easy and sometimes atmospheric writing, this book was a massive miss for me. It just did not meet my expectations and then kept disappointing them.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Magpie for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review
August 4, 2024
Unfortunately, this YA debut was disappointing for me. I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had not read the author's previous novels, but my expectations when it comes to one of my favorite authors were higher.
March 25, 2024
★★★★★ - 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
Moonstone by Laura Purcell
Book 1
༘Spoiler free ༘
⭐️3.75/5
Young Adult, Gothic, Romance
➳ Gothic 🦇
➳ Masquerade Balls 🎭
➳ Non-Linear Timeline ⌛️
➳ Regency Era 🕯️
➳ Slow Burn ❤️🔥
➳ Mystery 🔎
➳ Deadly Secrets 🤫
➳ Plot Twists 🪢
📚📚📚
Find me on: insta | tiktok
❧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*❦*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧❧
Laura Purcell’s captivating atmosphere and compelling mystery distinguish ‘Moonstone’ within the realm of the YA Gothic Fantasy Romance genre. From the first page, Purcell immerses readers in a haunting and atmospheric setting reminiscent of classic gothic literature. Eerie woods, a secluded farmhouse and mysterious occurrences build a sense of imminent foreboding. Mystery, suspense and plot twists meld together to create an engaging narrative.
As the protagonist Camille undergoes a significant amount of development throughout the story. Her journey from a sheltered young woman to a more independent and resilient individual was incredibly appreciated and necessary. At the beginning of the book, it is difficult to connect with her fully (which is understandable given her privileged upbringing) but her charm grows as her naivety wears off. Lucy was a closed book in the beginning, and it took a while for us to truly get to know her without al of her guards up. Once we managed to meet and truly know her, she became a favourite character.
I loved seeing the characters grapple with the societal restraints of the regency era, and their hunger for truth as they sought out freedom and their sense of identity.
The revelation of secrets, and resolution of conflicts provided closure and a sense of fulfilment by the end of the book. However, the ending did feel slightly rushed when compared to the slower paced beginning and middle.
I will certainly be picking up more of laura purcell’s works, and thought this was a lovely debut into the YA genre!
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
💖
LIKES:
⋆ I loved the gothic vibes and regency setting in this novel. It made for a lovely mood and definitely added to the mystery and intrigue.
⋆ This was the sort of novel where you find yourself interested in the side characters, and curious to know more about their backstories.
⋆ I loved loved loved who the FMC ended up with.
❤️🩹
DISLIKES:
⋆ The pacing was slower in the beginning and middle and made the ending feel slightly rushed. I know there are publishing limitations (especially within the YA genre) and sometimes not every page can be fit into the final copy but i would have appreciated more pages dedicated to the climax and conclusion.
⋆ Without giving spoilers, i would have loved more build up and romantic tension between the relationships in this story. I’d like to note that i do appreciate and enjoy the romantic couple that ended up together. 💖💖
**Fantasy Scoring**
Worldbuilding ➷ ✅ 4/5
Foreshadowing ➷ ✅ 3.5/5
Plot ➷ ✅ 4/5
Relationships ➷ ✅ 3.5/5
Thank you to the Laura Purcell, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, Magpie and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest opinion on the ARC of this book.
Moonstone by Laura Purcell
Book 1
༘Spoiler free ༘
⭐️3.75/5
Young Adult, Gothic, Romance
➳ Gothic 🦇
➳ Masquerade Balls 🎭
➳ Non-Linear Timeline ⌛️
➳ Regency Era 🕯️
➳ Slow Burn ❤️🔥
➳ Mystery 🔎
➳ Deadly Secrets 🤫
➳ Plot Twists 🪢
📚📚📚
Find me on: insta | tiktok
❧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*❦*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧❧
Laura Purcell’s captivating atmosphere and compelling mystery distinguish ‘Moonstone’ within the realm of the YA Gothic Fantasy Romance genre. From the first page, Purcell immerses readers in a haunting and atmospheric setting reminiscent of classic gothic literature. Eerie woods, a secluded farmhouse and mysterious occurrences build a sense of imminent foreboding. Mystery, suspense and plot twists meld together to create an engaging narrative.
As the protagonist Camille undergoes a significant amount of development throughout the story. Her journey from a sheltered young woman to a more independent and resilient individual was incredibly appreciated and necessary. At the beginning of the book, it is difficult to connect with her fully (which is understandable given her privileged upbringing) but her charm grows as her naivety wears off. Lucy was a closed book in the beginning, and it took a while for us to truly get to know her without al of her guards up. Once we managed to meet and truly know her, she became a favourite character.
I loved seeing the characters grapple with the societal restraints of the regency era, and their hunger for truth as they sought out freedom and their sense of identity.
The revelation of secrets, and resolution of conflicts provided closure and a sense of fulfilment by the end of the book. However, the ending did feel slightly rushed when compared to the slower paced beginning and middle.
I will certainly be picking up more of laura purcell’s works, and thought this was a lovely debut into the YA genre!
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
💖
LIKES:
⋆ I loved the gothic vibes and regency setting in this novel. It made for a lovely mood and definitely added to the mystery and intrigue.
⋆ This was the sort of novel where you find yourself interested in the side characters, and curious to know more about their backstories.
⋆ I loved loved loved who the FMC ended up with.
❤️🩹
DISLIKES:
⋆ The pacing was slower in the beginning and middle and made the ending feel slightly rushed. I know there are publishing limitations (especially within the YA genre) and sometimes not every page can be fit into the final copy but i would have appreciated more pages dedicated to the climax and conclusion.
⋆ Without giving spoilers, i would have loved more build up and romantic tension between the relationships in this story. I’d like to note that i do appreciate and enjoy the romantic couple that ended up together. 💖💖
**Fantasy Scoring**
Worldbuilding ➷ ✅ 4/5
Foreshadowing ➷ ✅ 3.5/5
Plot ➷ ✅ 4/5
Relationships ➷ ✅ 3.5/5
Thank you to the Laura Purcell, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, Magpie and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest opinion on the ARC of this book.
September 11, 2025
Fraglos ein kurzweiliges und atmosphärisches Buch, im Gegensatz zu den anderen Werken der Autorin (alles 4.5-5 Sterne-Bücher) aber sehr vorhersehbar in der Handlung. Eine ausführliche Rezenzion habe ich hier in meinem Lese-Vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzZ8O...
May 19, 2024
3.5
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This had me captivated throughout most of the book, particularly the first three quarters. This was really atmospheric, and I liked the approach that the author took to the werewolves, and how subtle all of the clues were. There’s eerie woods, an isolated farmhouse, and various strange circumstances going on. The characters had me intrigued, even the range of side characters like Rowena and Bridget - I would have loved to have seen their backstories unpacked more. I really liked the slower pacing through the beginning and middle portions of the book, which is why I think this really could have done with another 50-100 pages as the ending felt extremely rushed. I was literally at page 270 thinking surely this cannot be resolved in six pages time. I also wish that the romance had felt more genuine? There’s not a whole lot of chemistry between the main character and the love interest, and I wanted to have really felt it for this to live up to how it’s being marketed.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This had me captivated throughout most of the book, particularly the first three quarters. This was really atmospheric, and I liked the approach that the author took to the werewolves, and how subtle all of the clues were. There’s eerie woods, an isolated farmhouse, and various strange circumstances going on. The characters had me intrigued, even the range of side characters like Rowena and Bridget - I would have loved to have seen their backstories unpacked more. I really liked the slower pacing through the beginning and middle portions of the book, which is why I think this really could have done with another 50-100 pages as the ending felt extremely rushed. I was literally at page 270 thinking surely this cannot be resolved in six pages time. I also wish that the romance had felt more genuine? There’s not a whole lot of chemistry between the main character and the love interest, and I wanted to have really felt it for this to live up to how it’s being marketed.
April 8, 2024
Moonstone by Laura Purcell
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Out 23.05.2024
When Camille brings shame upon her family, she is sent away to live with her godmother and her daughter Lucy. She knows very little about them, but she knows of Lucy's terrible illness. What ails her is something quite unnatural, Camille is being kept in the dark about Lucy and the strange occurrences that happen around her.
This slow burn story about Camille, a niave young girl who has up to now, led a sheltered life of privilege. Camille has a delicate innocence about her. She is caring and has an inquisitive personality. When she arrives at her godmothers secluded dwellings, all is not what it seems. Secrets are being kept. Seeing the anguish Lucy's secret illness brings upon her, she wants to help, but is there a cost to her knowing?
Laura Purcell's narrative is beautifully descriptive. She creates a deeply immersive and captivating story. This gothic fantasy creates a haunting and unearthly atmosphere, full of mysterious goings-on that leave you with a dark sense of foreboding.
This debut YA book is a compelling read. It is written in a way that doesn't just appeal to the audience it's intended for. I did work out the plot twists, but that could just be because it is written for the younger person. It did not detract from this story. It is perfect for someone wanting to explore this genre or someone who already loves it.
Thank you Netgalley, Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction.
My opinions are my own.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Out 23.05.2024
When Camille brings shame upon her family, she is sent away to live with her godmother and her daughter Lucy. She knows very little about them, but she knows of Lucy's terrible illness. What ails her is something quite unnatural, Camille is being kept in the dark about Lucy and the strange occurrences that happen around her.
This slow burn story about Camille, a niave young girl who has up to now, led a sheltered life of privilege. Camille has a delicate innocence about her. She is caring and has an inquisitive personality. When she arrives at her godmothers secluded dwellings, all is not what it seems. Secrets are being kept. Seeing the anguish Lucy's secret illness brings upon her, she wants to help, but is there a cost to her knowing?
Laura Purcell's narrative is beautifully descriptive. She creates a deeply immersive and captivating story. This gothic fantasy creates a haunting and unearthly atmosphere, full of mysterious goings-on that leave you with a dark sense of foreboding.
This debut YA book is a compelling read. It is written in a way that doesn't just appeal to the audience it's intended for. I did work out the plot twists, but that could just be because it is written for the younger person. It did not detract from this story. It is perfect for someone wanting to explore this genre or someone who already loves it.
Thank you Netgalley, Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction.
My opinions are my own.
June 28, 2024
I really loved this foray for Laura Purcell into YA fiction. It has all the trademarks of her excellent work especially the gothic setting and atmosphere. Laura Purcell is one of my go-to authors. Excellent stuff! Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
April 26, 2024
“All changes worth making hurt a little, my dear”
Moonstone leaves you questioning the level of sacrifice & pain you are willing to endure for the people you love. For our FMC this journey unfolds across 2 timelines and challenges the life she thought she wanted.
The gorgeous cover tells you werwolves are within the story but you are left guessing who they are until the last 20% of the book. Although the pacing was slow at times this is what kept me hooked!
I did find the last 20% and conclusion felt a little rushed. I personally loved the blossoming friendship between Lucy & Camille but I didn’t feel the romantic chemistry. I wish this was developed further.
I’m excited to read more books by Laura Purcell as the writing style flowed beautifully.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Moonstone leaves you questioning the level of sacrifice & pain you are willing to endure for the people you love. For our FMC this journey unfolds across 2 timelines and challenges the life she thought she wanted.
The gorgeous cover tells you werwolves are within the story but you are left guessing who they are until the last 20% of the book. Although the pacing was slow at times this is what kept me hooked!
I did find the last 20% and conclusion felt a little rushed. I personally loved the blossoming friendship between Lucy & Camille but I didn’t feel the romantic chemistry. I wish this was developed further.
I’m excited to read more books by Laura Purcell as the writing style flowed beautifully.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 24, 2024
I really enjoyed my first Laura Purcell book! She's one of sister's favourite authors, so reading her first YA fantasy was a must for me. Torn from a Bridgerton-esque world under a cloud of scandal, young gentlewoman Camille is sent to stay with her secretive Godmother and her daughter in a remote forest. With mysteries, secrets, and atmosphere galore, I thoroughly enjoyed Moonstone. A great pride month read.
April 19, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an e-ARC for Moonstone!
Moonstone is a haunting gothic romance filled with suspicion, twists and monsters. I was pleasantly surprised with this considering it is Laura Purcell's YA debut novel - I am a big fan of her writing in general and was curious how (if at all) her style would adapt for the YA demographic. Moonstone holds up well in comparison her other books: it is beautiful paced, the characters feel real and witty, and it is incredibly haunting. The isolated location as well as the character conflicts do a very good job at reflecting the gothic literature and horror tones throughout the book. And while I did pick up on a lot of the mystery clues through the book and could guess at where the plot was heading, the character conflicts and miscommunications allowed the narrative to spiral and escalate beyond what I could expect.
The horror aspect of Moonstone I especially enjoyed. I wasn't sure if it would be toned down at all considering this is a YA book, but it was still filled with body horror and gore that was very effective.
For anyone who is a big fan of the classic monster genre, like myself, I would highly recommend checking out Moonstone when it comes out (23rd May). The descriptions and mechanics of how the monsters work are perfectly disturbing, and truly allow for that horror aspect and sense of dread I've come to expect with Laura Purcell's writing.
Moonstone is a haunting gothic romance filled with suspicion, twists and monsters. I was pleasantly surprised with this considering it is Laura Purcell's YA debut novel - I am a big fan of her writing in general and was curious how (if at all) her style would adapt for the YA demographic. Moonstone holds up well in comparison her other books: it is beautiful paced, the characters feel real and witty, and it is incredibly haunting. The isolated location as well as the character conflicts do a very good job at reflecting the gothic literature and horror tones throughout the book. And while I did pick up on a lot of the mystery clues through the book and could guess at where the plot was heading, the character conflicts and miscommunications allowed the narrative to spiral and escalate beyond what I could expect.
The horror aspect of Moonstone I especially enjoyed. I wasn't sure if it would be toned down at all considering this is a YA book, but it was still filled with body horror and gore that was very effective.
For anyone who is a big fan of the classic monster genre, like myself, I would highly recommend checking out Moonstone when it comes out (23rd May). The descriptions and mechanics of how the monsters work are perfectly disturbing, and truly allow for that horror aspect and sense of dread I've come to expect with Laura Purcell's writing.
May 6, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to love this book but sadly it was just ok. The pacing is so slow that getting through it was a struggle and I almost gave up and DNFd it but I wanted to see where it would go. I am now left feeling like I should have stuck with my gut and given up at the 40% mark, sadly.
The fact that Camille's inner monologue is so one-dimensional is what keeps everything slow. She goes back to the same points and thoughts repeatedly, which means some chapters seem to take forever to get through.
While the premise is interesting, the predictability of the story removes any mystery so you're just left a bit annoyed that Camille hasn't figured everything out yet. Her naivety becomes grating as she seems intent on ignoring the fantastical, despite the fact she's a fan of fantasy books and stories.
Having the story switch from past to present made it more interesting but then there are only so many times you can read about someone being in their sick bed. Once the past caught up, the pacing moved much quicker and the end was more interesting. However, after the slow pacing, the ending happened all of a sudden and I was left feeling a bit cheated that it wasn't more exciting.
I appreciate what the author was doing with this book and you don't see many regency-era werewolf stories. Then again, maybe there's a reason for that.
I really wanted to love this book but sadly it was just ok. The pacing is so slow that getting through it was a struggle and I almost gave up and DNFd it but I wanted to see where it would go. I am now left feeling like I should have stuck with my gut and given up at the 40% mark, sadly.
The fact that Camille's inner monologue is so one-dimensional is what keeps everything slow. She goes back to the same points and thoughts repeatedly, which means some chapters seem to take forever to get through.
While the premise is interesting, the predictability of the story removes any mystery so you're just left a bit annoyed that Camille hasn't figured everything out yet. Her naivety becomes grating as she seems intent on ignoring the fantastical, despite the fact she's a fan of fantasy books and stories.
Having the story switch from past to present made it more interesting but then there are only so many times you can read about someone being in their sick bed. Once the past caught up, the pacing moved much quicker and the end was more interesting. However, after the slow pacing, the ending happened all of a sudden and I was left feeling a bit cheated that it wasn't more exciting.
I appreciate what the author was doing with this book and you don't see many regency-era werewolf stories. Then again, maybe there's a reason for that.
March 24, 2024
4.25/5.0
> ARC review: Thank you to HarperFiction and Netgalley for the ebook advanced copy.
In this story we follow Camille, member of a wealthy family, who after a scandal in the gardens of Vauxhall, is sent away by her family, to her godmother's old humble home in the middle of the woods, isolated from civilization.
Her godmother's daugher, Lucy, is affliced by a mysterious sickness that seems to be consuming her as time passes by. It seems to be triggered by certain events as well.
With them is another woman, whose knowledge in plants and remedies help them keep Lucy's illness under control, for the most part. But after some week passes, Camille isn't so sure if the remedies are healing the daughter or poisoning her. Strange noises at night, brutal attacks near the village and a forbidden building near the farm, all those elements only raise Camille's suspicions as she tries to unfold the secrets, all three women are bluntly keeping from her.
Laura Purcell's YA debut is, not so surprisingly, very good. I was afraid going into this it would feel too childish compared to her other brilliant works, but it is narrated in a beautiful way with enough descriptions and an interesting introspection into the protagonist's mind. From the start you can easily guess what is going on, but building suspense and plot twists is clearly not the main aim of this story.
I enjoyed this book a lot, the wonderful writing made it really easy to flow. The romance part is not a primary element of the book, nor even a secondary one. Not being a huge fan of romance, it doesn't bother me that it was in the background, but if you are looking for a big love story, this might not please you. It was sweet enough, though, simply not super present.
> ARC review: Thank you to HarperFiction and Netgalley for the ebook advanced copy.
In this story we follow Camille, member of a wealthy family, who after a scandal in the gardens of Vauxhall, is sent away by her family, to her godmother's old humble home in the middle of the woods, isolated from civilization.
Her godmother's daugher, Lucy, is affliced by a mysterious sickness that seems to be consuming her as time passes by. It seems to be triggered by certain events as well.
With them is another woman, whose knowledge in plants and remedies help them keep Lucy's illness under control, for the most part. But after some week passes, Camille isn't so sure if the remedies are healing the daughter or poisoning her. Strange noises at night, brutal attacks near the village and a forbidden building near the farm, all those elements only raise Camille's suspicions as she tries to unfold the secrets, all three women are bluntly keeping from her.
Laura Purcell's YA debut is, not so surprisingly, very good. I was afraid going into this it would feel too childish compared to her other brilliant works, but it is narrated in a beautiful way with enough descriptions and an interesting introspection into the protagonist's mind. From the start you can easily guess what is going on, but building suspense and plot twists is clearly not the main aim of this story.
I enjoyed this book a lot, the wonderful writing made it really easy to flow. The romance part is not a primary element of the book, nor even a secondary one. Not being a huge fan of romance, it doesn't bother me that it was in the background, but if you are looking for a big love story, this might not please you. It was sweet enough, though, simply not super present.
June 6, 2024
3,5*... Jako na jednu stranu ta hlavní hrdinka je na zabití svojí naivitou a příběh je prostě předvídatelný. Ovšem ten konec byl hodně dobře vygradovaný a ten tomu zvedl hodnocení.
January 29, 2025
Depois de uma situação comprometedora, Camila é obrigada a passar uma temporada com a sua madrinha que esconde-se de um abusivo marido e possui uma filha com uma rara doença. Contudo nem tudo é o que parece, a medida que Camila conhece Lucy e forma uma enorme amizade começa a questionar os métodos utilizados para proteger a saúde daquela rapariga que não aparenta ser assim tão frágil.
Achei Camila demasiado inocente no início, não desconfiando em nenhum momento daquele Colin e só percebendo no fim o que de facto era a doença de Lucy. Gostei do mistério, da união das duas raparigas e da atmosfera fria que se preserva ao longo da ação.
Achei Camila demasiado inocente no início, não desconfiando em nenhum momento daquele Colin e só percebendo no fim o que de facto era a doença de Lucy. Gostei do mistério, da união das duas raparigas e da atmosfera fria que se preserva ao longo da ação.
September 13, 2024
Okay so I understand this is YA, but that doesn’t mean that every plot point in the entire book should be blatant from the second it’s introduced. A story like this could and should have been filled with mystery, intrigue and twists, but not a single one landed for me. That made this whole thing a frankly frustrating read, because I was just itching for this naive-ass MC to connect dots so big they could be seen from the actual moon.
Then, when the penny did drop for our dear sweet Lucy, it all made sense to her instantaneously because she’s a self-confessed lover of mythical creatures so of course werewolves make sense to her! How come you were oblivious to the fact you were living with one then honey? You know, that girl you’re falling in love with who has a keen sense of smell, loves to dig and has a ’mysterious medical condition’ that is aggravated by the MOON. Jesus wept.
This isn’t my only issue with this book but it’s by far one of the biggest. Hey, the writing is at least pretty good, if a little repetitive at times (there’s only so many ways you can describe the way a moonstone shines, I guess).
Then, when the penny did drop for our dear sweet Lucy, it all made sense to her instantaneously because she’s a self-confessed lover of mythical creatures so of course werewolves make sense to her! How come you were oblivious to the fact you were living with one then honey? You know, that girl you’re falling in love with who has a keen sense of smell, loves to dig and has a ’mysterious medical condition’ that is aggravated by the MOON. Jesus wept.
This isn’t my only issue with this book but it’s by far one of the biggest. Hey, the writing is at least pretty good, if a little repetitive at times (there’s only so many ways you can describe the way a moonstone shines, I guess).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2025
DNF at 30%
If I can’t get through the first 100 or so pages without falling asleep constantly, I’m not going to finish.
I wanted to badly to like this because it has all the promises of everything I love and delivered nothing. The writing style was quite honestly very boring and I couldn’t stand the main character. At all. Or really any of the characters. It’s all very frustrating honestly.
If I can’t get through the first 100 or so pages without falling asleep constantly, I’m not going to finish.
I wanted to badly to like this because it has all the promises of everything I love and delivered nothing. The writing style was quite honestly very boring and I couldn’t stand the main character. At all. Or really any of the characters. It’s all very frustrating honestly.
February 1, 2025
When I was able to sign up for receiving an ARC for this title, I immediately did! I had seen the stunning Locked Library edition all over my social media already and I knew I really wanted to read this book!
Moonstone is a YA fantasy and the vibes that I got off the cover and the description said 'werewolves', 'fairy tale' and 'magic'. For me, this was enough to want to pick it up, because duh. The vibes were accurate and I'd say that this is a very good novel to read if you want to get into fantasy. It's high fantasy, but not really heavy and it's written in an accessible manner, since it's written for a Young Adult audience.
I really loved the setting of this novel, it really reminded me of the setting in 'A curse so dark and lonely' (hence the fairy tale vibes). The novel is partially set in a royal place and partially in dark and mystical woods, which is for me the perfect fantasy combination. The royal place is only described in the first few chapters of the novel, so it's not very extensively described, but I could easily picture the place. The dark forest was described in much more detail, which really made me feel as if I was wading through it myself at times - I was definitely very scared when all of a sudden someone started talking to me when I was reading a mysterious and dark scene. Moreover, the fact that the forest was very distant from a village made the atmosphere even more tense.
The setting in time was very interesting as well. I couldn't pinpoint a specific period of time in which the story takes place, I only know that it's shortly after the French Revolution since that was mentioned a few times. Some of the widespread opinions of the characters were kind of corny as well, because the women were not allowed to be or travel alone, were not allowed to be in company of men without their father and women alone that bought a lot of herbs were witches. Because I didn't really know in what period of time the story took place, I was a bit annoyed at first of the behaviour towards women - I thought it a bit ridiculous to write a fantasy in an imaginary world and then give women the same amount of rights as they had during the Middle Ages - but when I understood that the story takes place shortly after the French Revolution, I was less annoyed and understood these choices.
The main character was really well-written and really felt like a person, but I couldn't stand her personality. She is really naive. I was kind of annoyed by the fact that she didn't seem to understand ANYTHING and didn't stand up for herself. She was the typical 'rich girl' that didn't go to school and was meant to be beautiful and to marry, but she didn't have much going on in her head. The fact that I got so annoyed during reading shows the ability of the author to write a human-like character, because I would be highly annoyed if she were to exist. The other characters were less in the picture - also because the book was only told from the main character's perspective - and they were less human-like to me. I couldn't really figure out their thoughts and feelings while reading, they felt more as pawns - that were definitely necessary - until the end. There, they were better developed.
And then the plot. I really loved the dark and mysterious vibes that were all over the plot. The first 40% of the book I was hooked and I couldn't stop reading! But then the main character went to their aunts and the mysteries just weren't explained at all and the same sort of loop kept going. I think I would've liked it better when the main character was a bit more adventurous and discovering during her stay at her aunt's, so that the story kept on progressing more. The last few chapters were all of a sudden very adventurous and mysterious again, which luckily pulled me back into the story and really saved the story for me! I was really satisfied with the ending and I also don't feel that the story really needs a sequel (it could have one, but it's not necessary). Plus, I was a bit disappointed that the werewolves were not present in the story until the very end, since I really love stories about mythical creatures.
To conclude: I rate this book 3.5/5 stars and I would recommend this book to people that want to start reading fantasy or lovers of mysterious tales that are not really heavy on the fantasy parts. It's a dark and mysterious novel that also touches upon topics as female rights and LGBTQ+ relationships and it has a very accessible writing style.
Moonstone is a YA fantasy and the vibes that I got off the cover and the description said 'werewolves', 'fairy tale' and 'magic'. For me, this was enough to want to pick it up, because duh. The vibes were accurate and I'd say that this is a very good novel to read if you want to get into fantasy. It's high fantasy, but not really heavy and it's written in an accessible manner, since it's written for a Young Adult audience.
I really loved the setting of this novel, it really reminded me of the setting in 'A curse so dark and lonely' (hence the fairy tale vibes). The novel is partially set in a royal place and partially in dark and mystical woods, which is for me the perfect fantasy combination. The royal place is only described in the first few chapters of the novel, so it's not very extensively described, but I could easily picture the place. The dark forest was described in much more detail, which really made me feel as if I was wading through it myself at times - I was definitely very scared when all of a sudden someone started talking to me when I was reading a mysterious and dark scene. Moreover, the fact that the forest was very distant from a village made the atmosphere even more tense.
The setting in time was very interesting as well. I couldn't pinpoint a specific period of time in which the story takes place, I only know that it's shortly after the French Revolution since that was mentioned a few times. Some of the widespread opinions of the characters were kind of corny as well, because the women were not allowed to be or travel alone, were not allowed to be in company of men without their father and women alone that bought a lot of herbs were witches. Because I didn't really know in what period of time the story took place, I was a bit annoyed at first of the behaviour towards women - I thought it a bit ridiculous to write a fantasy in an imaginary world and then give women the same amount of rights as they had during the Middle Ages - but when I understood that the story takes place shortly after the French Revolution, I was less annoyed and understood these choices.
The main character was really well-written and really felt like a person, but I couldn't stand her personality. She is really naive. I was kind of annoyed by the fact that she didn't seem to understand ANYTHING and didn't stand up for herself. She was the typical 'rich girl' that didn't go to school and was meant to be beautiful and to marry, but she didn't have much going on in her head. The fact that I got so annoyed during reading shows the ability of the author to write a human-like character, because I would be highly annoyed if she were to exist. The other characters were less in the picture - also because the book was only told from the main character's perspective - and they were less human-like to me. I couldn't really figure out their thoughts and feelings while reading, they felt more as pawns - that were definitely necessary - until the end. There, they were better developed.
And then the plot. I really loved the dark and mysterious vibes that were all over the plot. The first 40% of the book I was hooked and I couldn't stop reading! But then the main character went to their aunts and the mysteries just weren't explained at all and the same sort of loop kept going. I think I would've liked it better when the main character was a bit more adventurous and discovering during her stay at her aunt's, so that the story kept on progressing more. The last few chapters were all of a sudden very adventurous and mysterious again, which luckily pulled me back into the story and really saved the story for me! I was really satisfied with the ending and I also don't feel that the story really needs a sequel (it could have one, but it's not necessary). Plus, I was a bit disappointed that the werewolves were not present in the story until the very end, since I really love stories about mythical creatures.
To conclude: I rate this book 3.5/5 stars and I would recommend this book to people that want to start reading fantasy or lovers of mysterious tales that are not really heavy on the fantasy parts. It's a dark and mysterious novel that also touches upon topics as female rights and LGBTQ+ relationships and it has a very accessible writing style.
March 22, 2024
"Moonstone" is a ya fantasy novel, with gothic overtones, written by Laura Purcell. A dark, bewitching and enchanting tale, characterized by an eerie and evocative setting, elegant and evocative writing and an intriguing and sinister story. Although some elements did not fully convince me, the book still bewitched me!
The story takes place in nineteenth-century England, mainly in an old farmhouse lost in the Yorkshire woods, connected to civilization through a small village on the edge of the forest. A simple and wild place, far from the comforts of the city and the rules of society, but at the same time full of wonders and freedom. An insidious environment, where chilling sounds echo among the vegetation, whispers of a huge and brutal beast glide among the people, and large claw marks mark buildings and grounds. A mystery that finds its core in the family that inhabits the farmhouse: young Lucy, afflicted with an unknown and aggressive disease; her mother, a reclusive and reserved woman; and their equally ambiguous and quirky helper. A nebulous context into which Camille, protagonist with her only first person pov, joins. A girl from a wealthy family, from a distant city, who after a scandal is sent to live for a year with her unknown godmother and her daughter.
The ending seemed to me a bit rushed, the plot twists predictable, but this did not affect my high liking. Camille is a convincing protagonist, a girl oppressed by the burden of society, of family, who surprisingly finds her freedom in Yorkshire. The other characters, including Lucy, seem nebulous, fitting the mysterious atmosphere of the novel! The romance, on the other hand, seemed to me cute in idea, but poorly developed and too hasty.
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story takes place in nineteenth-century England, mainly in an old farmhouse lost in the Yorkshire woods, connected to civilization through a small village on the edge of the forest. A simple and wild place, far from the comforts of the city and the rules of society, but at the same time full of wonders and freedom. An insidious environment, where chilling sounds echo among the vegetation, whispers of a huge and brutal beast glide among the people, and large claw marks mark buildings and grounds. A mystery that finds its core in the family that inhabits the farmhouse: young Lucy, afflicted with an unknown and aggressive disease; her mother, a reclusive and reserved woman; and their equally ambiguous and quirky helper. A nebulous context into which Camille, protagonist with her only first person pov, joins. A girl from a wealthy family, from a distant city, who after a scandal is sent to live for a year with her unknown godmother and her daughter.
The ending seemed to me a bit rushed, the plot twists predictable, but this did not affect my high liking. Camille is a convincing protagonist, a girl oppressed by the burden of society, of family, who surprisingly finds her freedom in Yorkshire. The other characters, including Lucy, seem nebulous, fitting the mysterious atmosphere of the novel! The romance, on the other hand, seemed to me cute in idea, but poorly developed and too hasty.
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2025
I overall liked this book! A solid YA read that even older readers can enjoy. The writing was beautiful, and the gothic atmosphere was wonderfully immersive. Like 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧, 𝙨𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙚. 🖤
I don’t usually care much for romance, but this one wasn’t bad at all. It was 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚, though it did appear out of nowhere toward the end. The mystery wasn’t super mysterious, which made it a little frustrating when the FMC just wouldn’t catch on 😂. And the miscommunication trope… 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 😭
The pacing was slow at first and rushed at the end, but I still read it in one day. Some darker moments added great atmosphere, and I liked how everything ultimately wrapped up. It wasn’t particularly my cup of tea, but not bad at all.
Overall: a cute, slightly eerie story with gothic vibes. If you’re into YA, this might be a great pick! 🖤
🇩🇪🇩🇪
Insgesamt hat mir das Buch gut gefallen! Ein solider YA-Roman, den auch ein älteres Publikum genießen kann. Das Schreiben war wunderschön, und die gotische Atmosphäre war extrem stimmungsvoll. Wie ein dunkles, leicht unheimliches Märchen. 🖤
Romance ist normalerweise nicht so mein Ding, aber hier war sie wirklich okay. Sehr subtil und nicht übertrieben, auch wenn sie am Ende ein bisschen aus dem Nichts kam. Das Mysterium war nicht super mysteriös, was es etwas frustrierend machte, wenn die FMC es einfach nicht geblickt hat 😂. Und der Miscommunication-Trope… 𝙨𝙤 𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙖̈𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙠𝙤̈𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙣 😭
Das Tempo war am Anfang langsam und zum Ende hin etwas überhastet, aber ich habe es trotzdem an einem Tag durchgelesen. Die etwas dunkleren Momente haben richtig gut zur Atmosphäre beigetragen, und das Ende hat mir auch gefallen. Es war nicht ganz mein Fall, aber definitiv nicht schlecht.
Insgesamt: eine niedliche, leicht unheimliche Geschichte mit gotischen Vibes. Wenn du YA magst, könnte das hier genau dein Ding sein! 🖤
𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘥 | 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 from the publisher
I don’t usually care much for romance, but this one wasn’t bad at all. It was 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚, though it did appear out of nowhere toward the end. The mystery wasn’t super mysterious, which made it a little frustrating when the FMC just wouldn’t catch on 😂. And the miscommunication trope… 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙’𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 😭
The pacing was slow at first and rushed at the end, but I still read it in one day. Some darker moments added great atmosphere, and I liked how everything ultimately wrapped up. It wasn’t particularly my cup of tea, but not bad at all.
Overall: a cute, slightly eerie story with gothic vibes. If you’re into YA, this might be a great pick! 🖤
🇩🇪🇩🇪
Insgesamt hat mir das Buch gut gefallen! Ein solider YA-Roman, den auch ein älteres Publikum genießen kann. Das Schreiben war wunderschön, und die gotische Atmosphäre war extrem stimmungsvoll. Wie ein dunkles, leicht unheimliches Märchen. 🖤
Romance ist normalerweise nicht so mein Ding, aber hier war sie wirklich okay. Sehr subtil und nicht übertrieben, auch wenn sie am Ende ein bisschen aus dem Nichts kam. Das Mysterium war nicht super mysteriös, was es etwas frustrierend machte, wenn die FMC es einfach nicht geblickt hat 😂. Und der Miscommunication-Trope… 𝙨𝙤 𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙖̈𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙠𝙤̈𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙣 😭
Das Tempo war am Anfang langsam und zum Ende hin etwas überhastet, aber ich habe es trotzdem an einem Tag durchgelesen. Die etwas dunkleren Momente haben richtig gut zur Atmosphäre beigetragen, und das Ende hat mir auch gefallen. Es war nicht ganz mein Fall, aber definitiv nicht schlecht.
Insgesamt: eine niedliche, leicht unheimliche Geschichte mit gotischen Vibes. Wenn du YA magst, könnte das hier genau dein Ding sein! 🖤
𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘥 | 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 from the publisher
March 13, 2025
3.5
I did enjoy the storyline however did find it a bit confusing when they went from being back at her home to her being at the farm. It took me a minute to realise what was happening when I came across a chapter like this.
I did enjoy the characters even though the main characters sadly did annoy me in certain parts within the book. However it was nice to see her adjust to the situation that she was living within the farm.
When Camille’s is sent to live with her godmother after a scandal she discovers it's not all as it seems. As far as Camille is aware her cousin Lucy is very ill with an unknown sickness to herself and the rest of the family. When arriving she met with lots of rules in which she has to follow and not to ask too many questions. Camille starts to notice something very fishy is going on and a secret is being held. Within the book you start to piece together that Lucy might possibly be a werewolf and that the story with the uncle is really adding up. You also get to see the relationship blossom between Camille and Lucy with a small kiss leading to feelings being discovered.
However evil isn't too far behind with evil dads appearing and Camille ending up being bitten to suffer.
I did enjoy the storyline however did find it a bit confusing when they went from being back at her home to her being at the farm. It took me a minute to realise what was happening when I came across a chapter like this.
I did enjoy the characters even though the main characters sadly did annoy me in certain parts within the book. However it was nice to see her adjust to the situation that she was living within the farm.
When Camille’s is sent to live with her godmother after a scandal she discovers it's not all as it seems. As far as Camille is aware her cousin Lucy is very ill with an unknown sickness to herself and the rest of the family. When arriving she met with lots of rules in which she has to follow and not to ask too many questions. Camille starts to notice something very fishy is going on and a secret is being held. Within the book you start to piece together that Lucy might possibly be a werewolf and that the story with the uncle is really adding up. You also get to see the relationship blossom between Camille and Lucy with a small kiss leading to feelings being discovered.
However evil isn't too far behind with evil dads appearing and Camille ending up being bitten to suffer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2025
Sigh!
A Laura Purcell with the YA tag and the LGBT tag?! I can die happy.
The audiobook edition hasn't made its way onto GR yet, but if you know Imogen Wilde's work (she voiced Stacey Halls' Mrs England), you'll know she beautifully buoys up what she narrates (though 'Moonstone' hardly needs the boost).
This isn't a book for which you can give spoilers - Purcell has it very obvious from the start what's going on, but she swishes us into the post-reveal narrative with such supreme verve that it had all the same satisfaction.
I am gleeful!
A Laura Purcell with the YA tag and the LGBT tag?! I can die happy.
The audiobook edition hasn't made its way onto GR yet, but if you know Imogen Wilde's work (she voiced Stacey Halls' Mrs England), you'll know she beautifully buoys up what she narrates (though 'Moonstone' hardly needs the boost).
This isn't a book for which you can give spoilers - Purcell has it very obvious from the start what's going on, but she swishes us into the post-reveal narrative with such supreme verve that it had all the same satisfaction.
I am gleeful!
May 22, 2025
This gothic tale was dripping with atmosphere and eerie vibes, but I have mixed feelings overall. The first half was very slow for me—lots of description and buildup, but not enough momentum to keep me fully hooked. It felt like I was waiting a long time for something to happen.
Thankfully, the second half really redeemed it. Once the tension started to rise and the mystery began to unravel, I found myself far more engaged. The emotional stakes became clearer, and the ghostly elements added a great sense of suspense and depth.
Laura Purcell nails the gothic tone as always, and her exploration of grief, isolation, and the blurred lines between reality and delusion was well done. I just wish the pacing had been more balanced throughout.
A solid 3 stars from me.
Thankfully, the second half really redeemed it. Once the tension started to rise and the mystery began to unravel, I found myself far more engaged. The emotional stakes became clearer, and the ghostly elements added a great sense of suspense and depth.
Laura Purcell nails the gothic tone as always, and her exploration of grief, isolation, and the blurred lines between reality and delusion was well done. I just wish the pacing had been more balanced throughout.
A solid 3 stars from me.
June 1, 2024
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc of this book. I very much enjoyed this original take on a genre/plot a lot of readers know well. A relatively easy story and plot. Which I enjoyed immensely it was giving me gothic, romantic, regency era vibes. As well as a few plot twists towards the end. The atmospheric novel is haunting in the best way, we have a few characters that are very well written. Especially the main character Camille. She goes through a lot of changes in her life as sheltered young woman to a more resilient individual. There are subtle clues to the werewolves in this book and most of hunches were right. Some characters back stories I would have liked to have seen more explored as it just would have made the overall plot more intriguing. The ending did feel slightly rushed, as there was much to unpack. But it wasn’t an issue for me as I still liked the journey. I didn’t realise there would be some sapphic romance in this but it didn’t feel developed enough for when it did happen and instead focuses the romance in another couple.
Overall, 3.75 stars for me, an easy and quick read, haunting and gothic with all the great things to sink your teeth into.
Overall, 3.75 stars for me, an easy and quick read, haunting and gothic with all the great things to sink your teeth into.
July 12, 2025
When she is caught kissing a young man Camille’s family are outraged and send her to live with her reclusive godmother. Upon arrival at her godmother’s home she is shocked by the strange set-up and the behaviour of her godmother’s daughter, Lucy.
As Camille settles into her new life she becomes concerned about the rumours circulating in town. She hears strange noises, and is concerned at the scratch marks she sees everywhere. Her godmother insists Camille wears a moonstone at all times but won’t tell her why
Over the course of the book we are given enough information to put things together, long before Camille does. Once she realises what’s going on Camille finds herself in an increasingly dangerous situation.
As Camille settles into her new life she becomes concerned about the rumours circulating in town. She hears strange noises, and is concerned at the scratch marks she sees everywhere. Her godmother insists Camille wears a moonstone at all times but won’t tell her why
Over the course of the book we are given enough information to put things together, long before Camille does. Once she realises what’s going on Camille finds herself in an increasingly dangerous situation.
July 8, 2024
A beautiful told gothic story. In the beginning it's a bit confusing with the flashbacks etc. But it soon evolves into a story full of tension and questions.
And when you finally get answers it is so good.
Some things where a bit predictable, but it doesn't mind because it is a beautiful story
And when you finally get answers it is so good.
Some things where a bit predictable, but it doesn't mind because it is a beautiful story
April 9, 2025
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
The story was not what I expected. If the book was apart of the series, the world building would be great but it is a standalone.
It felt most of the book was a slow jog and then it was fast sprint to the end. The end felt really rushed.
The story was not what I expected. If the book was apart of the series, the world building would be great but it is a standalone.
It felt most of the book was a slow jog and then it was fast sprint to the end. The end felt really rushed.
July 1, 2024
3.5⭐️ I did really enjoy this however the main character was so dumb lol. Would’ve been nice for the romance to start a bit earlier in the book too, was hoping that would be explored a lil more.
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