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The 1st Freak House Trilogy #1
The Wrong Girl
It's customary for Gothic romance novels to include a mysterious girl locked in the attic. Hannah Smith just wishes she wasn't that girl. As a narcoleptic and the companion to an earl's daughter with a strange affliction of her own, Hannah knows she's lucky to have a roof over her head and food in her belly when so many orphans starve on the streets. Yet freedom is something Hannah longs for. She did not, however, want her freedom to arrive in the form of kidnapping.
Taken by handsome Jack Langley to a place known as Freak House, she finds herself under the same roof as a mad scientist, his niece, a mute servant and Jack, a fire starter with a mysterious past. They assure Hannah she is not a prisoner and that they want to help her. The problem is, they think she's the earl's daughter. What will they do when they discover they took the wrong girl?
Taken by handsome Jack Langley to a place known as Freak House, she finds herself under the same roof as a mad scientist, his niece, a mute servant and Jack, a fire starter with a mysterious past. They assure Hannah she is not a prisoner and that they want to help her. The problem is, they think she's the earl's daughter. What will they do when they discover they took the wrong girl?
9 pages, Audiobook
First published May 25, 2013
907 people are currently reading
4739 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Archer
97 books5,663 followersC.J. Archer is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of historical mystery and historical fantasy novels including the GLASS AND STEELE series, the CLEOPATRA FOX MYSTERIES, the MINISTRY OF CURIOSITIES and THE GLASS LIBRARY series.
She has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two. She has at various times worked as a librarian, IT support person and technical writer but in her heart has always been a fiction writer. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, 2 children and Coco the black and white cat.
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She has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two. She has at various times worked as a librarian, IT support person and technical writer but in her heart has always been a fiction writer. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, 2 children and Coco the black and white cat.
Subscribe to C.J.'s newsletter to be notified when she releases a new book. Join via her website: www.cjarcher.com
You can follow her on social media to get the latest updates on her books:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CJArcherAuthorPage
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 402 reviews
September 11, 2024
I wish the author would go with a different cover artist. I would never have picked this book up based on the cover, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’ve been craving more CJ Archer since I was all caught up with the Glass and Steele and Glass library series. This hit the spot.
April 13, 2017
The cover of this one got me. Just look at it and see if you aren’t lured in too. A creepy Victorian, a pale Gothic beauty and an alluring title that promises this is “book 1 of the 1st Freak House series”, how could I possibly resist? I was expecting great things along the lines of “We Have Always Lived In the Castle” or perhaps a “Flowers in the Attic” vibe mashed up with a little “Geek Love” but that’s not at all what I got. If you don’t expect those things, you might be okay.
Things start out promising, if you ignore the fact that heroine has orange hair and is not at all the temptress who appears on the cover. Two young ladies (18ish or so) have been locked away in an attic for most of their lives and are only let out for supervised walks. Hannah, an orphan, was taken in by an earl and grew up as a companion to his daughter Violet who suffers from an affliction that causes fires. Hannah suffers from narcolepsy so the two are kept squirreled away from society. They grow close and are the best of friends.
I can’t express to you how much I loved this setup. So intimate, so character based, so lovely. But then things had to go and change, as things do.
You may enjoy the changes, many appear to do so if the reviews are any indication, but I wasn’t thrilled with the direction the plot ran off in and I never recovered. Hannah is kidnapped and is apparently mistaken for Violet (who also has red, not raven hair – so the chick on the cover wasn’t her either). She is swept away to another creepy mansion where she is told she will be trained to control her powers of fire. She’s also told that she’s not really a prisoner but that she cannot leave. Hmmm, I’d be mighty suspicious were I Hannah . . . Hannah doesn’t reveal that she is not Violet because she supposedly loves Violet and wants to keep her safe. She starts to “train” with Jack, a handsome lad who is able to summon fire at will. She starts to crush on Jack and me, oh my, what’s he going do when he realizes she doesn’t have the power of flame in her fingertips? And worse yet, what’s the keeper of the castle going to do to her when he finds out they nabbed the wrong girl?
What follows is a lot of intrigue and espionage and secret meetings and vaguely nefarious characters and such. All of it terribly boring, if you’re asking me. The early character development is dropped like a hot potato and Violet is tossed to the wind never to be heard from again (at least in this installment of the series). None of it excited me, I’m sad to say. I guess I was expecting something more freakish to be going on in a house dubbed “Freak House”. For a short book this one seemed to drag on forever and I will not be seeking out the sequels which may or may not answer the many questions that I still have after finishing this installment.
Narration Notes Lucy Rayner does a fine job with Hannah’s POV, Sylvia’s is a bit too high-pitched for me but, oh my ears, does she ever butcher all of the manly voices. Jack is supposed to be a 20-something love interest but he and all the men sounded like ancient creepers/gruff old geezers and this is all I could picture whenever Jack or any of the men spoke.
It was disconcerting and that’s all I have to say.
I received a copy of this audio from Tantor Media. I hope they don't regret it!
Things start out promising, if you ignore the fact that heroine has orange hair and is not at all the temptress who appears on the cover. Two young ladies (18ish or so) have been locked away in an attic for most of their lives and are only let out for supervised walks. Hannah, an orphan, was taken in by an earl and grew up as a companion to his daughter Violet who suffers from an affliction that causes fires. Hannah suffers from narcolepsy so the two are kept squirreled away from society. They grow close and are the best of friends.
I can’t express to you how much I loved this setup. So intimate, so character based, so lovely. But then things had to go and change, as things do.
You may enjoy the changes, many appear to do so if the reviews are any indication, but I wasn’t thrilled with the direction the plot ran off in and I never recovered. Hannah is kidnapped and is apparently mistaken for Violet (who also has red, not raven hair – so the chick on the cover wasn’t her either). She is swept away to another creepy mansion where she is told she will be trained to control her powers of fire. She’s also told that she’s not really a prisoner but that she cannot leave. Hmmm, I’d be mighty suspicious were I Hannah . . . Hannah doesn’t reveal that she is not Violet because she supposedly loves Violet and wants to keep her safe. She starts to “train” with Jack, a handsome lad who is able to summon fire at will. She starts to crush on Jack and me, oh my, what’s he going do when he realizes she doesn’t have the power of flame in her fingertips? And worse yet, what’s the keeper of the castle going to do to her when he finds out they nabbed the wrong girl?
What follows is a lot of intrigue and espionage and secret meetings and vaguely nefarious characters and such. All of it terribly boring, if you’re asking me. The early character development is dropped like a hot potato and Violet is tossed to the wind never to be heard from again (at least in this installment of the series). None of it excited me, I’m sad to say. I guess I was expecting something more freakish to be going on in a house dubbed “Freak House”. For a short book this one seemed to drag on forever and I will not be seeking out the sequels which may or may not answer the many questions that I still have after finishing this installment.
Narration Notes Lucy Rayner does a fine job with Hannah’s POV, Sylvia’s is a bit too high-pitched for me but, oh my ears, does she ever butcher all of the manly voices. Jack is supposed to be a 20-something love interest but he and all the men sounded like ancient creepers/gruff old geezers and this is all I could picture whenever Jack or any of the men spoke.
It was disconcerting and that’s all I have to say.
I received a copy of this audio from Tantor Media. I hope they don't regret it!
July 15, 2015
This was one fantastic read! A really fascinating story which I couldn't put down, so this is easily a 5 stars.
The characters really came to life for me, and there was plenty of mystery and drama, and even a spark of romance.
Hannah was loyal and strong, Jack was headstrong and Sylvia? Well, I still think she's hiding something. Bollard was creepy and more than a little scary.
The twists in this book are excellent and I wasn't even expecting most of them. It's great to be surprised by a book, by the way the plot is woven, especially when there are so few original ideas out there. I don't know if this book will be to everyone's tastes, but I freaking love it, it's an excellent start to the series which I know I will continue reading.
I am now more eager than ever to read C.J. Archer's Emily Chambers series, that little reference has got me intrigued. Thank goodness I already have the first book!
I don't understand the cover though, isn't Hannah a fiery red-head?
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
The characters really came to life for me, and there was plenty of mystery and drama, and even a spark of romance.
Hannah was loyal and strong, Jack was headstrong and Sylvia? Well, I still think she's hiding something. Bollard was creepy and more than a little scary.
The twists in this book are excellent and I wasn't even expecting most of them. It's great to be surprised by a book, by the way the plot is woven, especially when there are so few original ideas out there. I don't know if this book will be to everyone's tastes, but I freaking love it, it's an excellent start to the series which I know I will continue reading.
I am now more eager than ever to read C.J. Archer's Emily Chambers series, that little reference has got me intrigued. Thank goodness I already have the first book!
I don't understand the cover though, isn't Hannah a fiery red-head?
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
June 13, 2013
See this review and more on The Moonlight Library!
Orphan Hannah Smith is kidnapped from her attic prison and bundled off to a strange house by a handsome young man and his friendly cousin. It’s a case of mistaken identity – or is it? Hannah wants to protect her best friend, a shy firestarter, so she pretends to be Lady Violet in this Victorian Gothic masterpiece with paranormal elements.
With and opening line like that, I knew I would fall in love with this book. By 15% through, I was still wary that a self-published book could burn me, but my fears were totally unfounded. I loved it from the start to the end and I still love it. I am generally hesitant about reading self-published books because a lot of authors think they can (and do) upload their first draft, or some authors think their writing is flawless when it clearly isn’t.
This is NOT the case with CJ Archer. I loved the writing in this book, the story flowed rather well, and Hannah’s insistence on pretending to be Violet to protect her was totally believable. This is one of my favourite books I’ve read this year, and has even made it to my six stars shelf. I can’t praise it enough. It might even end up the Moonlight Library’s Book of the Year for 2013, and that has NEVER happened with a self-published book before.
The only downside was that I didn’t feel the romance between Hannah and Jack – but I’m not really into romance. I felt it developed too quickly for my taste, but for paranormal lovers it would probably be fine. It’s certainly not insta-love, but it did seem a little fast for me.
The real stand out for this was the writing and the character voice. The accents of the characters came through loud and clear in my head. This is obviously not a classic novel, but it is written in the style of a classic novel, and I feel it is very well pulled off. If I got my hands on a leather-bound hardcover edition, I’d totally stand it next to Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility on my bookshelf, rather than next to my YA novels. (Doesn’t everyone arrange by genre?)
I was always intrigued to read what was happening next, and the several mysteries unravelled themselves at the right time, even if it was a tad predictable from the start. However, that is not a loss in this book because I fell in love with the characters. Hannah is totally awesome, strong-willed and sharp-witted. Jack was OK, and Sylvia was delightful. The bad guy’s motives were totally understandable, and the villain was equally scary and powerful. I only wish we got to see more of the real Violet because I think her friendship with Hannah was beautiful.
The ending is not a cliffhanger but it does leave several questions unresolved. It’s the first part of a series and I desperately want to read the next book so that’s not bothering me, but it’s not the kind of first-book-in-a-series where everything is wrapped up neatly in a bow.
There’s not much else to say about this book except that if you like Gothic stories, strong heroines, books that pass the Bechdel test, classic literature (as it is set in Victorian times), paranormal or supernatural books (no vampires, but psychic powers), then totally read this book. Read it, and then come and squee with me because I absolutely CANNOT WAIT for Book 2.
Thanks to CJ Archer, Patchwork Press and Netgalley for providing this advanced reader copy for an honest review.
Orphan Hannah Smith is kidnapped from her attic prison and bundled off to a strange house by a handsome young man and his friendly cousin. It’s a case of mistaken identity – or is it? Hannah wants to protect her best friend, a shy firestarter, so she pretends to be Lady Violet in this Victorian Gothic masterpiece with paranormal elements.
To say I'd been kept prisoner my entire life in an attic wasn't quite true.
With and opening line like that, I knew I would fall in love with this book. By 15% through, I was still wary that a self-published book could burn me, but my fears were totally unfounded. I loved it from the start to the end and I still love it. I am generally hesitant about reading self-published books because a lot of authors think they can (and do) upload their first draft, or some authors think their writing is flawless when it clearly isn’t.
This is NOT the case with CJ Archer. I loved the writing in this book, the story flowed rather well, and Hannah’s insistence on pretending to be Violet to protect her was totally believable. This is one of my favourite books I’ve read this year, and has even made it to my six stars shelf. I can’t praise it enough. It might even end up the Moonlight Library’s Book of the Year for 2013, and that has NEVER happened with a self-published book before.
The only downside was that I didn’t feel the romance between Hannah and Jack – but I’m not really into romance. I felt it developed too quickly for my taste, but for paranormal lovers it would probably be fine. It’s certainly not insta-love, but it did seem a little fast for me.
The real stand out for this was the writing and the character voice. The accents of the characters came through loud and clear in my head. This is obviously not a classic novel, but it is written in the style of a classic novel, and I feel it is very well pulled off. If I got my hands on a leather-bound hardcover edition, I’d totally stand it next to Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility on my bookshelf, rather than next to my YA novels. (Doesn’t everyone arrange by genre?)
I was always intrigued to read what was happening next, and the several mysteries unravelled themselves at the right time, even if it was a tad predictable from the start. However, that is not a loss in this book because I fell in love with the characters. Hannah is totally awesome, strong-willed and sharp-witted. Jack was OK, and Sylvia was delightful. The bad guy’s motives were totally understandable, and the villain was equally scary and powerful. I only wish we got to see more of the real Violet because I think her friendship with Hannah was beautiful.
The ending is not a cliffhanger but it does leave several questions unresolved. It’s the first part of a series and I desperately want to read the next book so that’s not bothering me, but it’s not the kind of first-book-in-a-series where everything is wrapped up neatly in a bow.
There’s not much else to say about this book except that if you like Gothic stories, strong heroines, books that pass the Bechdel test, classic literature (as it is set in Victorian times), paranormal or supernatural books (no vampires, but psychic powers), then totally read this book. Read it, and then come and squee with me because I absolutely CANNOT WAIT for Book 2.
Thanks to CJ Archer, Patchwork Press and Netgalley for providing this advanced reader copy for an honest review.
July 26, 2013
Not going to bother with a critical review, I wasted enough time reading this drivel.
January 8, 2015
The Good
The catchy opening. "To say I'd been kept prisoner my entire life in an attic wasn't quite true. It was only fifteen years out of eighteen." This opening line grabs you immediately. As the story unfolds, bits and pieces of Hannah's life begin to reveal themselves, dragging the reader deeper and deeper into the addictive plot.
The betrayal. The betrayal Hannah discovers is shocking, and Hannah's reaction to it is absolutely perfect. She's confused, hurt, angry--this is the part of the book where Hannah feels most genuine.
The Bad
The "Twilight"-ness. Hannah lusts after a moody, sullen boy who she knows is dangerous but cannot help herself. The boy's reaction to Hannah swings violently back and forth between cold indifference and blatant flirting. Perfect example: "I smiled at him, and his lips quirked up at the edges. Then he frowned and looked down at his hands." I also just didn't feel any chemistry between the two of them at all, but maybe that was just me since a lot of other people seem to love this book a lot.
The villain. The villain didn't feel sinister enough. Yes, he is dangerous, but at the same time I never got the feeling as I was reading that he was a true threat to the group that was acting against him--they always had the advantage and upper hand. I guess I wanted to be left guessing a little more whether or not good would win out in the end.
Overall Rating
The catchy opening. "To say I'd been kept prisoner my entire life in an attic wasn't quite true. It was only fifteen years out of eighteen." This opening line grabs you immediately. As the story unfolds, bits and pieces of Hannah's life begin to reveal themselves, dragging the reader deeper and deeper into the addictive plot.
The betrayal. The betrayal Hannah discovers is shocking, and Hannah's reaction to it is absolutely perfect. She's confused, hurt, angry--this is the part of the book where Hannah feels most genuine.
The Bad
The "Twilight"-ness. Hannah lusts after a moody, sullen boy who she knows is dangerous but cannot help herself. The boy's reaction to Hannah swings violently back and forth between cold indifference and blatant flirting. Perfect example: "I smiled at him, and his lips quirked up at the edges. Then he frowned and looked down at his hands." I also just didn't feel any chemistry between the two of them at all, but maybe that was just me since a lot of other people seem to love this book a lot.
The villain. The villain didn't feel sinister enough. Yes, he is dangerous, but at the same time I never got the feeling as I was reading that he was a true threat to the group that was acting against him--they always had the advantage and upper hand. I guess I wanted to be left guessing a little more whether or not good would win out in the end.
Overall Rating
2/5 - This book started out very strong. The opening is catchy, Hannah's life in the attic is bizarre and interesting. It is only after she is kidnapped that things started to go down hill for me. The slow plot, Twilight-ish romance, and nonthreatening villain were just too much. That being said, many people really loved this book, so if the premise sounds like something that is interesting to you, you should definitely go pick up a copy. I would recommend this to fans of Twilight and gothic, historical fiction.
May 2, 2023
So, I’m starting a new series, which I was hoping not to, but C.J. Archer’s books are just so good and also because I checked the authors page and read that the Freak House series takes place eight years after The Emily Chambers Spirit Medium series and features some of the characters from said series (which I read not so long ago) therefore I couldn’t help but scope out the Freak House books and I’m so glad I did as the first book is spark-ling.
An excellent start to an intriguing historical-fantasy romance set in Victorian England. Many unanswered questions however, I’m sure they’ll be sorted in the next two books, which I’m tremendously looking forward to reading.
Two girls live in an attic.
The wrong girl is kidnapped.
Firestarters.
Countless twists and turns.
A mystery to solve.
Enthralling and all kinds of freaky fun.
An excellent start to an intriguing historical-fantasy romance set in Victorian England. Many unanswered questions however, I’m sure they’ll be sorted in the next two books, which I’m tremendously looking forward to reading.
Two girls live in an attic.
The wrong girl is kidnapped.
Firestarters.
Countless twists and turns.
A mystery to solve.
Enthralling and all kinds of freaky fun.
November 2, 2023
entertaining listening 🎧
Due to eye issues Alexa reads to me. A will written fantasy thriller mystery leading to the next novel in the series. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story line is fast moving as the characters race to solve the mystery. I would recommend this novel to readers of fantasy. Enjoy reading 2021 😎✨🎉
This was a free novel from Amazon. I did not relize that I had listened to it already. It was just as good the second time. 2023
Due to eye issues Alexa reads to me. A will written fantasy thriller mystery leading to the next novel in the series. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story line is fast moving as the characters race to solve the mystery. I would recommend this novel to readers of fantasy. Enjoy reading 2021 😎✨🎉
This was a free novel from Amazon. I did not relize that I had listened to it already. It was just as good the second time. 2023
June 14, 2013
Originally posted at:
Nocturnal Predators Reviews
* I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
Favorite Quotes:
"Clever people can do foolish things".
"Perhaps you ought to keep us all apprised of the villans you've fallen out with, Mr. Langley".
Nocturnal Predators Reviews
* I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I usually don't like books that take place anywhere before the 21st century. For some reason, I actually liked the premise of this book. I started off thinking this book was going to be a long read and a very dull one at that since it takes place somewhere in the 17th maybe 18th century. I was very surprised when I couldn't put it down. The character's felt so real and the story, though a bit confusing, was good to read.
In the synopsis it explains "The problem is, they think she's the earl's daughter. What will they do when they discover they took the wrong girl?". I was not expecting what happened to happen. I mean, if they have the wrong girl it would be logical to kill her and kidnap the right one wouldn't it? Well that doesn't happen. Something even better does, which I can't comment on.
I have a huge problem with liars so it's obvious that I disliked Jack and Mr. August Langely (especially Mr. Langely). He has an annoying habit of leaving everyone in the dark even though it's something that not knowing could get them killed and he answers questions with other questions or my favorite: "I don't know. You'd have to ask ______ that question".
On a side note: I had a difficult time understanding what Patrick was saying since apparently he has an accent of some kind. Until I figured out all you had to do was substitute an "h" before the apostrophes I had missed half the conversation.
This book left A LOT of questions unanswered. I can't even hint at them because then I'd be giving away some big spoilers and I know how everyone hates those. I'll be looking forward to book 2, maybe I'll get to answer some of those questions.
Favorite Quotes:
"Clever people can do foolish things".
"Perhaps you ought to keep us all apprised of the villans you've fallen out with, Mr. Langley".
July 20, 2013
I enjoyed the read. It was a nice change to the usual fantasy genre i am reading.A fast paced romance-mystery novel with a drop of paranormal.The only thing that spoiled it to me and made me give it 3 instead of 4 stars is the ending. It doesn't solve anything.It leaves you feeling like someone teared out half the book. It doesn't even feel like the usual cliffhanger..more like an unfinished chapter. I really don't like when books end this way. I suppose i wouldn't mind if i had the sequel already at hand but being as this is the first part and the others are not written yet, it just leaves me annoyed having to wait who knows how long to find out what will happen next.And the book is good enough that i will be asking my self this for some long time.
Short summary:
Two girls are hold in the attics whole there life.Because one of them is a uncontrolled firestarter, so it's for the safety of the household.One day one girl is kidnapped and she finds out unbelievable facts about her self and her life.
Short summary:
Two girls are hold in the attics whole there life.Because one of them is a uncontrolled firestarter, so it's for the safety of the household.One day one girl is kidnapped and she finds out unbelievable facts about her self and her life.
June 9, 2017
2,5*
The beginning was good. The opening. The first chapter. It got my attention and even when I was pulling myself through the book, I still thought: "It's going to get better". It didn't.
The plot was unremarkable, the pace slow and the heroes... well, average. There are some questions raised, but reader never gets answer (maybe in the next book?..), there is this almost-predestined love story with heroes that have zero affection to each other, there is this dark mysterious past of the main hero that keeps coming up and could be quite interesting, but it's just not fulfilled.
Oh, wait. I quite liked Hannah, at least in the beginning. When all the events unfolded, I lost the interest in her personality, because she didn't really grow up... but she wasn't that bad and stereotypical in the beginning (note: not as stereotypical as you imagine a girl who grow up in an attic with only one friend to keep her company).
Summing up - short fun read, but if you're looking for something epic... keep looking.
The beginning was good. The opening. The first chapter. It got my attention and even when I was pulling myself through the book, I still thought: "It's going to get better". It didn't.
The plot was unremarkable, the pace slow and the heroes... well, average. There are some questions raised, but reader never gets answer (maybe in the next book?..), there is this almost-predestined love story with heroes that have zero affection to each other, there is this dark mysterious past of the main hero that keeps coming up and could be quite interesting, but it's just not fulfilled.
Oh, wait. I quite liked Hannah, at least in the beginning. When all the events unfolded, I lost the interest in her personality, because she didn't really grow up... but she wasn't that bad and stereotypical in the beginning (note: not as stereotypical as you imagine a girl who grow up in an attic with only one friend to keep her company).
Summing up - short fun read, but if you're looking for something epic... keep looking.
May 19, 2013
2.5 stars
The Wrong Girl is an interesting read. This is the first in the Freak House Series and there is definitely some promise. I found myself turning the pages hoping to get some answers but unfortunately nothing was really resolved. I think that the length may have hurt. At only 139 pages, it is definitely a quick read but I didn't get a lot of the information I was hoping to have by the end.
Hannah Smith is the companion to Violet Jamieson and due to their afflictions; they have both spent almost their entire lives (15 years) in the attic of Violet’s father’s house. The reasoning is that Hannah has narcoleptic episodes and when they happen, Violet’s fear makes her start fires. One day, while out on one of their walks, Violet and Hannah get caught in the rain and make their way to the groundskeeper’s cabin in the woods. When Hannah steps outside to get wood for the fire, she is grabbed from behind and drugged.
Hannah wakes up in a carriage with a young woman and finds out she is on her way to Frakingham House (Freak House) with the Langley’s who believe her to be Violet. They tell her they don't have anything sinister in mind, they (really Jack) intend to train her to control the fire that sparks from her. Hannah believes that there is something more going on and because she doesn't want to put Violet in danger, she decides not to tell them they have the wrong girl.
I found the story interesting and the characters engaging. Hannah is smart and despite her situation finds herself becoming friends with the people around her. At times I wanted her to fight back more. It seemed like she was awfully accepting of the fact that she wasn't really given any answers but she was supposed to trust these people (who she didn't know). Jack was a solid character and I hope we learn more about him in the next book. Clearly he was drawn to Hannah and wanted to help her but he was pretty closed off. Based on his personality, I would think he would have pushed August to give him more answers.
It’s hard to tell whether August Langley is the bad guy here or not. He definitely knows things and isn't telling and I have a feeling there are definite ulterior motives to him taking in Jack and now Hannah. I’m not sure about Sylvia yet either – I feel like she has a story but we didn't really get much in this book from her except that she likes to shop and is very aware of class and society rules.
I think the most frustrating thing for me with this book is that no questions were ever answered. Hannah still doesn't know how she came to be how she is, who her parents were and how August Langley knew her. Also, who is Violet – is she really Lord Wade’s daughter or just another child from the Society? Why is Jack different from Hannah? Also, who the heck is Tate to Hannah and why is he such a nutjob? See….too many questions left.
Knowing this is a series I will definitely check out the second book because I want to know what happens and I am curious to see where Archer goes with the rest of this story. If you are interested in historical with a bit of paranormal you might enjoy this one.
The Wrong Girl is an interesting read. This is the first in the Freak House Series and there is definitely some promise. I found myself turning the pages hoping to get some answers but unfortunately nothing was really resolved. I think that the length may have hurt. At only 139 pages, it is definitely a quick read but I didn't get a lot of the information I was hoping to have by the end.
Hannah Smith is the companion to Violet Jamieson and due to their afflictions; they have both spent almost their entire lives (15 years) in the attic of Violet’s father’s house. The reasoning is that Hannah has narcoleptic episodes and when they happen, Violet’s fear makes her start fires. One day, while out on one of their walks, Violet and Hannah get caught in the rain and make their way to the groundskeeper’s cabin in the woods. When Hannah steps outside to get wood for the fire, she is grabbed from behind and drugged.
Hannah wakes up in a carriage with a young woman and finds out she is on her way to Frakingham House (Freak House) with the Langley’s who believe her to be Violet. They tell her they don't have anything sinister in mind, they (really Jack) intend to train her to control the fire that sparks from her. Hannah believes that there is something more going on and because she doesn't want to put Violet in danger, she decides not to tell them they have the wrong girl.
I found the story interesting and the characters engaging. Hannah is smart and despite her situation finds herself becoming friends with the people around her. At times I wanted her to fight back more. It seemed like she was awfully accepting of the fact that she wasn't really given any answers but she was supposed to trust these people (who she didn't know). Jack was a solid character and I hope we learn more about him in the next book. Clearly he was drawn to Hannah and wanted to help her but he was pretty closed off. Based on his personality, I would think he would have pushed August to give him more answers.
It’s hard to tell whether August Langley is the bad guy here or not. He definitely knows things and isn't telling and I have a feeling there are definite ulterior motives to him taking in Jack and now Hannah. I’m not sure about Sylvia yet either – I feel like she has a story but we didn't really get much in this book from her except that she likes to shop and is very aware of class and society rules.
I think the most frustrating thing for me with this book is that no questions were ever answered. Hannah still doesn't know how she came to be how she is, who her parents were and how August Langley knew her. Also, who is Violet – is she really Lord Wade’s daughter or just another child from the Society? Why is Jack different from Hannah? Also, who the heck is Tate to Hannah and why is he such a nutjob? See….too many questions left.
Knowing this is a series I will definitely check out the second book because I want to know what happens and I am curious to see where Archer goes with the rest of this story. If you are interested in historical with a bit of paranormal you might enjoy this one.
October 22, 2015
ARC provided by Patchwork Press via Net Galley.
Eighteen year old Hannah Smith has known nothing besides her life in the attic of an Earl, as the companion to his daughter. Hannah has always longed for the freedom of the world that is just out of her reach. She never thought that freedom would come at a price. Her kidnapping.
You're so excited to read this book, now, aren't you? I can just tell. And if you do decide to read it, you are in for asweet gothic treat.
First off, the cover. I am IN LOVE with this beautiful cover. I want to own a hard copy of this book, so I can display the cover to all my friends (what friends?). But anyway.
From the moment I picked up The Wrong Girl, I was entranced. I spent the entire day, on the couch, with my cats, reading The Wrong Girl. It was raining, I was eating cookies, The Wrong Girl was perfect. I loved that day.
The writing in The Wrong Girl was beautiful. There were so many quotes that I wanted to write down, and keep. One that particularly stood out to me was this:
I love that quote. It's perfect.
Hannah was a really likeable character, and I was drawn to her immediately. I loved the way she protected Violet when she thought she was in danger, and her naivete about the outside world (which is completely understandable with her being locked in an attic for 15 years, and all). I loved Hannah's voice in this novel, and her descriptions of people, and places - they were so unique.
I really liked the romance aspect of this novel, as it was not the typical insta-love that is trending in YA books. Sure, Hannah's crush on Jack escalated pretty quickly, but the girl has never even been close to a boy before, so I could understand why her attraction to him was so fast-coming.
Onto Jack. I liked Jack. He's not my favourite YA boy, but he isn't my least favourite, either. I thought he was a likeable boy, and I can understand why Hannah developed feelings for him, but I think there could have been a little more substance to his character, and a little more interaction between Hannah and Jack to warrant the attraction between the two.
I was a big fan of the not-so-big characters in this book, like Bollard. I think there's more to that man, and I sincerely we find out more about him in Playing With Fire.
There were some questions left unanswered in The Wrong Girl, but I suppose that is why it is a series. Which I am pretty happy about!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The world building, and the plot drew me in from the get go, and didn't falter until the last sentence. Bring on Playing With Fire!
Eighteen year old Hannah Smith has known nothing besides her life in the attic of an Earl, as the companion to his daughter. Hannah has always longed for the freedom of the world that is just out of her reach. She never thought that freedom would come at a price. Her kidnapping.
You're so excited to read this book, now, aren't you? I can just tell. And if you do decide to read it, you are in for a
First off, the cover. I am IN LOVE with this beautiful cover. I want to own a hard copy of this book, so I can display the cover to all my friends (what friends?). But anyway.
From the moment I picked up The Wrong Girl, I was entranced. I spent the entire day, on the couch, with my cats, reading The Wrong Girl. It was raining, I was eating cookies, The Wrong Girl was perfect. I loved that day.
The writing in The Wrong Girl was beautiful. There were so many quotes that I wanted to write down, and keep. One that particularly stood out to me was this:
Indeed, he reminded me of an automaton awaiting his key to be turned.
I love that quote. It's perfect.
Hannah was a really likeable character, and I was drawn to her immediately. I loved the way she protected Violet when she thought she was in danger, and her naivete about the outside world (which is completely understandable with her being locked in an attic for 15 years, and all). I loved Hannah's voice in this novel, and her descriptions of people, and places - they were so unique.
I really liked the romance aspect of this novel, as it was not the typical insta-love that is trending in YA books. Sure, Hannah's crush on Jack escalated pretty quickly, but the girl has never even been close to a boy before, so I could understand why her attraction to him was so fast-coming.
Onto Jack. I liked Jack. He's not my favourite YA boy, but he isn't my least favourite, either. I thought he was a likeable boy, and I can understand why Hannah developed feelings for him, but I think there could have been a little more substance to his character, and a little more interaction between Hannah and Jack to warrant the attraction between the two.
I was a big fan of the not-so-big characters in this book, like Bollard. I think there's more to that man, and I sincerely we find out more about him in Playing With Fire.
There were some questions left unanswered in The Wrong Girl, but I suppose that is why it is a series. Which I am pretty happy about!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The world building, and the plot drew me in from the get go, and didn't falter until the last sentence. Bring on Playing With Fire!
January 24, 2021
I wasted so much time reading this that I hate to spend more reviewing it but...
first it was boring. Sure the first part moved right along, which I totally appreciate. However, it didn't take long to realize that it wasn't moving toward much.
There was a lot of "training" for nothing, or so we believe. And for all intents and purposes, it was for nothing because nothing came of it. Then we learn that it could have been helpful, which I can't say I Was really all that surprised about. Then there was the equally unsurprising ending. I know that it was meant to be from out of nowhere, and it was, but not in a good way. There was any Ah ha or anything like that. Just an Okay, sure. That makes sense, but that's it.
Will not be continuing series.
first it was boring. Sure the first part moved right along, which I totally appreciate. However, it didn't take long to realize that it wasn't moving toward much.
There was a lot of "training" for nothing, or so we believe. And for all intents and purposes, it was for nothing because nothing came of it. Then we learn that it could have been helpful, which I can't say I Was really all that surprised about. Then there was the equally unsurprising ending. I know that it was meant to be from out of nowhere, and it was, but not in a good way. There was any Ah ha or anything like that. Just an Okay, sure. That makes sense, but that's it.
Will not be continuing series.
August 23, 2021
This book started off in a way that could have gone very right, except it managed to fall apart rather quickly. From everything being too fast paced to Hannah swooning over one of her kidnappers and them falling in love with no development to the lame villain who doesn't appear until near the end, this book just couldn't hold itself together.
I enjoy C.J. Archer's Glass and Steele series decently enough, but I'm going to pass on reading the rest of this series.
I enjoy C.J. Archer's Glass and Steele series decently enough, but I'm going to pass on reading the rest of this series.
did-not-finish
May 24, 2024I've been reading two of Archer's other series and mostly enjoying them so I thought I'd give this on a try.
I only made it 12% and I had to give it up. None of the characters were likable, nothing in the world made sense and the MC was just merrily going along with her kidnappers and admiring how handsome one was. Just no. I read some spoilers and I'm definitely glad I didn't waste more time with it.
I only made it 12% and I had to give it up. None of the characters were likable, nothing in the world made sense and the MC was just merrily going along with her kidnappers and admiring how handsome one was. Just no. I read some spoilers and I'm definitely glad I didn't waste more time with it.
May 17, 2018
I have to admit to being slightly disappointed by this book - it paled in comparison to the first of the Ministry Of Curiosities series. Somehow, I think I may have expected far more from it than was reasonable.
The premise would be sound if we hadn't already gathered that the Wrong Girl was really the Right Girl almost as soon as she is kidnapped - it just take Harriet a while to catch on. There is some attempt at building tension, especially later in the tale when they go to visit the One-Armed Man and realise that not all is what it seems. Sadly, it just all felt a little bit telegraphed and there were no real shocks or surprises.
The setting is very good and has the feel of an authentic Victorian Melodrama, if a somewhat romanticised one. The characters are all pretty much likeable and you do find yourself being sucked in to their world quite easily. Not as all-consuming as The Last Necromancer but getting there.
It sets up the second in the series quite well with a new-ish character joining them all at Freak House and I have to admit that I am interested in finding out what happens next but I will definitely have to take this series book by book as I do feel it may all become a little repetitive.
Solid YA Fantasy that translates well in to older audiences.
The premise would be sound if we hadn't already gathered that the Wrong Girl was really the Right Girl almost as soon as she is kidnapped - it just take Harriet a while to catch on. There is some attempt at building tension, especially later in the tale when they go to visit the One-Armed Man and realise that not all is what it seems. Sadly, it just all felt a little bit telegraphed and there were no real shocks or surprises.
The setting is very good and has the feel of an authentic Victorian Melodrama, if a somewhat romanticised one. The characters are all pretty much likeable and you do find yourself being sucked in to their world quite easily. Not as all-consuming as The Last Necromancer but getting there.
It sets up the second in the series quite well with a new-ish character joining them all at Freak House and I have to admit that I am interested in finding out what happens next but I will definitely have to take this series book by book as I do feel it may all become a little repetitive.
Solid YA Fantasy that translates well in to older audiences.
July 23, 2013
Rather than diving into talking about this book right away, I would like to talk about the author for a brief moment. C.J. Archer. Who is this author? I asked myself after getting a few chapters into this book and realising the novel kicks some serious arse. So, it turns out that C.J. Archer has written other books, quite a few other books. I must read them. There are historical romances, young adult paranormal titles and other standalone books available at cjarcher.com
Okay, on to the book review. "The wrong girl" is set in Victorian era London and has just the right mix of Gothic/paranormal/romancey-stuff going on to keep fans of the genre moving pages quickly. I was impressed right away by the story, as the main character is interesting, witty and the kind of person that you just want to learn more about.
I liked that there was an element of mystery throughout the book as to what would happen when the ultimate truth about the identity of the incorrectly kidnapped girl was revealed. There is a little bit of everything in this novel. The pace never slowed nor did the story line veer off into any strange direction.
I love Jack's character. There is a tendency in paranormal books to make the characters overly mysterious, not revealing enough about them for the reader to get a good grasp on who they are and this author did not (I'm so grateful) take that approach. These characters have feelings, histories and make the story move along as the curiosity over what they will do next grows. It also seemed each of them had a clearly defined purpose and no one was just standing around sniffing daisies--good writer, this one.
If you are a fan of Gothic novels with a bit of paranormal mystery thrown in, this is a book I believe you would enjoy. I liked watching the relationships amongst the characters grow and mature throughout the book and am looking forward to the next in this series "Playing with Fire." (Perfect title.)
The magical/mystical abilities of the characters were not over the top and I found to be handled really well without there being any room for eye rolling or sighs of exasperation. (Nice change that was.) This made me happier with this particular book than I am with a lot of others in the same genre. I felt that some of the things in this book could have actually happened and that kept me feeling closer to the characters than I do when the use of magical qualities overtakes the story.
Overall, I am impressed and looking forward to reading other books by this author. I do wish the book had been a bit longer, but that is purely selfishness on my part. When I find a good one it is hard to let it go.
This review is based on a digital ARC provided by the good folks at Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Okay, on to the book review. "The wrong girl" is set in Victorian era London and has just the right mix of Gothic/paranormal/romancey-stuff going on to keep fans of the genre moving pages quickly. I was impressed right away by the story, as the main character is interesting, witty and the kind of person that you just want to learn more about.
I liked that there was an element of mystery throughout the book as to what would happen when the ultimate truth about the identity of the incorrectly kidnapped girl was revealed. There is a little bit of everything in this novel. The pace never slowed nor did the story line veer off into any strange direction.
I love Jack's character. There is a tendency in paranormal books to make the characters overly mysterious, not revealing enough about them for the reader to get a good grasp on who they are and this author did not (I'm so grateful) take that approach. These characters have feelings, histories and make the story move along as the curiosity over what they will do next grows. It also seemed each of them had a clearly defined purpose and no one was just standing around sniffing daisies--good writer, this one.
If you are a fan of Gothic novels with a bit of paranormal mystery thrown in, this is a book I believe you would enjoy. I liked watching the relationships amongst the characters grow and mature throughout the book and am looking forward to the next in this series "Playing with Fire." (Perfect title.)
The magical/mystical abilities of the characters were not over the top and I found to be handled really well without there being any room for eye rolling or sighs of exasperation. (Nice change that was.) This made me happier with this particular book than I am with a lot of others in the same genre. I felt that some of the things in this book could have actually happened and that kept me feeling closer to the characters than I do when the use of magical qualities overtakes the story.
Overall, I am impressed and looking forward to reading other books by this author. I do wish the book had been a bit longer, but that is purely selfishness on my part. When I find a good one it is hard to let it go.
This review is based on a digital ARC provided by the good folks at Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
October 10, 2015
The cover looks amazing, the beginning chapters were tremendously entertaining, the concept was eye catching, the problem was the bad execution of the work. I truly wanted to like this, truly deeply.... but it was very difficult. The heroine does not make herself likeable at all, she's rather slow, and extremely repetitive. 
She spends every other conversation with her apparent insta-love interest Jack reminding him what he clearly remembers doing (and probably regrets it as well) and that is kidnapping her.
Also, rather than wondering more about her abilities or exploring her powers (or lack thereof at the beginning....) she's interrogating and spying on Jack to find out stuff that he doesn't want to tell her and makes no progress to the story (I believe it doesn't... and I was right!).
She comes to find out some stuff that should make her question the other guy Jack and his cousin (I can't be bothered to remember her name either) uncle but instead is out questioning anyone that knows or has talked to Jack to find out what his deal is and why he happens to speak in a Cockney accent. Nobody cares girl, you like him, what does that matter? Heck... why do you even like him? He's definitely got lots to improve on, particularly his brooding attitude that does not endear one to him at all. I was truly hoping that at least the heroine would find something different in her abilities or maybe have the hypnotiser be Violet's father who has nefarious purposes for keeping her locked in their attic, or probably have Jack be actually the villain of the story, but no, none of that happened. I thought there might be some twists and turns that would surprise me, yet at this point, I doubt anything written for Young Adults will get me to be surprised anymore, except having the villain keep the girl..... haha.
Anyway, I believe that the only thing I liked about this book was Jack's nickname, Jack'o Lantern seeing as he can manipulate the fire and he was from the streets. That's not a spoiler, trust me.
She spends every other conversation with her apparent insta-love interest Jack reminding him what he clearly remembers doing (and probably regrets it as well) and that is kidnapping her.
Also, rather than wondering more about her abilities or exploring her powers (or lack thereof at the beginning....) she's interrogating and spying on Jack to find out stuff that he doesn't want to tell her and makes no progress to the story (I believe it doesn't... and I was right!).
She comes to find out some stuff that should make her question the other guy Jack and his cousin (I can't be bothered to remember her name either) uncle but instead is out questioning anyone that knows or has talked to Jack to find out what his deal is and why he happens to speak in a Cockney accent. Nobody cares girl, you like him, what does that matter? Heck... why do you even like him? He's definitely got lots to improve on, particularly his brooding attitude that does not endear one to him at all. I was truly hoping that at least the heroine would find something different in her abilities or maybe have the hypnotiser be Violet's father who has nefarious purposes for keeping her locked in their attic, or probably have Jack be actually the villain of the story, but no, none of that happened. I thought there might be some twists and turns that would surprise me, yet at this point, I doubt anything written for Young Adults will get me to be surprised anymore, except having the villain keep the girl..... haha.
Anyway, I believe that the only thing I liked about this book was Jack's nickname, Jack'o Lantern seeing as he can manipulate the fire and he was from the streets. That's not a spoiler, trust me.
June 25, 2013
According to this book, there's a girl looked in an attic in every gothic novel. So guess who our new heroine is? If you say "girl locked in an attic", you've got it right! So I guess that's the summary of the book?
Ok, so not quite. The heroine of this book, Hannah, has nacrolepsy while her friend (who's Lady Violet and thus her boss) has the ability of setting things on fire. Or so she says (She only sets things on fire when Hannah's asleep).
So one day, Hannah gets mistaken for Lady Violet, kidnapped, brought to a place which has the nickname Freak House and is expected to master her powers of fire. Only she's a narcoleptic. But (of course), there's this really cute guy and well.....
What I liked about this book was really the premise. But since she makes it clear she really wasn't locked in the attic, and she wasn't the one making an escape attempt, it was a bit of a let down. Because seriously, apart from the attic thing, this book really resembles a super-power YA novel.
What I didn't really like was the lack of resolution in the book. There are several mysteries (Why was she kidnapped? Why do so many people want to kidnap her? Why did Violet - ok, I'll stop before I write out a spoiler), but almost none of them get resolved in the end. I'm guessing there's going to be a sequel, but I would have liked it if everything was solved and then we had a promise of more to come.
Overall, this book wasn't as unique as I thought. It's still a fun read, but it's not going to blow your mind.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted to Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
Ok, so not quite. The heroine of this book, Hannah, has nacrolepsy while her friend (who's Lady Violet and thus her boss) has the ability of setting things on fire. Or so she says (She only sets things on fire when Hannah's asleep).
So one day, Hannah gets mistaken for Lady Violet, kidnapped, brought to a place which has the nickname Freak House and is expected to master her powers of fire. Only she's a narcoleptic. But (of course), there's this really cute guy and well.....
What I liked about this book was really the premise. But since she makes it clear she really wasn't locked in the attic, and she wasn't the one making an escape attempt, it was a bit of a let down. Because seriously, apart from the attic thing, this book really resembles a super-power YA novel.
What I didn't really like was the lack of resolution in the book. There are several mysteries (Why was she kidnapped? Why do so many people want to kidnap her? Why did Violet - ok, I'll stop before I write out a spoiler), but almost none of them get resolved in the end. I'm guessing there's going to be a sequel, but I would have liked it if everything was solved and then we had a promise of more to come.
Overall, this book wasn't as unique as I thought. It's still a fun read, but it's not going to blow your mind.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted to Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
June 12, 2014
Hannah doesn't fit in well with the era she is supposed to be a part of. I loved her quick wit and humour, but she doesn't act the way she should. She especially doesn't act as naive as a girl who was locked in an attic for her whole life would. Her character development is at odds with her story.
The interaction with the villain was very awkward and didn't transition with the story well at all. I think there needed to be a better job setting that scene up and developing the over all feel of the circumstances. It felt rushed and out of place within the rest of the read. It was also rather confusing and not much of the questions that arose were answered in an adequate manner.
The romance was also awkward and not fit to reflect the era. I have an issue with books set up this way; set in a time where society is nothing like today, yet having the characters think and behave like modern day women. It just ruins the atmosphere of the book. I'm sure there were women who rebelled in some way, and were quirky, but I highly doubt they'd behave as forward and bold as Hannah was throughout this book. Given that the only outside influence that Hannah really had were books, she had no way of learning to be the strong willed person she was. She certainly wouldn't feel comfortable being alone with a man who kidnapped her, knowing nothing of his intentions toward her. I found it highly unbelievable and unconvincing since there wasn't much time spent developing the relationship.
I had thought that perhaps the book would be modeled quite like X-men and I was happy that it wasn't. Though, with the way that it ended, I suppose it still could. I'm not a fan of love triangles, and surely there will be one in the next book. I may pick it up, regardless.
The interaction with the villain was very awkward and didn't transition with the story well at all. I think there needed to be a better job setting that scene up and developing the over all feel of the circumstances. It felt rushed and out of place within the rest of the read. It was also rather confusing and not much of the questions that arose were answered in an adequate manner.
The romance was also awkward and not fit to reflect the era. I have an issue with books set up this way; set in a time where society is nothing like today, yet having the characters think and behave like modern day women. It just ruins the atmosphere of the book. I'm sure there were women who rebelled in some way, and were quirky, but I highly doubt they'd behave as forward and bold as Hannah was throughout this book. Given that the only outside influence that Hannah really had were books, she had no way of learning to be the strong willed person she was. She certainly wouldn't feel comfortable being alone with a man who kidnapped her, knowing nothing of his intentions toward her. I found it highly unbelievable and unconvincing since there wasn't much time spent developing the relationship.
I had thought that perhaps the book would be modeled quite like X-men and I was happy that it wasn't. Though, with the way that it ended, I suppose it still could. I'm not a fan of love triangles, and surely there will be one in the next book. I may pick it up, regardless.
August 2, 2013
This is the first in what has been promised to be a trilogy. The story is set in 1888, England, a Gothic young romance with a supernatural twist. Because it is the first in a series, not all questions have been answered by the end of the book. I love that!
Violet is Lord Wade’s daughter. Hannah Smith, orphaned, but lucky enough to be fostered by Lord Wade, is Violet’s constant companion. Also, she has narcolepsy.
Jack, his cousin Sylvia, and their uncle August Langley are the dysfunctional family living in Freak House (Frakingham House). August has directed Jack to kidnap the Earl’s daughter. Jack and Violet are Firestarters, but Jack is drawn to Hannah and kidnaps her believing that she is Violet. The big question is why they have kidnapped her.
I found this to be an easy, enjoyable read. The beginning was wonderful, providing plenty of background, while maintaining the light and easy feel of the read. The story progressed evenly with enough surprises to keep my attention. The ending was open to allow for the continuation into the next book.
I look forward to rejoining these new friends in their next adventure at Freak House!
Editing: A
Violet is Lord Wade’s daughter. Hannah Smith, orphaned, but lucky enough to be fostered by Lord Wade, is Violet’s constant companion. Also, she has narcolepsy.
Jack, his cousin Sylvia, and their uncle August Langley are the dysfunctional family living in Freak House (Frakingham House). August has directed Jack to kidnap the Earl’s daughter. Jack and Violet are Firestarters, but Jack is drawn to Hannah and kidnaps her believing that she is Violet. The big question is why they have kidnapped her.
I found this to be an easy, enjoyable read. The beginning was wonderful, providing plenty of background, while maintaining the light and easy feel of the read. The story progressed evenly with enough surprises to keep my attention. The ending was open to allow for the continuation into the next book.
I look forward to rejoining these new friends in their next adventure at Freak House!
Editing: A
July 13, 2014
I find it very difficult to review and rate this novel. The writing is good, the style flowing and smooth with no obvious SPaG errors leaping out to distract me. The plot moves ahead well, with interesting characters and enough tension and mystery to keep me entertained. But I wasn't sure what exactly I was reading - historical YA, or paranormal or even romance. The overall concept worked at first but then there were a few too many additional extras that seemed designed to pad out the story - probably to allow it to develop into a second book etc. and it was at this point that I began to flounder.
This could have been a great novel if it had been simply that. One novel - with all the lose ends tied up and no cliff-hanger ending that leaves readers going .. wtf??
At one stage I would happily have given it five stars but as it was, it petered away into confusion and left me more annoyed than anything. In the end I settled for 2.5 stars rounded up for the prose.
I probably won't buy the other books in this series, but I will definitely look out for 'stand-alone' novels by this author.
This could have been a great novel if it had been simply that. One novel - with all the lose ends tied up and no cliff-hanger ending that leaves readers going .. wtf??
At one stage I would happily have given it five stars but as it was, it petered away into confusion and left me more annoyed than anything. In the end I settled for 2.5 stars rounded up for the prose.
I probably won't buy the other books in this series, but I will definitely look out for 'stand-alone' novels by this author.
August 20, 2015
This book was free but I was intrigued by the title of Freak House. It was a very good story that dragged you kicking and... okay, it was pleasantly brought in instead of screaming to the time period this takes place in.
This is a Gothic Mystery Romance trilogy. There are 3 books for Hannah and Jack's story. You can currently purchase all 3 in a boxed set for Kindle for 6.99. A really good bargain.
Now, Hannah and Jack are both extraordinary young people. Hannah has Narcolepsy and Jack can set fires. Hannah is companion to Violet and together they are locked in the attic. Violet can set fires, too.
Jack and his cousin Sylvia kidnap Hannah thinking she is Violet they and Hannah soon discover that Hannah is a fire starter - not Violet.
There are fires, orphans, London, a scary bad man, a dubious uncle, and Freak House itself. All of this opens the story to two lovers who cannot even touch each other.
Definitely get all 3 books if this is your type of genre. You'll enjoy it!
This is a Gothic Mystery Romance trilogy. There are 3 books for Hannah and Jack's story. You can currently purchase all 3 in a boxed set for Kindle for 6.99. A really good bargain.
Now, Hannah and Jack are both extraordinary young people. Hannah has Narcolepsy and Jack can set fires. Hannah is companion to Violet and together they are locked in the attic. Violet can set fires, too.
Jack and his cousin Sylvia kidnap Hannah thinking she is Violet they and Hannah soon discover that Hannah is a fire starter - not Violet.
There are fires, orphans, London, a scary bad man, a dubious uncle, and Freak House itself. All of this opens the story to two lovers who cannot even touch each other.
Definitely get all 3 books if this is your type of genre. You'll enjoy it!
June 6, 2013
I thought the beginning was full of potential. A plot that will intrigue the readers who like their characters with bonus powers and written in a way that relates to younger people.
The first half was strong, determined and convincing. The second half was a little rushed.
The main character has been kidnapped for the unusual powers she apparently controls. Unfortunately she isn't as talented as her captors presumed her to be.
To make matters worse she feels a strange attraction towards her handsome kidnapper. That turns out to be a bit of a moral conundrum.
There were a lot of unanswered questions at the end of this first book.
Why the heck was Vi in the attic? Are Jack and Hannah part of some dubious experiment? Where are their parents and do they have any at all? Where does Sylvie fit into all of this?
So you're not left with a cliffhanger in the usual sense of the word, more like twenty questions instead.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley
The first half was strong, determined and convincing. The second half was a little rushed.
The main character has been kidnapped for the unusual powers she apparently controls. Unfortunately she isn't as talented as her captors presumed her to be.
To make matters worse she feels a strange attraction towards her handsome kidnapper. That turns out to be a bit of a moral conundrum.
There were a lot of unanswered questions at the end of this first book.
Why the heck was Vi in the attic? Are Jack and Hannah part of some dubious experiment? Where are their parents and do they have any at all? Where does Sylvie fit into all of this?
So you're not left with a cliffhanger in the usual sense of the word, more like twenty questions instead.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley
October 26, 2016
3.5*
I love this cover, but Hannah has red hair.
Hannah has spent her whole life in the attic of an Earl's house. Orphaned, she is the companion to the Earl's daughter Violet. Both are kept in the attic because of Violet's ability to start fires. These also happen when Hannah as a narcoleptic episode. When Hannah has these episodes, she has no memory of them. Hannah is kidnapped and taken to Frakingham House (AKA Freak House). Her kidnappers believe they have Violet.
Overall I liked this. Hannah, Jack, Sylvia are all likable. Sylvia appears to be normal, but is she? I was frustrated with August. He was not forthcoming and his motives are still murky. August and Jack still have so many Secrets. Hannah realized something about herself, which lead to more questions. After this first installment, some answers, multiple questions.
I love this cover, but Hannah has red hair.
Hannah has spent her whole life in the attic of an Earl's house. Orphaned, she is the companion to the Earl's daughter Violet. Both are kept in the attic because of Violet's ability to start fires. These also happen when Hannah as a narcoleptic episode. When Hannah has these episodes, she has no memory of them. Hannah is kidnapped and taken to Frakingham House (AKA Freak House). Her kidnappers believe they have Violet.
Overall I liked this. Hannah, Jack, Sylvia are all likable. Sylvia appears to be normal, but is she? I was frustrated with August. He was not forthcoming and his motives are still murky. August and Jack still have so many Secrets. Hannah realized something about herself, which lead to more questions. After this first installment, some answers, multiple questions.
January 3, 2018
Hannah grew up in an attic, locked away (albeit comfortably) with the daughter of the manor, who has a strange affliction. She's a fire-starter. At the age of eighteen, Hannah is mistaken for the young lady and kidnapped by people who claim to want to help her.
Captivity and cousins. hypnotism and high society. Footmen and shopping forrays. Reputations and romantic leanings. I wavered between three and four stars for this one. I liked the story, even though it's not particularly complex. Many of the plottier bits amount to foreshadowing since this is part of a longer series. But the characterizations are strong and complex, and I like the direction Archer is taking. This beginning promises even better things ahead. I'm jumping straight into Book 2.
Captivity and cousins. hypnotism and high society. Footmen and shopping forrays. Reputations and romantic leanings. I wavered between three and four stars for this one. I liked the story, even though it's not particularly complex. Many of the plottier bits amount to foreshadowing since this is part of a longer series. But the characterizations are strong and complex, and I like the direction Archer is taking. This beginning promises even better things ahead. I'm jumping straight into Book 2.
December 9, 2021
Well what do ya know. I enjoyed another C.J. Archer book. Big Shocker.
This book and The Medium series felt a lot like Archer's necromancer series. But you can definitely see how her writing has changed and matured.
This book had a lot more mystery and secretiveness to it. I had no clue what was going on for a good part of the book. I didn't know who to trust or who was who. Which I guess kind of goes in line with the whole title.
A kinda wish I got more Gothic vibes from it. The "castle" they lived in seemed to be perfect, I just wanted more descriptions. Especially for a place called the Freak House.
This book and The Medium series felt a lot like Archer's necromancer series. But you can definitely see how her writing has changed and matured.
This book had a lot more mystery and secretiveness to it. I had no clue what was going on for a good part of the book. I didn't know who to trust or who was who. Which I guess kind of goes in line with the whole title.
A kinda wish I got more Gothic vibes from it. The "castle" they lived in seemed to be perfect, I just wanted more descriptions. Especially for a place called the Freak House.
January 12, 2015
Free download from Amazon, I thought to give it a try. But after a little while I stopped and I couldn't go on.
It was too unrealistic and this kept me away from the story and the characters.
I mean, the heroine has just been chloroformed and kidnapped… and talks to her kidnappers as they just invited her for tea or something…!
Not going to continue the book.
The cover and plot seemed cool but I prefer to give space to other books.
It was too unrealistic and this kept me away from the story and the characters.
I mean, the heroine has just been chloroformed and kidnapped… and talks to her kidnappers as they just invited her for tea or something…!
Not going to continue the book.
The cover and plot seemed cool but I prefer to give space to other books.
November 2, 2016
I thought I was going to really like this book, but I just didn't like the characters very much. I originally was sympathetic to Hannah's situation (the whole orphan servant, forced to live in an attic AND she suffered from narcolepsy). But then she meets her love interest and they can't touch because they will combust?! Yea, you lost me there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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