The Garden of Bewitchment

by Catherine Cavendish

In 1893, Evelyn and Claire leave their home in a Yorkshire town for life in a rural retreat on their beloved moors. But when a strange toy garden mysteriously appears, a chain of increasingly terrifying events is unleashed. Neighbour Matthew Dixon befriends Evelyn, but seems to have more than one secret to hide.

Then the horror really begins. The Garden of Bewitchment is all too real and something is threatening the lives and sanity of the women. Evelyn no longer knows who - or what - to believe. And time is running out.

Genres: Horror, Gothic, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, British Literature, Historical, Dark

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 13, 2020

About the author

Hello, my name's Catherine Cavendish and I write suspense novels, novellas and short stories of the ghostly, haunted, creepy kind that include supernatural, paranormal, Gothic and other, related themes.

THE STONES OF LANDANE is out now from Flame Tree Press - When Jonathan agrees to accompany his girlfriend, Nadia, on a trip to Landane, he imagines a short relaxing break in the countryside, but he quickly discovers that Nadia isn’t just drawn to the ancient Neolithic stone circle, she is obsessed by the megaliths. One in particular holds a fascination for her. Within hours, her personality begins to change, and it isn’t long before Jonathan starts to fear for her sanity. All too soon he realizes, it isn't only Nadia who is in danger

My other novels from Flame Tree Press are:

THOSE WHO DWELL IN MORDENHYRST HALL - Evil runs deep at Mordenhyrst Hall… When Grace first sets eyes on the imposing Gothic house, she is struck with an overwhelming sense that something doesn’t want her there. Her fiancé’s sister heads a coterie of Bright Young Things whose frivolous lives hide a sinister intent. Simon, Grace’s fiancé, is not the man she fell in love with, and the local villagers eye her with suspicion that borders on malevolence.

Her friend, Coralie, possesses the ability to communicate with powerful spirits. She convinces Grace of her own paranormal gifts – gifts Grace will need to draw deeply on as the secrets of Mordenhyrst Hall begin to unravel.

THE AFTER-DEATH OF CAROLINE RAND - Alli is caught between fantasy and reality, past and present, in the life of a famous singer from the 1960s and soon learns that evil infests the once-holy building she called
home. Before long, Alli's fate will be sealed, and she will learn about her role in the after-death of Caroline Rand. It begins with a chilling greeting: "Welcome to The Columbine, Miss Sinclair. You are expected."

DARK OBSERVATION - is published by Flame Tree Press. In the dark days of war-torn London, Violet has more to fear than bombs. From deep within the Earth, demonic forces are rising.

IN DARKNESS, SHADOWS BREATHE. Carol and Nessa are strangers with one thing in common, they are in the hands of an entity that knows no boundaries and crosses dimensions - bending and twisting time itself - where danger waits in every shadow

THE GARDEN OF BEWITCHMENT. Historical haunted Gothic horror set in the wilds of the Yorkshire moors - pure Bronte country - with a Bronte theme.

And - THE HAUNTING OF HENDERSON CLOSE. Ghostly horror set in Edinburgh's Old Town.

THE CROW WITCH AND OTHER CONJURINGS is my first short fiction collection and is out now from Weird House Press.

My novellas THE DARKEST VEIL, COLD REVENGE, MISS ABIGAIL'S ROOM, THE DEMONS OF CAMBIAN STREET, DARK AVENGING ANGEL, LINDEN MANOR, THE DEVIL INSIDE HER and THE SECOND WIFE are published by Crossroad Press.

My novels THE DEVIL'S SERENADE and SAVING GRACE DEVINE have also been released in new editions by Crossroad Press, as has my novel of the Lancashire Witches - THE PENDLE CURSE.

I live with a long-suffering husband and a delightful black cat who has never forgotten that her species used to be worshipped in ancient Egypt. She sees no reason why that practice should not continue. Who am I to argue?

When not slaving over a hot computer, I enjoy wandering around Neolithic stone circles and visiting old haunted houses.

Reviews

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Flame Tree Press, Catherine Cavendish, and Netgalley. This was a quick read for me. Which means that I really liked it! I've only read one other book by this author, and it was also from Flame Tree. What I'm wondering is where has this author been all my life? I love the time period, and especially how people back then thought of spinsters.😤😬 How very quaint! Catherine writes this time period, and the moors beautifully. The ghosts? They were a bit shivery! I have known a few ghosts, and I don't like them! I have even known a few friendly spirits, and I still don't like them! The Garden, board game gave me the creepy crawlies, and there were a few times when I grew tense. I call it, being on high alert! You know, those moment's where any sound, shadow or movement is bound to make you jump? Yeah, that was me! Funny thing, for a 58 years old woman with aches, pains, bitching and moaning...I can move like a ninja when I'm startled! Turns out that yes, I can jump 3 feet into the air with absolutely no warning at all! I was startled once or twice with this book. Those damn snowplows need to call ahead before they start plowing! Terrifying! Anywho...the Garden was um..a bit weird. Honestly, it was strange enough to give me the sleeping willies! Not quite a nightmare, but just enough to get the brain thinking as you're falling asleep. For me, that's a great recommendation!

[LTJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Garden of Bewitchment” by Catherine Cavendish starts off pretty interesting and takes you on quite the gothic horror ride. I loved the characters right off the bat and wow, talk about a creepy, scary, and haunting novel! I genuinely enjoyed how all these unique situations unraveled and all the terrifying events, situations, and everything else in between being encountered as a reader.

This gothic horror novel hits you with lots of scary events that can leave much to interpretation. As I kept reading, I felt this whole Garden of Bewitchment could be that of demons, witches, spells, a curse, who knows what. I also loved how this novel flirts with a mystery aspect to it and don’t worry, I won’t ruin anything by saying exactly what it is but you’ll see as it kept me guessing until the very end.

Cavendish has an incredible and elegant style of writing, not just with the horror aspects of this novel but all the little details from flowers, cottages, animals, tea, and even food. I felt all the different layers and atmospheres in this novel were brilliantly written. It didn’t take long to read this at all as it’s a genuine page-turner and something I’d recommend to anyone that loves horror.

The ending definitely was a rollercoaster of some decent twists and turns but I ultimately was expecting just a bit more. It did get a bit confusing but the ending was fine and I loved the Epilogue to end things on a creepy note. All in all, this is definitely an entertaining novel from beginning to end.

Overall, I give “The Garden of Bewitchment” a 4/5 as each of these characters, events, scenes, and ending will definitely make this a novel to remember. I wanted a bit more at the end as it did get a bit confusing (I had to re-read the final few pages just to understand it) but either way, this was a fun read!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chills and Shivers!

Backstory:

Evelyn and Claire want to get away from their home and go to some place quiet out on the moors. Evelyn purchases a place called Heather Cottage for her and her sister. While they are staying there they come across a toy box called "Garden of Bewitchment" that seems to be some kind of game but when they open it they unleash something that turns their world upside down. With the help of a neighbor, Matthew they try to figure out the magical qualities of the box and what the toy box represents. Though besides the toy box the cottage seems to be haunted as well as things become active with the paranormal not too long after the sisters move in.

The more they delve into the mystery of the box the more things do not seem to make sense and when the dream world of the toy box blends into their real world they will need to escape the clutches of the Garden and all what lies within as something evil was unleashed which will send everyone involved on a hunt to find the truth of what the box contains!

Thoughts:

Impressive story kept me on the edge of my seat as I just could hardly lay this book down! The writing style of author, Catherine Cavendish just flows along at a quick pace and the story was so deep with mystery that I just could not detach myself from the story!

The pace picks up more as the story moves along and there are tons of twists and turns within. I loved all the characters - especially the sisters, Evelyn and Claire as I love how they were both fleshed out. I just wanted to spend the day with them as I felt that they could be real. I am always impressed by this author's stories as Catherine Cavendish has the ability to grab the reader and plop them into her story surrounding them with all the details and atmosphere of the plot.

The story just weaved its way into my soul along with some of it spooking me out of my skin! The story with the haunting and the toy box just kept me tensed up with anxiety and I even had some interesting dreams from reading this book! I will definitely be adding this book to my favorites shelf! Another awesome book by this author and I feel that Catherine Cavendish writes the best gothic haunting stories! Giving this book five "Bewitching Spooky Mystery" stars!

[Kasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and atmospheric, this was the perfect gothic horror to read on a hot summer week as it chilled me to the bone many times. This would make an incredible movie as the visuals that Catherine penned are very evocative.

The sisters were amazing and will stay with you for a long time.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Garden of Bewitchment was a stellar book and I am so glad to have read it along with author Catherine Cavendish in our Nightmares and Dreamscapes group. It was a gothic and atmospheric tale that was both mysterious and twisty. It was like a blend of Wuthering Heights, an Agatha Christie mystery, and a sprinkle of Jumanji. The atmosphere and setting were perfectly creepy and the scary moments were intense.

The relationship between twin sisters Evelyn and Claire was completely believable and relatable. The plot was so interesting and told in such an immersive manner it was very hard to put this one down. And the entire premise behind The Garden of Bewitchment was so unique. The mysteries and unanswered questions were so fun (and frustrating) and I couldn't wait to find out how it was all going to come together in the end. Just when you think you have it figured out, Catherine completely blindsides you with a twist that I won't be forgetting soon. It was so well done!

My sincere thanks to Catherine for joining Nightmares and Dreamscapes this month. You would be hard pressed to find a more open and engaging author to read with.

100% recommend!!!

[Dollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story about Evelyn and Claire Wainwright, two grown, unmarried twins who write stories. Their father dies, leaving them a large inheritance. They then move from the town they’ve been living to a small, secluded hamlet on the English moors. They don’t want to deal with everyone they know gossiping about them. They also want to avoid any fortune hunters. Soon after they arrive, Evelyn meets a handsome young neighbor, Matthew Dixon, but is not sure if she should trust him. Claire doesn’t want to meet any young men because she is obsessed with the ghost of Branwell Bronte, brother of the Bronte sisters. One night Claire finds a game in her room called The Garden of Enchantment, a game with a house and you build your own garden. But this garden is unlike any other. I liked this story very much. I liked the characters and especially the setting, which was perfect, as it brought the Bronte sisters to mind. This was a horror story, but I thought it was also quite a good mystery, so I had a hard time putting it down because I had to find out what was going to happen next. Now that I’ve finished it, I want to sit down and read it again. I’m sure I will eventually. It was that good.

[Latasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts off slow while we are getting to know Claire and Evelyn and the details of their life. Then the Bronte's are introduced to the story. I am familiar with their lives so i'm not sure how or if this would have a impact on the story for others. The more you read, the more it becomes clear that Claire is having some problems. she's seeing someone who can not be there. This is the focus of the story for a while then the Garden of Bewitchment shows up. It sounds like it's packaged as a board game but it's really just a table top terrain set up. The ladies quickly realize this is not just a game. There's an Alice in Wonderland like scene with Evelyn that made me feel so panicky and claustrophobic. by 60% in, the worry for Claire is real. She's missing and is clearly disillusion.
For me, the last little bit fell apart. There was so much going on and it seemed to was too much to wrap together nicely. I really like Catherine Cavendish but this would not be a favorite from her.

i would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.


THE GARDEN OF BEWITCHMENT, by Catherine Cavendish, is her latest novel released by Flame Tree Publishing. One thing I've come to expect from this author is incredible atmosphere throughout her entire story. This one is no exception to that! The Gothic feel set in almost immediately, and never let up.

We begin with twins, Evelyn and Claire, unmarried wealthy women, alone now since the death of their parents. In an attempt to hide from society--and the possibility of men after them only for their money--Evelyn insists they move to a more remote location.

". . . maybe she hadn't chosen Heather Cottage at all. Maybe it had chosen her."

Of course, this misty area is seeped in Gothic imagery and just enough isolation to let you feel as though anything is possible here. This is a land where the "unnatural" belongs.

". . . A few days ago, she wouldn't have given the supernatural a second thought . . . "

The characters of Evelyn and Claire have the most dynamics between them. Other chance encounters--one with a new neighbor--show that everything here seems "destined" to unfold, and that there are no mere coincidences. After the man, Matthew, describes his encounter many years before with a game called "The Garden of Bewitchment", Evelyn's sister finds a game by the same name in her new room.

A game that seemingly "plays" you, and is much more than an innocuous toy.

". . . I have seen enough in my life to make me believe there are some things best left alone and some things we will never explain . . ."

I loved the characters of Evelyn and Claire--even Matthew, to an extent. The only complaint I had during the first two-thirds or so of the book was that there were several "repetitive" scenes--basically same people, location, "slightly" different conversation.

". . . nothing was as it seemed in this place . . . "

Additionally, there were some characters later introduced that I just didn't understand the need for. One, in particular, really confused me towards the end--in an otherwise fantastic idea, this one part intruded on what could have been a "perfect" ending, in my mind.

"This is real life . . . It's much more sinister . . . "

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the writing style. The setting was perfect and gave my imagination plenty to speculate on, making it easy to fall into the events unfolding.

". . . Don't you feel as if you're losing touch with reality in some way? . . . "

The idea behind the GARDEN OF BEWITCHMENT was sinister and led me to believe the actions happening here. My only real complaints were the "excess scenes" and one of the characters at the end that felt unnecessary and simply . . . confusing . . . as I didn't see where he fit in, or the reason for him at all. Aside from that, a riveting book that kept me thinking the entire read.

Recommended.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and twisty read that keeps you guessing! The story includes a really unusual toy/game, think Jumanji? I read this for a buddy read and it really kept us all guessing.

[Netanella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cavenish's Garden is a compelling gothic piece with mystery and romance on the moors. Twin sisters Claire and Evelyn move to a small village upon the death of their father, to escape the prying eyes of the city folk who don't approve of unwed women with an inheritance. Upon their arrival, they encounter a mysterious stranger, an even more mysterious toy replica of a garden and manor house, and an assortment of villagers. All of these characters, including the sisters, seem to be hiding secrets, and it's hard to distinguish what's reality and fantasy. It's fun entertainment, and a good read. Kudos to the author!

[Nyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when you think you have it all figured out - you don't! What an engrossing tale.
While the epilogue was bound to happen, I doubt anyone could have seen that ending coming.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Catherine Cavendish's creepy tale The Haunting of Henderson Close, so when I saw this new title pop up I knew I had to read it! Glad I did....Cavendish delivers yet another fantastically creepy tale! This one snuck up on me.....the story, the atmosphere and the horror build slowly, but perfectly. Loved it!

Two spinster sisters move into a new cottage. They bicker a lot, as sisters will. Each has their idiosyncrasies....Claire is obsessed with the long dead Bramwell Brontë and sees things that aren't there. Evelyn becomes a bit obsessed with a neighbor, Matthew Dixon. When a strange miniature garden appears in their house....a children's game.....sinister things begin to happen. The Garden of Bewitchment is cursed, after all.....

This book is a bit like gothic suspense meets Jumanji. Very atmospheric....and incredibly entertaining! Lots of twists and creepy weirdness!

Another great book from Catherine Cavendish! I am looking foward to her next book!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Flame Tree Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. No ghostly Brontës assisted with the writing of this review.**

[Kirsty ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying discovering the books released by Flame Tree Press. It's re-awakened by love of horror stories and this one is no exception. A fascinating tale of supernatural and the tricks the mind can play on us. 

I love the setting. I don't lie that far from the Moors and having seen them the bleakness is a brilliant setting for this story. I love the Victorian time period and all their superstitions and beliefs (from a distance, not sure I would love it if I lived then) and I think it all comes together perfectly here. The board game if flat out creepy. It makes Jumanji seem almost sane. It's weird and a little scary and did leave me feeling a little bit disturbed which is no mean feat. 

Overall really enjoyed this and will definitely go and read the authors other works. 

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe author Catherine Cavendish may have lived a past life or two in Victorian Great Britain: she possesses a rare and quite special gift for writing that period "from the inside," and so readers "experience" her stories rather than just peruse a narrative. I felt I lived with the characters in her newest, the spectacularly spooky supernatural story GARDEN OF BEWITCHMENT. Evelyn and Claire, twin protagonists, literally identical twins, their lives, their hauntings. Claire's obsession, that mysterious and alien concept "toy" referenced so delightfully in the title: for the duration of reading, all this was a part of me.

[inciminci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine Cavendish had me fooled throughout the bigger part of this book, had me thinking I had figured it out, rolling my eyes at the ostensible Victorian banality of it all... And then she sped up the story toward the end and came up with that bombshell in the last quarter that I can only applaud. "The Garden of Bewitchment" is an exquisitely crafted, wonderfully astonishing, plain fantastic book! Forget all you know about cozy Gothic fiction because Cavendish is here to push the boundaries of convention and rewrite it all in letters of dread! Love it!
Full review: https://proteandepravity.blogspot.com...

[Barb (Boxermommyreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evelyn and Claire are twin sisters. They feel they no longer belong in Yorkshire. Their parents are deceased and before dying, their father sold the family business which employed much of the town. While this left Evelyn and Claire financially set, many lost their jobs. Evelyn and Claire are looking for a new start and since they are budding writers who are obsessed to different degrees with all things Bronte, they move to a small cottage on the Moors. Once their, Evelyn and Claire stumble upon a game, The Garden of Bewitchment, that shouldn't exist but does. The neighbor, Matthew, also has had experiences with this game and even though they are leery of him, Evelyn and Claire end up seeking his help.

I really enjoyed this tale and to be honest, it would be a great read for a cold winter's night huddled in a blanket with a glass of bourbon (or coffee, but I'm in the mood for bourbon). While not exactly action-packed, Cavendish does a great job with scenes and setting and at times I actually felt like I was on the Moors with Evelyn and Claire. I enjoyed their sisterly bond to a point, but can't really elaborate any more for risk of spoiling things. I also kind of figured out some of the twists early on, but that didn't damper my reading enjoyment. My only real issue with it was that I wish it had been a tad more scarier. That being said, I'm not easy to scare so if you are looking for a mild horror read, this is definitely the ticket.

While this book is classified as horror I think it might better be described as a slow-burn suspense novel. However, it also very much feels like a Gothic horror tale. So if any of these descriptors intrigue you, then you might want to pick this one up. I will most certainly be on the lookout for more titles from this author.

[Valerie - Cats Luv Coffee Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine Cavendish brings us yet another atmospheric read with The Garden of Bewitchment. While the Victorian Gothic style is one with which many authors flounder, Cavendish's prose flows, clearly proving her niche. The country cottage set on the bleak and remote Yorkshire Moors—as well as a connection to the Brontës—simultaneously romanticizes and grounds the novel. She gently prods the story onward while still exhibiting an acute awareness of the period. While at times the Garden reads like a tenuous laudanum dream, it doesn't take long for the encounters to turn menacing, evoking uncertainty and dread. Cavendish has dreamt into being our two female protagonists, whose impassioned individuality surely establishes them as unique as the Brontës sisters themselves. Surprisingly, the subject matter is never given a chance to become cumbrous as the increasing presence of the sinister game exerts its influence. As is often the theme with gothic fiction, neurosis versus actual paranormal is at first difficult, if not impossible to discern. It's up to the reader to decide if the Garden of Bewitchment and its inhabitants are all in the mind or if there truly is an esoteric or even demonic power at hand.

Reviewed for Unnerving Magazine

[Rajiv · Rating 5 out of 5]

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“The Garden of Bewitchment” is the second one I read of the author, and I feel she is a fantastic horror writer.

There are so many things which I loved about this story. Firstly, the story itself is eerie and gave me goosebumps. Many scenes gave me shivers. For instance, I loved the Evelyn sees the mysterious man outside in the middle of the night. Or when she moves into the Inn and sees a pair of eyes staring at her. I’m regretting reading this alone at night, and hope I fall asleep now.

The author also includes some exciting subplots like the ghosts of Jeremy Ackroyd and Black Lion Boy. Moreover, I loved the author’s creativity in including Branwell Bronte, brother of the Bronte sisters, as a prominent character. Frankly, I didn’t even know about him until I read this book. I thought it was genius how the author included a real person into this fictional tale.

Then, there are twists and turns. The author throws shades on all the characters throughout the story. You don’t even know who to trust midway into the storyline. Claire is twisted and manipulative and was so entertaining! Likewise, even Matthew acts suspicious at times, like the way he conveniently shows up whenever something is wrong. The plot hooked me to the very end to find out exactly what was happening. Also, the climax is fantastic, and one that I did not see coming.

If I ever move into a new house and find and find a toy game called “The Garden of Bewitchment,” I am going to run out of there! Overall, this is a very entertaining story for horror fans!

[Tiffany Coffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was a great read! This is the first book by Catherine Cavendish I have read and I devoured it! If you love gothic horror, you'll love this slow burn ghost story with a touch of demons.

Evelyn and Claire, identical twins, move to a small cottage and things begin to become odd. A handsome stranger, a mysterious child's game and sisterly conflict create a story that will stick with you for a while.

I can't wait to read more from this author! Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was fucking rough. The only thing I remember about it is that I really struggled to get through it.

[Russell James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Queen of Gothic Horror returns with another dark thriller. A cottage in a small town, two quirky spinster sisters, and a whole host of ghosts. Throw in the creepiest doll house ever and this becomes a riveting tale with some splendid, surreal, scenes. Catherine has the ability to nail period settings and this book is no exception. Highly recommended.

[Keith Chawgo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cavendish’s new novel, The Garden of Bewitchment is a tale that bewitches the reader and entices them into the gothic period without over writing or over flourishing the style but keeping in with the tropes that make this period fascinating.

The Garden of Bewitchment is very well written and in the hands of this very accomplish author this could have fallen flat. Many authors try to give a nod to gothic literature which tends to become pretentious or so labours that one finds them struggling to get through each paragraph let alone trying to finish the whole novel. This is not the case with Cavendish’s book, she lovingly captures the time period and style and avoiding the pitfalls. With lush characters, plot points, ambiance and strong story at its core, she winningly ticks all the boxes but at the same time develops some very unique and wonderful tricks that all very much her own winningly.

The plot is a fascinating and leads us to two twin sisters, both very much entranced by the Bronte’s writing and history whilst very different in nature. Katherine, clean and tidy and Clare, messy and shy, though alike in appearance. After their parents death, they decide to live on the moors to continue to write their novel, and start a new life away from the prying eyes of the locals whilst keeping more control of their inheritance. All is going to plan until a strange board game comes to consume their life with a mystery that needs to be solved or there will be dire consequences.

The characters are rich and well written. Katherine is a testament in a woman of the 1800’s. Strong, able bodied and minded, Katherine is the heart of the story whilst Clare gives a fascinating portrait about another time of 1800’s women. A character is not wasted or unwanted and all of them are such an added asset to provide a richly texture tapestry of characters that yearn you to read more and keep you deeply involved.

Overall, this is one of the greatest books to come out in 2019 and loved every moment of it. Richly written, great characters, fantastic plot and keeping to the gothic format without falling into the pitfalls. The Garden of Bewitchment is a must for all mystery, horror and gothic readers and never disappoints. This simply a marvel to behold. Loved every minute of it.

[Alyson Rhodes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was attracted by the plot description and requested this E-Arc from Netgalley. I do enjoy Victorian set, Gothic toned supernatural stories with the added bonus this time of it being set where I live in West Yorkshire and the added lure of the 'strange toy garden' in a box which sounded exciting. Twin sisters, Evelyn and Claire, move to a cottage near the moors, where Evelyn befriends their neighbour, Matthew Dixon but strange events begin to mount up- the cottage might be haunted, Claire is chatting to the ghost of Branwell Bronte, a strange toy garden in a box turns up, which has magical powers which transforms the spinster sisters' day to day lives with its power and beauty but it contains evil too. All of this was very promising, but the different elements didn't come together for me as a whole. The descriptive sections with the garden felt shoehorned in at times, whereas the sisters' relationship seemed repetitive, with historical facts about the period and the Brontes pushed into the narrative. Occasionally too the dialogue seemed to tilt towards 2020 more than 1893-some phrases felt rather modern to the ear. The publishers (Flame Tree Press) have opted for the American style spelling of such words as neighbors, which didn't gel with the Yorkshire setting to my eye. I kept mentally correcting the spelling. There is a major plot twist which I won't reveal which Catherine Cavendish has to spin through the novel and shedoes that well, I did however guess it early on. However it is rather ingenious. The last part of the book felt rushed and there was more 'tell than show' to explain all the plot details and like other reviewers here it got a bit confusing, as well as Evelyn having an about face in her attitude to Matthew.
Overall sadly, this one didn't click for me. It had some scary moments and interesting sections and I did love the idea of the titular Garden.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you found a toy you had never seen in your cupboard, would you play with it? Most likely for me. This is about Evelyn and Claire, twins who following their parents deaths move into a cottage.

We meet a small cast of characters, Matthew who lives nearby, Mr. Skelton who seems like an outside character and a few people from the village. It is mainly just Claire and Evelyn.

This book is intriguing from the start. Intriguing in the way that the author has put little things in, conversations with a nanny that seem a little off that make you want to discover the golden question, why is the character acting like that? Little clues are placed throughout the book nicely.

The writing was easy to read, made sense for the time period and was fast paced enough to let you know it would not be dragging out.

I gave this 4 stars because I do think it was beautifuly written, although it turned out not to be quite as scary as I would have liked but that is personal preference and does not realy reflect the book.

[Suzy Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine Cavendish pegs psychological horror once again with the particularly eerie 'The Garden of Bewitchment”. Cavendish weaves plot points with ease together for an interesting, unique, and creepy tale!

The Garden of Bewitchment begins in 1893 following sisters, Evelyn and Claire, as they move from their Yorkshire town home after their parents deaths, to a cottage on their beloved moors. Both aspiring writers who idolize the Bronte sisters, their work is disrupted when a strange and mysterious miniature toy dollhouse surrounded by a beautiful garden pops up inside their house. Entranced by the toy, Claire soon comes to believe that she is conversing with someone inside the dollhouse and is able to enter into the house and walk the halls. Claire soon becomes possessed by the house and it's ghostly inhabitants and Evelyn needs to uncover the truth behind the toy before she loses her sister forever.

The Garden of Bewitchment will really bewitch the reader. Catherine Cavendish writes this time period with a particular familiarity and brings the moors and characters to life with her vivid prose and clear and concise writing. She has a way of transporting you back to that time period- and for me the place as I've been lucky enough to visit the Yorkshire moors 4 years ago. Her descriptions are accurate and uncanny. She can bring her worlds to life, as well and all of the supernatural happenings that are going on within her creations. She truly has a special ability.
The sisters are well written characters, very well developed, complex and intriguing.
The plot pulls you in immediately and keeps leading the reader little intriguing bread crumbs that keep you interested in the sisters and the mysterious dollhouse. All deliberately placed to keep you eager and hungry for that next crumb of info. Cavendish does a great job at keeping the readers guessing about what is actually going on with the dollhouse- are the sisters really being haunted or are they just hallucinating, just like their idols once did.
My only complaint was the ending. It was foreshadowed at the beginning, which I thought was just a bit of misdirection, sadly, I was wrong. The ending seemed convenient and didn't set well with the rest of the story.

Catherine Cavendish makes a delightfully eerie debut back with 'The Garden of Bewitchment'. If you love historical horror in a gothic atmosphere, I would definitely recommend this novel!

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first experience reading Catherine Cavendish. I really enjoy the historical fiction genre and the timeframe and setting for this book were right up my alley.

The story takes place in 1893 close to Yorkshire. We follow two identical twin sisters, Evelyn and Claire, as the move from the city to a small cottage out on the moors.

Once settled into the cottage strange things being to occur. Claire says that she has conversations with someone who has long since been dead. Evelyn gets an eerie since that she has been to the cottage before and feels as if she recognizes some of the neighbors but isn't sure why.

Once an odd toy known as the Garden of Bewitchment seems to manifest within the cottage the odd and bizarre really start to escalate.

Catherine does a great job of keeping the readers in the dark about what is really going on. Are the two sisters really seeing and experiencing these things, are the hallucinating, are they being haunted? We slowly learn that this innocent children's toy is more sinister than it seems.

I thoroughly enjoyed Catherine's writing. The characters are well developed and the setting is very atmospheric and claustrophobic at times. The lore she has created for the Garden of Bewitchment was great.

There is a revelation near the end of the book that I was able to predict somewhat early on that lessened the impact of the ending some for me. I feel like there were a few too many nods throughout pointing towards this and a little more subtly could have made the ending more shocking.

There was also a bit of a pacing issue. We slowly learn bits and pieces about what is truly going on throughout the book but at the end with get quite a lot of information at once that could have been spread out more evenly along the story.

Overall I enjoyed my time within the garden. The story was intriguing and a nice spin on the classic haunted house tale. If you are into horror and enjoy a more historical setting then I would recommend this to you.

I received a digital ARC of this book from Netgalley for review consideration.

Video review: https://youtu.be/OBh0-7vy5bY

[Shehanne Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare to be bamboozled in Catherine Cavendish’s latest foray into the dark side.

Prepare to be scared too. She is a master of horror after all. Here her period is late Victorian England. Her setting, the wilderness of the Yorkshire moors, where two sisters have come to live. Yes, you may have guessed it, there’s a Bronte connection. No Heathcliff perhaps, but a helpful stranger, Matthew, who may or may not, be trustworthy, especially if you’re no stranger to Catherine’s other books. There’s also two very different sisters who, in a nice nod to the Bronte girls, have invented their own literary world. Lastly, but by no means least, there’s the Garden of Bewitchment—a toy, just not one you would want to play with. As you may guess Catherine isn’t just big on Gothic horror, she delivers it in spades. The atmosphere, settings and the world the women create is wonderfully claustrophobic, not to mention disturbing, as their relationship is at times. And that relationship, from page one, where people aren’t quite sure of them in their home town, is well worth focusing on throughout the book—no spoilers given about that, or the toy itself, although thematically she had me at that bit. In a game of secrets and madness who will survive? If you’ve read Catherine’s other books then you might assume you know the answer, just as you do with the helpful stranger. This book though is a lesson in assuming nothing.

[John Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Garden of Bewitchment is the latest novel by Catherine Cavendish, are you ready to be haunted?

Sisters Evelyn and Claire leave their home to set down stakes in a quieter area. They’re looking for a fresh start and somewhere they are less known and can work on their writing together. But something is amiss, will the sisters make it out alive?

This was a fun period piece, Cavendish has a wonderful style of writing that draws you in, and makes you feel like you’re reading something from a past era. This is a book that gets more complex as it goes on, and Cavendish expertly weaves numerous plot points together for a fun, yet creepy read.

The Garden of Bewitchment will sit well with fans of historical horror, if that’s not your flavor, its still worth a shot.

[Mary (Biblophile) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this gothic horror story with plenty of atmosphere. Spinster sisters move into a cottage with a tainted background. Enter handsome, mysterious next door neighbor who inserts himself into their lives, taking particular interest in one of them. Scary things appear and disappear, including a child's board game, which begins to dominate their life. I did guess part of the surprise ending but it didn't detract from the shock of the ending. Wonderfully spooky and hard to put down.

[Kayleigh (Hedwigsbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its been a while since I read a book in one day. What a fantastic story! Review due my day of the blog tour!