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Fitcher's Brides
The tale of Bluebeard, reenvisioned as a dark fable of faith and truth
1843 is the “last year of the world,” according the Elias Fitcher, a charismatic preacher in the Finger Lakes district of New York State. He's established a utopian community on an estate outside the town of Jeckyll's Glen, where the faithful wait, work, and pray for the world to end.
Vernelia, Amy, and Catherine Charter are the three young townswomen whose father falls under the Reverend Fitcher’s hypnotic sway. In their old house, where ghostly voices whisper from the walls, the girls are ruled by their stepmother, who is ruled in turn by the fiery preacher. Determined to spend Eternity as a married man, Fitcher casts his eye on Vernelia, and before much longer the two are wed. But living on the man's estate, separated from her family, Vern soon learns the extent of her husband’s dark side. It's rumored that he's been married before, though what became of those wives she does not know. Perhaps the secret lies in the locked room at the very top of the house—the sin-gle room that the Reverend Fitcher has forbidden to her.
Inspired by the classic fairy tales "Bluebeard" and "The Fitcher Bird," this dark fantasy is set in New York State’s “Burned-Over District,” at its time of historic religious ferment. All three Charter sisters will play their part in the story of Fitcher's Utopia: a story of faith gone wrong, and evil coun-tered by one brave, true soul.
1843 is the “last year of the world,” according the Elias Fitcher, a charismatic preacher in the Finger Lakes district of New York State. He's established a utopian community on an estate outside the town of Jeckyll's Glen, where the faithful wait, work, and pray for the world to end.
Vernelia, Amy, and Catherine Charter are the three young townswomen whose father falls under the Reverend Fitcher’s hypnotic sway. In their old house, where ghostly voices whisper from the walls, the girls are ruled by their stepmother, who is ruled in turn by the fiery preacher. Determined to spend Eternity as a married man, Fitcher casts his eye on Vernelia, and before much longer the two are wed. But living on the man's estate, separated from her family, Vern soon learns the extent of her husband’s dark side. It's rumored that he's been married before, though what became of those wives she does not know. Perhaps the secret lies in the locked room at the very top of the house—the sin-gle room that the Reverend Fitcher has forbidden to her.
Inspired by the classic fairy tales "Bluebeard" and "The Fitcher Bird," this dark fantasy is set in New York State’s “Burned-Over District,” at its time of historic religious ferment. All three Charter sisters will play their part in the story of Fitcher's Utopia: a story of faith gone wrong, and evil coun-tered by one brave, true soul.
400 pages, Paperback
First published December 6, 2002
6 people are currently reading
1662 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Frost
87 books105 followersGregory Frost is an American author of fantasy, science fiction and thrillers. He taught fiction writing at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania for eighteen years. A graduate of the iconic Clarion Workshop, he has taught at Clarion four times, including the first session following its move to the University of California at San Diego in 2007. He has also been an instructor for the Odyssey and Alpha Workshops.
Frost has been a finalist for every major fantasy, sf, and horror fiction award. His novelette, "Madonna of the Maquiladora" was a finalist for the James Tiptree Award, the Nebula Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, and the Hugo Award.
His latest novel is RHYMER, the first in the Rhymer series from Baen Books. His previous work, SHADOWBRIDGE, was voted one of the best fantasy novels of 2009 by the American Library Association, it was also a finalist for the James Tiptree Jr. Award.
The historical thriller FITCHER'S BRIDES, was a Best Novel finalist for both the World Fantasy and International Horror Guild Awards for Best Novel.
Publishers Weekly called his Golden Gryphon short story collection, ATTACK OF THE JAZZ GIANTS & OTHER STORIES, “one of the best of the year.” It has now been reprinted in slightly altered form as THE GIRLFRIENDS OF DORIAN GRAY & OTHER STORIES, available through Book View Cafe.
Current short fiction includes "A Hard Day's Night at the Opera" in the Beatles-themed anthology ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, edited by Michael Ventrella and Randee Dawn, and "Episode in Liminal State Technical Support, or Mr. Grant in the Bardo" in THREE TIME TRAVELERS WALK INTO... edited by Michael A. Ventrella; "Traveling On" in the Sept/Oct. 2020 ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION magazine, and "Ellende" in WEIRD TALES #364.
He spent time (did time?) as a researcher for non-fiction television shows on werewolves and the "Curse of the Pharaohs," and acted in a couple of frightening (not necessarily in the sense of scary) indie horror movies.
Gregory Frost is a founding partner, with author Jonathan Maberry, of The Philadelphia Liars Club, a group of professional authors and screenwriters, and one of the interviewers for The Liars Club Oddcast , a podcast interviewing novelists, short story writers, screenwriters, illustrators, and more.
Frost has been a finalist for every major fantasy, sf, and horror fiction award. His novelette, "Madonna of the Maquiladora" was a finalist for the James Tiptree Award, the Nebula Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, and the Hugo Award.
His latest novel is RHYMER, the first in the Rhymer series from Baen Books. His previous work, SHADOWBRIDGE, was voted one of the best fantasy novels of 2009 by the American Library Association, it was also a finalist for the James Tiptree Jr. Award.
The historical thriller FITCHER'S BRIDES, was a Best Novel finalist for both the World Fantasy and International Horror Guild Awards for Best Novel.
Publishers Weekly called his Golden Gryphon short story collection, ATTACK OF THE JAZZ GIANTS & OTHER STORIES, “one of the best of the year.” It has now been reprinted in slightly altered form as THE GIRLFRIENDS OF DORIAN GRAY & OTHER STORIES, available through Book View Cafe.
Current short fiction includes "A Hard Day's Night at the Opera" in the Beatles-themed anthology ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, edited by Michael Ventrella and Randee Dawn, and "Episode in Liminal State Technical Support, or Mr. Grant in the Bardo" in THREE TIME TRAVELERS WALK INTO... edited by Michael A. Ventrella; "Traveling On" in the Sept/Oct. 2020 ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION magazine, and "Ellende" in WEIRD TALES #364.
He spent time (did time?) as a researcher for non-fiction television shows on werewolves and the "Curse of the Pharaohs," and acted in a couple of frightening (not necessarily in the sense of scary) indie horror movies.
Gregory Frost is a founding partner, with author Jonathan Maberry, of The Philadelphia Liars Club, a group of professional authors and screenwriters, and one of the interviewers for The Liars Club Oddcast , a podcast interviewing novelists, short story writers, screenwriters, illustrators, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
February 8, 2014
Rating: 3.5 of 5
Until late-2013 I knew jack squat about Bluebeard. That's when I started reading Bluebeard Tales From Around the World by Heidi Anne Heiner (SurLaLune Fairytales). It's some of the darkest folklore I've read: frightening and gory. So I thought it would be fun to read the retellings of Bluebeard whilst I continued (and eventually complete) Heiner's collection.
Fitcher's Brides was my first selection in a list of retellings. It presented a Bluebeard - Elias Fitcher - as someone revered and worshiped by those in his "community" versus someone who scared people at first sight. Mr. Fitcher also seemed to possess an uncanny power which attracted rather than repelled women, especially those he physically touched.
Of course, as the audience, we're on to him straightaway, which is, after all, part of the fun in watching a story unfold: so we can yell at the book when someone acts completely idiotic. I mean, we, the audience, have never, would never make such poor decisions in the face of such obvious villainy, right?
Having read multiple versions of Bluebeard, the Charter sisters' choices and Mr. Fitcher's actions came as no surprise yet there was a bit of suspense in their individual journeys to the Chamber. I'll admit to enjoying Amy's demise; she was the sister I liked least and I couldn't wait for her to meet the real Elias Fitcher.
My curiosity about the truth behind Fitcher and his brides was the biggest motivation in finishing this book. (Eve's daughter to the core LOL.) Yet it wasn't an entirely pleasant experience: I had to read overabundant descriptions of candle-making and way too many twisted sermons. And the ending did leave unanswered questions, but that didn't contribute to my rating of 3.5 stars. I like a little ambiguity.
Recommend Fitcher's Brides to fairytale retelling enthusiasts with a strong stomach for violence, both physical and sexual, who aren't overly annoyed by the matrimonial pining of 19th century woman **or** the rantings of zealots.
Until late-2013 I knew jack squat about Bluebeard. That's when I started reading Bluebeard Tales From Around the World by Heidi Anne Heiner (SurLaLune Fairytales). It's some of the darkest folklore I've read: frightening and gory. So I thought it would be fun to read the retellings of Bluebeard whilst I continued (and eventually complete) Heiner's collection.
Fitcher's Brides was my first selection in a list of retellings. It presented a Bluebeard - Elias Fitcher - as someone revered and worshiped by those in his "community" versus someone who scared people at first sight. Mr. Fitcher also seemed to possess an uncanny power which attracted rather than repelled women, especially those he physically touched.
Of course, as the audience, we're on to him straightaway, which is, after all, part of the fun in watching a story unfold: so we can yell at the book when someone acts completely idiotic. I mean, we, the audience, have never, would never make such poor decisions in the face of such obvious villainy, right?
Having read multiple versions of Bluebeard, the Charter sisters' choices and Mr. Fitcher's actions came as no surprise yet there was a bit of suspense in their individual journeys to the Chamber. I'll admit to enjoying Amy's demise; she was the sister I liked least and I couldn't wait for her to meet the real Elias Fitcher.
My curiosity about the truth behind Fitcher and his brides was the biggest motivation in finishing this book. (Eve's daughter to the core LOL.) Yet it wasn't an entirely pleasant experience: I had to read overabundant descriptions of candle-making and way too many twisted sermons. And the ending did leave unanswered questions, but that didn't contribute to my rating of 3.5 stars. I like a little ambiguity.
Recommend Fitcher's Brides to fairytale retelling enthusiasts with a strong stomach for violence, both physical and sexual, who aren't overly annoyed by the matrimonial pining of 19th century woman **or** the rantings of zealots.
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November 19, 2023So What’s It About?
1843 is the “last year of the world,” according the Elias Fitcher, a charismatic preacher in the Finger Lakes district of New York State. He's established a utopian community on an estate outside the town of Jeckyll's Glen, where the faithful wait, work, and pray for the world to end.
Vernelia, Amy, and Catherine Charter are the three young townswomen whose father falls under the Reverend Fitcher’s hypnotic sway. In their old house, where ghostly voices whisper from the walls, the girls are ruled by their stepmother, who is ruled in turn by the fiery preacher. Determined to spend Eternity as a married man, Fitcher casts his eye on Vernelia, and before much longer the two are wed. But living on the man's estate, separated from her family, Vern soon learns the extent of her husband’s dark side. It's rumored that he's been married before, though what became of those wives she does not know. Perhaps the secret lies in the locked room at the very top of the house—the single room that the Reverend Fitcher has forbidden to her.
Inspired by the classic fairy tales "Bluebeard" and "The Fitcher Bird," this dark fantasy is set in New York State’s “Burned-Over District,” at its time of historic religious ferment. All three Charter sisters will play their part in the story of Fitcher's Utopia: a story of faith gone wrong, and evil countered by one brave, true soul.
What I Thought
This is a strange one. On one hand, I think Frost explored a fascinating period of American history and did it well. This book truly captures the danger of religious fervor rising from a simmer to an insane fever pitch and how a manipulative person can twist people’s morality and wield terrible authority over a cult. It shows how evangelical Christianity’s notions of sin, obedience, and purity in particular can be wielded to control and abuse women. These elements were my favorite parts of the book. Some other elements did not work very well for me.
For one thing, I can’t help but feel that Frost played into some of the oppressive messages around sexuality, morality and victim-blaming that Fitcher himself wielded so malevolently. Vern and Amy feel somewhat like they are portrayed as the flawed “lesser” sisters who are not smart and principled enough to figure out what is going on and resist their sexual desire. They are depicted as having significant character flaws and both have sex with Fitcher when they are warned not to before being raped and killed, ultimately ending the book in a state of insanity and never getting their own happy endings. On the other hand, Kate is the good, virtuous one who manages not to have sex with Fitcher, and she therefore gets a happy ending with a kind husband and children. None of this is said explicitly in text so I don’t necessarily think it is purposeful on the author’s part, but the implicit messaging remains.
In addition, some of the fantasy elements ended up disappointing me. Lots of mysteries are built up - who is the ghost in the wall? Why is Fitcher doing what he’s doing? What’s up with all the weird magical stuff in his house? - and the explanations/lack thereof felt pretty lame to me. It turns out that Fitcher is pretending to be a ghost in the walls to sort of groom the sisters, but the content of the ghost’s conversations with them doesn’t really feel like it matches that purported purpose. At the end of the day, Kate concludes that Fitcher is simply an insane sorcerer who is consorting with demons, which is the least interesting explanation/motivation possible. We never learn what is up with a few of the stranger details such as why all the murdered men’s shades are trapped in his house and what is up with the magical sex egg.
I also have a few quibbles with the writing style. There is a great deal of distance from the sisters’ minds while they are being abused and terrorized, which to me kind of undercuts the impact of what is happening and any intended insight into its effects. I really noticed this at the end when the cult is convinced that the world is ending and they start destroying the commune. People are setting fires and rioting and fighting and sexually assaulting each other - it’s completely terrifying chaos. We follow Kate wandering her way through all of this and get absolutely no reflection on how this is affecting her emotionally or what she is thinking about any of it. In addition, there are a lot of very detailed descriptions of houses and their layouts/furniture, Bible verses and preaching, and people completing tasks and chores. Some writers include a lot of “procedural” details like this that feel somewhat mundane instead of evocative in any way, and I am just not a reader who finds them very interesting.
I’ve never read anything quite like this and I don’t exactly regret doing so. There was plenty going on with the weird magical details, unique historical setting and crazy religious cult fervor to keep me interested. Ultimately, though, the writing style, disappointing explanations, and questionable underlying messaging regarding the sisters’ behavior undercut my enjoyment.
1843 is the “last year of the world,” according the Elias Fitcher, a charismatic preacher in the Finger Lakes district of New York State. He's established a utopian community on an estate outside the town of Jeckyll's Glen, where the faithful wait, work, and pray for the world to end.
Vernelia, Amy, and Catherine Charter are the three young townswomen whose father falls under the Reverend Fitcher’s hypnotic sway. In their old house, where ghostly voices whisper from the walls, the girls are ruled by their stepmother, who is ruled in turn by the fiery preacher. Determined to spend Eternity as a married man, Fitcher casts his eye on Vernelia, and before much longer the two are wed. But living on the man's estate, separated from her family, Vern soon learns the extent of her husband’s dark side. It's rumored that he's been married before, though what became of those wives she does not know. Perhaps the secret lies in the locked room at the very top of the house—the single room that the Reverend Fitcher has forbidden to her.
Inspired by the classic fairy tales "Bluebeard" and "The Fitcher Bird," this dark fantasy is set in New York State’s “Burned-Over District,” at its time of historic religious ferment. All three Charter sisters will play their part in the story of Fitcher's Utopia: a story of faith gone wrong, and evil countered by one brave, true soul.
What I Thought
This is a strange one. On one hand, I think Frost explored a fascinating period of American history and did it well. This book truly captures the danger of religious fervor rising from a simmer to an insane fever pitch and how a manipulative person can twist people’s morality and wield terrible authority over a cult. It shows how evangelical Christianity’s notions of sin, obedience, and purity in particular can be wielded to control and abuse women. These elements were my favorite parts of the book. Some other elements did not work very well for me.
For one thing, I can’t help but feel that Frost played into some of the oppressive messages around sexuality, morality and victim-blaming that Fitcher himself wielded so malevolently. Vern and Amy feel somewhat like they are portrayed as the flawed “lesser” sisters who are not smart and principled enough to figure out what is going on and resist their sexual desire. They are depicted as having significant character flaws and both have sex with Fitcher when they are warned not to before being raped and killed, ultimately ending the book in a state of insanity and never getting their own happy endings. On the other hand, Kate is the good, virtuous one who manages not to have sex with Fitcher, and she therefore gets a happy ending with a kind husband and children. None of this is said explicitly in text so I don’t necessarily think it is purposeful on the author’s part, but the implicit messaging remains.
In addition, some of the fantasy elements ended up disappointing me. Lots of mysteries are built up - who is the ghost in the wall? Why is Fitcher doing what he’s doing? What’s up with all the weird magical stuff in his house? - and the explanations/lack thereof felt pretty lame to me. It turns out that Fitcher is pretending to be a ghost in the walls to sort of groom the sisters, but the content of the ghost’s conversations with them doesn’t really feel like it matches that purported purpose. At the end of the day, Kate concludes that Fitcher is simply an insane sorcerer who is consorting with demons, which is the least interesting explanation/motivation possible. We never learn what is up with a few of the stranger details such as why all the murdered men’s shades are trapped in his house and what is up with the magical sex egg.
I also have a few quibbles with the writing style. There is a great deal of distance from the sisters’ minds while they are being abused and terrorized, which to me kind of undercuts the impact of what is happening and any intended insight into its effects. I really noticed this at the end when the cult is convinced that the world is ending and they start destroying the commune. People are setting fires and rioting and fighting and sexually assaulting each other - it’s completely terrifying chaos. We follow Kate wandering her way through all of this and get absolutely no reflection on how this is affecting her emotionally or what she is thinking about any of it. In addition, there are a lot of very detailed descriptions of houses and their layouts/furniture, Bible verses and preaching, and people completing tasks and chores. Some writers include a lot of “procedural” details like this that feel somewhat mundane instead of evocative in any way, and I am just not a reader who finds them very interesting.
I’ve never read anything quite like this and I don’t exactly regret doing so. There was plenty going on with the weird magical details, unique historical setting and crazy religious cult fervor to keep me interested. Ultimately, though, the writing style, disappointing explanations, and questionable underlying messaging regarding the sisters’ behavior undercut my enjoyment.
March 2, 2009
After finishing Briar Rose by Jane Yolen I was intrigued again by fairy tales. It has only been during the last 150 years that these persistent stories with similar elements across many cultures and times got "scrubbed" and disneyfied. Who hasn't forgotten the first time they heard the Cinderella story complete with butchered toes so that the stepsisters feet would fit the glass slipper? So I picked up this retelling of Bluebeard with much anticipation, it was set during the Great Awakening in the first half of the 1800's with a charismatic preacher as the dark prince of the story. But the pacing of the story was off, too much space spent in development and not enough in the meat of the story itself. The characters weren't fleshed enough and your sympathies were never clear. You should really like Kate, the heroine, but you didn't know her well enough. The end of the story was rushed and the epilogue unsatisfying, it's ok to not tell your reader everything and let them fill in some of the blanks, but glaring holes? And the violence and dark side of the was too much for me. So although I'm not ready to give up my grown-up fairy tales yet...this book is a pass.
February 12, 2012
This book is quite radically different from the other entries in Terri Windling's 'Fairy Tale Series.' Most of the other books Windling selected stayed much closer to the classic feel of fairy tales in their retellings. I knew that, from what I'd read in other reviews, and for that reason waited quite a while to get around to reading this - the description just didn't appeal to me that much.
However, now I'm sorry I didn't give it a chance earlier! No, this book doesn't have that 'fairy-tale' feel to it - but it's a damn good book.
It retells the tale of Bluebeard - so the reader knows from the start this isn't going to be a pleasant story.
Set in 19th-century America, Frost gives us an apocalyptic cult which has set up a compound in upstate New York. A widower has been converted by his new wife, and he relocates, bringing his three unmarried daughters, to join the utopian community. The family falls under the spell of the charismatic preacher that leads the cult - and of, course, it's an honor one can't refuse when the leader chooses the oldest daughter to be his bride.
You know bad things are coming when one of the cult members mutters, "she's not the first, and she won't be the last..."
And, of course, things degenerate to the exact opposite of a utopia...
Frost is an excellent writer. I found the setting and the characters to be completely convincing, even when they were acting against all reason. He portrayed the cult mentality in a way that felt utterly believable.
Almost 5 stars, but I felt that the demonic denouement didn't flow smoothly from the events leading up to it. It was a bit much, in an effort to give it a Big, Dramatic ending. (Kind of like how I feel about the ending of Foucault's Pendulum - which is also an excellent book.) I'd still recommend this.
However, now I'm sorry I didn't give it a chance earlier! No, this book doesn't have that 'fairy-tale' feel to it - but it's a damn good book.
It retells the tale of Bluebeard - so the reader knows from the start this isn't going to be a pleasant story.
Set in 19th-century America, Frost gives us an apocalyptic cult which has set up a compound in upstate New York. A widower has been converted by his new wife, and he relocates, bringing his three unmarried daughters, to join the utopian community. The family falls under the spell of the charismatic preacher that leads the cult - and of, course, it's an honor one can't refuse when the leader chooses the oldest daughter to be his bride.
You know bad things are coming when one of the cult members mutters, "she's not the first, and she won't be the last..."
And, of course, things degenerate to the exact opposite of a utopia...
Frost is an excellent writer. I found the setting and the characters to be completely convincing, even when they were acting against all reason. He portrayed the cult mentality in a way that felt utterly believable.
Almost 5 stars, but I felt that the demonic denouement didn't flow smoothly from the events leading up to it. It was a bit much, in an effort to give it a Big, Dramatic ending. (Kind of like how I feel about the ending of Foucault's Pendulum - which is also an excellent book.) I'd still recommend this.
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March 30, 2010One of the obvious challenges in adapting most fairy or folk tales into full-length novels or films is how to extend them from their generally brief and undetailed versions to take 200 pages or 2 hours. Quite a few adult adaptations add in sex scenes. Disney fills up time with musical numbers. Frost, in moving Bluebeard to nineteenth-century America, fills up the empty pages with background information. The characters walk places. They clean. They make candles. They cook, say prayers, and eat. These activities take up almost as much time in the characters lives as they would have for real people. Unfortunately, I have even less interest in reading about someone making porridge than I do in eating it myself.
Somewhat more interesting are the descriptions of Victorian religious movements, spiritualism, and mesmerism. Frost makes his protagonists, three sisters, their father and stepmother, members of a millenarian religious movement founded by the charismatic Elias Fitcher, whose followers live together in a cult-like commune while awaiting the immanent end times. I appreciated that Frost gave the young women realistic concerns and attitudes about their spiritual well being, obedience to their parents, eventual marriage, etc, instead of making them unrealistically modern, liberated women as many authors do. On the other hand, they were hard to like. Rather predictably, the most intelligent and least pious Kate is made the most sympathetic.
Somewhat more interesting are the descriptions of Victorian religious movements, spiritualism, and mesmerism. Frost makes his protagonists, three sisters, their father and stepmother, members of a millenarian religious movement founded by the charismatic Elias Fitcher, whose followers live together in a cult-like commune while awaiting the immanent end times. I appreciated that Frost gave the young women realistic concerns and attitudes about their spiritual well being, obedience to their parents, eventual marriage, etc, instead of making them unrealistically modern, liberated women as many authors do. On the other hand, they were hard to like. Rather predictably, the most intelligent and least pious Kate is made the most sympathetic.
June 8, 2023
This is a good modern retelling of the folktale 'Fitcher's Bird' and 'The Tale of Bluebeard.' Considering the sources (I knew this was a retelling of Brother Grimms' 'Fitcher's Bird' before I began reading,) I anticipated the violence, horror and even the sexual content. Yet it turned out to be even more gruesome for my taste, and Horror isn't my cup of tea.
I remember reading Jane Yolen's 'Briar Rose' retelling a few years ago. It is another novel of the Tor/Ace Faery Tale series. The cult aspect in Fitcher's Brides is equally brilliant to the Holocaust theme in 'Briar Rose.' This retelling has replaced the Devil in Fitcher's Bird with a hypnotic cult leader (Elias Fitcher) who promises salvation to his followers from the coming apocalypse. He is also a serial killer.
Despite all the above praises, this had a big plot hole: I couldn't understand what happened in the 'fantasy/magic' version (the Angel of Death/Man in the Wall.) This story would have worked much better if Frost only wrote about the realistic version.
I remember reading Jane Yolen's 'Briar Rose' retelling a few years ago. It is another novel of the Tor/Ace Faery Tale series. The cult aspect in Fitcher's Brides is equally brilliant to the Holocaust theme in 'Briar Rose.' This retelling has replaced the Devil in Fitcher's Bird with a hypnotic cult leader (Elias Fitcher) who promises salvation to his followers from the coming apocalypse. He is also a serial killer.
Despite all the above praises, this had a big plot hole: I couldn't understand what happened in the 'fantasy/magic' version (the Angel of Death/Man in the Wall.) This story would have worked much better if Frost only wrote about the realistic version.
January 13, 2011
The latest in Terri Windling's Fairy Tale series is an adaptation of the story of Bluebeard, set in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the first half of the 19th century. I'm going to proceed on the assumption that anyone reading this is familiar with the basic Bluebeard story. A Boston widower with three beautiful daughters has remarr ied, to a woman who leads him into the orbit of a millenialist preacher, the Reverend Elias Fitcher. Rev. Fitcher has announced that the world will end within the next year, and that only those who are accepted into his utopian community of Harbinger will be saved. (Fitcher and his followers are based on a real millenial movement, the Millerites, whose leader predicted the end of the world in 1843.) So Mr. Charter takes his new wife, Lavinia, and his three daughters (Vernelia, Amelia, and Katherine) off to Harbinger. There they are installed in the community's gatehouse, to collect a toll from each family seeking to enter Harbinger. They quickly discover that the house has an odd history--the previous gatekeeper and his wife, the Pulaskis, vanished, and there's apparently a ghost or spirit residing in the room shared by the three girls. The spirit predicts that each of the girls will have a suitor before the end, and in short order, Rev. Fitcher pays them a visit and decides to take the eldest, Vernelia, as his bride.
Vern is quickly whisked off to her new life as Mrs. Fitcher, in the main Harbinger community, completely separated from her family in the gatehouse. It doesn't take her long to realize there's something very wrong about her husband, and something very strange about life in Harbinger, including some odd deaths and disappearances. Eventually, of course, her husband gives her the keys to the main house at Harbinger, tells her she can go anywhere except the one room whose lock is opened by the small, glass key, and then leaves her for another proselytizing journey. This ends in the expected manner, and Fitcher, sadly informing his wife's family that she has run off to join a lover in Boston, has the marriage annulled and marries Amy. Amy in her turn makes unpleasant discoveries, with the expected result.
None of the sisters is either stupid or weak-willed, but in proper fairy-tale fashion, it\rquote s the youngest sister, Kate, who is clever enough and stubborn enough to find the truth and escape Fitcher's trap.
This latest in the Fairy Tales series is, once again, a very good adaptation of the traditional story for modern, adult readers.
Vern is quickly whisked off to her new life as Mrs. Fitcher, in the main Harbinger community, completely separated from her family in the gatehouse. It doesn't take her long to realize there's something very wrong about her husband, and something very strange about life in Harbinger, including some odd deaths and disappearances. Eventually, of course, her husband gives her the keys to the main house at Harbinger, tells her she can go anywhere except the one room whose lock is opened by the small, glass key, and then leaves her for another proselytizing journey. This ends in the expected manner, and Fitcher, sadly informing his wife's family that she has run off to join a lover in Boston, has the marriage annulled and marries Amy. Amy in her turn makes unpleasant discoveries, with the expected result.
None of the sisters is either stupid or weak-willed, but in proper fairy-tale fashion, it\rquote s the youngest sister, Kate, who is clever enough and stubborn enough to find the truth and escape Fitcher's trap.
This latest in the Fairy Tales series is, once again, a very good adaptation of the traditional story for modern, adult readers.
February 12, 2018
"Fitcher's Brides" is a retelling of the "Bluebeard" story, updated to 19th century upstate New York where a charismatic preacher/leader named Fitcher has created a millennialist utopian community. He mentions the Shakers as a model, though he by no means puts all of the restrictions upon daily living which the Shakers had. Close, but not all. People can get married, for instance. Fitcher, especially, can get married. So a new family moves into the area with three marriagable-age daughters, and Fitcher almost immediately sets his eyes for ... well, I don't think it's too much of a spoier to say it ... all of them.
So Frost intrigues us at two levels -- 1) the retelling of the Bluebeard story, which is explained in many different manifestations in a prologue, and how close he rcan relate his "u[pdated" bversion to any of the originals, and 2) the exposition of this strange religious community which is expecting the end of the world on October 17th of that very year -- something that happened more than a sane humanity would care to remember in 19th century America (and indeed is still happening today).
And it works! The three girls come off as very real characters caught up in a fantastically charismatic situation, and their terror comes off as something they walked into with genuine innocence. The utopian community appears very plausible, and Fitcher the quintissential charismatic leader with a lot of secrets to hide.
What does not work for me so much is the level of supernaturalism in the story. It seems to be put in there to make the story conform to the various legends, moreso than to make the story plausible. I was intrigued by the emphasis on Mesmerism, and I almost wish the supernatural elements had been left to that, almost as a way of explaining the fantastic events is a physically plausible fashion.
But all in all, it's a truly creepy and suspenseful read.
So Frost intrigues us at two levels -- 1) the retelling of the Bluebeard story, which is explained in many different manifestations in a prologue, and how close he rcan relate his "u[pdated" bversion to any of the originals, and 2) the exposition of this strange religious community which is expecting the end of the world on October 17th of that very year -- something that happened more than a sane humanity would care to remember in 19th century America (and indeed is still happening today).
And it works! The three girls come off as very real characters caught up in a fantastically charismatic situation, and their terror comes off as something they walked into with genuine innocence. The utopian community appears very plausible, and Fitcher the quintissential charismatic leader with a lot of secrets to hide.
What does not work for me so much is the level of supernaturalism in the story. It seems to be put in there to make the story conform to the various legends, moreso than to make the story plausible. I was intrigued by the emphasis on Mesmerism, and I almost wish the supernatural elements had been left to that, almost as a way of explaining the fantastic events is a physically plausible fashion.
But all in all, it's a truly creepy and suspenseful read.
July 30, 2009
Fitcher's Brides is the latest book I've read from the Terri Windling Fairy Tale series. Some of the books in that series (like Windling's The Wood Wife and Jane Yolen's Briar Rose) are amazing while others like Tanith Lee's White as Snow have tragically gone horribly, horribly wrong. Unfortunately, Fitcher's Brides are in the latter category.
The author seemed to think that a retelling of Bluebeard set in the compound of a 19th century apocalyptic cult wouldn't be spooky or weird enough so he added elements that were just bizarre. While some, like the egg Fitcher gives each of his wives, are present in variations of the Bluebeard story the details he adds onto them are odd to say the least. For example, the egg causes orgasmic stupors in one wife which was rather disturbing. I also found the spirit communicating to the girls / the Angel of Death plotline rather stupid and thought that at least one of the wives was so unpleasant that I was looking forward to her inevitable end.
All in all, this is the second book in this series that I wish I had skipped and if it weren't for the fact that there have been two incredible gems in it, I wouldn't risk a third.
The author seemed to think that a retelling of Bluebeard set in the compound of a 19th century apocalyptic cult wouldn't be spooky or weird enough so he added elements that were just bizarre. While some, like the egg Fitcher gives each of his wives, are present in variations of the Bluebeard story the details he adds onto them are odd to say the least. For example, the egg causes orgasmic stupors in one wife which was rather disturbing. I also found the spirit communicating to the girls / the Angel of Death plotline rather stupid and thought that at least one of the wives was so unpleasant that I was looking forward to her inevitable end.
All in all, this is the second book in this series that I wish I had skipped and if it weren't for the fact that there have been two incredible gems in it, I wouldn't risk a third.
June 10, 2012
I skimmed but did not finish this book. I did read the end, which was chaotic and detached.
So, here are the reasons for the single star.
1. Obnoxious characters with all the personality of a paper cup. I felt no connection to them at all. The villainous Reverend Fitcher was merely gross, and I couldn't see him having any appeal unless you were out of your senses, or under a spell. The guy was so obvious, he made the girls look like idiots.
2. Vague, meandering style that dragged on forever
3. Too much detailed abusive sexual content, it was old (and hard to justify) after the first scene.
4. Great historical detail, but unrealistic and unexplained horror/supernatural elements.
5. Sloppy plot threads that were never dealt with
6. Indulgent on numerous levels.
7. All of the Scripture wrongly quoted and twisted around made me much sicker than the bloody chamber-which is a realistic portrayal of evil-but still, too much Joker, not enough Batman.
9. To sum it up: The original folktale of Bluebeard has all the darkness, none of the excess. It's also scarier, in that basic way.
May 10, 2023
Read in high school. I liked it okay
July 26, 2016
Definitely not a fairy tale for children, with gore, violence & sensuality, although not so much that I gave up on it. Suspenseful to the finish, although it seemed to end rather abruptly with not nearly the attention given to the 3rd sister that had been given to the other 2. For me, it felt a bit flat in the final chapter. Otherwise, this was one of those books that was difficult to put down.
abandoned
December 17, 2013Nope. That sucked. Told from the simultaneous view point of all three girls who all love to explain exactly what they're going through one right after the other.
The definition of telling and not showing.
The definition of telling and not showing.
January 13, 2018
“Then Kate sank back upon her pillows and allowed herself the luxury of terror,” reads the closing sentence of Chapter 29 in Gregory Frost’s “Fitcher’s Brides: The Tale of Bluebeard, Re-Envisioned As A Dark Fable of Faith and Truth”. Indeed, this is much what reading the book is like: allowing yourself the luxury of terror while witnessing the effects of a twisted, power-obsessed, murderous preacher’s sermon grasping the minds of the spiritually weak community, all the while knowing that innocent women will be tortured under that same preacher’s hands. Why continue reading? Something about the bone-chilling revelation about the dirtier nature of organized religion (its power to repress, to oppress, and to control) urges you to read on, knowing deep down that some of this fiction has truth within it’s pages. Luckily, like Kate at that moment in the story, you are snuggled and safe under the covers of a warm bed. But also like Kate, you are somewhat unsure of what tomorrow might bring, though surely not the apocalypse. Right?
“Fitcher’s Brides” is based off of the fairy-tale “Bluebeard” by Charles Perrault (the same person who created the story of “Cinderella” as we know it today). Some say the book is about the perils of curiosity (a “curiosity killed the cat” type of deal) and/or a cautionary tale about marriage and its discontents. What’s great about this book by Gregory Frost is that it is part of Terri Windling’s Fairy-Tale Series - a series consisting of eight full-length novels of fairy-tales re-written and revised. All of them can be read in any order whatsoever. Each of these books has an introduction by Windling from her desk at the Endicott Studio Of Mythic Arts. The introduction will give a bit of history, literary criticism, and contextual analysis in preparation for the “new” fairy-tale which follows.
Fitcher, the murderous preacher in this novel, is part of the New York world during the mid-19th Century (1843); a time of religious fervor, a time of people coming and residing within the state from all over the globe and settling into the land, creating towns, farms, and the communities to go along with it. The Charter girls arrive in New York because of Fitcher. The Charter girls are three sisters named Vernelia, Amy, and Kate, who, at the time of their arrival, are bonding ever more closely after their mother’s death. Their father, unluckily for all of them, remarried to a woman who grasps religion a bit too tightly. Her adoration for one preacher is particularly strong - Fitcher. The newly married Lavinia (the new wife and mother) drags Mr. Charter into the vortex of this religious insanity, and all of them succumb to the temptation of blind faith, particularly to the idea, presented as fact by Reverend Fitcher, that the world will end on an exact date (revealed in the book) in the month of October. As the world prepares for it’s end, Fitcher has created a haven for his followers, where everyone has a job to do, eats on schedule and without speaking to one another, where men are separated from the women, and where, occasionally, a death by hanging occurs. Some kind of haven! From what? God only knows.
Daily, Reverend Fitcher preaches to his flock. Many times he preaches against worldly desires and the love of worldly things. Yet his luxurious home, his actions, and his demeanor suggest he believes otherwise. However, it seems that this Reverend wants something, despite all his blatant inconsistencies and horrific deeds. He wants to be taken in by God up into heaven. He wants to be saved from the world. From his sinful, dirty flock. But how does he expect to do that after living such a life? Will he be forgiven?
Gregory Frost’s “Fitcher’s Brides” is full of the romance and sensuality key to fairy-tales. Instead of children’s book pictures, there are lush, magical, and vivid descriptions of dreams, architecture (both internal and external), emotion, and action. The violence in the book is explicit, and Frost has a way of telling the story with a keen knowledge and awareness of human psychology – the darker parts as well as the simpler ones, drawing one’s attention to how there is a perversity within all of us, something that is not entirely our fault, something that, at the end of the day, a *good* person will overcome.
Another facet about this story that attention should be drawn to is that “Fitcher’s Brides” is a fairy-tale about bravery. While two sisters are killed, those two sisters live strong and courageously while they are alive, using the best of their wits and inner strength to conquer the evil within. And the best part is that the last sister conquers this evil physically, concretely… okay, maybe with the help of some magic, but she proves that she can save herself as well as her sisters despite all costs. It is Kate, the one who took some time to “allow herself the luxury of terror”, who brings everyone back to reality.
“Fitcher’s Brides” is based off of the fairy-tale “Bluebeard” by Charles Perrault (the same person who created the story of “Cinderella” as we know it today). Some say the book is about the perils of curiosity (a “curiosity killed the cat” type of deal) and/or a cautionary tale about marriage and its discontents. What’s great about this book by Gregory Frost is that it is part of Terri Windling’s Fairy-Tale Series - a series consisting of eight full-length novels of fairy-tales re-written and revised. All of them can be read in any order whatsoever. Each of these books has an introduction by Windling from her desk at the Endicott Studio Of Mythic Arts. The introduction will give a bit of history, literary criticism, and contextual analysis in preparation for the “new” fairy-tale which follows.
Fitcher, the murderous preacher in this novel, is part of the New York world during the mid-19th Century (1843); a time of religious fervor, a time of people coming and residing within the state from all over the globe and settling into the land, creating towns, farms, and the communities to go along with it. The Charter girls arrive in New York because of Fitcher. The Charter girls are three sisters named Vernelia, Amy, and Kate, who, at the time of their arrival, are bonding ever more closely after their mother’s death. Their father, unluckily for all of them, remarried to a woman who grasps religion a bit too tightly. Her adoration for one preacher is particularly strong - Fitcher. The newly married Lavinia (the new wife and mother) drags Mr. Charter into the vortex of this religious insanity, and all of them succumb to the temptation of blind faith, particularly to the idea, presented as fact by Reverend Fitcher, that the world will end on an exact date (revealed in the book) in the month of October. As the world prepares for it’s end, Fitcher has created a haven for his followers, where everyone has a job to do, eats on schedule and without speaking to one another, where men are separated from the women, and where, occasionally, a death by hanging occurs. Some kind of haven! From what? God only knows.
Daily, Reverend Fitcher preaches to his flock. Many times he preaches against worldly desires and the love of worldly things. Yet his luxurious home, his actions, and his demeanor suggest he believes otherwise. However, it seems that this Reverend wants something, despite all his blatant inconsistencies and horrific deeds. He wants to be taken in by God up into heaven. He wants to be saved from the world. From his sinful, dirty flock. But how does he expect to do that after living such a life? Will he be forgiven?
Gregory Frost’s “Fitcher’s Brides” is full of the romance and sensuality key to fairy-tales. Instead of children’s book pictures, there are lush, magical, and vivid descriptions of dreams, architecture (both internal and external), emotion, and action. The violence in the book is explicit, and Frost has a way of telling the story with a keen knowledge and awareness of human psychology – the darker parts as well as the simpler ones, drawing one’s attention to how there is a perversity within all of us, something that is not entirely our fault, something that, at the end of the day, a *good* person will overcome.
Another facet about this story that attention should be drawn to is that “Fitcher’s Brides” is a fairy-tale about bravery. While two sisters are killed, those two sisters live strong and courageously while they are alive, using the best of their wits and inner strength to conquer the evil within. And the best part is that the last sister conquers this evil physically, concretely… okay, maybe with the help of some magic, but she proves that she can save herself as well as her sisters despite all costs. It is Kate, the one who took some time to “allow herself the luxury of terror”, who brings everyone back to reality.
August 2, 2019
This is a brilliant take on the famous fairy tale of Bluebeard, but the tone is even darker than the original tale. This Gothic, psychologically complex adaptation of the fairy tale has so many twists and turns in the plot that the reader is always been surprised by how it develops.
Instead of one bride, Bluebeard takes three brides, three sisters, one after the other, and explores the weaknesses of all of them when he gets married. So in the end what ruins them is not so much their curiosity but their inner, secret weaknesses, lurking in the deep recesses of their minds. Their husband pretends to be a loving, caring husband, but as soon as the veneer of model husband is lifted what lies beneath is terrifying and deadly. This is a very clever and well-written horror book that brings a fresh interpretation to an old story. Definitely a must-read for horror and fairy-tale fans. Gregory Frost's language is unique. Sometimes you feel like you are being lead into the mazes of a nightmare because the plot sometimes is fast-paced; other times it lingers painfully, creating an interesting effect of advancing and retracting.
Instead of one bride, Bluebeard takes three brides, three sisters, one after the other, and explores the weaknesses of all of them when he gets married. So in the end what ruins them is not so much their curiosity but their inner, secret weaknesses, lurking in the deep recesses of their minds. Their husband pretends to be a loving, caring husband, but as soon as the veneer of model husband is lifted what lies beneath is terrifying and deadly. This is a very clever and well-written horror book that brings a fresh interpretation to an old story. Definitely a must-read for horror and fairy-tale fans. Gregory Frost's language is unique. Sometimes you feel like you are being lead into the mazes of a nightmare because the plot sometimes is fast-paced; other times it lingers painfully, creating an interesting effect of advancing and retracting.
December 17, 2022
This was a fabulous retelling of the Fitcher's Bride/Bluebeard by a master of fantasy! I loved the erotic and deathly elements, the unique setting of 1840's upstate New York's Burned Over District, enterprising Vernelia, flighty Amy, and cunning Kate. I'm always a sucker for Bluebeard stories, but the unique twist of adding apocalyptic Christianity and the sinister yet beguiling character of Elias Fitcher, was so wonderful! I'm a big fan of Grimm's fairytales, so it was a delight to find a Fitcher's Bird adaptation. Mr. Frost writes of strong family bonds, real grief, curiosity, and maidens triumphant! I am proud to be a daughter of Eve ;)
February 16, 2023
More of a 3.5, I enjoyed the creepiness though some was weird (the horror was well done here). The characters were definitely not super interesting, but the author did keep to the historical accuracy of how women thought and behaved/were expected to think and act for the times. There was way too much extra detail, which got quite boring, such as how to make candles, mundane chore descriptions, and waaay too long sermons/religious speeches. Other than that, I do really like this book. I was kept entertained even though some things were predictable.
September 4, 2017
The book's plot took a long time to develop, but otherwise it was an entertaining and attention grabbing retelling of Bluebeard.
September 25, 2023
Ugh. Ick. I guess a 3.5.
May 27, 2025
Fun beach read. If you like beach reads sort of like Grimm Bros fairly tales.
September 17, 2020
To be honest, its been a few years since I've read this book for a fairy tale lit class back at the university. Though my recollection of segments of the narrative may be thin, highlights stick with me like candle wax.
The setting is refreshing for a retelling of a fairytale and the use of the popular spiritualism and seance's of the period to set up some wild but somewhat believable scares. I don't think I liked the characters voices too much, or at least some of the girls I recall being a little annoying, but if you get past that, I feel the story is worth a read.
The setting is refreshing for a retelling of a fairytale and the use of the popular spiritualism and seance's of the period to set up some wild but somewhat believable scares. I don't think I liked the characters voices too much, or at least some of the girls I recall being a little annoying, but if you get past that, I feel the story is worth a read.
September 1, 2012
While I enjoyed this book as I was reading it, the ending just sort of...crumbles, leaving too many loose ends and too few explanations. Throughout the story, I got the distinct impression that Fitcher was some kind of demon, or at least secretly demonic in his purposes. Everything he does and says, everything the girls discover, points in that direction. Yet at the end, he comes across as more of a narcissistic madman who genuinely believes his own rhetoric. That sudden and inexplicable shift in his personality left me floundering to understand what was really supposed to be going on. If he needed nine dead brides for whatever mathematical magic he was aiming to perform, then why set the "end date" of the world when he still only had the meager prospect of six dead brides? If his actions were meant to be inexplicable because he was just utterly crazy, how did he hold himself together adequately from day to day in order to hold the community together?
Far too many details in this story seemed to be thrown in merely for the sake of creepiness or to incorporate any and all elements of the variations on the Bluebeard tale. In some ways, the book feels like a drifting sort of nightmare, where elements don't necessarily have to fit with each other or make sense overall. This book has some very graphically sexual descriptions, which in the process of reading appeared to be a realistic and necessary part of the tale. Upon reflection, though, the overall lack of coherence in the plot makes me wonder if those scenes weren't merely gratuitous. I wanted to like this book a lot more than I ultimately did. I hate it when that happens.
January 24, 2014
What do you get when you mix a classic tale of a mythical serial killer with a New England, Messianic cult at the turn of the century? A ripping good tale, that's what. In Fitcher's Brides, Frost combines the faery stories of Bluebeard and Fitcher's Bird in a wholly unique and engrossing account of three sisters who all fall prey to an enigmatic cult leader who lures his members with promises of salvation from the apocalypse.
While those of us familiar with the faery tales will be able to "see it all coming", Frost nevertheless fills his story with mystery and mysticism. We tear through the pages hoping to unravel the mystery of the ghost within the wall of the sister's home, or the Dark Angel that the cult members fear, or the strange men that the sister's encounter in Fitcher's notorious third floor of his mansion. Frost does not disappoint though, and all secrets are revealed by the novel's conclusion in a satisfying manner. Another aspect of this story that makes it a gem is that we are given a glimpse in the workings of Fitcher's mind, in a way that the faery tales don't allow for. Lastly, the sisters are filled with personality, they are humanized, and they are likeable, which adds to the reader investment in the piece.
I love a good thriller, and Fitcher's Bird is fascinating and not devoid of darkness, but not overtly perverse either (think Tanith Lee and her installment to this series).
Windling's introduction is also wonderful; a nice little lecture for those of us who love faery tales.
While those of us familiar with the faery tales will be able to "see it all coming", Frost nevertheless fills his story with mystery and mysticism. We tear through the pages hoping to unravel the mystery of the ghost within the wall of the sister's home, or the Dark Angel that the cult members fear, or the strange men that the sister's encounter in Fitcher's notorious third floor of his mansion. Frost does not disappoint though, and all secrets are revealed by the novel's conclusion in a satisfying manner. Another aspect of this story that makes it a gem is that we are given a glimpse in the workings of Fitcher's mind, in a way that the faery tales don't allow for. Lastly, the sisters are filled with personality, they are humanized, and they are likeable, which adds to the reader investment in the piece.
I love a good thriller, and Fitcher's Bird is fascinating and not devoid of darkness, but not overtly perverse either (think Tanith Lee and her installment to this series).
Windling's introduction is also wonderful; a nice little lecture for those of us who love faery tales.
February 23, 2014
A retelling of the fairy tale 'Bluebeard'. Frost does a good job drawing you into the lives of three sisters in 19th century New England, moving with their father and stepmother to start a new life. It feels like really did his research into everyday life during that era.
With this backdrop, he starts introducing the weird and disturbing bit by bit, slowly building the tension towards some horrific reveals.
Those familiar with the Bluebeard story aren't going to be surprised by anything in the book. I'd never read or heard the story, so I raced along, eager to discover what happens. Unfortunately I didn't find the resolution very satisfying. By the end of the book, many things were left unexplained or left to the reader's imagination to flesh out. I felt this contrasted starkly with the otherwise very detailed and realistic depiction of everyday life in the 19th century. In addition, characters in the book appeared to take the nature of many events for granted, as if they were conscious of living in a fairy tale world where ghosts and sorcery abounded. This felt a little disjointed. Although well-written and a compelling read this book was ultimately disappointing.
The foreword by Terri Windling had some interesting background notes about the history and origins of the Bluebeard story and later derivatives.
With this backdrop, he starts introducing the weird and disturbing bit by bit, slowly building the tension towards some horrific reveals.
Those familiar with the Bluebeard story aren't going to be surprised by anything in the book. I'd never read or heard the story, so I raced along, eager to discover what happens. Unfortunately I didn't find the resolution very satisfying. By the end of the book, many things were left unexplained or left to the reader's imagination to flesh out. I felt this contrasted starkly with the otherwise very detailed and realistic depiction of everyday life in the 19th century. In addition, characters in the book appeared to take the nature of many events for granted, as if they were conscious of living in a fairy tale world where ghosts and sorcery abounded. This felt a little disjointed. Although well-written and a compelling read this book was ultimately disappointing.
The foreword by Terri Windling had some interesting background notes about the history and origins of the Bluebeard story and later derivatives.
June 22, 2009
This is a truly amazing re-telling of "Bluebeard." Even though each one of the three sisters exemplifies a certain 'sin,' they are all well-rounded and interesting characters. Frost's choice of setting and time period added to the book's fascination, because the turn-of-the-century apocalyptic cults were certainly interesting. Frost also does a great job of using current events and literature of the time. Reading Fitcher's Brides made me look up Wieland or, the Transformation, an American Tale and decide that I need to read that one too. I'm also now tremendously curious about what Rev. Fitcher's throwaway reference to "what happened in Canandaigua" meant.
The prose was a little purple in spots, but the story of Bluebeard is a horror tale, and such demands slightly more florid writing. I read this in one day, unable to leave it for more than very short periods. It's a compelling and horrific modern retelling of a very creepy story.
The prose was a little purple in spots, but the story of Bluebeard is a horror tale, and such demands slightly more florid writing. I read this in one day, unable to leave it for more than very short periods. It's a compelling and horrific modern retelling of a very creepy story.
February 22, 2008
This is a masterful combination of the "Bluebeard" and "Fitcher's Bird" fairytales, set in New York state in the 1830s. Vernelia, Amy, and Kate have been uprooted from Boston by their father and stepmother and brought to Harbinger House, the apocalyptic community led by the Reverend Elias Fitcher. At Harbinger House, hundreds of men, women, and children live and work communally while they wait for the end of the world, which according to Rev. Fitcher will occur in just three short months. When Rev. Fitcher makes it clear that he has no desire to spend the next life alone, it is Vern who marries him, little realizing that she is in unimaginable danger -- as is the entire population of Harbinger House.
This book is thoroughly creepy and lives up to the bloody precedent set by its source material. Frost also makes excellent use of the obsessions and fads of the time, touching on Spiritualism and communication with the dead, mesmerism, and of course apocalyptic fervor. The story moves slowly, but builds to a truly terrifying and exhilarating climax.
This book is thoroughly creepy and lives up to the bloody precedent set by its source material. Frost also makes excellent use of the obsessions and fads of the time, touching on Spiritualism and communication with the dead, mesmerism, and of course apocalyptic fervor. The story moves slowly, but builds to a truly terrifying and exhilarating climax.
June 23, 2012
An interesting retelling of the tale of Bluebeard and The Fitcher Bird in one (Bluebird? Fitcherbeard?). The Bluebeard character this time round is a preacher named Elias Fitcher, who has determined that the end times are soon to come and he needs a bride in the hereafter. He sets his sights on three sisters, marrying them each in turn. The story is a little slow to get started, but once it really starts getting into the relationship of Fitcher with his brides, it turns into a real page-turner. It's so interesting to see the religious fervor aspect added to the story, and how Fitcher preys on the individual insecurities of the wives (the second is convinced she will never have a pure soul, and is thus whipped every night but never absolved of her sin). If it would have picked up faster than it did, or went more in depth with the darker aspects sooner, I would have liked it more than I did, but it's still a good read and a new interpretation that works.
April 20, 2025
To be honest, I picked this one based solely on its Tom Canty cover (love a good Tom Canty cover). This is part of a fairy tale retelling series, with each entry by a different author (another book from the series people may recognize is Pamela Dean’s Tam Lin). Fitcher’s Brides is based on Bluebeard, with a few other parallel fairy tales roped in to mix it up– but set in 1840s upstate New York, with Bluebeard as an apocalyptic preacher.
I think changing the setting for this story was a good choice that put an interesting angle on a familiar tale. I was less impressed by the way this book is deeply weird about sex, due to the way Bluebeard’s hold over his wives was portrayed as strangely hallucinatory and psychosexual. Overall, interesting but not my cup of tea.
I think changing the setting for this story was a good choice that put an interesting angle on a familiar tale. I was less impressed by the way this book is deeply weird about sex, due to the way Bluebeard’s hold over his wives was portrayed as strangely hallucinatory and psychosexual. Overall, interesting but not my cup of tea.
August 15, 2016
2015 Reading Challenge - A book by an author you've never read before.
It was pretty good but the end seemed a little rushed and I wished there was a little more there. Some things weren't explained that I wanted to know about and some things that were left open were o.k. Like the sisters not explaining to Kate what happened to them after they died, that should have been left as it was. But the shades and the Angel of Death were never explained and I would have liked to know what was up with them. How and why did he keep the shades in the third floor rooms? How did he manage to become the spirit in the wall? Etc.
It was pretty good but the end seemed a little rushed and I wished there was a little more there. Some things weren't explained that I wanted to know about and some things that were left open were o.k. Like the sisters not explaining to Kate what happened to them after they died, that should have been left as it was. But the shades and the Angel of Death were never explained and I would have liked to know what was up with them. How and why did he keep the shades in the third floor rooms? How did he manage to become the spirit in the wall? Etc.
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