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We Played with Fire
Maggie has witnessed impossible things. But no one believes her, and now her family has taken her away to spend the winter upstate in a remote, freezing farmhouse.
Bored and angry, Maggie and her younger sister Kate start to play tricks: rapping on the floorboards above their parents’ bedroom, cracking their toes under the table, and telling tales about noises in the night. Then the house starts to make sounds of its own. Neither Maggie nor Kate can explain it, but it seems as though someone – or something – is trying to speak to them . . .
Inspired by the incredible true tale of the Fox Sisters, the girls who made their fortune in nineteenth-century America by speaking to ghosts.
Bored and angry, Maggie and her younger sister Kate start to play tricks: rapping on the floorboards above their parents’ bedroom, cracking their toes under the table, and telling tales about noises in the night. Then the house starts to make sounds of its own. Neither Maggie nor Kate can explain it, but it seems as though someone – or something – is trying to speak to them . . .
Inspired by the incredible true tale of the Fox Sisters, the girls who made their fortune in nineteenth-century America by speaking to ghosts.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2021
14 people are currently reading
905 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Barter
8 books40 followersCatherine Barter is a YA author and bookseller based in London.
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November 27, 2025
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I am so happy to be participating on this blog tour for We Played With Fire by Catherine Barter! Huge thank you to the team at Andersen Press and Kaleidoscopic Tours, for sending me a copy of the book. Please check out the other participants as well.
Inspired by a true story of the Fox sisters, the girls who made their fortune in 19th century America by speaking to ghosts, We Played With Fire is a story you won’t want to miss!
Synopsis:
Maggie has witnessed impossible things. But no one believes her, and now her family has taken her away to spend the winter upstate in a remote, freezing farmhouse.
Bored and angry, Maggie and her younger sister Kate start to play tricks: rapping on the floorboards above their parents’ bedroom, cracking their toes under the table, and telling tales about noises in the night. Then the house starts to make sounds of its own. Neither Maggie nor Kate can explain it, but it seems as though someone – or something – is trying to speak to them…
My Thoughts:
We Played With Fire takes a much more serious and realistic approach on the subject of ghosts and people being able to speak to them. What starts as a game begins to grow into something much more and gets out of hand very easily.
“Besides, it’s not wrong to deceive people if they want to be deceived.”
Maggie is quite a unique character; kind and thoughtful, yet strong-willed and not afraid to speak up for what she believes in. She is very observant, and through her eyes we can see things that many people would usually rather ignore. This was something I really admired about her! We can realise early on how affected she actually is from being banished from her town and being labelled of doing something she is sure she didn’t do.
I loved the spontaneous spookiness in the book and the uneasy atmosphere. During their seances, we are aware that the girls love to pull pranks, and create the random knocks to make people believe there are ghosts in the room. But as readers, we don’t get to know whether something is a prank or a supernatural activity, which leaves us wondering. The mood fills with intensity and these scenes managed to make me shiver many times. It’s such a gripping and eerie novel and I think people would really enjoy reading it during Halloween.
“She remembered hearing somewhere once that when somebody died you should open a window to let their soul out.”
Aside from the spooky elements, this book covered many different topics that are very important, especially today! Activist against racism and slavery existed, but it was led by white people who didn’t let people of colour to speak at events on topics that concerned them directly. The corruption of the church and their propaganda against not only people like the Fox sisters, who talked to ghosts, but against anyone that disagrees with their agenda. And the fact that women weren’t treated as equals, and their opinion, knowledge, experience wasn’t even taken into consideration. I found myself so infuriated with these issues. But also glad that they were mentioned in the book, so we can highlight them, and start discussions.
“When a person is determined to see the world in one way, they won’t allow anybody to challenge it. I’m sure it’s a kind of illness.”
We Played With Fire is a magnificent book! The perfect eerie book to give you the shivers and transport you to a 19th century. Imagine an old house full of candles and knocking sounds coming out of nowhere. If you love horror and ghost stories of the past, pick up We Played With Fire today!
I am so happy to be participating on this blog tour for We Played With Fire by Catherine Barter! Huge thank you to the team at Andersen Press and Kaleidoscopic Tours, for sending me a copy of the book. Please check out the other participants as well.
Inspired by a true story of the Fox sisters, the girls who made their fortune in 19th century America by speaking to ghosts, We Played With Fire is a story you won’t want to miss!
Synopsis:
Maggie has witnessed impossible things. But no one believes her, and now her family has taken her away to spend the winter upstate in a remote, freezing farmhouse.
Bored and angry, Maggie and her younger sister Kate start to play tricks: rapping on the floorboards above their parents’ bedroom, cracking their toes under the table, and telling tales about noises in the night. Then the house starts to make sounds of its own. Neither Maggie nor Kate can explain it, but it seems as though someone – or something – is trying to speak to them…
My Thoughts:
We Played With Fire takes a much more serious and realistic approach on the subject of ghosts and people being able to speak to them. What starts as a game begins to grow into something much more and gets out of hand very easily.
“Besides, it’s not wrong to deceive people if they want to be deceived.”
Maggie is quite a unique character; kind and thoughtful, yet strong-willed and not afraid to speak up for what she believes in. She is very observant, and through her eyes we can see things that many people would usually rather ignore. This was something I really admired about her! We can realise early on how affected she actually is from being banished from her town and being labelled of doing something she is sure she didn’t do.
I loved the spontaneous spookiness in the book and the uneasy atmosphere. During their seances, we are aware that the girls love to pull pranks, and create the random knocks to make people believe there are ghosts in the room. But as readers, we don’t get to know whether something is a prank or a supernatural activity, which leaves us wondering. The mood fills with intensity and these scenes managed to make me shiver many times. It’s such a gripping and eerie novel and I think people would really enjoy reading it during Halloween.
“She remembered hearing somewhere once that when somebody died you should open a window to let their soul out.”
Aside from the spooky elements, this book covered many different topics that are very important, especially today! Activist against racism and slavery existed, but it was led by white people who didn’t let people of colour to speak at events on topics that concerned them directly. The corruption of the church and their propaganda against not only people like the Fox sisters, who talked to ghosts, but against anyone that disagrees with their agenda. And the fact that women weren’t treated as equals, and their opinion, knowledge, experience wasn’t even taken into consideration. I found myself so infuriated with these issues. But also glad that they were mentioned in the book, so we can highlight them, and start discussions.
“When a person is determined to see the world in one way, they won’t allow anybody to challenge it. I’m sure it’s a kind of illness.”
We Played With Fire is a magnificent book! The perfect eerie book to give you the shivers and transport you to a 19th century. Imagine an old house full of candles and knocking sounds coming out of nowhere. If you love horror and ghost stories of the past, pick up We Played With Fire today!
January 12, 2021
I'm honestly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. and I don't think my low expectations were a bad thing. I simply didn't really know what to expect from this story. it ended up surprising me in a good way. yes, this book is about the supernatural, but it's also about the way we view the world and how our perception affects us. I very much enjoyed the way this book did not simply focus on the supernatural aspect of the story, but also talked about important things that were going on at the time, such as the women's rights movement and the abolition of slavery. I had not expected to be so impacted by this story, but I'm glad I was! (3.82)
thank you so much Andersen Press for sending a digital review copy!
thank you so much Andersen Press for sending a digital review copy!
October 24, 2023
I'm sorry, I really didn't vibe with this.
January 26, 2021
[ARC Provided by NetGalley, my review is unbiased]
Wordpress Blog | Twitter
This was such a thought-provoking story. I thought I knew everything about spiritualists, or mediums, but this story really questioned how much was fake, and how much might be truth as the Fox sisters grapple sudden fame, growing up and religion in the 1800s United States.
I loved that this was never black and white. I was left to make up my own mind as to whether Maggie really was connecting with spirits, or if like her clients, it was all a product of her own imagination, believing what it wanted or needed to believe.
The author researched this well, intertwining the abolitionist movement and feminism with Maggie's own realisations that the true reason Priests condemned her séances was that they felt she was taking the power away from their sex.
While the start of the story seemed like it was going to go down a tropey route, it proved me wrong and left me with so much to think about, and a broken heart too. This is all based on the real Fox sisters, and while some liberties were taken, they came to life on the pages.
Wordpress Blog | Twitter
This was such a thought-provoking story. I thought I knew everything about spiritualists, or mediums, but this story really questioned how much was fake, and how much might be truth as the Fox sisters grapple sudden fame, growing up and religion in the 1800s United States.
I loved that this was never black and white. I was left to make up my own mind as to whether Maggie really was connecting with spirits, or if like her clients, it was all a product of her own imagination, believing what it wanted or needed to believe.
The author researched this well, intertwining the abolitionist movement and feminism with Maggie's own realisations that the true reason Priests condemned her séances was that they felt she was taking the power away from their sex.
While the start of the story seemed like it was going to go down a tropey route, it proved me wrong and left me with so much to think about, and a broken heart too. This is all based on the real Fox sisters, and while some liberties were taken, they came to life on the pages.
November 28, 2020
Such a fantastic YA historical novel with some supernatural twists!
I will definitely be recommending We Played With Fire upon its release. I feel like it will suit a wide range of readers.
Set in 1800s America, a relatively poor family is haunted not only by strange noises and bones in their basement but also their youngest daughters. Despite them still being alive.
We follow Maggie's POV, the second youngest daughter. Who is one half of the medium duo.
I think the writer creates such a bond between Maggie and the reader. You see so many of her thoughts and struggles going on within her own head. Especially the struggles and frustration when people don't believe her. It's a very trapped feeling.
I loved that Maggie wasn't a flawless character, she had flaws, she lied. She wasn't the warmest person, but all of this and more fleshed her out to be a more rounded character.
Even though we don't get a 1st person for any of Maggie's sisters, I do think we got a good look at their characteristics through the eyes of Maggie. Especially Leah, the eldest sister. Her greed and almost, desperation to escape the judgements of her past are so tangible. She thinks money and notoriety will erase the shame of being a single mother after her husband ran off. Showcasing this taboo of the time also added something to the worldbuilding to make you feel that you are definitely reading about a different kind of society. Even though there are still some echoes of this judgement in today's world.
The author also included a lot of scenes talking about the abolitionist movement happening at the time. The girls would definitely have heard about this growing up and added yet more authenticity.
I'm so glad that this was included, as even though a lot of facts have been exchanged for fiction, actual names and times surrounding this movement were the same in reality. I just felt it was so important to mention this monumental societal shift to bring awareness to new readers who may not have learned or been exposed to this history.
Speaking of taking some factual aspects and inserting them into this book, I was so excited when I read the synopsis, as I had already known some information about the Fox Sisters and their toe tricks. I'd never seen any other fictional story that incorporated anything of their life before.
Despite this being a historical novel, which can sometimes be more dense and slower to read, I found this reading experience smooth and engaging. I was never once bored or thought the writing stuffy. Possibly because this was written with the YA market in mind, but regardless, it just made for a very pleasant reading experience. Even if it gave me some goose bumps along the way.
It's not easy to write something scary, but I definitely felt that Catherine Barter hit the nail on the head. There were no cheesy jump scares in my opinion, rather a slow creeping atmosphere that got under your skin and made you question and doubt yourself.
In general, the atmosphere was very fleshed out throughout the entire book, set both in Hydesville and New York.
My favourite aspect of this book however, is connected with something within the author's note. Where Barter explained how she wanted to explore the thought that even though the Fox sisters dealt in trickery and deceit, did they lie about everything? This was so fascinating to me, seeing the different mechanisms the sisters concocted and the power they felt when they were able to make people believe. But then Maggie experienced more things that she couldn't explain. That were certainly not possible by just tying a string to a toe or making the table rattle with a foot. The spectres Maggie saw that constantly plagued her thoughts were just chilling.
There's a reason why horror that involves children as protagonists is so popular, because it's creepy and it works. To hear such dark prophecies from the lips of an innocent child who should have no knowledge of macabre things is such a juxtaposition that throws many of us off balance.
I think I'll certainly be giving this a re-read when Halloween and spooky season comes around again.
I would recommend this to fans of Riley Sager's supernatural thrillers, even though she is an adult author. Some of the horror scenes really made me think of scenes of Home Before Dark. Also I'd recommend for fans of Irish author Deirdre Sullivan, who is a master of creepy atmosphere.
I will definitely be recommending We Played With Fire upon its release. I feel like it will suit a wide range of readers.
Set in 1800s America, a relatively poor family is haunted not only by strange noises and bones in their basement but also their youngest daughters. Despite them still being alive.
We follow Maggie's POV, the second youngest daughter. Who is one half of the medium duo.
I think the writer creates such a bond between Maggie and the reader. You see so many of her thoughts and struggles going on within her own head. Especially the struggles and frustration when people don't believe her. It's a very trapped feeling.
I loved that Maggie wasn't a flawless character, she had flaws, she lied. She wasn't the warmest person, but all of this and more fleshed her out to be a more rounded character.
Even though we don't get a 1st person for any of Maggie's sisters, I do think we got a good look at their characteristics through the eyes of Maggie. Especially Leah, the eldest sister. Her greed and almost, desperation to escape the judgements of her past are so tangible. She thinks money and notoriety will erase the shame of being a single mother after her husband ran off. Showcasing this taboo of the time also added something to the worldbuilding to make you feel that you are definitely reading about a different kind of society. Even though there are still some echoes of this judgement in today's world.
The author also included a lot of scenes talking about the abolitionist movement happening at the time. The girls would definitely have heard about this growing up and added yet more authenticity.
I'm so glad that this was included, as even though a lot of facts have been exchanged for fiction, actual names and times surrounding this movement were the same in reality. I just felt it was so important to mention this monumental societal shift to bring awareness to new readers who may not have learned or been exposed to this history.
Speaking of taking some factual aspects and inserting them into this book, I was so excited when I read the synopsis, as I had already known some information about the Fox Sisters and their toe tricks. I'd never seen any other fictional story that incorporated anything of their life before.
Despite this being a historical novel, which can sometimes be more dense and slower to read, I found this reading experience smooth and engaging. I was never once bored or thought the writing stuffy. Possibly because this was written with the YA market in mind, but regardless, it just made for a very pleasant reading experience. Even if it gave me some goose bumps along the way.
It's not easy to write something scary, but I definitely felt that Catherine Barter hit the nail on the head. There were no cheesy jump scares in my opinion, rather a slow creeping atmosphere that got under your skin and made you question and doubt yourself.
In general, the atmosphere was very fleshed out throughout the entire book, set both in Hydesville and New York.
My favourite aspect of this book however, is connected with something within the author's note. Where Barter explained how she wanted to explore the thought that even though the Fox sisters dealt in trickery and deceit, did they lie about everything? This was so fascinating to me, seeing the different mechanisms the sisters concocted and the power they felt when they were able to make people believe. But then Maggie experienced more things that she couldn't explain. That were certainly not possible by just tying a string to a toe or making the table rattle with a foot. The spectres Maggie saw that constantly plagued her thoughts were just chilling.
There's a reason why horror that involves children as protagonists is so popular, because it's creepy and it works. To hear such dark prophecies from the lips of an innocent child who should have no knowledge of macabre things is such a juxtaposition that throws many of us off balance.
I think I'll certainly be giving this a re-read when Halloween and spooky season comes around again.
I would recommend this to fans of Riley Sager's supernatural thrillers, even though she is an adult author. Some of the horror scenes really made me think of scenes of Home Before Dark. Also I'd recommend for fans of Irish author Deirdre Sullivan, who is a master of creepy atmosphere.
December 10, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Anderson Press for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We Played With Fire tells the very real, or perhaps unreal story of the Fox Sisters.
The story is narrated by Maggie Fox, the middle sister of the famous trio of mediums who famously were able to communicate with spirits. This story gives us an idea of what the Fox sisters themselves were thinking about what they were doing, why and perhaps the most important question; was it all real?
The book was incredibly atmospheric and definitely brings a spooky element in, however these sections are the parts that aren’t based on real events so take them with a pinch of salt! As with most stories based on real events, there have been parts added in for dramatic effect, but I feel like these sections weren’t overly dramatized and they felt real with the rest of the story. The author also includes an Afterword at the end of the book, detailing what exactly is based on factual evidence, which I loved!
Since Maggie Fox is our narrator, the story does follow more of her journey and her inner thoughts. She is a slightly unreliable narrator at times, so it keeps you guessing as to whether what your reading is real or if it’s in Maggie’s imagination! There is a little bit of back and forth regarding timelines and this could get a little confusing, so be aware of that so as not to get lost in the story.
The book also has sub-plot lines regarding racial injustices that were happening at the time, such as the antislavery and Underground Railroad. Also, the Women’s Rights movement. This is definitely a underlying theme throughout the whole book and it shows in the attitudes of all the characters. It is a harsh look of society at the time, where being a women meant that stepping out of line was a form of criminality.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think it was a really fair representation of the life of the Fox Sisters and how their story created a movement that lived on, even after they became spirits themselves.
We Played With Fire tells the very real, or perhaps unreal story of the Fox Sisters.
The story is narrated by Maggie Fox, the middle sister of the famous trio of mediums who famously were able to communicate with spirits. This story gives us an idea of what the Fox sisters themselves were thinking about what they were doing, why and perhaps the most important question; was it all real?
The book was incredibly atmospheric and definitely brings a spooky element in, however these sections are the parts that aren’t based on real events so take them with a pinch of salt! As with most stories based on real events, there have been parts added in for dramatic effect, but I feel like these sections weren’t overly dramatized and they felt real with the rest of the story. The author also includes an Afterword at the end of the book, detailing what exactly is based on factual evidence, which I loved!
Since Maggie Fox is our narrator, the story does follow more of her journey and her inner thoughts. She is a slightly unreliable narrator at times, so it keeps you guessing as to whether what your reading is real or if it’s in Maggie’s imagination! There is a little bit of back and forth regarding timelines and this could get a little confusing, so be aware of that so as not to get lost in the story.
The book also has sub-plot lines regarding racial injustices that were happening at the time, such as the antislavery and Underground Railroad. Also, the Women’s Rights movement. This is definitely a underlying theme throughout the whole book and it shows in the attitudes of all the characters. It is a harsh look of society at the time, where being a women meant that stepping out of line was a form of criminality.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think it was a really fair representation of the life of the Fox Sisters and how their story created a movement that lived on, even after they became spirits themselves.
February 18, 2024
3.75*/5
I went into this book with really low expectations. it surprised me. in a good way.
ended up really liking the story about the Fox sisters and how they came to fame. Felt really sorry for Kate and Maggie who were basically used by their elder sister Leah for money and fame.
Must have been a very difficult time for girls and women in general.
All-in-all i appreciated the information packed in the book as well as the realistic depiction of the time.
I went into this book with really low expectations. it surprised me. in a good way.
ended up really liking the story about the Fox sisters and how they came to fame. Felt really sorry for Kate and Maggie who were basically used by their elder sister Leah for money and fame.
Must have been a very difficult time for girls and women in general.
All-in-all i appreciated the information packed in the book as well as the realistic depiction of the time.
February 22, 2021
I'm not that into Historical Fiction unless, apparently, it focuses on the early years of influential women. First we had Ada Lovelace and now we have the Fox Sisters who became famous for their ability to speak to the dead. Through séances they helped bring about the start of what we now know of as spiritualism. These sisters were all very real and I do love a book that makes me want to research the real life people in the stories. The Fox Sisters are genuinely fascinating people to learn about and although the book and the reality do different in places it does make it all the more fun.
Maggie, her younger sister, Kate and her older sister, Leah are the sisters in question though most of the focus is on Maggie, the girl who the spirits seem to speak through. While the reality of the sisters is far from honest the book sets up a ghost story with real spirits and worrying occurrences. And while the story does still mention the tricks that Maggie and Kate used to convince others of a ghostly presence, in the story they are just a means to entertain people if a true spirit does not join them.
The story intertwines the grim realities of the sisters early years, their time as hosts to popular séances in New York, and the beginnings of what would soon be their fall from grace, with ghostly apparitions, strange noises and unexplained occurrences. They are well mixed and make for a very entertaining and spooky story that still teaches you about the three sisters who sought money and fame at the price of other people's reputations and grief, as well as their own.
If you play with fire, you will get burnt.
Rated: 3.5/5 Stars (rounded up to 4)
---
Thanks to Andersen Press for gifting me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Maggie, her younger sister, Kate and her older sister, Leah are the sisters in question though most of the focus is on Maggie, the girl who the spirits seem to speak through. While the reality of the sisters is far from honest the book sets up a ghost story with real spirits and worrying occurrences. And while the story does still mention the tricks that Maggie and Kate used to convince others of a ghostly presence, in the story they are just a means to entertain people if a true spirit does not join them.
The story intertwines the grim realities of the sisters early years, their time as hosts to popular séances in New York, and the beginnings of what would soon be their fall from grace, with ghostly apparitions, strange noises and unexplained occurrences. They are well mixed and make for a very entertaining and spooky story that still teaches you about the three sisters who sought money and fame at the price of other people's reputations and grief, as well as their own.
If you play with fire, you will get burnt.
Rated: 3.5/5 Stars (rounded up to 4)
---
Thanks to Andersen Press for gifting me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2020
We Played With Fire follows the story of the Fox sisters, after an accident the family moves away from home leaving the sisters bored and one day they decide to play tricks on their parents, which eventually leads them on a new path.
The plot of the book follows the story of the Fox sisters, from them playing their initial tricks in order to get a reaction from their father to them making a living out of it in New York, it was an interesting story to read. The book was kind of hard to get into and a bit confusing at first however things quickly pick up and I ended up really enjoying the writing style of the book, especially the way the main character was written. Maggie was an interesting narrator because she has the incident from the past still on her mind while she deals with everything new that is happening around her, she wants to prove to everyone that she is telling the truth and I liked the way her emotions were showed in the book especially as she tried to deal with her own thoughts on what she was doing.
The book is a short and quick read, but it is slow paced, I did like how the story built up to the ending and how we saw the sisters as they grew more popular and the effects it had on them and the people around them, I really liked the tone and atmosphere of the book especially towards the ending. There were times towards the middle of the book where it did drag on a bit and feel very descriptive but towards the ending it does pick up a lot.
3/5
The plot of the book follows the story of the Fox sisters, from them playing their initial tricks in order to get a reaction from their father to them making a living out of it in New York, it was an interesting story to read. The book was kind of hard to get into and a bit confusing at first however things quickly pick up and I ended up really enjoying the writing style of the book, especially the way the main character was written. Maggie was an interesting narrator because she has the incident from the past still on her mind while she deals with everything new that is happening around her, she wants to prove to everyone that she is telling the truth and I liked the way her emotions were showed in the book especially as she tried to deal with her own thoughts on what she was doing.
The book is a short and quick read, but it is slow paced, I did like how the story built up to the ending and how we saw the sisters as they grew more popular and the effects it had on them and the people around them, I really liked the tone and atmosphere of the book especially towards the ending. There were times towards the middle of the book where it did drag on a bit and feel very descriptive but towards the ending it does pick up a lot.
3/5
Read
December 28, 2020A fascinating account of the Fox Sisters and the birth of 'spiritualism' in America. Not only is this a delightfully eerie story, it's also a historical family drama packed with turmoil, grief and contemporary politics. Completely engrossing and super interesting!
December 8, 2020
*Received as an ARC on NetGalley*
A really fascinating historical fiction book with a unique ghost story. The main character is developed well and she is easy to connect with. It is interesting to explore Maggie’s inner thoughts, worries and doubts and I think it adds an extra depth to the book. The author added many hints to contextual factors surrounding the time period in which the book is set which was extremely effective with bringing the setting to life. Furthermore, the eerie atmosphere that was created throughout the book was written perfectly and I often found my self jumping at sounds around me.
Overall an enjoyable read and a unique take on the life of the Fox sisters.
A really fascinating historical fiction book with a unique ghost story. The main character is developed well and she is easy to connect with. It is interesting to explore Maggie’s inner thoughts, worries and doubts and I think it adds an extra depth to the book. The author added many hints to contextual factors surrounding the time period in which the book is set which was extremely effective with bringing the setting to life. Furthermore, the eerie atmosphere that was created throughout the book was written perfectly and I often found my self jumping at sounds around me.
Overall an enjoyable read and a unique take on the life of the Fox sisters.
March 10, 2021
She would probably not change laws, change the world, but she would cause a small disturbance, disrupt the order of things, and perhaps that was worth doing.
This book really surprised me! From the little I knew about it, I was expecting a sort of atypical YA spin on the tale of the Fox sisters but actually this didn’t read as YA at all. The writing is very mature and sophisticated, it fit the era that the book is set in very well and really transformed the reading experience for me. The author portrays emotion really well without making the characters seem exaggerated or bratty - which is a challenge when one is twelve and the other fifteen.
The supernatural aspects of the book were woven in brilliantly, and I loved the merging of Maggie and Kate’s ‘act’ with the real spiritual contact, it blurred the lines really well and made these scenes in particular very gripping. It was interesting to get a glimpse of what it might’ve been like to witness the birth of spirit-communication and seances, and see the mix of reactions from public, from the sceptics and religious extremists claiming witchcraft, to the morbidly fascinated and curious.
The book also addresses some of the current issues faced in the time period, such as the struggle for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery movements. I wasn’t expecting this level of depth from the book based on the summary, but it added so much to the story and made the whole thing feel more real, and more about the people than just a book about the supernatural. It was also very impactful to see Maggie, Kate and Leah’s constant struggle to be seen and trusted as women, without delving too hard into the distressing politics of the lack of women’s rights at the time, the book shows us all the little ways that women were repressed and dismissed, constantly needing their actions to be validated by men. And I liked that the Fox sisters demonstrated a bit of defiance in their actions to take off travelling with their ‘act’, it was somewhat empowering.
Honestly this is such a great read and real hidden gem. You can tell from the afterword that the author did a lot of research and really made an effort to keep a lot of the real-life details in the narrative and I think this went a long way to making the book feel as realistic and detailed as it does.
This book really surprised me! From the little I knew about it, I was expecting a sort of atypical YA spin on the tale of the Fox sisters but actually this didn’t read as YA at all. The writing is very mature and sophisticated, it fit the era that the book is set in very well and really transformed the reading experience for me. The author portrays emotion really well without making the characters seem exaggerated or bratty - which is a challenge when one is twelve and the other fifteen.
The supernatural aspects of the book were woven in brilliantly, and I loved the merging of Maggie and Kate’s ‘act’ with the real spiritual contact, it blurred the lines really well and made these scenes in particular very gripping. It was interesting to get a glimpse of what it might’ve been like to witness the birth of spirit-communication and seances, and see the mix of reactions from public, from the sceptics and religious extremists claiming witchcraft, to the morbidly fascinated and curious.
The book also addresses some of the current issues faced in the time period, such as the struggle for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery movements. I wasn’t expecting this level of depth from the book based on the summary, but it added so much to the story and made the whole thing feel more real, and more about the people than just a book about the supernatural. It was also very impactful to see Maggie, Kate and Leah’s constant struggle to be seen and trusted as women, without delving too hard into the distressing politics of the lack of women’s rights at the time, the book shows us all the little ways that women were repressed and dismissed, constantly needing their actions to be validated by men. And I liked that the Fox sisters demonstrated a bit of defiance in their actions to take off travelling with their ‘act’, it was somewhat empowering.
Honestly this is such a great read and real hidden gem. You can tell from the afterword that the author did a lot of research and really made an effort to keep a lot of the real-life details in the narrative and I think this went a long way to making the book feel as realistic and detailed as it does.
May 8, 2021
It's very sad. But due to the new tax rules when importing from outside the EU the June Book Box Club will very likely be my last. I will really miss this box forcing me to read out of my comfort zone and most of all letting me discover books I never would have found on my own. I will also miss the Author chats, all so different and unique but always adding something new to the story. And this book, a book I never would have found and never would have picked up, is really why I'm gonna miss it all.
I totally understand this book isn't for everyone. Barter has a typical writing style that reminds a little of the classics. However, I read a lot of different writing styles so it didn't take long for me to get used to it and to start enjoying this story. Because the story was quite intriguing, from the very start, and I was quite curious how it eventually would end. Especially because there were a lot of possible endings. (Unless you knew the real story already, then you know how it ends, I guess!)
My favorite thing about this book is quite clearly the atmosphere. There were quite a few moments in this book being really creepy. Especially because our narrator, Maggie, didn't know anymore what was real and what wasn't. Eventually the book does reveal what has been really going on all the time, which I personally liked and hated at the same time, but for quite some time the biggest mystery was whether or not it was all fake or whether or not there were real things happening too.
And it's exactly that uncertainty that makes Maggie's journey quite an emotional one. She knows that if she wants to convince people that what she has seen and experienced is real, she will have to make sure others hear and see it too. But once they start faking things, her inner struggle only grows worse and worse. Which is also partly fueled by all the things going on in society at this point in history concerning slavery, human rights and women rights.
I understand why the story told like this doesn't work for everyone, but I do think it contains a great message and some really touching moments!
I totally understand this book isn't for everyone. Barter has a typical writing style that reminds a little of the classics. However, I read a lot of different writing styles so it didn't take long for me to get used to it and to start enjoying this story. Because the story was quite intriguing, from the very start, and I was quite curious how it eventually would end. Especially because there were a lot of possible endings. (Unless you knew the real story already, then you know how it ends, I guess!)
My favorite thing about this book is quite clearly the atmosphere. There were quite a few moments in this book being really creepy. Especially because our narrator, Maggie, didn't know anymore what was real and what wasn't. Eventually the book does reveal what has been really going on all the time, which I personally liked and hated at the same time, but for quite some time the biggest mystery was whether or not it was all fake or whether or not there were real things happening too.
And it's exactly that uncertainty that makes Maggie's journey quite an emotional one. She knows that if she wants to convince people that what she has seen and experienced is real, she will have to make sure others hear and see it too. But once they start faking things, her inner struggle only grows worse and worse. Which is also partly fueled by all the things going on in society at this point in history concerning slavery, human rights and women rights.
I understand why the story told like this doesn't work for everyone, but I do think it contains a great message and some really touching moments!
July 11, 2021
We Played With Fire is a novel based around the true story of the Fox sisters. Maggie has seen things that other people would view as impossible but nobody believes that they are true, but because of this Maggie and Kate's family have taken them away to spend the winter in a remote farmhouse.
The sisters begin to play tricks around the house, finding it all a bit of fun and wanting to wind their parents up, but soon the house begins to take on a form of it's own - making strange sounds and strange occurrences begin to happen...
This novel was fast-paced and seems like it will be full of stereotypical tropes at the beginning, but soon takes on a form of it's own. The story was also based on real historical events, full of paranormal and spiritual themes and strong female leads that dominated the pages!
The sisters begin to play tricks around the house, finding it all a bit of fun and wanting to wind their parents up, but soon the house begins to take on a form of it's own - making strange sounds and strange occurrences begin to happen...
This novel was fast-paced and seems like it will be full of stereotypical tropes at the beginning, but soon takes on a form of it's own. The story was also based on real historical events, full of paranormal and spiritual themes and strong female leads that dominated the pages!
February 8, 2021
We Played With Fire is an atmospheric supernatural, historical fiction book centred around some true events.
I have always been fascinated by The Fox Sisters. If you haven’t heard of them before, they were said to be one of the originators of the Spiritualism movement of the 19th Century. They held seances for profit and were eventually found to be frauds. Though this has always been disputed as many believe they were able to at times contact the dead and not all of it was a complete lie. This book is a fictional YA story about the sisters and how they began holding seances and how it eventually got out of control.
There are some very scary scenes where the atmosphere is very chilling and I found myself holding my breath whilst reading about some of the seances. A pulse racing scene for me personally was at a school where a very menacing ghost appears and what happened made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.
While this story follows the ghostly goings on there is a lot more to this tale. There is talk of the women’s rights movement, slavery and how people of colour were not allowed a voice. The author obviously did a lot of research about these powerful issues and it gives the book a lot of depth and insight into the problems that took place in that era.
I highly recommend this to fans of ghost stories especially set in the Victorian era.
I have always been fascinated by The Fox Sisters. If you haven’t heard of them before, they were said to be one of the originators of the Spiritualism movement of the 19th Century. They held seances for profit and were eventually found to be frauds. Though this has always been disputed as many believe they were able to at times contact the dead and not all of it was a complete lie. This book is a fictional YA story about the sisters and how they began holding seances and how it eventually got out of control.
There are some very scary scenes where the atmosphere is very chilling and I found myself holding my breath whilst reading about some of the seances. A pulse racing scene for me personally was at a school where a very menacing ghost appears and what happened made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.
While this story follows the ghostly goings on there is a lot more to this tale. There is talk of the women’s rights movement, slavery and how people of colour were not allowed a voice. The author obviously did a lot of research about these powerful issues and it gives the book a lot of depth and insight into the problems that took place in that era.
I highly recommend this to fans of ghost stories especially set in the Victorian era.
July 4, 2021
There is nothing wrong with the book except the fact the the story itself didn't interest me at all. I got it in a subscription box and thought about giving it a try as the spiritualists' story is not something I encounter very often. Unfortunately, it left me cold and unbothered. The writing is fine, the pacing is fine, the characters are fine. I just couldn't find anything extraordinary in the story, nothing gripped me and made me care about what happens to the characters. Not my cup of tea for sure.
April 5, 2021
Personally? I felt like I spent the book waiting for "something more". I enjoyed the last chapters more than I enjoyed the remainder of the book but it was still not the book for me. Still, I have a friend that I'm sure will like it and I can't wait to talk to her about it!
This book wasn't for me, but hey, maybe it's for you! Listen...
This book wasn't for me, but hey, maybe it's for you! Listen...
May 8, 2021
I am quite terrified of seances or oujja boards or anything to do with that, so... this was not always an easy book to read ;). I did really like that the border between what was real and what was fraud was very fuzzy, leaving you to wonder constantly what was happening throughout the entire book.
June 8, 2023
The premise was promising if it was an original story. I have no clue how you could make the story of the fox sisters so damn boring.
Nothing happened. Like NOTHING.
Nothing happened. Like NOTHING.
Read
October 7, 2023Это было настолько скучно, насколько только возможно. Казалось бы, тема какая интересная, но её исполнение... Я чуть не уснула в процессе.
did-not-finish
October 18, 2025DNF @ 162 pages
January 19, 2021
When I was awarded this book I was really looking forward to it as if you don't know but now I love spooky books. But this one was a little slow from the start and kept that pace thought-out.
The character don't really have much depth to them, don't get me wrong they are good characters but you don't connect to them right away if at all.
I mean you forget they are 13/14 at points but then are reminded when they are drinking in posh hotels etc. There isn't much action in this book and once you get pass the first "spirit" there isn't much more that happens.
The character don't really have much depth to them, don't get me wrong they are good characters but you don't connect to them right away if at all.
I mean you forget they are 13/14 at points but then are reminded when they are drinking in posh hotels etc. There isn't much action in this book and once you get pass the first "spirit" there isn't much more that happens.
July 4, 2021
I loved this book because it’s based on true events and it is extremely well written. The characters are believable and it is also quite tragic the events told here,
March 29, 2021
An amazing book! Definitely recommend for anyone who likes supernatural stories!
June 3, 2021
I was at odds with this book because I went in expecting ghosts and spook, I wanted to have to sleep with the lights on. Instead, I enjoyed an interesting sort-of-historical fiction/coming of age that explores juxtaposed themes such as inner talents v beliefs, the struggle to do what’s right v convincing ourselves that what we do is right ... whilst still briefly shining a night of light into the beginnings of the abolitionist movements in America and the complex relationships within a family.
All in all, it’s a book with important themes, an easy to follow narrative and a great starting point if you’re interested in finding out more about how spiritualism and mediums started.
All in all, it’s a book with important themes, an easy to follow narrative and a great starting point if you’re interested in finding out more about how spiritualism and mediums started.
December 6, 2020
3.5 - review to follow soon :)
November 16, 2022
Мне понравилось, как девочки 13 и 15 лет утешались алкоголем
February 10, 2021
I was sent a copy of this book for review.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
Maggie is accused of harming a child. She claimed an evil spirit did it. To avoid the continued accusations Maggie along her family move from the city to a rundown house in the country. Her sister Katie is the only one who believes Maggie as she too can sense spirits. They both sense something living in the house with them but when their father refuses to listen to young girls or pay attention to the ghost stories about the house, they start faking a haunting to scare him. What starts out as harmless fun escalates into a frightening visitation by a malevolent spirit who wants Maggie and their neighbours are called to witness the strange noises, moving objects and disembodied voice that occur in the house.
After an article is published, the sisters are sent to live with their older, enterprising and manipulative sister Leah. She pushes them to perform day and night. When the real spirits fail come, they are forced to conjure up sham séances and fake encounters to pry money from the grieving and inquisitive elite of Manhattan. As their fame grows, they are targeted as charlatans and devil worshippers by the sceptics and religious zealots while being lauded by the believers. After a sinister spirit attacks Maggie during a séance, Maggie starts to question her life. Can she out run the ghost that stalks her every step or will she become his next victim?
This is 🌟🌟🌟🌟 atmospheric retelling of the true story of the Fox sisters and spiritualism in America. It was the perfect blend of fact and fiction that wove a gripping tale of ghosts, the artistry and deceit of séances as well as the real lives behind it. I found the story unnerving at times as the author creatively evoked the supernatural aspects of the plot and made them feel real. My only issue was the pacing in the middle section as I felt it slowed too much and was a little disjointed which left me confused as to what was happening at times. However the first and third sections were really compelling and the story came together well at the end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
Maggie is accused of harming a child. She claimed an evil spirit did it. To avoid the continued accusations Maggie along her family move from the city to a rundown house in the country. Her sister Katie is the only one who believes Maggie as she too can sense spirits. They both sense something living in the house with them but when their father refuses to listen to young girls or pay attention to the ghost stories about the house, they start faking a haunting to scare him. What starts out as harmless fun escalates into a frightening visitation by a malevolent spirit who wants Maggie and their neighbours are called to witness the strange noises, moving objects and disembodied voice that occur in the house.
After an article is published, the sisters are sent to live with their older, enterprising and manipulative sister Leah. She pushes them to perform day and night. When the real spirits fail come, they are forced to conjure up sham séances and fake encounters to pry money from the grieving and inquisitive elite of Manhattan. As their fame grows, they are targeted as charlatans and devil worshippers by the sceptics and religious zealots while being lauded by the believers. After a sinister spirit attacks Maggie during a séance, Maggie starts to question her life. Can she out run the ghost that stalks her every step or will she become his next victim?
This is 🌟🌟🌟🌟 atmospheric retelling of the true story of the Fox sisters and spiritualism in America. It was the perfect blend of fact and fiction that wove a gripping tale of ghosts, the artistry and deceit of séances as well as the real lives behind it. I found the story unnerving at times as the author creatively evoked the supernatural aspects of the plot and made them feel real. My only issue was the pacing in the middle section as I felt it slowed too much and was a little disjointed which left me confused as to what was happening at times. However the first and third sections were really compelling and the story came together well at the end.
February 1, 2021
trigger warning
At first, it's a game they play, a prank on their parents who just want to sleep after a hard day's work. But then it gets out of hand - in more ways than one.
This book is about the Fox sisters who are considered to have started the spiritism wave in the 19th century. It comes with the territory that if you ask five people on their opinion about what happened, you'll be getting seven different versions.
I knew about the Fox sisters thanks to the amazing podcast Two Girls One Ghost, and after reading this I probably will re-listen to the episode they talked about them.
Despite my joy upon being approved for this arc, I kind of did not gel with it. I can't find a real point on which it rests, aside from it not being main-spooky season and I was not in the mood because I am not really in any mood at all at the moment. (Yay for BPD in high-stress situations like a global pandemic!)
It had all the things I was promised would be there, but I kept thinking that maybe I just want to read non fiction on this topic, so once I finished this review, I'll go back to the further reading suggestions and put them on my want to read list.
Upon thinking about it, there was no real sense of danger, more of loss of control and confusion - which in itself can be dangerous, but it wasn't taken far enough. I felt kind of meh about it and then it was over.
Listen. If you think the synopsis sounds interesting, look up an excerpt or if your library has it so you can take a peek. See for yourself.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
At first, it's a game they play, a prank on their parents who just want to sleep after a hard day's work. But then it gets out of hand - in more ways than one.
This book is about the Fox sisters who are considered to have started the spiritism wave in the 19th century. It comes with the territory that if you ask five people on their opinion about what happened, you'll be getting seven different versions.
I knew about the Fox sisters thanks to the amazing podcast Two Girls One Ghost, and after reading this I probably will re-listen to the episode they talked about them.
Despite my joy upon being approved for this arc, I kind of did not gel with it. I can't find a real point on which it rests, aside from it not being main-spooky season and I was not in the mood because I am not really in any mood at all at the moment. (Yay for BPD in high-stress situations like a global pandemic!)
It had all the things I was promised would be there, but I kept thinking that maybe I just want to read non fiction on this topic, so once I finished this review, I'll go back to the further reading suggestions and put them on my want to read list.
Upon thinking about it, there was no real sense of danger, more of loss of control and confusion - which in itself can be dangerous, but it wasn't taken far enough. I felt kind of meh about it and then it was over.
Listen. If you think the synopsis sounds interesting, look up an excerpt or if your library has it so you can take a peek. See for yourself.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
March 7, 2021
2.5 at best. Sorry. I really did not like this book. I have mixed feeling because the writing was really good, I was looking forward to reading but after the first 3rd of this book... I just got really annoyed at the fact that I had to read trough 300 pages and the main matriarch still wanted everyone to believe her. Everyone to love her. And also, the book made it really hard to care about such little thing when everybody had serious conversations and was ready to take actions towards the women’s voting rights and engine slavery at once. That was more interesting than a little 15 year old girl and her small problems. This book took 300 pages to have the main characters love herself and accept her gift. It was really annoying. Made me feel all sort of negative feelings towards her am I did not enjoy this book for that reason. Stuck in Maggie’s head the whole time, whining about how much she wants others to believe her or accept her.
I don’t want to read that, live in that mindset for hours upon hours of reading.
I have it an extra .5 because part 1 was scary and sucked me in. And they had proper conversations about important issues as well. But the rest of the book was a flop to me. I know for next time, not to pick something like this up.
I don’t want to read that, live in that mindset for hours upon hours of reading.
I have it an extra .5 because part 1 was scary and sucked me in. And they had proper conversations about important issues as well. But the rest of the book was a flop to me. I know for next time, not to pick something like this up.
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