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The Asylum
1906: Being a woman is dangerous, being different is deadly.
Maud Lovell has been at Angelton Lunatic Asylum for five years. She is not sure how she came to be there and knows nothing beyond its four walls. She is hysterical, distressed, untrustworthy. Badly unstable and prone to violence. Or so she has been told.
When a new doctor arrives, keen to experiment with the revolutionary practice of medical hypnosis, Maud's lack of history makes her the perfect case study. But as Doctor Dimmond delves deeper into the past, it becomes clear that confinement and high doses are there to keep her silent.
When Maud finally remembers what has been done to her, and by whom, her mind turns to her past and to revenge.
Maud Lovell has been at Angelton Lunatic Asylum for five years. She is not sure how she came to be there and knows nothing beyond its four walls. She is hysterical, distressed, untrustworthy. Badly unstable and prone to violence. Or so she has been told.
When a new doctor arrives, keen to experiment with the revolutionary practice of medical hypnosis, Maud's lack of history makes her the perfect case study. But as Doctor Dimmond delves deeper into the past, it becomes clear that confinement and high doses are there to keep her silent.
When Maud finally remembers what has been done to her, and by whom, her mind turns to her past and to revenge.
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2021
178 people are currently reading
5902 people want to read
About the author
Karen Coles
1 book93 followersPainter and sculptor now based in Wales, not far from the site of the original Angelton Asylum.
The Asylum is my first adult novel. Although it was inspired by reading patient notes and handwritten letters at the Glamorgan Archives, the story is entirely fictional.
I love reading good books in any genre.
The Asylum is my first adult novel. Although it was inspired by reading patient notes and handwritten letters at the Glamorgan Archives, the story is entirely fictional.
I love reading good books in any genre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 340 reviews
October 18, 2022
Not my typical read. Gothic mystery of how a woman in 1906 wound up in a mental hospital. The story is told in flashbacks by the use of hypnosis on Maud. The treatments are barbaric and often times are used to punish rather than to help. There is a minor romance that is woven throughout the book. There is evil that is in all parts of the story present and past with crimes against Maud. I rate the book 3.5* and would have given it a higher rating with a stronger end. Beware that the book writes about difficult subjects.
April 14, 2021
Headlines
Eerie and sinister
Gothically good
Revenge
The Asylum was a page-turner of a gothic thriller. Set inside the mind and experiences of Maud who was incarcerated with amnesia, this was a story of such mistreatment that it was tough to read at times. There was no doubt that Maud was mentally ill, but beyond help...no.
The story tracks a good doc/bad doc situation in this historical asylum. One psychiatrist determined to advocate for Maud and help her with getting her memories back, the other was determined to prevent this. Maud's story as it unravelled was sad, discomforting, tragic and at times horrendous.
There are no chains binding me, no manacles, yet I am chained to this place as securely as if there were indeed a manacle around my neck. I am chained here by my madness.
The powerless of women in this era, especially those without means, was underlying the whole story. Men in control, men taking advantage, men doing much worse. There were women as accessories to the bad experiences but Maud eventually found inner strength in her lucidity.
I found The Asylum hard to put down, those pages turned themselves as I wanted answers for the mystery. This was a great, satisfying thriller with a rather dark foreboding feel to it. That cover is stunning and clever. There are a number of triggers in this book for some readers, so please look for trigger warnings or DM me for details.
Thank you to Welbeck Publishing for the early #gifted review copy.
You can find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
Eerie and sinister
Gothically good
Revenge
The Asylum was a page-turner of a gothic thriller. Set inside the mind and experiences of Maud who was incarcerated with amnesia, this was a story of such mistreatment that it was tough to read at times. There was no doubt that Maud was mentally ill, but beyond help...no.
The story tracks a good doc/bad doc situation in this historical asylum. One psychiatrist determined to advocate for Maud and help her with getting her memories back, the other was determined to prevent this. Maud's story as it unravelled was sad, discomforting, tragic and at times horrendous.
There are no chains binding me, no manacles, yet I am chained to this place as securely as if there were indeed a manacle around my neck. I am chained here by my madness.
The powerless of women in this era, especially those without means, was underlying the whole story. Men in control, men taking advantage, men doing much worse. There were women as accessories to the bad experiences but Maud eventually found inner strength in her lucidity.
I found The Asylum hard to put down, those pages turned themselves as I wanted answers for the mystery. This was a great, satisfying thriller with a rather dark foreboding feel to it. That cover is stunning and clever. There are a number of triggers in this book for some readers, so please look for trigger warnings or DM me for details.
Thank you to Welbeck Publishing for the early #gifted review copy.
You can find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
April 1, 2021
I really enjoyed this atmospheric novel. It's a tense, gradually unfolding mystery centred around an Asylum in 1906. Wonderful gothic overtones and a genuinely intriguing story - along with a satisfying ending. What's not to like!
I received it on Netgalley, thank you.
I received it on Netgalley, thank you.
February 21, 2021
Welcome to Angelton Lunatic Asylum.
Once you’re in,it’s murder getting out...
1906.
Maud Lovell has been a resident of Angelton Lunatic Asylum for the past five years.Yet she is rather unsure of how she ended up in such a place,and knows nothing beyond its crumbling four walls.
She is prone to bouts of hysteria, distressful behaviour,and even violence.
Or so she’s been told....
Alone, trapped and trying to forget the past, Maud cannot help but pick at the threads of her memory as just to why she is now in an asylum filled with people who don’t even want to seem to help her get better.
One day when a new doctor takes her under his wing,he has a new method to help her remember just what happened...
After burying her three brothers following a tragic accident Maud answers an advert to become an assistant to a rather eccentric individual,Mr Banville,who at first is shocked at Mauds apparent deceit of claiming to be a man but she did no such thing, only wishing to be taken seriously and follow her passion of helping him with his entomology and botany pursuits.
However as Maud starts to finally settle in, not everyone is happy to have her around as the other staff of the household are less than enamoured with Maud and would like nothing more than to see the back of her.
Meanwhile Maud starts to form a friendship with someone who may just end up breaking both her heart and soul as it becomes clear that she is diving deeper into the spiderweb of Mr Banvilles family life and May not be able to escape...
As more shards of Mauds memories start to piece back together with the help of Doctor Dimmond, Maud starts to fight with her memories,as the more helpful it feels, it also hurts to remember.
Will Maud and the doctor succeed in getting her cured so she can finally live a normal life or will someone within the asylum keep her prisoner forever?
Gripping,original and with a story that will leave its mark on you,this is not to be missed!
Once you’re in,it’s murder getting out...
1906.
Maud Lovell has been a resident of Angelton Lunatic Asylum for the past five years.Yet she is rather unsure of how she ended up in such a place,and knows nothing beyond its crumbling four walls.
She is prone to bouts of hysteria, distressful behaviour,and even violence.
Or so she’s been told....
Alone, trapped and trying to forget the past, Maud cannot help but pick at the threads of her memory as just to why she is now in an asylum filled with people who don’t even want to seem to help her get better.
One day when a new doctor takes her under his wing,he has a new method to help her remember just what happened...
After burying her three brothers following a tragic accident Maud answers an advert to become an assistant to a rather eccentric individual,Mr Banville,who at first is shocked at Mauds apparent deceit of claiming to be a man but she did no such thing, only wishing to be taken seriously and follow her passion of helping him with his entomology and botany pursuits.
However as Maud starts to finally settle in, not everyone is happy to have her around as the other staff of the household are less than enamoured with Maud and would like nothing more than to see the back of her.
Meanwhile Maud starts to form a friendship with someone who may just end up breaking both her heart and soul as it becomes clear that she is diving deeper into the spiderweb of Mr Banvilles family life and May not be able to escape...
As more shards of Mauds memories start to piece back together with the help of Doctor Dimmond, Maud starts to fight with her memories,as the more helpful it feels, it also hurts to remember.
Will Maud and the doctor succeed in getting her cured so she can finally live a normal life or will someone within the asylum keep her prisoner forever?
Gripping,original and with a story that will leave its mark on you,this is not to be missed!
February 16, 2021
I was completely hooked by this novel from beginning to end. The author has achieved something extraordinary here. We meet Maud, incarcerated in the asylum and put through all sorts of gruelling ‘treatments’ including force feeding and not being allowed outside. An institution that is supposed to treat mental illness exacerbates it - and Maud becomes prone to violence, slipping between reality and fantasy. It is not easy to depict madness without alienating the reader, but Coles navigates this brilliantly - not once did I feel confused by what was going on in Maud’s head yet the questions over what exactly had happened to this young woman kept on mounting. Enter one pioneering Doctor Dimmond who is carrying out research into the new treatment of hypnosis. At every turn his superior, the malevolent Womack (with his waxed moustache), tries to thwart the treatment, but on Dimmond presses. We slip back in time to atmospheric scenes, fat with tension, where we get to experience just who Maud was before she became a patient. It is not all doom and gloom - in the present, Maud can be funny and spirited, while in the past we learn that she was once a woman who dared to be different. If this was her downfall in this patriarchal society, could it also be her salvation? A haunting heart-breaker of a novel — can someone turn it into a Netflix series please?
March 17, 2021
A thriller with a storyline you probably won't have seen before - Maud Lovell has been in Angelton Lunatic Asylum with no recollection of how she got there or what set off her "sickness". When taken on by Dr Dimmond to try out the new hypnotherapy that hasn't really been tried before, her story starts to unravel and we see the truth.
I loved this - absolutely flew through it! I was initially concerned with it being set in 1906 as I don't always get on with the classics and the style of writing associated with them, but it was an unfounded fear as for the most part I forgot the book was set in the past. I loved seeing Maud's story unwind and while I had a couple of ideas about what was going on - it didn't deter from my enjoyment when they turned out to be correct. Enjoyable thriller with a neat, wrapped up ending.
I see big things for this book once it's published - everyone will be reading it and speaking about it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review
I loved this - absolutely flew through it! I was initially concerned with it being set in 1906 as I don't always get on with the classics and the style of writing associated with them, but it was an unfounded fear as for the most part I forgot the book was set in the past. I loved seeing Maud's story unwind and while I had a couple of ideas about what was going on - it didn't deter from my enjoyment when they turned out to be correct. Enjoyable thriller with a neat, wrapped up ending.
I see big things for this book once it's published - everyone will be reading it and speaking about it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review
March 4, 2021
Omg I started reading this at 5am and have been reading it all day. What a fantastic atmospheric book. I couldn't stop until I found out what happened in the Marsh. I love Maud she is fearlessly strong. This book has brilliant characters the right amount of one's you love and one's you hate. A great book definitely worthy of 5 stars.
July 4, 2021
⭐️ 5 ⭐️
Many thanks to NetGalley and Welbeck Publishing for the eARC, in exchange for an honest review.
What an absolutely fantastic read. I was totally gripped from beginning to end. Karen Coles’ writing brings even the tiniest detail to life.
A well written book, with rounded characters and an original storyline.
Plenty of twists and turns, A compelling read.
I would highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Welbeck Publishing for the eARC, in exchange for an honest review.
What an absolutely fantastic read. I was totally gripped from beginning to end. Karen Coles’ writing brings even the tiniest detail to life.
A well written book, with rounded characters and an original storyline.
Plenty of twists and turns, A compelling read.
I would highly recommend.
March 16, 2021
It is 1906 Maud Lovell has been in Angelton Lunatic Asylum for the past five years. She does not know the reason she has been there for all that time. All she remembers is a bell tolling and a ticking clock. Her memory is all a blank from the time before she came here and it terrifies her, and she does not want to remember what happened and to why she is in her current predicament.
When a new doctor arrives Doctor Dimmond, at the Asylum and wants to try and cure Maud of her troubles, by conducting medical hypnosis, as she thinks that she should not have been put her in the first place. Maud is apprehensive at first. But agrees to it to find out what happened and to help her leave the dreadful place of the asylum. The flashbacks go back to her time at Ashton Lodge at the time she was in Love with Harry.
I thank Wellbeck Publishing UK for a copy of The Asylum by Karen Coles. This is a gripping, atmospheric novel that I couldn’t put down. It was beautifully written, and I was so invested in Maud and her plight to what happened to her. How bleak her life is. But loved the ending when she got retribution to those that did her wrong. Five stars from me
When a new doctor arrives Doctor Dimmond, at the Asylum and wants to try and cure Maud of her troubles, by conducting medical hypnosis, as she thinks that she should not have been put her in the first place. Maud is apprehensive at first. But agrees to it to find out what happened and to help her leave the dreadful place of the asylum. The flashbacks go back to her time at Ashton Lodge at the time she was in Love with Harry.
I thank Wellbeck Publishing UK for a copy of The Asylum by Karen Coles. This is a gripping, atmospheric novel that I couldn’t put down. It was beautifully written, and I was so invested in Maud and her plight to what happened to her. How bleak her life is. But loved the ending when she got retribution to those that did her wrong. Five stars from me
February 13, 2022
I really enjoyed this eerie and atmospheric Gothic novel.
Well researched and somehow very believable, it’s a 4 star rating from me. ⭐️
Well researched and somehow very believable, it’s a 4 star rating from me. ⭐️
May 8, 2023
I can't believe that after 5 months, I finally found my first 5-star fiction read of the year!
The cover and the synopsis had me hooked before I even started reading this book. I had a feeling it would be right up my alley. An asylum setting and botany? Sign me up instantly!
I haven't read much about old asylum practices, but this story felt very realistic. And no wonder it did since the author seemed to put a lot of research into it. It was distressing and heartbreaking; it really takes you through your emotions. The good doctor and bad doctor story line brought the tension up and also made you think about how few rights asylum patients had, and how different experiences can be depending on who you deal with. A problem I feel is still rather prevalent in healthcare in general today.
The minor background romance was wonderful; even though both characters are "broken" in their own ways, it added to the whole gothic romantic vibe.
I really liked going back and forth in time, and using hypnosis as a way of doing so was fascinating. Even though a lot of the asylum story is repetitive, it never once got boring.
The writing is so lush and beautiful; the descriptions, especially of the Ashton house and its environment, is everything I love. Even though this story is definitely not lighthearted, I almost felt like I was floating through the lovely nature descriptions; it has a very whimsical touch to it.
I don't know if morally grey is the right term to use for Maud, as she is suffering from mental illness, but she is a very interesting character. She has been through A LOT, so seeing her navigate the aftereffects while also remembering everything that she's gone through was an experience.
Every other character in here was messed up in some way or the other (except Diamond and Tucker), which made this book even more engrossing.
It's a shame this is the author's only book; I'm in dire need of more!
The cover and the synopsis had me hooked before I even started reading this book. I had a feeling it would be right up my alley. An asylum setting and botany? Sign me up instantly!
I haven't read much about old asylum practices, but this story felt very realistic. And no wonder it did since the author seemed to put a lot of research into it. It was distressing and heartbreaking; it really takes you through your emotions. The good doctor and bad doctor story line brought the tension up and also made you think about how few rights asylum patients had, and how different experiences can be depending on who you deal with. A problem I feel is still rather prevalent in healthcare in general today.
The minor background romance was wonderful; even though both characters are "broken" in their own ways, it added to the whole gothic romantic vibe.
I really liked going back and forth in time, and using hypnosis as a way of doing so was fascinating. Even though a lot of the asylum story is repetitive, it never once got boring.
The writing is so lush and beautiful; the descriptions, especially of the Ashton house and its environment, is everything I love. Even though this story is definitely not lighthearted, I almost felt like I was floating through the lovely nature descriptions; it has a very whimsical touch to it.
I don't know if morally grey is the right term to use for Maud, as she is suffering from mental illness, but she is a very interesting character. She has been through A LOT, so seeing her navigate the aftereffects while also remembering everything that she's gone through was an experience.
Every other character in here was messed up in some way or the other (except Diamond and Tucker), which made this book even more engrossing.
It's a shame this is the author's only book; I'm in dire need of more!
March 3, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley, Wellbeck Publishing and Karen Coles for my arc of The Asylum by Karen Coles in exchange for an honest review.
Published: 1st April 2021
The year is 1906. The setting an asylum in the English countryside, (possibly Yorkshire based on the accents). Maud Lovell is trapped inside, inside the asylum and her own mind, the constant ringing of a bell and ticking of a clock her only companions. She is violent, has attacked one of the doctors already. Or so she's told. So it's difficult for her to understand why the new doctor is interested in studying her for a clinical trial of hypnosis a new and radical treatment for lunatic patients. But as Dr Dimmond delves deeper into Maud's past and begins to expose her memories shocking secrets are uncovered and Maud begins to turn her mind to revenge.
I always think that Asylum books are generally a disappointment I don't know what I go into them expecting but they never seem to deliver. Thankfully, this is not the case with this one. I really felt that it delivered everything perfectly. The eerie atmosphere, the depth of the characters from the main ones to the side ones, the treatment received in asylums and the historical accuracy were all fantastic. It was so atmospheric, rich, interesting and thought provoking. I read it one sitting. Really recommend this!
Published: 1st April 2021
The year is 1906. The setting an asylum in the English countryside, (possibly Yorkshire based on the accents). Maud Lovell is trapped inside, inside the asylum and her own mind, the constant ringing of a bell and ticking of a clock her only companions. She is violent, has attacked one of the doctors already. Or so she's told. So it's difficult for her to understand why the new doctor is interested in studying her for a clinical trial of hypnosis a new and radical treatment for lunatic patients. But as Dr Dimmond delves deeper into Maud's past and begins to expose her memories shocking secrets are uncovered and Maud begins to turn her mind to revenge.
I always think that Asylum books are generally a disappointment I don't know what I go into them expecting but they never seem to deliver. Thankfully, this is not the case with this one. I really felt that it delivered everything perfectly. The eerie atmosphere, the depth of the characters from the main ones to the side ones, the treatment received in asylums and the historical accuracy were all fantastic. It was so atmospheric, rich, interesting and thought provoking. I read it one sitting. Really recommend this!
March 10, 2021
Maud Lovell has been in the Angelton Lunatic Asylum for five years. She doesn’t remember how she got there but she is afraid that she must have done something terrible in the past to deserve the horrific treatment she has received at the hands of the Asylum staff.
When a new doctor arrives and want to try out a revolutionary new treatment on Maud—hypnosis—she is reluctant and fearful. But she trusts Dr Dimmond more than the sinister Dr Womack, who doesn’t seem to want her to remember anything and would rather keep her drugged and imprisoned. As Maud’s sessions progress, she begins to remember her previous life—all that she has lost and all that has been taken from her.
This story reminded me a lot of Alias Grace—it is structured using memory flashbacks, and Maud is a similarly maligned and ambiguous character. A wonderfully mysterious and atmospheric story with a scalpel-sharp edge. Loved it.
When a new doctor arrives and want to try out a revolutionary new treatment on Maud—hypnosis—she is reluctant and fearful. But she trusts Dr Dimmond more than the sinister Dr Womack, who doesn’t seem to want her to remember anything and would rather keep her drugged and imprisoned. As Maud’s sessions progress, she begins to remember her previous life—all that she has lost and all that has been taken from her.
This story reminded me a lot of Alias Grace—it is structured using memory flashbacks, and Maud is a similarly maligned and ambiguous character. A wonderfully mysterious and atmospheric story with a scalpel-sharp edge. Loved it.
March 26, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Set in 1906: maud Lovell has been at Angleton Lunatic Asylum for five years. She's not sure how she came to be there and knows nothing beyond it's four walls. She is hysterical, distressed, untrustworthy, badly unstable, and prone to violence. Or so she has been told. When a new Doctor arrives, keen to experiment with the revolutionary practice of medical hypnosis, Maud's lack of history makes her the oerfect case study.
Maud Lovell barely remembers anything from her past. She's been kept in Angleton Lunatic Asylum for the past five years. But when the new Doctor arrives, he uses hypnosis to unravel Maud's memory. The oace is slow to begin with but it soon picks up. Told in the present, when Maud is trying to get her memories back and the past, before Maud was committed to the asylum. This is a dark and creeppy gothic novel. The book is desciptively written.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #WelbeckPublishingUK and the author #KarenColes in exchange for an honest review.
Set in 1906: maud Lovell has been at Angleton Lunatic Asylum for five years. She's not sure how she came to be there and knows nothing beyond it's four walls. She is hysterical, distressed, untrustworthy, badly unstable, and prone to violence. Or so she has been told. When a new Doctor arrives, keen to experiment with the revolutionary practice of medical hypnosis, Maud's lack of history makes her the oerfect case study.
Maud Lovell barely remembers anything from her past. She's been kept in Angleton Lunatic Asylum for the past five years. But when the new Doctor arrives, he uses hypnosis to unravel Maud's memory. The oace is slow to begin with but it soon picks up. Told in the present, when Maud is trying to get her memories back and the past, before Maud was committed to the asylum. This is a dark and creeppy gothic novel. The book is desciptively written.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #WelbeckPublishingUK and the author #KarenColes in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2021
Told through the penetrating and unforgettable voice of it's incarcerated heroine, this book had me gripped from the very beginning. Maud is an unreliable narrator, her lack of memory being pivotal to the story and being the very thing which keeps the reader guessing - it's quite clear that there is a lot more to Maud's story than the details she/we are first told.
With many dark and claustrophobic descriptions, a sense of dread oozes from the pages and sets the continuing tone of sheer unease. It's heavy theme of mental health and exploration of the mistreatment of women, make it a challenging read but it's so incredibly well written that I just couldn't put it down. I was fascinated, eager to uncover the secrets hidden away in Maud's mind.
The only respite from her suffering, came from Dr Dimmonds hypnosis sessions and her fonder, deeply concealed memories - which slowly emerge, bringing back her true personality, the truth and her want for revenge. Hypnosis isn't the only practice in play, with more barbaric treatments also being brought into action - It's clear the time and effort Coles put into her research.
Sinister, compelling and expertly executed The Asylum is an insanely great debut, it's satisfying 'light at the end of the tunnel' ending makes it such a rewarding read. I already want to read it all over again. I really hope Coles has another story to tell. I'll be first in line if she does -
READ IT, READ IT, READ IT!!
💜🥀
With many dark and claustrophobic descriptions, a sense of dread oozes from the pages and sets the continuing tone of sheer unease. It's heavy theme of mental health and exploration of the mistreatment of women, make it a challenging read but it's so incredibly well written that I just couldn't put it down. I was fascinated, eager to uncover the secrets hidden away in Maud's mind.
The only respite from her suffering, came from Dr Dimmonds hypnosis sessions and her fonder, deeply concealed memories - which slowly emerge, bringing back her true personality, the truth and her want for revenge. Hypnosis isn't the only practice in play, with more barbaric treatments also being brought into action - It's clear the time and effort Coles put into her research.
Sinister, compelling and expertly executed The Asylum is an insanely great debut, it's satisfying 'light at the end of the tunnel' ending makes it such a rewarding read. I already want to read it all over again. I really hope Coles has another story to tell. I'll be first in line if she does -
READ IT, READ IT, READ IT!!
💜🥀
April 1, 2021
On the back of my proof copy of ‘The Asylum’ it says “perfect for fans of fast-paced fiction such as The Familiars, The Silent Companions, and Shutter Island.” These are 3 of my favourite stories so, combined with the synopsis, I had very high expectations of this book ... and I was not disappointed!
Here are just some of the reasons I loved this book:
🍂 really interesting setting of Angelton Lunatic Asylum which easily presents as claustrophobic and inescapable.
🍂 societal norms and the role of women plays a big part of the storyline - as well as the ‘madness’ of women.
🍂 gorgeous dark, atmospheric descriptions to rival those of Wuthering Heights!
🍂 unreliable (and apparently intelligent) narrator who is dealing with her own traumas so as a reader we question everything - this kept me on my toes!
🍂 with so many questions and uncertainties popping up all the way through the mystery and intrigue is built perfectly
🍂 brilliant, satisfying ending - very important in my opinion!
As you might be able to tell, I’m a massive fan of dark, gothic historical fiction - if you are too I implore you to read this utterly unique and captivating book!
Here are just some of the reasons I loved this book:
🍂 really interesting setting of Angelton Lunatic Asylum which easily presents as claustrophobic and inescapable.
🍂 societal norms and the role of women plays a big part of the storyline - as well as the ‘madness’ of women.
🍂 gorgeous dark, atmospheric descriptions to rival those of Wuthering Heights!
🍂 unreliable (and apparently intelligent) narrator who is dealing with her own traumas so as a reader we question everything - this kept me on my toes!
🍂 with so many questions and uncertainties popping up all the way through the mystery and intrigue is built perfectly
🍂 brilliant, satisfying ending - very important in my opinion!
As you might be able to tell, I’m a massive fan of dark, gothic historical fiction - if you are too I implore you to read this utterly unique and captivating book!
February 28, 2021
Welcome to Angleton Lunatic Asylum where we meet Maud who has been here five years. She is kept sedated and in solitary confinement. She can’t remember why she is here. A new doctor comes to the asylum and wants to try to cure Maud with hypnosis. Slowly she remembers her past and events that led her here and maybe a route out.
I absolutely loved The Asylum. Karen Coles captures the small details such as the feel of fabric or the texture of food that transport you to the claustrophobia of the asylum. The plot unfurls in a clever and satisfying way. If you loved Wakenhyrst and The Essex Serpent you will also love The Asylum
Thank you to Welbeck Publishing for an proof copy
I absolutely loved The Asylum. Karen Coles captures the small details such as the feel of fabric or the texture of food that transport you to the claustrophobia of the asylum. The plot unfurls in a clever and satisfying way. If you loved Wakenhyrst and The Essex Serpent you will also love The Asylum
Thank you to Welbeck Publishing for an proof copy
March 13, 2021
Firstly, the cover for this book is absolutely beautiful, it captures the lettering style a lot of asylums had at their entrances in this era as well as obviously the brain representing the mind and the flowers, that as you read the book you realise hold deep significance to the main character. It is a gorgeous cover and one I can't wait to see in real life.
Now, the book is a well-crafted and interesting premise based on the historical treatment of mental illness, particularly in women, and the advances in experimental and theoretical practice that was aimed at helping cure ailments of the mind. Though I don't think it specified, I imagined the book to be set in the Victorian age, with the interest in sciences and other clues in the text.
Maud is trapped in her mind with terrible nightmares and disturbing hallucinations as she has spent several years inside the institution. One day things seem to change for her as a new doctor is assigned to try a new, experimental treatment of hypnosis to uncover the trauma that led to her mental illness and quickly becomes an ally to Maud.
With Dr Diamond's reassurance and rare, simple kindness amongst the harsh brutality and poor existence within the asylum, Maud begins to remember things about her past, things that are both happy and heartbreaking. Piece by piece her former life begins to be recovered and yet each memory seems to bring Maud more danger and agony.
As a reader you are led through these discoveries with Maud, and deciphering what is fact and what is false is both chilling and utterly gripping. I absolutely could not put this book down as I had to know what had happened to her and find out what her fate would be.
This book did not disappoint and the ending was a touching finale to the rollercoaster of emotions and heartbreak that you experience alongside the characters.
Thank you to the publisher for this advanced copy .
Now, the book is a well-crafted and interesting premise based on the historical treatment of mental illness, particularly in women, and the advances in experimental and theoretical practice that was aimed at helping cure ailments of the mind. Though I don't think it specified, I imagined the book to be set in the Victorian age, with the interest in sciences and other clues in the text.
Maud is trapped in her mind with terrible nightmares and disturbing hallucinations as she has spent several years inside the institution. One day things seem to change for her as a new doctor is assigned to try a new, experimental treatment of hypnosis to uncover the trauma that led to her mental illness and quickly becomes an ally to Maud.
With Dr Diamond's reassurance and rare, simple kindness amongst the harsh brutality and poor existence within the asylum, Maud begins to remember things about her past, things that are both happy and heartbreaking. Piece by piece her former life begins to be recovered and yet each memory seems to bring Maud more danger and agony.
As a reader you are led through these discoveries with Maud, and deciphering what is fact and what is false is both chilling and utterly gripping. I absolutely could not put this book down as I had to know what had happened to her and find out what her fate would be.
This book did not disappoint and the ending was a touching finale to the rollercoaster of emotions and heartbreak that you experience alongside the characters.
Thank you to the publisher for this advanced copy .
March 18, 2021
It’s 1906 and Maud is stuck in Angelton Asylum with no recollection of the circumstances that led to her confinement. Then Dr Dimmond arrives and seeks to unlock Maud’s memories using the then new hypnotherapy treatment method. Slowly we see Maud grasp the memories and secrets begin to unravel with devastating consequences.
This story was wonderful. It was very well written and so beautifully descriptive, I felt I was transported to the house and the marsh as the descriptions were so vivid. An interesting premise and a very well crafted story. A very sad insight into what asylums may have been like in the early 1900’s.
Can Maud unlock her memories and rescue her future? I was rooting for her throughout.
I’d highly recommend this book as I struggled to put it down and am sure others will love it too!
Thank you to Welbeck Publishing UK and NetGalley for an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.
This story was wonderful. It was very well written and so beautifully descriptive, I felt I was transported to the house and the marsh as the descriptions were so vivid. An interesting premise and a very well crafted story. A very sad insight into what asylums may have been like in the early 1900’s.
Can Maud unlock her memories and rescue her future? I was rooting for her throughout.
I’d highly recommend this book as I struggled to put it down and am sure others will love it too!
Thank you to Welbeck Publishing UK and NetGalley for an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2021
During the first years of the 20th century Maud Lovell finds herself trapped in a lunatic asylum for no reason that she can understand. She is even addressed by the wrong name until a new doctor arrives. He wants to treat Maud through hypnosis to find out why she has been incarcerated.
I loved this emotive and beautifully told story. Through the hypnosis sessions we learn about Maud's previous career, her love story and the hardship of a young single woman towards the end of the Victorian era. The setting and characters are all so realistic that I could have been reading a 21st century version of a Wilkie Collins novel. Bravo Karen Coles. I shall be recommending this to all my friends. Many thanks to NetGalley and Welbeck Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The Asylum.
I loved this emotive and beautifully told story. Through the hypnosis sessions we learn about Maud's previous career, her love story and the hardship of a young single woman towards the end of the Victorian era. The setting and characters are all so realistic that I could have been reading a 21st century version of a Wilkie Collins novel. Bravo Karen Coles. I shall be recommending this to all my friends. Many thanks to NetGalley and Welbeck Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The Asylum.
April 15, 2021
Such a beautiful cover and promoting blurb! But the book really feel short of the expectations created.
Maud is a 27 year old locked in the asylum since five years for traumatic amnesia. All she remembers is a marsh and a man chasing her violently through it. The head doctor Womack and the staff are pretty rude to her because of her aggressive behaviour. One fine day, a medical researcher, Dr. Dimmond, arrives at the asylum to study the effects of hypnosis on medically insane patients. He chooses Maud as the main subject of his research and with his help, Maud rediscovers her past, and who are responsible for her present state.
The plot of The Asylum is quite interesting in its essence. As the story is set around 1906, we get to see the extent of gaslighting prevalent in those days, especially against educated, independent women. Unfortunately, the promise that the plot showed isn't fulfilled entirely by the writing. The book starts off in a very interesting way and I was really hooked on to the story. But once the hypnosis sessions begin, the writing loses its momentum. The sudden change in pace made me lose my interest and though I tried my best to regain it, I simply couldn't. The random changes between the flashback scenes and the present story also don't aid your reading concentration. After a point, the scene changes become quite repetitive and predictable.
The storyline is quite dark and there are many scenes that will make you squirm in discomfort. But the narrative style brings the book down. With a tauter editing, the story might have delivered a much greater impact. The blurb seems to suggest that Maud attempts to take revenge once she unlocks her suppressed memories but this happens too late in the book for the revenge to be interesting. The end is the most disappointing part of the story. The book tries really hard to be Gothic and mysterious but fails. I struggled to stay invested in the story and I doubt I would have completed it were it not an ARC. It is an ambitious work for a debut author and Karen Cole showed enough glimpses of promise in this work that I will definitely try out her future works.
Thank you, NetGalley and Welbeck Publishing UK, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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Maud is a 27 year old locked in the asylum since five years for traumatic amnesia. All she remembers is a marsh and a man chasing her violently through it. The head doctor Womack and the staff are pretty rude to her because of her aggressive behaviour. One fine day, a medical researcher, Dr. Dimmond, arrives at the asylum to study the effects of hypnosis on medically insane patients. He chooses Maud as the main subject of his research and with his help, Maud rediscovers her past, and who are responsible for her present state.
The plot of The Asylum is quite interesting in its essence. As the story is set around 1906, we get to see the extent of gaslighting prevalent in those days, especially against educated, independent women. Unfortunately, the promise that the plot showed isn't fulfilled entirely by the writing. The book starts off in a very interesting way and I was really hooked on to the story. But once the hypnosis sessions begin, the writing loses its momentum. The sudden change in pace made me lose my interest and though I tried my best to regain it, I simply couldn't. The random changes between the flashback scenes and the present story also don't aid your reading concentration. After a point, the scene changes become quite repetitive and predictable.
The storyline is quite dark and there are many scenes that will make you squirm in discomfort. But the narrative style brings the book down. With a tauter editing, the story might have delivered a much greater impact. The blurb seems to suggest that Maud attempts to take revenge once she unlocks her suppressed memories but this happens too late in the book for the revenge to be interesting. The end is the most disappointing part of the story. The book tries really hard to be Gothic and mysterious but fails. I struggled to stay invested in the story and I doubt I would have completed it were it not an ARC. It is an ambitious work for a debut author and Karen Cole showed enough glimpses of promise in this work that I will definitely try out her future works.
Thank you, NetGalley and Welbeck Publishing UK, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews
March 31, 2021
1906. Being a woman is dangerous, being different is deadly.
Maud has been locked in the darkness of Angelton Lunatic Asylum for five years. She doesn’t remember how she got here or what caused her madness. The only thing she remembers is the man in the marsh, an eerie and ghoulish figure that haunts her nightmares. But is he real or a figment of her imagination?
When Dr Dimmond says he wants to help her by exploring her unconscious it seems like someone is finally on Maud’s side. But as the hypnosis awakens her memories, Maud begins to wonder if some things were better off buried and forgotten after all…
WHAT. A. BOOK! It’s no secret that I love historical and gothic fiction, so this book had everything I could want and more. Claustrophobic, haunting and addictive, I couldn’t put this one down. It is exquisitely written, a creeping malice seeping from every page as the author transports you to the bleak, shadowy rooms of the asylum and the anguished recesses of Maud’s mind.
The depth of Coles’ research is clear in her striking imagery, the descriptions of the practices asylum staff use to treat patients, and in her thought-provoking exploration of topics such as the mistreatment of women and mental health, and the effects of psychological and physical imprisonment. The sense of dread, desperation and sheer helplessness are palpable, coming together to create an atmosphere that has you on the edge of your seat and your heart pounding as you wait for the secrets buried in Maud’s memory to be unlocked.
Maud is an unreliable narrator. While there is a suspicion early on that she might not be as mad as some of the doctors would like her to think she is, even she doesn’t trust what she tells herself. Reality shifts and cracks around her, echoes of memory stir and haunt her nightmares and hallucinations. She is an enigma to the reader, and herself. A woman fighting to be heard in a place where they want her to be silent.. She is an unlikely heroine, but shows herself to be much braver and stronger than anyone could have imagined at the start of the story.
The Asylum is a menacing, evocative, lingering and intricately woven novel. An example of storytelling and mystery at its finest, it is one fans of historical and gothic fiction won’t want to miss. Go read this book!
Maud has been locked in the darkness of Angelton Lunatic Asylum for five years. She doesn’t remember how she got here or what caused her madness. The only thing she remembers is the man in the marsh, an eerie and ghoulish figure that haunts her nightmares. But is he real or a figment of her imagination?
When Dr Dimmond says he wants to help her by exploring her unconscious it seems like someone is finally on Maud’s side. But as the hypnosis awakens her memories, Maud begins to wonder if some things were better off buried and forgotten after all…
WHAT. A. BOOK! It’s no secret that I love historical and gothic fiction, so this book had everything I could want and more. Claustrophobic, haunting and addictive, I couldn’t put this one down. It is exquisitely written, a creeping malice seeping from every page as the author transports you to the bleak, shadowy rooms of the asylum and the anguished recesses of Maud’s mind.
The depth of Coles’ research is clear in her striking imagery, the descriptions of the practices asylum staff use to treat patients, and in her thought-provoking exploration of topics such as the mistreatment of women and mental health, and the effects of psychological and physical imprisonment. The sense of dread, desperation and sheer helplessness are palpable, coming together to create an atmosphere that has you on the edge of your seat and your heart pounding as you wait for the secrets buried in Maud’s memory to be unlocked.
Maud is an unreliable narrator. While there is a suspicion early on that she might not be as mad as some of the doctors would like her to think she is, even she doesn’t trust what she tells herself. Reality shifts and cracks around her, echoes of memory stir and haunt her nightmares and hallucinations. She is an enigma to the reader, and herself. A woman fighting to be heard in a place where they want her to be silent.. She is an unlikely heroine, but shows herself to be much braver and stronger than anyone could have imagined at the start of the story.
The Asylum is a menacing, evocative, lingering and intricately woven novel. An example of storytelling and mystery at its finest, it is one fans of historical and gothic fiction won’t want to miss. Go read this book!
March 27, 2021
Maud Lovell has been a resident in Angelton Lunatic Asylum for the last five years but is unsure of who she is, what happened in her past and how she ended up an inmate in such a place.
The stories the doctor and his nurses tell, of a violent, hysterical woman, don’t ring true to Maud and she is a victim of their often barbaric treatment.
When Dr Dimmond joins the staff and takes her under his wing with a pioneering new treatment, will he be able to help Maud uncover her missing memories and find freedom?
The Asylum is a bleak and gripping thriller, with the narrative alternating between the present day and Maud’s memories while under hypnosis. I just couldn’t put this book down – it’s such an unusual story and I was really rooting for Maud to discover the truth about her life.
The author tackles some dark themes, including the horrible treatment of patients in asylums in the early 1900’s, murder and suicide. I was hoping for a happy ending to this heartbreaking story and it was, in a way, as Maud got a sense of justice/revenge against those that had wronged her.
I really didn’t want this story to end and wished it had carried on for a few more chapters just to find out a little more what happens next with Maud, Dr Dimmond, Imogen and Womack. I hope it was left open a little so that the author can write more in future!
A highly recommended read!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The stories the doctor and his nurses tell, of a violent, hysterical woman, don’t ring true to Maud and she is a victim of their often barbaric treatment.
When Dr Dimmond joins the staff and takes her under his wing with a pioneering new treatment, will he be able to help Maud uncover her missing memories and find freedom?
The Asylum is a bleak and gripping thriller, with the narrative alternating between the present day and Maud’s memories while under hypnosis. I just couldn’t put this book down – it’s such an unusual story and I was really rooting for Maud to discover the truth about her life.
The author tackles some dark themes, including the horrible treatment of patients in asylums in the early 1900’s, murder and suicide. I was hoping for a happy ending to this heartbreaking story and it was, in a way, as Maud got a sense of justice/revenge against those that had wronged her.
I really didn’t want this story to end and wished it had carried on for a few more chapters just to find out a little more what happens next with Maud, Dr Dimmond, Imogen and Womack. I hope it was left open a little so that the author can write more in future!
A highly recommended read!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 27, 2021
As soon as I read the blurb for this book, I knew it would be right up my street, and it was! I completely devoured this tale of madness and mystery!
The story beautifully alternates between ‘present’ day: ‘Mad Maud’ in the asylum - and the past: young, poor Maud, full of compassion and hope desperately trying to make her way in the world.
The sections in the asylum throw us into a world of questions: why is Maud there, why can’t she remember and who can we trust? Can we even trust Maud, who doesn’t know if she can trust herself? The flashbacks perfectly compliment this as they help develop sympathy with Maud, highlighting how clearly she is a shadow of her former self, how mistreated she has been and have us routing for her to end victorious!
The cast is stellar: a fabulous mix of those who try to help and hinder Maud at every turn - and those the ever-present sense of enigmatic reliability amongst them all.
This is a beautifully written gothic tale with a simple message at its heart: in 1906, if you are a woman and you’re poor, you are always a target for the wicked! I loved this one.
The story beautifully alternates between ‘present’ day: ‘Mad Maud’ in the asylum - and the past: young, poor Maud, full of compassion and hope desperately trying to make her way in the world.
The sections in the asylum throw us into a world of questions: why is Maud there, why can’t she remember and who can we trust? Can we even trust Maud, who doesn’t know if she can trust herself? The flashbacks perfectly compliment this as they help develop sympathy with Maud, highlighting how clearly she is a shadow of her former self, how mistreated she has been and have us routing for her to end victorious!
The cast is stellar: a fabulous mix of those who try to help and hinder Maud at every turn - and those the ever-present sense of enigmatic reliability amongst them all.
This is a beautifully written gothic tale with a simple message at its heart: in 1906, if you are a woman and you’re poor, you are always a target for the wicked! I loved this one.
January 14, 2023
Un libro bellissimo, per gli amanti dei romanzi ambientati nei manicomi e che parlano di malattie mentali.
La storia della protagonista mi è entrata nella pelle, una storia triste e molto emozionante.
Avrei voluto non finisse mai, davvero un bel romanzo.
Le descrizioni sono molto coinvolgenti, sembra di essere li con i personaggi.
Super promosso
La storia della protagonista mi è entrata nella pelle, una storia triste e molto emozionante.
Avrei voluto non finisse mai, davvero un bel romanzo.
Le descrizioni sono molto coinvolgenti, sembra di essere li con i personaggi.
Super promosso
April 19, 2021
THE ASYLUM
By Karen Coles
What I loved most about this story was that the author used a real life former asylum as the backdrop of her story and drew on her extensive research and studies of the Victorian, Angelton Asylum in Wales, through letters and doctor’s notes found. One of the author’s ancestors died in Peckham House Lunatic Asylum and this inspired her research into the history of women patients and pen this fictional story.
“1906: Maud Lovell has been at Angelton Lunatic Asylum for five years. She is not sure how she came to be there. She is hysterical, distressed, untrustworthy. Badly unstable and prone to violence. Or so she has been told.
When a new doctor arrives, keen to experiment with the revolutionary practice of medical hypnosis, Maud's lack of history makes her the perfect case study. But as Doctor Dimmond delves deeper into the past, it becomes clear that confinement and high doses are there to keep her silent.
When Maud finally remembers what has been done to her and by whom, her mind turns to the past and to revenge.”
I found the gothic setting very atmospheric and with the vivid descriptions of the staff and the sights, sounds and smells, it was easy to imagine life in the Victorian asylums. I truly felt sorry for the patients but although there were evident improvements from the late 19th century conditions, life was still brutal and the treatments offered barbaric.
I liked Maud and how the hypnosis allowed the reader to hear in her own words, the events leading up to her incarceration and how traumatised she was with grief, violence and fear. As we veer between the past and present, Maud’s memories become quite shocking and upsetting. The ending was very satisfactory however and I admit to feeling emotional.
4 stars for an atmospheric Gothic mystery that I really enjoyed.
By Karen Coles
What I loved most about this story was that the author used a real life former asylum as the backdrop of her story and drew on her extensive research and studies of the Victorian, Angelton Asylum in Wales, through letters and doctor’s notes found. One of the author’s ancestors died in Peckham House Lunatic Asylum and this inspired her research into the history of women patients and pen this fictional story.
“1906: Maud Lovell has been at Angelton Lunatic Asylum for five years. She is not sure how she came to be there. She is hysterical, distressed, untrustworthy. Badly unstable and prone to violence. Or so she has been told.
When a new doctor arrives, keen to experiment with the revolutionary practice of medical hypnosis, Maud's lack of history makes her the perfect case study. But as Doctor Dimmond delves deeper into the past, it becomes clear that confinement and high doses are there to keep her silent.
When Maud finally remembers what has been done to her and by whom, her mind turns to the past and to revenge.”
I found the gothic setting very atmospheric and with the vivid descriptions of the staff and the sights, sounds and smells, it was easy to imagine life in the Victorian asylums. I truly felt sorry for the patients but although there were evident improvements from the late 19th century conditions, life was still brutal and the treatments offered barbaric.
I liked Maud and how the hypnosis allowed the reader to hear in her own words, the events leading up to her incarceration and how traumatised she was with grief, violence and fear. As we veer between the past and present, Maud’s memories become quite shocking and upsetting. The ending was very satisfactory however and I admit to feeling emotional.
4 stars for an atmospheric Gothic mystery that I really enjoyed.
July 25, 2024
"Distressing memories left buried can poison the mind."
He knows. He knows what’s inside my head.
This is the story of Maude, or is it, Mary? She finds herself locked away in an asylum with no memory how she got there. Things start to improve when a new Doctor arrives at the asylum, and using a new technique called hypnotism, he helps Maude unlock her past. But, not everyone at the asylum wants her to remember.
So glad I took a punt on this. Wonderfully written with lots of vile characters, you will love it if you love the gothic.
He knows. He knows what’s inside my head.
This is the story of Maude, or is it, Mary? She finds herself locked away in an asylum with no memory how she got there. Things start to improve when a new Doctor arrives at the asylum, and using a new technique called hypnotism, he helps Maude unlock her past. But, not everyone at the asylum wants her to remember.
So glad I took a punt on this. Wonderfully written with lots of vile characters, you will love it if you love the gothic.
April 7, 2021
The Asylum is dark, eerie and has a menacing atmosphere that will keep you gripped to its pages, desperately trying to find out why the main protagonist Maud has come to be at a lunatic asylum.
Coles gives you an insight into how badly people were treated in late 19th century/early 20th century asylums. It is horrifying and grim to imagine how abandoned and alone these people must have felt to be living such a life and drugged constantly. A place where people are meant to be treated for their mental health only exacerbates it and leaves people just a shell of who they once were.
There is such a mix of characters in the story that you will either love or hate. The sinister character of Dr Womack made my skin crawl and my blood boil alongside Price who is quite disturbing to read about. I loved Dr Dimmond who was one of the only kind and caring people who truly wanted Maud to get better.
Maud is a very likeable person who I found myself completely invested in. The author manages to successfully bring an air of mystery surrounding why Maud has come to be in the asylum. When Maud undergoes treatment with the kind Dr Dimmond she starts to get flashbacks of her past and together they begin to piece together why she got to be there. Her memories are horrific and heartbreaking but they are jumbled up and as the reader you wonder if these memories are true or imagined. But when the truth is uncovered it will shock and chill you to the bone.
The powerlessness of women in this era is such a strong theme in this tale. The men are always in control, the women have no voice. Maud ends up proving how strong women are with her determination to find out about her past and overcome the men trying to hold her back.
This is truly one of the best debuts I have read in a long time. A compelling, tense, spine-tingling gothic thriller that I highly recommend.
Coles gives you an insight into how badly people were treated in late 19th century/early 20th century asylums. It is horrifying and grim to imagine how abandoned and alone these people must have felt to be living such a life and drugged constantly. A place where people are meant to be treated for their mental health only exacerbates it and leaves people just a shell of who they once were.
There is such a mix of characters in the story that you will either love or hate. The sinister character of Dr Womack made my skin crawl and my blood boil alongside Price who is quite disturbing to read about. I loved Dr Dimmond who was one of the only kind and caring people who truly wanted Maud to get better.
Maud is a very likeable person who I found myself completely invested in. The author manages to successfully bring an air of mystery surrounding why Maud has come to be in the asylum. When Maud undergoes treatment with the kind Dr Dimmond she starts to get flashbacks of her past and together they begin to piece together why she got to be there. Her memories are horrific and heartbreaking but they are jumbled up and as the reader you wonder if these memories are true or imagined. But when the truth is uncovered it will shock and chill you to the bone.
The powerlessness of women in this era is such a strong theme in this tale. The men are always in control, the women have no voice. Maud ends up proving how strong women are with her determination to find out about her past and overcome the men trying to hold her back.
This is truly one of the best debuts I have read in a long time. A compelling, tense, spine-tingling gothic thriller that I highly recommend.
October 22, 2021
I really enjoyed this dark and twisted gothic novel. It was deliciously creepy and there was a strong sense of foreboding that resonated throughout the whole story.
It tells the story of Maud, a patient at Angelton Asylum. She is under the care of Doctor Womack who dabbles in archaic and barbaric treatments for his patients. Doctor Dimmond is new to the asylum and seeks to cure the patients through a more nurturing and holistic approach. This stark juxtaposition between primitive treatments and modern treatments, good and evil, light and dark, inside and outside, freedom and imprisonment, real and imaginary, sane and insane ripple throughout the story, adding to the unease and sense of uncertainty.
Structurally, the book is very interesting as it's almost told in reverse. We discover along with Maud the reasons for her incarceration as Dimmonds' hypnosis treatments start to take hold. This means that we empathise with Maud as we discover her life story at the same moments that she does. The fact that she is an unreliable narrator, adds to the tension and makes the story pulse with uncertainty.
It was a joy following Maud's journey and I liked the ambiguity of the ending - a very creepy and atmospheric read and one I would recommend to lovers of historical fiction and gothic fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley, Welbeck Publishing and Karen Coles for the ARC in exchange for an honest review - it's been fantastic!
It tells the story of Maud, a patient at Angelton Asylum. She is under the care of Doctor Womack who dabbles in archaic and barbaric treatments for his patients. Doctor Dimmond is new to the asylum and seeks to cure the patients through a more nurturing and holistic approach. This stark juxtaposition between primitive treatments and modern treatments, good and evil, light and dark, inside and outside, freedom and imprisonment, real and imaginary, sane and insane ripple throughout the story, adding to the unease and sense of uncertainty.
Structurally, the book is very interesting as it's almost told in reverse. We discover along with Maud the reasons for her incarceration as Dimmonds' hypnosis treatments start to take hold. This means that we empathise with Maud as we discover her life story at the same moments that she does. The fact that she is an unreliable narrator, adds to the tension and makes the story pulse with uncertainty.
It was a joy following Maud's journey and I liked the ambiguity of the ending - a very creepy and atmospheric read and one I would recommend to lovers of historical fiction and gothic fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley, Welbeck Publishing and Karen Coles for the ARC in exchange for an honest review - it's been fantastic!
April 7, 2021
It has been a little while since a book commanded my full attention however The Asylum had me hooked from the very first page. I became *that* person who literally growled when distracted from my reading and we even had reheated leftovers because there was no way on this planet was I going to stand there cooking when THIS BOOK WAS HAPPENING!
It's eerie, tragic, fascinating and gripping. It had a gentle pace to it from the start which only amplified the feeling of unease to this place, Angelton Lunatic Asylum. I can't say much more about it without spoilers.
It is one that will haunt my thoughts for a while to come....and aren't they just the best kind of reads? The ones that never leave you?
It's eerie, tragic, fascinating and gripping. It had a gentle pace to it from the start which only amplified the feeling of unease to this place, Angelton Lunatic Asylum. I can't say much more about it without spoilers.
It is one that will haunt my thoughts for a while to come....and aren't they just the best kind of reads? The ones that never leave you?
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