What do you think?
Rate this book
Hold My Place
When librarian Sigrun falls head-over-heels for the sophisticated and very married Edgar Leyward, she never expects to find herself in his bed—or his heart. Nevertheless, when his enigmatic wife Octavia dies from a sudden illness, Sigrun finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance worthy of the most lurid novels on her bookshelves.
Sigrun soon discovers Octavia wasn’t Edgar’s first lost love, or even his second. Three women Edgar has loved met early deaths. As she delves into her beloved’s past through a trove of discovered letters, the edges of Sigrun identity begin to disappear, fading into the women of the past. Sigrun tells herself it’s impossible for any dark magic to be at play—that the dead can’t possibly inhabit the bodies of the living—but something shadowy stalks the halls of the Leyward house and the lines between the love of the present and the obsessions of the past become increasingly blurred—and bloody.
Sigrun soon discovers Octavia wasn’t Edgar’s first lost love, or even his second. Three women Edgar has loved met early deaths. As she delves into her beloved’s past through a trove of discovered letters, the edges of Sigrun identity begin to disappear, fading into the women of the past. Sigrun tells herself it’s impossible for any dark magic to be at play—that the dead can’t possibly inhabit the bodies of the living—but something shadowy stalks the halls of the Leyward house and the lines between the love of the present and the obsessions of the past become increasingly blurred—and bloody.
168 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 2022
8 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
Cassondra Windwalker
25 books126 followersCassondra Windwalker earned a BA of Letters from the University of Oklahoma. She's the author of nine novels and three works of poetry who does her best to keep fed the menagerie of stray critters, cryptids, marooned kelpies, and lost specters. Born and raised on the red clay, she's wandered the sticky corn fields of the Midwest, the frozen seas of the Wild North, and frequently rests her wings where orange skies meet purple mountains. She enjoys interacting with readers, writers, and generally decent humans on social media.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
August 23, 2021
An unlikely romance.
Edgar and Sigrun meet during a cooking class and she instantly falls for him. She is a middle-aged goth librarian. He is a polished, successful master chef. His voice, his presence, his glances are like a drug to her. They begin to take slow walks after class, holding hands, talking about fairytales, literature and German baking. Edgar is emotionally cheating on his wife, Octavia.
Sigrun's every thought centers around Edgar.
When his wife,Octavia suddenly dies of Covid, Sigrun is more than happy to be there for him, even assisting with the funeral. There is a sense that Edgar isn't as upset as he should be although he loved Octavia dearly.
They soon marry and Sigrun continues to obsess over Edgar. His skeleton's begin to surface when she learns he has not one, but three dead wives. She feels unsettled by the revelations. She begins to fear him, but perhaps she has seen too many murder podcasts or suspense novels and she is just haboring a silly suspicion? Only time will tell.
Told mostly in first person through Sigrun. The author writes in almost a poetic way, using vivid words and creating a mystical atmosphere. It isn't a fast paced novel, but one you want to continue to pick up and learn more about these two seemingly mismatched mates who whisper sweet nothings to each other.
The ending is twisted and will be controversial, and I should have seen it coming before the knife slipped in, maybe.....
Recommend to those who enjoy something different, a bit creepy, hypnotic, and free of the thriller tropes that dominate these days. You'll feel the horror in the final pages.
I may come back and add a hidden spoiler.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. OUT Jan 25, 2022
Edgar and Sigrun meet during a cooking class and she instantly falls for him. She is a middle-aged goth librarian. He is a polished, successful master chef. His voice, his presence, his glances are like a drug to her. They begin to take slow walks after class, holding hands, talking about fairytales, literature and German baking. Edgar is emotionally cheating on his wife, Octavia.
Sigrun's every thought centers around Edgar.
When his wife,Octavia suddenly dies of Covid, Sigrun is more than happy to be there for him, even assisting with the funeral. There is a sense that Edgar isn't as upset as he should be although he loved Octavia dearly.
They soon marry and Sigrun continues to obsess over Edgar. His skeleton's begin to surface when she learns he has not one, but three dead wives. She feels unsettled by the revelations. She begins to fear him, but perhaps she has seen too many murder podcasts or suspense novels and she is just haboring a silly suspicion? Only time will tell.
Told mostly in first person through Sigrun. The author writes in almost a poetic way, using vivid words and creating a mystical atmosphere. It isn't a fast paced novel, but one you want to continue to pick up and learn more about these two seemingly mismatched mates who whisper sweet nothings to each other.
The ending is twisted and will be controversial, and I should have seen it coming before the knife slipped in, maybe.....
Recommend to those who enjoy something different, a bit creepy, hypnotic, and free of the thriller tropes that dominate these days. You'll feel the horror in the final pages.
I may come back and add a hidden spoiler.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. OUT Jan 25, 2022
August 15, 2021
Personal Chef.
This is a book about love verging on obsession.
Sigrun and Edgar meet by chance and immediately she is out of her mind to be closer to him. However, he’s married and in love with his wife.
Taking place just prior to and in the beginning stages of the pandemic, Edgar and Sigrun become friends of a sort during his teaching of a cooking class. Is it an affair if there’s no physicality?
When Edgar’s gorgeous spouse succumbs to Covid unexpectedly, he’s bereft. However, he confides to Sigrun that this isn’t the first time. Both his first wife and college sweetheart died too and though the deaths were considered natural, Sigrun can’t help but wonder.
Things that make you go hmmmm...
My first impression of this book was that I’d stumbled on a romance and I don’t do romances. Yes, I know other people love them but they usually don’t work for me.
However, I continued reading because I'd been hooked into the disquietude.
I was intrigued with Sigrun the Goth librarian. Assisting patrons with her dyed black hair and full sleeve tattoos tweaked my imagination and her independent thought process didn’t reconcile with her fixation on Edgar. So, I was more than curious.
I was impressed with the author’s unique wording and the near perfected description of someone drunk on another person. Although there were a few lagging moments, numerous quotables maintained my attention for the majority.
I would recommend this to readers searching for alternatives to the worn thriller path or if a subliminal gothic horror vibe intrigues you. I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to Black Spot Books, Cossandra Windwalker, and NetGalley for my advance electronic copy set to publish on January 22, 2022.
This is a book about love verging on obsession.
Sigrun and Edgar meet by chance and immediately she is out of her mind to be closer to him. However, he’s married and in love with his wife.
Taking place just prior to and in the beginning stages of the pandemic, Edgar and Sigrun become friends of a sort during his teaching of a cooking class. Is it an affair if there’s no physicality?
When Edgar’s gorgeous spouse succumbs to Covid unexpectedly, he’s bereft. However, he confides to Sigrun that this isn’t the first time. Both his first wife and college sweetheart died too and though the deaths were considered natural, Sigrun can’t help but wonder.
Things that make you go hmmmm...
My first impression of this book was that I’d stumbled on a romance and I don’t do romances. Yes, I know other people love them but they usually don’t work for me.
However, I continued reading because I'd been hooked into the disquietude.
I was intrigued with Sigrun the Goth librarian. Assisting patrons with her dyed black hair and full sleeve tattoos tweaked my imagination and her independent thought process didn’t reconcile with her fixation on Edgar. So, I was more than curious.
I was impressed with the author’s unique wording and the near perfected description of someone drunk on another person. Although there were a few lagging moments, numerous quotables maintained my attention for the majority.
I would recommend this to readers searching for alternatives to the worn thriller path or if a subliminal gothic horror vibe intrigues you. I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to Black Spot Books, Cossandra Windwalker, and NetGalley for my advance electronic copy set to publish on January 22, 2022.
October 9, 2021
Sigrun, a single early thirties goth librarian meets Edgar, a handsome and charming local chef, and she’s nearly immediately hopelessly obsessed. Improbably, the apparently happily married Edgar seems just as smitten, and the two have a bit of an emotional affair. What is Sigrun doing? This isn’t her. She doesn’t act like this. But there’s just something there, some pull she can’t ignore. When Edgar’s wife falls ill and passes away, their love is allowed to bloom and becomes the kind of love that feels all consuming. The kind of love that *changes* you. But is it just love that is changing Sigrun, or is there something else going on? And why does it seem like Edgar leaves a trail of dead former lovers in his wake, even if they all died of natural causes?
Well this was a fun little* departure for me! I don’t normally read gothic things. Or romancey things. But it’s October, time of the spooky seasonal reads, and I saw some reviews that gave this a thumbs up for being creepy and unique. Agreed! And it was a nice break from the same old recycled plots every suspense and domestic thriller seems to have these days. Partially a romance, partially a horror story, this is quite the atmospheric gothic read.
As it turns out, I’ve now learned that I personally do not like gothic purple prose, but that’s not the author’s fault. The writing struck me as absolutely beautiful, and I do think if it’s your thing, you will be in heaven, captivated by beautiful, eloquent prose. The more I read, the less I noticed the writing, so I don’t think it needs to be a dealbreaker even if it’s not your style. I do have to say, while I enjoyed the story itself, I found pretty much every character tedious. (Except you Evan, you're a treasure) If I met any of these people in real life, my eyes would roll so far into the back of my head that surgical intervention might be required. If you can power through the “oh my god, get over yourself you precious thing” impulse and stick with it, there is a good story to be had here. A modern love letter to Du Maurier's Rebecca.
*I say little because the book is super short. It can be hard to tell with a digital ARC, but this seems to me more of a novella in length. For reference, most books I read on my Kindle have a “location” count between 3,500 and 5,000. This one was 1,860.
Covid CW: This doesn’t just reference coronavirus, it’s a pretty prominent plot point and comes up quite a bit. It’s given more of a creepy plague feel, and is written about in a detached “in the past” way, so that helped it seem less jarring and stressful than I would have expected it to be. But just be aware it's there.
Expected Publication: January 25, 2022
Many thanks to NetGalley and Black Spot Books for an advanced copy of this title for review.
Well this was a fun little* departure for me! I don’t normally read gothic things. Or romancey things. But it’s October, time of the spooky seasonal reads, and I saw some reviews that gave this a thumbs up for being creepy and unique. Agreed! And it was a nice break from the same old recycled plots every suspense and domestic thriller seems to have these days. Partially a romance, partially a horror story, this is quite the atmospheric gothic read.
As it turns out, I’ve now learned that I personally do not like gothic purple prose, but that’s not the author’s fault. The writing struck me as absolutely beautiful, and I do think if it’s your thing, you will be in heaven, captivated by beautiful, eloquent prose. The more I read, the less I noticed the writing, so I don’t think it needs to be a dealbreaker even if it’s not your style. I do have to say, while I enjoyed the story itself, I found pretty much every character tedious. (Except you Evan, you're a treasure) If I met any of these people in real life, my eyes would roll so far into the back of my head that surgical intervention might be required. If you can power through the “oh my god, get over yourself you precious thing” impulse and stick with it, there is a good story to be had here. A modern love letter to Du Maurier's Rebecca.
*I say little because the book is super short. It can be hard to tell with a digital ARC, but this seems to me more of a novella in length. For reference, most books I read on my Kindle have a “location” count between 3,500 and 5,000. This one was 1,860.
Covid CW: This doesn’t just reference coronavirus, it’s a pretty prominent plot point and comes up quite a bit. It’s given more of a creepy plague feel, and is written about in a detached “in the past” way, so that helped it seem less jarring and stressful than I would have expected it to be. But just be aware it's there.
Expected Publication: January 25, 2022
Many thanks to NetGalley and Black Spot Books for an advanced copy of this title for review.
October 4, 2021
A bizarre love story like no other you've read.
Sigrun is a 32 year old goth-loving librarian who enjoys her life and the library in which she runs. She has just signed up for a local cooking class at La Table where she meets the charismatic head chef, Edgar. He is married but that does not stop them from taking their nightly midnight strolls around the city.
Then Covid hits. Quarantine orders are put in place and Sigrun is longing for her time with Edgar. After two weeks of radio silence she gets the text she's been waiting for but certainly not the one she was expecting. Edgars wife Ocatvia as succumbed to the virus. Sigrun can't allow Edgar to be alone in his pain and even helps make the funeral arrangements. As the days go by she finds she has taken the place of his deceased wife. Moving into her house, sleeping in their bed, luxuriating in the lavender scented bath, even wearing her clothes. How did this happen? All signs of her goth loving self have been erased.
Then she finds out that Octavia isn't his first love to die. There was Brigitte and there was Devlin. The former died of breast cancer and the latter to type 1 Diabetes. Unfortunate events for such young women. Sigrun shouldn't be concerned, should she? You'll have to read this to find out!
I love to read and have read many books and I admire and love so many authors but there is something to be said about Cassondra Windwalker. She's a writer that when I read I think to myself if I could write like anyone it would be this woman. Her turn of phrase, her poetic style, some may call purplish prose really resonates with me. I was impressed with this book as much as her previous book Idle Hands. Her stories are really unique and I do hope people take notice. What's weird is that I'd have a hard time knowing who to recommend her books to because they won't be for everyone even though they certainly are for me. Maybe I'll just keep her to myself like the greedy little reader I am. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Black Spot Books for my complimentary copy.
Sigrun is a 32 year old goth-loving librarian who enjoys her life and the library in which she runs. She has just signed up for a local cooking class at La Table where she meets the charismatic head chef, Edgar. He is married but that does not stop them from taking their nightly midnight strolls around the city.
Then Covid hits. Quarantine orders are put in place and Sigrun is longing for her time with Edgar. After two weeks of radio silence she gets the text she's been waiting for but certainly not the one she was expecting. Edgars wife Ocatvia as succumbed to the virus. Sigrun can't allow Edgar to be alone in his pain and even helps make the funeral arrangements. As the days go by she finds she has taken the place of his deceased wife. Moving into her house, sleeping in their bed, luxuriating in the lavender scented bath, even wearing her clothes. How did this happen? All signs of her goth loving self have been erased.
Then she finds out that Octavia isn't his first love to die. There was Brigitte and there was Devlin. The former died of breast cancer and the latter to type 1 Diabetes. Unfortunate events for such young women. Sigrun shouldn't be concerned, should she? You'll have to read this to find out!
I love to read and have read many books and I admire and love so many authors but there is something to be said about Cassondra Windwalker. She's a writer that when I read I think to myself if I could write like anyone it would be this woman. Her turn of phrase, her poetic style, some may call purplish prose really resonates with me. I was impressed with this book as much as her previous book Idle Hands. Her stories are really unique and I do hope people take notice. What's weird is that I'd have a hard time knowing who to recommend her books to because they won't be for everyone even though they certainly are for me. Maybe I'll just keep her to myself like the greedy little reader I am. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Black Spot Books for my complimentary copy.
January 10, 2022
This woman can write! This is a shortish, rather haunting tale of death defying love and obsession. Make no mistake, this is not some ordinary romance. Those who know me know I don’t do romance and I’m not a fan of steamy scenes. This is something altogether different. I am in awe of Windwalker’s writing.
When librarian Sigrun takes a cooking class with celebrity chef Edgar Leyward she feels an instant and visceral connection with him. He is married to Octavia. But they nevertheless conduct a rather chaste affair as he walks her home every night after the restaurant closes. And I mean chaste. They don’t even kiss but they utterly connect.
Then the pandemic strikes and Octavia quickly falls victim to covid. After an indecently short interval Edgar marries Sigrun. They have no secrets and Edgar gifts her a box which contains all the mementos of his past loves. In addition to Octavia, Edgar had a previous wife, Brigitte, who died very early of breast cancer and his first love, Devlin from his university days died of diabetes on a hike.
As Sigrun reads through their letters to him she feels a strange affinity with these dead women. Something dangerous is coiling in her gut. And that’s where I will leave this rather dark and ghostly tale. Many thanks to Netgalley and Black Spot Books for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
When librarian Sigrun takes a cooking class with celebrity chef Edgar Leyward she feels an instant and visceral connection with him. He is married to Octavia. But they nevertheless conduct a rather chaste affair as he walks her home every night after the restaurant closes. And I mean chaste. They don’t even kiss but they utterly connect.
Then the pandemic strikes and Octavia quickly falls victim to covid. After an indecently short interval Edgar marries Sigrun. They have no secrets and Edgar gifts her a box which contains all the mementos of his past loves. In addition to Octavia, Edgar had a previous wife, Brigitte, who died very early of breast cancer and his first love, Devlin from his university days died of diabetes on a hike.
As Sigrun reads through their letters to him she feels a strange affinity with these dead women. Something dangerous is coiling in her gut. And that’s where I will leave this rather dark and ghostly tale. Many thanks to Netgalley and Black Spot Books for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Read
December 18, 2021*Book received from Netgalley in return for a review. This review may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author*
I … I think I liked this. Sorry, that sounds like a damning with faint praise but it’s not meant to be. Hold My Place is intriguing and well-written, and ended on a satisfyingly chilling note. It engaged me. It just sort of didn’t wow me.
And I feel bad saying that because … I mean. Y’know. I write romance. I believe in tropes and genre positioning and that execution is far more important than originality. But I think in the thriller/horror space, especially because at the moment it feels like I can’t take two steps without stubbing my toe on the latest thriller, a book needs a little something extra. Something to make stand out. Something to make you remember it.
Anyway, Hold My Place is narrated by Sigrun, a … goth librarian (yes you read that right) in her thirties who falls in love with an already-married chef. They have an intense emotional affair, even though Edgar is clearly still besotted with his wife—a contradiction that doesn’t trouble Sigrun—and then Edgar’s wife conveniently dies. Leaving him both grief-stricken and ready to plunge into a relationship with Sigrun. The book opens with Sigrun stabbing him with a kitchen knife so you know from the outset how that turns out.
This all unfolds at a good pace, with the red flags getting redder and redder as the narrative progresses. Shades of Bluebeard and Rebecca give the story a pleasingly gothic edge, despite its modern setting. And while I wasn’t surprised by the conclusion, it still offered a satisfying payoff.
There were, however, a few things here that didn’t quite work for me. I haven’t quite figured out in my own head how I want writers to deal with the pandemic in their writing: I’ve read a few romances recently that have referenced it obliquely, and at least one SFF that has run headlong at the whole plague concept. This integrates the pandemic into the narrative, and the impact of COVID on the world provides a backdrop for the Sigrun’s burgeoning love affair with Edgar, and explanation for his wife’s abrupt death. I … I am not sure how I felt about this inclusion honestly. I don’t think the book *needed* it—I think the same events could have been brought out easily enough by another route—so while I didn’t find it exploitative it didn’t super thrill me. Your mileage may vary on this.
I’m also not sure how I felt a thirty-something goth. Maybe I’ve just slipped into the worst kind of middle-age but … is this something people of my generation are still doing? Are we still goths? Are we goths with mortgages? I confess, there was part of me that wondered if Sigrun was a goth in order to make the differences between her and the other wives (for Edgar has a bunch of dead ones in his past – this is an early twist, so not a spoiler) as marked as possible, and have very straightforward ways for the narrative to demonstrate when those differences start to blur in a creepy and potential supernatural fashion. I did like she was a librarian though—having many librarian friends, her asides on being a librarian (“librarians have the most degenerate taste in literature there is”) were definitely some of the highpoints of the book for me.
Edgar, by contrast, is kind of an utter nonentity. And that makes sense in a way: the book is not, after all, Sigrun’s love story. Plus, her obsession with this guy who is so very clearly just a guy is one of the early red flags that all is not what it seems in this story. The problem is, it’s just not … super emotionally engaging. Their initial affair—where they walk through the city talking—is mainly reported. And the latter half of the book, when Sigrun is actually with Edgar is just a hazy sexfest of chocolate raspberries and dead-wife-letters. I liked the theory that the women in Edgar’s life ended up being so much more vivid than he was, despite the fact they’re dead, but I’m just not sure it worked in practice. I mean, the heroine could have been humping her Garrus Vakarian bodypillow for all my interest in the business.
To be honest, I might have been more interested if she *had* been humping a Garrus Vakarian bodypillow.
Also this book has a … relationship shall we say … with romance novels. In that the heroine defensively admits to reading them, and there are regular references to how events in the book are or are not romance novels
Or
I mean, I didn’t get the feeling it was dunking on the genre exactly. It was nice to have a heroine who enjoyed romances, but I guess I’m always wary about texts of any kind that position themselves in opposition to what they perceive (or what is publicly perceived) as the “love” or “romance that romance novels represent. Because romance novels aren’t one thing: and while obviously it is central to the genre that the love between the central characters is healthy and positive, that doesn’t mean it’s always the same. On the other hand, since the author is essentially exploring a deeply unhealthy and selfish love here, I can also appreciate her explicitly differentiating that from romance novel love. Unless, of course, the implication here is that the heroine’s romance reading habit has left her psychologically primed to accept inexplicable love-feelings when they strike her, thus leaving her an easy victim of dark supernatural shenanigans.
I guess my general feeling (and this does spring from unabashed protectiveness towards the genre, not just because I write in it, but because it gets so much shit from the world at large): if you reference romance, you better damn well know what you’re doing with that reference.
In any case, while not every aspect of his book worked for me, it was in general well-constructed and well-told (while the language sways a little uncomfortable from the natural and idiomatic to the super gothic, the super gothic sections are *chef’s kiss*) and the conclusion, although it was far from anything that belongs in the romance genre, did rather appeal to the darkest corners of my romance reader’s heart.
I … I think I liked this. Sorry, that sounds like a damning with faint praise but it’s not meant to be. Hold My Place is intriguing and well-written, and ended on a satisfyingly chilling note. It engaged me. It just sort of didn’t wow me.
And I feel bad saying that because … I mean. Y’know. I write romance. I believe in tropes and genre positioning and that execution is far more important than originality. But I think in the thriller/horror space, especially because at the moment it feels like I can’t take two steps without stubbing my toe on the latest thriller, a book needs a little something extra. Something to make stand out. Something to make you remember it.
Anyway, Hold My Place is narrated by Sigrun, a … goth librarian (yes you read that right) in her thirties who falls in love with an already-married chef. They have an intense emotional affair, even though Edgar is clearly still besotted with his wife—a contradiction that doesn’t trouble Sigrun—and then Edgar’s wife conveniently dies. Leaving him both grief-stricken and ready to plunge into a relationship with Sigrun. The book opens with Sigrun stabbing him with a kitchen knife so you know from the outset how that turns out.
This all unfolds at a good pace, with the red flags getting redder and redder as the narrative progresses. Shades of Bluebeard and Rebecca give the story a pleasingly gothic edge, despite its modern setting. And while I wasn’t surprised by the conclusion, it still offered a satisfying payoff.
There were, however, a few things here that didn’t quite work for me. I haven’t quite figured out in my own head how I want writers to deal with the pandemic in their writing: I’ve read a few romances recently that have referenced it obliquely, and at least one SFF that has run headlong at the whole plague concept. This integrates the pandemic into the narrative, and the impact of COVID on the world provides a backdrop for the Sigrun’s burgeoning love affair with Edgar, and explanation for his wife’s abrupt death. I … I am not sure how I felt about this inclusion honestly. I don’t think the book *needed* it—I think the same events could have been brought out easily enough by another route—so while I didn’t find it exploitative it didn’t super thrill me. Your mileage may vary on this.
I’m also not sure how I felt a thirty-something goth. Maybe I’ve just slipped into the worst kind of middle-age but … is this something people of my generation are still doing? Are we still goths? Are we goths with mortgages? I confess, there was part of me that wondered if Sigrun was a goth in order to make the differences between her and the other wives (for Edgar has a bunch of dead ones in his past – this is an early twist, so not a spoiler) as marked as possible, and have very straightforward ways for the narrative to demonstrate when those differences start to blur in a creepy and potential supernatural fashion. I did like she was a librarian though—having many librarian friends, her asides on being a librarian (“librarians have the most degenerate taste in literature there is”) were definitely some of the highpoints of the book for me.
Edgar, by contrast, is kind of an utter nonentity. And that makes sense in a way: the book is not, after all, Sigrun’s love story. Plus, her obsession with this guy who is so very clearly just a guy is one of the early red flags that all is not what it seems in this story. The problem is, it’s just not … super emotionally engaging. Their initial affair—where they walk through the city talking—is mainly reported. And the latter half of the book, when Sigrun is actually with Edgar is just a hazy sexfest of chocolate raspberries and dead-wife-letters. I liked the theory that the women in Edgar’s life ended up being so much more vivid than he was, despite the fact they’re dead, but I’m just not sure it worked in practice. I mean, the heroine could have been humping her Garrus Vakarian bodypillow for all my interest in the business.
To be honest, I might have been more interested if she *had* been humping a Garrus Vakarian bodypillow.
Also this book has a … relationship shall we say … with romance novels. In that the heroine defensively admits to reading them, and there are regular references to how events in the book are or are not romance novels
As far Edgar … the distance was gutting. This wasn’t the romantic yearning penned by the writers of Regency romance or the luridly illustrated books whose covers featured bodybuilding Highland chiefs dressed in nothing but kilts. This was a blood-sickness.
Or
I will love you so hard you’ll thank me when your bones break. We’re going to make all those old romances look about as exciting as pharmaceutical warnings.
I mean, I didn’t get the feeling it was dunking on the genre exactly. It was nice to have a heroine who enjoyed romances, but I guess I’m always wary about texts of any kind that position themselves in opposition to what they perceive (or what is publicly perceived) as the “love” or “romance that romance novels represent. Because romance novels aren’t one thing: and while obviously it is central to the genre that the love between the central characters is healthy and positive, that doesn’t mean it’s always the same. On the other hand, since the author is essentially exploring a deeply unhealthy and selfish love here, I can also appreciate her explicitly differentiating that from romance novel love. Unless, of course, the implication here is that the heroine’s romance reading habit has left her psychologically primed to accept inexplicable love-feelings when they strike her, thus leaving her an easy victim of dark supernatural shenanigans.
I guess my general feeling (and this does spring from unabashed protectiveness towards the genre, not just because I write in it, but because it gets so much shit from the world at large): if you reference romance, you better damn well know what you’re doing with that reference.
In any case, while not every aspect of his book worked for me, it was in general well-constructed and well-told (while the language sways a little uncomfortable from the natural and idiomatic to the super gothic, the super gothic sections are *chef’s kiss*) and the conclusion, although it was far from anything that belongs in the romance genre, did rather appeal to the darkest corners of my romance reader’s heart.
November 8, 2021
The general vibe of the book is not really horror even though it is classified as such but the gothic tone of the novel is really one of the best that I have read in recent times. This is also probably the first book I am reading that had references to the Covid pandemic woven thru the story. I had deliberately stayed away from anything relating to the pandemic coz as such the virus had taken all the joys away from our life, in fact, the aftermath of the disease is still being felt, and I didn’t want my reading also to be affected.
Hold My Place refers to the pandemic situation in vague terms as the cause of death for a character and makes the plot a little believable as to the speed of the obsession that develops in Sigrun. Edgar’s character never completely solidifies, in fact, all the females in the story made a stronger impression in my mind rather than Edgar. Sigrun is a 30 something goth librarian, introduced as an intelligent and rational woman happy to be independent and lonely in her world. The use of the pandemic situation in explaining the off the rails character change in Sigrun was good but there are many parts of the story that I believe the author could have gone into more detail. The pacing of the story is varied with the beginning a little slow paced but the ending kind of rushed. It was a gripping read in the beginning and Cassondra Windwalker conveys the darkness of the story brilliantly, one can sense the falling into madness as soon as Sigrun reaches Edgar’s house.
The ending was unexpected, the creepiness just leaking out of the pages in that final chapter. This is one of those books that may fail to excite a reader who loves gothic romances but is perfect for those who love gothic stories with a subtle horror overlayed thru them.
Many thanks to Net Galley, Black Spot Books and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
Hold My Place refers to the pandemic situation in vague terms as the cause of death for a character and makes the plot a little believable as to the speed of the obsession that develops in Sigrun. Edgar’s character never completely solidifies, in fact, all the females in the story made a stronger impression in my mind rather than Edgar. Sigrun is a 30 something goth librarian, introduced as an intelligent and rational woman happy to be independent and lonely in her world. The use of the pandemic situation in explaining the off the rails character change in Sigrun was good but there are many parts of the story that I believe the author could have gone into more detail. The pacing of the story is varied with the beginning a little slow paced but the ending kind of rushed. It was a gripping read in the beginning and Cassondra Windwalker conveys the darkness of the story brilliantly, one can sense the falling into madness as soon as Sigrun reaches Edgar’s house.
The ending was unexpected, the creepiness just leaking out of the pages in that final chapter. This is one of those books that may fail to excite a reader who loves gothic romances but is perfect for those who love gothic stories with a subtle horror overlayed thru them.
Many thanks to Net Galley, Black Spot Books and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.
August 10, 2021
2.5 stars--somewhere between "liked" and "OK."
This is a really fast read--perhaps too fast, since things were rushed and details were omitted. The romance is instant and intense, which isn't really my usual style. However, the narrative voice was clear, strong, and confident--I really enjoyed the main character.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
This is a really fast read--perhaps too fast, since things were rushed and details were omitted. The romance is instant and intense, which isn't really my usual style. However, the narrative voice was clear, strong, and confident--I really enjoyed the main character.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
August 18, 2021
This gorgeous book was a definite five star read for me. The story is explosive, the characters are memorable, and I love that the main character is a "throw-back goth" librarian. The prose itself is utterly exquisite. It's lush and written in a rich gothic style that is a beautiful juxtoposition for a modern tale set in the pandemic. Hold My Place is very much up my alley, and I read it in one sitting.
February 1, 2022
What on earth did I just read, and more importantly, why the heck didn’t I see THAT ending coming?? I really should have.. what the HECK.
Sigrun meets Edgar and is absolutely head over heels, blow the barn down, shut the front door, call the neighbours, out of her mind in love with him. The down side? He’s married and madly in love with his gorgeous wife. Unfortunately for her, she dies from the wonderful goodtime that is Covid(which doesn’t exist and is all a hoax to steal your information, right?) We then find out that this isn’t his first wife to pass away.. oh no, poor ole Edgar here has now had three, THREE, wives die on him of “natural” causes… (are we suspicious yet?). Sigrun can’t help but wonder if the ever so wonderful, handsome and alluring Edgar could actually be killing off his spouses? Dun dun dunnnnnnnnnn.
Don’t let the pining and longing of Edgar trick you into thinking this is a romance book, look at the cover, this is clearly a thriller book with hidden secrets with a splash of gothic horror thrown in for good measure. That being said… it is a love story at it’s core, a twisted bizarre what on actual earth love story set for the ages.
Definitely recommend reading this one!
Sigrun meets Edgar and is absolutely head over heels, blow the barn down, shut the front door, call the neighbours, out of her mind in love with him. The down side? He’s married and madly in love with his gorgeous wife. Unfortunately for her, she dies from the wonderful goodtime that is Covid
Don’t let the pining and longing of Edgar trick you into thinking this is a romance book, look at the cover, this is clearly a thriller book with hidden secrets with a splash of gothic horror thrown in for good measure. That being said… it is a love story at it’s core, a twisted bizarre what on actual earth love story set for the ages.
Definitely recommend reading this one!
February 22, 2022
Review first posted at FanFiAddict. 8/10.
“I remember his first breath on my body. Sweet and warm with port wine, his words skated over the little hairs on the back of my neck, tumbled down my collar.”
The novella begins with Sigrun, a woman in her thirties, attending an annual Christmas dinner at La Table, a gourmet French-Asian restaurant. It’s here she first notices Edgar, the mysteriously handsome chef. She is immediately captivated by his presence despite him being a married man. Sigrun soon finds herself in the midst of an emotional affair. When Edgar’s wife passes, their affair becomes all-consuming, and it isn’t long before Sigrun discovers that his wife wasn’t his first loss, or even his second, but his third lover that had met an early death.
Dear readers, I promise you that this novella goes in a direction you won’t be expecting. Hold My Place has one of my favorite themes- the slow descent into a maddening and obsessive romance, with an unreliable narrator tormented by the spirits of former lovers. It’s quite psychological as we are inside the head of the main character as she deals with novel situations, and I like that. I personally loved the direction the story took in the second half, with the ending being perfect in every way. I enjoy stories that show us something we wouldn’t expect.
“Something skittered through my veins then, something darker than blood, swifter than thought, colder than a corpse. Something urging me closer, even as it pulled me further away from myself.”
Now, this is the part that immediately had me accepting the tour invitation. Although there is minimal sexual content found in this one, the writing is brimming with a muted eroticism dealing with the transformative nature of identity, obsession, and lingering desire. All of this! It flowed perfectly and fit the narrative. The writing had a way of connecting me to their inner lives, engaging all of my senses on a deeper level. The words were arranged beautifully and made my heart feel exactly like how it was written.
There is a particular part to this story, besides the brief “other woman” trope, that may need a content warning due to the nature of it and how we’re essentially still living through it. I’m curious to see how authors approach and incorporate the current pandemic into stories. Here is one of our earliest takes, as most of this story is set during the beginning of a deadly virus – mirroring our early pandemic restrictions. The momentum slowed a bit during these middle moments. I think having the novella set during it allowed Windwalker to demonstrate Sigrun’s isolation and distancing from others, which was important for her characterization. In the end, I’m a bit neutral on how this was used within the story.
“Oh time. It does taunt me.”
Windwalker’s poetic roots are on display here as she weaves layers of meaning into her writing, immersing the reader within a maddening tale of death defying obsession. Hold My Place is out now.
Thank you to Black Crow PR for inviting FanFiAddict to join in on the US & UK blog tour for Hold My Place, the romantic psychological horror novella by Cassondra Windwalker. I received a reading copy and this did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
“I remember his first breath on my body. Sweet and warm with port wine, his words skated over the little hairs on the back of my neck, tumbled down my collar.”
The novella begins with Sigrun, a woman in her thirties, attending an annual Christmas dinner at La Table, a gourmet French-Asian restaurant. It’s here she first notices Edgar, the mysteriously handsome chef. She is immediately captivated by his presence despite him being a married man. Sigrun soon finds herself in the midst of an emotional affair. When Edgar’s wife passes, their affair becomes all-consuming, and it isn’t long before Sigrun discovers that his wife wasn’t his first loss, or even his second, but his third lover that had met an early death.
Dear readers, I promise you that this novella goes in a direction you won’t be expecting. Hold My Place has one of my favorite themes- the slow descent into a maddening and obsessive romance, with an unreliable narrator tormented by the spirits of former lovers. It’s quite psychological as we are inside the head of the main character as she deals with novel situations, and I like that. I personally loved the direction the story took in the second half, with the ending being perfect in every way. I enjoy stories that show us something we wouldn’t expect.
“Something skittered through my veins then, something darker than blood, swifter than thought, colder than a corpse. Something urging me closer, even as it pulled me further away from myself.”
Now, this is the part that immediately had me accepting the tour invitation. Although there is minimal sexual content found in this one, the writing is brimming with a muted eroticism dealing with the transformative nature of identity, obsession, and lingering desire. All of this! It flowed perfectly and fit the narrative. The writing had a way of connecting me to their inner lives, engaging all of my senses on a deeper level. The words were arranged beautifully and made my heart feel exactly like how it was written.
There is a particular part to this story, besides the brief “other woman” trope, that may need a content warning due to the nature of it and how we’re essentially still living through it. I’m curious to see how authors approach and incorporate the current pandemic into stories. Here is one of our earliest takes, as most of this story is set during the beginning of a deadly virus – mirroring our early pandemic restrictions. The momentum slowed a bit during these middle moments. I think having the novella set during it allowed Windwalker to demonstrate Sigrun’s isolation and distancing from others, which was important for her characterization. In the end, I’m a bit neutral on how this was used within the story.
“Oh time. It does taunt me.”
Windwalker’s poetic roots are on display here as she weaves layers of meaning into her writing, immersing the reader within a maddening tale of death defying obsession. Hold My Place is out now.
Thank you to Black Crow PR for inviting FanFiAddict to join in on the US & UK blog tour for Hold My Place, the romantic psychological horror novella by Cassondra Windwalker. I received a reading copy and this did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
April 25, 2022
⭐⭐
I really enjoyed Preacher Sam by this author. However, this one wasn't that great for me. I should have been a fairly quick read since it isn't an overly long book, but the overly flowery writing made it so tedious to get through.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
I really enjoyed Preacher Sam by this author. However, this one wasn't that great for me. I should have been a fairly quick read since it isn't an overly long book, but the overly flowery writing made it so tedious to get through.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
November 23, 2021
This book left me grumpy and sorry that I read it, although I can't say why without spoilers. Also, it felt incredibly implausible most of the time -- even besides the supernatural element, just in terms of basic human behavior and reality -- and the characters were ridiculous.
It's a beautiful cover though.
Disclosure: I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
It's a beautiful cover though.
Disclosure: I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
August 31, 2022
why, just why?
the book started meh and ended meh.
the book started meh and ended meh.
October 11, 2021
Hmmmm... I heard about this book from friends on GR and went and requested it via Net Galley. I did enjoy most of the book but it ended up making me sorry I read it and rather cranky.
I have two deal breakers that make me hate books. One is using Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly called multiple personality disorder or split personalities) as a trope in mystery/suspense books. Just don't. You're a terrible person and an idiot writer if you do. Okay, so this book does not do that. But it does the other thing that makes me really stabby at the end of a book.
Thanks to Net Galley for an ARC of this book.
I have two deal breakers that make me hate books. One is using Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly called multiple personality disorder or split personalities) as a trope in mystery/suspense books. Just don't. You're a terrible person and an idiot writer if you do. Okay, so this book does not do that. But it does the other thing that makes me really stabby at the end of a book.
Thanks to Net Galley for an ARC of this book.
April 11, 2022
This is the story of a forbidden love between a librarian Sigrun and a sophisticated married man that owns a restaurant.
When they meet there is a direct connection between the two of them and they can not look past it. They end up in a relationship and in the midst of a lockdown due to a virus that has been spreading in the world. Be aware that the book does mention the virus a lot and the current situation in case you are sensitive to that topic.
Unfortunately the story didn't really work for me. I was not able to get invested and believe anything about the characters and the story. For the most part of the book until we reached like 80% I was a bit bored and even though I did not mind the ending it was still not something that blew me away or a book I would reread.
When they meet there is a direct connection between the two of them and they can not look past it. They end up in a relationship and in the midst of a lockdown due to a virus that has been spreading in the world. Be aware that the book does mention the virus a lot and the current situation in case you are sensitive to that topic.
Unfortunately the story didn't really work for me. I was not able to get invested and believe anything about the characters and the story. For the most part of the book until we reached like 80% I was a bit bored and even though I did not mind the ending it was still not something that blew me away or a book I would reread.
August 22, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy.
Okay. This is a fast paced, kinda twisty book. Honestly it seems like everything happened so fast. Where as other books I've read with the same MO take its time. I did not believe in Sigruns love or romance. Seemed bland
And it developed quickly. After I read this I even went back through and skimmed and still felt dissatisfied. Just doesn't hold up to the potential it had if the author had taken her time with it. I gave it 2.5 stars bc I loved the mystery surrounding it what little it had.
Okay. This is a fast paced, kinda twisty book. Honestly it seems like everything happened so fast. Where as other books I've read with the same MO take its time. I did not believe in Sigruns love or romance. Seemed bland
And it developed quickly. After I read this I even went back through and skimmed and still felt dissatisfied. Just doesn't hold up to the potential it had if the author had taken her time with it. I gave it 2.5 stars bc I loved the mystery surrounding it what little it had.
January 25, 2022
Hold My Place follows Sigrun, a librarian famous for her sense of humor and goth look, who falls madly in love with Edgar Leyward, a celebrity chef and a married man. Is it really an affair if they only connect on an emotional level and never a physical one while Edgar is married?
Pandemic happened and Edgar's wife, Octavia dies due to COVID. Suddenly, Sigrun finds herself in a whirlwind romance and is soon married to Edgar. Bit by bit, she starts losing her personality, herself in this marriage.
Rating: 2.5/5🌟
This was an atmospheric, intriguing and weird book. It started strongly, the gothic style prose is easy to get into. However, the execution's a bit meh. in the middle, the pacing started to slow down yet there's a lot of things happening at the same time which does not go together well. Character-wise, I did not connect with anyone including Sigrun, she's that kind of character where "I'm not the same with other girls" and always trying to find other girls' flaws which is definitely not my thing.
Overall, Hold My Place is an okay read for me. If you like atmospheric books with mystery, romance and paranormal elements, you might enjoy this.
Thank you so much, Black Spot Books for the DRC via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
Pandemic happened and Edgar's wife, Octavia dies due to COVID. Suddenly, Sigrun finds herself in a whirlwind romance and is soon married to Edgar. Bit by bit, she starts losing her personality, herself in this marriage.
Rating: 2.5/5🌟
This was an atmospheric, intriguing and weird book. It started strongly, the gothic style prose is easy to get into. However, the execution's a bit meh. in the middle, the pacing started to slow down yet there's a lot of things happening at the same time which does not go together well. Character-wise, I did not connect with anyone including Sigrun, she's that kind of character where "I'm not the same with other girls" and always trying to find other girls' flaws which is definitely not my thing.
Overall, Hold My Place is an okay read for me. If you like atmospheric books with mystery, romance and paranormal elements, you might enjoy this.
Thank you so much, Black Spot Books for the DRC via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
June 27, 2023
This was just really not good. It had potential and then the ending ruined it fully.
August 10, 2021
You have to give it to the author, she writes in gothic prose like she was of the century. The use of the prose and gothic mystique aided in creating a mysterious cloud around the storyline which for the most part was great. Sometimes I felt like the author did wax on a little too much but it didn’t ever feel like she got off topic for too long.
The storyline on and of itself was good, creepy, mysterious, and has a little bit of horror moments thrown in.
The novel itself is set during the pandemic. This can be a trigger for some.
I received a copy from netgalley for review.
The storyline on and of itself was good, creepy, mysterious, and has a little bit of horror moments thrown in.
The novel itself is set during the pandemic. This can be a trigger for some.
I received a copy from netgalley for review.
July 12, 2022
I find it hard to classify this book. It is a romance, but it has also touches of fantasy and horror and paranormal happenings. It’s very cleverly done though, and I just loved Sigrun. Because of her name, and her way of expressing herself and the way she falls head over heels for Edward. A short book, very well written with in a unique style and with a few surprises at the end. I would love to read more of this author!
August 1, 2021
I’m not sure what I think of this book.
It began strong with Sigrun, a librarian, falling for Edgar, a handsome but married man. It’s a mix of a thriller and romance with gothic tones.
However, the book seemed to be uneven to me. It should have been longer to flesh out the plot and character development. I felt as though we were told the ending but didn’t get build-up for it.
Thanks to Netgalley for the read.
It began strong with Sigrun, a librarian, falling for Edgar, a handsome but married man. It’s a mix of a thriller and romance with gothic tones.
However, the book seemed to be uneven to me. It should have been longer to flesh out the plot and character development. I felt as though we were told the ending but didn’t get build-up for it.
Thanks to Netgalley for the read.
August 4, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for this book!
This one was a little weird, but in a good way. I had the feeling throughout there just wasn't something quite right about Sigrun's love. I won't go into details as clearly that's a spoiler. I just had a feeling early on. It was so fast, nearly flawless and a massive lot of life milestone steps with seemingly little to no drama. Then boom. All the drama in the last few chapters. I couldn't figure out if the novel was leaning towards realism or something more paranormal and the story line and main character give nothing away in this respect either till the conclusion. I'm just not sure how I felt about it. Slightly cheated maybe? Maybe the twist was too twisty? Maybe I'm just boring!
However, the book was written very eloquently and you can tell the author has a love for words and prose. A poet, at times it made me question my own intelligence and education levels wondering if people so actually write letters like this! I don't have the flare for elegancy so look on in wonder with a touch of confusion.
Overall 3.5 or 3.75 stars as I just didn't love the ending.
:)
TheWeeBookLady. X
This one was a little weird, but in a good way. I had the feeling throughout there just wasn't something quite right about Sigrun's love. I won't go into details as clearly that's a spoiler. I just had a feeling early on. It was so fast, nearly flawless and a massive lot of life milestone steps with seemingly little to no drama. Then boom. All the drama in the last few chapters. I couldn't figure out if the novel was leaning towards realism or something more paranormal and the story line and main character give nothing away in this respect either till the conclusion. I'm just not sure how I felt about it. Slightly cheated maybe? Maybe the twist was too twisty? Maybe I'm just boring!
However, the book was written very eloquently and you can tell the author has a love for words and prose. A poet, at times it made me question my own intelligence and education levels wondering if people so actually write letters like this! I don't have the flare for elegancy so look on in wonder with a touch of confusion.
Overall 3.5 or 3.75 stars as I just didn't love the ending.
:)
TheWeeBookLady. X
February 3, 2022
Very effective modern take on gothic mystery as our librarian heroine, Sigrun, finds herself drawn irresistibly to a magnetic yet enigmatic couple, Edgar and Octavia, and ends up entangled in their lives. When Octavia dies unexpectedly, will Sigrun take her place in Edgar's life in more ways than one?
I enjoyed the use of language in this short novel, the kind of purplish prose you'd expect from classic ghost stories, although it may not be to every reader's taste. The author is an accomplished writer who knows how to set a scene and keep the plot moving while teasing the reader with hints at the central secret. Thought-provoking examination of both obsession and the struggle of maintaining a sense of self in a controlling relationship.
One small quibble: there are excerpts from letters which were reproduced in the ebook version I read in a script font that I found hard to read. I would have preferred simple italicization instead but this is a minor concern in an entertaining read. This is also the first book I've read that incorporates the start of the pandemic in 2020 into the plot. It adds a shot of reality and also serves as a reminder and record of the feel of those early days of the crisis. Recommend this one for lovers of psychological thrillers with a healthy dose of traditional gothic/ghost literature.
I enjoyed the use of language in this short novel, the kind of purplish prose you'd expect from classic ghost stories, although it may not be to every reader's taste. The author is an accomplished writer who knows how to set a scene and keep the plot moving while teasing the reader with hints at the central secret. Thought-provoking examination of both obsession and the struggle of maintaining a sense of self in a controlling relationship.
One small quibble: there are excerpts from letters which were reproduced in the ebook version I read in a script font that I found hard to read. I would have preferred simple italicization instead but this is a minor concern in an entertaining read. This is also the first book I've read that incorporates the start of the pandemic in 2020 into the plot. It adds a shot of reality and also serves as a reminder and record of the feel of those early days of the crisis. Recommend this one for lovers of psychological thrillers with a healthy dose of traditional gothic/ghost literature.
February 2, 2022
When librarian Sigrun falls head-over-heels for the sophisticated and very married Edgar Leyward, she never expects to find herself in his bed—or his heart. Nevertheless, when his enigmatic wife Octavia dies from a sudden illness, Sigrun finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance worthy of the most lurid novels on her bookshelves. Sigrun soon discovers Octavia wasn't Edgar's first lost love, or even his second. Three women Edgar has loved met early deaths. As she delves into her beloved's past through a trove of discovered letters, the edges of Sigrun identity begin to disappear, fading into the women of the past. Sigrun tells herself it's impossible for any dark magic to be at play—that the dead can't possibly inhabit the bodies of the living—but something shadowy stalks the halls of the Leyward house and the lines between the love of the present and the obsessions of the past become increasingly blurred—and bloody.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own hone\st voluntary review.
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own hone\st voluntary review.
January 20, 2022
Hold My Place is a horror/thriller novella that will make your mind race with possibilities. It follows Sigrun, a lady in her early thirties who works at her local library, as the head librarian (every book worms dream). She meets the incredibly handsome Edgar and cannot believe her luck when he reciprocates her feelings. That is until she finds out he is married, to a beautiful woman called Octavia. However, tragedy strikes and Octavia dies from a deadly virus that is plaguing the world. Although tragic, Sigrun can finally have Edgar. The love of her life. She finds out that all three of Edgar’s lovers have died, and that he has a collection of letters and items from each woman. Sigrun soon become consumed with finding out everything about the women Edgar has loved, most of her waking thoughts are about the women and the man that possesses her completely. However, a niggling feeling keeps cropping up at the back of her mind, making her suspicious. But why?
This book is all about obsession, possession and life after death. A fast paced read that will have you hanging on the edge of your seat. The end is where all the horror is at, it felt more of a thriller until those last few pages. Please note the triggers for this book which include a deadly virus.
This book is all about obsession, possession and life after death. A fast paced read that will have you hanging on the edge of your seat. The end is where all the horror is at, it felt more of a thriller until those last few pages. Please note the triggers for this book which include a deadly virus.
September 10, 2021
The title term evokes all the clubs & get togethers one goes/went to with all the pageantry & shenanigans encompassed.
Story is told from the point of view of a woman in her 30s still holding on to her Goth lifestyle & comfortable with being alone rather than settling for less, or at least not looking for any permanent, live-in commitments. There's a reigning edge of bitter snap in her independence that she plays out with style in her role as librarian Goth rebel. She goes to a get together from work & the chef who doesn't acknowledge her has every fiber in her being strumming. The plunge starts & she joins his cooking class filled with likeminded though entirely different women. Naturally he is married.
The obsession blooms like a nightshade, beautiful, deadly, velvet soft & fragile but also evokes cold, sharp like broken glass cutting through skin & the running blood warm dripping down as you watch it spatter & curse yourself for not being more careful. This turns into a taunt & she loss herself in his reality & past. The author is good & feel she could have flashed out more in the end.
Story is told from the point of view of a woman in her 30s still holding on to her Goth lifestyle & comfortable with being alone rather than settling for less, or at least not looking for any permanent, live-in commitments. There's a reigning edge of bitter snap in her independence that she plays out with style in her role as librarian Goth rebel. She goes to a get together from work & the chef who doesn't acknowledge her has every fiber in her being strumming. The plunge starts & she joins his cooking class filled with likeminded though entirely different women. Naturally he is married.
The obsession blooms like a nightshade, beautiful, deadly, velvet soft & fragile but also evokes cold, sharp like broken glass cutting through skin & the running blood warm dripping down as you watch it spatter & curse yourself for not being more careful. This turns into a taunt & she loss herself in his reality & past. The author is good & feel she could have flashed out more in the end.
Read
April 26, 2022Did Cassondra have me at, “The heroine is a goth librarian?” Yes. Yes, she did. :) And was the book a deliciously dark romp that I couldn’t put down? YES IT WAS! It was so hauntingly beautiful that I found myself both entertained and thoroughly unnerved. How far is TOO far, for someone you love? Where does one draw the line at making sacrifices for your partner, and completely losing one’s self? The prose is gorgeous, and I found the author’s wry observations about what life was like in the pandemic were both funny and painfully true. Windwalker takes the Hot Chef Romance trope and turns it on its head. From page one this story quickly sinks its teeth into you, and doesn’t let go. I will also say, without spoiling, that this story is just the kind of dark romance I enjoy—the heroine gets her taste of danger, (Oh boy, does she!), but in the end she prevails. I highly recommend this one!
February 7, 2022
This book isn’t my usual genre but something about the synopsis of this mystery/thriller/horror just stood out to me and made me want to read it desperately and I’m so glad it did. This book pulls you in from the synopsis, never mind the first page, it’s fast paced and so gripping you won’t be able to put it down. Cassandra’s writing style is brilliant, the narrative is so clever too, the fact I couldn’t put down a genre I don’t usually read or am that happy reading is a testament to that, the writing is so good along with the story that I wanted more when it had ended, even with all the horror towards the end (no spoilers here). The main theme of obsession and trying to hold onto a sense of control is so well done , it’s highly atmospheric and almost unsettling at times, wonderful sense of mystery all the way through I found myself questioning and double guessing myself constantly. Completely wonderful short read that I am still reeling from that end. Fantastic
For full disclosure I was given a free copy of an e-book in return for an honest review, all opinions are my own and freely given. Thank you to black crow publishing, the author, black spot books for a chance to read this book.
For full disclosure I was given a free copy of an e-book in return for an honest review, all opinions are my own and freely given. Thank you to black crow publishing, the author, black spot books for a chance to read this book.
March 12, 2022
This was a quick read. A fast paced, bizarre romance that kept me intrigued and the ending-OMG! Windwalker's descriptive writing and dialogue were contemporary and relatable. And when I say contemporary, folks-I'm talking during Covid! Masks on, clothes optional! ;) A few kinky love scenes were tucked in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews