Marionette

by Antonia Rachel Ward

On the run from a life of prostitution and poverty, exotic dancer Cece Dulac agrees to become the main attraction at an erotic séance hosted by an enigmatic mesmerist, Monsieur Rossignol. As the séance descends into depravity, Cece falls prey to Rossignol’s hypnotic power and becomes possessed by a malevolent spirit.

George Dashwood, an aspiring artist, witnesses the séance and fears for Cece. He seeks her out and she seduces him, but she is no longer herself. The spirit controlling her forces her to commit increasingly depraved acts. When the spirit’s desire for revenge escalates to murder, George and Cece must find a way to break Rossignol’s spell before Cece’s soul is condemned forever.

Marionette is an erotic horror novella inspired by traditional folk tales and set in fin de siècle Paris.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Novella, Erotica, Dark

100 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 16, 2022

About the author

Antonia Rachel Ward is an author of horror and speculative fiction, based in Cambridgeshire, UK. Her short stories and poetry have been published by or are forthcoming with Flame Tree Press, the British Science Fiction Association, and Dark Recesses, among others. She is the author of two novellas, MARIONETTE and ATTACK OF THE KILLER TUMBLEWEEDS, and her first novel, DREAMSCAPE, was published in October 2023.

She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Ghost Orchid Press.

Reviews

[Gabrielle (Reading Rampage) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the famous words of George Takei, oh my! This little novella was a wonderful surprise! Not that I had any doubt that a fantasy/horror erotic novella set in Belle Époque Paris wouldn’t be fun – how could it not – but this one exceeded my expectations.

George Dashwood arrives in Paris with the ambition to be an artist, but he has barely had the time to pick up a paintbrush before a friend takes him to see a show unlike anything he has seen before: the notorious Cécile Dulac, a lovely country girl turned erotic dancer has George instantly smitten. To see more of Cécile, he attends a strange party, where a man hypnotizes Cece and one of her fellow dancers, urges spirits to possess their bodies, and uses the control of the mesmerism to make them perform titillating acts for the benefit of the other party attendees. When Cécile comes to, she can barely remember the evening, but she also begins to lose control over some of her actions, as if her body was not entirely hers anymore and someone else was pulling the strings. George tries to help her, and in doing so, gets caught up in a much more sinister and dangerous intrigue than he could have imagined when he left London.

This little story checks many boxes for me, and happens to be some of the most enjoyable erotica I’ve had the pleasure to read in a long time. It’s a tricky genre: you don’t want to get too clinical, too silly or too exploitative. Antonia Rachel Ward toes that line very skilfully, and uses the period-appropriate dirty language perfectly. And while the whole hypnotism/possession aspect means the lines of consent are blurred a little at times, they are never broken.

I have to nitpick at a few details that kept this sweet treat from getting a full 5 stars. First off, I might be a bit greedy when it comes to all the themes, but I wanted more of this story. Like a good extra hundred pages, more atmosphere and setting building, and definitely more smut. A little more room would have also allowed for more character development, which would have made the story richer. And while I get that there are some genre staples, especially with a setting like the demi-monde of Paris in the late 1800s, the innocent English artist from the straight-laced good London society falling in love with the French courtesan with a heart of gold and smouldering sexual magnetism is just a hair too much of a cliché (a very enjoyable cliché, granted, but still a cliché); it makes the unfolding of some events a bit too predictable. But these are minor quibbles: I enjoyed every page, immediately ordered a paperback copy and I hope that Miss Ward writes many more stories like this one.

[Shannara · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this wasn’t bad… but it wasn’t really good either. 2 1/2 stars rounded up. Beware of a few light spoilers…

There were a few things that I thought were interesting, such as the base storyline. How interesting to hypnotize a victim and have a ghost possess her. Throw in some hot sex and it should have been good to go!! But it was all crammed into such a short story that I think things are lacking. The characters were underdeveloped and the sex scenes were just brushed over so quickly. I feel like if you’re going to have a sex scene, then really have one. Let’s hear the raunchy details!! But that’s just me.

It was also a bit bizarrely gory. Not in like a good way either. In like a, what did I just read kind of way. I am game for some gore in a book that’s done well, but this went way too far off the deep end for my tastes.

So I do not recommend this one.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 stars!

Trigger warnings:
- References to suicide
- Violence
- Mutilation
- Dubcon

What I liked about the book:
1. That cover is gorgeous! It gives me pin up + Rob Zombie feels.

2. It was a super quick read as it’s a novella.

3. I loved the descriptions in this book, as well as the Paris setting. It was all very pretty to read. It had a very Moulin Rouge! feel to it, especially with George being a sweet artist and Cece being the starlet.

4. I also liked the mystical/paranormal feel to it. It was simple enough to not be convoluted, but enough of a story to want to see it through to the end.

What could have been better:
1. More time spent developing the characters would have had me more invested in them.

2. The romance really felt one-sided, which I didn't enjoy as I found George to be a sweetie.

3. This book was marketed as erotica, but I personally didn’t see it that way. Yes, there is sex and some taboo things, but nothing crazy that I haven’t seen in books purely marketed as romance. This tag is a bit of a stretch.

4. The ending was pretty jarring. I felt there was so much build up for a sudden change of plans on Selena’s part and everything came crashing down super fast. I would have appreciated not having a shock happen in the last 20 pages or so, as it just felt dizzying and out of place.

5. Most disappointing was I got the feel from the synopsis that Cece and George would be working together to solve the mystery, but there was barely any interaction between the two. I was looking for partners solving a mystery and I didn't get that.

Special thank you to NetGalley, Brigids Gate Press, LLC., and Antonia Rachel Ward for the opportunity to read this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marionette is a horror novella with a little side of erotica and a whole lot of insta-love.

George is a young man, freshly arrived in Paris to work on his art. His dad instructs him to stay away from women. Focus on your work! Women are nothing but a seductive distraction! So what does George go and do? He falls head over heels in LOVE with the first beautiful woman he sees and finds himself embroiled in an unimaginable scenario and spends the rest of the story wanting to save his true love. Oh George you poor besotted fool. You really should’ve listened to dad on this one, lol.

If you’ve read a few of my reviews you might know that the insta-love trope drives me a bit ahhh! but it’s only because I’ve read a million romances that use this instant connection in lieu of a well-developed relationship. It bugs the hell out of me (usually) in a romance because the developing romance is the entire reason I’m there. Anyhow, it’s here but because this is a horror novella I was able to let George and his intense feelings slide a bit even though I can’t deny that every one of his declarations of love made me cringe down to my very toes.

His love is dancer Cece but alas Rossignol, the Prince of Debauchery, takes an interest in her as well and no one can say no to the Prince of Debauchery (and why would you?) so George is immediately in way over his head but wait because it gets worse for George and for Cece! During a dark and strange command performance at a party Rossignol hosts, something odd happens to Cece and I can’t tell you what it is without spoilers but it’s disturbing and leads to sexy times that are mostly dub/non-con so get ready to run if that’s not your thing.

I liked this book but it would’ve been even better had a few things been fleshed out a bit more. There isn’t a lot of room to get to know the characters or feel for their plight because things happen so quickly. With that said, I enjoyed reading it and there were some moments that I absolutely adored and one moment of violence that was such a pleasure to read. I’ll definitely check out future work written by this author.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ "You men always think that women who want more are evil. All she wants is to live the life that was stolen from her."

A tantalising, salacious and gripping horror novella! No idea why I thought this was a horror graphic novella (maybe because of the stunning cover, which remains me of Junji Ito's work) but I'm so glad I gave this a chance as I really enjoyed it.

I loved the Parisian setting, which comes to life here. The story took me by surprise with some of its twists and revelations. I definitely didn't see the end coming despite foreshadowing in the opening chapter but I'm here for it! Though personally I would have given George a very different ending 😬

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this unique and alluring story about women reclaiming their strength and power. Shame about the lacklustre reviews, especially those that DNF as the last few chapters are the best parts of the story! You'll definitely need to read the entire book to understand the author's intention behind the first half.

Totally gonna be looking out for more from Antonia Rachel Ward!

Thank you to Brigids Gate Press and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and sexy gem that doesn’t overstay its welcome, Marionette was a delightful little palate cleanser in-between lengthier reads.

This is my second NetGalley selection for review, and though I love (and plan on reviewing) many disparate genres, I clearly did not stray far from my predilection for horror. Although I’d not heard of Antonia Rachel Ward prior to requesting this book, I was passingly familiar with the Ghost Orchid Press imprint which she founded and edits for. With that minor familiarity in place, I figured that my enjoyment of Marionette would be nearly assured. Needless to say, if felt good to be correct!

I also feel it’s important to support small & independent publishers and authors as often as possible. Over the past two years, I have read many an indie offering that was far more enjoyable and/or original than the output coming from established publishing houses. Reviews are an indie author’s lifeblood, and I am happy to do my part in bringing recognition to folks who deserve it.

As with all my reviews, I will attempt to keep spoilers to a minimum. My reasoning for this is two-fold; first, I firmly believe that books of any and all genres are simply more enjoyable when the reader goes in blind, stripped of all preconceived notions and expectations; and second, out of respect for the author, who spent countless hours crafting their tale. Robbing stories of their intended impact, in my opinion, is a considerable disservice to the person who penned them. As such, if it’s not mentioned in the official synopsis, I will do my level best to avoid mentioning it here.

Let’s get the technical aspects out of the way first; Marionette is an erotic supernatural historical thriller (whew…taking a breath) featuring two POV characters, told in third-person past tense, and clocking in around 27,000 words.

Now, we all know that we aren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover…but we are all guilty of doing just that. And, if I am judging Marionette by its artwork (in violation of all known literary laws)…then I am judging it quite worthy indeed! Daniella Batsheva’s artwork is simply gorgeous…full stop. There’s an erotic tarot feel to it that I think fits the subject matter perfectly. No digital manipulation; no photo-realism; just sexy art atop a sexy book

As for the content underneath said cover, one thing that cannot be understated is Antonia Rachel Ward’s prowess at crafting a compelling storyline. She has a clear and concise narrative voice, with flowing prose and vivid descriptors that never quite devolve into the dreaded purple realm. She manages to evoke the feeling of the time period without making readers run for the thesaurus. No small feat, that.

Sumptuous descriptions abound, but word repetition is nonexistent, which helps each location, encounter, and event feel unique. Naturally, this is easier to pull off with a smaller work like this, but it’s still worth noting. In a market where many indie authors revert to the same words ad nauseum, it’s refreshing to read something so consistently “new” from start to finish.

Of course, given Antonia’s pedigree as an editor, none of this should be surprising.

There are two main characters in Marionette; French country girl turned exotic dancer Cecile Dulac and George Dashwood, a young Englishman travelling to Paris for a working holiday. Cecile is definitely the more (ahem) fleshed out of the two. In fact, though I understand their inclusion, George’s chapters are very nearly superfluous. This is Cecile’s story through and through, and she’s an interesting enough character, though the novella’s length prevents us from ever getting overly familiar with her.

It’s the same for the supporting characters, both friend and foe alike. They add flavor to the narrative, and we get the briefest of snippets as to what makes them tick, but that’s about it. As such, Marionette is more a plot/encounter driven narrative than a character driven one.

But what fun those encounters are! The concept of ravenous spirits is nothing new, but that these ghosts hunger for the sins of the flesh instead of death & dismemberment is a welcome break from convention. To mention any more would be to delve into spoiler territory, so I’ll leave it at that.

For those who want/need to know, there is some vaguely non-consensual bumping and grinding happening in Marionette. There are trigger warnings included at the back of the book, one of which is the catch-all warning of “some sex scenes of dubious consent”, but I believe that statement needs to be a little stronger. While the characters do consent to the initial encounters, things escalate in such a way that they cross over into decidedly non-consensual territory. Or, maybe more accurately, unanticipated and never initially specified territory. Considering that this is a work of quasi-erotic fiction, I had no problem with these scenes. But for those who are sensitive to the subject matter, reader discretion is advised.

Maybe it’s because I’m not quite the target demographic, but I found Marionette to be both refreshing and rewarding. True, it doesn’t delve into either the horror or the erotica themes as deeply as it could, but then I believe that was by design. This is, in my estimation, a slightly dark and twisted little riff on the classic fairytales, one that captures the feel while straying into naughtier territory.

In fact, in an era where everyone wants more moRE MORE, I find it comforting that a few authors are perfectly content with a little restraint. For the hardcore smut junkies out there (judgement free zone here, there is NO shame in that game), the options are vast. For folks who want just a little bit of taboo titillation with their transcendent terror, the pickings are a fair bit slimmer. So kudos to Ms. Ward for taking the path less travelled. Imagination is a powerful thing, and I always admire when an author allows us readers to flex ours from time to time.

Nitpicks are scarce but must still be mentioned.

As commented on earlier, this is a story that plays it safe with both the naughty bits and the spooky bits. While I was fine with this, it appears that much of the interwebs are not. People either wanted more smut and less horror, more horror and less smut, or just more of everything. Given that this is a novella, there were only so many pages that could be filled, and I personally was glad that it focused more on the story than the rest. Your own mileage may vary.

Also, the central romance is also hastily assembled, feeling more tacked on than anything. It certainly does not feel earned. Now, in my admittedly limited experience, those statements seem to describe about 90% of fictional romances out there, both in literature and on celluloid. But it still bears a mention. I get that Marionette takes place in an era when gentlemen were supposed to protect their ladies, but George goes from zero to sixty in that department in no time flat. It’s a tough pill to swallow.

Lastly, the entire affair wraps up just a tad too quickly. I’m all about a book not overstaying its welcome, but I think Marionette could have benefitted from just a few more pages at the end.

Is it a short tale? Undeniably yes. And though I can see Marionette being expanded with relative ease (and I sincerely hope that Antonia does just that), I’m not going to ding the book for being petite. Especially since I was aware of that fact going in. Yes, I like big books and I cannot lie…but I am fond of little books just as much. Each has their place and purpose.

If R rated supernatural adventures are more your speed, or you just need a break from the XXX creature content, I recommend checking out Marionette. It was an enjoyable diversion to be sure!

[warhawke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Erotic Horror
Type: Standalone novella
POV: Third person
Rating:




Cecile (Cece) Dulac left her past behind and quickly rose as the most sought-after dancer in Paris. When given the opportunity to perform at one of the most famous parties in town, she took it, not knowing how it’d affect her life.



I was attracted to this book by the erotic horror genre. While I like the premise, the execution could be better.

The horror aspect worked, but the erotic parts were too brief and mechanical. The characters needed better development, and the romantic connection was nonexistent. I liked the villain. Unfortunately, the ending undermined the character.

Marionette is a tale of testing boundaries and vengeance. It might appeal to readers looking for a quick horror read exploring the occult.





✖️🔮✖️. . . (F)BR with Twinsie CC . . .✖️🔮✖️





For more reviews/interviews/book talk/promo visit:

[Heather Daughrity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the first thing that must be said about this book is how stunningly beautiful that cover is. Artist Danielle Batsheva did an amazing job creating the portrait of main character Cecile Dulac in a way which reminds me of an illustration in an old book of fairy stories, a theater poster, and a stained-glass window all at once.

This is a short story - just over one hundred pages - with a striking impact. George Dashwood has just arrived in Paris at the turn-of-the-century (that's last century, not this one) to further his artistic ambitions by studying painting and crafting a masterpiece or two of his own. On the night of his arrival, however, his friend Bastian waylays those plans by taking him to a show at the Palais Theatre, and introducing him to its star attraction: Cecile Dulac.

Things quickly get weird and wild as the rich and beautiful people of Paris take part in strange and erotic seances, and George, gentleman that he is, falls immediately in love with Cecile and determines to save her from this strange and dangerous life she's fallen into. Possession, murder, and endless debauchery follow as Cecile weakens under the sway of the unscrupulous man who has hypnotized her. In the end, will George's love and willpower be strong enough to save her... and himself?

This book reminded me very much of the setting of The Phantom of the Opera, only much more erotic and with a hint of the supernatural. There are dancing girls and garter belts, masquerade balls and gilded furniture aplenty. This is, in a way, a bit of a fairy tale, a quick story with archetypal characters and a lesson to be learned in the end - though I'll leave it to you to discover that lesson for yourself.

A fast read (it took me an hour and a half from start to finish) but so well-written that you won't feel cheated on the story, this one will appeal to those who love fractured fairy tales, period pieces, and hints of mesmerism and feminist vengeance.

[Zach Rosenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first official sampling of Antonia Rachel Ward's work is the erotic gothic horror novel Marionette and I'm pleased to say it's a solid one.

Cecily "Cece" Dulac is a dancer in Paris, a former small-town prostitute following in her aunt's footsteps in high society. Alone, Cece finds herself lured to a seance by one Monsieur Rossignol that ends up changing her life in the worst ways, with a spirit named Selena inhabiting her body. George Dashwood is an aspiring artist who falls for Cece and finds himself wrapped up in the haunting.

Ward's writing is very good. Lyrical, haunting and perfectly suited for the gothic tradition, as well as the blending of the erotic. Some of the happenings are truly and genuinely disturbing, such as Cece waking up after a seance with her body abused and her having no idea how the bruises got there. Cece begins to lose herself, subsumed into Selena as Selena seizes more control. The downside of the novel is that while the characters are intriguing, the length doesn't allow them the time to shine that they deserve. Cece and George's romance has little time to develop, and George himself ends up somewhat flat in comparison to Cece and others around him, particularly Cece and Selena.

The horror of being trapped in one's own body is detailed explicitly, however. The sequences of Cece forced to experience what Selena does, to be bound by her, and in no control are genuinely frightening. Ward lays out a conspiracy along with a surprisingly sympathetic villain when all is revealed, and the pieces of the plot end up connecting rather masterfully to her credit by the end.

Overall, despite being rough about the edges, it's a very well done book and I look forward to what Ward does next.

[Rae Knowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marionette blends eroticism and horror beautifully. The plot was compelling enough that I read the entire novella in one sitting. The imagery is vivid, the characters are vibrant, and the horrors are terrifying. Well done!

Thank you to Brigids Gate and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Catherine McCarthy]

Immaculately written, engrossing and sensuous. I loved the historic setting of seedy Paris and the way in which the supernatural elements were portrayed.
As a novella, it's a quick read, and I don't understand why people choose a novella then complain about it being short. To me, you get what you came for.
P.S I would like to give a mention to the enticing cover, too, as it's beautifully done.

[nastia · Rating 2 out of 5]

i liked the imagery and the rich descriptions, but i found the story a bit too simple for what it could be, or what i had expected. also i thought the gore would be extra since the sex was extra but i was let down.

( received this through netgalley! thank you! )

[Vittoria's Readings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The reasons why I decided to read this novel are definitely the gorgeous cover and the intriguing plot.
After I read it I can tell you that it was worth it.
The story is weird (in a good way) and kept me entertained the whole time.

The book is narrated from three different points of view! Initially I was afraid it would be confusing but it is absolutely not the case. The author was very good at developing the story through the characters!

The only thing that didn't convince me 100% was the too predictable ending. Being an extravagant story I was expecting something more.

[Beca ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded to 4

What a sexy and spooky gem this is! First that cover… holy swoon! Second, beware of triggers. The story follows Cece an exotic dancer that is tricked into being possessed for a show. From there you go down the sexy and bloody path of Cece fighting to get back the control over her body. Overall this was a quick and vivid read.

[Mandy Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marionette by Antonia Rachel Ward is an erotic horror novella inspired by traditional folk tales and set in fin de siècle Paris.

Fleeing a life of poverty and prostitution, exotic dancer Cece Dulac agrees to play assistant to an erotic séance hosted by an enigmatic mesmerist, Monsieur Rossignol. As the séance plunges into perversion, Cece falls prey to Rossignol's hypnotic power and becomes possessed by a malevolent spirit and a cursed gemstone.

George Dashwood, an aspiring artist, witnesses the séance and fears for Cece. He seeks her out and she seduces him, but she is no longer herself. The spirit controlling her forces her to commit increasingly depraved acts. When the spirit’s desire for revenge escalates to murder, George and Cece must find a way to break Rossignol’s spell before Cece’s soul is condemned forever.

I found this book devilish, depraved, and delicious.

Thank you to Brigids Gate Press for sending me an Advance Reading Copy of this title. All opinions are my own.

[Sarah Budd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this book the moment I saw this blurb. I have a weird obsession with all things Parisian and when you throw in a seance with malevolent spirits into the fold, bingo! That is my kind of book!

We follow the tale of George Dashwood who has come to Paris to realise his dreams of being an artist, he's very young and naive and it doesn't take him long to get caught up with the wrong sort of people when he is invited to an infamous seance.

I think I read this in one sitting late into the night. It's fast paced but also utterly terrifying especially for Cece, George's love interest. I don't want to say too much about the plot and spoil it for those yet to read but it's great fun and I can't wait to see what Antonia Rachel Ward writes up next!

[Escapereality4now · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marionette is a horror novella with a touch of erotica.

“Marionette” was set in the 1800s Paris. The clothes, venues, and overall environment gave me Moulin Rouge vibes. The cover art sets the tone for this period.

Cece, the main character, is a lifelong erotic dancer. She agrees to take part in a mysterious show by one of the most powerful men, Monsieur Rossignol. What could go wrong?! 😆.

Meanwhile, George is a young man who arrived in Paris to pursue on his art. His dad instructs him to stay away from women and focus on his art. Women are a distraction! So, George falls in love with the first beautiful woman he sees. The rest of the tale follows George on his mission to save his love interest.

Marionette was my first Gothic erotic horror story. It was an experience. The story was told in multiple points of view. The author transitioned well between the characters. The story flowed smoothly.

As this was a horror novella, I was expecting more depth to the story. There was not enough depth to it. It almost felt like the story was skimming the surface. The book tackled some serious sexual topics like rape and molestation. Since this was a horror novella, I was expecting that the dark topics would have been addressed better as part of the story.

Additionally, this story had a few plot holes which really affected continuity. I don’t want to go into these because they are spoilers.

The story flowed at a good pace and had a predictable ending. I did love the story as a whole. I like Antonia’s character. Furthermore, I loved watching George fight for his true love. “Marionette” was a fun, short read.

[Pernille · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was different...

A quick read
Ye old "dirty" France
Aristocrats and showgirls
Magic and ghosts
Love and revenge

I have not read anything like this before - but it worked for me.
It was trilling, surprising and a little bit romantic.

[Steph Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I loved this little novella about a possessed exotic dancer. The setting was incredible. It's a sliver of time in Paris I wish I could visit, but obviously cannot. So, when an author does it justice, as Ward has done here, I'm thrilled. It felt period-specific, not at all like someone living in 2022 wrote it. (Except that it was much, much more immediately engaging than say, George Du Maurier or the like. And yes, for me, MARIONETTE definitely channeled TRILBY, but with a twist, which I also loved.)

I liked Cece's character and while MARIONETTE was perhaps too short to explore every facet of every character (it's a novella, remember), the ending felt right, character arcs complete. Especially considering how things played out and what discoveries we make as readers toward the end. I loved the ending, actually. I'm here for a revenge story, I'm here for female bodily autonomy, and I'm here for females NOT being pitted against each other in service of men.

I'm more familiar with horror than with erotica as a genre, so I'm probably not the best one to speak to this, but I felt the balance between the two was done well. It had sexy hotness AND story. Never one at the expense of the other. This was my first Ward read and I can't wait to read more from her!

Thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for an advanced reader copy of this novella.

[Beatrix Starling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short gothic supernatural horror novel - and i thoroughly enjoyed it!
A bit baffled at the present low ratings, but it happens a lot, we all like different things.
Marionette was a well rounded story set in the seedy Parisian society of the (1800s?). Atmospheric and sexy, the story flows easily with a great writing style. It felt well paced, and the characters well built.
Sadly the arc i got from Netgalley (much appreciated) did not contain the illustrations, I'm sure they added to the story.
I would readily recommend this book for lovers of the old style supernatural and sexy stories.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the run from a life of prostitution and poverty, exotic dancer Cece Dulac agrees to become the main attraction at an erotic séance hosted by an enigmatic mesmerist, Monsieur Rossignol. As the séance descends into depravity, Cece falls prey to Rossignol’s hypnotic power and becomes possessed by a malevolent spirit.

George Dashwood, an aspiring artist, witnesses the séance and fears for Cece. He seeks her out and she seduces him, but she is no longer herself. The spirit controlling her forces her to commit increasingly depraved acts. When the spirit’s desire for revenge escalates to murder, George and Cece must find a way to break Rossignol’s spell before Cece’s soul is condemned forever.

I expected something completely different. The story is well written, but I don't think it will be to everyone's taste. Personally I didn't like the mix of paranormal and erotica.
But if you like ghost stories and want something spicy, this one might interest you. There are several scenes that are a bit gory, but I've read much nastier stuff in other kinds of books. Likewise, the mix of blood and sex is a constant, in case you're not comfortable with the mix of gratuitous violence and character titillation.

Other things that can make you dislike the story are the treatment of women and, in my case, the solution to all the problems with love, which came about in a day and a half and with hardly any conversation.
Even if the story wasn't for me, I don't think it was badly written or badly developed. It is 100 pages long, if it catches your attention give it a chance, you might end up loving it.

[Lil Bookish Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have very mixed feelings about this one to be honest. And it’s definitely not terrible but it wasn’t amazing it was just okay.
The characters were interesting and their motivations were understandable but I did feel like the insta love for George to Cece didn’t make Mitch sense but I can over look that since it’s a novella and it’s hard to build romantic relationships in such a short space.
The setting was perfect the olden days France really brought an atmospheric vibe to the whole story which I loved.
The spice wasn’t very spicy just very dark more horror that erotica to be honest
But the plot was so twisty and interesting I read this in one go and I’m glad I found it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Brigid Gate Press for an E-ARC of this novella.

[Librarian Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting quick read. The concept alone could have made for a bigger novel. However, I understand why it's a short story, if I took more than 1 day to read this I probably would have gotten bored or would have been less invested. I was intrigued by the possibilities of how the story would end. The concept reminded me of "Pulp Fiction" in a more creepy paranormal way.

[Ffion Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
This quick read was an unexpected tale of mysterious spirits and withcraft mixed with a story of seeking freedom for female prostitutes who believe they are stuck and have no free will.

George, a 19 year olf English man is first introduced on his journey go Paris where he hopes to pursue his passion of painting.

Celie is introduced as a dancer and performer who is also a sex worker. It becomes obvious she has done sex work for money since she was a young teen and once her family died, she left her small village in pursuit of bigger and better things - or so she thought.

I think the title of the short story - Marionette - is a clever way of showing Celie as being a puppet manipulated into performing and doing what she is told by her puppet master.

After a mystery performance that leaves her acting strangely and whirlwind tale takes place leading to quick love, murder and a determination in George to free Celie from a spiritual trap.

Apart from the dubious consent, which is something that I don't oppose in books (you read and enjoy what you please) but is something I do not read too often, the story was interesting. I think the content warnings should have been at the start of the book as they're kind of pointless at the end - it is too late by that point to avoid the triggers.

The cover of this book is gorgeous and I can admit that is what drew me in initially.

It was a very quick read at 118 pages and it did not feel rushed at all which is something I notice in other short stories and novellas. The imagery and descriptions were written wonderfully and I enjoyed this a lot.
Thanks so much!

[Sue Wallace]

Marionette by Antonia Rachel Ward.
On the run from a life of prostitution and poverty, exotic dancer Cece Dulac agrees to become the main attraction at an erotic séance hosted by an enigmatic mesmerist, Monsieur Rossignol. As the séance descends into depravity, Cece falls prey to Rossignol’s hypnotic power and becomes possessed by a malevolent spirit
Really good read. I l I very the cover. Different. 4*.

[Haylee Literary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a unique read. Set in Paris, historic times, with dancing performances - ballet, and sexual parties, with a touch of magic and witchcraft. The author paints such beautiful imagery. Just around 100 pages and you get so much out of this book.

Mystery. Steam. Magic. Darkness.

Cecile is a promiscuous character and one night she is invited to attend an event. Her friend volunteers first to show Cece how things are done. Cece is enamored by this and decides to partake in the fun; however, during this event she seems to black out. What Cece thought was for show, was reality. She was hypnotized and during this a spirit was encouraged to embody her.

The moment George set eyes on Cece he was in awe of her. Such beauty she held. But can George really be the man for Cece or will he keep failing her?


Dual POV: yes

At times it. felt a little hard to differentiate who's chapter it was, as to there are no name in the chapter headers.
3.5, but rounded up to 4 because I enjoyed the uniqueness, I also had such a good time reading this too.

*Thank you Netgalley for an ARC. My honest review.*

[Doug Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! A truly original take on possession and revenge. And Antonia Rachel Ward is a talented writer. She was successful at creating a novella with 3 dimensional characters and told an entire story. And don’t be turned off by the erotica label. It’s there, but it really does contribute to the story that is being told.

This is another quality release by Brigid’s Gate Press.

[Sydnie Nova · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written and captivating story about an exotic dancer drawn into the world of erotic seances where she becomes taken over by a malevolent spirit. A tantalizing blend of horror, the macabre, and erotica, with creative storytelling and interesting characters throughout! Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this novella, though all opinions are my own.

[Natalie Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Antonia Rachel Ward for letting me read this early.

I really enjoyed this novella. It felt like a mix between Moulin Rouge and The Illusionist with a touch of feminine rage, smut and possession. It was really fun, kinda dark, well written and the cover is gorgeous too.

[Emily Perkovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - I think this would have worked better for me as a full length novel. I loved so much about it, especially the quality of the writing when compared to other similar books. Ward can write for sure. Because of the length too many important plot points did not get enough devoted space. If you’re going to have a romance and then I want development of the relationship. And if you’re going to have graphic language surrounding your sex scenes then I want actual details of the sex. It wasn’t like it was a YA and the sex was danced around. If you’re going to say someone put a cock in their mouth before they fucked then just go for it, don’t just vaguely describe what sex is by passively saying well she climbed on top and he filled her up and they both experienced pleasure until orgasm. I would have loved more surrounding the Marthe storyline. Not just a few mentions of her. But again, all of that goes back to length for me.

SPOILER: My one actual complaint about this book is that the ending ends up taking away a lot of the feminine power of the book. Giving this a happy wrap up instead of leaving all the vengeance be and letting Cece feel empowered by Selena feels like Cece is just another female prop in a storyline where the male lead will save her. Maybe if the romance had been less one sided and was more developed I might feel less of this, but I would have rather her just let George go if it was going to have to have a cliche “happy ending”

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC