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The Darlings of the Asylum
To marry is madness.
To escape is impossible.
Noel O’Reilly returns with a gripping historical novel about a woman locked in a Victorian asylum against her will…
She wakes in a strange, stark room. Through the bare walls she hears muffled cries and yells. The label on her unfamiliar, starched gown reads PROPERTY OF HILLWOOD GRANGE LUNATIC ASYLUM. Her heart thumps as a key rattles in the lock…
In 1886, a respectable young woman must acquire a husband. Violet Pring’s scheming mother has secured a desirable marriage proposal from an eligible Brighton gentleman. But Violet does not want to marry. She longs to be a professional artist and live on her own terms.
Violet’s family believes she is deranged and deluded, so she is locked away in Hillwood Grange against her will. In her new cage, Violet faces an even greater challenge: she must escape the clutches of a sinister and formidable doctor and set herself free.
This tantalizing gothic novel from Noel O’Reilly tells a thrilling story of duty and desire, madness and sanity, truth and delusion, told from within a Victorian asylum.
To escape is impossible.
Noel O’Reilly returns with a gripping historical novel about a woman locked in a Victorian asylum against her will…
She wakes in a strange, stark room. Through the bare walls she hears muffled cries and yells. The label on her unfamiliar, starched gown reads PROPERTY OF HILLWOOD GRANGE LUNATIC ASYLUM. Her heart thumps as a key rattles in the lock…
In 1886, a respectable young woman must acquire a husband. Violet Pring’s scheming mother has secured a desirable marriage proposal from an eligible Brighton gentleman. But Violet does not want to marry. She longs to be a professional artist and live on her own terms.
Violet’s family believes she is deranged and deluded, so she is locked away in Hillwood Grange against her will. In her new cage, Violet faces an even greater challenge: she must escape the clutches of a sinister and formidable doctor and set herself free.
This tantalizing gothic novel from Noel O’Reilly tells a thrilling story of duty and desire, madness and sanity, truth and delusion, told from within a Victorian asylum.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
82 people are currently reading
2432 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
April 4, 2023
i really, really enjoyed this novel until the big reveal. it would have been far more effective for violet to not have any form of mental illness and instead be put into an asylum due to misogynist ideals. to have her actually be ill defeats the purpose; the men were right about her. i thought this was a novel about neurotypical women being put into asylums due to rebelling against the sexist social order. it was disheartening that so suddenly we discover that violet has what we would now call dissociative identity disorder. to confirm the way men think about her is true feels like a disservice to those who were only thrown in asylums because they displeased their husbands and fought against traditional gender roles. i especially did not like that violet fell in love with this older man and he became the object of her affection when her entire reason to rebel was the fact that she was being forced into a marriage she did not want. this novel truly had the potential to be a compelling tale of a sane woman’s plight in a victorian insane asylum, but ultimately fell flat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2022
I'm in two minds about this book in that I'd like to have given it 7 out of 10 rather than 4 out of 5.
I thought the story interesting, clever and historically accurate. It centres around Violet Pring, a young woman from a good (but financially constrained) family background. Violet finds herself in the unenviable position of wanting to pursue her own dreams yet being expected to restore the family fortune with a good marriage to the rich (but newly rich) Felix.
The more she is pushed into the marriage, the more she rebels until one night she finds herself forced into an engagement party she claims to have no knowledge of. The following morning Violet wakes to find herself incarcerated in a lunatic asylum, which happened (as we now know) to far too many people with mental health problems.
It is here that my difficulties with the narrative lie. Maybe I was misreading but we'd have Violet in the depths of despair with the dangerous Dr Rastrick (the doctor in charge of the asylum) giving her more and more drugs or having her confined to a strait jacket. However the next paragraph would see Violet virtually returned to her status as a private patient with all its benefits - having her own clothes and her own room.
I don't doubt any of the descriptions of a Victorian lunatic asylum. We've all read descriptions of what went on in these places. I've also no doubt that the staff were poorly paid and not qualified for any kind of nursing care. In that the book is horrifying and quite disturbing as it's unclear whether anyone will believe Violet or another doctor who hypnotises her to get to the root of her psychosis.
The small niggles aside I enjoyed this book. It is interesting but really quite unnerving. When reading books like this where any kind of injustice is taking place I invariably find my nails curling into my palms with frustration as I will the heroine on. Darlings of the Asylum passed that test with flying colours. My only niggle was that I think it has been badly edited. Usually I beg for an axe but this time I wanted more.
I received an advance copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the story interesting, clever and historically accurate. It centres around Violet Pring, a young woman from a good (but financially constrained) family background. Violet finds herself in the unenviable position of wanting to pursue her own dreams yet being expected to restore the family fortune with a good marriage to the rich (but newly rich) Felix.
The more she is pushed into the marriage, the more she rebels until one night she finds herself forced into an engagement party she claims to have no knowledge of. The following morning Violet wakes to find herself incarcerated in a lunatic asylum, which happened (as we now know) to far too many people with mental health problems.
It is here that my difficulties with the narrative lie. Maybe I was misreading but we'd have Violet in the depths of despair with the dangerous Dr Rastrick (the doctor in charge of the asylum) giving her more and more drugs or having her confined to a strait jacket. However the next paragraph would see Violet virtually returned to her status as a private patient with all its benefits - having her own clothes and her own room.
I don't doubt any of the descriptions of a Victorian lunatic asylum. We've all read descriptions of what went on in these places. I've also no doubt that the staff were poorly paid and not qualified for any kind of nursing care. In that the book is horrifying and quite disturbing as it's unclear whether anyone will believe Violet or another doctor who hypnotises her to get to the root of her psychosis.
The small niggles aside I enjoyed this book. It is interesting but really quite unnerving. When reading books like this where any kind of injustice is taking place I invariably find my nails curling into my palms with frustration as I will the heroine on. Darlings of the Asylum passed that test with flying colours. My only niggle was that I think it has been badly edited. Usually I beg for an axe but this time I wanted more.
I received an advance copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2022
To marry is madness.
To escape is impossible.
The year is 1886.
Hillwood Grange Lunatic Asylum.
Violet Pring finds herself at the mercy of her interfering mother and her obsession to get her daughter settled and married when it comes to light that a so-called desirable match has been found for her with one of Brighton’s most eligible and most sought after gentleman and of course, she should be happy that her future is secure, but Violet is far from marriage material and longs to break free from convention, aching and yearning to be a professional artist and enjoy a life on her own terms, and why should she have to settle for anything less?
Deranged. Deluded. Her hormones are going crazy, muddling her mind and therefor making a spectacle of her entire family. At least that’s what her mother thinks and without very little input of her own, Violet finds herself locked away in Hillwood Grange against her will, but of course it’s only for the best….
The Darlings of the Asylum: those select few who fall under the gaze of one Doctor Rastrick, a great man of science who believes certain women are worthy of his attention more so than others, which is where Violet finds herself unwittingly drawn into, and from then on she doubles down on finding a solution to stop the cycle of abuse within these unscalable walls with its soulless attendants who stop at nothing to break her will and grind her down, but Violet is alone. Powerless. A woman.
Surely this is the end for her.
Unless she can forge allies from within, even with the very stark chance that if her plot is uncovered, Violet will surely seal her fate in this tomb. She must try.
Captivating, unsettling, atmospheric, and unnerving, this story of one woman’s fight to forge her own path and escape the binds of society in life is not to be missed!
To escape is impossible.
The year is 1886.
Hillwood Grange Lunatic Asylum.
Violet Pring finds herself at the mercy of her interfering mother and her obsession to get her daughter settled and married when it comes to light that a so-called desirable match has been found for her with one of Brighton’s most eligible and most sought after gentleman and of course, she should be happy that her future is secure, but Violet is far from marriage material and longs to break free from convention, aching and yearning to be a professional artist and enjoy a life on her own terms, and why should she have to settle for anything less?
Deranged. Deluded. Her hormones are going crazy, muddling her mind and therefor making a spectacle of her entire family. At least that’s what her mother thinks and without very little input of her own, Violet finds herself locked away in Hillwood Grange against her will, but of course it’s only for the best….
The Darlings of the Asylum: those select few who fall under the gaze of one Doctor Rastrick, a great man of science who believes certain women are worthy of his attention more so than others, which is where Violet finds herself unwittingly drawn into, and from then on she doubles down on finding a solution to stop the cycle of abuse within these unscalable walls with its soulless attendants who stop at nothing to break her will and grind her down, but Violet is alone. Powerless. A woman.
Surely this is the end for her.
Unless she can forge allies from within, even with the very stark chance that if her plot is uncovered, Violet will surely seal her fate in this tomb. She must try.
Captivating, unsettling, atmospheric, and unnerving, this story of one woman’s fight to forge her own path and escape the binds of society in life is not to be missed!
November 25, 2022
Having read The Mad Women's Ball by Victoria Mas I was interested in reading The Darlings of the Asylum. As with Mas' novel O'Reilly has a young woman committed due to her behaviour prior to her marrying an eligible man (whose fortune will save her family). We are then introduced to a variety of 'mad' women who are rather cliched as is the disturbing Doctor Rastrick, the ending is totally lifted from Mas' novel which I was quite surprised to see. The writing felt salacious and it didn't sit right with the subject matter especially chapter 31 (I don't like to say this but maybe it's because a male author is writing a female historical character and has followed too many tropes around Victorian women placed in asylums, it's probably more likely that the quality of the writing just can't deal with the subject). Unfortunately this is not in the same league as The Mad Women's Ball in my opinion and I must say there are male authors who can write women really well. Disappointing.
December 26, 2022
some men shouldn’t write women. noel o’reilly shouldn’t write at all.
December 16, 2022
The Darlings of the Asylum joins the list of historical novels I’ve read in which young women are prevented from pursuing their chosen career, displaying their talents or exercising any independence over their lives by the expectations of family or society. In this case, Violet Pring’s ambition is to become a professional artist. Actually, ambition isn’t quite the right word. Violet’s need to express herself and unleash her vivid imagination is part of her psyche. It’s the thing she lives for and when engaged in drawing or painting she can often lose herself for hours on end in a kind of artistic frenzy. And her paintings, full of sexual imagery, are certainly not the sort of thing genteel ladies of that time are expected to produce.
What Violet definitely doesn’t want is to marry as her mother, in particular, is anxious for her to do. Violet fears that, if she does, even to someone as seemingly understanding as her friend Felix, creating art will be viewed as nothing more than a pastime to be fitted in between tedious domestic duties and meaningless social calls. Violet is encouraged in her artistic ambitions by her art tutor, Miss Fanshaw, a woman who has managed to carve out the sort of independent life for herself Violet would like to emulate, and by rakish artist, Wilf Lilley, who praises Violet’s unconventional, unrestrained style of painting.
When Violet’s artistic impulses are frustrated, her extreme reaction, as well as the nature of her paintings, sees her diagnosed with ‘moral insanity’ and committed to Hillwood Grange Lunatic Asylum (known to the inmates as Hellwood). There she is exposed to the malevolent ministrations of the utterly hateful Dr. Harold Rastrick, a man who displays a perverted misogyny, is a believer in eugenics and carries out foul experiments on a group of female inmates, the ‘darlings’ of the book’s title. At one point, he even ponders the use of vivisection ‘if done humanely’. He is an absolute monster, representing in an extreme way the sort of vile attitudes towards people with mental conditions, learning difficulties and physical disabilities in this period. In fact, these attitudes persisted into the 20th century as we know only too well. Indeed some might argue they still do. As a person with epilepsy (thankfully controlled through medication) it was particularly shocking to see epileptics included in the category of ‘incurables’, ‘freaks of nature’ and ‘imbeciles’.
I confess that for some time I struggled to empathise with Violet although of course I was appalled by the treatment she, and others, receive at the hands of Dr. Rastrick. Violet’s unwavering focus on achieving her own desires means she fails to appreciate until quite late in the book the harm she has unwittingly caused. And although I could understand her desire for freedom, that didn’t mean I felt comfortable about the way she achieves it. However, what I did think was clever is how Violet’s artistic talent enables her to create portraits of her fellow inmates that reflect their individual characters and their humanity, in stark contrast to the ‘identikit’ photographs taken by Dr. Rastrick in which the women resemble ‘ghosts of themselves’.
The Darlings of the Asylum is rich in atmosphere and there’s a real Gothic flavour to the depiction of Hillwood Grange. It’s a dark tale of obsession and the desire for self-expression.
What Violet definitely doesn’t want is to marry as her mother, in particular, is anxious for her to do. Violet fears that, if she does, even to someone as seemingly understanding as her friend Felix, creating art will be viewed as nothing more than a pastime to be fitted in between tedious domestic duties and meaningless social calls. Violet is encouraged in her artistic ambitions by her art tutor, Miss Fanshaw, a woman who has managed to carve out the sort of independent life for herself Violet would like to emulate, and by rakish artist, Wilf Lilley, who praises Violet’s unconventional, unrestrained style of painting.
When Violet’s artistic impulses are frustrated, her extreme reaction, as well as the nature of her paintings, sees her diagnosed with ‘moral insanity’ and committed to Hillwood Grange Lunatic Asylum (known to the inmates as Hellwood). There she is exposed to the malevolent ministrations of the utterly hateful Dr. Harold Rastrick, a man who displays a perverted misogyny, is a believer in eugenics and carries out foul experiments on a group of female inmates, the ‘darlings’ of the book’s title. At one point, he even ponders the use of vivisection ‘if done humanely’. He is an absolute monster, representing in an extreme way the sort of vile attitudes towards people with mental conditions, learning difficulties and physical disabilities in this period. In fact, these attitudes persisted into the 20th century as we know only too well. Indeed some might argue they still do. As a person with epilepsy (thankfully controlled through medication) it was particularly shocking to see epileptics included in the category of ‘incurables’, ‘freaks of nature’ and ‘imbeciles’.
I confess that for some time I struggled to empathise with Violet although of course I was appalled by the treatment she, and others, receive at the hands of Dr. Rastrick. Violet’s unwavering focus on achieving her own desires means she fails to appreciate until quite late in the book the harm she has unwittingly caused. And although I could understand her desire for freedom, that didn’t mean I felt comfortable about the way she achieves it. However, what I did think was clever is how Violet’s artistic talent enables her to create portraits of her fellow inmates that reflect their individual characters and their humanity, in stark contrast to the ‘identikit’ photographs taken by Dr. Rastrick in which the women resemble ‘ghosts of themselves’.
The Darlings of the Asylum is rich in atmosphere and there’s a real Gothic flavour to the depiction of Hillwood Grange. It’s a dark tale of obsession and the desire for self-expression.
August 24, 2024
I haven’t had a book that has me so gripped for a long time. I couldn’t put it down. A story of a young woman who has been put into an asylum. Our protagonist isn’t sure why, but she is set on showing her Alienist, she is not insane. This really reflects on the times in which women were put into asylums for immorality and not for conforming to societal norms. There are a lot of twists and turns that kept me hooked. Very emotive and thought provoking.
September 28, 2023
Violet Pring has a dream- to live the life of an artist, getting paid to create and have her work showcased in some of the best galleries in the world. The problem for Violet is that it is 1886 and the only thing she is told she should be focusing on is obtaining a worthy husband. Although her long-time friend, Felix, is a worthy suitor in her parents’ eyes, and she cares for him deeply, Violet wants nothing more than to never marry. These notions lead to Violet’s admission to Hillwood Grange Lunatic Asylum, under the care of the cold-hearted and unstable Dr. Rastrick. Violet knows she doesn’t need to be in a locked asylum but the only way out is to pretend to be someone she isn’t.
I had high hopes for “The Darlings of the Asylum” by Noel O'Reilly. It is well known that, during that era, women were admitted to asylums for all sorts of nonsense reasons, so “Darlings” was historically accurate. I adore novels based in and on asylums, not only for the psychiatric components but because I know that, had I lived during that era, I, too, would’ve been quickly admitted (speaking my own mind? Refusing to marry? Reading BOOKS? Get the white coats, boys!)
Violet narrates the novel, and she’s a spunky and creative character who I adored and rooted for. All of the males in this novel are deplorable, although Violet’s father has a few likable moments, and it is not that surprising that Violet ended up where she did, considering who her compatriots and possible suitors were.
The first half of the novel was engaging and entertaining and O’Reilly did a decent job at depicting the female perspective. The latter half of the novel was disappointing, however, and I am not sure if this was a result of O’Reilly trying to write a female perspective or trying to add unnecessary twists.
Initially, Violet is admitted to the asylum because she is a female who goes against gender roles and wishes to pursue a career in art. However, as time goes on, Violet is revealed to actually be suffering from a psychiatric disorder, and I was more than a little disappointed. I wanted to cheer for Violet and root for her, but my emotion soon turned to sympathy as the truth is revealed.
The novel’s depictions of the horrible indignities suffered by the patients was realistic and heartbreaking and O’Reilly had a great premise to work with, but he dropped the plot quickly with making Violet into a woman who actually suffered from a mental illness. O’Reilly did reclaim the ending though, and I was satisfied with the outcome. Overall, this novel was a good read, especially the first half, but don’t go into it with high expectations.
I had high hopes for “The Darlings of the Asylum” by Noel O'Reilly. It is well known that, during that era, women were admitted to asylums for all sorts of nonsense reasons, so “Darlings” was historically accurate. I adore novels based in and on asylums, not only for the psychiatric components but because I know that, had I lived during that era, I, too, would’ve been quickly admitted (speaking my own mind? Refusing to marry? Reading BOOKS? Get the white coats, boys!)
Violet narrates the novel, and she’s a spunky and creative character who I adored and rooted for. All of the males in this novel are deplorable, although Violet’s father has a few likable moments, and it is not that surprising that Violet ended up where she did, considering who her compatriots and possible suitors were.
The first half of the novel was engaging and entertaining and O’Reilly did a decent job at depicting the female perspective. The latter half of the novel was disappointing, however, and I am not sure if this was a result of O’Reilly trying to write a female perspective or trying to add unnecessary twists.
Initially, Violet is admitted to the asylum because she is a female who goes against gender roles and wishes to pursue a career in art. However, as time goes on, Violet is revealed to actually be suffering from a psychiatric disorder, and I was more than a little disappointed. I wanted to cheer for Violet and root for her, but my emotion soon turned to sympathy as the truth is revealed.
The novel’s depictions of the horrible indignities suffered by the patients was realistic and heartbreaking and O’Reilly had a great premise to work with, but he dropped the plot quickly with making Violet into a woman who actually suffered from a mental illness. O’Reilly did reclaim the ending though, and I was satisfied with the outcome. Overall, this novel was a good read, especially the first half, but don’t go into it with high expectations.
May 12, 2023
i had high hopes for this book and was very disappointed - i don’t think the blurb/summary did it justice. i thought i was going to read about a woman who was before her time (sent to an asylum because she didn’t want to marry) and then learn how her feminism brings her strength. it was not that at all. the main character is very one dimensional and has a damsel in distress mentality until the last few pages (obviously this book was written by a man based on his own ideas of women lol). overall i think the author had a good idea but it was very poorly executed.
side note: i also just didn’t like the writing style which didn’t help
side note: i also just didn’t like the writing style which didn’t help
October 26, 2023
I recommend you pick this up if you love a dark, atmospheric piece of historical fiction.
It has that unsettling psychological thriller side to it which works well, especially in a setting like a lunatic asylum. You follow Violet Pring who is sent away to one when she refuses to marry as she would rather be an independent artist. Of course, as this is set in the Victorian period, her family find this idea horrifying and worry about their family reputation. Also they are constantly embarrassed of Violet’s opinionated views, especially when she voices them in social occasions and decide for her own good to send her to Hillwood Grange Lunatic Asylum.
I found myself completely engrossed throughout, especially when there are a few twists. What I really liked about this book is how Violet is an unreliable narrator and you start to wonder if she really does have some mental health problems.
The staff treat the patients in the asylum terribly and it really made me feel so much emotion towards these poor women locked up with no hope of getting out. Doctor Rastrick, the main doctor there who treats Violet was awful and his treatment was basically just drug the patients and confining them to a room if they had any fight in them. You cannot help but root for Violet and pray she escapes.
The Darlings of the Asylum is a chilling gothic story that is packed with lies, secrets and betrayal that I thoroughly enjoyed.
It has that unsettling psychological thriller side to it which works well, especially in a setting like a lunatic asylum. You follow Violet Pring who is sent away to one when she refuses to marry as she would rather be an independent artist. Of course, as this is set in the Victorian period, her family find this idea horrifying and worry about their family reputation. Also they are constantly embarrassed of Violet’s opinionated views, especially when she voices them in social occasions and decide for her own good to send her to Hillwood Grange Lunatic Asylum.
I found myself completely engrossed throughout, especially when there are a few twists. What I really liked about this book is how Violet is an unreliable narrator and you start to wonder if she really does have some mental health problems.
The staff treat the patients in the asylum terribly and it really made me feel so much emotion towards these poor women locked up with no hope of getting out. Doctor Rastrick, the main doctor there who treats Violet was awful and his treatment was basically just drug the patients and confining them to a room if they had any fight in them. You cannot help but root for Violet and pray she escapes.
The Darlings of the Asylum is a chilling gothic story that is packed with lies, secrets and betrayal that I thoroughly enjoyed.
January 8, 2024
This 'positive' article says it all. Where is the red flag emoji?
Meet the author: The Darlings Of The Asylum writer, Noel O’Reilly
By Sally McDonald, The Sunday Times
November 25, 2022, 12:31 am
The challenge faced by a modern, mature, male author writing a young Victorian woman, was easily met. He says: “You can do anything you want in fiction but it has to be convincing, so I did have some input from the women in my family and women on the publishing team. They suggested things that I possibly wouldn’t have thought of as a man.”
It works. “No one has accused me of appropriation so far and I have not had anybody say they were not convinced by it,” he smiles.’’
I’m afraid I am completely and utterly unconvinced.
After originally receiving this book in a book box some time ago, I finally started it via audio. You can instantly tell that this is not written by a woman and it most certainly isn't written by a man that has any ability to write from the perspective of one.
The vast majority of the 2.0-star reviews summarize everything that needs to be said about this book and author perfectly and need no further explanation from me.
Meet the author: The Darlings Of The Asylum writer, Noel O’Reilly
By Sally McDonald, The Sunday Times
November 25, 2022, 12:31 am
The challenge faced by a modern, mature, male author writing a young Victorian woman, was easily met. He says: “You can do anything you want in fiction but it has to be convincing, so I did have some input from the women in my family and women on the publishing team. They suggested things that I possibly wouldn’t have thought of as a man.”
It works. “No one has accused me of appropriation so far and I have not had anybody say they were not convinced by it,” he smiles.’’
I’m afraid I am completely and utterly unconvinced.
After originally receiving this book in a book box some time ago, I finally started it via audio. You can instantly tell that this is not written by a woman and it most certainly isn't written by a man that has any ability to write from the perspective of one.
The vast majority of the 2.0-star reviews summarize everything that needs to be said about this book and author perfectly and need no further explanation from me.
November 27, 2022
There seems to be a plethora of books out dealing with this subject matter and I have read quite a few. Unfortunately this book brings nothing new to the table. It started off well, the middle was too long and the ending was over in a flash. I have read better books on this subject and this is not a good one.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
January 1, 2023
Told through the compelling voice of it's incarcerated heroine, The Darlings of the Asylum is a devilishly gripping novel that tells the story of Violet Pring, a respectable young woman, who finds herself unfairly locked away in Hillwood Grange Lunatic Asylum, due to her refusal of marriage and her desires for life being far to advanced for her times.
With all the airs, graces and etiquette of Bridgerton but the darkness and grit of Girl, Interrupted, Noel O'Reilly unapologetically introduces his readers to life within the walls of an asylum. Every unpleasant and chaotic moment Violet spends inside is masterfully captured as heavy themes of abandonment, mental health and the gross mistreatment of women of the Victorian era, are all explored. Dr Rastrick provides the perfect villain, his sinister demeanour and cruel behaviour towards Violet is really rather unsettling.
There's a constant feeling of unease surrounding this novel and it's clear from the outset that certain details concerning Violet's imprisonment have been kept from her. It's Violet's own lack of memory that becomes so pivotal to the story and the very thing that keeps the the reader invested. How will she ever prove herself to be sane when she is so unaware of the actions that led to her diagnosis? It's only when Violet begins hypnosis that those crucial details resurface and you learn just how complex a character Violet really is...
Disturbingly gothic and yet an utterly engrossing read - I can't bring myself to give much more away. I REALLY enjoyed it! 💙
With all the airs, graces and etiquette of Bridgerton but the darkness and grit of Girl, Interrupted, Noel O'Reilly unapologetically introduces his readers to life within the walls of an asylum. Every unpleasant and chaotic moment Violet spends inside is masterfully captured as heavy themes of abandonment, mental health and the gross mistreatment of women of the Victorian era, are all explored. Dr Rastrick provides the perfect villain, his sinister demeanour and cruel behaviour towards Violet is really rather unsettling.
There's a constant feeling of unease surrounding this novel and it's clear from the outset that certain details concerning Violet's imprisonment have been kept from her. It's Violet's own lack of memory that becomes so pivotal to the story and the very thing that keeps the the reader invested. How will she ever prove herself to be sane when she is so unaware of the actions that led to her diagnosis? It's only when Violet begins hypnosis that those crucial details resurface and you learn just how complex a character Violet really is...
Disturbingly gothic and yet an utterly engrossing read - I can't bring myself to give much more away. I REALLY enjoyed it! 💙
April 23, 2024
Well, this was an easy, popular fiction read, rather than an exposé of the treatment of women in a Victorian asylum I had expected.
It was fairly entertaining nonetheless and I enjoyed it for what it was.
It was fairly entertaining nonetheless and I enjoyed it for what it was.
January 8, 2023
Full review to come
March 20, 2024
The Darlings of the Asylum started off fairly well but by the mid-way mark, I realised that while the author seemed to want to tell a sensitive story, ultimately he failed to remove a salacious lens from his view of women's insane asylums. The themes, or what seemed to be the intended themes, of misogynistic injustice completely fell apart when Violet
I did think the resolution at the end was good, I just didn't enjoy how we got there or how it came out of no where. Essentially, the book is shallow and as a result, makes a poor Gothic novel. I don't think Noel O'Reilly did a terrible job at writing women but he could have done better, particularly when it came to the social lens.
I did think the resolution at the end was good, I just didn't enjoy how we got there or how it came out of no where. Essentially, the book is shallow and as a result, makes a poor Gothic novel. I don't think Noel O'Reilly did a terrible job at writing women but he could have done better, particularly when it came to the social lens.
December 8, 2022
A captivating read full of emotion and great characters. Violet was an interesting one - supposedly flighty and highly strung I found her fascinating and brave. Trying to set her own rules and live her own life, her story was a stark contrast to the thoughts of the time, of a female finding a good marriage and conforming to society’s wishes. I loved how we got to explore Violet’s thoughts with her as she spent time in the confines of the asylum - understanding her emotions and neuroses was cleverly detailed and added such feeling to the story.
The asylum itself was atmospheric and haunting, giving a feeling that things were happening behind locked doors - almost sinister by implication. I was certainly gripped til the very end.
The asylum itself was atmospheric and haunting, giving a feeling that things were happening behind locked doors - almost sinister by implication. I was certainly gripped til the very end.
October 1, 2022
Many thanks to HQ and Noel O’Reilly for the advanced copy of The Darlings of the Asylum via NetGalley, in return for my honest and unbiased review. Quick note: I don’t recap plots in my reviews, as it’s easy enough to read the book’s synopsis and blurbs, I purely focus on my feelings & opinions of how the books makes me feel.
This book reminded me why I normally don’t read books with female protagonists written by male authors. There are so many wonderful female authors out there that need our support and they write amazing, strong, wonderful female protagonists. And then there’s this.
Disclaimer: I have experience with hospital care for mental illness in the 21st century. Whilst we’ve moved on from some practices from the 19th century, you’d be surprised how some attitudes haven’t changed.
Having done a brief dive into the author’s background, it’s clear they have no history in mental health. And that is clear in the writing of this book. The symptoms given to the protagonist, Violet, describe some strange hodgepodge of Bipolar, Dissociative Identity Disorder (a highly controversial diagnosis, one which the majority of the psychological profession does not believe actually exists) and very little of the actual, historical “hysteria” that many women were thrown into asylums for. It’s like the author set out to make a point of how women were unfairly treated but then set off on his own random tangent and, in doing so, completely disrespected the plight of the hundreds of thousands of women who died in these asylums under the guise of “hysteria”.
Overall, I found the book poorly researched and unrealistic. Of course the book is a work of fiction, but one expects any piece of historical fiction to be accurate and true to the time. This was not, and it disrespected the women who were victims of the asylums and the ‘doctors’. The addition of DID and poorly researched mental illnesses was atrocious. Do your research before tackling these huge subjects.
Moods: dark, emotional, mysterious, tense
Pace: medium
Character development: medium
Plot or character driven: plot
Diversity: low
Spice: 0/5
Trigger warnings: Mental Illness, Misogyny, Physical or mental abuse
Rating 2/5
This book reminded me why I normally don’t read books with female protagonists written by male authors. There are so many wonderful female authors out there that need our support and they write amazing, strong, wonderful female protagonists. And then there’s this.
Disclaimer: I have experience with hospital care for mental illness in the 21st century. Whilst we’ve moved on from some practices from the 19th century, you’d be surprised how some attitudes haven’t changed.
Having done a brief dive into the author’s background, it’s clear they have no history in mental health. And that is clear in the writing of this book. The symptoms given to the protagonist, Violet, describe some strange hodgepodge of Bipolar, Dissociative Identity Disorder (a highly controversial diagnosis, one which the majority of the psychological profession does not believe actually exists) and very little of the actual, historical “hysteria” that many women were thrown into asylums for. It’s like the author set out to make a point of how women were unfairly treated but then set off on his own random tangent and, in doing so, completely disrespected the plight of the hundreds of thousands of women who died in these asylums under the guise of “hysteria”.
Overall, I found the book poorly researched and unrealistic. Of course the book is a work of fiction, but one expects any piece of historical fiction to be accurate and true to the time. This was not, and it disrespected the women who were victims of the asylums and the ‘doctors’. The addition of DID and poorly researched mental illnesses was atrocious. Do your research before tackling these huge subjects.
Moods: dark, emotional, mysterious, tense
Pace: medium
Character development: medium
Plot or character driven: plot
Diversity: low
Spice: 0/5
Trigger warnings: Mental Illness, Misogyny, Physical or mental abuse
Rating 2/5
April 5, 2023
I was only a few chapters into this book and the extremely NLOG protagonist had already hated on "other" girls making "accurate botanical drawings" and the hot art teacher had dissed Edmund Blair Leighton! My initial thought was that no offense but they both belonged in the asylum, however, I did keep reading and the rest of the story was basically a blatant rip-off of Alias Grace complete with an About 75% of the main character's dialog is basically sound bites pulled from a Feminism 101 class, and everyone else, when they take a momentary break from their mustache-twirling villainy, basically exists to dump effusive praise for the heroine about what an amazing and innovative artist she is. Violet is basically a dramatic 24-yr-old woman who wants to spend a lot of time alone angsting and drawing thirsty mermaid pictures (literally) instead of getting married. Unfortunately, this being the 1880s, rather than just being obnoxious on Tumblr and DeviantArt as she would have been in the 2010s, she is sent to an asylum. This truly is a horrific fate that many real women went through; however, it was really difficult to care about this protagonist and her struggles when she had spent the entire first half of the book being A Feminist Written by a Man, completely self-absorbed, caring only about her dad and brothers' approval, and having absolutely nothing good to say about her mother or any other women.
June 6, 2025
Very interesting and angering! The novel is good, it illustrates the power of men over women so well!!!! And this gets worse when women were sent to an asylum when they did not fit what society expected from them! The doctor appears to be so far removed from reality and common sense! It sounds so unbelievable nowadays even if you are not a psychiatrist or a psychologist. At the time it was reality though and it was literally torture. The conclusion was very satisfying, but not in the way one might expect. Even better....
December 1, 2022
Hmm, I was looking forward to reading this, the synopsis sounded great but it didn't quite hit the spot.
The story starts with a young woman Violet, who is under pressure from her over bearing mother to marry an eligible young man who has wealth, and therefore able to help the family financially. But Violet has other idea's, she dreams of becoming an artist's muse and eventually becoming an artist herself.
On the eve of her engagement party, she feels under pressure and panics, the story then jumps to the morning after when Violet wakes up in an asylum with no memory of the night before, and now under the care of Alienist Dr Rastrick, who believes that mad women are a threat that could end the human race if allowed to breed.
I've read other asylum based thrillers but this just didn't hit the mark. I found Violet pretty annoying at the start, though I did pity her and the other women who had to endure the inhuman and often brutal treatments disguised as care.
I had a theory about Violet and was proved right when she was seen by the French Doctor.
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the ARC
The story starts with a young woman Violet, who is under pressure from her over bearing mother to marry an eligible young man who has wealth, and therefore able to help the family financially. But Violet has other idea's, she dreams of becoming an artist's muse and eventually becoming an artist herself.
On the eve of her engagement party, she feels under pressure and panics, the story then jumps to the morning after when Violet wakes up in an asylum with no memory of the night before, and now under the care of Alienist Dr Rastrick, who believes that mad women are a threat that could end the human race if allowed to breed.
I've read other asylum based thrillers but this just didn't hit the mark. I found Violet pretty annoying at the start, though I did pity her and the other women who had to endure the inhuman and often brutal treatments disguised as care.
I had a theory about Violet and was proved right when she was seen by the French Doctor.
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the ARC
February 24, 2023
Women's psychological healthcare in the Victorian era is rightly derided these days, and the Darlings of the Asylum takes aim at this rather open door. The problem here is that the male characters are painted in an almost cartoon villain light. This just plays really weirdly to me as I read it. The very insidiousness of the treatment of psychological health craves for a degree of subtlety which is just lacking.
On the plus side the prose was pleasantly readable, I breezed through the book rapidly. The main character is sympathetic and even if the twist was somewhat telegraphed it was handled well enough.
This topic has been covered better by other authors - the lack of subtlety really detracts from the story unfortunately. Not terrible, but it doesn't quite live up to the premise
On the plus side the prose was pleasantly readable, I breezed through the book rapidly. The main character is sympathetic and even if the twist was somewhat telegraphed it was handled well enough.
This topic has been covered better by other authors - the lack of subtlety really detracts from the story unfortunately. Not terrible, but it doesn't quite live up to the premise
December 7, 2022
This was an interesting read. It felt authentic and I enjoyed the writing style but it seemed lacking in a clear purpose.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
March 30, 2023
Not sure about the pacing - there seemed to be long periods where very little happened that was relevant to the plot. Though maybe that was the point and reinforced the pointlessness of the time spent in the asylum. I liked the ending!
August 5, 2023
3.25 or 3.5 stars, rounded down.
I have no idea how to feel about this book. The fact that Violet basically falls in love with this artist that she's met a few times is quite strange, and I honestly kept forgetting that she even WAS meant to be in love with him apart from the weird part where they just bone in random places, and her opinion of him changes so rapidly from page to page. Her reaction to his death is also underwhelming---you'd think someone murdering their lover via fire poker would be a tad more dramatic than that and wouldn't just, like, pick up his clothes and catch a cab afterwards, but apparently Violet is just built different.
The author was clearly trying to write a female character authentically, and he succeeded in some aspects, but not in others. Although society's tendency to allow men (especially in 1880s English society) to easily escape any consequences for actions which would have completely "ruined" (in the book's own words) a woman has been explored in-depth in other books, I'm always up for feminist critiques of society in my literature.
Other reviewers have critiqued the romance aspect of the book as antithetical to the book's message or Violet's realizations about the damaging effects of the patriarchy, which is fair, but I'm not wholly against the fact that Violet had a relationship with painter dude (whose name I've honestly forgotten) since women are capable of critiquing society and the patriarchy while also having a romantic relationship and/or being taking advantage of by it/men. Unfortunately, women are taken advantage of all of the time, and that doesn't make them lesser or less able to be defiant of societal expectations (not targeting any reviewers here; this is just something I've noticed in some critics of popular media and I wanted to point it out). However, as I mentioned above, the romance just didn't make sense; I only cared about painter dude because of what he did for Violet, and half the time I didn't really know whether she was meant to be "in love" with him or not (needless to say, when they started boning on the asylum floor for some reason while scheming a plan to get her out, I was VERY confused). It felt like he was hardly mentioned anyways, apart from instances when she was trying to figure out an escape plan (which, again, I wasn't a fan of the romance bit, so I'm quite happy that he was almost never mentioned).
I really enjoyed the relationships Violet developed with each of the "darlings," although I kept feeling like the book was hinting at some grand reveal about Dr. Rastrick driving the other "darlings" to suicide or otherwise being an even more horrific human being than the book shows him to be. Although other reviewers have critiqued the fact that Violet IS actually struggling with mental illness since the blurb on the back suggests that Violet was just sent to an asylum for not adhering to society's expectations, it was a bit refreshing to see someone in one of these stories (i.e. where a woman is sent to an asylum for not adhering to social norms) actually struggling with a mental illness, especially one(s) that aren't as common as, say, anxiety or depression. It feels like some stories that explore the forcing of women into mental institutions cast the main character as neurotypical, or at least neurodivergent in a non-threatening, non-life-changing way. In this book, Violet realizes that she DOES struggle with mental illness (despite her earlier belief that she was wrongfully institutionalized), and that mental illness greatly impacts her life, often in negative ways. In a way, she learns that she DOES "belong" in the asylum, and the doctors, in the words of one reviewer, "were right about her," but that doesn't justify the appalling treatment of people with mental illness or disabilities she and the others face at the hands of a system that claims it's simply trying to "help."
Her realization that, although so many of the women in the asylum are what society at the time deemed "insane," their "insanity" was caused, in part, by having to constantly adhere to society's expectations for them, and her trying to get to "know" them through drawing them as more than just the collection of symptoms that Dr. Rastrick sees them as was also touching. I wish we'd gotten to know them a bit more, and Violet's reactions to their deaths seemed rather underwhelming (most of the time we don't even get to see her reaction to their deaths, she just says that it affected her deeply without actually SHOWING anything---I'm all for breaking the rule of "show, don't tell" to create certain effects, but at times it felt like a really fucked-up middle-grade book due to the amount of times Violet simply told the audience how she felt or what she did rather than immersing us in it).
Looking at what I've written above (apart from the criticism of Violet's reactions to her friends' deaths), this book had a lot of potential that I feel was just never fully realized (in part because of the weird romance subplot---especially the part where she goes from hating him to loving him again within, like, two pages, and he calls her his "mysterious dark lady," which...ew).
In addition, while the author avoids any specific diagnosis for Violet, her symptoms are fairly similar (as the author notes) to DID, but based on my admittedly limited knowledge of DID, I know that Eloise simply putting herself out there and divulging her and Violet's secrets is essentially the exact opposite of how DID actually works. Again, the author mentions that Violet doesn't definitively have DID, but this, at times, feels a little bit too close to the fear-mongering and harmful depictions of DID present in films like "Split" which portray people with DID as unpredictable, deviant, and dangerous. It's definitely not the worst offender, and I'm certain the author didn't mean for it to come across that way, but I thought it was still important to point out.
Finally, on a slightly lighter note, the bird chapters were really weird, which could have been great, if whatever the author was thinking of when writing them had been followed through. I was expecting some sort of metaphor that was revealed in the end that would make the few chapters about the asylum before Violet was actually sent there make sense or tie together in some way, but they seemed to just EXIST for no discernible reason apart from encouraging the reader to keep reading and get through an introduction that felt rather lengthy. For a book that was meant to be about Violet's escape from the asylum, it sure took a while to actually GET there (almost as long as this review). Despite all of this, it was really weirdly captivating, and although I could easily predict some of the plot points in the book, the ending kind of threw me for a loop and, not gonna lie, I was cheering for her (it was nice to finally have my thoughts about painter dude validated via fire poker to the head, y'know?). This'll probably be one of the books that I just think about sometimes, like, "oh, wow, that sure was fucked up. Lot of potential though." I might also read one of his other books just to see if it's equally as strange.
Overall, I'm not sure if I'd RECOMMEND this book, per se, but it was certainly weird.
Also, I'm still really confused about the birds.
I have no idea how to feel about this book. The fact that Violet basically falls in love with this artist that she's met a few times is quite strange, and I honestly kept forgetting that she even WAS meant to be in love with him apart from the weird part where they just bone in random places, and her opinion of him changes so rapidly from page to page. Her reaction to his death is also underwhelming---you'd think someone murdering their lover via fire poker would be a tad more dramatic than that and wouldn't just, like, pick up his clothes and catch a cab afterwards, but apparently Violet is just built different.
The author was clearly trying to write a female character authentically, and he succeeded in some aspects, but not in others. Although society's tendency to allow men (especially in 1880s English society) to easily escape any consequences for actions which would have completely "ruined" (in the book's own words) a woman has been explored in-depth in other books, I'm always up for feminist critiques of society in my literature.
Other reviewers have critiqued the romance aspect of the book as antithetical to the book's message or Violet's realizations about the damaging effects of the patriarchy, which is fair, but I'm not wholly against the fact that Violet had a relationship with painter dude (whose name I've honestly forgotten) since women are capable of critiquing society and the patriarchy while also having a romantic relationship and/or being taking advantage of by it/men. Unfortunately, women are taken advantage of all of the time, and that doesn't make them lesser or less able to be defiant of societal expectations (not targeting any reviewers here; this is just something I've noticed in some critics of popular media and I wanted to point it out). However, as I mentioned above, the romance just didn't make sense; I only cared about painter dude because of what he did for Violet, and half the time I didn't really know whether she was meant to be "in love" with him or not (needless to say, when they started boning on the asylum floor for some reason while scheming a plan to get her out, I was VERY confused). It felt like he was hardly mentioned anyways, apart from instances when she was trying to figure out an escape plan (which, again, I wasn't a fan of the romance bit, so I'm quite happy that he was almost never mentioned).
I really enjoyed the relationships Violet developed with each of the "darlings," although I kept feeling like the book was hinting at some grand reveal about Dr. Rastrick driving the other "darlings" to suicide or otherwise being an even more horrific human being than the book shows him to be. Although other reviewers have critiqued the fact that Violet IS actually struggling with mental illness since the blurb on the back suggests that Violet was just sent to an asylum for not adhering to society's expectations, it was a bit refreshing to see someone in one of these stories (i.e. where a woman is sent to an asylum for not adhering to social norms) actually struggling with a mental illness, especially one(s) that aren't as common as, say, anxiety or depression. It feels like some stories that explore the forcing of women into mental institutions cast the main character as neurotypical, or at least neurodivergent in a non-threatening, non-life-changing way. In this book, Violet realizes that she DOES struggle with mental illness (despite her earlier belief that she was wrongfully institutionalized), and that mental illness greatly impacts her life, often in negative ways. In a way, she learns that she DOES "belong" in the asylum, and the doctors, in the words of one reviewer, "were right about her," but that doesn't justify the appalling treatment of people with mental illness or disabilities she and the others face at the hands of a system that claims it's simply trying to "help."
Her realization that, although so many of the women in the asylum are what society at the time deemed "insane," their "insanity" was caused, in part, by having to constantly adhere to society's expectations for them, and her trying to get to "know" them through drawing them as more than just the collection of symptoms that Dr. Rastrick sees them as was also touching. I wish we'd gotten to know them a bit more, and Violet's reactions to their deaths seemed rather underwhelming (most of the time we don't even get to see her reaction to their deaths, she just says that it affected her deeply without actually SHOWING anything---I'm all for breaking the rule of "show, don't tell" to create certain effects, but at times it felt like a really fucked-up middle-grade book due to the amount of times Violet simply told the audience how she felt or what she did rather than immersing us in it).
Looking at what I've written above (apart from the criticism of Violet's reactions to her friends' deaths), this book had a lot of potential that I feel was just never fully realized (in part because of the weird romance subplot---especially the part where she goes from hating him to loving him again within, like, two pages, and he calls her his "mysterious dark lady," which...ew).
In addition, while the author avoids any specific diagnosis for Violet, her symptoms are fairly similar (as the author notes) to DID, but based on my admittedly limited knowledge of DID, I know that Eloise simply putting herself out there and divulging her and Violet's secrets is essentially the exact opposite of how DID actually works. Again, the author mentions that Violet doesn't definitively have DID, but this, at times, feels a little bit too close to the fear-mongering and harmful depictions of DID present in films like "Split" which portray people with DID as unpredictable, deviant, and dangerous. It's definitely not the worst offender, and I'm certain the author didn't mean for it to come across that way, but I thought it was still important to point out.
Finally, on a slightly lighter note, the bird chapters were really weird, which could have been great, if whatever the author was thinking of when writing them had been followed through. I was expecting some sort of metaphor that was revealed in the end that would make the few chapters about the asylum before Violet was actually sent there make sense or tie together in some way, but they seemed to just EXIST for no discernible reason apart from encouraging the reader to keep reading and get through an introduction that felt rather lengthy. For a book that was meant to be about Violet's escape from the asylum, it sure took a while to actually GET there (almost as long as this review). Despite all of this, it was really weirdly captivating, and although I could easily predict some of the plot points in the book, the ending kind of threw me for a loop and, not gonna lie, I was cheering for her (it was nice to finally have my thoughts about painter dude validated via fire poker to the head, y'know?). This'll probably be one of the books that I just think about sometimes, like, "oh, wow, that sure was fucked up. Lot of potential though." I might also read one of his other books just to see if it's equally as strange.
Overall, I'm not sure if I'd RECOMMEND this book, per se, but it was certainly weird.
Also, I'm still really confused about the birds.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2023
Brighton, 1886. Violet Pring is a respectable young woman from a relatively well-off household, however, the family’s financial situation has been diminishing steadily over the years.
Violet is the only daughter in the family and she has three brothers, therefore she is expected to marry well. She’s had a strenuous relationship with her mother, which was exasperated by her mother’s wish for Violet to finally marry a respectable gentleman. Violet’s mother has even chosen a fiancé for her, a wealthy man called Felix, who’s been a friend of Violet’s for years.
The problem is that Violet doesn’t want to marry Felix, she wishes to pursue art and find her own way in the world.
However, a series of Violet’s challenging behaviours (which we only discover somewhere in the middle of the book) result in her family admitting her to a mental asylum, Hillwood Grange, led by a cold and ruthless Dr Rastrick.
Violet soon discovers that Dr Rastrick’s aim is to keep her in the asylum for a long time…
I enjoyed this audiobook; it was beautifilly narrated by Madeleine Leslay.
Violet was a tricky character to read. At the beginning, I really liked her, I thought her to be someone who knew her own mind. Her insistence on not marrying Felix, despite her family’s non-existent finances, really irked me. I think that if I were in her position, then I would have married Felix – he was a kind man and he wouldn’t stop Violet from painting or pursuing her passions. She could have done a lot worse!
Later on, when Violet was in the asylum, I discovered certain characteristics of hers that I didn’t like. She was cunning and manipulative, and I was shocked to discover the reason for her incarceration.
I must admit that I didn’t expect the story to conclude the way it did. It showed Violet in a more negative light and confirmed my dislike of her character.
I applaud the author for constructing such a complex and interesting character – it certainly added a lot to the book.
Overall, it’s a dark, chilling and gothic novel. Perfect for fans of historical fiction and asylum settings.
I definitely recommend it.
Violet is the only daughter in the family and she has three brothers, therefore she is expected to marry well. She’s had a strenuous relationship with her mother, which was exasperated by her mother’s wish for Violet to finally marry a respectable gentleman. Violet’s mother has even chosen a fiancé for her, a wealthy man called Felix, who’s been a friend of Violet’s for years.
The problem is that Violet doesn’t want to marry Felix, she wishes to pursue art and find her own way in the world.
However, a series of Violet’s challenging behaviours (which we only discover somewhere in the middle of the book) result in her family admitting her to a mental asylum, Hillwood Grange, led by a cold and ruthless Dr Rastrick.
Violet soon discovers that Dr Rastrick’s aim is to keep her in the asylum for a long time…
I enjoyed this audiobook; it was beautifilly narrated by Madeleine Leslay.
Violet was a tricky character to read. At the beginning, I really liked her, I thought her to be someone who knew her own mind. Her insistence on not marrying Felix, despite her family’s non-existent finances, really irked me. I think that if I were in her position, then I would have married Felix – he was a kind man and he wouldn’t stop Violet from painting or pursuing her passions. She could have done a lot worse!
Later on, when Violet was in the asylum, I discovered certain characteristics of hers that I didn’t like. She was cunning and manipulative, and I was shocked to discover the reason for her incarceration.
I must admit that I didn’t expect the story to conclude the way it did. It showed Violet in a more negative light and confirmed my dislike of her character.
I applaud the author for constructing such a complex and interesting character – it certainly added a lot to the book.
Overall, it’s a dark, chilling and gothic novel. Perfect for fans of historical fiction and asylum settings.
I definitely recommend it.
April 3, 2024
"The Darlings of the Asylum" by Noel O'Reilly is a compelling historical novel that delves into the dark underbelly of 19th-century psychiatric care and the systemic oppression of women during that era. Set against the backdrop of a grim asylum, the novel paints a vivid portrait of the harsh realities faced by its female inhabitants, while also exploring themes of power, control, and resistance.
O'Reilly masterfully captures the historical setting, transporting readers to a time when mental illness was stigmatized and women's voices were often silenced. Through meticulous research and evocative prose, he brings to life the dismal conditions of the asylum and the archaic treatment methods employed by Dr. Rastrick, the authoritarian head physician. Dr. Rastrick's need to control women through his work in the asylum serves as a chilling reminder of the patriarchal power structures that governed society during the 19th century.
Central to the narrative is the character of Eliza Darling, a young woman unjustly confined to the asylum. As Eliza navigates the oppressive environment of the asylum, she forms bonds with her fellow inmates, finding solace and camaraderie in their shared struggles. O'Reilly skillfully explores Eliza's relationships both within and outside the asylum, highlighting the constraints placed upon women by societal expectations and the limitations of their autonomy.
One of the novel's most striking moments comes when Eliza rejects Felix's marriage proposal, opting instead to assert her independence and pursue her passion for art. This decision symbolizes Eliza's defiance against the patriarchal norms that seek to confine her to the role of a submissive wife and mother. Throughout the novel, art serves as a powerful form of expression and resistance for Eliza and other female characters, allowing them to reclaim agency and assert their identity in a world that seeks to erase them.
However, while "The Darlings of the Asylum" excels in its exploration of its historical setting and themes, it is not without its flaws. The novel's structure can feel disjointed at times, with certain plot points and character arcs feeling underdeveloped. In particular, Dr. Rastrick's characterization could benefit from greater depth and nuance, as his motivations and actions sometimes come across as one-dimensional.
This is a book that I have been thinking about since the last page was turned. It has resonated with me on several levels and, whilst previously stated, there are flaws in the writing and character development of some of the characters, it is a book that I could have easily written another 500 words or more on whilst composing this review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2022
Thank you to HQ and to NetGalley for my advance review copy of this book.
Women in distress ★★☆☆☆
hysteria (n.)
Nervous disease, 1801, coined in medical Latin as an abstract noun from Greek hystera “womb,” from PIE *udtero-, variant of *udero- “abdomen, womb, stomach” (see uterus). Originally defined as a neurotic condition peculiar to women and thought to be caused by a dysfunction of the uterus.
General sense of “unhealthy emotion or excitement” is by 1839.
Desperate to lead an independent life as an artist, Violet struggles to accept her family’s marriage plans for her. However it’s 1886 and women have very limited choices. Society doesn’t have a place for Violet and, after an incident she can’t remember, she finds herself in an asylum at the mercies of sinister family adviser Dr Rastrick.
The tone of the novel – a little formal and quaint – mimics the period which can make it difficult to connect with Violet in the first part of the novel.
Once she is in the asylum we get more of a sense of the women’s lives and the disturbing focus on mental illness being perceived as part of female physiognomy rather than trauma or life experiences. This is the part of the story which really resonated with me.
I found Violet’s revelations in the latter part of the novel to lack credulity and to create too much of a contrast with the earlier story but I appreciated the clever finale.
A novel of three parts which delves into the fate of Victorian women who are victims of their life experiences and of society.
Women in distress ★★☆☆☆
hysteria (n.)
Nervous disease, 1801, coined in medical Latin as an abstract noun from Greek hystera “womb,” from PIE *udtero-, variant of *udero- “abdomen, womb, stomach” (see uterus). Originally defined as a neurotic condition peculiar to women and thought to be caused by a dysfunction of the uterus.
General sense of “unhealthy emotion or excitement” is by 1839.
Desperate to lead an independent life as an artist, Violet struggles to accept her family’s marriage plans for her. However it’s 1886 and women have very limited choices. Society doesn’t have a place for Violet and, after an incident she can’t remember, she finds herself in an asylum at the mercies of sinister family adviser Dr Rastrick.
The tone of the novel – a little formal and quaint – mimics the period which can make it difficult to connect with Violet in the first part of the novel.
Once she is in the asylum we get more of a sense of the women’s lives and the disturbing focus on mental illness being perceived as part of female physiognomy rather than trauma or life experiences. This is the part of the story which really resonated with me.
I found Violet’s revelations in the latter part of the novel to lack credulity and to create too much of a contrast with the earlier story but I appreciated the clever finale.
A novel of three parts which delves into the fate of Victorian women who are victims of their life experiences and of society.
February 28, 2023
I realy liked 90% of this book, but these last pages just let me down.
Here we are in late 19th century and our protagonist do not want to marry and wants to be an artist, which is great.
Later, she is in asylum for crazy women and we do not know why for a while. Few interesting facts come by... and I would have liked more follow up on. 0
Then with some help she runs away from asylum to start a new life. And this is where the I think things got wrong for herself and for the book. The ending is completely nonsense, simply was anything you could expect, but in a bad way. The ending didn't make sense for me.
Here we are in late 19th century and our protagonist do not want to marry and wants to be an artist, which is great.
Later, she is in asylum for crazy women and we do not know why for a while. Few interesting facts come by... and I would have liked more follow up on. 0
Then with some help she runs away from asylum to start a new life. And this is where the I think things got wrong for herself and for the book. The ending is completely nonsense, simply was anything you could expect, but in a bad way. The ending didn't make sense for me.
May 10, 2024
Could have been so good!
Good insight into the treatment of mental health issues in the Victorian era.
A bit too much in the way of fainting and hysteria for me and fed into rather than dissipating old fashioned views of the delicacy of women.
The “darlings” piece wasn’t dealt with fully and seemed a little inconsequential to the story considering the title of the book.
I liked the end of the book a lot though.
Good insight into the treatment of mental health issues in the Victorian era.
A bit too much in the way of fainting and hysteria for me and fed into rather than dissipating old fashioned views of the delicacy of women.
The “darlings” piece wasn’t dealt with fully and seemed a little inconsequential to the story considering the title of the book.
I liked the end of the book a lot though.
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