Gothicked (Gothic Novel Lovers) discussion

What is your favorite Victoria Holt book?

Road to Paradise Island and Lord of the Far Island are the first two that come to mind.

My favorite was The Shivering Sands. I read it when I was around 14 and then much later again as an adult. I liked it just as well the second time around. Are there any plans to start a group read?

I read the shivering sands when I was 14 or 15 and loved it! there's so many good Holts ..

I'm reading The House of a Thousand Lanterns right now and so far, it's my favorite!

That's good to hear, Jackie! I have that one waiting to be read (loved the cover) but haven't picked it up yet.

Leslie wrote: "My favorite was The Shivering Sands. I read it when I was around 14 and then much later again as an adult. I liked it just as well the second time around. Are there any plans to start a group read?"

Leslie, would you like to start a group read with books written under Eleanor Hibbert's Victoria Holt pseudonym only, or her other names as well?
I believe she wrote under Jean Plaidy and Philippa Carr as well.

Jackie wrote: "I'm reading The House of a Thousand Lanterns right now and so far, it's my favorite!"

Was this one set in Asia?

I have a question for all of you.
What was it about Holt books that drew many of us in during our early teen years?

Have you found modern day authors that write in this same vein?

Sure ... Any of the three pseudonyms are fine by me. I've read Victoria Holt and Philippa Carr but don't think I have read Jean Plaidy.

Yes, The House of a Thousand Lanterns is set in Asia and England.

Curse of the Kings was my first Holt read, but my favorite is probably On the Night of the Seventh Moon. Hard to choose. I read all of them in my teens.

To answer Jenni's question: I was lent "Shivering Sands " by an older friend when I was about 14. Up til then I had only been familiar with Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys type mysteries (and had read them all) which are quite American. So they were good mysteries but you didn't get the exotic location, moors, castles, sea cliffs, fancy dresses, brooding heroes...that was all new with VH and I just gobbled it up. For me that was the appeal. As a young teenager I also liked Willard Price (anyone remember that series?) because the two teen boys were sons of a zoo owner and went all over the globe searching for new species and had adventures along the way with volcanoes, spelunking, amazon rainforest etc.

I'm in!!

I absolutely loved Shivering Sands too. There was something about the language she used that just made me feel the story on so many levels.

My favorite is On the night of the Seventh Moon. It is so mysterious and so good.

Ive read her books so much they are all worn out! Now im looking at little similarities like i just found as phillipa carr one of her heroine's is clarissa CLAVERING(will you love me in september?) And as Victoria Holt ThePrideOfThePeacock heroine's name is Jessica CLAVERING!i wonder if she just liked thst name or knew someone named Clavering!

My favorite was Bride of Pendorric-but a very close second is On the night of the Seventh Moon.

This is a hard question as I have loved all of her books but I think I would choose The Legend of the Seventh Virgin and Kirkland Revels as my favorite.

I loved those as well as Menfreya in the Morning and King of the Castle.

Karen wrote: "Ive read her books so much they are all worn out! Now im looking at little similarities like i just found as phillipa carr one of her heroine's is clarissa CLAVERING(will you love me in september?)..."

I adore her Phillippa Carr Daughters of England books.

Jenny wrote: "Curse of the Kings was my first Holt read, but my favorite is probably On the Night of the Seventh Moon. Hard to choose. I read all of them in my teens."

That's the one about the story of Nuns dancing and they were turned into stones?

If we start a fan club of Holt, then count in me, too.

The Legend of the Seventh Virgin is the one with the story of the Nuns dancing and turning into stone. :-)

:) She was a great writer.

Nice seeing this thread active again. I think I have most VH I've collected and used bookstores, etc.... among the best to me! I can get lost in one quickly. :)

Hi Debbie, and I am so glad this is getting active, too. I belong to many mystery, crime, suspense groups and a few others for years, but I just recently discovered this site, and I adore gothic mysteries/romance books.

Hi Debbie! Yes, I love Victoria Holt as well! She is probably my favorite author. I have most of her books but am still missing a few of the later ones. Hope to get Seven for a Secret next. Has anyone read that one?

Marilyn wrote: "Hi Debbie! Yes, I love Victoria Holt as well! She is probably my favorite author. I have most of her books but am still missing a few of the later ones. Hope to get Seven for a Secret next. Has any..."

I've read Seven for a Secret. It's been awhile, so I can't recall specifically, but it was very good. I haven't read all the Holt books, Bride of Pendorric was my favorite. Mistress of Mellyn I found a bit dull, although the twist at the end took me by surprise. I love those red herrings.

I read all of her books, and I actually have a copy of Bride of Pendorric right now. I know I've read Sever for a Secret, but I can't recall anything about it. I just remember she was wonderful. Have you read anything by Jennie Melville? Nun's Castle??
Elisabeth Ogilvie also cranked out some interesting gothic-type novels: Image of a Lover, for one.

Thanks Renee! I'll get Seven for a Secret next! I haven't tried any of the authors you mentioned Skye but I will go have a look at some of their books now. I did order a couple of books yesterday by authors I've never tried before. One is 'The Mists of Cornwall' by Patricia Werner and the other is 'The Guardian of Willow House' by Dorothy Daniels. I know Daniels wrote a lot of Gothics and possibly I read one when I was very young, but I don't remember anything about her as an author. Hopefully she is good. :)

I'll have a look at Patricia Werner, and yes, you're right about Dorothy Daniels---she wrote a lot of gothic books. Thanks for the title, Marilyn.

I have Seven for a Secret. It I've never read it. I have read a lot of Holt but much of it was very long time ago. I doubt I could recall any details unless it's been in the last few years. Any buddy reads being thought about? This group has been quiet for so long.

Hi Kaya:
Debbie, I no longer have any Holt books except for one, but I read them all, or at least I think I did. I will look up Seven for a Secret, and a buddy read would be wonderful to me.

I did read it: I recall the cover.

I could order a used copy from Barnes and Noble. The only one I have in my possession right now ( I have tons, but mostly crime, suspense and mystery) is Bride of Pendorric.

That would be fun! I ordered it from Thrift Books about 2 years ago. I never got around to reading it. Who else wants to? In March or April?

If I have to order a book, I don't how long it would take and I'm in. I have The Bride of Pendorric right now, but it there is another book anyone wants to read or reread, let's see what others say, and then I can order it.

I have BoP. I'm off next week. I remember reading it like 20 years ago so I don't recall anything about it. I'd be willing to BR that one anytime.

I just sent u a friend request Skye. :)

Sent you a request too Kaye. Lets get to some VH reading. I have so many I've begun recollecting at used bookstores and library sales. I feel I see one I grab it. I read them all throughout HS. My mom had that Doubleday book club membership. She get them monthly. I'd read after she finished reading. Great memories.

debbie~cr8zycat ^_^ wrote: "I just sent u a friend request Skye. :)"

I know, and I just replied! :)

Oh hey, my library app has 6 titles for ebook
The Time of the Hunters Moon
Shivering Sands
The India Fan
The Secret Woman
Pride of the peacock.

On Hoopla. Check if you have it. While I have all these titles at home somewhere, having them on my tablet for on the go would certainly be helpful to me.

I stared Shivering Sands months ago but never seemed to have my book with me when I got out and about. I never finished it. It was good tho.

debbie~cr8zycat ^_^ wrote: "Sent you a request too Kaye. Lets get to some VH reading. I have so many I've begun recollecting at used bookstores and library sales. I feel I see one I grab it. I read them all throughout HS. My ..."

My mother was the one who belonged to the same book club. When I moved into an apartment, I had to get rid of all my books, but now, there are OTHER books ( all genres) that need to be donated, again. I adored the gothic time frame; Let's wait to see what Renee and Marilyn have to say.

Yes, the best memories. I also read gothic by other writers when I was pregnant many years ago.

Sounds good to me. And I can relate. I got rid of all of mine at some point from moving around. Later, after joining GR, and groups, I started looking to find them again and discovered a great many in used bookstores. I've enjoyed replacing them.

I'm also excited this group is getting a revival. I love a good buddy read.

Debbie: the used book stores in my area disappeared and were supplanted with Borders, and then Barnes and Noble. I have to order mine from Barnes and Noble market place.

That sucks!!! We have a great many sources here. I can go a little crazy finding those old gothics. In a good way.

Thriftbooks online is a really good resource. Very good pricing. Have you looked at I b4? Someone in the Mary Stewart group told me about it.

My post above should say that I did not finish Shivering Sands. Typing too fast on phone. I would like to tho. It was good!

Skye wrote: "I'll have a look at Patricia Werner, and yes, you're right about Dorothy Daniels---she wrote a lot of gothic books. Thanks for the title, Marilyn."

I actually picked up 'The Mists of Cornwall' on Amazon's Marketplace for 14 cents! Best buy I ever got on a book. :-D