This is a loose retelling of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. But, the book kept all of the best bits of the classic and removed all the worst (if you know, you know). Andromeda was a great reincarnation of the titular Jane. She is a fighter, a survivor, but she is also hopeful and fragile at times. She lives on the streets, she grew up under an imposing, abusive Debtera. She wants to be the best at her craft and is not willing to settle for the life others would push onto her (a life that is "expected" or "conventional.") The story is intriguing. While the original classic had an ominous presence, it was never really a ghost (sorry, spoilers). This book takes the original gothic horror atmosphere and heightens it with the evil eye, a vengeful spirit, and a house that seems to consume. It is terrifying and the novel had me looking over my shoulders a few times. While not a lot is seen, those moments when certain things are shown or revealed lend to the readers imagination about the worse things that could be hidden in the deepest shadows. This book is not only about a haunted house, but about haunted people. Each character in this novel is haunted by aspects of their past, of mistakes they have made, of paths they regret taking and people they regret losing. I liked that these were so tangled with the plot, adding depth to a story about malicious spirits. It was not just about death, but spiritual death as well. I particularly liked the change to Rochester's character. While the original is a rogue, Magnus is a character you can actually empathize with. He is thrown into a curse by his father, he wants to help those he still cares for, he is broken (similar to Andromeda). While the two are at odds at first, they quickly form a friendship and trust. Their relationship developed well and I thought it was quite realistic and wonderful. Their chemistry was captivating. The world building was fascinating, including the magic system. The use of amulets to cleanse evil. How they must be fashioned while ridding the evil, so Debtera must be present to destroy them. Just very creative and different, masterfully crafted. This book hooked me immediately, making Lauren Blackwood an author I will be reading more of in the future and recommending to other readers.
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