Publisher's Weekly Review
Fox's spins a satisfying debut yarn that includes witchcraft, tragedy, and love, set in 1821 New England. Ten years ago, Lydia Montrose unwittingly summoned a dark power from within herself to torment a neighborhood bully. Now 18, her family is forced to move from Boston to Willow Hall estate in New Oldbury, Mass., to escape scandalous rumors concerning her older sister, Caroline. While Caroline detests the countryside, Lydia and her younger sister, Emeline, relish the fresh air and the less constricting society; they also enjoy the acquaintance of their father's new business partner, John Barrett. But as Lydia starts to fall for John, disturbing things begin to happen at Willow Hall. Lydia sees ghosts and hears voices who try to convince her to do bad things. Following a monumental tragedy, she will have to discover who she is in order to set things right. Despite the lack of character development for side characters, Fox effectively portrays Lydia as sympathetic, stuck between a sister with no regard for propriety and parents who can't or won't discipline her. The inclusion of gothic elements adds a visceral feel that fans of historical fiction with a dash of the supernatural will enjoy. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
In 1821, scandal forces Lydia Montrose and her family to leave the city of Boston. Upon arriving in the country hamlet of New Oldbury, the Montrose family settle in at Willow Hall, their new estate recently purchased from Mr. Montrose's business partner, young Mr. Barrett. The family hopes that Willow Hall will eventually feel like home. But the house has a tragic past that seems to make its presence known only to Lydia. When a tragedy befalls her own family, a power is awakened in Lydia that has laid dormant for far too long. As she learns more about her power and its origin, Lydia must learn to control it, for untamed, it will only cause harm to those she loves. This historical-fiction debut touches on sisterhood, family, and coming into one's own, with a dash of romance amid a gothic atmosphere. Though the writing is a tad lackluster, this autumnal read should find a wide audience.--LynnDee Wathen Copyright 2018 Booklist
