Welcome to Litsy!

A cunning use of religion in a fantastical setting with interesting consequences.

Cathy Helstone travels to her elusive brother Laon who has been a missionary in Elphame for 3 yrs. There is a religious mystery throughout & tension in the close relationship of Cathy & Laon. Cathy‘s love for Laon guides her throughout. The last 3rd of the book wanders but wraps up the religious mystery.

It is a unique gothic masterpiece- extensive biblical allusions, theology, sin, & taboo romantic partners.

#gothic #elphame #historicfantasy

This was a really good, well written fantasy novel about a brother and sister in the land of the Fae.

#AlphabetGame #LetterU
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

#TBRPile 📚 “My brother and I grew up dreaming of new worlds.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am giving this a generous 3 ⭐️. It started off with really interesting ideas and conversations about Christianity and if you could bring Christianity to the fae, creatures that ultimately have no souls. The descriptions of the faeland and the fae creatures were very interesting. But ultimately the story goes nowhere. Interesting plot points get started but don‘t amount to anything. The incest theme is tough to read. Not my favorite read.

This was an exceptional debut novel. I loved the writing, the gothic atmosphere, the vivid details and characters. I would definitely recommend this to book to other Fantasy lovers. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#ReadYourSign ♐️♋️
♋️ 8: A book with your spirit color in the title, or on the cover. (Violet)

Super excited for this month‘s fantasy book club pick. I mean, look at that cover. And Fae. Sold.

This was a very well written book that Squidapus really didn't like. He thought it was going to be a fantasy about searching for a girl's brother in the land of the fae; but it was actually about a really obsessive sibling relationship and Christian theology. To explain why exactly he didn't like this book so much would be a spoiler. The good parts and unique idea of Arcadia didn't win out over just...whatever this book was trying to do.

Quite an impressive construction of mythology and theology. It‘s sort of is if Matthew Lewis (The Monk) and Charlotte Brontë had a love child. Beautifully and evocatively written. I cannot say it was always a pleasant read, and when the final knife turned, it was not so much surprise as unhappy inevitability.

If your tastes run to very well written Gothic/Victorian, I would recommend this book. I hope Ng comes out with the sequel.

If you hate gothic novels written or based in the 1800‘s full of intrigue, horrific realizations/truths and Christian ‘High Church‘ driven theology within the framework of a Fae realm, do not read this book. If you want to read a book from an author who obviously loves the above mentioned themes and treats them with reverent and delicate respect to the point of giving you goosebumps/chills, read this amazing amazing book.

Jeanette Ng‘s debut alternate universe historical fantasy novel (the first in a trilogy) is a diligently researched, very literary book that knowingly nods at Charlotte and Emily Brontë and has interesting points to make on colonialism, religion and the role of women and makes innovative use of its fae setting but there is precious little plot here (that only really gets going in the final quarter) and the incest theme may deter some readers.

Oh my goodness. I might be THE audience for this book. Gothic Romanticism, check. Thick with esoteric/Gnostic/Apocryphal Christian theology, check. Fae, check. I'm not sure people without fairly decent background in all of those will get as much out of this or enjoy it as much as I did. Probably my favorite book of the year so far. #gothicfairytale #thatcovertho

Had some gift money from Christmas so the husband and I went to Barnes and Noble and bought ourselves some more books today. 😊📚❤️

#bookhaul

"I had cut up similar brocade gowns when I had briefly been a companion to Miss Louisa March."

Ok, this has to be a Little Women reference. Kind of a clever one, too.

Quick update on a book I‘m really enjoying. Great worldbuilding (again, premise is missionaries in land of the fae), & a slow burn of a story which ratchets up the tension & mystery with every chapter. It‘s very much in the vein of old school gothic novels—there‘s a good chance if you like books such as Ann Radcliff‘s The Mysteries of Udolpho or The Italian, you‘ll like this modern, even more fantastical tale. And the cover! Ok, back to reading.

“Secrets keep you safe...Not all knowledge brings joy...There are things I wish I didn‘t know.”

So far, very interesting. How could it not be? The premise is missionaries in the land of the fae. Definitely curious to see where the story goes.

UNDER THE PENDULUM SUN by Jeannette Ng is is a Gothic-inspired novel that blends the fae with Christian theology while simultaneously undermining traditional narratives of colonialism. While it makes for a fascinating story, there are certain twists that mean it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

Check out my full review at
http://earlgreyediting.com.au/2017/12/11/under-the-pendulum-sun-by-jeannette-ng/

Back home which means I‘m diving back into the TBR pile. The cover of this book is crazy is the best sort of way. The story itself sounds really interesting. It‘s cold. There‘s snow on the ground. And, I‘m ready to curl up with a good book.

Settling down to start a gothic tail.

#TBRtemptation post 5! Recently released. Great cover! Catherine's brother, Laon, has gone missing in Arcadia, land of magical fae. She makes the perilous journey there, then finds herself isolated in the sinister house of Gethsemane. She'll find out how much danger Laon's in and what enemies pursue him. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

I don't know what to make of this. Wow. It can be slow, but that's part of the Gothic appeal of it. I didn't love it, but I appreciate the heck out of it.

Full review here: http://wp.me/p21txV-Dr

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ of 5 ⭐️s

Whoo-whee! Went in expecting a gothic horror novel with touches of dark fairytale, and I got that PLUS a deep dive into the nature of faith, truth, and the power of stories and storytelling. Unfolds slowly, and so not for the impatient, but for those willing to invest the time, the payoff is definitely worth it :D.

Once again the lovely people of @AngryRobot were kind enough to send me an ARC of this novel when I asked :D. Gothic literature and the Fae? Sign me right up XD!