I’ve nearly finished this book at the moment and absolutely adore it. I didn’t understand all the bad reviews it was getting. I had drafted a review of this book in my head for my own book blog, basically saying what you’ve said here; that it is just like a gothic novel of the Ann Radcliffe variety. Mrs Radcliffe is my favourite author (even more than Jane Austen, but don’t tell anyone, lol!), and I’m really pleased to have found this book, it has made its way onto my list of my permanent favourites.

To be honest, all the people who say it’s boring, are, in my opinion, the same people who claim to be such great fans of Austen yet think Northanger Abbey is Austen making fun of how ridiculous gothic novels are; the same people who gush over Austen’s work yet say they can’t even read halfway through Udolpho because it’s so boring. Do they even know that Radcliffe was one of the authors from whom Austen learnt her craft?

That’s my rant over anyway! Excellent review, hadn’t come across the blog before but will definitely visit again.