Jennifer Renshaw

Thank you, NetGalley and Random Things Tours, for the chance to read and review The Parlour Game by Jennifer Renshaw.

The Parlour Game is a historical paranormal thriller set in London in the 1800s. It's the first book in The Corvidae Hauntings series and is Jennifer Renshaw's debut novel. It's 411 pages long and is independently published. It is also available on kindle unlimited or for $3.99.

The Parlour Game is a perfect October read. It's spooky and gripping and makes you feel like something is watching you while you lay in bed. Of course, it has flaws, but overall it's a good read, and I wouldn't protest if asked to read part 2. I know that sounds lukewarm, but I don't read spooky things, so if I'm open to reading a part 2, that's a big deal for me!

I think the blurb tells us a lot about what will happen in the book, so if you need a summary, you should just head on there. I will say that Renshaw is excellent at describing a haunting; there are moments you're just as confused as Ivy and wondering if this is real or isn't. The thing with the siblings at the end was a bit overdramatic from my point of view. I think that last bit with the mask had me wondering if the haunting was real or if everyone was just completely losing their minds.

There are also moments when Ivy is far too stupid and naive, but in those, I do remember that she is an incredibly sheltered young woman. I'd love to have something from her parents, especially her father's point of view, in the next book. This could be in the form of a flashback because the story of how the parents became a thing could be super interesting.… (altro)

The Parlour Game by Jennifer Renshaw

Dark, grim, and gritty – a story difficult to read filled with wealthy, selfish, evil people, their servants, and a woman trying to find a woman who promised to help her but disappeared in the dark home the wealthy live in.

Ivy Granger is first seen burying her mother. She is quiet, seems oppressed by something unknown, is misunderstood by her family, and is bereft without her mother. She has dreams that do not fall in line with those of her father and rather than following his plans for her, she heads to London to find answers about herself and her mother. Unable to find Miss Earnshaw, the woman with answers, she ends up working as a maid at Blackham House – a cold, dismal, creepy place that hides secrets…rather horrible ones.

This book has all the elements of a gothic horror story. It is not a romance. It had me skimming through parts to get the gist of the story and wishing that there was someone there for Ivy as she faced numerous problems. At times I wondered how she had gone from compliant quiet daughter to a force to be reckoned with. I am curious what will happen to her and if this is a one and done novel of if Ivy might show up in a book yet to come.

I have a feeling that with so many mysteries surrounding Ivy, she will need a mentor to help her find her place as she moves forward and wish her well.

There were questions I had that remained unanswered about who various people were, how they might be important, if some had died or not, and what Ivy would do after the last page of the story. Well written and atmospheric but also a bit slow to draw me in, I wanted to feel closer to Ivy and wished I could care more about her as a person. Perhaps if more of her backstory is provided, if this is a series, those questions will be answered for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars… (altro)