≫ PDF A Gathering of Ghosts Karen Maitland author 9781472235879 Books

A Gathering of Ghosts Karen Maitland author 9781472235879 Books

Download As PDF : A Gathering of Ghosts Karen Maitland author 9781472235879 Books

A Gathering of Ghosts Karen Maitland author 9781472235879 Books

This is another riveting novel by a fine writer at the top of her game. Nobody does setting quite like Maitland; the reader feels the damp, the cold - in fact, every discomfort the unfortunate characters suffer is there to experience. I know that doesn't sound like much fun, but it makes for an unforgettable reading experience. The two women who gradually emerge as the main characters are also powerfully depicted, and I thought the storytelling from different points of view worked very effectively. I didn't feel things had to move any faster than they did. This was an immersion experience, and having it romp along at a quicker pace would have detracted from the story and seemed unnatural. Highly recommended, for atmosphere and character and also for the singular paranormal elements.


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A Gathering of Ghosts Karen Maitland author 9781472235879 Books Reviews

Every time I read a new Karen Maitland book I have this fear that the spell is going to be broken – well not this time. For me, Karen is the master of the medieval thriller with a twist of supernatural menace. England in the 12th century sits on the edge between religious belief and pagan superstition, nowhere is this more prevalent than on wild expanses of Dartmoor, or previously known as Dertemora (Moor in the Dart valley). A Gathering of Ghosts is a brilliant book full of atmosphere that takes you into an eerie, foreboding, superstitious world where legends and myths are all too close. Karen’s writing pulls at every physical sense that captivates you and keeps teasing with demonic forces that are terrifyingly close.

The central location of the story is the Hospitaller’s Priory of St Mary, in a remote location in Dartmoor and its surrounding area.

“Other side of that priory stands the most accursed hill on the whole moor. Old ‘uns called it Fire Tor, but some call it Ghost Tor. You can hear the dead whispering among the rocks.”

In the surrounding area, camps of ‘tinners’ are ferociously mining the landscape for tin to provide King Edward II with the materials he needs to build weapons for his wars.

“The King’s decreed that any man has the right to look for tin on anyone’s land as he pleases, without let or hindrance.”

This scenery is vividly brought to life and the weather-beaten conditions create a dark and dreary rain-soaked landscape, adding to the overall sense of damnation.

The Priory, run by Prioress Johanne, houses an ancient well that the church is built on and they have dedicated it to St Bridget, although the locals originally know it as Bryde’s Well. Various unconnected characters have apparitions of a blood-drenched scene and are drawn to the Priory – for what, they do not know. One of these visions is seen by Sister Fina, the sister responsible for managing the well and the pilgrims that attend it. Flustered and terrified she leaves the underground well to find a deaf-mute boy standing alone in the church. Feeling he is abandoned they take him in and by way of discovering more take him to the blind priest in the hope, he may connect better. The priest’s response is alarming in that he warns them all that if the boy stays he’ll bring down a curse on all their heads. Next morning the priest is dead. Prioress Johanne must keep the superstitions and fears at bay as the priory is visited by Knight Brother Nicholas and his groom, Brother Alban, on a mission to investigate possible pilfering of priory’s monies. She has her own secrets to hide and the game of cat and mouse with Nicholas is full of suspense.

The other blood-scene apparitions are experienced by Sorrel, a poor girl disfigured at birth with a deformed arm, and Morwen the daughter of Kendra the former keeper of the well. Kendra is someone that can communicate directly with the spirits and conjure charms and spells. She will pass her gift to one of her daughters but Morwen is not expected to be the one. Morwen is, however, growing in strength as she can feel the spirits. All these characters are really well depicted and play a wonderful part in creating a totally immersive story of secrets, threats, superstition, and retribution from the Earth and the ancient world.

The history of the order of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, also known as the Hospitaller Knights Brothers and Sisters, is really interesting and although aligned with the Templar Knights, is not as well-known. Originally founded as a hospital in Jerusalem in 1080 they provided care and refuge for the poor, sick and injured pilgrims in the Holy Lands. Today St John Ambulance takes its name from the Hospitaller Knights.

Karen Maitland undertakes deep research in the background to her books but doesn’t allow it to consume her story. As a way of providing insight into those details, she includes historical notes and a glossary of terms that I find adds fantastic value to the whole experience. I simply find Karen Maitland’s stories totally mesmeric and full of clever suspense.

I would like to thank Headline Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC version of the book in return for an honest review.
A medieval tale of witches and witchcraft, legends and ghosts on the moors of Dartmoor.

First things first, the immersive reading experience is something else. The book opens with the wet weather having ruined months of harvests and the poor even poorer by now. People are suffering and dying and those in desperate need have nowhere to go for help except the churches and monasteries. One of these priories was that of St Mary’s which is fictional but which in the novel is home to the Sister of the Knights of St john. There is said to be healing waters in the well here and gradually people resort to the belief and the old religion there, hoping that this is to be their salvation in the modern world.

What happens next at the Priory is the catalyst for a series of catastrophic events.

This was a very memorable and fascinating reading experience. It was all so vivid and chilling, historical and insightful into the legends and mysteries of the moors. It was also an historical feast as there is so much to chew over here – the ingredients are ripe and varied, the characters all bring something to the overall mix and the plot is like the mixing, folding, adding a sprinkle of history, spice and all things not very nice to something you really want to sink your teeth into. I’ve a feeling I’ve been on an historical episode of Bake Off – Rich in atmosphere and dripping in intrigue….A Gathering of Ghosts was an amazing read and one enjoyed best with a coffee, a candle and an ounce of bravery for when you’re on those moors, you are not alone. Booktrailers will be more than happy to take this book to Dartmoor as the book more than captivates a time and setting which is so immersive!
Unable to rate this as highly as other reviewers. When I initially read the synopsis it ticked so many of my reading "likes" that I'm left feeling a tad deflated. I did enjoy the bleak and claustrophobic atmosphere, the isolation, the setting of Dartmoor. I also enjoyed the rituals of the "Old Ways" when paganism ruled across the land.

However, this was a very slow read, the "build up" was in simmer mode until very much the end of the novel. Found it difficult to empathise with the main characters here due to the fact that the story is again told from several differing points of view. I've enjoyed this type of delivery in the past but it didn't quite work here. For this reader it was the secondary characters that were the most interesting, Eva and the tortured Sebastian.
This is another riveting novel by a fine writer at the top of her game. Nobody does setting quite like Maitland; the reader feels the damp, the cold - in fact, every discomfort the unfortunate characters suffer is there to experience. I know that doesn't sound like much fun, but it makes for an unforgettable reading experience. The two women who gradually emerge as the main characters are also powerfully depicted, and I thought the storytelling from different points of view worked very effectively. I didn't feel things had to move any faster than they did. This was an immersion experience, and having it romp along at a quicker pace would have detracted from the story and seemed unnatural. Highly recommended, for atmosphere and character and also for the singular paranormal elements.