Review: Fyneshade by Kate Griffin

We all go into books with certain expectations, maybe provided by the cover, or the blurb, or the buzz we get on social media about a new release. I had come to Fyneshade expecting a neo-Victorian Gothic romp with a bit of witchcraft thrown in for good measure. Little did I know my expectations were about to be smashed.

In Fyneshade we follow Marta, a down-on-her-luck heroine who is forced to become a governess in a remote house in Derbyshire. So far, so Jane Eyre. And there is a handsome (almost) Lord, and an inevitable seduction. And there is a locked room with a forbidden secret. But that’s rather where the comparison ends. Because Marta is no Jane Eyre.

For me, Fyneshade was far more like Vanity Fair, displaced a few years, with a strong Gothic setup and some deep, dark witchcraft. Marta doesn’t just dabble — this governess isn’t afraid to lay down a curse on anyone who has wronged her. Marta is sharp, ruthless, at times mean, and will tread on anyone and anything to get what she wants. It’s maybe surprising, then, that I felt so sore for her whenever things didn’t pan out. I really feel like I shouldn’t love Marta as much as I do, but she’s just so much fun and so unashamedly herself.

The supporting cast are also really interesting. Marta’s student, Grace, is a little girl with learning difficulties, who in many ways is just as strident and just as manipulative as Marta. The two make an interesting pair, and right from that outset the reader is left with the suspicion that Marta will underestimate Grace at her own peril. There is the aforementioned handsome Lord, who gives the reader that Gothic sense of dread as we all know he’s up to some flavour of no good.

I loved Fyneshade and ate it up really quickly. It’s a nice read, while still being original and delivering a fast-paced story with plenty of Gothic twists and turns. I recommend for anyone who loves neo-historical fiction, but is looking for something a bit darker and twistier, someone a bit less likeable, and a narrative you can’t really trust.

Fyneshade is out on 18th of May, and can be pre-ordered here.

Review written with thanks to the publishers and Netgalley.co.uk for an e-advanced review copy.