Natalie’s father works at the brand new Metropolitan Museum of Art. The story takes place, however, in a museum in 19 th-century New York, rather than in the stereotypical Old World gothic manor.ĭarker Still tells the story of Natalie, a young woman who has been mute since her mother died in a tragic accident. In Darker Still, the first in her Magic Most Foul series, Hieber follows the tropes of her Gothic predecessors, writing in an epistolary style and featuring murder, mystery, and the occult set in a romanticized past. Love classic Gothic novels, but prefer protagonists with a little more spunk than the defenseless damsels typically featured in these works? Then the books of Leanna Renee Hieber may be just what you’re looking for.

Kyla Ward on Flowers in Gothic Literature.

Paula Cappa on Review of The Writing Retreat-Channeling Stories and Spirits.

Spencer on Review of Piñata-Possession in Mexico.

Tricia on Review of Neil Gaiman’s Trigger Warning.

Review of The Writing Retreat-Channeling Stories and Spirits.

Review of FINNA and DEFEKT-Retail Terror.

I received this eARC from Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Sleeper hit of the season!ĭarker Still is currently available in stores. The characters are well established, the writing is consistent with the time period and equally as elegantly told. I was curious as to how the story was going to wrap up, knowing that it was book 1 of a series but it definitely leaves it open for more – and I cannot wait! I honestly hadn’t heard too much about the book, but I’m so glad that I picked it up. Like Nancy Drew with a touch of magic, Hieber tells a familiar story with her own twist to it. Told in the point-of-view of Natalie writing in her diary, the reader really gets to experience the mute world that Natalie lives, right alongside her. Darker Still reminded me how much I love a good ol’ ghost story. Don’t get me wrong, there definitely are some vampire stories that I’ve enjoyed, but I feel that market is so saturated now. Let me first say, what a nice refreshing change it is to have a paranormal book not be about vampires. In actuality, it is Denbury’s soul that has been trapped inside the painting and he must try to get someone to help him escape. Everyone is drawn to the very life-like painting, and Natalie begins to notice small changes in the piece of art each time she looked at it. The city is abuzz with anticipation at the acquisition of a beautiful painting of an equally beautiful man, Lord Denbury. The year is 1882 and Natalie Stewart hasn’t spoken a word since her mother died when she was 4 years old. Hyde.”, Darker Still is set in New York City. Described as “The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr.

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber