The Thirteenth Tale

This is a fascinating and satisfying book and the world it introduced was attractive and alluring. It feels wonderful to add this story to the repertoire of others in my mind. I am so happy I found it.

At times, the suspense of this book nearly killed me. And what it revealed truly shocked me. I could not foretell what will happen next and there are many surprises in the book.

I listened to it as an audio instead of actually reading it. Many times I was not able to leave the car and waiting for one more minute, then two more minutes and then more for the narration to continue.

If The Thirteenth Tale had been a physical book I'd have had a few sleepless nights until the book was finished. For I know, I wouldn't have been able to put it down. One day at work it was just pure torture to be away and not knowing what the next turn in the book will bring. To not be able to access the book, to not have it in my hands and commit the simple act of turning the pages.

There were times during my commute as I listened that I wanted to bite my nails and beg the narrator to please read faster and reveal the story. Books can't get better than this. How I always long to read books that dazzle and mesmorize me. To me, this was such a book.

If you love books such as The Turn of the Screw by Henry James or Jane Eyre (which is mentioned repeatedly in the book) by Charlotte Bronte, then you must read this novel.

You will be reading a Gothic novel, where you'll find your characters in a mysterious mansion. In a place where not all is right with the people inhabiting the home and the house itself. Could it truly be haunted? And what are ghosts? This book gave me the gift of being able to believe in ghosts and that they come in many shapes and form. I had never seen ghost quite the same way as this book presents them. A ghost is not always a specter. It can be many things.

I plan to read this book again and look for all the clues I missed throughout. This is one of those books that will be a different read the second time. The words uttered by the character narrating her story, will have a different meaning in the second read.