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The Blackstone Vampires #1
The House on Blackstone Moor
Please note: this edition is no longer available (out of print).
See the newly-edited version.
The House on Blackstone Moor is a tale of vampirism, madness, obsession and devil worship as Rose Baines, only survivor of her family’s carnage, tells her story. Fragile, damaged by the tragedy, fate sends her to a desolate house on the haunted moors where demons dwell. The house and the moors have hideous secrets, yet there is love too; deep, abiding, eternal, but it comes with a price.
See the newly-edited version.
The House on Blackstone Moor is a tale of vampirism, madness, obsession and devil worship as Rose Baines, only survivor of her family’s carnage, tells her story. Fragile, damaged by the tragedy, fate sends her to a desolate house on the haunted moors where demons dwell. The house and the moors have hideous secrets, yet there is love too; deep, abiding, eternal, but it comes with a price.
212 pages, Paperback
First published December 17, 2010
About the author
Carole Gill
47 books214 followersI am the author of the acclaimed Blackstone Vampires Series.
THE BLACKSTONE VAMPIRES OMNIBUS:
2014 - Amazon Bestseller in Dark Fantasy
2015 - Amazon Bestseller in Vampire Horror
AWARDS:
eBook Festival of Words 2014
Best Horror: The House on Blackstone Moor and
Best Villain: Eco
Top 10 Books - 2013 - The House on Blackstone Moor
Aoife Marie Sheridan - ALL THINGS FANTASY
Publisher, Ultimate Fantasy Books
'92 Horror authors you need to read right now,
Carole Gill - The Blackstone Vampires Series. ~Charlotte Books Examiner,
Justine: Into The Blood Book One - Blood and Passion Series has just been released. There is a second novel following that and a third.
I am a member of the Horror Writer's Association.
I live in Yorkshire.I love history and reading. That is why much of my fiction is historically based. Most days you will find me writing or planning what I am going to write next.
I am published by Creativia http://www.ctivia.com/
THE BLACKSTONE VAMPIRES OMNIBUS:
2014 - Amazon Bestseller in Dark Fantasy
2015 - Amazon Bestseller in Vampire Horror
AWARDS:
eBook Festival of Words 2014
Best Horror: The House on Blackstone Moor and
Best Villain: Eco
Top 10 Books - 2013 - The House on Blackstone Moor
Aoife Marie Sheridan - ALL THINGS FANTASY
Publisher, Ultimate Fantasy Books
'92 Horror authors you need to read right now,
Carole Gill - The Blackstone Vampires Series. ~Charlotte Books Examiner,
Justine: Into The Blood Book One - Blood and Passion Series has just been released. There is a second novel following that and a third.
I am a member of the Horror Writer's Association.
I live in Yorkshire.I love history and reading. That is why much of my fiction is historically based. Most days you will find me writing or planning what I am going to write next.
I am published by Creativia http://www.ctivia.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
June 29, 2013
This story was about as good as that badly photo shopped cover. Some parts cool, other parts not so well done.
This technically had everything I was looking for: gothic, vamps, dark topics, romance, angst, an absence of big shiny bows (well, actually...) It was a good idea but it just wasn't put together effectively, which was a shame for a book with tons of potential.
The author worked really hard to shock and pull at the angststrings. Too hard. The sheer volume of OTT wtfery ended up desensitizing me ("Yeah, yeah. The person we're supposed to have come to love gets unjustly eviscerated. Ok, hurry up already. I'm ready for this to be over.") By the end, I felt everyone would be well served to stay the hell away from the heroine, considering how not even the immortal beings were safe in her company.
Plus, as brave as this story tries to be, too much effort was made to make the good bad guys acceptable. For example, a demon vampire damned to hell shouldn't require being drugged in order to participate in such mild debauchery as orgies or feel guilty later. Come on! He's the damned! Let your fangs down and par-tay!
There are more books in this series with really good reviews. I don't know if they get better or if people are just looking for certain elements and are willing to wade through the mosh pit of overkill in order to get that occasional rush (I've been known to frequently share that attitude). Since the next one is about the bad bad guy, maybe he'll actually true to character and not such a moralistic emo.
This technically had everything I was looking for: gothic, vamps, dark topics, romance, angst, an absence of big shiny bows (well, actually...) It was a good idea but it just wasn't put together effectively, which was a shame for a book with tons of potential.
The author worked really hard to shock and pull at the angststrings. Too hard. The sheer volume of OTT wtfery ended up desensitizing me ("Yeah, yeah. The person we're supposed to have come to love gets unjustly eviscerated. Ok, hurry up already. I'm ready for this to be over.") By the end, I felt everyone would be well served to stay the hell away from the heroine, considering how not even the immortal beings were safe in her company.
Plus, as brave as this story tries to be, too much effort was made to make the good bad guys acceptable. For example, a demon vampire damned to hell shouldn't require being drugged in order to participate in such mild debauchery as orgies or feel guilty later. Come on! He's the damned! Let your fangs down and par-tay!
There are more books in this series with really good reviews. I don't know if they get better or if people are just looking for certain elements and are willing to wade through the mosh pit of overkill in order to get that occasional rush (I've been known to frequently share that attitude). Since the next one is about the bad bad guy, maybe he'll actually true to character and not such a moralistic emo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2013
I truly enjoyed the first half of the book. It told the story of a traumatized young heroine's dark past, her struggle to overcome the horrors she'd experienced, and her eventual arrival at Blackstone - a mysterious manor on the Moors. All in all, a perfect setting for a gothic tale, and a great build up of suspense.
The second half of the book was a complete let-down. After the slow, tantilizing build up, I felt like all the dark secrets discovered by the heroine were being thrown at me all at once. Many bizarre things happened, several that bordered on outlandish. And the pacing became almost frantic. To me it seemed as if there was an attempt to cram in as much horror as possible before the end of the book. Very strange.
It felt as if the writer spent a great deal of time on the first half of the book, carefully crafting the story to a high quality read - then half-way through, ended up rushing to finish the book without the same regard for quality. So disappointing! I will not be reading any other books from this series.
The second half of the book was a complete let-down. After the slow, tantilizing build up, I felt like all the dark secrets discovered by the heroine were being thrown at me all at once. Many bizarre things happened, several that bordered on outlandish. And the pacing became almost frantic. To me it seemed as if there was an attempt to cram in as much horror as possible before the end of the book. Very strange.
It felt as if the writer spent a great deal of time on the first half of the book, carefully crafting the story to a high quality read - then half-way through, ended up rushing to finish the book without the same regard for quality. So disappointing! I will not be reading any other books from this series.
April 13, 2011
Carole Gill has written a tale of Gothic Horror which will send chills up the spines of the most devoted fan of the genre. The House on Blackstone Moor is a well constructed, fast paced tale that takes the protagonist through the depth of depravity and tragedy into insanity, recovery and apparent salvation, until her salvation turns into another kind of hell. A great tale and a highly recommended read.
Tom Cooke
Tom Cooke
September 1, 2013
I don't like to give bad reviews if I can help it. I try to base my reviews more on editing and correct writing format than content, as not everyone likes the same things. However, there is so much wrong with this book that I felt I had to inform the masses. Also, the fact that many others have complained about the author's lack of writing knowledge and the poor editing and NOTHING has been done to correct it really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
The editing in this book is horrible. Errors are found on almost every page. Also, the writer does not have a strong concept on complete sentences or subject/very agreement. It makes for sloppy reading. I had to read some sentences several times to try and make sense of them and most times, I could not. Commas are almost obsolete.
As for the content of the book...where do I begin? It seems as if the author started out writing a book about a girl driven over the edge after discovering a grim scene at her home. She worked the asylum plot until she couldn't, so decided to throw some vampires in. The vampires, which were comical at best, grew tired, so the obvious next step is to bring in demons. Once again, the demon angle made no sense at all and everyone knows gypsies always make a book, so the author threw some of them into the mix. This story is a a mess of different story plots thrown into a pot and stewed. However, they never came together and the result is a hodgepodge of ingredients that do not belong together. The main character is boring, weak, ignorant, and attracts rapists like honey attracts bees. She is quick to judge other characters in the book and calls them 'evil', and yet I guess being in a loony-bin excuses her when it comes to sleeping with married men and drinking blood.
The entire book was a train wreck and I can't find just one thing positive to say about it. I really wish the author would READ these reviews and act accordingly. It makes this reader believe she does not care or is as naive as her main character.
The editing in this book is horrible. Errors are found on almost every page. Also, the writer does not have a strong concept on complete sentences or subject/very agreement. It makes for sloppy reading. I had to read some sentences several times to try and make sense of them and most times, I could not. Commas are almost obsolete.
As for the content of the book...where do I begin? It seems as if the author started out writing a book about a girl driven over the edge after discovering a grim scene at her home. She worked the asylum plot until she couldn't, so decided to throw some vampires in. The vampires, which were comical at best, grew tired, so the obvious next step is to bring in demons. Once again, the demon angle made no sense at all and everyone knows gypsies always make a book, so the author threw some of them into the mix. This story is a a mess of different story plots thrown into a pot and stewed. However, they never came together and the result is a hodgepodge of ingredients that do not belong together. The main character is boring, weak, ignorant, and attracts rapists like honey attracts bees. She is quick to judge other characters in the book and calls them 'evil', and yet I guess being in a loony-bin excuses her when it comes to sleeping with married men and drinking blood.
The entire book was a train wreck and I can't find just one thing positive to say about it. I really wish the author would READ these reviews and act accordingly. It makes this reader believe she does not care or is as naive as her main character.
July 5, 2011
The House on Blackstone Moor by Carole Gill is a startling tale, filled raw and genuine emotions and numerous twists and turns. The narrative in this book is quite different from most books I have read, allowing the reader to feel all of the emotions and confusion that the main character, Rose Baines, is going through. The book opens with Rose making a brutal discovery that would forever change her life.
Left alone in the world after the trauma her father subjected her to, Rose is forced to have a brief stay at an insane asylum. Determined to do whatever it takes to make it out into the real world, she accepts a job for Mr. and Mrs. Darton at their house on Blackstone Moor. Even with worries about it being a mistake to take the job, Rose is determined to show that she is strong enough to stand on her own.
The Dartons are not your average people. They have secrets, dark and evil secrets, that will force Rose to come to terms with things she thought only exited in myths. Being torn between love and a world that she wants no part of, Rose must make the difficult decision as to whether or not she should listen to her heart or run while she is still able.
I truly enjoyed reading The House on Blackstone Moor. Just when I thought all of the secrets were out, more were exposed to keep me hooked to the end, adding to the twisted darkness that Ms. Gill has created. If you like your fiction filled with horror, a touch of love and a unique twist on vampires, I strongly suggest you give The House on Blackstone Moor a try.
Left alone in the world after the trauma her father subjected her to, Rose is forced to have a brief stay at an insane asylum. Determined to do whatever it takes to make it out into the real world, she accepts a job for Mr. and Mrs. Darton at their house on Blackstone Moor. Even with worries about it being a mistake to take the job, Rose is determined to show that she is strong enough to stand on her own.
The Dartons are not your average people. They have secrets, dark and evil secrets, that will force Rose to come to terms with things she thought only exited in myths. Being torn between love and a world that she wants no part of, Rose must make the difficult decision as to whether or not she should listen to her heart or run while she is still able.
I truly enjoyed reading The House on Blackstone Moor. Just when I thought all of the secrets were out, more were exposed to keep me hooked to the end, adding to the twisted darkness that Ms. Gill has created. If you like your fiction filled with horror, a touch of love and a unique twist on vampires, I strongly suggest you give The House on Blackstone Moor a try.
March 4, 2011
you can find my review here
http://mybookaddiction.blogspot.com/2...
http://mybookaddiction.blogspot.com/2...
December 28, 2010
In a day when vampires and other paranormal characters are seemingly coming out of the woodwork, this epic work takes a bit of vampirism, demons, magic, action and romance, and takes them all into a dark place. Earlier I used the word "epic" and this novel is nothing short. It may not have been as long as Stephen King's, "The Stand"; however, by the time the reader has gone from the abattoir that was the Baines home to the insane asylum to Blackstone Moor and beyond, they will feel that they have truly gone on a grand adventure. In order to accomplish this, perhaps the most important skill is pacing. One of the more impressive qualities of this work is exactly that. Gill takes us in many directions, providing many traumatic twists and terrible turns, but while she does this, we are neither bored nor rushed.
In poorer efforts, characters come and go simply to drive the plot or to be fed to the antagonist, but in this, they are tangible and vital, and when they are gone, not only do we miss them, but they remain with us as well. And none more so than Rose Baines and Louis Darton. When the tale has been told you will find that every one of them, even the minor ones, were fashioned so well that you will swear that you could picture every bit of them. They were that well-crafted.
If you like your novels dark, then you have most definitely come to the right place because you are about to witness hell on earth. From ancient sacrifices to present-day devil worship and blood and sex rituals, you will find yourself transported through every possible waking nightmare as Rose escapes one, only to find herself trapped in another. There were places even I wasn't prepared for, but I continued on, as you will as well. If you are troubled easily, then you had better prepare yourself. Carole Gill has really done something special here. Her Rose is a well-written character that you will find yourself rooting for as she is thrown into places found only between heaven and hell, and caught between the constant battle of good versus evil where the only losers tend to be the poor souls caught between.
In poorer efforts, characters come and go simply to drive the plot or to be fed to the antagonist, but in this, they are tangible and vital, and when they are gone, not only do we miss them, but they remain with us as well. And none more so than Rose Baines and Louis Darton. When the tale has been told you will find that every one of them, even the minor ones, were fashioned so well that you will swear that you could picture every bit of them. They were that well-crafted.
If you like your novels dark, then you have most definitely come to the right place because you are about to witness hell on earth. From ancient sacrifices to present-day devil worship and blood and sex rituals, you will find yourself transported through every possible waking nightmare as Rose escapes one, only to find herself trapped in another. There were places even I wasn't prepared for, but I continued on, as you will as well. If you are troubled easily, then you had better prepare yourself. Carole Gill has really done something special here. Her Rose is a well-written character that you will find yourself rooting for as she is thrown into places found only between heaven and hell, and caught between the constant battle of good versus evil where the only losers tend to be the poor souls caught between.
January 6, 2013
I have fond memories of reading Gothic Horror books on vacation at the sea shore: books like "Jane Eyre" and "Wuthering Heights", and those by Phyllis A. Witney, Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt. The first half of this book has all the elements of the best: a young woman without family and a shady past who becomes a governess in a creepy house at the edge of a wasteland, etc.
The first half is compelling and well written. The heroine is "plucky" enough and doesn't make you want to beat her to death for her lack of action or even comprehension. All the standard plot elements are there including the heroine reading someone's diary and a mention of mysterious books she is forbidden to look at (which, frustratingly, she doesn't.)
Then, comes the vampires.
I don't have a problem with the fact that the story has vampires (although I think it would be better if it didn't.) The problem is that the second half of the book devolves into a series of conflicts between "good" vampires and "bad" vampires with the women characters getting raped and (most of) the others getting massacred in between.
There's also pretty much no character development for anyone. The only thread that strings this mess of a second half together is the protagonist running away between the fights and finding JUST the wrong people to fall in with (although I will give you that the "running away and falling in with the wrong people" thing is a trope from the original genre.)
Even the writing isn't up to the level of the first half. The dialogue seems stilted and forced. The fights seem glossed over and therefore the same-old-same-old. Big actions foreshadowed earlier that should be "shown" (like the destruction of the title property and that of the asylum) are told in retrospect and without detail.
My biggest beef with this book is that the first half is so good that fact that the author wasn't able to maintain the quality in second half (and set up for the next book) is just so maddening.
The first half is compelling and well written. The heroine is "plucky" enough and doesn't make you want to beat her to death for her lack of action or even comprehension. All the standard plot elements are there including the heroine reading someone's diary and a mention of mysterious books she is forbidden to look at (which, frustratingly, she doesn't.)
Then, comes the vampires.
I don't have a problem with the fact that the story has vampires (although I think it would be better if it didn't.) The problem is that the second half of the book devolves into a series of conflicts between "good" vampires and "bad" vampires with the women characters getting raped and (most of) the others getting massacred in between.
There's also pretty much no character development for anyone. The only thread that strings this mess of a second half together is the protagonist running away between the fights and finding JUST the wrong people to fall in with (although I will give you that the "running away and falling in with the wrong people" thing is a trope from the original genre.)
Even the writing isn't up to the level of the first half. The dialogue seems stilted and forced. The fights seem glossed over and therefore the same-old-same-old. Big actions foreshadowed earlier that should be "shown" (like the destruction of the title property and that of the asylum) are told in retrospect and without detail.
My biggest beef with this book is that the first half is so good that fact that the author wasn't able to maintain the quality in second half (and set up for the next book) is just so maddening.
August 12, 2011
First thoughts when I finished the last page:
”Wow, this book didn’t end at all how I thought! I wonder what happens next!” (luckily there is a sequel coming)
What I liked about this book:
I am a big fan of vampire/horror books! I haven’t read one in a while, so this was quite a change in genre for me from what I have been reading lately!
The first few sentences in this book were shocking! Rose came home to find out that her father killed her mother and siblings by slashing their throats. Rose goes on to tell her story of what happens after that.
It seems like since Twilight there have been so many new vampire books. The House On Blackstone Moor really had it’s own unique style. It had a really gothic feel to it. I really had no idea what was going to happen next in the story either. It was not predictable at all. The end was quite a surprise!
What I didn’t like about this book:
The font was very small. I downloaded the pdf file to my Kindle, and I had to enlarge the text and turn my Kindle to landscape mode to read it. I did read part of it on my computer though, and the text was much easier to read there.
There were a few errors, but nothing that made the book hard to read.
Sometimes there was just so much going on with all of the vampires and demons. At other times, it was slow and I found my mind wandering. So for me, the book did not have a constant flow to it.
Would I recommend?
Yes. This is not at all like Twilight. Don’t get me wrong–I loved Twilight–but I don’t like reading books that are trying to be like Twilight. Carole Gill has her own writing style and you will not feel like you are reading something familiar. Even though I thought there could have been a little better flow to the book, I am still glad that I read it and look forward to reading the sequel.
”Wow, this book didn’t end at all how I thought! I wonder what happens next!” (luckily there is a sequel coming)
What I liked about this book:
I am a big fan of vampire/horror books! I haven’t read one in a while, so this was quite a change in genre for me from what I have been reading lately!
The first few sentences in this book were shocking! Rose came home to find out that her father killed her mother and siblings by slashing their throats. Rose goes on to tell her story of what happens after that.
It seems like since Twilight there have been so many new vampire books. The House On Blackstone Moor really had it’s own unique style. It had a really gothic feel to it. I really had no idea what was going to happen next in the story either. It was not predictable at all. The end was quite a surprise!
What I didn’t like about this book:
The font was very small. I downloaded the pdf file to my Kindle, and I had to enlarge the text and turn my Kindle to landscape mode to read it. I did read part of it on my computer though, and the text was much easier to read there.
There were a few errors, but nothing that made the book hard to read.
Sometimes there was just so much going on with all of the vampires and demons. At other times, it was slow and I found my mind wandering. So for me, the book did not have a constant flow to it.
Would I recommend?
Yes. This is not at all like Twilight. Don’t get me wrong–I loved Twilight–but I don’t like reading books that are trying to be like Twilight. Carole Gill has her own writing style and you will not feel like you are reading something familiar. Even though I thought there could have been a little better flow to the book, I am still glad that I read it and look forward to reading the sequel.
June 6, 2012
A haunting book written by a voice that's as different as they come. Carole Gill takes the reader to Victorian England with language that's lyrical and faithful to the time period. Written in first person as a narrative from the heroine's point of view, this story represents her testament - or a harrowing account into her motivations, thoughts and actions, triggered from abuse suffered both in childhood and adulthood. It is an utterly romantic book - one of those stories where flowers bloom and hope is painted over a dark, bloody canvas. Reading this novel will take you through a range of emotions - pain, regret, disillusionment, fear, hate, love, sadness, grief, happiness, expectation. That's what a good story should do. Pick up this story if you love the 19th century classics. I like stories with class - this is one of them. Don't let the categorization as "gothic romance" or "gothic horror" fool you. If any of this is not your cup of tea, try it anyway. There's much more to this story than meets the eye.
September 8, 2012
The House on Blackstone Moor is a fantastic read. It is filled with suspense, there are unexpected plot twists and turns around every corner. I absolutely love the style of this book, the first person POV really makes the story way more interesting and exciting. It is very much in literary fashion, and reminded me in a lot of ways of Susanna Kaysen's "Girl, Interrupted". The author hints at many different possibilities throughout the story, creating twists and turns that truly keep you on the edge of your seat and begging for more. It's hard to say much about the actual plot without giving away key details, but if you're looking for a unique twist on the story of vampires, this is it!!! There is absolutely nothing typical here, and nothing sparkly, either. :) Just a super great read!
January 21, 2011
There was nothing ethereal about the dark movie playing in the recesses of my imagination as I rapidly clicked through the pages on my kindle; the images that were invoked in my mind were substantive, very well-formed and often gruesome. This is truly an outstanding horror tale that provokes deeper thought even as it scares you out of your wits. Read more
August 19, 2011
By: Carole Gill
Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson
Rose Baines ia a pretty nineteen year old , that finds her father has murdered her family including himself , after finding this tragic scene she is taken to Marsh , a lunatic asylum . She is taken in by Dr. Bannion, who she learns to trust. He offers her to live with him before becoming a governess to his friends children. She takes the job and moves to the House on BlackStone Moor. Mr & Mrs. Darton seem nice enough, but as time goes on , Rose soon begins to notice odd happenings, she trys to pass it off as dreams, until she is face to face with the evil that lives in the house. She never imagined the man she was falling in love with was also undead, but once that secret is unveiled, all Hell breaks loose. Rose endures being raped , bitten , tore , and losing so many she dearly loved. No one is who she thought they was and she finds that no one can be trusted. While trying to figure out Good and Evil , demons attack her and try to drag her through the gates of Hell. She is forced to make the decision to sacrifice herself , her blood , to save the ones she loves , and leave the world forever , or watch them die.
This is a terrifying and evil filled book. Rose endures so much pain her 19 years of life that most don't experience in a lifetime. Full of demons , spirits , fallen angels , and Satan himself.
Reviewed By: Crystal Trent Dotson
Rose Baines ia a pretty nineteen year old , that finds her father has murdered her family including himself , after finding this tragic scene she is taken to Marsh , a lunatic asylum . She is taken in by Dr. Bannion, who she learns to trust. He offers her to live with him before becoming a governess to his friends children. She takes the job and moves to the House on BlackStone Moor. Mr & Mrs. Darton seem nice enough, but as time goes on , Rose soon begins to notice odd happenings, she trys to pass it off as dreams, until she is face to face with the evil that lives in the house. She never imagined the man she was falling in love with was also undead, but once that secret is unveiled, all Hell breaks loose. Rose endures being raped , bitten , tore , and losing so many she dearly loved. No one is who she thought they was and she finds that no one can be trusted. While trying to figure out Good and Evil , demons attack her and try to drag her through the gates of Hell. She is forced to make the decision to sacrifice herself , her blood , to save the ones she loves , and leave the world forever , or watch them die.
This is a terrifying and evil filled book. Rose endures so much pain her 19 years of life that most don't experience in a lifetime. Full of demons , spirits , fallen angels , and Satan himself.
February 20, 2013
Title - The House on Blackstone Moor
Author - Carole Gill
Dark . . . . very dark . . . .
This novel starts out with Rose. Rose was abused for years by her father and while away carrying for a sick aunt her father murders her mother, two sisters and a brother. The family doctor took her to a hospital and it was there she was taken under the wing of Dr. Bannion. He placed her at Marsh asylum. Here she tried to heal and even had a job of sewing, one day she was offered a job as a governess at Blackstone. Excited and hopeful of a new life Rose has no idea what lies behind the doors of Blackstone. Vampires and demons OH MY ! ! ! While reading this I pictured it to be a black and white and only when they talked about the garden at Blackstone did I even see color. The author's descriptive writing was excellent. You felt like you were there, seeing and hearing all that is going on, which will leave you a little shaken! It was a book that I would not start late at night, due to you not wanting to put it down! There is a mystery and even a love story around every corner! ! !
Wende Sheets
stars - 4
complimentary book given for a free review juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
Author - Carole Gill
Dark . . . . very dark . . . .
This novel starts out with Rose. Rose was abused for years by her father and while away carrying for a sick aunt her father murders her mother, two sisters and a brother. The family doctor took her to a hospital and it was there she was taken under the wing of Dr. Bannion. He placed her at Marsh asylum. Here she tried to heal and even had a job of sewing, one day she was offered a job as a governess at Blackstone. Excited and hopeful of a new life Rose has no idea what lies behind the doors of Blackstone. Vampires and demons OH MY ! ! ! While reading this I pictured it to be a black and white and only when they talked about the garden at Blackstone did I even see color. The author's descriptive writing was excellent. You felt like you were there, seeing and hearing all that is going on, which will leave you a little shaken! It was a book that I would not start late at night, due to you not wanting to put it down! There is a mystery and even a love story around every corner! ! !
Wende Sheets
stars - 4
complimentary book given for a free review juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
July 12, 2016
I relaxed in my chair Christmas Day after all the excitement of presents had calmed down and started The House on Blackstone Moor. I couldn't put it down. The story is told in the first person by Rose, who after the death of her family and a stay in a mental hospital in what I assume is turn of the century England, becomes the governess of the children of the house on Blackstone Moor. From here a mystery unravels. Who is this strange family and what is Rose's true role? The story had a tone like a Sherlock Holmes tale, or even of Sarah Waters's The Stranger, but turned completely different from either of those when vampires and ghosts and vampire hunters appear. Gill's book has romance and light erotic parts mixed with the horror and made for a great read on Christmas afternoon!
September 8, 2012
The book started out well. I was enthralled by the gothic style of writing. The author did well at setting the mood and atmosphere.
Unfortunately for me about half way through I struggled with the plot. It became too dark and morose for me.
In my opinion this book is NOT appropriate for minors. Scenes include demonic sacrifice and rape.
***The target audience for this book is adult.**** When I was a teen, I frequently checked out books from the library that were inappropriate for me. I add the minor information, just as a heads up for parents if you have a teen who was like me. :)
Unfortunately for me about half way through I struggled with the plot. It became too dark and morose for me.
In my opinion this book is NOT appropriate for minors. Scenes include demonic sacrifice and rape.
***The target audience for this book is adult.**** When I was a teen, I frequently checked out books from the library that were inappropriate for me. I add the minor information, just as a heads up for parents if you have a teen who was like me. :)
February 19, 2013
3.5
This book was shocking starting with the first page, Rose's family was killed by her father and the he killed himself.
The parts I didn't like was the parts where Rose was talking about herself or the story was being prolong for some reason.
This was really dark Rose was sexually abused too many times in this story.
The gates of hell opens up in this book....
If you like gothic romance, loss, darkness, heaven and hell then you will love this story.
This book was shocking starting with the first page, Rose's family was killed by her father and the he killed himself.
The parts I didn't like was the parts where Rose was talking about herself or the story was being prolong for some reason.
This was really dark Rose was sexually abused too many times in this story.
The gates of hell opens up in this book....
If you like gothic romance, loss, darkness, heaven and hell then you will love this story.
June 2, 2012
Check out our review here!
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July 27, 2012
I don't usually like romance with my horror, but Carole combined the two beautifully so that they did not diminish each other. Great read!
June 28, 2017
Pain, depravity, love, tragedy, and evil combine to create an entrancing, dark, emotional drama.
The story of Rose Baines, her tragic life, her love, her hate, is an emotional upheaval of turmoil and fury. Even in love, Rose find the fire and frenzy that is, in essence, real passion.
This is a story vampires, unsettled, evil spirits, demons, and gypsies is as unique as it is captivatingly twisted and disturbingly dark. The author has created a story that both terrifies the read but also tantalizes the love story in us all. Yes, a dark and unnerving love story, but a love story just the same.
The story of Rose Baines, her tragic life, her love, her hate, is an emotional upheaval of turmoil and fury. Even in love, Rose find the fire and frenzy that is, in essence, real passion.
This is a story vampires, unsettled, evil spirits, demons, and gypsies is as unique as it is captivatingly twisted and disturbingly dark. The author has created a story that both terrifies the read but also tantalizes the love story in us all. Yes, a dark and unnerving love story, but a love story just the same.
June 17, 2011
The House on Blackstone Moor By Carole Gill
Paperback edition available at Drive Through Horror
E-book edition available at Smashwords
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free from Carole. It was a gift with no mention of review. Just one sick twisted mind sharing their deviance with another kindred soul :)
The House on Blackstone Moor is a treat to read. Told in the old fashioned style of literary greats like Mary Shelly, Gill builds the characters, tension and ambiance which is often lost in modern writing. We're told to go for the hook, start with action, get your reader in the first page or you're toast as a writer. In The House on Blackstone Moor you will be captivated from the very first sentence but not because anything explodes, but because this dark and twisted story is well crafted and engaging.
In the beginning of the book we are introduced to our protagonist, Rose, who has lived through an incredible trauma. Her father, driven insane after a brain injury, had killed her mother and siblings. A young woman living alone and grieving she is sent to one of the only places available for her to recoup, an insane asylum. I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed reading the passages from her time there, and without giving anything away, I can tell you that in the tradition of Gothic Horror literature, evil follows Rose everywhere she goes.
You are well into the book by the time the vampire lore is introduced. Usually this would bother me. I mean I bought a vampire book after all, where are the goddamn vampires? In The House on Blackstone Moor however this is not a problem as the tone of the book has already set the stage for any supernatural being or horror the author can dream up.
In a rare show of courage Gill has reworked the Vampire mythology in an extremely unique way that I haven't seen before. This is a real variation from the mythos we take for granted but it is close enough to the monsters we love to feel familiar. She has also taken full advantage of the other supernatural themes at her disposal. Satan worshiping, fallen angels, gypsies, good vs. evil, vampires, mystic herbs, souls and the church are all drawn into the fray before The House on Blackstone Moor is over.
I had a minor frustrations reading this. One is that the character of Eve isn't explored further, nor is her sexuality. Another is that the Doctor who cares for Rose in the asylum is relatively schizophrenic. I could not get a clear hold on his character. If the intention was to have him be mysterious and confusing, fine, but there was no consistency to his character or foreshadowing to connect the various divergent behaviors. Also, there were a few editing issues, specifically around quotes, dialogue that didn't have end quotes or where quotes did not separate the descriptions from what was said.
All in all these are negligible and I still heartily recommend The House on Blackstone Moor to anyone who enjoys vampires, horror, gothica, literature, or any combination there-in. This is one you'll want to curl up under a blanket with late at night and really let your imagination fly!
This book is for readers over 18.
Paperback edition available at Drive Through Horror
E-book edition available at Smashwords
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free from Carole. It was a gift with no mention of review. Just one sick twisted mind sharing their deviance with another kindred soul :)
The House on Blackstone Moor is a treat to read. Told in the old fashioned style of literary greats like Mary Shelly, Gill builds the characters, tension and ambiance which is often lost in modern writing. We're told to go for the hook, start with action, get your reader in the first page or you're toast as a writer. In The House on Blackstone Moor you will be captivated from the very first sentence but not because anything explodes, but because this dark and twisted story is well crafted and engaging.
In the beginning of the book we are introduced to our protagonist, Rose, who has lived through an incredible trauma. Her father, driven insane after a brain injury, had killed her mother and siblings. A young woman living alone and grieving she is sent to one of the only places available for her to recoup, an insane asylum. I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed reading the passages from her time there, and without giving anything away, I can tell you that in the tradition of Gothic Horror literature, evil follows Rose everywhere she goes.
You are well into the book by the time the vampire lore is introduced. Usually this would bother me. I mean I bought a vampire book after all, where are the goddamn vampires? In The House on Blackstone Moor however this is not a problem as the tone of the book has already set the stage for any supernatural being or horror the author can dream up.
In a rare show of courage Gill has reworked the Vampire mythology in an extremely unique way that I haven't seen before. This is a real variation from the mythos we take for granted but it is close enough to the monsters we love to feel familiar. She has also taken full advantage of the other supernatural themes at her disposal. Satan worshiping, fallen angels, gypsies, good vs. evil, vampires, mystic herbs, souls and the church are all drawn into the fray before The House on Blackstone Moor is over.
I had a minor frustrations reading this. One is that the character of Eve isn't explored further, nor is her sexuality. Another is that the Doctor who cares for Rose in the asylum is relatively schizophrenic. I could not get a clear hold on his character. If the intention was to have him be mysterious and confusing, fine, but there was no consistency to his character or foreshadowing to connect the various divergent behaviors. Also, there were a few editing issues, specifically around quotes, dialogue that didn't have end quotes or where quotes did not separate the descriptions from what was said.
All in all these are negligible and I still heartily recommend The House on Blackstone Moor to anyone who enjoys vampires, horror, gothica, literature, or any combination there-in. This is one you'll want to curl up under a blanket with late at night and really let your imagination fly!
This book is for readers over 18.
July 9, 2011
The House on Blackstone Moor by Carole Gill
Release Date: December 17th, 2010 (Paperback release May 2011)
Publisher: VampLit
Page Count: 251
Source: Received from author via NURTURE Virtual BOOK Tourz™ as part as the Carole Gill blog tour for review
This is a tale of vampirism, madness, obsession, and devil worship as Rose Baines, only survivor of her family’s carnage, tells her story.
Fragile and damaged by the tragedy, fate sends her to a desolate house on the haunted moors where demons dwell.
The house and the moors have hideous secrets, yet there is love too; deep, abiding, eternal, but it comes with a price: her soul.
What Stephanie Thought: Unpredictability and sweeping romance excite in this emotional and action-packed Gothic horror novel. A fair warning: it's not for the weak at heart, as it includes the blood and guts of spine-tingling vampirism.
I am charmed by illusion of it all; English Rose, whose entire family is brutally murdered by her father's hand, is sent to an asylum (for her own safekeeping, the doctors tell her), where she for the first time, encounters insanity at its finest. Here is where she begins to ponder upon the blurry line between dementia and evil, and later, unfortunately discovers what and how thin that line is.
Luckily, she is saved from having to live in the appalling lunatic ward, by the generosity of a doctor who offers her a job at an obscure club, owned by an eerily beautiful couple, the Dartons. What this club is for, and how it functions, Rose does not know. But she does know that the Dartons have two peculiarly smart, beautiful children -- her job is to be their governess -- and live in a house near the creepy and deserted dock that contains a black stone: Blackstone Moor. The stone is rumored to have attained its color from blood stains; the children explain that it is an ancient sacrificial stone. Rose does not believe them. How foolish she is.
Rose, nineteen and fresh-faced, is lovable and rather smart for her degree of innocence. Her whole life before her father's madness had been pure and plain, or at least we are led to believe. Her observant eye allows her to follow along quickly to the dangers and frights that approach her, but that doesn't mean she copes with them well. Hysteria blooms from an unforeseen part of her, in reaction to the unimaginably gruesome secrets that are revealed at the Blackstone House. Soon, this hysteria is diagnosed as none other, than the paranormal absurdity she's experienced with the Dartons all along.
Usually, I find sub-plotted love stories within horror or crime novels (white virgin falls in love with handsome brooding hero) annoying, but Gill concocts such an unconventional, yet surprisingly enchanting, attraction between Rose and an unavailable party, that I can't help but swoon over their relationship.
Rose's story is an adversity of sorts, because in the end, her fall of innocence leads to her emotional death. She does however, get an eternal happy ending, at least alongside her lover, which sparks the smallest of hope within me. That, and the fact that she speaks in the past tense throughout the story, gives me a sense of security, knowing Rose will end up okay. It means Rose has a story to tell. It means she survived to let her story be told.
Stephanie Loves: "'Yes, dread and fear are different. Dread is beyond fear, I think. Dread knows fear was correct in the first place. Dread just intends to sit and wait for the worst to happen, which will happen, because dread, if nothing else, is sure of itself.'" A beautiful anaphora and personification!
Radical Rating: 8 hearts- Would recommend to lots of really good friends. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Release Date: December 17th, 2010 (Paperback release May 2011)
Publisher: VampLit
Page Count: 251
Source: Received from author via NURTURE Virtual BOOK Tourz™ as part as the Carole Gill blog tour for review
This is a tale of vampirism, madness, obsession, and devil worship as Rose Baines, only survivor of her family’s carnage, tells her story.
Fragile and damaged by the tragedy, fate sends her to a desolate house on the haunted moors where demons dwell.
The house and the moors have hideous secrets, yet there is love too; deep, abiding, eternal, but it comes with a price: her soul.
What Stephanie Thought: Unpredictability and sweeping romance excite in this emotional and action-packed Gothic horror novel. A fair warning: it's not for the weak at heart, as it includes the blood and guts of spine-tingling vampirism.
I am charmed by illusion of it all; English Rose, whose entire family is brutally murdered by her father's hand, is sent to an asylum (for her own safekeeping, the doctors tell her), where she for the first time, encounters insanity at its finest. Here is where she begins to ponder upon the blurry line between dementia and evil, and later, unfortunately discovers what and how thin that line is.
Luckily, she is saved from having to live in the appalling lunatic ward, by the generosity of a doctor who offers her a job at an obscure club, owned by an eerily beautiful couple, the Dartons. What this club is for, and how it functions, Rose does not know. But she does know that the Dartons have two peculiarly smart, beautiful children -- her job is to be their governess -- and live in a house near the creepy and deserted dock that contains a black stone: Blackstone Moor. The stone is rumored to have attained its color from blood stains; the children explain that it is an ancient sacrificial stone. Rose does not believe them. How foolish she is.
Rose, nineteen and fresh-faced, is lovable and rather smart for her degree of innocence. Her whole life before her father's madness had been pure and plain, or at least we are led to believe. Her observant eye allows her to follow along quickly to the dangers and frights that approach her, but that doesn't mean she copes with them well. Hysteria blooms from an unforeseen part of her, in reaction to the unimaginably gruesome secrets that are revealed at the Blackstone House. Soon, this hysteria is diagnosed as none other, than the paranormal absurdity she's experienced with the Dartons all along.
Usually, I find sub-plotted love stories within horror or crime novels (white virgin falls in love with handsome brooding hero) annoying, but Gill concocts such an unconventional, yet surprisingly enchanting, attraction between Rose and an unavailable party, that I can't help but swoon over their relationship.
Rose's story is an adversity of sorts, because in the end, her fall of innocence leads to her emotional death. She does however, get an eternal happy ending, at least alongside her lover, which sparks the smallest of hope within me. That, and the fact that she speaks in the past tense throughout the story, gives me a sense of security, knowing Rose will end up okay. It means Rose has a story to tell. It means she survived to let her story be told.
Stephanie Loves: "'Yes, dread and fear are different. Dread is beyond fear, I think. Dread knows fear was correct in the first place. Dread just intends to sit and wait for the worst to happen, which will happen, because dread, if nothing else, is sure of itself.'" A beautiful anaphora and personification!
Radical Rating: 8 hearts- Would recommend to lots of really good friends. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
January 12, 2013
The following review is my opinion and not a paid review. I received a copy of the book as a free download on Amazon.
Rose Baines comes home one night to find her whole family dead, her mother, two sisters, brother and father. Her mother, sisters and brother were killed by her father, with him committing suicide. Rose is so upset and can't stop screaming. Rose's life has been nothing but tragic. She has been abused by her father since she was a child and now he has gone and taken her family from her.
Rose is first taken to "Bedlam" hospital where is treated and the taken to an insane asylum. Where she meets the "good' Dr. Bannion who tries to help Rose so she thinks. Rose doesn't believe that she will ever leave the asylum because she is told by another inmate who becomes her friend that no one ever gets out alive.
A woman who is friends with Dr. Bannion who comes to the asylum on occasion to bring things for the patients sees Rose and wants to help her. She talks to Dr. Bannion about having Rose work for her at her home on Blackstone Moor as governess to her children. Dr. Bannion agrees that working for Mrs. Darton would be good for Rose. He thinks that Rose should stay at his home for a month before starting her new job. He says she needs time to adjust in the outside world before jumping into a new job and home with people she doesn't know.
Rose is very happy with the prospect of a job and place to live. She is just thrilled that she is getting out of the asylum. Rose has no idea who or what kind of people the Dartons are nor what she is getting herself into by taking the job at Blackstone Moor. Upon arriving at Blackstone moor Rose becomes so confused with all the things that she sees and witness. She doesn't know if she is dreaming or if it is all real. Rose has no clue as to who she can trust or not trust. She begins to have feelings for Mr. Darton, feelings that she knows she should not be having for a married man.
Rose comes to love the children even when she sees them doing wired and creepy things. She loves them so much that she would give up her own life and soul to save them. With all the dark and evil things that Rose witness at Blackstone Moor she wonders if she is crazy and maybe she should leave. But she can't leave Mr. Darton and the children after falling in love with them.
I loved reading The House on Blackstone Moor with all the dark, creepy, evil things that goes on there. The House on Blackstone Moor has a lot of different paranormal creatures in it. Like vampires, fallen angels, demons and even Satan himself. I love reading books with all of these creatures in them and to find one that has all of them in it and not just one is awesome.
The House on Blackstone Moor had me hooked from the first sentence. In the very first sentence Rose has just came home to find her family dead. That is a very well written book when it can pull you in from the beginning and keep you hanging on til the last sentence in the book. Carole Gill has done a tremendous job of creating a dark world full of vampire, demons and fallen angels. I can't wait to read the sequel to The House on Blackstone Moor, Unholy Testament: The Beginnings.
Rose Baines comes home one night to find her whole family dead, her mother, two sisters, brother and father. Her mother, sisters and brother were killed by her father, with him committing suicide. Rose is so upset and can't stop screaming. Rose's life has been nothing but tragic. She has been abused by her father since she was a child and now he has gone and taken her family from her.
Rose is first taken to "Bedlam" hospital where is treated and the taken to an insane asylum. Where she meets the "good' Dr. Bannion who tries to help Rose so she thinks. Rose doesn't believe that she will ever leave the asylum because she is told by another inmate who becomes her friend that no one ever gets out alive.
A woman who is friends with Dr. Bannion who comes to the asylum on occasion to bring things for the patients sees Rose and wants to help her. She talks to Dr. Bannion about having Rose work for her at her home on Blackstone Moor as governess to her children. Dr. Bannion agrees that working for Mrs. Darton would be good for Rose. He thinks that Rose should stay at his home for a month before starting her new job. He says she needs time to adjust in the outside world before jumping into a new job and home with people she doesn't know.
Rose is very happy with the prospect of a job and place to live. She is just thrilled that she is getting out of the asylum. Rose has no idea who or what kind of people the Dartons are nor what she is getting herself into by taking the job at Blackstone Moor. Upon arriving at Blackstone moor Rose becomes so confused with all the things that she sees and witness. She doesn't know if she is dreaming or if it is all real. Rose has no clue as to who she can trust or not trust. She begins to have feelings for Mr. Darton, feelings that she knows she should not be having for a married man.
Rose comes to love the children even when she sees them doing wired and creepy things. She loves them so much that she would give up her own life and soul to save them. With all the dark and evil things that Rose witness at Blackstone Moor she wonders if she is crazy and maybe she should leave. But she can't leave Mr. Darton and the children after falling in love with them.
I loved reading The House on Blackstone Moor with all the dark, creepy, evil things that goes on there. The House on Blackstone Moor has a lot of different paranormal creatures in it. Like vampires, fallen angels, demons and even Satan himself. I love reading books with all of these creatures in them and to find one that has all of them in it and not just one is awesome.
The House on Blackstone Moor had me hooked from the first sentence. In the very first sentence Rose has just came home to find her family dead. That is a very well written book when it can pull you in from the beginning and keep you hanging on til the last sentence in the book. Carole Gill has done a tremendous job of creating a dark world full of vampire, demons and fallen angels. I can't wait to read the sequel to The House on Blackstone Moor, Unholy Testament: The Beginnings.
July 29, 2014
Alright, so after looking the spooky book cover and reading the synopsis I was so excited to start reading this book. I thought--vampires? evil? insane? Sounds intriguing to me!
This book is VERY dark in ways I hadn't expected it to be. It started off dark from the first chapter and ended dark. There were many bloody, gruesome scenes throughout the entire book, which caused a lot of horrific images to be provoked in my mind.
Rose, the main character, has had a rough life- as the synopsis says-her family is murdered by her incestuous father. (OMG, I know, right?) Then, she is sent to an asylum where things are not much prettier. She gets a job for a really bizarre family, in a house filled with horrors you cannot even begin to imagine. There are so many strange events, strange characters, and a ton of secrets.
This book had so much going on! I do like that, in my opinion, the entire story was like a never ending nightmare seen through Rose's eyes. (It is written in first person). But, at times I felt that there was just TOO much horror, too many things going on at once. There were vampires, demons, ghosts, gypsies, Satan, hell, sex, romance, rape, death, and more.
Could I connect with any of the characters? Honestly, no, because I've never experienced such traumatizing events myself, and I'm thankful for that. And as for Rose--her thoughts and actions confused me at times. I would think she was going to do one thing and then she'd do the complete opposite.
I liked this book because it was very different from all of the traditional vampire books that are popular right now. I didn't love it, but that was because, like I mentioned before, there was way too much going on at once. Yes, there are twists and surprises, which I normally enjoy. I like vampires, I like demons, I like gypsies, I like evil, I like gothic literature, but putting it all together the way that this author did made the book slightly overwhelming to take it all in.
This is not a book for the easily offended or easily frightened. It is of course not a book for young audiences either. Would I read another book by Carole Gil? Yes, because she does have many good ideas as a writer. I think that if her other books are more focused on just one theme-they might be better, but this of course is just my own opinion. I'm sure that there are several people out there who enjoy this book the way that it was written.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
This book is VERY dark in ways I hadn't expected it to be. It started off dark from the first chapter and ended dark. There were many bloody, gruesome scenes throughout the entire book, which caused a lot of horrific images to be provoked in my mind.
Rose, the main character, has had a rough life- as the synopsis says-her family is murdered by her incestuous father. (OMG, I know, right?) Then, she is sent to an asylum where things are not much prettier. She gets a job for a really bizarre family, in a house filled with horrors you cannot even begin to imagine. There are so many strange events, strange characters, and a ton of secrets.
This book had so much going on! I do like that, in my opinion, the entire story was like a never ending nightmare seen through Rose's eyes. (It is written in first person). But, at times I felt that there was just TOO much horror, too many things going on at once. There were vampires, demons, ghosts, gypsies, Satan, hell, sex, romance, rape, death, and more.
Could I connect with any of the characters? Honestly, no, because I've never experienced such traumatizing events myself, and I'm thankful for that. And as for Rose--her thoughts and actions confused me at times. I would think she was going to do one thing and then she'd do the complete opposite.
I liked this book because it was very different from all of the traditional vampire books that are popular right now. I didn't love it, but that was because, like I mentioned before, there was way too much going on at once. Yes, there are twists and surprises, which I normally enjoy. I like vampires, I like demons, I like gypsies, I like evil, I like gothic literature, but putting it all together the way that this author did made the book slightly overwhelming to take it all in.
This is not a book for the easily offended or easily frightened. It is of course not a book for young audiences either. Would I read another book by Carole Gil? Yes, because she does have many good ideas as a writer. I think that if her other books are more focused on just one theme-they might be better, but this of course is just my own opinion. I'm sure that there are several people out there who enjoy this book the way that it was written.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
June 1, 2012
When I read the synopsis for The House on Blackstone Moor I knew that I had to read it. It sounded incredibly intriguing and more than a little bit creepy. The story sounded very mysterious, and the gothic nature caught my attention. The story did not disappoint. I started it and couldn’t put it down until I finished it.
Rose Baines returns home to find that her father has slaughtered her whole family and then himself. She is taken to an asylum as a result of her distress. After a horrific span of time in the asylum, where she is assaulted, her psychiatrist, Dr. Bannion, recommends her for a governess position with friends of his. While she is preparing for the transition she spends a month living with Dr. Bannion and his housekeeper. While there, she begins to doubt her sanity as well as lose her trust in Dr. Bannion. Everywhere she turns is secrets.
When she starts her employment for Mr. & Mrs. Darton as governess for their children, she thinks her life could be changing for the positive. Rose loves the children, but over time she begins to notice creepy things about the children as well as Mr. & Mrs. Darton. By the time Rose starts to seriously question things, it could be too late. The Darton’s are more sinister than they appear and the conspiracy deeper than Rose could have ever imagined.
I don’t want to give away too much in my summary. This book was amazing! I really enjoyed the writing style and would love to read more books by Carole Gill. This is one book that I could not predict the ending. There were so many twists and turns that it kept me on the edge of my seat. The book contains so many horrors that it’s amazing that Rose could endure through the end.
The book contains vampires, demons, fallen angels, the macabre and the sinister. The relationship that develops between Rose and Mr. Darton is forbidden love, making it all the more interesting. Mrs. Darton’s devil worship and drunken debaucheries gives the story a taboo quality. The children make interesting secondary characters and they’re very likable, except for their slight creepiness.
A word for my readers, rape occurs in this book, and let the reader beware.
Rose Baines returns home to find that her father has slaughtered her whole family and then himself. She is taken to an asylum as a result of her distress. After a horrific span of time in the asylum, where she is assaulted, her psychiatrist, Dr. Bannion, recommends her for a governess position with friends of his. While she is preparing for the transition she spends a month living with Dr. Bannion and his housekeeper. While there, she begins to doubt her sanity as well as lose her trust in Dr. Bannion. Everywhere she turns is secrets.
When she starts her employment for Mr. & Mrs. Darton as governess for their children, she thinks her life could be changing for the positive. Rose loves the children, but over time she begins to notice creepy things about the children as well as Mr. & Mrs. Darton. By the time Rose starts to seriously question things, it could be too late. The Darton’s are more sinister than they appear and the conspiracy deeper than Rose could have ever imagined.
I don’t want to give away too much in my summary. This book was amazing! I really enjoyed the writing style and would love to read more books by Carole Gill. This is one book that I could not predict the ending. There were so many twists and turns that it kept me on the edge of my seat. The book contains so many horrors that it’s amazing that Rose could endure through the end.
The book contains vampires, demons, fallen angels, the macabre and the sinister. The relationship that develops between Rose and Mr. Darton is forbidden love, making it all the more interesting. Mrs. Darton’s devil worship and drunken debaucheries gives the story a taboo quality. The children make interesting secondary characters and they’re very likable, except for their slight creepiness.
A word for my readers, rape occurs in this book, and let the reader beware.
July 12, 2011
RATING:4.5)THE HOUSE ON BLACKSTONE MOOR by Carole Gill is an exciting Gothic/paranormal/fantasy set in Regency England. It is well written with depth and details.The characters,while some are pure evil others including minor characters and the hero and heroine will capture your heart. This story is written in first person from the viewpoint of Rose Baines,the heroine.She has been abused,assaulted numerous times,placed in a mental hospital,found her parents and siblings butchered to death,falls into the hands of pure evil and will fall in love. The hero,Louis Dalton, is a demon,vampire who was fathered by a fallen angel and a human.While he is struggling for normalcy and some kind of justice he is falling in love with Rose. This story has demons,magic,
vampires,good vs evil,fallen angels,fate,secrets,madness,devil worship,Gypsy,
fortune tellers,horror,tragedy,a dark other world,horror than nightmares are made of,and lunatics.The House on Blackstone Moor has more secrets and darkness than anyone could guess.While this author captures the heartbreak and horrors of good vs evil,she also captures the love and sacrifices that some make.This is a story with so much darkness,but it pulls the reader into the story while fragile,young Rose tries to keep her sanity,and her soul.This is a twist on vampires,demons and fallen angels.Where fallen angels are either evil or good.Thus evil vs good even in the fallen angel world.Only the strong of will can survive.Even the two vampire children that Rose has come to love,cherish and will give her soul to keep alive.It is fast paced and action packed from the beginning to the last page. A must read for all paranormal,fantasy,vampires, magic,and demon world readers.This book was received for the purpose of review from Nurture Book Tour and the author.Details can be found at Vamplit Publishing and My Book Addiction and More. **This book is recommend for age 18+ readers*
vampires,good vs evil,fallen angels,fate,secrets,madness,devil worship,Gypsy,
fortune tellers,horror,tragedy,a dark other world,horror than nightmares are made of,and lunatics.The House on Blackstone Moor has more secrets and darkness than anyone could guess.While this author captures the heartbreak and horrors of good vs evil,she also captures the love and sacrifices that some make.This is a story with so much darkness,but it pulls the reader into the story while fragile,young Rose tries to keep her sanity,and her soul.This is a twist on vampires,demons and fallen angels.Where fallen angels are either evil or good.Thus evil vs good even in the fallen angel world.Only the strong of will can survive.Even the two vampire children that Rose has come to love,cherish and will give her soul to keep alive.It is fast paced and action packed from the beginning to the last page. A must read for all paranormal,fantasy,vampires, magic,and demon world readers.This book was received for the purpose of review from Nurture Book Tour and the author.Details can be found at Vamplit Publishing and My Book Addiction and More. **This book is recommend for age 18+ readers*
September 13, 2012
The House on Blackstone Moor is a beautifully written gothic novel full of suspense and plot twists. It is narrated by the main character, Rose Baines, the sole survivor of her family's massacre carried out by her own father. In fact, she's the one who discovers the bodies caked with blood and horribly twisted. When police arrives, they find the young woman in such a state of shock that it's decided she needs to be committed. So begins the difficult path this character has to travel in order to find her place in a world of darkness she can't escape.
You always hear how important it is to have a strong first page to draw in your readers; Carole Gill does that amazingly, showing off her gift to describe horrid scenes with simple, elegant words that serve so well to the gothic style. The story grabs you immediately, the characters are believable and very soon we root for this poor girl who has gone through such a terrible experience. The rest of the characters keep the action going and I never felt bored, though it is until three quarters of the book have passed that the first vampire is revealed as such. For a book described by its author as a story of vampirism, it is rather late in the game that vampiric lore is introduced. It is at this point that the darkest side of the story is unveiled, finally embracing its paranormal secrets.
The book is edited to perfection, letting the prose shine in all its romantic glory without grammatical mistakes or typos to distract us. Carole Gill is a gifted author I've been following for some time now, and even though I don't think The House on Blackstone Moor is her best piece, it succeeds in showing her great talent as a wordsmith and inventor of dark worlds. I can't wait for whatever else this author has in store.
You always hear how important it is to have a strong first page to draw in your readers; Carole Gill does that amazingly, showing off her gift to describe horrid scenes with simple, elegant words that serve so well to the gothic style. The story grabs you immediately, the characters are believable and very soon we root for this poor girl who has gone through such a terrible experience. The rest of the characters keep the action going and I never felt bored, though it is until three quarters of the book have passed that the first vampire is revealed as such. For a book described by its author as a story of vampirism, it is rather late in the game that vampiric lore is introduced. It is at this point that the darkest side of the story is unveiled, finally embracing its paranormal secrets.
The book is edited to perfection, letting the prose shine in all its romantic glory without grammatical mistakes or typos to distract us. Carole Gill is a gifted author I've been following for some time now, and even though I don't think The House on Blackstone Moor is her best piece, it succeeds in showing her great talent as a wordsmith and inventor of dark worlds. I can't wait for whatever else this author has in store.
May 29, 2012
Rose Baines comes home to find her family, two sisters, a brother, and her mother, all slaughtered by her father. Everyone had thought her father was mad, crazed by all the bad thing that he did in his life, the sin he did to his family, his wife, and to Rose.
Poor Rose cracks under the sight of her family’s carnage and is taken to Bethlehem, the hospital known as Bedlam, because she cannot stop screaming. Dr. Bannion, the psychiatrist, takes her to Marsh Lunatic Asylum to try to get her well. As she gets well, she is found by Mrs. Darton, a rich woman with two children and a husband who lives in a big house on Blackstone Moor. She gets Dr. Bannion to allow Rose to become the governess for her children and they move her to the big house on the edge of the moor. In the house, things get very strange and Rose finds herself wondering if she is crazy or if things are not as they are being presented.
Carole Gill has crafted a very good Victorian Gothic story for her first novel. Scenes are dark and brooding, her characters are ones that seem to have stepped out of a very strange Dickensian tale and lend themselves to leading the reader further and further down the road to the bloody climax. The twist and turns thrown in along the way just give enough confusion to make the story even stranger.
I loved House on Blackstone Moor. I have not read a well crafted gothic tale such as this in so many years and it was such a pleasure to do so now. I could not put it down! I know it’s a good book when I finally look up at the end and it’s 4 a.m. and I’m not asleep because I couldn’t stop reading. And this is a first novel. She’s working on the sequel, Unholy Testament and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
Poor Rose cracks under the sight of her family’s carnage and is taken to Bethlehem, the hospital known as Bedlam, because she cannot stop screaming. Dr. Bannion, the psychiatrist, takes her to Marsh Lunatic Asylum to try to get her well. As she gets well, she is found by Mrs. Darton, a rich woman with two children and a husband who lives in a big house on Blackstone Moor. She gets Dr. Bannion to allow Rose to become the governess for her children and they move her to the big house on the edge of the moor. In the house, things get very strange and Rose finds herself wondering if she is crazy or if things are not as they are being presented.
Carole Gill has crafted a very good Victorian Gothic story for her first novel. Scenes are dark and brooding, her characters are ones that seem to have stepped out of a very strange Dickensian tale and lend themselves to leading the reader further and further down the road to the bloody climax. The twist and turns thrown in along the way just give enough confusion to make the story even stranger.
I loved House on Blackstone Moor. I have not read a well crafted gothic tale such as this in so many years and it was such a pleasure to do so now. I could not put it down! I know it’s a good book when I finally look up at the end and it’s 4 a.m. and I’m not asleep because I couldn’t stop reading. And this is a first novel. She’s working on the sequel, Unholy Testament and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
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September 22, 2012This book is pretty crazy. Like take all Gothic elements - mysterious manor, gloom, blood, madness, depravities and mix them all together in a prose maelstrom of evil run amok. Because it's so crazy, it kind of reminded me of The Monk, a novel that I have always found to be one of the more outlandish Gothic novels, and quite enjoyable because of it. The House on Blackstone Moor lacks some of the depth of The Monk though, and a clear message that there is some reason to all the madness. But this novel is still so very entertaining. Jane Eyre may have provided a basic backbone to the structure of this novel - in addition to the characters named Grace Poole and Helen (now both members of Marsh Asylum) - but I didn’t feel there was a strong narrative connection between Jane Eyre and this novel. The main character Rose, has had a terrible childhood and has had to witness the aftermath of the murder-suicide her father committed on her mother and siblings. It’s no wonder she has ended up in an asylum, with fragile tender nerves. She finds a position as governess at Blackstone House where there are many sinister secrets. Followed by horrific occurrences. And yet more sinister secrets. And horror. And then some demons. It’s kind of relentless, and definitely makes for an engaging page turner.
The romance between Rose and Louis is a tad underdeveloped - innocent beauty and masculine melancholy seem to mean instant love and very little modesty, but the romance is more of a vehicle to facilitate Rose’s struggles against the evil forces that have become a part of her life. This novel is a highly entertaining dark tale with an endless procession of surprising revelations, ghosts, demons and vampires.
The romance between Rose and Louis is a tad underdeveloped - innocent beauty and masculine melancholy seem to mean instant love and very little modesty, but the romance is more of a vehicle to facilitate Rose’s struggles against the evil forces that have become a part of her life. This novel is a highly entertaining dark tale with an endless procession of surprising revelations, ghosts, demons and vampires.
February 20, 2013
This is a novel set in Victorian England. The main character, Rose Baines, returns home to find her family have been butchered by her father, who has then committed suicide, and she is then moved to an asylum. She has flashbacks about her life with her family and the pace is a steady build-up of mystery and tension, leading the reader gently by the hand to carry on turning the page.
Eventually, she is deemed well enough to be released back into the community, and is found a position as governess with a mysterious couple. Unfortunately, once she takes up her post, the pace of the book changes, and the steady, inexorable creeping rise of tension turns into a huge melting pot of chaos...which isn't a good thing. Rose discovers that the couple, and most of the people she is surrounded by, are vampires, and from this point on, everything gets thrown into the pot - sacrifices, angels, demons, death, chaos, abuse, God and Satan - almost as though the author felt she was running out of time to finish the story, and didn't know which element she wanted to follow, so just threw everything in. And then, after the huge battle, everything slows down again, to resume the pace of the first part of the novel.
I am torn between two and three stars for this one. I have chosen three, because the first part of the novel was brilliant, and the characters are well drawn. I feel that the novel is let down by the fact that she tries to cram so much in the last third of the book, and it would have been much better if she'd slowed the pace down a little and made the book a little longer - or took out the religious battle element. Ultimately, this led to me feeling disappointed by the story as a whole, but I'm going to stick with giving three stars.
Eventually, she is deemed well enough to be released back into the community, and is found a position as governess with a mysterious couple. Unfortunately, once she takes up her post, the pace of the book changes, and the steady, inexorable creeping rise of tension turns into a huge melting pot of chaos...which isn't a good thing. Rose discovers that the couple, and most of the people she is surrounded by, are vampires, and from this point on, everything gets thrown into the pot - sacrifices, angels, demons, death, chaos, abuse, God and Satan - almost as though the author felt she was running out of time to finish the story, and didn't know which element she wanted to follow, so just threw everything in. And then, after the huge battle, everything slows down again, to resume the pace of the first part of the novel.
I am torn between two and three stars for this one. I have chosen three, because the first part of the novel was brilliant, and the characters are well drawn. I feel that the novel is let down by the fact that she tries to cram so much in the last third of the book, and it would have been much better if she'd slowed the pace down a little and made the book a little longer - or took out the religious battle element. Ultimately, this led to me feeling disappointed by the story as a whole, but I'm going to stick with giving three stars.
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