*A big thank-you to Bridget Collins, HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
I admit I loved two previous novels by Ms Collins. Her historical fiction novels are with a big dose of fantasy and the combination works for me in an extraordinary way. The Silence Factory offers a warning against the theft of what constitutes a natural and sacred element and the use of it for materialistic enrichment. The abuse leads to misfortune and tragedy. There is a strong Gothic feel around the places and characters which is trademark of Ms Collins' novels, and her idea for this book is again unique. I am grateful for the journey to the world in which noise and silence and both separate and intertwined.

Inventive and brooding, and told in authentic voices of the time without impinging on the pace and readability. I wasn't sure what to expect and I nearly didn't read on when I found the spiders, but like the characters, I too was snared, lured in, turning the next page and the next page, wondering… I don't want to spoil the story, but if you like something unusual, something exotic, something a bit mysterious told with subtlety and finesse, that doesn't overdo description but draws a vivid alternative world for you, do yourself a favour and read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Bridget Collins for an ARC copy of this book. This review is also submitted on Goodreads.

I couldn’t wait to get a copy of this book. I loved The Binding and The Betrayals by this author and Bridget Collins will always be an auto buy author for me.

No spoilers here but this story didn’t disappoint at all. A brooding, gothic tale with themes of obsession, power, control, class and sexuality explored through ideas of silence and the body. The plot spans decades across Greece and British climes and most uniquely the plot is underpinned by a near- mythical silk from spiders and the control it has on those who come across it.

A dual POV and dual timeline narrative really helped the plot evolve throughout this book. I was invested in both Sophia and Henry’s accounts and how they both came to a head.

It really took me back to what I enjoyed about English Literature and I would highly recommend.

In "The Silence Factory," Bridget Collins has crafted a literary masterpiece that transcends genre conventions and delivers a truly unforgettable reading experience. With its exquisite prose, richly drawn characters, and mesmerizing plot, this is a book that demands to be savored and cherished.

I really enjoyed this book. It had gothic vibes and horror weaved into the story of spiders and silk and folklore. I think there’s so much in this book to love and anyone who loves stories such as one dark window would love this!

I would love to read more by Bridget Collins!

This is a beautifully written book. Bridget Collins' novels just keep getting better and better.

Henry is ambitious but stuck in a bleak job and home with his father in law after his wife's death. When he meets Sir Edward Ashmore-Percy all sorts of prospects open up. Henry will be Sir Edward's right-hand man, promote the strange silk he produces, and be his friend - and maybe more. But the silk is not all it appears to be.

Discovered by Sophia Ashmore, a relative of Sir Edward's, the spiders that produce the silk are sacred. They should never have been removed from their island home. Certainly, for Sophia, no good has come of their capture.

Separated by many decades. the stories of Henry and Sophia intertwine. The language is exquisite, the passion sublime, and the story compelling. Wonderful.

This book was not what I thought it would be. It hinges on spiders and silk, and also on the theft of knowledge from other cultures.

The moody atmosphere is so cleverly crafted, and the juxtaposition between unbearable silence and unbearable noise is captivating. The tale weaves between two timelines and two men's need to prove themselves useful in the world, at the detriment of women who trust and support them.

There is so much mystery and intrigue within this book's world that it kept me up until I'd finished it!

I am a huge fan of Bridget’s, and I was very exited to read this new book. As usual, she does not disappoint - it’s classic Bridget - dark, gothic, creepy, and emotional.

This time, we meet the spiders….I’ve never felt sorry for a spider before, so I suppose there are still firsts, even for me. There is a lot of emotion in this tale, from Henry, the poor audiologist, Sophia, Mercy….oh, I could honestly go on. Then we see the truth and the wickedness of the whole thing.

Brilliant- just brilliant. If you’ve enjoyed Bridget’s other books then you will love this too.

As an arachnophobe, this was something of a challenge for me, But it was extremely well written and had a lot of pretty fascinating background to keep me reading with interest.
I can see it being made into quite a gripping movie. A fan of The Woman In Black would love this creepy Victorian melodrama.

3⭐️

The Silence Factory is a good that’s a little out of my usual reading but I’m pleased that I gave it a read. It’s a unique read with some interesting premises throughout - especially the magic silk.

The book is well written and really excels at creating an atmosphere that’s easy to picture.

I unfortunately couldn’t connect with the characters and felt the story moved at such a slow pace, it was struggling to keep my attention.

Overall, this unique story is worth a read and would be something I would recommend if someone asked.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and the Author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thought the concept of the book was interesting and I was intrigued to give it a go. The description is vague but it is categorised as historical fantasy and I was keen to see what it would be about. However it just wasn’t the book for me.

In all honesty I didn’t really understand what the point of the story was. I went into this expecting fantasy, but for me it was more historical fiction - the silk is the only fantasy element and it was a bit lacking. I expected the silk to be the main plot topic but it seemed to be more about Sophia and Henry’s unhappy lives and their desires for relationships.

My 2⭐️ rating is reflective of the fact my expectation was based heavily on the fantasy part of its genre which simply didn’t deliver what I was thinking it would. If someone is looking for a beautifully written story set in a historic setting with an interesting topic, I would recommend this book. I did really enjoy the actual writing, it was paced well and was very descriptive.

I always look forward to Bridget Collins releasing a new book and this one did not disappoint!
This is a tale of ambition and greed, of men trying their best to bend nature to their will. But as we know, nature can bite back!!!
Henry Latimer lives with his father in law in London, and is an aurist. He’s a widower who lost his wife and baby in childbirth, so he’s lost his way in life with no direction. His father in law assigns him a job that takes him to a town in the north called Telverton. There he meets and tests a young girl’s hearing. Her father Sir Edward Ashmore Percy, called at the shop to enquire about their services. While there, he gives Latimer a small piece of cloth made from the silk he sells. It’s beautiful but eerie somehow. You get the feeling as the reader that there’s a lot more to all this! Boy there is!
This tale is a dual timeline, so we follow the present and the past, There is a lot of characters in this book that are quite complex and very interesting to me! The story is unpredictable, exciting and very creepy!!
Top marks to Bridget Collins once again!!!
#Netgalley, #HarperCollinUk, #BridgetButNotJones.

The Binding is one of my favourite books so I was BEYOND excited to read this one - and I have to say that Bridget Collins has absolutely done it again!!

Her writing is really something else and this book was such a joy to read. Her style of storytelling is incredibly immersive and the way the story unfolded was effortlessly done. This book has one of my favourite storytelling devices: yearning. Be it for family, romance, lifestyle, career or the future, Collins is an expert in making me feel so many feelings. 🥺

I thought that the pacing was perfect and each moment just flowed into the next seamlessly, even throughout the two different perspectives. The writing was gorgeous and poetic without being pretentious or overdone; it complemented the gothic historical setting just perfectly!

I really loved having both POVs; the contrast between the beautiful Greek island and the smoggy West Country was striking, and both characters had so much development throughout the book. It was truly fascinating to be faced with a somewhat unreliable narrator in Henry - I was absolutely glued to my Kindle and couldn’t put it down, I was so excited to uncover what was the truth and what was just a fantasy in his head. I really cannot overstate how much I enjoyed this book!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @harpercollinsuk for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love Bridget Collins’s books.. How she manages to create such stories is magical. This story is definitely gothic with a very creepy atmosphere. The characters and World the author has created are quite magical but somehow very real and compelling. The characters are all brilliantly written, but I especially loved Henry and Philomel.

First and foremost, Bridget Collins’ writing is absolutely beautiful. This book was beautifully atmospheric and imaginatively crafted. I was drawn in by the unique intrigue of the sale of silence and the dual timeline aspect of the story. However this was a much slower burn than I prefer. At times, the chapters felt overly long and there wasn’t much moving the plot forward. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK for the ARC. All opinions presented are entirely my own.

Another Bridget Collins book and another captivating read that I just couldn’t put down. The story is quite a scary one for me as I’m not at all fond of spiders but it one that is so beautifully written that I overcame my horror of these small creatures….well somewhat!!
It’s a tale told in two timelines and from the points of view of Sophia and Henry and that kept the book flowing very well. The read for me was a quick one as I was desperate to know the end and I raced through it and was sorry when it ended, always the sign of a good read for me.
So highly recommended even with the spiders !
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, The Borough Press for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC exchange in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm so disappointed in myself for not enjoying this story as much as I wanted too. The writing is very poetic and magical. The storyline is also very intriguing. There were some likeable and unlikeable characters. Sadly though I found it slow and long winded for my liking. I found myself debating whether to continue reading. I did finish the book and found the ending acceptable and fitting

This book was not for me, the writing style and the story was just not it but I think other people might enjoy it. I think the ending could have been better and overall I think I can not review this book to its full potential.

This was an intricate, detailed and original work of fantasy, that does have some touches of gothic horror; this is absolutely perfect for fans of Wide Sargasso Sea and Jane Eyre -- they were always at the back of mind as I read this. Bridget Collins masterfully weaves two timelines together, tying one into the other flawlessly without so much as a kink in the thread. There's an extremely unique magic system in this somewhat sinister, menacing factory-town of Telverton; this novel is both a subtle historical mystery and a gorgeous fantasy. The storyline absolutely captivated me, and it was a treat to read this. Thank you for the ARC!

I am a great fan of Bridget Collins and have loved all of her books. They take you to a fantasy world, that is real. So well written, absolutely gripping and transportive. A unique idea twisted and woven into a thrilling book.