Sorrow Spring is a slow to start gothic thriller - but it’s worth persevering with!

There’s a lot of scene setting: it’s 1978, and Rina has been unceremoniously left at her Aunt Agatha’s house by her mother. She has no more contact with her mother after this.
2019, and Rina’s niece, Cate, is searching for her aunt as her father is seriously ill and wants to see his sister for the last time.
But as Cate finds out more about her aunt, the more sinister are her findings and the more unfriendly the people she encounters.
There’s some ancient folklore, sketchy traditions and a rather interesting ending.
I listened to this on audiobook (Xigxag), which probably helped along the bits that tended to drag (1978 was a very talkative time), but all in all, this was a good read/ listen!

The book has been told in dual timelines. This is a folk horror with secrets, mystery, suspense and buried truth. The setting of the sorrow spring is so eerie. It took me a while to get into this book but once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down.

In 1978, Rina was abandoned and had no choice but to live with her Aunt in the isolated village. But the more time she spend with her elderly Aunt, the more secrets she gets to know about the village. A mother is being killed and the child goes missing, the women beholding past and something is so powerful and unbelievable about the powers of local spring. Local people of village believes in many things Rina is oblivious to.

While in 2019, Cate, Rina’s niece is looking for her and trying to find out all about the family secrets and dark secrets the village is harbouring. The more she digs in the past, the more secrets unravels and secrets come out.

This was an engaging read about horror folklore, traditions, secrets, sisterhood, unthinkable happenings and buried truth. You will definitely like this book if you like dual timeline and folk horror filled with mystery, secrets and mysterious characters.

Thanks to the Publisher

Wow I’m on the fence about this one. The premise is so good, but the pacing was painfully slow at times, and overall the book is ridiculously long. It could have been chopped by half and it think this would have helped with the negatives. Still I’m interested to read more by this author.

Gave this book two tries, because, you know, folk horror blah blah blah; failed epically both times. The writing is simply terrible, IMO. Things are so slow I found myself doing basically anything (cleaning the dryer's lint screen... taking care of the recycling...) just so I didn't have to go back to reading; not exactly a good sign, especially as this thing drags on *for almost 500 pages* -- kill me now.
Also, there's a child character who calls his mum not Mum, nor Lily (as is her given name), he calls her Lullaby (insert Puke Emoji here). I don't know about you, but I refuse to spend time in the company of people like this, even if they're fictional.
A hard, unapologetic and decisive DNF for me. This book is being permanently deleted as we speak.

Sorrow Spring is a chilling folk horror novel that tells the story of Rina Pine, a teenager abandoned by her mother in 1978 and sent to live with her aunt in the isolated village of Sorrow Spring. The village is controlled by a group of women who believe in the healing powers of a local spring. As Rina uncovers the village’s dark secrets, including a missing child and a murdered mother, she realizes the community’s traditions are more sinister than they appear.

The novel alternates between the past and present, building suspense and exploring themes of isolation, tradition, and the power of belief. Isaac-Henry’s writing creates an eerie atmosphere that keeps readers engaged. Fans of gothic and folk horror will appreciate this haunting tale.

I found this a dark and quite intriguing tale. The main character Rina is taken from her happy carefree life in a commune and placed with her aunt in the mysterious village of Sorrow Spring. Dark and disturbing things are happening and have been for many years. Rina tries to find out what the mystery means despite being warned off by her aunt and other village members.

I quite liked the story - it was intriguing. But it was a bit overlong - Rina wandered around that village a lot and found out very little each time. I think I prefer a more pacy thriller. Not a bad read though

Sorrow Spring is an atmospheric and creepy gothic novel.

With a dual time line and two main characters narrating a story of strange beliefs bordering on the supernatural.

1978 Proserpina Fuschia Pine, or Rina as she is affectionately known is literally dumped by her mother at her aging Aunt Agatha's ramshackled home in the quaint, English county town of Sorrow Spring.

Taken away from everything and everyone she knows Rina quickly realises Sorrow Spring is no ordinary village, those who live there are hiding secrets, strange happenings, wierd rituals and creepy goings on..

2019, 40 years late Cate discovers toes to Sorrow Spring she knew nothing about, secrets that if unearthed might shatter everything.

How far will one community go to keep those secrets hidden?

This was such a fun book to read and I absolutely loved it!

Brimming full of atmosphere, twists, and turns. Laced with folklore and mystery! It was a gothic fiction delight. I live close to one of these springs, we call it "The Clootie Well" and I love the lore attached to these places so this only resulted in me being even more drawn onto this books story and it was fab!

A fantastic debut novel and I look forward to reading more by this author.

In 1978, twelve-year-old Rina finds herself unceremoniously dumped in the tiny, isolated village of Sorrow Spring, her mother informing her that she will be staying with her formidable aunt, Agatha, for the foreseeable future. It isn't long before Rina starts to notice strange goings on afoot in Sorrow Spring - and her aunt seems to be at the centre of them.

Years later, Cate's sick father confesses that he had a sister who disappeared when they were children. Cate - still unconvinced as to whether or not this aunt who has never been mentioned before actually exists - sets off for the last place her father says Rina was seen - Sorrow Spring.

In this folk suspense tale, author Olivia Isaac-Henry crafts an eerie setting in Sorrow Spring, a village whose very name is suggestive of anguish. It takes a surprising length of time for Rina to start seriously questioning some of the unusual ritual and behaviour she witnesses, which Isaac-Henry attempts to explain away by reminding the reader that she has grown up in a commune and so has no bar for normal behaviour to compare it to. Once Rina does start to piece together what is happening, the tension and sense of foreboding ratchets up as she (and the reader) wonders who she can really trust among the mysterious outsiders, commanding vicars and a host of old ladies along the spectrum from dippy but affable to menacing.

Although there were parts of the novel which really gripped me, overall I didn't feel that the storyline lived up to the promise of the setting, and I was underwhelmed by the ending. I just wanted the author to go darker, even if it meant things were left more open-ended. Additionally, while the Sorrow Spring of 1978 is richly described and peopled by a host of interesting major and minor characters, the 2019 timeline feels a lot less vivid, the characters thinly drawn and with unclear motivations in several instances.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this book! From page one I was hooked and couldn’t wait to pick the book back up.

I can’t wait for more!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Great thriller kept me hooked the whole way through. Great writing and plot. Love this authors work and unpredictable till the ending

What a wierdly wonderful book. A tightknot community beholden to its rituals does not welcome new visitors! A woman trying to make connections with her ancestory but uncovers a terrible secret, and then gets caught up in it in the worst way. A good read for dark autumnal nights!

DNFd around 30% - It was too slow-paced for me and I couldn't get into it.

Thank you for the copy but I won't be sharing my review.

The story:

When Rina’s mother leaves her with her mysterious, frightening and previously unknown Aunt Agatha at her home in the village of Sorrow Spring in the summer of 1978, she tells her she’ll be back for her by Christmas.

But the longer Rina spends in Sorrow Spring, the more she realises all is not as it seems, with strange customs that appear to be directly connected to her and her family… Her aunt is the leader of a group of village women known as the Sistren. Outwardly, they seem to be a typical group of village busybodies. But is there more to their traditions than good works and church events? Why do village boys seem to be going missing? And might Rina herself be in danger?

My thoughts:

We are properly into autumn now in the UK, which makes it the perfect time to start reading spooky stories!

“Sorrow Spring” by Olivia Isaac-Henry is a duel-timeline novel that moves between the summer of 1978, and the arrival of Prosperina Fuchsia Pine (Rina) in the village of Sorrow Spring, and 2019, and her niece Cate’s search for an aunt she didn’t know she had.

On the cusp of her thirteenth birthday, Rina is left by her mother at the house of her Aunt Agatha; and while she claims she’ll be back for her ‘soon’, it’s not long before Rina realises she’s stuck there. But why would her mother do such a thing? Aunt Agatha soon makes it clear that their family, the Pines, have an important role in the village, in particular related to the village’s annual festival focused on St Faran. But what this is and why it affects Rina only gradually becomes clear as the story plays out, and Rina’s suspicions become a terrifying reality.

In 2019, Cate Pine-Hewson had no idea she even had an Aunt Rina. Raised by her father and grandmother (Rina’s brother and mother), she only discovers this when her father, seriously ill after suffering a stroke, begs Cate to find her. This leads Cate on a path back to Sorrow Spring, and back into the dangers that are still just as deadly 40 years on…

This book was just my sort of read, with its mysterious and spooky plot, and the way the author gradually reveals what is really going on. For much of the book you’re not certain how much is real, and how much is a 13-year old’s imagination, especially one who enjoys reading books like Agatha Christie’s "The Pale Horse"! Revelations come thick and fast in the last quarter of the book, and the ending was both satisfying and left me fearing for the next generation in Sorrow Spring! A perfect autumnal read to get you ready for spooky season!

1978. When teenager Rina Pine is dumped by her mother in the village of Sorrow Spring, and forced to live with her aunt, Agatha Pine, she doesn’t think things can get any worse. But when a child goes missing and a young mother is killed, Rina is drawn into the dark and sinister truth flowing through the sacred waters that give the place its name. Rina is about to learn what it truly means to be a daughter of Sorrow Spring.

I had such high hopes for this book but it just fell a little flat for me. I didn't connect with the characters and wasn't drawn in by the plot. I felt it was too long and repetitive in parts and dragged out. This isn't a bad book just not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley,Harper Collins UK and Olivia Isaac-Henry for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Sorrow Spring, the story unfolds in 1978 as Prosperina Fuschia Pine, or Rina, is left by her mother Lily to live with her reclusive Aunt Agatha in the eerie village of Sorrow Springs. Young and naive, Rina grapples with the unsettling experiences that surround her in this strange place.

Fast forward to 2019, and Rina’s niece, Cate, embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about her enigmatic aunt. As Cate delves into her family’s past, she navigates the murky waters of familial bonds and discovers the mysterious Sistren, steeped in traditions, omens, and folklore. The sinister atmosphere, particularly embodied by Aunt Agatha, creates an underlying tension that suggests something dreadful is looming.

While the premise is intriguing, the narrative feels overly lengthy, with repetitive themes that can lead to a sense of boredom. The 1978 timeline is particularly dialogue-heavy, which detracts from the pacing, whereas the 2019 narrative flows more smoothly and presents a compelling mystery. The ending, marked by a swift shift in perspective, adds a surprising twist to the tale. Overall, Sorrow Spring offers a blend of mystery and folklore, appealing to readers who enjoy tales of sisterhood and the supernatural.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

What a first chapter this book has! Someone, identity unknown at this point, is hiding in the woods plotting the assassination of an old drunk man known as 'Sun'. You can feel the hatred this unknown individual has for Sun dripping off the page, but why? What has Sun done to deserve the gruesome fate that awaits him? This chapter sets the scene perfectly for what becomes a dark, atmospheric and compelling read.

We are then taken back to 2019 with Cate's timeline. she is describing her family situation and someone called Rina is her aunt but she's never met her. In fact, no one has met her, and only her father is adamant of Rina's existence. To everyone else her father was an only child.

We then go to 1978 and follow Rina's timeline, age 12, living in a commune in Wroxwood but mysteriously taken to the small village of Sorrow Spring by her mother and left with her Aunt Agatha as part of some sort of agreement. Aunt Agatha lives in a huge house on her own but on Rina's first night staying with her aunt, she overhears a conversation between her Aunt and a mysterious late night visitor. The conversation is very cryptic and clearly was not for Rina's ears but left me with an abundance of questions and a sick feeling in my stomach that there was definitely something very sinister at play here.

This is a very dark and sinister read from the start, exploring how ancient traditions in small towns can go horribly wrong. There is no big dramatic shock moments, but more that subtle sense of unease that runs through the pages as the story progresses. The author brilliantly portrayed the desperation of Rina and the intensity of her desperation as the story progressed. I was really rooting for Rina to have a positive outcome from it all.

Although most of the book is told in the 1978 timeline following Rina, I was really intrigued to see how the author was going to merge the 1978 timeline with the 2019 timeline and Cate to bring the story to a conclusion. My only criticism is the book is quite long in my opinion for the story being told. I felt perhaps the story could have been condensed to make the narrative and pacing tighter. But this doesn't take away the fact this was a great read.

This book is a perfect dark sinister read now the nights are drawing in and the temperatures are dropping. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a story with a deep sense of unease running through the pages.

'Her views on men were contradictory . On one hand, they were lustful, unclean and never to be trusted. On the other, they were to be deferred to and respected. Women in a ‘man’s’ role.'

This had a very, very, slow start and honestly I nearly dnf'd it but I stuck with it and just under half way through the mystery really grabbed me and I was eagerly flipping the pages to find out what we would discover next.

It was a little hard at times seeing through the eyes of a child as I think some of the perspective and language was off but I guess that was the point.

I personally didn't like the ending and some of the choices on the lead up to the ending but I think that is a personal thing for me.

Overall, I liked the writing style and once the mystery solving really kicked in I was sold but I think perhaps some of the initial pages could have been edited down as I would have enjoyed getting to this part sooner.

I was somewhat confused by this novel - what appeared to be an exploration of folklore seemed to become a story of violence and murder. There were interesting parts but I think it was too drawn out and lost its way.
Men were to be deferred to but then were only a necessary evil and the women were the important characters.
Aunt Agatha was a strong character who would be obeyed and followed at all costs who then caved in to Rina.
Rina was the frightened girl who matured and became the voice of reason who then caved in to the pressure of others. Conflicting characters!
Sorry, not consistent enough for me although there were some interesting sections.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Olivia Isaac-Henry/HarperCollins UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Just before her thirteenth birthday, Prosperina Fuchsia Pine is delivered to Laburnum Lodge, a grand old house just outside the village of Sorrow Spring. Having been raised in the very laissez faire commune of Wroxwood, Rina is far from happy. Her mother, Lullaby, assures Rina that she will be back for Christmas before leaving her with Aunt Agatha. Strict, focused, religious and quite the scary figure, Agatha is the leader of the Sistren, a strange and mysterious collection of women from the village, who wield a certain power over the residents. The more Rina discovers about the Sistren, the more she senses the danger they exude.

A modern gothic of a read. Sinister and foreboding from the start, this is a very slow burn and concentration is needed to get all the characters and their various relationships in check. A worthwhile and enjoyable read, though at times too drawn out.

3.5*

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK.