Publication Date: July 20, 2021
Publisher: Perfectly Proper Press
Length: (364) pages
Format: Hardcover, Trade Paperback & eBook
Genre: historical fiction, Gothic romance, paranormal fiction
Synopsis
Yorkshire, 1843. When disgraced former schoolmaster John Eyre arrives at Thornfield Hall to take up a position as tutor to two peculiar young boys, he enters a world unlike any he's ever known. Darkness abounds, punctuated by odd bumps in the night, strange creatures on the moor, and a sinister silver mist that never seems to dissipate. And at the center of it all, John's new employer—a widow as alluring as she is mysterious.
Sixteen months earlier, heiress Bertha Mason embarked on the journey of a lifetime. Marriage wasn't on her itinerary, but on meeting the enigmatic Edward Rochester, she's powerless to resist his preternatural charm. In letters and journal entries, she records the story of their rapidly disintegrating life together, and of her gradual realization that Mr. Rochester isn't quite the man he appears to be. In fact, he may not be a man at all.
From a cliff-top fortress on the Black Sea coast to an isolated estate in rural England, John and Bertha contend with secrets, danger, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. Can they help each other vanquish the demons of the past? Or are some evils simply too powerful to conquer?
My Thoughts
With her latest novel, John Eyre, Mimi Matthews has successfully ventured into the Victorian Gothic genre by cleverly meshing together two classics, Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre and Bram Stoker's Dracula, in a gender swapping novel that despite its familiar plot line still manages to engross and entertain.
I've enjoyed Matthews' Victorian romances in the past and expected to enjoy this one just as much, although a little dubious of the Dracula thread as I'm not a huge fan of this type of gothic fiction. But it did work well here, especially the subtle way in which it is introduced through John's reactions to the odd and disturbing events happening around him which he attributes to his use of laudanum.
John's courage, kindness and steadfastness, make him the ideal hero. Shocked by the strange appearance of his two mute, young charges, he treats them with patience and gentleness. As his tutelage continues, they become more boy-like and less wary of him, but he still can't explain their continued silence or interpret the looks that pass between them.
John's first meeting with Bertha does not go well, but he is drawn to the enigmatic and formidable woman who he later learns is his employer. An unhappy experience in his past is a constant reminder of the mistake he made, one that he doesn't wish to repeat, but he cannot help but be drawn to Bertha's strength and the fear and vulnerability he glimpses at times. As their friendship develops, he is aware she is keeping secrets from him. When these secrets are revealed in all their horror, she finally shares with him how she thwarted Rochester's plans, became guardian of the two little boys and the efforts made to keep her household safe.
John Eyre is another triumph for Mimi Matthews. It offers a unique and exciting take on an old favourite that I'm sure will be enjoyed by other readers whether they have read the originals or not.
Advance Praise
“Bertha Mason Rochester shines, dominating her scenes with vitality and strength. The style, too, is spot-on, reprising the spirit of 19th-century Gothic prose without descending into mimicry.”— Publishers Weekly
“An entertaining spin on a classic with thrilling twists and turns…Matthews skillfully transforms a well-known story into a truly original tale.”— Kirkus
“[Matthews] retells Charlotte Bronte's classic story in a way that will keep fans of the original novel totally gripped from cover to cover... Fresh and dynamic... Fast-paced and spellbinding...a book you will have a hard time putting down.”— Readers Favorite
“One of the most moving, suspenseful, innovative and remarkable retellings of a classic in the history of, well, ever... Every page is sheer rapture as [Matthews] moulds popular source material into a spell-binding creation so wholly her own.”— Rachel McMillan, bestselling author of The London Restoration
“[A] captivating and ingenious retelling of Jane Eyre with a supernatural twist. Smart, suspenseful, and deliciously spooky, JOHN EYRE is a must-read; I loved everything about it!”— Ashley Weaver, author of the Amory Ames Mysteries and the Electra McDonnell series
Meet the Author
In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.
Connect with Mimi:
WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | BOOKBUB | GOODREADS
Blog Tour Schedule
July 12 The Caffeinated Bibliophile (review)
July 12 Syrie James (review)
July 12 Austenprose—A Jane Austen Blog (review)
July 13 Bronte Blog (interview)
July 13 Laura's Reviews (review)
July 13 All-of-a-Kind Mom (spotlight)
July 14 Gwendalyn's Books (review)
July 14 Austenesque Reviews (review)
July 15 Bookworm Lisa (review)
July 15 Nurse Bookie (review)
July 16 Savvy Verse and Wit (excerpt)
July 16 The Lit Bitch (review)
July 17 My Bookish Bliss (review)
July 17 From the TBR Pile (review)
July 18 Rosanne E. Lortz (review)
July 18 Books,Teacups, & Reviews (review)
July 19 The Secret Victorianist (review)
July 19 Christian Chick's Thoughts (review)
July 19 The Gothic Library (review)
July 20 Getting Your Read On (review)
July 20 The Silver Petticoat Review (review)
July 20 Lu Reviews Books (review)
July 21 Scuffed Slippers and Wormy Books
July 21 The Green Mockingbird (review)
July 22 Unabridged Chick (review)
July 22 A Darn Good Read (review)
July 23 Kathleen Flynn (review)
July 23 So Little Time… (review)
July 23 The Calico Critic (review)
July 24 The Bronte Babe (review)
July 24 Probably at the Library (review)
July 24 Impressions in Ink (review)
July 25 From Pemberley to Milton (review)
July 25 Vesper's Place (review)
July 25 Cup of Tea with that Book Please (review)
Where to Purchase
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS
Lovely review, Yvonne. I am so glad that you enjoyed it. Mimi is amazing and I am looking forward to her next novel.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laurel Ann. Yes, she is an excellent author.
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