Comments on: Looking for a Few Good Gothic Heroines

By: Ruby

Ruby — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 19:00:07 +0000

I’ll second Susan’s shout-out to “Sea of Secrets” by Amanda DeWees. I loved the book, and loved the heroine, Oriel, who reminds me so much of Jane Eyre — she’s the perfect combination of innocence and intelligence.

Also, I re-read “The Bride of Pendorric” recently, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked Favel. Roc, not so much, but Favel, yes!

By: AAR Lynn

AAR Lynn — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 02:30:09 +0000

@Elaine C. – No, we haven’t given up reviewing European historicals. I know we’ve got some in the works, though I’ve also noticed that we’ve been getting fewer European historicals for review and lots more from other subgenres lately.

By: Elaine C.

Elaine C. — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 02:17:26 +0000

July 21, 2012 at 2:34 pm (Quote)

I loved Barbara Michaels’ books. I think I both have and read them all. Searched so hard to find them in used book stores, I haven’t wanted to give them up. Then I moved to all her Elizabeth Peters’ books. She’s been a favorite of mine for thirty years. Her books are mysteries with strong romantic elements. I have loved them!

By the way, have AAR reviewers given up reviewing European Historicals? The last was back in June – “The Thief of Shadows”?

By: Kari S.

Kari S. — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 22:40:55 +0000

One author of romantic suspense I discovered when I was a teen was Elisabeth Ogilvie. Most of her novels are set on the coast of Maine (shades of Dark Shadows!) and a number of them would probably qualify as gothics. I particularly loved The Dawning of the Day, The Devil in Tartan, the Jennie trilogy, and the pair about Mirabelle Taggart, Weep and Know Why and The Dreaming Swimmer. She also wrote both YA and children’s books during her long and prolific career. (She died when she was nearly 90.) There’s a good article about her on Wikipedia that gives a summary of her writing career.

Someone mentioned Jane Aiken Hodge. One shouldn’t forget her sister Joan Aiken. One gothic by Joan is The Weeping Ash, but it contains a bit of “ick” factor in an incestuous relationship. She wrote others that would also qualify, including a few gothics for children such as The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and its many sequels, and the standalone kid’s book Midnight is a Place. I am also very fond of If I Were You, a book about an imposter, but it is not a romance.

By: Renee

Renee — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:39:14 +0000

I am glad someone mentioned Madeline Brent as well. I don’t know how I forgot about Brent. Loved Moonraker’s Bride and Tregaron’s Daughter. Wonderful books.

By: JMM

JMM — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:16:15 +0000

The book did the usual lectures on the virtues of being poor but honest.

Don’t forget Barbara Michaels’ “Master of Blacktower”!

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:53:28 +0000

@Denise- I haven’t read the book but have seen the movie Dragonwyck a few times. I really enjoyed it- Gene Tierney is lovely as Miranda “just plain Wells” and it’s fun to see Vincent Price back when he was considered the “handsome bounder” or just “mysterious leading man” type before all the years of horror films. I also enjoy how Miranda is not completely innocent and kind of sees what she wants to see for a while and doesn’t have a problem flirting with the married man she admires. She’s like a sassier Jane Eyre without all the guilt. How does the book compare to the movie?

By: Denise

Denise — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 04:44:58 +0000

I enjoyed Anya Seton’s Dragonwyck (probably because I saw the movie first and loved Vincent Price as the mysterious hero). Does anyone else remember this one?

Denise

By: Lazaraspaste

Lazaraspaste — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:57:11 +0000

I’m really glad to see this list. I’ve been really interested in Gothics lately, so it’s cool to see what other readers are recommending.

By: Barb in Maryland

Barb in Maryland — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:28:23 +0000

Another author no one has mentioned yet is Jane Aiken Hodge–I gobbled hers up like candy. A nice amalgam of gothic and romantic suspense. No doormat/ TSTL heroines in her books. Hooray!! She wrote mostly in the historic branch of the genre.
I also loved Barbara Michaels’ first gothics–historicals like ‘Sons of the Wolf’
Happy to see that Rosie mentioned Madeleine Brent. Great historic gothics. And I loved them, one and all.
The first Victoria Holt (‘Mistress of Mellyn’) was her best under that name (the author also wrote as Jean Plaidy).
Has someone mentioned Phyllis Whitney? ‘Window on the Square’ is still one of my favorites.
So far, Susannah Kearsley is the only current author, IMO, who has mastered the gothic genre. Like Christine, I especially loved “Shadowy Horses”.