Hazardous Spirits

The traditional Christian wedding vows include provisions “for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health,” but they’re a little fuzzy on what to do when a spouse declares that they can communicate with the dead. Evelyn Hazard could use more concrete guidance when her husband makes just that declaration at the beginning of Anbara Salam’s troubling novel, Hazardous Spirits. The rest of the book sees Evelyn wavering between believing her husband and doubting him, dealing with disapproving relatives, enjoying the benefits of contact with rich spiritualists, and worrying if her own secrets are safe. I feel emotionally worn out after reading this book, but not entirely satisfied by its conclusion...

Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.

DNFed after the first chapter. I knew pretty much immediately this was not for me, or not what I was looking for, but I did finish the chapter in order to have fuller thoughts about it.

By no means do I think this is a bad book, but it was immediately jarring to read. My expectations were way off because of the “gothic” descriptor and the cover. I thought it would have the writing style of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier or Leech by Hiron Ennes. Instead it has a much lighter, sillier tone, like Jane Austen (and I do like Austen, that’s not meant as a jab). It’s just not at all what I expected or was looking for. I think the description and the cover do not set the right tone, but that’s just me!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.