After surviving an inexplicable supernatural event, a young woman from New Jersey is crippled by anxiety and phobias. But it isn’t until a few years later when her best friend is to be married at a lavish mansion in Ireland, that the mystery begins to unravel. Will Mary unlock the secrets of Corvus Hall before it’s too late?Hold onto to your seatbelt! The phantoms are coming! Corvus Hall was … coming!
Corvus Hall was written in homage to Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca with a modern and surprising twist. If you love authentic ghost stories, this one’s for you!
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Corvus Hall is a new book by Bibiana Krall. I follow the author’s blog and have read another of her books in the past. When I saw that she had written a new supernatural / paranormal series, The Irish Phantom, beginning with Corvus Hall, I had to take a chance. Who wouldn’t love an ethereal, Gothic, and curious piece, reminiscent of Poe and DuMaurier, set in Ireland?
Mary O’Brien had survived something intense. When she’s invited to Ireland years later, things begin to make more sense, of course, after they get quite extraordinary and frightening. Two brothers. A good friend is marrying one. The other seems to remember Mary and want to get her back. What is going on with this pseudo-spectral, intriguing, potentially harmful man? Readers learn all about him and the history behind Corvus Hall in this dynamic novella you can easily read in less than two hours.
To begin with, I’d forgotten how splendidly Krall adds visualization and detailed settings to her books. You always feel as if you’re right there with the characters… through all five of the senses… and even that extra one we often keep hidden yet ready to emerge with the proper book. While revealing secrets, tempting readers to take the trip themselves, and proposing theories on what could actually be happening, the book becomes creepier and more fantastical… letting you consider some of the dark imaginative side of you come out to play.
Readers immediately feel the beauty of Ireland when the story moves to the country… we spend about 10% of our time on the East Coast of the US getting to know the main character and her history, then it’s like a tornado takes you away and drops you somewhere mysterious. I want to visit Corvus Hall. It seems magical, and while potentially dangerous, there is beauty in something so old and well-maintained.
I am curious how the second book will connect in this series… is it similar characters? Another Irish Phantom? A tie we’ve yet to figure out? I’ll be reading it later this year, but until then… I’m sure I’ll keep thinking about the possibilities with this one.
From start to finish, I was invested in this story.
From the very beginning the author pulls you in with a frightening supernatural event that leaves both the reader and Mary, the main character, puzzled. A great weaver of words, Kralls knows just how to make the reader feel as if they are right there in the moment. You can feel all the emotions-the anxiety, fear, chills, and heavy foreboding that plague Mary.
Oddly, Nigel was my favorite character. Although his character was utterly creepy, the mystery surrounding him, made him feel dark and intriguing. All throughout the story, I kept trying to make the connection between Mary’s repetitive nightmares, Nigel, those flipping creepy birds, and the illustrious ‘Corvus Hall’, however the author kept me guessing up until the very end.
Also, I must add that I deeply appreciated the authors dedication to the many victims who perished at St. Josephs Orphanage. Truly touching. Overall, this was an immensely great story, and I highly recommend both this author and story to all readers.
Author Bibiana Krall once again takes the reader on a dark tinged journey to come face to face with a past that won’t be pushed away. As a young woman from a loving family, Mary O’Brien has always had a sense of foreboding and haunting dreams that someone or something was watching her, waiting for her…tap, tap, tap…Fast forward in time as Mary embarks on a trip of a lifetime to her ancestral roots in Ireland, for the Christmas nuptials of her best friend Ashlinn and fiancé Evan, the heir to 17th century mansion, Corvus Hall, and the McCarthy family liquor dynasty.
Mary’s haunting dreams continue, becoming more vivid with her introduction to Nigel, Evan’s adopted brother, who is determined to be with her. As the day of the nuptials approaches, she explores the woods and corridors of Corvus Hall, coming face to face with the past that won’t be forgotten. A chilling tale and page turning read that will haunt you until the very end.
Corvus Hall by Bibiana Krall impressed me for several reasons. I especially liked her use of several gothic elements in the telling of this tale. I recognized the distinct stylings of Edgar Allen Poe right away. Her main character, Mary O’Brien, is fretful, anxious and almost emotionally frail. Mary’s high-strung anxiety frequently meshes with her surroundings and haunted environment, which is dark and ominous and seems to take on a life of its own as the plot unfolds. We witness all the elements of Gothic horror… visions, dark clouds, scary sounds, whispers, the strange pattering of feet… and ghostly apparitions…it’s all there in this tale. I must say, Ms. Krall’s delivery is masterful. The story is an absolute pleasure to read. The author’s descriptions touch all the reader’s senses as she writes, with some wonderful touches that stay with you long after you have read it.
One scene that particularly resonates involves the first time our protagonist Mary observes the brooding, mysterious Nigel, a classic gothic antagonist: athletically symmetrical, dark, slim and disturbing (reminiscent of a young Barnabus Collins from Dark Shadows, or a gloomy Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights). What I loved about his introduction was how Ms. Krall painted him walking with a raven upon his shoulder, and tied the bird and man together both in proximity and appearance. It demonstrated her desire to combine time-tested natural elements, symbolic creatures, and decidedly disordered people, all together, to create a dark mood for her story.
The female protagonist Mary also experiences physical discomforts which accompany and epitomize her mental anguish. Corvus Hall, the haunted building where most of the ghostly activities occur, feels like a living, breathing character in the story as well. This is a fabulous ghost story, with all the classic elements combined expertly. In fact, the writing is so elegantly engrossing, I found myself reviewing descriptive passages just to enjoy the experience of reading them again. It’s difficult to put it into words, however, I’ll try: Ms. Krall ‘collars’ the reader, not by the lapel or the throat, but by the mind and the imagination, practically ensnaring you with her craft. The word choices, the smooth phrasings, and the polished style enchant you, haunt you, intoxicate you and at times leave you feeling very uneasy.
Ms. Krall also deftly manages to differentiate her peripheral characters very well, each with a unique personality, traits, and psychological outlook. I found pairs of characters to be very antithetical: the protagonist Mary O’Brien seemed high-strung, sensitive and emotionally self-conscious, while her bridesmaid friend, Ashlinn, seemed much more self-absorbed and oblivious to the darkness around her. Likewise, Mary is ‘stunned’ by the differences between the groom’s parents, one warmhearted, the other cold. And as the tale unfolds, we also see the intense antagonism between the bland, shallow groom (Evan) and his hypersensitive brother (the dark Nigel).
Corvus Hall is a ghost story at heart, and very well told. The conclusion, in true gothic fashion, is filled with shocking reveals, dreadful consequences, and truly histrionic reactions. If you like a good ghost story told with symbolism, dark metaphors and haunting grace, you will love Corvus Hall, and you will want to read more work by this very talented story-teller, Bibiana Krall.
“Freezing rain pitter-pattered a picture window overlooking the woods, the warm schoolhouse lights and aroma of homemade soup made war against each other as the secret of Corvus Hall unbound from myth and folklore”
From an array of literary elements to descriptive action, seductive tone and rhythm, Bibiana Krall has a way packing a lot into a short passage. The same is true of her stories as a whole, and the novella, Corvus Hall is no exception. Indeed, it’s a shining example. Krall crafts a strong protagonist in Mary along with both colorful and mysterious secondary characters, and then sets them down multiple backdrops to keep the story as well as your mind moving in different directions. Krall’s St. James brings to mind Willy Wonka’s Chocolate factory, and her writing has a touch of haunting and the unusual in the vein of Neil Gaiman.
Mary O’Brien receives an invitation with a free plane ticket to attend her best friend, Ashlinn’s, Christmas wedding in Ireland at a 17th-century mansion called Corvus Hall. But the photo of the ivy-colored Georgian mansion stirs unease in Mary. Shadows around the home appear sinister as she studies the colorful photo. But Mary has always wanted to visit Ireland and start a new life. Now that her family has moved from New Jersey there’s nothing holding her back. This is her chance to get away and visit the birthplace of her grandparents.
But Mary has been having foreboding dreams with a “tap, tap, tap…” warning. “…the gothic dreamscape moved and expanded like wings of a raven. Heavy and solid, fear made a living, breathing cavern that threatened to suffocate her . . . tap, tap, tap.”
When she finally arrives in Ireland at Corvus Hall “instead of feeling elated, and happy, she was terrified to step inside” the grand, creepy mansion. Flickering red-hot flames on the gas lamps flanking the entrance to the mansion stir her deepest fear of fire.
Inside the home is grander than she’d expected, boasting banisters with images of an angel she’d seen in her dream, and a human-sized birdcage for an elevator and each suite with a name only a bibliophile could conceive.
The story gets even creepier when Mary meets Nigel, a slender man of milky white complexion, aquiline nose, and obsidian curly hair able to tame the wildness of ravens. His stares and whispered words cause discomfort. Soon Mary’s worst nightmares and feelings about Corvus Hall come to light as she roams the mansion with a sinking ominous sensation. Soon Mary learns of Corvus Halls devastating past as a prior orphanage where many souls suffered. Growing more troubled by Nigel’s presence, the home’s history and otherworldly sensations, Mary’s trip to Ireland is turning into an ominous dreamscape.
I love Ms. Krall‘s gift for the supernatural. She always pulls the reader in with her colorful descriptions. Her eerie depiction of Corvus Hall is creepy enough for all those who love a good haunted house story. Ms. Krall guides the reader to a fiery conclusion I can’t explain for fear of giving too much away. This paranormal thriller will engross you to the end as Ms. Krall unearths Nigel’s mystery and Mary’s surprising fate. I highly recommend Corvus Hall to all those who love a good ghost story, mystery, and thrills!
From the first word this haunting tale grips you and holds on tight. Sinister and eerie vibes come to mind as you’re swept away on this journey with Mary O’Brien to her best friend’s wedding in Ireland. It’s Christmas time, but you won’t find warm holiday fuzzes inside this tale.
The imposing backdrop of Corvus Hall is mesmerizing as the description of the stately mansion pulls the reader in, despite Mary’s immediate desire to flee.
Nightmares, ravens, whispered phrases, and odd tappings come together with the brooding countryside to put you right there with Mary on her journey.
This paranormal thriller will have you flipping through the pages, eager, as you speculate what will be just around the bend…but you’ll need to keep reading to find out as this richly told story unfolds.
I highly recommend this unique and captivating tale! You don’t want to miss it!
Masterful! Gothic fans will rejoice…
Corvus Hall, book one of Bibiana Krall’s Irish Phantom Series, is a masterful blend of mystery, suspense, and gothic romance. A born storyteller, Krall casts her spell with a bewitching pen, crafting a tale of compelling characters, fast-paced action, secrets and danger, a true haunted house (exquisitely crafted – Krall treats readers to chilling, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat horror without resorting to gore). Readers will sympathize with the modern-day American heroine who travels to Ireland to attend a friend’s fairytale wedding only to discover that the past can linger, ghosts do walk, and curses are real. Krall’s gift is to make readers believe the impossible, and when you reach the last line, you’ll eagerly seek out her next book. I discovered her writing in Abulon (a fabulous, must-read story) and am now reading through her entire list of books. I’ve already started Loftus Hall, book two in this series, and am likewise enchanted. Krall hits all my top wishes for a stellar read: she tells an engaging story, writes with depth, crafting real-seeming, three-dimensional characters, and she gives readers a lush and vivid story world. Her writing is reminiscent of Mary Stewart and Daphne du Maurier but with just enough Neil Gaiman tossed in to add a layer of fresh modernity to the tales – something that makes them even more compelling because the gothic-y happenings unfold in a world we know and live in.
Bottom line: Corvus Hall is brilliant. Bibiana Krall should be on every reader’s nightstand (or tucked inside your Kindle). Highly recommended.
haunt, mystery, supernatural, Ireland, suspense, gothic-horror
From the descriptive scenery to people and the exceptional characters, it is decidedly eerie in every sense throughout this fascinating book. The plot draws you in and holds you in place until you’ve finished it! The publisher’s blurb is a nice hook, but doesn’t really convey the intensity of the suspense. I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Black Calyx Books via NetGalley.
Cozy Gothic Horror
A nice read. I was immediately intrigued by the blurb. The writing style is superb, vivid and the images live in my head. This is just the right old-fashion cozy Gothic horror read with a moderm twist you need when it’s raining outside and you want to snuggle under a blanket. However, I would have loved to read more about Nigel, and the end was a bit too aprupt for my taste. But it was a 5 star read nevertheless! In a full novel form, this would be awesome!
Mary O’Brien, no stranger to bizarre occurrences, has nothing tying her to home in New York. So when her long-time friend sends a wedding invitation in Ireland, with the offer of housing and a job if desired, Mary takes the chance for a fresh start. But the gorgeous Irish manor isn’t as picture-perfect as it seemed, and Mary encounters one inexplicable thing after another. Voices, visions, vivid nightmares, and a creepy resident all plague Mary as the mystery of Corvus Hall erupts around her. Author Biblianna Krall has spun a spellbinding tale loosely based on personal experiences and actual events. Corvus Hall will draw you in and continue to haunt you after you’ve finished reading.
A delightful spooky story with an unexpected twist at the end. Looking forward to reading more of Bibiana’s ghost books.