A 1940s Gothic mysteryA dilapidated manor on a remote Scottish isle.An old maze, concealing something even older. Strange dreams and awakening desires. Here, on Eirig, Samhain Eve is approaching.
If you like your reads mysterious, dark and unsettling, like the house our main character comes to work at, then this novella is for you. It’s full of twists and turns and secrets, like the maze at the center of the story. I enjoyed it immensely.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Author
reena
3 years ago
A short story set in a the remote island or Eirig in the late 40s. Plenty of mystery and suspense as well as the sensual awakening of the heroine. Who is she? Was it by chance that she got a job on Eirig or are there deeper reasons? And what is the meaning of the circle of stones near Dorchadas House?
An intriguing story, although short, that answers questions but still leaves some unanswered.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Author
katryker
3 years ago
I’m torn about this book. I love Emmanuelle’s writing. I love erotic stories and she does those very well. But this one was a mixture of everything. It was set in the 1940’s, which in my mind jarred with the “gothic” portion of the book. But I got over it as I read farther in. The island and the circumstances of the deaths of so many of its residents is shrouded in mystery, as is the pull Iris feels as she arrives. She is, despite herself, attracted to the gothic and occult history of the island, and isn’t sure why. Her curiousity grows as she finds that her family name is represented in the island cemetery. I can’t say a lot about this book’s plot without giving away some of the mystery, which I won’t do in a review unless I can’t help it.
When I purchased this book, I assumed it was a romance (I also received a copy of this book from Booksprout). I realized quickly while reading that this was much, much more than an erotic romance. It was instead a story about gothic traditions, occult activities, and a mystery surrounding this fictional island. I enjoyed reading the story, but felt there was something missing. Some sort of “draw” so the reader could actually step into Iris’ shoes. I could not make friends with Iris 100%. I SO understood her when she was thinking about her dying father, and understood her emotions, but then we split a bit when she got to the island and I can’t put my finger on why.
Overall I enjoyed the book, but it is not a romance – it is a gothic tale of the occult with a lot of added eroticism which Emmanuelle does well. If you aren’t into those things, this might not be the book for you, but for us lovers of erotica, despite its occult overtones, it was good.
Author
sharonreif
3 years ago
Wonderful descriptive writing that allows the reader to easily visualize the island of Eirig and the manor house that has fallen in to disrepair. You are kept guessing until the very end as to why Ms. Muir is drawn to the island. I sat up and read this from cover to cover, an extremely well written story!
Author
rukibanshee
3 years ago
Dorchadas House by Emmanuelle de Maupassant is an amazing mystery story. I loved reading it cause I love mystery stories and I am so glad I read this one. can not wait to see what the author writes next. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves mystery stories and I guarantee you buy this story you will not be disappointed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Author
lhoche
3 years ago
Folkloric tale
A folkloric tale filled with mystery and suspense. I can’t put the book down, the author has captured my full attention here till the very end. This story is complete with emotion, tension, horror and history. I would applaud the author for her details – its as if she put me right there inside the book. Highly recommended read, though the only setback is how short the story went for me. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed reading this story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Author
annekeschep65
3 years ago
I find it not easy to describe this story. While reading I kept thinking I knew what was going to happen. It never did, not really. It is a story full of mystery, a little spooky perhaps, full of twists. The heroine is a strong and fearless woman, looking for a place to call home. If this was filmed, it will keep your attention till the end. Or not. It might not be for everyone. I was expecting different things, expecting a different end, but I am not disappointed. It just keeps me wondering and thinking about it and that doesn’t happen often after finishing a book. Well done!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Author
engsy
3 years ago
This gothic tale has our heroine Iris in a small Scottish town learning about her ancestors. There is intrigue, suspense, drama, mystery and sizzle. I enjoyed this book as I felt I was on the journey with Iris every step of the way. I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Author
carolynvaldez51
3 years ago
This was a very interesting story. It pulls you in from the first page and never lets you go till the end which to me was a surprise ending I never expected.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Author
jhackett
3 years ago
This shorter read by one of my favorite authors grabs you from the start and doesn’t let you go. Through her excellent writing, she gives readers a dark and mysterious story that is creepy in all the best ways. Can’t wait to see what comes next. I loved it and HIGHLY recommend!
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily providing my honest review.
Author
abigredhead6126
3 years ago
I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of the Wicker Tree in a way. It`s not a horror story by any means, but it was creepy. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Author
hootowl1
3 years ago
This story is about Miss Iris Muir who moves to the island of Eirig for a fresh start after the death of her father. I did enjoy the mystery involved in the story and gothic legends but it went a little too far for me. There is no love story/romance in this book. Its all about “saving their line” and basically trying to impregnate different women in sometimes a pagan ritual. Up until the end I was hoping for a happy ever after. Nope, didn’t get it. I have liked some of the authors books in the past and she does have a tendency to write a little more darker gothic stories but this one went too far for me.
Author
pamelahudson
3 years ago
This is a dark mysterious well written story. The description has you captured in the time and place. A lovely, sexy read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Author
agaraaj
3 years ago
Loved this Irish story. Ingesting the way it brings old folklore into our time. Was a nice easy quick read. How many of us secretly dream of being part of some old ritual like this?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Author
bleem58
3 years ago
This is a well written book with strong characters and an intriguing story line. The author does a wonderful job developing the story and painting her scenes perfectly. She pulled me in and had me glued to the pages with all the suspicion and mystery. You can feel the tension and emotions coming off the pages. The story moves quickly and smoothly and I loved reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
Author
charobarrera
3 years ago
Creepy in a glamorous sort of way. This is the story about a woman who carries burdens, and finds herself in spite of them. It was creepy enough to give you shivers, but not gross. Quite enjoyable. Recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Author
janet
3 years ago
After her father dies Iris Muir accepts a position at historic Dorchadas House, on the remote Scottish island of Eirig. Drawn to the wild landscape, Iris hopes to forget the burdens of her past. But the dilapidated manor houses its own secrets. There are strange cries in the night, and is the stoic housekeeper Mrs McInnes all she seems? Iris visits a maze & begins to have disturbing dreams.
Despite the consuming task of refurbishing the manor as a guesthouse, Iris increasingly feels the brooding presence of Neas and Eachinn, the twin brutish farmhands sons of Mrs McInnes who seem as much a part of Dorchadas House as the old maze. As autumn wanes and Samhain Eve approaches, the island folk prepare to honour the dead as they have done for generations past.
Whilst only a novella this is a well written gothic story that feels eerie from the moment Iris steps onto Eirig. The tension builds until it’s Samhain & Iris’ dreams are fulfilled by two rams. I read it in a sitting & was engrossed from cover to cover, it’s not often you find characters with such depth in a novella, the pace was really good. A brilliant short story
Author
cherylprettyjohns
3 years ago
This was an interesting tale, that is rich in folklore, set on a Scottish isle. Iris finds herself on the island for a new job. The island people seem to be a law unto themselves. They are very concerned with new life coming to the island and are keen to keep up with the old ways and traditions. Sometimes Iris feels threatened, other times she feels at peace. Iris has to decide whether to go or stay. Iris, also, has some actions of her own to come to terms with. I received a copy via Booksprout and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Author
annermarshall
3 years ago
Dorchadas House by Emmanuelle de Maupassant is a gothic story of Iris who flees to the island of Eirig after her father dies in a mixture of guilt and yearning. When she arrives, she discovers a dark, yet beautiful mansion, in dire need of repair, and a small population, strangely attractive. She meets Mrs. McInnes, who seems to be in charge of the house, and beings her chore of redecorating with the aim of drawing guests to the island: women guest, writers, hopefully. As time progresses and she get to know the inhabitants, they appear to be even odder than she originally thought but she is drawn to them. Then on Samhain, it appears she is the guest of honor and her life totally changes with the revelations made. An intriguing book, one only de Maupassant could write. It is dark and very gothic, but interesting as well, as Iris comes to know the people on the island and the things that have happened there. Short read. Worth the time.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Dorchadas House by Booksprout. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
Author
cheryl
3 years ago
Eirig is a small town that Iris Muir”s ancestors lived in many, many years ago. Iris learns about her ancestors from the Housekeeper and since she has just arrived she has a lot to learn since her father died she is up for a new adventure but it is certainly not what she thought it would be and she meets the housekeepers three sons and she feels something for them but not sure why. She is surprised by the maze and she feels something strange about it. Things start to happen around the estate and one night she sees something that frightens her, then she finds herself in a situation she has no control over but is not afraid of. Drama, intrigue, suspense, adult content. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you like your reads mysterious, dark and unsettling, like the house our main character comes to work at, then this novella is for you. It’s full of twists and turns and secrets, like the maze at the center of the story. I enjoyed it immensely.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A short story set in a the remote island or Eirig in the late 40s. Plenty of mystery and suspense as well as the sensual awakening of the heroine. Who is she? Was it by chance that she got a job on Eirig or are there deeper reasons? And what is the meaning of the circle of stones near Dorchadas House?
An intriguing story, although short, that answers questions but still leaves some unanswered.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I’m torn about this book. I love Emmanuelle’s writing. I love erotic stories and she does those very well. But this one was a mixture of everything. It was set in the 1940’s, which in my mind jarred with the “gothic” portion of the book. But I got over it as I read farther in. The island and the circumstances of the deaths of so many of its residents is shrouded in mystery, as is the pull Iris feels as she arrives. She is, despite herself, attracted to the gothic and occult history of the island, and isn’t sure why. Her curiousity grows as she finds that her family name is represented in the island cemetery. I can’t say a lot about this book’s plot without giving away some of the mystery, which I won’t do in a review unless I can’t help it.
When I purchased this book, I assumed it was a romance (I also received a copy of this book from Booksprout). I realized quickly while reading that this was much, much more than an erotic romance. It was instead a story about gothic traditions, occult activities, and a mystery surrounding this fictional island. I enjoyed reading the story, but felt there was something missing. Some sort of “draw” so the reader could actually step into Iris’ shoes. I could not make friends with Iris 100%. I SO understood her when she was thinking about her dying father, and understood her emotions, but then we split a bit when she got to the island and I can’t put my finger on why.
Overall I enjoyed the book, but it is not a romance – it is a gothic tale of the occult with a lot of added eroticism which Emmanuelle does well. If you aren’t into those things, this might not be the book for you, but for us lovers of erotica, despite its occult overtones, it was good.
Wonderful descriptive writing that allows the reader to easily visualize the island of Eirig and the manor house that has fallen in to disrepair. You are kept guessing until the very end as to why Ms. Muir is drawn to the island. I sat up and read this from cover to cover, an extremely well written story!
Dorchadas House by Emmanuelle de Maupassant is an amazing mystery story. I loved reading it cause I love mystery stories and I am so glad I read this one. can not wait to see what the author writes next. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves mystery stories and I guarantee you buy this story you will not be disappointed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Folkloric tale
A folkloric tale filled with mystery and suspense. I can’t put the book down, the author has captured my full attention here till the very end. This story is complete with emotion, tension, horror and history. I would applaud the author for her details – its as if she put me right there inside the book. Highly recommended read, though the only setback is how short the story went for me. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed reading this story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I find it not easy to describe this story. While reading I kept thinking I knew what was going to happen. It never did, not really. It is a story full of mystery, a little spooky perhaps, full of twists. The heroine is a strong and fearless woman, looking for a place to call home. If this was filmed, it will keep your attention till the end. Or not. It might not be for everyone. I was expecting different things, expecting a different end, but I am not disappointed. It just keeps me wondering and thinking about it and that doesn’t happen often after finishing a book. Well done!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This gothic tale has our heroine Iris in a small Scottish town learning about her ancestors. There is intrigue, suspense, drama, mystery and sizzle. I enjoyed this book as I felt I was on the journey with Iris every step of the way. I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a very interesting story. It pulls you in from the first page and never lets you go till the end which to me was a surprise ending I never expected.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This shorter read by one of my favorite authors grabs you from the start and doesn’t let you go. Through her excellent writing, she gives readers a dark and mysterious story that is creepy in all the best ways. Can’t wait to see what comes next. I loved it and HIGHLY recommend!
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily providing my honest review.
I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of the Wicker Tree in a way. It`s not a horror story by any means, but it was creepy. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This story is about Miss Iris Muir who moves to the island of Eirig for a fresh start after the death of her father. I did enjoy the mystery involved in the story and gothic legends but it went a little too far for me. There is no love story/romance in this book. Its all about “saving their line” and basically trying to impregnate different women in sometimes a pagan ritual. Up until the end I was hoping for a happy ever after. Nope, didn’t get it. I have liked some of the authors books in the past and she does have a tendency to write a little more darker gothic stories but this one went too far for me.
This is a dark mysterious well written story. The description has you captured in the time and place. A lovely, sexy read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Loved this Irish story. Ingesting the way it brings old folklore into our time. Was a nice easy quick read. How many of us secretly dream of being part of some old ritual like this?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a well written book with strong characters and an intriguing story line. The author does a wonderful job developing the story and painting her scenes perfectly. She pulled me in and had me glued to the pages with all the suspicion and mystery. You can feel the tension and emotions coming off the pages. The story moves quickly and smoothly and I loved reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
Creepy in a glamorous sort of way. This is the story about a woman who carries burdens, and finds herself in spite of them. It was creepy enough to give you shivers, but not gross. Quite enjoyable. Recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
After her father dies Iris Muir accepts a position at historic Dorchadas House, on the remote Scottish island of Eirig. Drawn to the wild landscape, Iris hopes to forget the burdens of her past. But the dilapidated manor houses its own secrets. There are strange cries in the night, and is the stoic housekeeper Mrs McInnes all she seems? Iris visits a maze & begins to have disturbing dreams.
Despite the consuming task of refurbishing the manor as a guesthouse, Iris increasingly feels the brooding presence of Neas and Eachinn, the twin brutish farmhands sons of Mrs McInnes who seem as much a part of Dorchadas House as the old maze. As autumn wanes and Samhain Eve approaches, the island folk prepare to honour the dead as they have done for generations past.
Whilst only a novella this is a well written gothic story that feels eerie from the moment Iris steps onto Eirig. The tension builds until it’s Samhain & Iris’ dreams are fulfilled by two rams. I read it in a sitting & was engrossed from cover to cover, it’s not often you find characters with such depth in a novella, the pace was really good. A brilliant short story
This was an interesting tale, that is rich in folklore, set on a Scottish isle. Iris finds herself on the island for a new job. The island people seem to be a law unto themselves. They are very concerned with new life coming to the island and are keen to keep up with the old ways and traditions. Sometimes Iris feels threatened, other times she feels at peace. Iris has to decide whether to go or stay. Iris, also, has some actions of her own to come to terms with. I received a copy via Booksprout and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dorchadas House by Emmanuelle de Maupassant is a gothic story of Iris who flees to the island of Eirig after her father dies in a mixture of guilt and yearning. When she arrives, she discovers a dark, yet beautiful mansion, in dire need of repair, and a small population, strangely attractive. She meets Mrs. McInnes, who seems to be in charge of the house, and beings her chore of redecorating with the aim of drawing guests to the island: women guest, writers, hopefully. As time progresses and she get to know the inhabitants, they appear to be even odder than she originally thought but she is drawn to them. Then on Samhain, it appears she is the guest of honor and her life totally changes with the revelations made. An intriguing book, one only de Maupassant could write. It is dark and very gothic, but interesting as well, as Iris comes to know the people on the island and the things that have happened there. Short read. Worth the time.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Dorchadas House by Booksprout. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
Eirig is a small town that Iris Muir”s ancestors lived in many, many years ago. Iris learns about her ancestors from the Housekeeper and since she has just arrived she has a lot to learn since her father died she is up for a new adventure but it is certainly not what she thought it would be and she meets the housekeepers three sons and she feels something for them but not sure why. She is surprised by the maze and she feels something strange about it. Things start to happen around the estate and one night she sees something that frightens her, then she finds herself in a situation she has no control over but is not afraid of. Drama, intrigue, suspense, adult content. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.