Overview

In Fyneshade, Kate Griffin opens with a summons that changes everything. On the day her grandmother dies, Marta is called to a remote manor in the Derbyshire hills to work as a governess. The house is decaying, the setting isolated, and the household deeply strange.

The children barely speak, the rooms hide secrets, and the heir, Vaughan, watches Marta with interest rather than authority. As Marta settles into life at Fyneshade, it becomes clear she is not as powerless as a governess should be. Her arrival is no accident, and her intentions are sharper than the house expects.

Writing & Voice

We found Griffin’s writing confident and tightly controlled. The language is rich without being heavy, and the first person narration draws us close to Marta’s thoughts. The atmosphere builds slowly, letting unease creep in rather than relying on shocks.

The voice is calm, observant, and edged with quiet menace, which suits the setting and the story’s careful pacing.

Characters

Marta is the heart of the novel. She is intelligent, self aware, and willing to use the roles given to her to gain influence. We enjoyed reading a gothic story where the governess is not simply trapped, but actively shaping events.

The rest of the household feels closed off and watchful. Each character holds back information, and the children, servants, and Vaughan himself all play a part in the web of inheritance and control.

Themes

Fyneshade explores power, agency, and the stories we tell about women in gothic fiction. It asks what happens when someone expected to obey instead chooses to plan. The house becomes a symbol of control, history, and the cost of ownership.

Magic and manipulation sit side by side, blurring the line between survival and ambition.

What Worked

• Strong gothic atmosphere – The manor setting feels oppressive and vivid.
• Unusual heroine – Marta’s confidence and moral ambiguity drive the story.
• Careful pacing – Tension builds steadily and with purpose.

Minor Quibbles

• The opening moves slowly while the setting is established.
• Some supernatural elements are left open to interpretation.

Final Thoughts

Fyneshade is a sharp and unsettling gothic novel where control, desire, and strategy matter more than innocence.

Rating: ★★★★☆ / 5