The Lost History of Dreams by Kris Waldherr
Paperback Publication Date: February 18, 2020
Atria Books
Hardcover & eBook; 336 Pages
Genre: Historical/Gothic/Mystery
Now available in paperback! A post-mortem photographer unearths the dark secrets of a famed poet’s marriage in this “sensual, twisting gothic tale…in the tradition of A.S. Byatt’s Possession, Diane Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale, and Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights” (BookPage).
When famed Byronesque poet Hugh de Bonne is found dead in his bath one morning in 1850, arrangements are left to his estranged cousin, historian turned postmortem photographer Robert Highstead. De Bonne’s will instructs that he should be buried in a stained glass chapel set on the Shropshire moors, built to house the remains of his beloved wife and muse, Ada. It has since been locked to all outsiders—especially the rabid, cultlike fans of de Bonne’s final book, The Lost History of Dreams.
Only Ada’s grief-stricken niece, Isabelle, holds the key, but she refuses to open the chapel unless Robert agrees to her bargain: Before he can lay Hugh to rest, Robert must record the real story behind her aunt’s ill-fated marriage to the poet over the course of five nights—a story that is both love story and ghost story.
Blurring the line between the past and the present, truth and fiction, and ultimately, life and death, The Lost History of Dreams is “a surrealist, haunting tale of suspense where every prediction turns out to be merely a step toward a bigger reveal” (Booklist).
“Waldherr writes that ‘love stories are ghost stories in disguise.’ This one, happily, succeeds as both.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
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Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐There's nothing better than snuggling up at night with a creepy Victorian gothic story during a Global pandemic. Well, that's certainly a sentence I never thought I would write, but here we are. Seriously though, reading The Lost History of Dreams was the best way to escape the craziness of the day and be transported back in time.
This is the kind of book that you want to read slowly and savor. Waldherr's writing is powerful and lush and she sets the scene so well it's like a movie playing in your mind.
Robert is a post-mortem photographer who is still mourning the tragic death of his wife, Sida, when his estranged brother reaches out to him and asks him to photograph their cousin, Hugh, who just passed away. Upon arriving Robert meets Isabelle, who has inherited Ada and Hugh's home, and she isn't keen on the idea of allowing Robert to enter Ada's Folly, a glass chapel that was built for Ada and is said to be her burial place. Isabelle makes a deal with Robert that if she allows him to do that he must write down Ada's life story. Over the course of 5 days, Isabelle reveals more about Ada's life to Robert, but in doing so more questions arise. Is Isabelle who she says she is? Is Ada really dead?
The beginning starts off a little slow but once Isabella begins telling Ada's story I was captivated! I was turning the pages so fast because I just HAD TO KNOW!
If you like dark, haunted Victorian novels with tales of tragic love, a mystery or two, and ghosts then I highly recommend The Lost History of Dreams!
Praise for The Lost History of Dreams
“Scheherazade-like … haunting… Waldherr writes that ‘love stories are ghost stories in disguise.’ This one, happily, succeeds as both.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“An unexpected delight that grows steadily more compelling as its pages fly by.” —Booklist
“A sensual, twisting gothic tale that embraces Victorian superstition much in the tradition of A.S. Byatt’s Possession, Diane Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale and Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.”—BookPage
“Eerily atmospheric and gorgeously written, The Lost History of Dreams is a Gothic fairy-tale to savor.” – Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of THE ALICE NETWORK and THE HUNTRESS
“The Lost History of Dreams is a dark, shimmering gem of a novel, glittering with love lost, secrets kept, and long-buried truths revealed. Wonder, memory, death and passion haunt every page of Kris Waldherr’s powerhouse Gothic debut.” – Greer Macallister, bestselling author of THE MAGICIAN’S LIE and WOMAN 99
“Brooding, romantic, and thoughtful, The Lost History of Dreams is a rare bird in that it shines throughout with wit. I loved every page of it.” – Erika Swyler, bestselling author of THE BOOK OF SPECULATION and LIGHT FROM OTHER STARS
“With luminous prose, stunning poetry and a fascinating cast of characters, Waldherr weaves a wonderfully atmospheric tale. Not to be missed!” – Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME and THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER’S DAUGHTER
“A riveting, addictive read. Sarah Waters fans will be entranced. – Mary Sharratt, author of ECSTASY and DAUGHTERS OF THE WITCHING HILL
“A novel of haunting mystery and passion reminiscent of Wuthering Heights and Byatt’s Possession.” – Crystal King, author of FEAST OF SORROW and THE CHEF’S SECRET
“An atmospheric tale of lost love, family secrets, and an inquiry into how our own histories define us, I relished every poetic page.” – Heather Webb, international bestselling author of LAST CHRISTMAS IN PARIS and THE PHANTOM’S APPRENTICE
"With beautiful prose and poetry, Waldherr weaves a darkly seductive Gothic tale of love, art, death, and obsession. You’ll want to keep reading this one late into the night.” – Alyssa Palombo, author of THE SPELLBOOK OF KATRINA VAN TASSEL
“A sumptuous feast for all the senses.” – Clarissa Harwood, author of IMPOSSIBLE SAINTS and BEAR NO MALICE
About the Author
As a visual artist, Waldherr is the creator of the Goddess Tarot, which has a quarter of a million copies in print. She has had illustrations published as greeting cards, book covers, and in calendars and magazines. Her art has been exhibited in many galleries and museums including the Ruskin Library, the Mazza Museum of International Art from Picture Books, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Kris Waldherr works and lives in Brooklyn in a Victorian-era house with her husband, their young daughter, and a very vocal Bengal cat.
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Blog Tour Schedule
Friday, March 13Review at A Bookish Affair
Review at Tales from the Book Dragon
Saturday, March 14
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Monday, March 16
Review at Gwendalyn's Books
Tuesday, March 17
Review at Clarissa Reads it All
Thursday, March 19
Review at YA, It's Lit
Review at Older & Smarter
Friday, March 20
Review at Donna's Book Blog
Sunday, March 22
Review at Historical Graffiti
Tuesday, March 24
Review at Books In Their Natural Habitat
Wednesday, March 25
Interview at Jorie Loves A Story
Thursday, March 26
Review at Books and Zebras
Saturday, March 28
Review at Nurse Bookie
Monday, March 30
Review at Jorie Loves A Story
Tuesday, March 31
Review at Passages to the Past
Giveaway
To celebrate the paperback publication of The Lost History of Dreams, Kris is offering an exclusive blog tour giveaway of some of her most popular publications! The collection includes an autographed copy of The Lost History of Dreams paperback, a Goddess Tarot deck, a Sacred World Oracle deck, a hardcover of Bad Princess, and a teaser booklet of Doomed Queens. Retail value $75. Giveaway ends 4/30/2020. US only.To enter the giveaway, click HERE.
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