Bookseller Reviews
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Perfect Autumn reading!
Cornwall, the year is 1786.
For many, many years, the villagers of Mirecoombe have turned to their Keeper - Lord Pelagius Hunt who is wise, battle-scarred... READ MORE
Dark and fantastical, a brilliantly immersive book
Gorse is so atmospheric that I found myself immediately waist-deep in the bogs of the moorland. With an unsettling and wonderfully du Maurier-esque Cornish... READ MORE
Synopsis
Cornwall, 1786.
For years, the villagers of Mirecoombe have turned to their Keeper, the old and battle-scarred Lord Pelagius Hunt, mediator between the worlds of men and fey, for help. But this is a time of change. Belief in the old ways, in the piskies and spriggans, has dimmed, kindled instead in the Reverend Cleaver’s fiery pulpit. His church stands proud above the mire; God’s name is whispered, hushed, loved. And now, death stalks Mirecoombe on the moor. There are corpses in the heather. There is blood in the gorse.
Nancy Bligh is determined to do what Pel will not: maintain the balance between the fey and the human world, be the Keeper that he refuses to be. Blessed with natural sight, friend to spriggans, piskies and human locals of Mirecoombe, Nancy has power that Pel never had and never lets her use. But as Mirecoombe falls into darkness, perhaps her time has come.
A poignant and lyrical examination of faith, love and grief, Gorse asks what do we choose to believe, and how does that shape who we are?
Publisher information
- Publisher: Rebellion Publishing Ltd.
- ISBN: 9781837863075
- Number of pages: 352
- Dimensions: 198 x 128 mm
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allA fascinating novel of speculative fiction
"Gorse" is a speculative fiction novel set in the 18th century, marketed as "Poldark" meets "The Bear and the Nightingale". While I had anticipated a story... READ MORE
Dark and Ominous read
This to me is Historical fiction/fantasy. The Gorse is about 18th Century Cornwall where the Brownies, Spriggans, and Piskies work in balance with the vil... READ MORE
There is blood in the gorse......
Absolutely lived up to all my expectations. A darkly compelling novel threaded throughout with myth and magic based in 18th century Cornwall. Set in a time... READ MORE
Wonderful storytelling
Gorse was an absolute delight! Atmospheric, dark, lots of fae, folklore and rich in 18th century Cornwall beliefs and attitudes. In Gorse, superstition, fa... READ MORE
Myth, magic, mystery, menace ...
Myth, magic, mystery, menace, momentum – a gallop of an adventure blending folklore, faith, fantasy and fascinating characters. The clash between The Keep... READ MORE
Dark fantasy in a wonderfully realised Cornish past
I love historical novels that don't hide their historic roots while feeling very much bang up-to-date. In a creepy and dark fantasy version of 18th century... READ MORE
A truly magical folklore murder mystery
Gorse is a truly magical book. The language is romantic, and yet, there is no romance in this folklore drenched murder mystery
Set in Mirecoombe; Brown... READ MORE
A dark, folksy, historical fantasy
A dark, folksy, historical fantasy with a touch of murder mystery set in late 18th century Cornwall.
I loved this from the very beginning. It's quite slow... READ MORE
Richly written historical folklore fantasy (first in a series)
It’s 1786.
Mirecoombe is a small village in Cornwall. It’s a traditional place that always used to respect the old ways, its residents carrying charms ... READ MORE
It's a 'feeling' of a book, and its beautiful
I'm just going to dive right in and tell you this is a 5 star read. If that's all you need to know, go forth, buy the book, read it, love it!
For those ... READ MORE
A dark addition to the Fae genre
Gorse begins with a quote from my favourite Thomas Hardy novel, The Return of the Native, similar to which, an opening chapter is spent describing the wild... READ MORE
Wonderful
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and publisher.
This was a wonderful, affectionate exploration of Cornish folklore. ... READ MORE
The perfect book for a rainy autumn afternoon
Gorse. Gorse, a type of shrub that thrives in marshy areas on the Atlantic coast, e.g. in Cornwall. Here lies the sleepy village of Mirecoombe; a few farms... READ MORE
Gorse
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC. This was stunning. Dark, lyrical, full of twists and turns. I love fan... READ MORE
Have fun, read it
A dark and gripping historical fantasy that mixes small town politics, folk horror, Little People creating a very entertaining and compelling story.
The a... READ MORE
A Great Read
This to me is Historical fiction/fantasy. The Gorse is about 18th Century Cornwall where the Brownies, Spriggans, and Piskies work in balance with the vill... READ MORE
Fascinating story
Things that go bump in the night. What imagination to bring a story like this to life. Varied and unbelievable characters that had me gripped the whole way... READ MORE
So intriguing you need more
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Gorse, it gripped me and just continued to give me an amazing story.
Verified Purchase