All the Dead Lie Down

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All the Dead Lie Down
Age Range
14+
Release Date
May 16, 2023
ISBN
0063242982
The Haunting of Bly Manor meets House of Salt and Sorrows in award-winning author Kyrie McCauley’s contemporary YA gothic romance about a dark family lineage, the ghosts of grief, and the lines we’ll cross for love.
The Sleeping House was very much awake . . .
Days after a tragedy leaves Marin Blythe alone in the world, she receives a surprising invitation from Alice Lovelace—an acclaimed horror writer and childhood friend of Marin’s mother. Alice offers her a nanny position at Lovelace House, the family’s coastal Maine estate.

Marin accepts and soon finds herself minding Alice’s peculiar girls. Thea buries her dolls one by one, hosting a series of funerals, while Wren does everything in her power to drive Marin away. Then Alice’s eldest daughter returns home unexpectedly. Evie Hallowell is every bit as strange as her younger sisters, and yet Marin is quickly drawn in by Evie’s compelling behavior and ethereal grace.

But as Marin settles in, she can’t escape the anxiety that follows her like a shadow. Dead birds appear in Marin’s room. The children’s pranks escalate. Something dangerous lurks in the woods, leaving mutilated animals in its wake. All is not well at Lovelace House, and Marin must unravel its secrets before they consume her.

Editor review

1 review
It's Spooky Season!
Overall rating
 
4.0
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Yes! Finally a Lesbian Gothic! Don't worry, I'll be re-reading this one come October.

All the Dead Lie Down by Kyrie McCauley is a YA contemporary Gothic romance about a girl by the name of Marin Blythe, who is all alone in the world. Until the horror writer, Alice Lovelace (who also happens to be one of Marin's mother's best friends) invites her to come stay at her home as a nanny. Having no other place to go, Marin accepts and finds that her world is quickly turned upside down. Alice's girls are peculiar in their own ways. Including Thea, who likes to bury her dolls and hold funerals and Wren who will do everything in her power to drive Marin away. But when Alice's eldest daughter suddenly arrives home, Marin can't help but start to have feelings for her. Even though so many strange things are happening, including the likes of a monster in the woods that's leaving mutilated animals in it's wake.

First of all, I was already in love with this book due to it being a part of the gothic genre. I love just about anything spooky and scary, with an extra bonus point of it taking place in an every spookier house. (I'm looking at you The Haunting of Hill House and Down Comes the Night.) This book hit all the high notes, and a few low ones too but no book is absolutely perfect.

What I liked most about this book, was that is had a great cast of characters. Marin was the perfect main character to feature. And though Thea and Wren were annoying at times, they created a great balance between them and Marin. And you can't exactly forget about Evie.

The one thing I wish, was that there was less gore. Which I know is redundant to ask for, considering this a Gothic book. But sometimes it's just not needed. Or it could be toned down, just enough to get the point across. I also felt that the romance was a little bit lacking, even though it was serving as the relief from the spookiness. It was kinda rushed, to the point it was starting to feel like insta-love.

But overall, I really enjoyed this book! I will happily be re-reading it in October. Along with a bunch of other spooky reads.
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