I recently had two things happen that drew me to read this book. First, while at the West Virginia Book Festival, I met an author whose genre was ‘dark romance’. I had never heard of this sub-genre previously and put it on my list of authors to investigate.
Later, in the same week, I visited my daughter and her family in Morgantown, West Virginia. Knowing I am a bibliophile, she took me to a recently opened bookstore. Monkeywrench Books. (I will tell you more about this delightful shop later.) I began searching their shelves for the new to me category of books “Gothikana” caught my eye and reading the blurb I decided to give it a try.
The story revolves around Corvina Clemm, a young girl who suddenly finds herself alone in the world and Vad Deverell, a secretive part-time professor at the University of Verenmore. In the beginning Corvina’s mother is committed to a psychiatric institution. Corvina unexpectedly receives a letter from the University inviting her to attend. Alone and without direction in her life, she accepts. What she finds is not what she expected. The University is an old castle located atop an isolated mountain.
Verenmore is not your typical university, nor are its students and professors. Corvina is soon embroiled in the secrets and mysteries that abound. From learning that her roommate is a returned runaway from the institution, to finding out that the young woman who previously occupied her bed committed suicide, Corvina is thrust into a tangled web.
The intrigue is complicated by her intense attraction to Professor Deverell. Dark and mysterious, Corvina’s roommate expresses suspicions that something forbidden was occurring between the suicide and the professor. This does not sway Corvina. Deverell is compelling and the innocent girl can barely control her desire for him. Soon, she finds his attraction to her is just as strong.
After a series of strange occurrences and revelations, the climactic event takes place at the Black Ball. In the past a student has always disappeared from this yearly event. The build up lets the reader know something is going to happen. But the author throws in a nice twist as to the culprit of many fatal happenings.
I like the book. It seems more like a gothic style romance although it is certainly dark. It is heavy on sexuality and my be too graphic for some readers’ tastes. (Think Colleen Hoover.) This makes it puzzling since the language of the story could easily be enjoyed by a middle schooler. The homage to “Dracula” by Bram Stoker with the Vad’s name missing only the “L” in Vlad, and to Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” with Verenmore similar to Nevermore, it does lend a somewhat juvenile tone to the tale. With a slow beginning, a decently paced build up, and a rather weak conclusion, it is still worth a read. Slightly weighty with characters, a couple could possibly be eliminated and the story shortened. I plan to seek out more of these ‘dark romances’.
Now about Monkey Wrench Books. This delightful little bookshop with a small coffee bar. The scent of coffee, books and the ambiance were welcoming from the moment I entered. The staff is super friendly, but not hovering or intrusive. Shoppers are encouraged to look around without pressure. There is a terrific selection of books in all genres. They are attractively displayed. Although I was not aware of it at the time, not only is Monkey Wrench independently owned, but it is also owned by a woman. These are big pluses for me as I think we need more independent bookstores. I highly recommend you visit Monkey Wrench Books if you visit Morgantown or surrounding areas. It’s well worth the trip. You can even stop for lunch in one of the nearby eateries.
https://www.facebook.com/monkeywrenchbookswv/
https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Gothikana/RuNyx/9781250334206
Between the Beats 