A review by bookishreadsandme
The Darlings of the Asylum by Noel O'Reilly
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
I recommend you pick this up if you love a dark, atmospheric piece of historical fiction.
It has that unsettling psychological thriller side to it which works well, especially in a setting like a lunatic asylum. You follow Violet Pring who is sent away to one when she refuses to marry as she would rather be an independent artist. Of course, as this is set in the Victorian period, her family find this idea horrifying and worry about their family reputation. Also they are constantly embarrassed of Violet’s opinionated views, especially when she voices them in social occasions and decide for her own good to send her to Hillwood Grange Lunatic Asylum.
I found myself completely engrossed throughout, especially when there are a few twists. What I really liked about this book is how Violet is an unreliable narrator and you start to wonder if she really does have some mental health problems.
The staff treat the patients in the asylum terribly and it really made me feel so much emotion towards these poor women locked up with no hope of getting out. Doctor Rastrick, the main doctor there who treats Violet was awful and his treatment was basically just drug the patients and confining them to a room if they had any fight in them. You cannot help but root for Violet and pray she escapes.
The Darlings of the Asylum is a chilling gothic story that is packed with lies, secrets and betrayal that I thoroughly enjoyed.
It has that unsettling psychological thriller side to it which works well, especially in a setting like a lunatic asylum. You follow Violet Pring who is sent away to one when she refuses to marry as she would rather be an independent artist. Of course, as this is set in the Victorian period, her family find this idea horrifying and worry about their family reputation. Also they are constantly embarrassed of Violet’s opinionated views, especially when she voices them in social occasions and decide for her own good to send her to Hillwood Grange Lunatic Asylum.
I found myself completely engrossed throughout, especially when there are a few twists. What I really liked about this book is how Violet is an unreliable narrator and you start to wonder if she really does have some mental health problems.
The staff treat the patients in the asylum terribly and it really made me feel so much emotion towards these poor women locked up with no hope of getting out. Doctor Rastrick, the main doctor there who treats Violet was awful and his treatment was basically just drug the patients and confining them to a room if they had any fight in them. You cannot help but root for Violet and pray she escapes.
The Darlings of the Asylum is a chilling gothic story that is packed with lies, secrets and betrayal that I thoroughly enjoyed.