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From Daylight To Madness
The latest book from the critically acclaimed author of Beautiful, Frightening, and Silent; Jennifer Anne Gordon.
On an almost uninhabitable rocky island off the coast of Maine, a Hotel looms over the shore, an ever-present gray lady that stands strong like a guard, keeping watch. For many who come here, this island is a sanctuary and a betrayal.
This is a place where memories linger like ghosts, and the ephemeral nature of time begins to peel away ...like the sanity of all who have been unlucky enough to step foot on its shore.
In the late spring of 1873, Isabelle gave birth to her son Oscar, he cried for three startling minutes, and then went silent. During the months that follow, Isabelle is drugged and lulled into an almost hallucinatory world of grief and fear. Her life begins to feel as though it exists in a terrifying new reality separated from those around her ...
When her grieving begins to make her husband, Henry, uncomfortable, he and his mother conspire to send Isabelle away to a Summer Hotel on Dagger Island, where she can rest and heal. While they are adamant that the hotel is not an asylum and that Isabelle will be able to return eventually to her home, Isabelle understands in her heart that it is all a lie. That perhaps, everything about being a woman in this time, may have always been a lie.
Her family has lied to her, and she has lied to herself.
The Hotel, of course, is not what it seems, and the foreboding Dagger Island begins to feel more like a prison than a retreat. Isabelle hears relentless sounds coming from the attic above her room, and the ever-present cries of small children scream in her head almost constantly. Are they hallucinations, or are they connected to the small cemetery she found, filled with the fresh dirt of little graves, the brokenhearted reminders of people that no one believes ever existed?
She meets a fellow guest at the Hotel, a young, enigmatic, and deeply damaged priest, named Francis.
Together they teeter on the edges of reality and try desperately to become free from the fates that their pasts have bound them to.
From Daylight to Madness is a poetic, and haunting Gothic Fiction novel that is both profoundly unsettling and darkly romantic.
On an almost uninhabitable rocky island off the coast of Maine, a Hotel looms over the shore, an ever-present gray lady that stands strong like a guard, keeping watch. For many who come here, this island is a sanctuary and a betrayal.
This is a place where memories linger like ghosts, and the ephemeral nature of time begins to peel away ...like the sanity of all who have been unlucky enough to step foot on its shore.
In the late spring of 1873, Isabelle gave birth to her son Oscar, he cried for three startling minutes, and then went silent. During the months that follow, Isabelle is drugged and lulled into an almost hallucinatory world of grief and fear. Her life begins to feel as though it exists in a terrifying new reality separated from those around her ...
When her grieving begins to make her husband, Henry, uncomfortable, he and his mother conspire to send Isabelle away to a Summer Hotel on Dagger Island, where she can rest and heal. While they are adamant that the hotel is not an asylum and that Isabelle will be able to return eventually to her home, Isabelle understands in her heart that it is all a lie. That perhaps, everything about being a woman in this time, may have always been a lie.
Her family has lied to her, and she has lied to herself.
The Hotel, of course, is not what it seems, and the foreboding Dagger Island begins to feel more like a prison than a retreat. Isabelle hears relentless sounds coming from the attic above her room, and the ever-present cries of small children scream in her head almost constantly. Are they hallucinations, or are they connected to the small cemetery she found, filled with the fresh dirt of little graves, the brokenhearted reminders of people that no one believes ever existed?
She meets a fellow guest at the Hotel, a young, enigmatic, and deeply damaged priest, named Francis.
Together they teeter on the edges of reality and try desperately to become free from the fates that their pasts have bound them to.
From Daylight to Madness is a poetic, and haunting Gothic Fiction novel that is both profoundly unsettling and darkly romantic.
- GenresHorror
229 pages, Paperback
Published August 20, 2020
About the author
Jennifer Anne Gordon
9 books197 followersJennifer Anne Gordon is a Gothic horror novelist. Her work includes Beautiful, Frightening and Silent (2020) which won the Kindle Award for Best Horror/Suspense for 2020, and From Daylight to Madness (The Hotel book 1), and When the Sleeping Dead Still Talk (The Hotel book 2).
She had a collection of her mixed media artwork published during spring of 2020, entitled Victoriana: mixed media art of Jennifer Gordon
Jennifer is one of the hosts as well as the creator of Vox Vomitus, a video podcast on the Global Authors on the Air Network, as well as the Co-Host of the You Tube Channel “Talk Horror to Me”. She had been a contributor to Ladies of Horror Fiction, as well as Horror Tree.
Jennifer is a pale curly haired ginger, obsessed with horror, ghosts, abandoned buildings, and her dog "Lord Tubby".
She graduated from the New Hampshire Institute of Art, where she studied Acting. She also studied at the University of New Hampshire with a concentration in Art History and English.
She has made her living as an actress, a magician's assistant, a "gallerina", a comic book dealer, a painter, and burlesque performer and for the past 10 years as an award-winning professional ballroom dancer, performer, instructor, and choreographer.
When not scribbling away (ok, typing frantically) she enjoys traveling with her fiancé and dance partner, teaching her dog ridiculous tricks (like 'give me a kiss' and 'what hand is the treat in?' ok these are not great tricks.) as well as taking photos of abandoned buildings and haunted locations.
She is a leo, so at the end of the day she just thinks about her hair.
She had a collection of her mixed media artwork published during spring of 2020, entitled Victoriana: mixed media art of Jennifer Gordon
Jennifer is one of the hosts as well as the creator of Vox Vomitus, a video podcast on the Global Authors on the Air Network, as well as the Co-Host of the You Tube Channel “Talk Horror to Me”. She had been a contributor to Ladies of Horror Fiction, as well as Horror Tree.
Jennifer is a pale curly haired ginger, obsessed with horror, ghosts, abandoned buildings, and her dog "Lord Tubby".
She graduated from the New Hampshire Institute of Art, where she studied Acting. She also studied at the University of New Hampshire with a concentration in Art History and English.
She has made her living as an actress, a magician's assistant, a "gallerina", a comic book dealer, a painter, and burlesque performer and for the past 10 years as an award-winning professional ballroom dancer, performer, instructor, and choreographer.
When not scribbling away (ok, typing frantically) she enjoys traveling with her fiancé and dance partner, teaching her dog ridiculous tricks (like 'give me a kiss' and 'what hand is the treat in?' ok these are not great tricks.) as well as taking photos of abandoned buildings and haunted locations.
She is a leo, so at the end of the day she just thinks about her hair.
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April 11, 2021Review to come when all the stars align,
August 22, 2020
This was a beautiful well written unique and dark tale that deals with depression and mental health issues during a time when women weren’t aloud to make choices for themselves and were perceived as not an equal to their spouse . I was immediately captivated from the first page and couldn’t put this story down . The characters are very well developed the plot intense and intriguing overall this is a fantastic story and one that I can’t wait to return back too . Definite must read and definite 5 stars from me!
*I was kindly given an arc in exchange for my honest review *
*I was kindly given an arc in exchange for my honest review *
August 21, 2020
Hauntingly beautiful!
”The world around her began to weep silently, until the violence of the air around her, filled the sky with screaming wails.”
What an absolutely amazing and hauntingly beautiful story. This phenomenal author weaves a tale that is filled with the intense emotions of loss, pain and anguish. Each chapter is written with such poetic words that they bleed into your soul. My heart ached for Isabelle and the horrible tragedy her life has become. Her pain and depression was felt in every word that was written. It felt like I was lost along side of her and neither of us could find our way out.
I loved every second of this story and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
”The world around her began to weep silently, until the violence of the air around her, filled the sky with screaming wails.”
What an absolutely amazing and hauntingly beautiful story. This phenomenal author weaves a tale that is filled with the intense emotions of loss, pain and anguish. Each chapter is written with such poetic words that they bleed into your soul. My heart ached for Isabelle and the horrible tragedy her life has become. Her pain and depression was felt in every word that was written. It felt like I was lost along side of her and neither of us could find our way out.
I loved every second of this story and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
August 20, 2020
It's been a hot minute since I read Thriller books, but this is much more of a horror book and it is eerily intense! 😳
I love how poetic this dark writing style was, its so beautifully written! 👌🏼It gave me cold chills reading this and I couldn't put it down to know how this ends!
How it starts is what got me hooked and it's my first time reading a book that involves death of children...🤫 it starts off really tragic!
The characters were amazing, they each portray a part and story of their own. How Isabelle intetaracted and developed a relationship among them, even the little bit of it was really something to hold onto.
I loved her and Francis relationship. How she found a companionship with someone she could trust. The way the setting was set back in late 1800 (1873) really shows how mental illness is treated and it isn't pleasant either. The Summer Hotel isn't just any "vacation" to heal, no its much more deeper and disturbing. Can't give away too much, read to find out! 😉
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
Thank you Books and Moods for this digital arc! 🙏🏻
I love how poetic this dark writing style was, its so beautifully written! 👌🏼It gave me cold chills reading this and I couldn't put it down to know how this ends!
How it starts is what got me hooked and it's my first time reading a book that involves death of children...🤫 it starts off really tragic!
The characters were amazing, they each portray a part and story of their own. How Isabelle intetaracted and developed a relationship among them, even the little bit of it was really something to hold onto.
I loved her and Francis relationship. How she found a companionship with someone she could trust. The way the setting was set back in late 1800 (1873) really shows how mental illness is treated and it isn't pleasant either. The Summer Hotel isn't just any "vacation" to heal, no its much more deeper and disturbing. Can't give away too much, read to find out! 😉
Rating: 4.5 ⭐
Thank you Books and Moods for this digital arc! 🙏🏻
July 21, 2021
This was a lot different than I thought it was going to be, but still tragic and heartbreaking. Even though there really wasn't much to this as far as plot-wise goes, I still found it a very interesting and moving read. Really felt for Isabelle, especially being in a time when women were more so property and had no say in anything.
Too sad, or not sad enough.
There were soo many editing issues here. It was really distracting throughout. Someone really needs to go through this and edit it. It would drastically improve the experience.
I'm not sure if I'm going to read the next one. I am rather curious and did enjoy this one well enough, but part of me really wants to believe that this is how it ended. I probably will, though. I'll definitely check out more by this author at least.
Ample time for Henry to instill someone else in her place, a shadow wife, young, fertile, and naive enough to think it is normal to scream no in her head while saying, "yes" with her voice.
They wanted smiles. They wanted agreeable girls, who were kind, and pretty... just not too pretty.
She was not strong enough for love; it could break whatever was left of her. She would prefer to have the memory rather than a painful reality that would bruise and fade over time. Molly's kiss and Francis' hand on hers. If they could plait themselves together with Oscar's screams, she could live inside that beautiful nightmare forever.
"You're breaking my heart, and yours. I hope you know that."
Too sad, or not sad enough.
There were soo many editing issues here. It was really distracting throughout. Someone really needs to go through this and edit it. It would drastically improve the experience.
I'm not sure if I'm going to read the next one. I am rather curious and did enjoy this one well enough, but part of me really wants to believe that this is how it ended. I probably will, though. I'll definitely check out more by this author at least.
Ample time for Henry to instill someone else in her place, a shadow wife, young, fertile, and naive enough to think it is normal to scream no in her head while saying, "yes" with her voice.
They wanted smiles. They wanted agreeable girls, who were kind, and pretty... just not too pretty.
She was not strong enough for love; it could break whatever was left of her. She would prefer to have the memory rather than a painful reality that would bruise and fade over time. Molly's kiss and Francis' hand on hers. If they could plait themselves together with Oscar's screams, she could live inside that beautiful nightmare forever.
"You're breaking my heart, and yours. I hope you know that."
August 20, 2020
Isabelle is a woman who gives birth to a child who only lived for minutes before he succumbed to a silent death. Her husband Henry is an oaf of a man, who went from living with his mother, who did everything for him, to living with a wife who did everything for him, therefore he was ill equipped to deal with a wife who is dealing with the complex emotions of birthing a practically stillborn child. When he has had enough of her antics and her self-medicating, he and his mother send her away to a “hotel” which is really just a glorified institution.
At this hotel Isabelle constantly hears the cries of her deceased child, Oscar. These cries haunt her to the point that when she no longer hears them, it bothers her. There, she also meets an array of other individuals "healing" there, like Francis, whom she begins to fall in love with.
But, in this day and age, she is still chattel to her husband, Henry: “Henry’s forgotten object on the shelf.”
When I originally reviewed this book, I was harsh, but I have since had the time to sift through my feelings and put together a better understanding of what I liked and didn’t like about this book. I think what shocked me the most was how grotesque Henry and his mother were in the way they treated Isabelle. Henry sees her as property and literally does what he wants with her, even in a somewhat predatory fashion. It was disturbing to me. But I genuinely liked Isabelle’s character. She was strong in her own way, dealing with an unimaginable grief and being told HOW to feel and how NOT to feel. Also, this book takes place remarkably close to my own hometown and I was definitely drawn into that aspect.
The end of this book was great, but definitely leaves you anticipating the next book in the series. I am eagerly awaiting to see what comes of Isabelle and where life takes her… if it takes her anywhere at all.
Thank you so much to PR Books and Moods for my advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
At this hotel Isabelle constantly hears the cries of her deceased child, Oscar. These cries haunt her to the point that when she no longer hears them, it bothers her. There, she also meets an array of other individuals "healing" there, like Francis, whom she begins to fall in love with.
But, in this day and age, she is still chattel to her husband, Henry: “Henry’s forgotten object on the shelf.”
When I originally reviewed this book, I was harsh, but I have since had the time to sift through my feelings and put together a better understanding of what I liked and didn’t like about this book. I think what shocked me the most was how grotesque Henry and his mother were in the way they treated Isabelle. Henry sees her as property and literally does what he wants with her, even in a somewhat predatory fashion. It was disturbing to me. But I genuinely liked Isabelle’s character. She was strong in her own way, dealing with an unimaginable grief and being told HOW to feel and how NOT to feel. Also, this book takes place remarkably close to my own hometown and I was definitely drawn into that aspect.
The end of this book was great, but definitely leaves you anticipating the next book in the series. I am eagerly awaiting to see what comes of Isabelle and where life takes her… if it takes her anywhere at all.
Thank you so much to PR Books and Moods for my advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
August 20, 2020
From Daylight To Madness is the first book I read by Jennifer Gordon and is also different from the books I normaly read.
It's poetical, romantic, dark, eerie but beautiful.
This book ... I don't know how to write a proper review.
It's different and it's playing in a century where mental illness is handled as not proper behavior.
What will you do, when you lost your only child too early, hear him crying for a short time and aren't allowed to hold him? When you're treated as the one who is responsible for the death of your new born child?
They drugged her and later she was sent to an island.
An Hotel, they said.
Because she is tired, they said.
But what is real?
Are the cries real?
Although written in 3rd person, my least favorite writing form, I enjoyed the read. I couldn't put it down and wanted to know what happened next.
Isabelle and Francis ... I'd like to see an happy ending for them. But the ending of this book? I don't know if we will get an HEA for them...but I hope so. I hope what happened at the end, that she will be found in time.
I'd also like to know what happened next, in the next book. Francis' book. He's such a beautiful soul in my eyes and was there for her.
The only irritating thing were all the numbers throughout the book within the chapters and hope they are not in the final version of the book!?
I kindly received an ARC for an honest review.
It's poetical, romantic, dark, eerie but beautiful.
This book ... I don't know how to write a proper review.
It's different and it's playing in a century where mental illness is handled as not proper behavior.
What will you do, when you lost your only child too early, hear him crying for a short time and aren't allowed to hold him? When you're treated as the one who is responsible for the death of your new born child?
They drugged her and later she was sent to an island.
An Hotel, they said.
Because she is tired, they said.
But what is real?
Are the cries real?
Although written in 3rd person, my least favorite writing form, I enjoyed the read. I couldn't put it down and wanted to know what happened next.
Isabelle and Francis ... I'd like to see an happy ending for them. But the ending of this book? I don't know if we will get an HEA for them...but I hope so. I hope what happened at the end, that she will be found in time.
I'd also like to know what happened next, in the next book. Francis' book. He's such a beautiful soul in my eyes and was there for her.
The only irritating thing were all the numbers throughout the book within the chapters and hope they are not in the final version of the book!?
I kindly received an ARC for an honest review.
August 12, 2020
a haunting tale that deals with topics reminiscent of Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” this coupled with Gordon’s mesmerizing words will leave you questioning what was actually happening, what was real. Gordon also left me completely astonished at the amount of depth she was able to instill into each one of her characters in so few pages. From the plot to its characters this book had me completely consumed from the first page to the last. I can not wait for the next installment in this series so I can rejoin everyone on Dagger Island.
August 24, 2020
This is my first and most certainly not my last read by this author. Totally different from what I’ve been reading lately yet still a brilliant read.
I’m finding it really hard to put into words a review to give this book the justice it deserves. I will say this is a really well written haunting story that held my attention all the way through.
My heart broke for Isabella yet we know that what she went through at that time could easily have been true which makes it even sadder.
I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author.
I’m finding it really hard to put into words a review to give this book the justice it deserves. I will say this is a really well written haunting story that held my attention all the way through.
My heart broke for Isabella yet we know that what she went through at that time could easily have been true which makes it even sadder.
I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author.
August 18, 2020
"We are more tired than we think we are," forget tea thanks, I'll stick with water.
Jennifer Gordon, this read was nothing less than spine tingling. From start to finish the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. This book may be finished but the chills are far from gone.
I have so many unanswered questions, and I feel we haven't even become to scratch the surface.
Jennifer Gordon, this read was nothing less than spine tingling. From start to finish the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. This book may be finished but the chills are far from gone.
I have so many unanswered questions, and I feel we haven't even become to scratch the surface.
October 31, 2020
The strange, mysterious Summer Hotel on Dagger Island
New Hampshire author Jennifer Anne Gordon studied acting at the New Hampshire Institute of Art, and has worked as an actress, magician’s assistant, artist (painting and collage, photography, and art model), dancer and writer. Her books to date – BEAUTIFUL FRIGHTENING AND SILENT, VICTORIANA, and her Hotel series, of which FROM DAYLIGHT TO MADNESS is book 1, soon to be followed by book 2 – WHEN THE SLEEPING DEAD STILL TALK. Jennifer’s genre and passion – Gothic horror!
How an author is able to clutch the reader with an emotionally compelling beginning attests to the powers Jennifer wields as a writer/poet. Her insights as a poet surface on page one with Tennyson’s poem: ‘Willows whiten, aspens quiver, Little breezes dusk and shiver Through the wave that runs for ever By the island in the river Flowing down to Camelot. Four grey walls, and four grey towers, Overlook a space of flowers, And the silent isle imbowers The Lady of Shalott.’ That atmospheric poem opens a Prologue: ‘He cried for about three minutes, his little voice sounded powerful at first, fighting and strong, His cries found their way to her ears, which had always been so desperate for love. His strange sounds immediately sounded like home, and like love, but those sounds very quickly changed. Of course, it all happened so fast, she did not even know it was a ‘him’ at this point. It was just crying, just screaming. Just home…’ This episode of a newborn with umbilical cord strangulation at birth sets the tone for the mystery that follows.
Some excerpts from the author’s website outline of the plot, revealing the following: ‘In the late spring of 1873, Isabelle gave birth to her son Oscar, he cried for three startling minutes, and then went silent. During the months that follow, Isabelle is drugged and lulled into an almost hallucinatory world of grief and fear. Her life begins to feel as though it exists in a terrifying new reality separated from those around her. When her grieving begins to make her husband, Henry, uncomfortable, he and his mother conspire to send Isabelle away to a Summer Hotel on Dagger Island, where she can rest and heal. While they are adamant that the hotel is not an asylum and that Isabelle will be able to return eventually to her home, Isabelle understands in her heart that it is all a lie. That perhaps, everything about being a woman in this time, may have always been a lie. The Hotel, of course, is not what it seems, and the foreboding Dagger Island begins to feel more like a prison than a retreat. Isabelle hears relentless sounds coming from the attic above her room, and the ever-present cries of small children scream in her head almost constantly. Are they hallucinations, or are they connected to the small cemetery she found, filled with the fresh dirt of little graves, the brokenhearted reminders of people that no one believes ever existed? She meets a fellow guest at the Hotel, a young, enigmatic, and deeply damaged priest, named Francis. Together they teeter on the edges of reality and try desperately to become free from the fates that their pasts have bound them to.’
A superb Victorian Gothic horror story that manages to seduce the reader into another era, this is a most successful opening to a series that should find not only awards for masterful writing, but also attract a large audience of dark fantasy lovers! Highly recommended.
New Hampshire author Jennifer Anne Gordon studied acting at the New Hampshire Institute of Art, and has worked as an actress, magician’s assistant, artist (painting and collage, photography, and art model), dancer and writer. Her books to date – BEAUTIFUL FRIGHTENING AND SILENT, VICTORIANA, and her Hotel series, of which FROM DAYLIGHT TO MADNESS is book 1, soon to be followed by book 2 – WHEN THE SLEEPING DEAD STILL TALK. Jennifer’s genre and passion – Gothic horror!
How an author is able to clutch the reader with an emotionally compelling beginning attests to the powers Jennifer wields as a writer/poet. Her insights as a poet surface on page one with Tennyson’s poem: ‘Willows whiten, aspens quiver, Little breezes dusk and shiver Through the wave that runs for ever By the island in the river Flowing down to Camelot. Four grey walls, and four grey towers, Overlook a space of flowers, And the silent isle imbowers The Lady of Shalott.’ That atmospheric poem opens a Prologue: ‘He cried for about three minutes, his little voice sounded powerful at first, fighting and strong, His cries found their way to her ears, which had always been so desperate for love. His strange sounds immediately sounded like home, and like love, but those sounds very quickly changed. Of course, it all happened so fast, she did not even know it was a ‘him’ at this point. It was just crying, just screaming. Just home…’ This episode of a newborn with umbilical cord strangulation at birth sets the tone for the mystery that follows.
Some excerpts from the author’s website outline of the plot, revealing the following: ‘In the late spring of 1873, Isabelle gave birth to her son Oscar, he cried for three startling minutes, and then went silent. During the months that follow, Isabelle is drugged and lulled into an almost hallucinatory world of grief and fear. Her life begins to feel as though it exists in a terrifying new reality separated from those around her. When her grieving begins to make her husband, Henry, uncomfortable, he and his mother conspire to send Isabelle away to a Summer Hotel on Dagger Island, where she can rest and heal. While they are adamant that the hotel is not an asylum and that Isabelle will be able to return eventually to her home, Isabelle understands in her heart that it is all a lie. That perhaps, everything about being a woman in this time, may have always been a lie. The Hotel, of course, is not what it seems, and the foreboding Dagger Island begins to feel more like a prison than a retreat. Isabelle hears relentless sounds coming from the attic above her room, and the ever-present cries of small children scream in her head almost constantly. Are they hallucinations, or are they connected to the small cemetery she found, filled with the fresh dirt of little graves, the brokenhearted reminders of people that no one believes ever existed? She meets a fellow guest at the Hotel, a young, enigmatic, and deeply damaged priest, named Francis. Together they teeter on the edges of reality and try desperately to become free from the fates that their pasts have bound them to.’
A superb Victorian Gothic horror story that manages to seduce the reader into another era, this is a most successful opening to a series that should find not only awards for masterful writing, but also attract a large audience of dark fantasy lovers! Highly recommended.
August 22, 2020
This book intrigued me from the first time I read the blurb. Dripping with emotion and darkness like any good gothic horror novel should be, this one somehow went beyond. I could feel Isabelle's melancholy and often felt like I was sipping medicinal tea right along with her. Jennifer Anne Gordon weaves a tale of despair, longing, and encroaching madness that is riveting, and her talent with words is undeniable. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
September 25, 2021
Jennifer Anne Gordon’s visceral prose transports you to Dagger Island in FROM DAYLIGHT TO MADNESS, weaving a world that juxtaposes the ethereal and the mundane and envelopes the senses in their entirety. From the salt spray of the ocean to the laudanum tea, this haunting tale will leave you breathless.
November 13, 2020
It’s been way too long since I have read a good horror book and Jennifer Gordon, in the best possible way, sucked me back. Jennifer Gordon's writing is poetic and well written.
From Daylight to Madness is a Victorian Gothic horror story. It’s a dark tale of Isabelle, in the spring of 1873, gave birth to her son, and then after a few minutes of crying, he passes away. Months after, she is drugged and in a world of grief. Her Husband and mother worry about her grief and send her to Summer Hotel. Oh man, form there, let me tell you. This is far from a hotel. It is creepy as all hell. Very haunting and gave me the chills. I literally sat on the edge and needed to know what Isabella would hear next or what she would discover.
I was left at the end, wanting more. I can't wait to read the next book to see what happens. I will add I am not a fan of Isabelle’s husband. But you have to think back to the Victorian time and how men treated a woman, especially how mental illness is treated.
From Daylight to Madness is a Victorian Gothic horror story. It’s a dark tale of Isabelle, in the spring of 1873, gave birth to her son, and then after a few minutes of crying, he passes away. Months after, she is drugged and in a world of grief. Her Husband and mother worry about her grief and send her to Summer Hotel. Oh man, form there, let me tell you. This is far from a hotel. It is creepy as all hell. Very haunting and gave me the chills. I literally sat on the edge and needed to know what Isabella would hear next or what she would discover.
I was left at the end, wanting more. I can't wait to read the next book to see what happens. I will add I am not a fan of Isabelle’s husband. But you have to think back to the Victorian time and how men treated a woman, especially how mental illness is treated.
August 22, 2020
So, I don't normally enjoy books that were written in the past like this. If I see a book with a date before the eighties I dont bother. And this being in the 1800s, I was asking myself if I was setting myself up for failure...But this book intrigued me for weeks. I am actually very glad I read this! It wasnt anything like I have ever read before. I was a confused mess (much like Isabelle) most of the time because I didnt know what was real and what was fake. Isabelle's reality was so skewed. And Father Francis was an interesting character as well. I definitely plan to read book 2. I need to know what happened after Isabelle's "accident" and I want to see if her and Father Francis get romantically involver at all. I would love to know more about Agnes also. I am quite shocked at how much I enjoyed this book. I almost felt like a crazy person reading it too HAHA.
August 20, 2020
This is a beautifully written haunting tale by Jennifer Gordon. This book delves into depression and mental incapacity. These characters are so well developed they seem realistic. My heart bled for Isabella and they way her husband treated her with such indifference. This story is from a time when women were considered property. Isabella was unable to make choices for herself. This is a well written book and a very enjoyable read.
August 22, 2020
Very dark, emotional and moving. It makes me happy to know that this is just first of the series and there is more to come! The length of this book is perfect for someone like me who has short attention span and not much time. Yet, so much is packed into it's pages, like a line of a poem that expands in your mind and envelops you for countless days. <3
October 15, 2020
When you read the amount of books I do in a year, you get a real mixed bag. Some good, some bad - and some indifferent. I’m delighted to say that From Daylight to Madness falls under a category of its own: Absolutely Amazing! Only four books this year have entered that category - including this one!
For those of you who don’t know her, Jennifer Anne Gordon is a Gothic Horror Author. Her first novel, Beautiful, Frightening and Silent not only exceeded my expectations but also was nominated for several awards. So she set the bar incredibly high.
I opened the book with trembling hands, excited to see what delights awaited me - and Jennifer leaped over the bar she had set with her first book!
From Daylight to Madness is another story which is set on the sinister, spooky Dagger Island -a fictitious place which feels even more real in this book. I will say from the outset that the island itself almost felt like a character to me.
This book tells the story of Isabelle, a tortured, grief stricken mother whose baby dies shortly after she gives birth.
Distraught and unable to deal with life without her beautiful baby son, Isabelle is treated with drugs to sedate her. Suddenly everything feels strange - her new reality is terrifying and she is ostracised from those who surround her as she sinks ever deeper, mourning her baby who lived for just three minutes before growing silent forever.
Those who should embrace and comfort her in her heartache do the opposite. Unable to cope, poor Isabelle becomes a leech to her husband and his mother. She is sucking the joy out of life, like a vampire sucks blood out of a human. Unable to take any more, the wicked pair conspire to send Isabelle away to the Summer Hotel on Dagger Island.
They tell her it is only temporary, a stop gap to give her a chance to recuperate and heal.
The pair are at pains to reassure her that the Hotel is not an asylum. She will be free to return as soon as she has found herself again. She just needs time to rest for a while, recover from her tragic ordeal.
While Isabelle is vulnerable, she is far from gullible or stupid. In her heart she knows they are lying. This does not surprise her because her family has always lied to her - and she has lied to herself.
Arriving on Dagger Island with Isabelle, the reader is sucked in immediately by the spooky, foreboding, cold, dank, dark place which quickly comes to feel like a prison to Isabelle.
This is not a normal hotel. While there she is bombarded by horrific shouts and screams which appear to be coming from the attic above her room. It sounds like children are crying incessantly, calling to her. Their screams and cries seep into her very being and she is never free of them from the moment she arrives at the hotel.
Once she is settled, Isabelle decides to explore the grounds and stumbles across a small cemetery. She is very disturbed by this discovery but then she begins to question whether the screams which are her constant companions are real - or are they connected with the cemetery which is filled with the heartbreaking graves of babies nobody believed existed.
Not long after her arrival, Isabelle meets a fellow guest, the enigmatic and mysterious Francis who is so young, almost ethereal and deeply damaged.
The pair bond, teetering on the edge of reality. They try desperately to free themselves of the chains which shackle them to their pasts. The fates seem determined to keep them bound to the past - while they fight back and struggle to break free.
I want to say more but I don’t want to give away the plot of this wonderful novel.
I have to confess, I was already a fan of Jennifer’s writing, having read Beautiful, Frightening and Silent.
This book knocked it out of the park!
Jennifer’s writing is beautiful and poetic. The style of writing is disturbing without being frightening.
Her prose is tight - she makes sure to choose exactly the right word to convey each scene - it is not just a rusty nail, it’s a corroded, rusty old nail; similarly, it’s not just red, it’s the deep, dusky red of sunlight on the water as the sun kisses the sea goodnight. These examples are not taken from her book but they are examples of the type of thing Jennifer writes.
As a general rule, I know I am reading a good book if I can picture the characters; a great book if I see it as a film in front of me; and a fantastic book if I forget that I’m reading and am actually in the scene with the characters - which is what happened while I was reading From Daylight to Madness. To give you an idea of just how gripping this book was, I read it in one sitting - 12 of the best hours I have ever spent reading a book - stranger still, I read it through the night … I did regret that when I dreamed of Isabelle, those poor children and Dagger Island when I did eventually fall asleep!
In writing this book, Jennifer used many techniques to draw the reader in - especially the effortless poetic nature of her writing which is as much intrinsically Jennifer’s style as car chases and shoot outs are a part of a thriller book!
Jennifer’s writing is not for the faint of heart though. If you’re of a timid nature, be warned, Dagger Island itself even feels terrifyingly real.
Her writing reminds me of a snapdragon. You land on the first page gently, hardly making a ripple - but the pages snap shut, trapping you there just like Isabelle is trapped on Dagger Island. The only way to escape is through the pages of the book - and it’s a tough ride at times.
I mean that as the highest compliment because Jennifer Anne Gordon knows how to grab you and keep you holding on for dear life, desperate to know what happens. She has the knack of gently teasing information - drip feeding it to the reader like fish food which they gobble up, desperate for more. Perhaps a better example would be leaving the reader like a puppy, following along, desperate for what crumbs they will receive from the author.
This is one of the best books I have read all year.
Heartbreakingly beautiful (she did the almost impossible and actually made me cry in this book - as much for the beauty of the writing as for the desperate children Isabelle can hear. In some ways the reader doesn’t care if the children are real or not - they just care that Isabelle can hear them. Jennifer takes the reader by the hand and invites them to embark a spooky, deliciously scary, thrilling adventure - if they are brave enough to join her.
You feel safe in Jennifer’s hands - yet also a little frightened. She expertly guides you through, telling you all about Isabelle's journey - and leaves you wanting more.
I am thrilled to tell you that you will not have long to wait. The second book in this series (book Two of Two) will be released soon.
I could (I want to) go on longer, extolling the virtues of this beautiful, horrific novel . but I’m going to suggest you get your own copy. I’m about to dive in to the story for the second time. It was so good I had to read it twice!
Jennifer was one of my favourite guests on my show, The Writer’s Stop, this season. It’s hard to believe this warm, funny, hugely empathetic lady has written such a spooky book. Her lyrical writing will lull you into a false sense of security - then sting you when you are least expecting it (don’t be frightened because you won’t feel a thing)
A certain time of year is just around the corner - you all need to go out and buy a copy - creat yourselves if your hubby won’t buy it for you - you can thank me later. I’m giving YOU the gift that keeps on giving:
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: From Daylight to Madness by Jennifer Ann Gordon.
Total stars? An unbelievable 10/10 (and I would give her more if I could! If I could write only half as well I would be happy.
If you like the atmosphere of Wuthering Heights then you will love this book!
For those of you who don’t know her, Jennifer Anne Gordon is a Gothic Horror Author. Her first novel, Beautiful, Frightening and Silent not only exceeded my expectations but also was nominated for several awards. So she set the bar incredibly high.
I opened the book with trembling hands, excited to see what delights awaited me - and Jennifer leaped over the bar she had set with her first book!
From Daylight to Madness is another story which is set on the sinister, spooky Dagger Island -a fictitious place which feels even more real in this book. I will say from the outset that the island itself almost felt like a character to me.
This book tells the story of Isabelle, a tortured, grief stricken mother whose baby dies shortly after she gives birth.
Distraught and unable to deal with life without her beautiful baby son, Isabelle is treated with drugs to sedate her. Suddenly everything feels strange - her new reality is terrifying and she is ostracised from those who surround her as she sinks ever deeper, mourning her baby who lived for just three minutes before growing silent forever.
Those who should embrace and comfort her in her heartache do the opposite. Unable to cope, poor Isabelle becomes a leech to her husband and his mother. She is sucking the joy out of life, like a vampire sucks blood out of a human. Unable to take any more, the wicked pair conspire to send Isabelle away to the Summer Hotel on Dagger Island.
They tell her it is only temporary, a stop gap to give her a chance to recuperate and heal.
The pair are at pains to reassure her that the Hotel is not an asylum. She will be free to return as soon as she has found herself again. She just needs time to rest for a while, recover from her tragic ordeal.
While Isabelle is vulnerable, she is far from gullible or stupid. In her heart she knows they are lying. This does not surprise her because her family has always lied to her - and she has lied to herself.
Arriving on Dagger Island with Isabelle, the reader is sucked in immediately by the spooky, foreboding, cold, dank, dark place which quickly comes to feel like a prison to Isabelle.
This is not a normal hotel. While there she is bombarded by horrific shouts and screams which appear to be coming from the attic above her room. It sounds like children are crying incessantly, calling to her. Their screams and cries seep into her very being and she is never free of them from the moment she arrives at the hotel.
Once she is settled, Isabelle decides to explore the grounds and stumbles across a small cemetery. She is very disturbed by this discovery but then she begins to question whether the screams which are her constant companions are real - or are they connected with the cemetery which is filled with the heartbreaking graves of babies nobody believed existed.
Not long after her arrival, Isabelle meets a fellow guest, the enigmatic and mysterious Francis who is so young, almost ethereal and deeply damaged.
The pair bond, teetering on the edge of reality. They try desperately to free themselves of the chains which shackle them to their pasts. The fates seem determined to keep them bound to the past - while they fight back and struggle to break free.
I want to say more but I don’t want to give away the plot of this wonderful novel.
I have to confess, I was already a fan of Jennifer’s writing, having read Beautiful, Frightening and Silent.
This book knocked it out of the park!
Jennifer’s writing is beautiful and poetic. The style of writing is disturbing without being frightening.
Her prose is tight - she makes sure to choose exactly the right word to convey each scene - it is not just a rusty nail, it’s a corroded, rusty old nail; similarly, it’s not just red, it’s the deep, dusky red of sunlight on the water as the sun kisses the sea goodnight. These examples are not taken from her book but they are examples of the type of thing Jennifer writes.
As a general rule, I know I am reading a good book if I can picture the characters; a great book if I see it as a film in front of me; and a fantastic book if I forget that I’m reading and am actually in the scene with the characters - which is what happened while I was reading From Daylight to Madness. To give you an idea of just how gripping this book was, I read it in one sitting - 12 of the best hours I have ever spent reading a book - stranger still, I read it through the night … I did regret that when I dreamed of Isabelle, those poor children and Dagger Island when I did eventually fall asleep!
In writing this book, Jennifer used many techniques to draw the reader in - especially the effortless poetic nature of her writing which is as much intrinsically Jennifer’s style as car chases and shoot outs are a part of a thriller book!
Jennifer’s writing is not for the faint of heart though. If you’re of a timid nature, be warned, Dagger Island itself even feels terrifyingly real.
Her writing reminds me of a snapdragon. You land on the first page gently, hardly making a ripple - but the pages snap shut, trapping you there just like Isabelle is trapped on Dagger Island. The only way to escape is through the pages of the book - and it’s a tough ride at times.
I mean that as the highest compliment because Jennifer Anne Gordon knows how to grab you and keep you holding on for dear life, desperate to know what happens. She has the knack of gently teasing information - drip feeding it to the reader like fish food which they gobble up, desperate for more. Perhaps a better example would be leaving the reader like a puppy, following along, desperate for what crumbs they will receive from the author.
This is one of the best books I have read all year.
Heartbreakingly beautiful (she did the almost impossible and actually made me cry in this book - as much for the beauty of the writing as for the desperate children Isabelle can hear. In some ways the reader doesn’t care if the children are real or not - they just care that Isabelle can hear them. Jennifer takes the reader by the hand and invites them to embark a spooky, deliciously scary, thrilling adventure - if they are brave enough to join her.
You feel safe in Jennifer’s hands - yet also a little frightened. She expertly guides you through, telling you all about Isabelle's journey - and leaves you wanting more.
I am thrilled to tell you that you will not have long to wait. The second book in this series (book Two of Two) will be released soon.
I could (I want to) go on longer, extolling the virtues of this beautiful, horrific novel . but I’m going to suggest you get your own copy. I’m about to dive in to the story for the second time. It was so good I had to read it twice!
Jennifer was one of my favourite guests on my show, The Writer’s Stop, this season. It’s hard to believe this warm, funny, hugely empathetic lady has written such a spooky book. Her lyrical writing will lull you into a false sense of security - then sting you when you are least expecting it (don’t be frightened because you won’t feel a thing)
A certain time of year is just around the corner - you all need to go out and buy a copy - creat yourselves if your hubby won’t buy it for you - you can thank me later. I’m giving YOU the gift that keeps on giving:
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: From Daylight to Madness by Jennifer Ann Gordon.
Total stars? An unbelievable 10/10 (and I would give her more if I could! If I could write only half as well I would be happy.
If you like the atmosphere of Wuthering Heights then you will love this book!
February 8, 2021
Well, seems like I’m in the minority here. Maybe this just wasn’t my cup of tea. I wanted to give 2 1/2 stars but gave it 3 because the prose was good despite the incredible amount of mistakes throughout. I found it slow for the first 1/2- 1/3 but stuck with it hoping for it to pick up. It did to an extent, but the constant wrong words, extra words, etc. made it so hard to read. I found it very repetitive, and knew where it was headed long before the end. Gothic yes, but really not a lot of story. Did the author have ANYONE read the e-version prior to release?? More mistakes than most which makes it seem incredibly unprofessional despite reviews of this author. I won’t be slogging through the next book.
November 3, 2020
The story hooked me from page one; I can’t wait for the next book in this series, to return to Dagger Island. I highly recommend this 5⭐️ story.
January 15, 2021
Absolutely stunning. I couldn't put this down wondering what was going to happen on the next page. I cried, I was angry, I laughed, I held my breath more than a few times in suspense and then the ending came and I couldn't pick up another book for a few days. I just wanted to savor in the moment. So many emotions! This book reads as if it like a lyrical poem. I am so in love with her style of writing. Please don't hesitate to read this deliciously haunting gothic horror novel. I've already pre-ordered the 'finale'.
November 2, 2020
Review originally published here, at Reedsy Discovery: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/fro...
A woman is sent to a scary hotel for a rest cure after losing her child in this historical Gothic romance about oppression, grief, and time.
Halloween might be over, but there are plenty of horror writers making sure that we stay scared all year long, including Jennifer Anne Gordon--author of From Daylight to Madness (The Hotel #1). Gordon's novel is an old-style creepy Gothic romance, set on isolated Dagger Island off the coast of Maine in 1873.
We meet the book's main character, Isabelle, at a horrendously tragic moment in her life: she's just given birth to a son, but the boy only lives for three minutes. In classic "The Yellow Wallpaper" fashion, Isabelle's husband and mother-in-law lash out against her with cruel misogyny. They blame her for the child's death, insist that she's not grieving correctly (i.e. not crying enough), and drug her with laudanum to such an extent that Isabelle feels like she's disconnected from time. Eventually, they decided to send Isabelle to an island hotel for a rest cure, but she suspects they're secretly sending her off to an asylum.
The hotel is bizarre and oppressive. Isabelle hears baby cries and discovers multiple child-size fresh graves on the island. Her tea here is also drugged, and everyone keeps telling her that she's tired and needs to rest more. The only real light is a disgraced priest named Francis, who tries to help Isabelle. But as they develop a budding romance, it's clear that Francis also has secrets of his own.
From Daylight to Madness is a slow-burn mystery, filled with lyrical descriptive writing and atmospheric scene setting. Gordon excellently explores historical themes of feminism and women's oppression in the marriage and medical spheres, as well as offering pointed ruminations about the nature of time--how things like grief or addiction can fundamentally change how we perceive the world around us. There are some lingering copy editing issues in this manuscript regarding tenses, but the high quality of the writing makes up for it overall. And, luckily for readers invested in Isabelle and Francis' unfinished story, the cliffhanger ending of this book sets up a sequel.
A woman is sent to a scary hotel for a rest cure after losing her child in this historical Gothic romance about oppression, grief, and time.
Halloween might be over, but there are plenty of horror writers making sure that we stay scared all year long, including Jennifer Anne Gordon--author of From Daylight to Madness (The Hotel #1). Gordon's novel is an old-style creepy Gothic romance, set on isolated Dagger Island off the coast of Maine in 1873.
We meet the book's main character, Isabelle, at a horrendously tragic moment in her life: she's just given birth to a son, but the boy only lives for three minutes. In classic "The Yellow Wallpaper" fashion, Isabelle's husband and mother-in-law lash out against her with cruel misogyny. They blame her for the child's death, insist that she's not grieving correctly (i.e. not crying enough), and drug her with laudanum to such an extent that Isabelle feels like she's disconnected from time. Eventually, they decided to send Isabelle to an island hotel for a rest cure, but she suspects they're secretly sending her off to an asylum.
The hotel is bizarre and oppressive. Isabelle hears baby cries and discovers multiple child-size fresh graves on the island. Her tea here is also drugged, and everyone keeps telling her that she's tired and needs to rest more. The only real light is a disgraced priest named Francis, who tries to help Isabelle. But as they develop a budding romance, it's clear that Francis also has secrets of his own.
From Daylight to Madness is a slow-burn mystery, filled with lyrical descriptive writing and atmospheric scene setting. Gordon excellently explores historical themes of feminism and women's oppression in the marriage and medical spheres, as well as offering pointed ruminations about the nature of time--how things like grief or addiction can fundamentally change how we perceive the world around us. There are some lingering copy editing issues in this manuscript regarding tenses, but the high quality of the writing makes up for it overall. And, luckily for readers invested in Isabelle and Francis' unfinished story, the cliffhanger ending of this book sets up a sequel.
December 6, 2020
This was such a unique book, filled with darkness and mystery. This story is a Victorian Gothic horror set in 1873, a time where mental illness and depression are not handled well and are not treated as proper behaviors. Here we meet Isabelle, a woman who gives birth to a child who only gets to live for a few minutes. After the baby dies, Isabelle goes through a lot since her husband and mother in law treat her like she’s the one who is responsible of the death of her own child. After a while she gets drugged and sent to a hotel and from there, the story gets a very sad and tragic direction.
This book is one of the most special stories I’ve ever read. It’s written in such a poetic way, making you feel what the main character feels, getting you sucked into the story and also consumes you entirely by the intensity of the plot. I don’t usually read historical books, actually almost never. But this one, this was just insanely good! The characters are so deep and well written, making you feel like you are living in that era.
Again, this book just left me speechless and I don’t think there’s enough words to express my feelings about it. It’s that kind of book that you should read and see for yourself. Absolutely thrilling and addictive! Highly recommend it to historical fiction lovers but also to those who want to get more into that genre, I feel like this is the perfect book to start with. It was one of the firsts I’ve read from this genre and now I know that for sure this won’t be the last!
Note: The author sent me a physical copy of this book in exchange for an honest review so my opinion is 100% real and not affected by that!
This book is one of the most special stories I’ve ever read. It’s written in such a poetic way, making you feel what the main character feels, getting you sucked into the story and also consumes you entirely by the intensity of the plot. I don’t usually read historical books, actually almost never. But this one, this was just insanely good! The characters are so deep and well written, making you feel like you are living in that era.
Again, this book just left me speechless and I don’t think there’s enough words to express my feelings about it. It’s that kind of book that you should read and see for yourself. Absolutely thrilling and addictive! Highly recommend it to historical fiction lovers but also to those who want to get more into that genre, I feel like this is the perfect book to start with. It was one of the firsts I’ve read from this genre and now I know that for sure this won’t be the last!
Note: The author sent me a physical copy of this book in exchange for an honest review so my opinion is 100% real and not affected by that!
September 7, 2020
Jennifer Anne Gordon created a thrilling horror book full of mystery, action and romance. I really liked it! You keep connecting with all the characters which is not easy. It is very hard for an author to create empathy between the reader and the characters, but you can expect it in ‘From Daylight To Madness’. Also, have you seen this awesome cover? It is just beautiful.
I recommend ‘From Daylight To Madness’ as it is a great victorian horror book and to me these are the most terrifying kind of books. It is a psychological war and be ready for some great jump scares. Jennifer made a wonderful job describing the many characters personalities and expressions. Also, her writing style is beautiful and I felt quite fascinated during most of the book.
I have to admit that most of the times I was as intrigued and confused as Isabelle, I guess I have started also to mirror her emotions. Jennifer used a great opportunity to write about very important themes as depression and mental illness and we know that in the XIX century people suffered a lot by being judged as crazy and treated inhumanly.
To me this book is a must for October and Halloween which is coming. You can expect a roller coaster of emotions. Believe me when I tell you that it is addictive. You can expect so many great moments that I had to take a break from reading.
I recommend ‘From Daylight To Madness’ as it is a great victorian horror book and to me these are the most terrifying kind of books. It is a psychological war and be ready for some great jump scares. Jennifer made a wonderful job describing the many characters personalities and expressions. Also, her writing style is beautiful and I felt quite fascinated during most of the book.
I have to admit that most of the times I was as intrigued and confused as Isabelle, I guess I have started also to mirror her emotions. Jennifer used a great opportunity to write about very important themes as depression and mental illness and we know that in the XIX century people suffered a lot by being judged as crazy and treated inhumanly.
To me this book is a must for October and Halloween which is coming. You can expect a roller coaster of emotions. Believe me when I tell you that it is addictive. You can expect so many great moments that I had to take a break from reading.
December 28, 2020
A Great Gothic Horror Story about Grief
This slow-burn gothic horror story is about Isabelle, a woman who loses her child just minutes after giving birth. The weight and sheer magnitude of this trauma is unfelt by those around her, and she is sent off to an island hotel to recover from her grief.
Gordon does a great job bringing you into the simultaneous pain and numbness the main character feels. To have gone through something so traumatic and damaging and be wholly dismissed is a horrible thing, and I felt that quite vividly through these pages.
I really enjoyed this book. Gordon very quickly sets the mood and tone of despair, with a brief respite to rally your hopes that Isabelle may finally get the break she so badly deserves. The ending is crushing, but anticipated by clever foreshadowing.
This slow-burn gothic horror story is about Isabelle, a woman who loses her child just minutes after giving birth. The weight and sheer magnitude of this trauma is unfelt by those around her, and she is sent off to an island hotel to recover from her grief.
Gordon does a great job bringing you into the simultaneous pain and numbness the main character feels. To have gone through something so traumatic and damaging and be wholly dismissed is a horrible thing, and I felt that quite vividly through these pages.
I really enjoyed this book. Gordon very quickly sets the mood and tone of despair, with a brief respite to rally your hopes that Isabelle may finally get the break she so badly deserves. The ending is crushing, but anticipated by clever foreshadowing.
September 9, 2020
Melodramatic Plot:
'From Daylight To Madness' is a fascinating story of Isabelle in the Victorian era.
She has gone through horrendous loss of her newborn baby, followed by her husband's indifference to her suffering. During her stay at the remote island, where she is sent for supposed recuperation, we are introduced to many intriguing personas which the author captures with psychoanalytic insight. Isabelle's emotional bond to Francis, the young priest, hints at an awakening of romantic emotions, or is it actually more devastating disappointments...
I am so excited to read the sequel, as this book ends with more questions than answers, and I won't let any of the characters leave my mind until then.
'From Daylight To Madness' is a fascinating story of Isabelle in the Victorian era.
She has gone through horrendous loss of her newborn baby, followed by her husband's indifference to her suffering. During her stay at the remote island, where she is sent for supposed recuperation, we are introduced to many intriguing personas which the author captures with psychoanalytic insight. Isabelle's emotional bond to Francis, the young priest, hints at an awakening of romantic emotions, or is it actually more devastating disappointments...
I am so excited to read the sequel, as this book ends with more questions than answers, and I won't let any of the characters leave my mind until then.
Read
September 20, 2020As I expected this book didn't disappoint. This book had me hooked from the first page. I don't know how Jennifer Gordon comes up with her story lines, but they are amazing. They twist and turn, there is suspence and anticipation and just plain madness. I was never a fan of Gothic Horror until I read Jennifer's first book. Now I am, and I look forward to her next book. I need more of this story. Good job Jennifer 👏 👍 👌
October 28, 2020
From Daylight To Madness by the author Jennifer Anne Gordon is a haunting Gothic Fiction. It is the first book in the Hotel series. The protagonist of the story is Isabella. She gave birth to a son and named him Oscar. Her baby boy cried for three minutes and then went into silence forever.
Isabella's husband Henry and his mother decided to send Isabella away to an Island for a summer so she can heal. As Isabella reached the Hotel at the Dagger Island, she got to know that she was to be kept there for four months. She was tired more than she thought she was. Grab a copy of this book and read it yourself to know what gonna happen further when she encounters a damaged priest Francis.
The storyline is quite interesting. Language of the book is simple and easy to understand. I binge read this story and I enjoyed every bit of it. Couldn't put it down. Cover is nice and title is apt. Looking forward to read the sequel of it.
I like to recommend it to those who love reading dark romance.
Isabella's husband Henry and his mother decided to send Isabella away to an Island for a summer so she can heal. As Isabella reached the Hotel at the Dagger Island, she got to know that she was to be kept there for four months. She was tired more than she thought she was. Grab a copy of this book and read it yourself to know what gonna happen further when she encounters a damaged priest Francis.
The storyline is quite interesting. Language of the book is simple and easy to understand. I binge read this story and I enjoyed every bit of it. Couldn't put it down. Cover is nice and title is apt. Looking forward to read the sequel of it.
I like to recommend it to those who love reading dark romance.
September 9, 2020
This book made me cry a lot but in a good way....5 stars!
September 9, 2020
Cant wait for #2!! <3
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