The House of Sorrowing Stars by Beth Cartwright

Synopsis
How do you heal a broken house?
First you unlock its secrets.

Alone on an island, surrounded by flowers that shine as dusk begins to fall, sits an old, faded house. Rooms cannot be rented here and visits are only for those haunted by the memory of loss.

When Liddy receives an invitation, she thinks there must be some mistake – she’s never experienced loss. But with her curiosity stirred, and no other way to escape a life in which she feels trapped, she decides to accept.

Once there, she meets Vivienne, a beautiful, austere woman whose glare leaves Liddy unsettled; Ben, the reserved gardener; and Raphael, the enigmatic Keymaker. If Liddy is to discover her true purpose in the house, she must find the root of their sorrow – but the house won’t give up its secrets so easily . . .

Review
Last year I read and reviewed Beth Cartwright’s debut novel Feathertide, which was a stunning read and one I still recommend. The House of Sorrowing Stars is her new novel, and like Feathertide has a historical context, no excact date given, which adds to the timeless feel of this book. Most of the book is narrated from the point of view of the main character Liddy, primed to take over her father’s Marchpane business and also expected to marry a man she doesn’t love or even like. On receiving her invitation to go to the House of Sorrows, Liddy sees this is her chance to escape this prospective marriage and start again. With the secretive Vivienne who runs the house, to her brother the Keymaker, Liddy embarks on a journey she will never forget; can she save the House of Sorrows and it’s inhabitants.

The first thing I want to say about The House of Sorrowing Stars is that Beth Cartwright’s writing style is sublime. There is a poetic quality to the prose that matches the atmopshere of the book itself and the characters she has created. This really does read like a fairytale, with it’s timeless feel, magical surroundings and a house that holds many secrets. The House itself is on an Island in a lake, I loved the idea that the seasons all co-existed, the lack of change adding to the timeless quality and the sense of other that comes through. There are enchanted trees, plants that can help stop suffering, and the sorrowing stars of the title, flowers that grow on the lake and give up light as well as help those who are lost and suffering. I loved the idea of a house where people are invited to face a loss or sadness in their lives and have a chance to confront it, to say goodbye to those loved ones. My favouite room had to be the library, filled with stories of those who have lost someone, under the guardianship of one my favourite characters the illusive Eloura, a book weaver.

Beth Cartwright has created some memorable and beautiful characters. Liddy finds herself on a journey of discovery, both of who she is and what she wants, but also in the discovery of the house and its inhabitants. I found that as the house slowly gave up it’s secrets I was as excited as Liddy to uncover each one. I loved the mystery around Vivienne, she owns the house of sorrowing stars, she seems aloof, cringing back from human contact and not wanting to give anything of her self away; she is the reason Liddy is there. Even more illusive is Raphael, the Keymaker, who secretes himself away making keys, for unknown doors. His abrasive behaviour may make him seem frightening, but the slow drip feed of his story drew me into his story. These stories layer together beauifully, having a haunting effect on the story, and keeping an air of suspense and an otherness.

I absolutely loved reading The House of Sorrowing Stars. There is the seamless mix of historical fiction and fantasy/magic realism, fascinating characters and a storyline that everyone will be able to relate to at some level. Beth Cartwright creates a magical fairtytale world, where there is plenty of beauty of the plants and landscape but there is also the darker side of grief and sadness mixed in. This is a beautiful and haunting read that weaved it’s magic over me taking me to this magical place, where I could loose myself. A stunning read.