Dangerous mine shafts, an abandoned ski resort, families feuding for generations, and ghosts galore—the town of Glazier’s Gap has enough fodder for a whole string of Gothic novels. And that’s the idea. Ghosts of the Forbidden by Leanna Renee Hieber is the first book in the new Glazier’s Gap series published by Castle Bridge Media, which will include loosely connected novels that all feature a supernatural romance set in this unusual town. As the queen of haunting heartwarmers, Leanna Renee Hieber is the perfect author to start this series off, though this is her first foray into contemporary romance. But not to fear—while the story may take place in the twenty-first century, the lovers in Ghosts of the Forbidden are as stuck in the nineteenth-century as Leanna’s devoted readers are. Ghosts of the Forbidden comes out October 11.
Lillian Anders receives an offer she can’t refuse right at the moment when it seems like her life is crumbling apart: the owner of Persephone Publications is trying to relaunch their gothic romance line and looking for authors to come stay at the historic Glazier mansion for a writing retreat. With nothing to lose, Lillian sets out for the small Colorado town of Glazier’s Gap. From the moment she arrives, it is clear the mansion is haunted. A handsome ghost dogs Lillian’s footsteps, begging her to “remember” and giving ominous warnings about a curse. The carriage house in which she’s staying seems to occasionally revert to its nineteenth-century appearance. And the plot of the 1970s gothic Lillian has been assigned to read feels uncannily familiar. Things heat up when Lillian meets Nathaniel, a curious journalist who seems to be a living incarnation of the gorgeous ghost she met in the mansion. The town has clearly drawn Lillian to it for a reason. But is she here to live out the fulfillment of a passionate love story that was tragically cut short centuries before? Or will she become just another victim of the Glazier Gap curse?
The romance in this story is as delightful as it is unique. Lillian and Nathaniel fall hard for each other at first sight—due in large part to tantalizing memories of their past lives together that begin bubbling uncontrollably to the surface. But though at times they seem to be almost taken over by the spirits of star-crossed lovers Camille and William, our two protagonists strive earnestly to walk the line between honoring their past selves and asserting their own individuality.
As lovable as they are as a couple, I have an extra soft spot in my heart for Lillian. It’s not often that you get to see self-proclaimed goths starring in a Gothic romance. There are fun Easter eggs for readers familiar with the goth subculture, from mentions of Lillian’s favor bands to subtle references to prominent figures in the scene like Jillian Venters, author of Gothic Charm School. The story is peppered with lush descriptions of Lillian’s wardrobe choices, which tend to involve flowing black fabrics and silhouettes out of time with the twenty-first century. But more than just great taste in music and a killer fashion sense, Lillian’s gothic sensibilities and predilection for darker literature give her some self-awareness of the genre she’s inhabiting. Lillian is swift to accept the paranormal, and also not to be frightened of the spirits that don’t seem to mean her harm. And even when curses and malicious spirits threaten her safety, she still ultimately feels at home in this Gothic setting.
The novel also plays with a myriad of Gothic tropes. There are several iterations of doppelgängers in this reincarnated-lovers tale, along with the requisite scenes with old portraits and photos that bear an eerie resemblance to living characters. There’s also a local legend of a witch casting a vengeful curse over the town and a brief mention of a Faustian bargain.
If you love all things both goth and Gothic and want to see the mid-century-style Gothic romances brought into the modern day, you absolutely do not want to miss this first book in the Glazier’s Gap series. You can find Ghosts of the Forbidden on shelves at your favorite local retailer starting next Tuesday. Or pre-order it now and support The Gothic Library in the process using this Bookshop.org affiliate link. Once you’ve read it, be sure to let me know what you think in the comments!