The Lady of the Loch by Elena Collins - Book Review

The Lady of the Loch by Elena Collins

Publication Date: 23rd Feb 2023

Genre: Paranormal, Historical & Contemporary Fiction, Dual Timeline 

*Outliner Opinion* 

3 Stars 

One Liner: Okayish; strong historical track but the rest isn’t as atmospheric as expected 

Ravenscraig Castle, Scotland, 1307

Agnes Fitzgerald, a spirited kitchen maid, flees to the north of Inverness when the castle is attacked by the army of Prince Edward of England. She takes shelter at the Ravenscraig Castle as Scotland is fighting England to retain its rights on the land. Agnes finds love and hope in Cam Buchanan, but danger threatens to tear them apart forever. 

Present Day

Twins Zoe and Leah are dealing with their own issues. A chance opportunity brings them to Ravenscraig Castle in Scotland. The place is everything one could dream about- lush landscape, gorgeous architecture, and rugged landscape. However, they begin to feel the lingering sensation of pain. Locals talk about ghosts and hauntings, but the twins aren’t sure if they want to believe the stories. Yet, it seems that they need to do something to end centuries of grief and lay the troubled souls to rest. 

The story comes in alternating timelines and limited third-person POV of three characters (Agnes, Zoe, and Leah). 

What I Like: 

The setting of Scotland in the past and present is beautiful. Even when the past track is filled with political treachery, the setting has a teeny place of its own. 

The historical track is done really well. The hustle and bustle of the castle kitchen, the uncertainty of the situation, and the constant need to stay alert but also be hopeful are clearly portrayed. 

Agnes and Effe, though not fully etched, create a strong impression. They are contrasting characters, which come out clearly at every stage. Rhonda is my favorite character. She is loving yet practical. 

The ending of the historical track is indeed sad and heartbreaking. The confrontation doesn’t drag but is just enough to bring the story to an end, at least from Agnes’s POV. Her agony really comes through in that chapter. 

What Could Have Been Better for Me: 

I loved The Witch’s Tree by the author despite the slow pacing and repetition. The atmosphere and the constant presence of pain were beautifully portrayed. Unfortunately, this book falls short in this aspect. While the historical track has a good atmosphere, the present track is flat and pretty much on the surface. 

I see the reason to have twin sisters in the present track, but neither could make me care for them. Zoe was better in scenes where she feels a presence in the castle. Leah feels surreal almost throughout the book. Their individual romances were rushed, though I still like Zoe’s. 

Mirren Logan is another interesting character but underutilized. She could have played a vital role given her family history but ends up more as a prop almost throughout. A couple of things are left for the users to assume, which would have been sorted if Mirren’s arc was better. 

Also, the spookiness and the paranormal atmosphere just don’t hit the mark in this book. I kept waiting for it to click until the end and ended up disappointed. The climax tries hard but falls short of its potential. 

Too much happens in the present track, and some of it does nothing to the plot. Removing it would make the book smaller and more compact. It would also enhance the heaviness of the past and the need for the sisters to dig into history and do what’s needed. The book could easily have been shorter by 70 pages. 

To summarize, The Lady of the Loch delivers in some places but doesn't make a lasting impression as a complete package. I loved The Witch's Tree, but this doesn't give me the same satisfaction. 

Mine is an outliner opinion, so do read other reviews before you decide.  

Thank you, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheLadyOfTheLoch