Thought this was a really interesting concept and I was intrigued by the time period, but I found it hard to the characters.

Mary is confined to an asylum in 1906 but has no memory of why. When a new doctor arrives and takes over her treatment from his barbaric predecessor, it seems like she's starting to make progress - she remembers her name is actually Maud for a start. But this is short-lived as somebody - many somebodies, in fact - has a vested interest in keeping Maud quiet. Quiet and mad.

I enjoyed the use of flashbacks and the insight into Victorian asylum life, practices and prejudices. Evil threads through this eerie, gothic novel, tinged with madness. And at the end, we're still not sure of Maud's state of mind, or what's real and what's imagined...

As someone who is passionate about mental health I was super excited to read this. The novel started off really promising and I was super intrigued by what I was reading, however the middle and ending just fell flat, especially for a thriller.

A fantastic read
I was gripped from beginning to the end. The writing is beautiful and brings every to life
Plenty of twists and turns

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This novel is really dark, and tense with gothic undertones. It kept me interested all the way through.

I loved the depth of the characters, you really feel like you're in the Asylum with them at times. The description are impeccable so you can feel the atmosphere so clearly its within reach.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This book is beautifully written.
It is atmosphere and the writing is just sublime.
The characters are intriguing and I love how complex they are.
The book was very hard to put down and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Asylum


This is a really beautifully written book. It is very harrowing and poignant. The storyline is very well paced and the reveals are done just right.

The horrific treatment of mentally ill patients in the early 1900s is highlighted well and the information is very well stitched into the narrative.

All characters are exceptionally well drawn and I was often very moved by Maud and the horrors that had happened to her.

I really disliked the last few chapters. It went from a tautly and beautifully written mystery to a soap opera and I was very disappointed by how it ended. I was very much enjoying it up until this point.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oozing with fabulously researched historic detail and a storyline that instantly captured the imagination. A hugely satisfying read from start to its suitably shocking end.

An excellent book that had me hooked from start to finish, Extremely well written to the point I found myself at times sharing the panic and fear that maud herself was feeling. There were many points where I had literal goosebumps.
A classic gothic novel at its best. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was left feeling somewhat deflated after finishing this one, I really wanted to enjoy it more than I did, but just found myself feeling confused by what I'd read & what was happening during the time period Maud was having her hypnotherapy. Whereas the beginning & the ending of the book I enjoyed.

Don't get me wrong, it was extremely well written & the premise of the story good, but something just didn't cut it with me.

'𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨, 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙮'

Angelton lunatic asylum, home to Maud Lovell for the past five years. Having no idea why she was incarcerated there, apart from what she's been told, that she's violent & unstable. When a new Doctor arrives, uncovering the fact that she's is being silenced for a reason, Maud seeks to remember the truth!

Many thanks to Netgalley for my ARC in return for my honest review.

𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 3 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

Now I'll admit that this isnt the usual book that I would go for but for some reason the premise seriously grabbed my attention and drew me in AND I'm so so glad it did!

Now first off I have to say the cover doesn't do it for me, if I had seen it on a shelf it's not one I'd have picked up so I'm pleased that I got sent the ARC or I'd have been gutted to have missed out on this one.

Set in a 1906 Asylum, the main character Maud Lovell has been a resident (prisoner) for the past 5 years and no longer knows what to believe after being told she is supposedly hysterical, violent and shows distressing behaviour.. until a new doctor arrives on the scheme.

This is a really dark, tense, atmospheric novel with gothic undertones that genuinely intrigued me the whole way through.

I loved the depth of the characters, you really feel like yo7ure in the Asylum with them at times as Karen Coles describes the whole place and atmosphere so clearly its within touching distance.

A real compelling and thought provoking read, highly recommended.

Solid 4*

Many thanks to netgalley and Welbeck Publishing UK for the ARC

A truly compelling novel, with a gothic yet gritty atmosphere.

I found myself caught up in Maud's story, desperate to uncover her past and empathising with her battle against the powerful doctors who are control her world.

This is a beautifully written book, with some wonderful descriptions, but overall it's the feelings it created in me which will remain long in my mind. I felt the panic, the confusion, the struggle. And the rage and bitterness when Maud's story is recalled.

Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this I thought that the plot was really unique. The combination of showing gaslighting and the historical fiction aspect were interesting. The Asylum follows a young women as she pieces together her memories to discover how she came to be 'mad’ it was fantastic, a chilling setting and an addictive read, I will definitely be reading more from Karen Coles

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

A mixed book. Slow and uninteresting at first then you get completely sucked in, read it at break neck speed only to be utterly let down by a rubbish ending.

A delicious, haunting gothic novel that ticked all the boxes. The Asylum follows a young women as she pieces together her memories to discover how she came to be 'mad'. A fantastic plot that laid just the right amount of breadcrumbs to keep you wanting more, right up to the last page. With 'The Woman in Black' vibes, a chilling setting and an addictive writting style I would highly recommend, and will certainly be picking up Coles' next novel.

27-year-old Maud has been locked up in the asylum for 5 years suffering from traumatic amnesia. A marsh and someone chasing her through it is the only thing she can remember. When a new doctor takes on her case, he’s determined to unlock her past and the secrets she cannot remember. 

  The plot was unique. The combination of showing gaslighting and the historical fiction aspect were interesting. However, it lost some of the momentum for me and the initial excitement turned to not being interested in the story for most of the novel. 

I really wanted to like this one but unfortunately this wasn’t for me! Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for a chance to read and review this book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

First off: What a beautiful cover. I saw it and instantly knew I wanted to add it to my TBR pile. Then I read the description and that just sealed it for me!

This is a dark, creepy book with lots of atmosphere and mystery. It has a very gothic vibe. I found the writing style worked very well – it reflected Maud’s confusion and jumbled memories without becoming too nonsensical to the reader. We learn about Maud’s past along with her. I liked Maud more and more as the story went on, and I’m pretty sure it’s impossible not to like Dimmond (or “Diamond”, as Maud calls him – she gives the asylum staff nicknames).

This book does deal with some potentially upsetting themes (readers may want to look up content warnings, though I’m not listing them here because of spoilers). Maud has suffered trauma, and the treatment in the asylum is inhumane and barbaric. I thought the serious subjects touched upon in this book were handled well, and the reader could empathise with Maud and her pain. I couldn’t help but hope Maud’s story would have the happy ending she deserved. (You’ll have to read it yourself to find out if she does, of course…)

I loved this book, and I’m very much looking forward to reading more by Karen Coles in the future.

I finished THE ASYLUM a while ago and I’m still thinking about it! It’s exactly what I wanted - a gothic mystery with a strong protagonist and a well-crafted storyline. Maud’s narration is unreliable and eerie because her memories are jumbled so sometimes she sees things and people that aren’t there. I really liked Maud! She’s independent and spirited, and even when she feels low she never loses her spark. She loves botany and drawing, and there are some lovely scenes of her being around nature before her time in the asylum.

The book explores the horrific ways women were treated in asylums back then. It tackles sexism, classism, and mental illness through the eyes of Maud. It also looks at the way sexual assault leaves an impact on the victims. There are a few truly vile characters and devastating scenes that made me angry! This is an incredible portrait of a woman who lost her freedom and attempts to fight for her future. Not an easy read, but worth it.

What could be more Gothic than a Victorian lunatic asylum.  Mental health care at that time was in it's infancy, a thing of abuses and punishment in the guise of treatment and symptom control and this is where we find Maude.

A story within a story.  The first timeline is set in the asylum and the second italicized timeline is Maud's unearthed memories of her life before.  Under hypnosis she gradually remembers working as an assistant to an elderly scientist with crazy, overtly religious servants, a incongruous wife in a house out of the hammer-horror movies. 
At the start of the narrative Maude remembers very little, barely her name. She is helped to remember with the help of a young, kind, forward thinking doctor who is trained in hypnotism which he uses to unearth the memories of her past and the traumatic events which led to the repression of her memories and the subsequent amnesia.

This is a book where the characterizations are very black and white.  This makes for villains who are truly evil and heroes who are heroic.  This isn't a bad thing and the bad guys are ones you can truly love to hate.  The good guys are less two dimensional though.  Maude has her flaws, she is so naive in the earlier timeline that I just want to slap her but she does get wise, but at what cost. 

The ending was wonderfully satisfying and ticked all the boxes for me. 

To sum up, a Gothic little number with some truly malicious characters you can love to hate. A very engaging and accomplished debut.