Headlines:
A dystopian feeling world
Gothic and historical vibes
Power or weakness

What if Agatha Christie clashed with a dystopian world obsessed with grief and it's relief? The Grief Nurse contained an eclectic bunch of upstairs downstairs people 'trapped' on an island having a power struggle. Who needed who? Did the grief nurses need their guardians or did the guardians need their grief nurses more? Was grief an outpouring of weakness or did it render power? These were the questions running through my head from the front to the back of this book.

The start to this story was a little jarring to me, I struggled to find my footing in the world, how it worked, who was who and why things were the way they were. As I kept reading things did fall into place but I would have benefitted from a more linear introduction I think. Lynx was the MC, a grief nurse, a servant owned by the rich Aster family. She was surrounding by a collection of characters, most of whom were unlikeable with the exception of Orion (in my opinion).

Bodies began to pile up and things got really interesting as a power struggle in the family but also in the context of grief nurses and ownership ensued. Lynx was pretty isolated as a character and I felt for her in this. Despite some promising allies, Lynx wasn't really able to trust anyone. We got some twisty late reveals that I didn't expect and the plot kept the pages turning.

Overall, this was a really unusual concept that I was mostly on board with. I liked the gothic feels, the remote island that gave a locked-in mystery vibe and the suspense.

Thank you to Sandstone Press for the review copy.

"Grief was love, and whoever said love didn’t hurt? That it was always joy and happiness?"

Lynx is a grief nurse, someone who is taken from their parents at an early age, trained, and given to rich ‘Guardians’, whom they serve. They can magically take away any sadness or sorrow, kind of ‘feeding’ on it, taking it into themselves. Sometimes they can even see flashes of the memories of whoever they’re helping.

Lynx has an odd relationship with her Guardians, the Asters. When the story begins, Mr Aster is begging her to take away the pain of losing one of his sons, who has died by suicide. Lynx helps the whole family except the oldest son, Eridanus, who chooses to hold onto his sorrow, because he doesn’t want to forget anything about his brother, a choice which means his family has shunned him. Then there is the daughter, Andromeda, with whom Lynx is impossibly in love.

The whole family gathers at the Aster house for a ‘death party’, held to celebrate someone who has passed away. But, the party will come at a deadly cost with events that seek to destroy the Asters, and Lynx, including an encounter with another grief nurse.

This story felt a little convoluted at times and while I didn’t struggle to keep up, I felt it could do with more structure. Chapters that flash between past and present aren’t labelled so the reader sometimes reads multiple paragraphs before realising a part of the text takes place in a different timeline.

I also struggled to connect with Lynx as a character. I wish I knew better why. I found her a bit lukewarm and although I had sympathy for her, I battled to empathise. She does draw some interesting and noteworthy conclusions about grief, which I enjoyed.

This is a Sapphic fantasy about love, choice, heartache and triumph. I loved the concept but not so much the execution.

Such an interesting concept! A world where the rich use a Grief Nurse to take away their sorrow, dread and heartbreak. If someone could take yours would you allow them too?

The writing is really good and the story certainly gave me a lot to think about - does grief have a value? Perhaps grief is something we feel we ‘owe’ the departed?

I did find that some parts could have done with more explanation particularly as it has that fantasy vibe. Faders for example were never really fully explained. You are plunged right into the action at the start without any background so I found I had to go back and reread once I had a little more information on the role of the grief nurse, the family and the setting.

Nonetheless this was an enjoyable and interesting read.

Thanks to Sandstone and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy

This haunting historical fantasy-slash-mystery novel is set in an alternate reality, where the pangs and pain of undesirable emotions can be removed – but only for those well-off enough to afford the services of a Grief Nurse. These skilled individuals are ‘kept’, safe but isolated, at the heart of wealthy families such as the Asters, and shared between individuals: when the Asters’ eldest son passes away, their Nurse Lynx is on hand to soothe away the sorrow and anguish felt by the immediate family. As guests arrive for the wake at the secluded island of Mount Sorcha, the Asters’ family seat, it isn’t long before more deaths occur and it starts to look as though something – or someone – is out to wreak havoc within this privileged family unit. The clever concept at the heart of the novel – that grief can be physically removed from an individual – is deftly explored, with frequent meditations on the nature of suffering and loss, and whether it is better to fully experience one’s emotions or have them whisked away. Angie Spoto writes beautifully, with tiny vignettes showing connection between characters that linger in the mind long after the book’s dramatic conclusion, and astonishing descriptions of the otherworldly state that Lynx and her fellow Grief Nurses enter when removing emotion from their ‘owners’. An unexpected and affecting book, with a deeply thoughtful core premise.

This was such a good book. I love historical fiction, especially when it is about eras/ situations that I previously knew nothing about and this was definitely one of those books. It was so well researched and so compelling in its narrative that not only did I love reading it but I felt that I learned too. A really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

(Thank you to Netgalley and Sandstone Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

The idea and concept of this book are what made me want to read it. The idea of grief nurses and this book's magic/fantasy elements was so unique and original but ended up falling flat in a few areas.

Starting with the characters, there were some really interesting side characters throughout the book which I wish we got to know more about. They all seemed to be lacking a bit of depth which may be due to how short the book is. They were written well but their motivations were a bit off at times as they would do something which seemed really out of character for them or their motivations just weren’t explained.

The magic/fantasy element was really interesting but wasn’t explained too well so I was a little confused as to how the whole ‘grief taking’ worked or how grief nurses originated in the first place. There was also another kind of magical people in this book called faders who again were really interesting to read about but even by the end I still didn’t really know what they did. This was slightly annoying as faders come up a lot in the plot.

As for the writing, it was really good, flowed well and was easy to read whilst also being slightly whimsical. However, there were a few flashbacks thrown into the storey that was a bit random and took me by surprise each time. It was hard to tell when a flashback started or ended which confused me slightly as I couldn’t quite keep track of the main plot. I will say though that the author did create a perfect gothic/mysterious atmosphere in this book which I loved.

I think this book had so much potential but was lacking in the execution of certain aspects.

An atmospheric and enthralling story set in a place that could be in a dream. There's elements of magic realism, fantasy, mystery, and family saga.
Well plotted, it kept me hooked and I liked the story telling and the characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Wealthy, influential and living on their private island, naturally the Aster family have their own Grief Nurse. Not quite family and not quite a member of staff, to possess a Grief Nurse is a considerable status symbol. And so, following a death in the family, their Grief Nurse, Lynx, is brought front and centre as the great and the good are invited to the wake. Personalities flare, secrets are whispered, and a late arrival causes a stir before a body is found and the weather cuts them off from the mainland.

The first thing to mention is that the novel was not quite what I expected. Given the title and the blurb, I was of course expecting a fantastical element but I think I was expecting more realism and found it hard to fully immerse myself in their world.

I think this is also partly because I also found it hard to keep track of all the phrases used to describe the characters’ moods; the rules and societal conventions regarding Grief Nurses, Faders, and being Bright; and also some of the characters themselves.

There’s no clear indication of when the novel is set but my mind’s eye was drawn to the 1920s from the descriptions of motorcars and cravats. The description of the house is also very reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement. That being said, there is a married gay couple, so it’s unlikely to be ‘our’ 1920s!

Whilst certainly dramatic in its execution, I found the culmination to the novel a little confusing. Given I had been finding some elements of the novel hard to follow, increasing the pace just left me bewildered and overwhelmed and I just ended up reading faster to find out the conclusion.

One aspect of the novel that I loved, though, was the names of the characters, for example all of the Aster family have constellations for names. I also thought the setting of the novel was stunning – the handsome house, the raw wildness of the island’s landscape, and the overarching claustrophobia of both. And, of course, the premise of the novel – the option to be relieved of one’s less desirable emotions – was really interesting, as well as the societal and political implications of having or indeed being a Grief Nurse.

An accomplished debut that I am sure will have many fans; I look forward to seeing what the author does next.

Thank you to the publishers, Sandstone Press, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of ‘The Grief Nurse’ in return for this honest review.

Creepy and weird, this novel left me totally exhausted from the beginning. I simply couldn't make heads or tails of its bizarre plot and I really found all the characters very boring.

A reading experience that ended up giving me a lot of "grief"...

Many thanks to Sandstone and Netgalley for this ARC

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc!

set on an isolated island, inhabited by a wealthy family, this book centres its story around lynx, a grief nurse, whose job it is to take away her guardians' grief. when a son of theirs dies under mysterious circumstances, there is plenty of work for her to do - especially at the funeral. this story revolves around themes of hierarchy and the true meaning of grief - and its place amongst the human psyche.

i'm still questioning what rating i should give this - whether it's a 2.5 or 3 stars simply because i feel like there were some aspects of this book that i really enjoyed - the premise of grief nurses and the world-building was very interesting and unique. the characters in this book were also very distinct and enjoyable to read, however, i feel as though there was a lot of missed opportunities to fully flesh them out (i was so upset that we never got to meet syril). where this book fell a little flat for me was the plot. it wasn't bad by any means, i just think it could've benefitted from a longer time frame so that the character backgrounds and motivations could have been more prominent as well as having a more well-rounded ending that didn't leave so many loose ends. i also found the romance slightly lacking - i wish we got to see more of lynx and karina's relationship because they were actually so cute ngl. i did enjoy the writing style and the overall concepts about grief and death were really cool.

A gothic literary fantasy, Spoto creates a unique and compelling world in which the absence of grief, and the presence of a grief nurse to remove it from you, is a marker of profound wealth and influence. Concerned with secrets and desire, this book offers a vivid image of grief that is in turns unsettling and electric as the plot, and protagonist Lynx's acceptance of herself, slowly unfolds.

I don’t think I expected the story that unfolds in this book when I started reading it. Not a bad thing, just a comment, because I did enjoy the book.. So what did I find? This is a story of the rich having a toy to parade and play with; a Grief nurse to remove sorrow and to always look your best. But the stigma of baring a Grief nurse child, and the consequences to the mother are not a game at all. And from that dark revenge will come a visiting! Thank you to Sandstone Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

In a Nutshell: A compelling premise but needed somewhat better implementation. The ending was nice, but the proceedings were slow. Might work better for literary fiction lovers because of its pace and style. (Of course, you must enjoy fantasy also.)

Story Synopsis:
Lynx works for the wealthy Aster family as a grief nurse. Her role is to take away their negative emotions and keep them ‘Bright’.
When the eldest Aster son dies, guests come to the Aster’s private island for the wake. It is Lynx’s job to ensure that the guests and the hosts are kept in best spirits during the visit. But soon, there’s another death, and then another. Is anyone out to get the family? How can Lynx perform her job without endangering her own life?
The story is written in a limited third person perspective.


Where the book worked for me:
✔ Lynx’s role as the grief nurse is well written. It offers a lot of introspective points. The idea of ‘how much is too much’ comes up time and again through her work of eliminating grief.
✔ The modus operandi of ‘grief removal’ creates some amazing atmospheric moments. I loved how the author wove the picture of grief and the interconnected memories vividly. Also memorable was the idea of grief tokens.
✔ Grief is one of the unsung characters of the book. The author makes grief sound almost personified. I adored every aspect of grief explored in this work, right from how it behaves to how it affects. It even takes things to a somewhat bizarre level by including some masochistic ideas connected to grief.
✔ For a book that gets quite dark (not surprisingly as grief is the central motif), the ending is surprisingly hopeful. I liked how the author chose to wind things up without making the finale too neat.
✔ Great Queer rep.


Where the book could have worked better for me:
❌ Though the characters are adults, their portrayal, especially that of Lynx, is quite YA in style. There are a lot of inner monologues and from Lynx’s point of view, plenty of talk of physical attraction. This kind of writing never works for me.
❌ Despite the novelty of the story, the characters, especially the moneyed ones with their highhanded behaviour towards the grief nurses and servants, are somewhat clichéd.
❌ The character motivations are a bit weird at times. While I am okay with characters not being likeable, their behaviour should progress naturally from the plot and shouldn’t seem ad hoc. I couldn’t connect with many of the characters because of their capricious behaviour.
❌ Aside from the grief nurse, there is one more kind of person mentioned in the book: a Fader. I read the whole book and I still don’t exactly know what a Fader is. But there are plenty of them in the story and the plot partly depends on them too. So something was definitely missing here.
❌ There are many flashbacks in the writing that are somewhat random and unindicated. These break the smooth flow of the current timeline.
❌ The book has shades of various genres: low fantasy, suspense-mystery, literary fiction, crime, family drama, historical fiction, and gothic fiction. All of these don’t work well in sync because of the writing style.
❌ The book is a character-oriented slowburner. It will need to be read in the right mood, else the languid pace interferes with the enjoyment.


All in all, this story had great potential. But the mishmash of genres worked somewhat against the writing as there is no cohesion across the styles. This debut writer certainly has an astounding imagination. I am sure that with more years of experience, she will be able to overcome the minor hiccups and produce an entertainer.

Recommended to those who are looking for a combination of light fantasy cum mystery written in a slow and simplistic style. If you do go for this, please try actual reading as the audio might be too confusing with the recurring unmarked flashbacks.

3 stars.

My thanks to Sandstone Press and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Grief Nurse”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I enjoy a book that gets right in there from the very start, like 'The Grief Nurse'.

Angie Spoto's style makes for a smooth read: her prose is punctuated with shortfire clippy phrases of a few words or more, here and there, to keep her reader's interest, and there's a terseness to the writing that's surprisingly appealing.

Spoto's debut is full of tender little moments, quiet in their craftswomanship. For instance:

'Karina wrapped her fingers around the teacup and blew gently across its surface. White wisps of steam danced in Lynx's direction before fading into nothing.'

We get just enough description when we need to know where we are or what characters are sensing, but for the most part, the novel is gentle with its reader; Spoto's style is full of astute and considered delicacy that speaks of true dedication to style and wordsmithery.

I'm only withholding the final star of five, because - what's probably a point in its favour, really - the book should have been longer! There was certainly room for Spoto to delve deeper into what is an exceptionally original and well crafted conceit. The world she's built is believable and compelling, and I only felt that there were points where more could have been expounded. Is it a bad thing to want more of a book?

This is a title I would certainly re-read. If it reminded me of anything, a comparison might be made with 'The Sin Eater' by Megan Campisi. 'The Grief Nurse' is wonderfully enjoyable; a novel truly to get lost in. I can say I'll wait with eager anticipation for what Angie Spoto publishes next!

My deep thanks to Sandstone Press for an eARC. Citations taken from a galley proof and therefore subject to change.

Spoto has created a really unique premise with grief nurses, but whilst interesting I found the visualisation difficult and wish that more context had been provided. This story is so localised and I think an opportunity was missed to explore the wider world. I also sadly failed to really connect with the characters. There was alot of potential, but it just didn't do it for me.

An emotional read. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review. The cover is gorgeous too.

The beautiful cover drew me to this book, the premise was so good but I really struggled with the characters and felt it just didn’t flow as well as I’d have hoped.

The descriptions of grief were detailed and at some points very beautiful.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The concept of a grief nurse intrigued me but unfortunately "The Grief Nurse" by Angie Spoto didn't really give me enough of a back story to understand or enjoy the book enough. We were expected to be content with just accepting that grief nurses existed but I felt as if the concept, along with the Faders could have been explored more. It also gave off a Greek Myth vibe which I didn't particularly enjoy. Not for me.

This was such a beautifully told story.

The different descriptions of grief made the story even more wonderful to read.

I could picture Lynx’s inner world and wanted to see it for myself.

The tragic forbidden love story between Lynx and Andromeda hit me right in the feels.

Highly recommend this book and would definitely read more of the authors work.

A modern gothic murder mystery that unfolded like a fantasy version of Succession with the Aster siblings fighting over who will inherit a grief nurse and save the family fortunes. What’s not to love! Spoto’s world building of a space where people who can absorb others’ grief are forced into working for wealthy families is just handled so effortlessly for such a complex concept. I also enjoyed the atmospheric setting of a group trapped on a fancy island retreat by bad weather - very timely for the festive season. My only quibble is that the ending gets a bit rushed and action heavy, leaving me a little bit unsure of what actually happened.