This book was described as similar to The Secret History which is one of my favourite books so I was excited to read this to see if and how it compared.

It is essentially a tale of complex relationships, academic competition and death. It did have a gothic vibe and I can kind of see why it was compared to The Secret History. However, it took me a while to get into the story.
Some parts, particularly early on, dragged on and I skipped over a lot of the descriptive text that was just overly long. The book seemed to be really long (difficult to tell for sure as I was reading it on my kindle). Some of it was a bit of an effort but the story did keep me interested to read on. The relationship between the main character, Ann, and the influential Rachel, was quite intriguing and then there were a couple of twists.

Overall I did enjoy it enough but feel it could’ve cut out some of the descriptive text and it would have been a more satisfying read.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an advance copy in return for my honest opinion. I have also published this review on Goodreads.

I was drawn to this book by the description and the cover! Set in the world of academia, and centring around a mysterious tarot deck, this tale has secretive characters and a beautiful setting, (which I have only just discovered since finishing the book, is actually a real museum in New York). I found this very atmospheric, at times claustraphobic and ultimately a compelling read.

This really wasn't for me, it reminded me of the Secret History (which I also rated 3 stars) because of the pacing and general insufferable/pretentious air about the setting - I couldn't finish this. That said, this will DEFINITELY be a favourite of those who enjoyed The Secret History and The Atlas Six, just not for me.

3.0/5.0

I wanted to love this book so much - a gothic NYC museum full of mysterious occult objects and deliciously brooding academics, what's not to love? But this book dragged...

It felt that the plot was lacking and did not deliver as promised in the blurb.
For a subject which I find so interesting and beguiling I found the characters to be quite dull and superficial with no real exploration of their relationships.

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc of this book.

This story has an interesting theme involving art historians researching mysterious secrets relating to a set of tarot cards. The characters were interesting and had an air of mystery to them, the whole set up was satisfyingly sinister and the descriptive detail had been painstakingly thought through and portrayed. Despite this, or maybe because of it, the storyline seemed a bit sluggish at times, making it a bit of a painstaking read.

With thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

The Cloisters is a mystery novel that is written with such flair and finesse. The location is an open door into another world.

The Cloisters is a fantastical story set in magical location. There was so much that I loved about this story. Museums have always held that intrigue for me. It’s the only place that you truly feel as though you are walking through the hallways of time. Beautiful jewels to the right, ancient fossils to the left. It’s a place where your imagination can run wild and I definitely got that feeling whilst reading The Cloisters. The cover is absolutely stunning and upon reading the blurb I knew this was a story that deserved my full attention. History and tarot cards. So many questions flying through my head, what’s the connection and what kind of journey is it going to take us on?

So tell me, just who wouldn’t take the chance to work in a beautiful location trying to decipher the code that is a 15th century deck of tarot cards that may just hold clues to predicting the future?

Ann Stilwell escapes her hometown of Walla Walla to work as a curative associate in The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Somehow her position doesn’t materialise but ends up working within The Cloisters under curator, Patrick. It isn’t what she initially signed up for but she’s happy there’s something for her because she does not want to go back to her insignificant life back home. Her father passed away a year ago and her mother isn’t doing very well. It’s suffocating to Ann, and she just needs the distance. Her mother is clingy and overanxious about her being in New York. She can’t deal with it.

Whilst working at The Cloisters she is introduced to Rachel, an IT rich girl that seems to have it all, including a strange obsession with Ann. She immediately wants to be her friend, or does she? Her motivations always came across as odd, she reminded me of ivy that clings to the walls for way too long, once its there its almost impossible to break free. Ann also strikes up a relationship with the edgy gardener who really has a penchant of poisonous plants. He’s everything she isn’t and isn’t the type of boy that she’s used to. He’s dangerous and there’s always an air of mystery, and what’s with his strange relationship with Rachel? I had lots of questions by this point and my head was going in a certain direction, it turns out I was right.

Like I said, I enjoyed this book and is a format that I’ve enjoyed in the past, however, I just didn’t feel like there was any element of surprise. I had worked out what was going on from about 50% through. There was no intake of breath, no shock factor that made me absolutely love it. I ended up just feeling that it was a good story but lacking in the things that make a good story an amazing one. I loved the atmosphere, the morally grey characters and interesting tropes but the lack of mystery as it were was disappointing.

I wanted this to be more witchy but it had definite dark academia vibes and I think fans of the genre (like myself!) will enjoy this one.

I have to begin by saying that it is crystal clear that the author has written a book in her field of expertise. The level of detail about the history of art, tarot and divination is thorough and I commend the amount of detail. Unfortunately for me I did find this one a bit of a slog, it was very heavy on the information and I did not find any of the characters particularly likeable. As the story progressed I found myself caring less and less about what was happening so those twists did not have the desired effect. It's a shame because I did have high hopes for this one but in this case the book wasn't for me.

Whilst I enjoyed much about this book, I’m not sure what it was but something just didn’t quite hit the spot for me, I liked the writing and the premise of the story, I think perhaps I just didn’t like the characters quite enough.

When I started reading I wasn't entirely sure about 'The Cloisters', but I'm glad I continued. Set in one of the loveliest museums - The Cloisters - it's the story of academics determined to uncover the secrets of the medieval tarot. Do they? You will have to read to find out, and it is worth your time.

A great debut from Katy Hays; and highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Transworld for an ARC.

Delicious, dark, and twisty. I didn’t know the cloisters was a real place - makes me wanna go to New York! A solid debut, excellent dark academia vibes, gothic atmosphere - what’s not to love?!

I had mixed feelings on this book. Part of it is good, part of it isn't. It just felt very messy and not easy to follow. The plot was good, but could have been organised better.

This was a little too formulaic for me, and a little too slow I'm afraid. I was intrigued by the comparisons to The Secret History and I could see some echoes but overall it was lacking. I did love the descriptions of The Cloisters which sounds gorgeous, and the relationship between the two main characters and didn't see the twist coming which is always a nice surprise.

When Ann Stilwell leaves her family home, she's determiend never to go back. Now she's found a dream job in The Cloisters, a gothic museum and garden renowned for its medieval art collection, and joins other scholars there studying the lost art of divination. Soon Ann is caught up in the world of tarot, and living, breathing and eating everything about The Cloisters.

This wasn't bad - I haven't read too many 'dark academia' books and I think this is quite a nice book to start out with as we have a clear purpose of Ann's desires, and the overwhelming impulses of knowledge and research and how they may help her in the future. The book's atmosphere was really good - there were times I could feel the cool shadowed corridors of The Cloisters, and the brightness of the gardens in contrast, as well as smell the old books and artefacts and hear the pages rustling - or even see the flash of gold from the tarot cards.

I'm not really into tarot myself so I'd be interested to know if those who are found the book accurate in terms of readings and how tarot and divination can be used. From the outside perspective I found it interesting but couldn't quite understand the hold it took on Rachel and Ann.

Rachel and Ann's relationship is one of the main focuses on this story as well as they become more wrapped around each other, and you're not really sure if Ann can trust Rachel or if Rachel is vulnerable and lonely and therefore leaning more on Ann than she realises. I actually wouldn't have minded this taking a darker, sexy , sapphic turn as the relationship between the two of them was probably one beat away from being sexual and I think it would have worked pretty well for the story.

Ann is heading from small town America to a huge summer intern job in a major NY museum but gets there, having burned all her bridges, to find the job no longer exists… thereby starts the twisting, winding intrigue when Ann takes a role at The Cloisters. This is a small niche museum and she’ll be working with Rachel and a professor on researching a definitive set of tarot cards. Tarot cards that are several hundred years old may not be the anchor that’s expected in a novel but it works.

Ms Hays has written a very good novel. It could be brilliant but there’s a little too much telling and I didn’t really "see" the museum or the cards. At times the whole narrative drags and you’re thrown out of the milieu on occasion.

The characters are very well developed with the good and the bad interchanging so often, you’re not sure who to root for. The ending is unexpected (even in a twisty plot) and very satisfying.

As a debut book, this is stunning and the author certainly has a bright future. I will look out for further work from Ms Hays.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley

I went into this book completely blind, not knowing hugely what it was about nor hearing anyone talk about it, which was actually very refreshing! I feel like I've been reading a lot of romances and more contemporary novels at the moment, so this was a nice change with the mystery and almost magical elements. I felt drawn into this world and its story straight away, and I really enjoyed it being set in the art and curating industry as it's something I'm a big fan of but don't come across often in books. I did find the story predictable at times, and I guessed most of the plot points and what would happen next, but I didn't necessarily mind that. I could enjoy the overall story without feeling that it had to be groundbreaking or covering something new. I did feel that Ann as a protagonist could have been more developed but understand that it's not a priority in genre fiction. Overall I'm excited to see what Hays comes out with next, and it was a solid debut novel.

3.5 stars

Really disappointed with this one. I was sucked in by a pretty cover and the promise of mystery and secrets, but the entire story is flat and rather dull. I found it too predictable, and was left wanting more. I didn't warm to any of the characters. Overall, it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

The Cloisters is a darkly atmospheric read with unlikable characters, set in NYC and the Cloisters Museum. It is clear that Hays did a lot of research into academia, tarot, poisons which was very enjoyable. I appreciated Hays writing style, however I felt the pacing was a bit too slow. Unfortunately this story fell a bit flat for me which was a shame as it was a little too obvious so there wasn't enough tension to carry this book through. By half way I was struggling to keep reading. A lot however happens in the last quarter of the book, which I think should have happened earlier in the story.

Beautifully written and well-paced, very dark and atmospheric too. All the characters are very unlikeable and I like that though, I love to hate a character.
The Tarot in this book was very interesting too, being a Tarot enthusiast it was even more interesting as I already know the meaning of the Cards and learning the historical side was excellent.
I would recommend this book if you like dark and broody novels, with a hint of mystery and thrill thrown in, don't want to miss it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I love a dark academia tale, and though I will admit I was expecting a few more actual fantasy elements to the tale than ended up being involved, I was still gripped by the narrative. The dynamic between Ann and Rachel was compelling and felt very realistic, played out against the background of class and privilege. I found the ending very satisfying.